Effective project management means handling projects well from start to finish — planning, organizing, and getting things done. The software for project management improves teamwork by keeping track of tasks and helping team members communicate and share stuff. However, not all project management software are the same; they have different pricing, features, and how well they work with other tools. 

We review 10 of the best software for project management, comparing their strengths and weaknesses to help you pick the right one for your project goals.

10 Best Software for Project Management

To help narrow down your options, here are 10 of the best software for project management.

Asana

Asana is a cloud-based task and project management software that helps teams collaborate and coordinate work. It is best for small to large organizations that need to manage complex work across teams and departments. Asana offers four pricing plans: Basic (free), Premium ($10.99 per user per month), Business ($24.99 per user per month), and Enterprise (custom pricing).

Pros of Asana

• Straightforward and easy to use
• Integrates with many other apps
• Shows real-time info using graphs and reports

Cons of Asana

• Takes time to learn for some new users
• Costs more for extra features
• Can be slow or buggy with larger projects

Trello

Trello is an online tool that helps teams work together and organize their tasks. It uses boards, lists, and cards to make tasks easy to see and manage. It’s suitable for individuals or teams that want an easy and flexible way to handle any project. 

You can create as many personal boards and cards as you wish for free. For extra features and security, you can choose paid plans starting at $10 monthly per user.

Pros of Trello

• The Kanban system breaks down projects into smaller tasks using boards 
• Responsive design allows users to switch devices without issues
• Straightforward pricing plan

Cons of Trello

• Lacks database capabilities that need to be supplemented with spreadsheets
• Struggles to handle a larger volume of tasks and teams 
• Stores data in the cloud, which raises privacy and security concerns with some users

Smartsheet

Smartsheet, with its spreadsheet-style setup, can handle large projects and processes while offering many ways to view tasks and organize work. It’s adaptable to various needs and easily connects with other software. Smartsheet suits companies of all sizes that want a powerful and flexible tool to help their teams work smarter and get things done on time. 

Get started for free with the basic plan. Paid options begin at $7 monthly per user for Standard and $18 for Premium, while the Enterprise plan’s cost is negotiable.

Pros of Smartsheet

• Affordable pricing plans from $7 monthly
• Works well with many third-party software 
• Robust and can be easily personalized

Cons of Smartsheet

• Some users may find it hard to use
• Slow when handling huge volumes of data
• High-level plans may be expensive for smaller teams

Monday.com

Monday.com is a Work OS that puts everything you need—workflows, processes, tools, and files into one platform. Users from different groups can work together and track their tasks with customizable dashboards and automation. It is best for managing projects in a flexible and visual way.

Monday.com has four pricing plans: Basic (free for up to 2 users), Standard ($8 monthly per user), Pro ($16 monthly per user), and Enterprise (custom pricing). 

Pros of Monday.com

• Easy to use and customize
• Modern layout with drag-and-drop elements
• Pre-built integration with third-party software like Google Drive, Slack, Github, and more

Cons of Monday.com

• Fewer features in cheaper plans
• Hard to learn the advanced tools
• Not many ways to show data

Wrike

Wrike helps teams plan, track, and deliver projects. It makes tracking what needs to be done easy using dashboards, Gantt charts, calendars, and reports. The software is best for small to midsize businesses that need a flexible and scalable solution to manage complex projects. 

Wrike has a free version for up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $9.80 monthly per user for up to 15 users in Professional. The Business version costs $24.80 for up to 200 users, while the Enterprise version is custom-based on the organization’s needs.

Pros of Wrike

• Workflows can be adapted to suit different needs 
• Connects with over 400 apps and tools
• Real-time communication and sharing

Cons of Wrike

• Tricky to learn for new users
• Only 2GB of storage for the free plan
• Expensive paid plans compared to others

Basecamp

Basecamp is a useful web-based tool that helps organize your work and effectively work as a team. It is particularly helpful for sharing with others and tracking who is responsible for what and when. Basecamp is designed for small businesses, freelancers, and anyone who needs a simple and effective way to manage projects, clients, deadlines, and expectations. 

Basecamp offers two simple plans: Basic ($15 monthly per user) and Pro Unlimited ($299 monthly).

Pros of Basecamp

• All-in-one solution
• Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
• Loads of tools for effective communication

Cons of Basecamp

• No free plan
• Lacks advanced features
• Limited flexibility and customization

Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects helps teams plan, track, and complete projects together. It features task management, time tracking, Gantt charts, and reports. It’s affordable and has many helpful tools, making it ideal for small businesses that need a comprehensive and customizable project management platform. 

Zoho Projects offers a free plan for up to 2 users. Paid plans start from $5 per user per month for the Premium plan and $10 monthly per user for the Enterprise plan.

Pros of Zoho Projects

• Packs lots of valuable features
• Can be tailored to suit users’ needs
• Free plan and affordable pricing

Cons of Zoho Projects

• Challenging to learn for some users
• Limited storage
• Poor customer support

ClickUp

ClickUp helps individuals, small teams and companies plan projects and keep track of tasks. You can chat with your team, set goals, draw ideas on virtual whiteboards, and automate tasks. If you’re freelancing or working alone, ClickUp offers a great free plan with unlimited tasks and views.

ClickUp’s paid plans are Unlimited ($7 monthly per user), Business ($12 monthly per user), and Enterprise (custom pricing).

Pros of ClickUp

• Wide range of features
• Handles large projects easily
• Plenty of automation options

Cons of ClickUp

• Higher-level plans may be expensive for small businesses
• New users may find it tough to use
• Limited support for low-level plans

Jira

Jira is an online tool that helps teams collaborate better on various tasks. It’s ideal for software teams but works for other projects as well, such as HR or marketing. There are four main versions: Jira Software, Jira Service Management, Jira Work Management, and Jira Align, each with different things they’re good at. 

Jira has a forever free plan for 10 users. Paid plans start from $8.15 and $16 monthly per user for Standard and Premium plans, respectively. The cost for the Enterprise plan can be negotiated. 

Pros of Jira

• Customizable templates and workflow
• Works with over 3,000 apps and tools
• Forever free plan for up to 10 users

Cons of Jira

• Non-developers may find it challenging to use
• Expensive for large teams
• Poor support for lower plans

Notion

Notion is a project management tool that started as a note-taking app. It is perfect for solopreneurs and small teams, especially content creators. It allows you to create, organize, and share all kinds of information in one place, from to-do lists and databases to wikis and websites.

Notion has a free plan for personal use while offering three paid packages – Plus ($8 monthly per user), Business ($15 monthly per user), and Enterprise (custom pricing).

Pros of Notion

• Highly user-friendly and customizable interface
• Excellent note-taking features
• Affordable pricing structure

Cons of Notion

• The free plan has very limited storage
• Security is not strong
• Doesn’t work with lots of popular apps and services

What Is Project Management Software?

Project management software is a tool that allows project managers and teams to organize, keep track, and make sure everything goes smoothly. They can also communicate, share, and store project-related information on the software.

Project management software helps to handle tasks, ensure resources are enough, report work progress, and even watch out for risks. It brings several ways to make hitting your project goals a breeze, as well as helps plan and execute tasks, ensuring smooth operations. 

This software makes teamwork easy, allowing members to collaborate and communicate effortlessly. Everyone sees what is going on with the project, reducing the chances of problems. It saves time and money by speeding up processes and cutting costs.

Features to Consider When Choosing Project Management Software

When choosing the best software for your project needs, many factors come into play. Think of how easy it is to use, the stuff it can do, and if it can handle your projects as it expands. Here’s what to look out for:

Ease of Use

The software should be easy to use and set up. Menus and buttons should be laid out clearly and easy to understand. It should also work with different devices and have mobile apps, too.

Features and Functionality

Look for tools you’ll likely need for your project, such as task management, resource management, time tracking, reporting, risk management, and more. Ensure it works with your preferred method of viewing and handling tasks, such as Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and calendars.

Integration Capabilities

The software should fit nicely with the tools you already use, like email or file storage. Even better, it should support automatic communication between different platforms and systems.

Customizability

The ideal project management software should let you tweak things to fit your project just right. It should also offer suitable templates, themes, and plugins that improve your project experience and performance.

Scalability

As your projects get bigger, the software should be able to keep up without slowing things down.

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Picking the right project management software is super important for getting things done smoothly. Each tool has cool things it can do, helping different projects and teams. Things like how easy it is to use, what it can do, if it works with other tools, and if it can grow with your needs, all matter when making the right choice.

While checking out these options, think of further ways to streamline your project management efforts. Check out doola Books—it’s a tool that handles your bookkeeping, allowing you to focus on what matters most. That means it keeps your money in sync with your project plans, which is pretty handy.

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