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Grid vs. List View: Which One is Right for You?

Two ways to see your projects — one built for recognising them, the other for acting on them.

Atarim team Updated 6 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices
Atarim projects shown as a card grid beside the same projects as a list
Before you start

Relevant for

  • Project Managers, Design Leads and Team Members.

Required knowledge

  • Familiarity with Atarim’s project management.

Tools & resources needed

  • An Atarim account with active projects.

Both views live on the Projects screen and offer the same actions. The difference is emphasis: Grid shows a thumbnail so you recognise a project by sight, while List puts every action on screen without hovering.

Same projects, same actions, different emphasis.

Both views live on the Projects screen and offer the same actions. The difference is emphasis: Grid shows a thumbnail so you recognise a project by sight, while List puts every action on screen without hovering.

List View is a plan feature
Where your plan doesn’t include it, the option is locked and names the minimum plan required. Grid View is always available, so if you only see one layout that’s why — it isn’t a fault, and only the workspace owner can change the subscription.

Which One to Use

Grid ViewList View
LayoutCardsRows
ActionsAppear on hoverAlways visible
Best forRecognising projects visually, and creative workScanning many projects and acting quickly
Task countNot shownShown per project
Folder drag-and-dropYes
Bulk actionsYesYes
Filters and sortingYesYes
AvailabilityAlways availablePlan feature — locked on some plans
Use Grid when you know projects by how they look
A designer working across several client sites will find a thumbnail faster than a name. Use List when you’re working through a long portfolio, because every action is already on screen and the task count tells you where the work is.

Grid View

Grid favours recognition, which suits projects you know by their screenshot rather than their name.

Instructions:

  • Go to the Projects screen.
  • Open the view menu and choose Grid View, marked with a grid icon. Projects are displayed as cards.
  • Projects shown as cards in Grid View
    Grid View
    Each card showsOn hover
    Thumbnail previewInbox — jump to that project’s feedback and tasks
    Active project stageCollaboration — open the visual interface
    Folder nameShare — invite stakeholders or copy the link
    Assigned users, as avatarsCheckbox — select for bulk actions
    Project type icon — web or designDrag-and-drop — onto another project to create a folder, or into an existing one
    Project name and URL
    Settings, via the three-dot menu
    Grid is the quicker way to build folder structure
    Dragging one project onto another creates a folder in a single motion, which is faster than doing it through project settings when you’re organising a portfolio for the first time. Explore Adding And Managing Folders

    List View

    List favours scanning, which wins once you have more projects than you can recognise at a glance.

    Instructions:

  • Go to the Projects screen.
  • Open the view menu and choose List View, marked with a list icon. Projects are displayed as rows, with every action already visible.
  • Projects shown as rows in List View
    List View

    Each row shows a thumbnail, the task count, the project name and URL, the folder name, the active project stage, and assigned users. Inbox, Collaboration, Share and the selection checkbox are all on screen without hovering.

    Note
    The task count is the one piece of information List shows that Grid doesn’t. If you’re deciding where to spend your morning, that number is usually what you’re looking for.
    List suits bulk work best
    With checkboxes and actions permanently visible, archiving or reorganising a dozen projects takes far fewer movements than the same job in Grid. Discover Archiving Websites

    Switching Between Them

    The choice is remembered per person rather than per workspace, so nobody is stuck with a teammate's preference.

    Instructions:

  • From the Projects screen, open the view menu.
  • Choose Grid View or List View. Your preference is remembered, so each team member can work in whichever layout suits them.
  • The view menu used to switch between Grid and List
    Switching view
    Switch by task rather than picking one permanently
    Start in Grid to find the project you want, move to List when you’re processing several. There’s no cost to changing, and each view is genuinely better at a different job.

    FAQs

    Can I switch views at any time?

    Yes, from the view menu on the Projects screen — provided your plan includes List View.

    Why can’t I select List View?

    It’s a plan feature. Where your plan doesn’t include it the option is locked, and the lock names the minimum plan required.

    Does one view do more than the other?

    They offer the same actions. The difference is presentation: Grid reveals actions on hover, List keeps them visible, and List additionally shows a task count.

    Which is better if I dislike hovering?

    List View. Everything is on screen by default.

    Are filters and sorting available in both?

    Yes, in both.

    Can I do bulk actions in both?

    Yes. Both provide checkboxes for archiving, deleting and similar.

    Does my choice affect my team?

    No. The preference is per person, so everyone can work in the layout they prefer.

    Common issues

    • List View is locked — your plan doesn’t include it. The lock names the minimum plan required.
    • You can’t find the view options — they’re in the view menu on the Projects screen, shown as Grid View and List View.
    • Actions aren’t visible on a card — Grid reveals them on hover. Switch to List if you’d rather they were always on screen.
    • You can’t see task counts — task count appears in List View, not Grid.
    • A colleague sees a different layout — expected. The preference is per person.
    • Bulk actions feel slow — use List View, where checkboxes and actions are permanently visible.
    • You want to group projects into folders — use Grid, and drag one project onto another.

    Conclusion

    Grid is for recognising projects; List is for processing them. Grid gives you a thumbnail and folder drag-and-drop, List gives you task counts and permanently visible actions.

    Most people end up using both — Grid to find something, List to work through a batch. Switching costs nothing, so there’s no need to commit to one. Discover Simplifying Views With Filters

    Tips & best practices

    • Use Grid for visual recognition, List for direct access to actions.
    • Start in Grid to locate a project, then switch to List to work through several.
    • Apply filters and sorting in either view to narrow a long portfolio.
    • Use List for bulk archiving or reorganising.
    • Use Grid’s drag-and-drop to build folder structure quickly.
    • Let team members choose their own view — the preference is personal.

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