The short answer: Hive, the project management platform at hive.com, uses a familiar SaaS model: a free plan for individuals and very small teams, paid plans charged per user per month, and an enterprise tier sold by quote. Paying annually is usually cheaper than paying monthly. Some capabilities, such as advanced time tracking, resourcing, analytics or automation, have historically been sold as add-ons on top of the base plan, so the price of the plan alone may not be the price of the setup you need.
This guide explains how Hive pricing works in 2026, what the plans are for, what pushes the bill up, and how to estimate your own cost. We do not quote prices or plan limits, because Hive changes them. Check current pricing on Hive’s pricing page.
Which Hive is this? Several unrelated software companies use the Hive name, including an HR and employee feedback platform, a corporate learning platform, a video streaming network for enterprises, a cloud print service and a 3PL fulfilment company. This article covers only Hive the project and work management tool. On Spotsaas, that product is listed as Hive Project Management.
How much does Hive cost?
Hive’s cost comes from three things: the plan, the number of people on it, and any add-ons. The table below shows the cost lines to plan for.
| Cost line | What it pays for | Main driver | Recurring? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan licence | Access to Hive’s project views, tasks, chat and collaboration features | Number of users and the plan tier | Yes, monthly or annual |
| Add-ons | Extra capabilities such as time tracking and timesheets, resourcing, analytics, automation or proofing, where sold separately | Which teams need them | Yes |
| Guests and external users | Access for clients, freelancers or partners | How Hive licenses external collaborators on your plan | Depends on plan |
| Enterprise terms | Security controls, SSO, custom onboarding, dedicated support | IT and compliance requirements | Yes, by quote |
| Setup and migration | Importing projects from another tool, building templates, training | Number of projects and teams | One-off |
How Hive pricing works in 2026
Per-user subscription
Hive’s paid plans are charged per user. You pay for each person who works in the platform, so the bill scales with team size. The per-user rate is usually lower when you commit to annual billing. As with most tools in this category, check whether there is a minimum number of seats on a plan and how mid-term additions are billed.
Hive plans by purpose
| Tier | Built for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Individuals and very small teams trying Hive | Core task and project views with limits on users, storage or features |
| Entry paid plan | Small teams running projects day to day | More users, more views, basic integrations and collaboration features |
| Team plan | Growing teams that need workflow control | Advanced views, permissions, automation and reporting, plus access to add-ons |
| Enterprise | Larger organisations | Security, admin controls, custom onboarding and support terms; sold by quote |
Plan names and exactly which features sit on which tier change over time. Use the tiers above to understand the structure, then match your requirements against Hive’s current plan comparison.
Add-ons
Hive has sold some capabilities as optional add-ons priced separately from the base plan. That can be good value, because you only pay for what you use, but it also means two teams on the same plan can pay very different amounts. When you ask for a quote, list every capability you need and ask which ones are in the plan and which are add-ons.
AI features
Hive, like most project management vendors, has been adding AI features for drafting, summarising and planning. Ask whether they are included in your plan, sold as an add-on or limited by usage.
Is Hive free?
Hive has offered a free plan for individuals and very small teams. It is useful for trying the interface and running simple projects, but it caps users, storage and advanced features. Teams that need permissions, automation, reporting or integrations will need a paid plan. Hive has also offered free trials of its paid plans, so you can test the features you would be paying for before you commit.
What drives Hive costs up
- Add-ons for core workflows. If your agency depends on time tracking or resource planning, the add-on for that capability is part of your real price.
- Guest and client access. Agencies and consultancies often need to bring clients into projects. Check how guests are licensed and whether they count as paid users.
- Monthly billing. Paying monthly gives flexibility but usually costs more per user than annual billing.
- Security requirements. SSO, advanced permissions and audit controls typically sit on higher tiers or enterprise terms.
- Tool overlap. Hive includes chat, notes and email features. If you keep paying for separate tools that do the same job, your total spend rises. Decide which tool owns which job before you roll out.
- Migration and onboarding. Rebuilding templates and moving live projects takes time, even when the software itself is cheap.
How to estimate your Hive cost
Use this formula with the current prices from Hive’s pricing page:
Annual Hive cost = (paid users x per-user plan price x 12) + (users on each add-on x add-on price x 12) + any enterprise or onboarding fees
Illustrative inputs (not prices) for a creative agency:
- Paid users: 25 staff on the team plan.
- Time tracking add-on: needed by all 25, because the agency bills by the hour.
- Resourcing add-on: needed by 4 project and resource managers only, if Hive lets you license it per user.
- Guests: 15 client contacts who review work, licensed however Hive licenses guests on your plan.
- Billing: annual, once the pilot is complete.
Compare the result with the all-in cost of the tools you would replace, not just your current project management licence.
Questions to ask Hive before you buy
- Which features we need are in the plan, and which are paid add-ons?
- Can add-ons be licensed for some users only, or must they cover the whole team?
- How are guests and clients licensed?
- Is there a minimum seat count on the plan we want?
- What is the difference between monthly and annual pricing for our team size?
- Which AI features are included, and are there usage limits?
- What is included in onboarding, and is migration help available?
- What security and admin controls (SSO, permissions, audit) come with each tier?
Hive pricing for agencies vs internal teams
The same Hive plan can cost two organisations very different amounts because of how they work.
Agencies and consultancies
Client-service firms usually need time tracking, timesheets and resource planning, because those drive billing and utilisation. They also bring clients into projects for approvals. For an agency, the real Hive price is the plan plus the time and resourcing capabilities plus however guests are licensed. Model all three, and compare with tools that bundle those features in the base plan and with dedicated professional services automation software.
Internal marketing and operations teams
In-house teams rarely bill by the hour, so they may not need time tracking at all. Their costs are driven by headcount, the views and automation they need, and whether stakeholders in other departments need paid seats or can be served by shared dashboards and reports. For these teams, the plan tier and seat count matter most.
Mixed teams
If one department needs add-ons and another does not, ask whether add-ons can be licensed for a subset of users. If they have to cover the whole account, it may be cheaper for the second team to use a lighter tool, or for both to standardise on a platform that includes those features in its tiers.
How to choose: is Hive worth the price?
Hive tends to suit teams that want project views, chat, notes and approvals in one place, such as agencies, marketing teams and operations groups. It is worth the price when you would otherwise pay for several separate tools and when the add-ons you need match how you work. It is less of a fit if you only need simple task lists (a lighter tool will cost less) or if you run sprint-based software development (engineering-first tools such as Jira or Linear are built for that).
Before you decide, compare Hive with alternatives on price model and fit:
| Tool | Pricing model | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Hive | Free plan, per-user paid tiers, add-ons, enterprise quote | Which capabilities are add-ons |
| Wrike | Free plan, per-user tiers, enterprise quote | Depth of resource management and reporting |
| monday.com | Free plan, per-seat tiers sold in seat bundles, enterprise quote | Seat minimums and automation limits |
| Smartsheet | Per-member plans, enterprise quote | Spreadsheet-style planning and portfolio reporting |
| Asana | Free plan, per-user tiers, enterprise quote | Goals, portfolios and workload views by tier |
Useful next reads: Hive alternatives, the Hive vs Wrike comparison, the best project management software, project management software for small businesses and marketing project management software. You can also see Hive Project Management pricing and Hive alternatives on Spotsaas, or browse the project management software category.
Frequently asked questions about Hive pricing
How is Hive project management priced?
Per user, per month, across a free plan, paid tiers and an enterprise tier sold by quote. Some capabilities have been sold as add-ons. Check Hive’s pricing page for current plans and prices.
Does Hive have a free plan?
Hive has offered a free plan for individuals and very small teams, with limits on users and features. Paid plans unlock more users, automation, reporting and integrations.
What are Hive add-ons?
Optional capabilities, such as time tracking, resourcing or analytics, that Hive has priced separately from the base plan. Whether you need them depends on your workflow, so list your requirements and ask which are included.
Is Hive cheaper than monday.com or Wrike?
It depends on team size and which add-ons you need. All three charge per user with free and enterprise tiers. Compare the all-in cost for your exact team, including add-ons, seat minimums and annual discounts, not the headline plan price.
Is this the same Hive as Hive HR or Hive Streaming?
No. Hive the project management platform (hive.com) is unrelated to Hive HR, Hive Learning, Hive Streaming, PaperCut Hive or the Hive fulfilment company. Their pricing is separate.
Can I pay for Hive monthly?
Paid plans have been available on monthly and annual billing, with annual billing usually cheaper per user. Confirm the current options on Hive’s pricing page.
