Project management software allows you to plan projects easily, assign tasks according to the team’s workload, keep track of meeting the set timelines, minimize employee overload, and meet deadlines. There are a vast number of applications and services on the market today that can be used to configure and manage various processes. Finding and selecting a project management solution that will meet the specific needs of your business can be challenging. In this article, we will explore the most popular and well-known solutions on the market to help you make the right decision and choose a solution that suits your team’s needs.
Why Do You Need Featured Software for Project Management?
With adequately selected and customized software, you can not only establish a unified environment for project management but also handle a range of other tasks, such as:
- Collaboration and communication;
- Company resource management;
- Task tracking and time management;
- Analysis and reporting.
By customizing solutions to fit specific business processes, a company can automate a significant portion of routine tasks and improve efficiency, productivity, and collaboration within teams to complete projects on time.
Top 10 Best Project Management Software in 2024
Project management software helps structure work on tasks and projects, organizes the work of all participants in a uniform information environment, and automates business processes. With many solutions on the market, how do you choose the one that best suits your business? In this overview, we examine the main strengths and weaknesses, features, and pricing to help you select the best project management system that meets your company’s needs.
1. Planfix
Planfix is a project management system and, simultaneously, a constructor that can be customized and configured for tasks and projects of any scale. Owing to its flexibility, Planfix is suitable for small teams or startups, as well as for serving as a unified management system for large companies, bringing all teams together in one information environment.
Source: https://planfix.com/
Key Planfix Features
Planfix’s range of functions covers all project management tasks, enabling work on projects of all kinds, both IT and non-IT:
- Planners: Whiteboard, Calendar, Schedule, Table, Kanban, Chronicle;
- Various task views: Gantt chart, table, tree, Chronicle, location;
- Workspaces: ability to create separate workspaces for different departments, teams, and external users;
- Automation: automatic creation, modification, or completion of projects and tasks based on triggers or scripts configured by you, including scheduled reports;
- Testing mode: Test any configured business process automation before implementation. The system reports inconsistencies and identifies errors, if any;
- Logging: reports on user activities in tasks and projects, prevents data leaks;
- Robots: a tool for automating business processes, notifications, and much more;
- Document management: Allows for use of both internal storage and connect external ones. Create templates, work with documents online and on a computer;
- Working with email: Connect a corporate email, create virtual addresses within the account, use internal email addresses for tasks and projects.
Planfix Integrations
Planfix offers pre-made integrations with many popular programs and services. Developers can use the Planfix API to develop their integrations and connect their services:
- Messengers and social media: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber.
- Email and email marketing services: MailChimp, SendPulse, Twilio, Plivo, Vonage, TextUs, SimpleTexting.
- Programs for working with documents: Google Docs, Google Sheets, Microsoft Word and Excel, Microsoft 365.
- Cloud Storage: Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox.
- Connector Apps: Make, Zapier.
- Virtual PBX.
Planfix Advantages
Among Planfix functions for efficient teamwork on tasks and projects are:
- Flexible role management: advanced functions for editing access to tasks and projects, ability to grant access to unregistered users.
- Customer support: communicate directly from your account or via a convenient channel, such as email, social media, or messenger.
- Calculated task fields and dynamic blocks: ability to use project data—allows you to edit a large amount of information from different objects in one window.
- Bulk actions for projects and tasks: Make changes to any number of objects with just a few clicks. For example, add a new auditor to all projects or replace a highly complex task assignee with another one.
- Launching reports from projects: The system automatically generates the desired report directly from projects data tags, limiting the data used for the report to the specific project from which the report is initiated.
- Comment visibility settings: You can configure the visibility of comments so that customers only see work comments on tasks they have been notified about. This setting allows employees to communicate within tasks without concern that customers will see the conversation between them.
- Omnichannel capability: Receive messages via email and messengers and communicate directly in one system.
- Ready-made solutions: preconfigured templates for automating various business processes, such as project and task management, increasing team productivity, reporting, etc.
Planfix Cons:
- Limited number of projects and project templates in the free version.
- Configuring the system may appear complicated for beginners due to large range of features.
Planfix Cost and Free Version
Despite certain functional limitations, the free version is suitable for managing projects for small teams and start-ups.
- Free – $0 up to 5 users
- Plan A – $8
- Plan B – $18
- Plan X – $28
2. Jira
Jira Software is one of the leading providers in IT project management. A wide range of integrations, plugins, and tools enable the customization of centralized project management at any complexity for development teams, startups, and IT companies of any size.
Source: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
Key Jira Features
The key features that make teamwork on projects more efficient include:
- Customizable workflows;
- Backlog;
- Dependency management;
- Reporting and insights.
Jira integrations
Jira offers an extensive list of integrations with various programs, including for design, marketing, IT, and development teams, such as Slack, GitHub, HubSpot, TogglTrack, Figma, Loom, Sentry, G Suite, Dropbox, Clockify, and others.
Jira Pros and Cons
Jira Pros:
- In addition to its numerous integrations, Jira has a dedicated plugin marketplace.
- Unlimited access to Jira Work Management.
- Intuitive automation setup.
- A comprehensive approach to managing development processes.
- Well-suited for IT projects.
Jira Cons:
- Limited features in the free version.
- Beginners may find the user interface overloaded and unintuitive.
- Configuration requires in-depth system knowledge.
- User activity logging is only available in the Enterprise version.
- Non-IT teams may have difficulty familiarizing themselves with it.
Jira Cost and Free Version
The free version is rather limited in functionality and more suitable for managing individual projects.
- Free – $0 up to 10 users
- Standard – $8.15
- Premium – $16
- Enterprise – prices available upon request
3. Asana
Despite the high cost of upgrades, Asana has gained popularity among users thanks to its intuitive user interface and comprehensive collaboration tools. It’s one of the few services available for free for teams of up to 10 people.
Source: https://asana.com/
Key Asana Features
Asana offers various features for project management automation, including:
- Asana Intelligence: smart fields, statuses, answers etc.;
- Views: list, board, calendar, Gantt, timeline;
- Task rules and automation;
- Unlimited tasks and projects;
- Multi-home tasks to projects;
- Global custom fields.
Asana integrations
Some of Asana’s integrations include popular software products such as Microsoft Teams, Gmail, Slack, Zoom, Vimeo, Google Drive, and Trello.
Asana Pros and Cons
Asana Pros:
- The free version supports up to 10 users but has limited automation capabilities.
- User-friendly with drag-and-drop functionality.
- No limit to the number of projects or tasks that can be created.
- Ability to create customized reports.
Asana Cons:
- Time tracking is only available with the Advanced plan.
- Limited administration capabilities.
- Lack of 24/7 support.
- Limited file size for attachments.
- Advanced reports are not available on the basic pricing plans.
Asana Cost and Free Version
The free version is designed for up to 10 users with no limit on the number of projects.
- Personal – $0 up to 10 users
- Starter – $10.99 up to 500 users
- Advanced – $24.99 up to 500 users
- Enterprise – prices available upon request
4. Wrike
Wrike’s features are suitable for task and project management and collaboration among teams of different sizes, provided you have the budget, as this product is costly. Its extensive features can also present some onboarding challenges.
Source: https://www.wrike.com/
Key Wrike Features
Among the functions for teamwork on tasks and projects, we can highlight:
- Task priorities;
- Custom work views (Table view, Kanban, Calendars, Dynamic Gantt chart);
- Time tracking;
- Work Intelligence®;
- Project dashboards and planners;
- Automation;
- Resource Management.
Wrike integrations
Wrike’s integrations include email services, document processing software, Google and Microsoft services, Zoom, Slack, and more.
Wrike Pros and Cons
Wrike Pros:
- Flexible management of tasks and subtasks.
- Various display options: Gantt chart, calendar, boards.
- Pre-made project templates by category.
- AI availability for automating specific processes.
Wrike Cons:
- Small internal storage capacity.
- Limited account management capabilities.
- Lack of two-factor authentication.
- Time tracking is not available in all packages.
Wrike Cost and Free Version
The free version is suitable for task management or managing small projects
- Free – $0
- Team – $9.80 from 3 users
- Business – $24.80 from 5 users
- Enterprise – prices available upon request
- Pinnacle – prices available upon request
5. ClickUp
This is a software solution for collaborative tasks, projects, and enterprise resource management. It is suitable for both teams working remotely and in a hybrid format.
Source: https://app.clickup.com/
Key ClickUp Features
ClickUp offers a variety of features for task and project management, including:
- Time-tracking and Timesheets;
- Various views: Gantt chart, Kanban board, Mind Maps;
- Custom fields;
- Goals;
- Tags and Priorities.
ClickUp Integrations
The list of pre-built integrations with ClickUp is not extensive. ClickUp offers integrations with GitHub, GitLab, HubSpot, cloud storage solutions, Figma, Zoom, and others. For services not directly available, you can establish data exchange via the Zapier connector.
ClickUp Pros and Cons
ClickUp Pros:
- Advanced free plan compared to similar services.
- Unlimited internal storage in all pricing plans.
- Guest access and customizable permissions on all levels except the free plan.
- Customization options for fields, statuses, and more.
ClickUp Cons:
- Slow data updates on dashboards.
- Regular issues when testing connectors.
- Lack of security settings (only available in the Enterprise package).
- Limited time tracking functions.
ClickUp Cost and Free Version
In terms of functionality, the free version of ClickUp is suitable for personal use, such as for freelancers managing projects, as well as for small teams.
- Free – $0
- Unlimited – $7
- Business – $12
- Enterprise – prices available upon request.
6. Monday.com
Monday.com is suitable for project management across diverse teams, including marketing, product, IT, and others. Although the software solution offers a wide range of project tracking tools for managing business processes, its configuration options for system security are minimal.
Source: https://monday.com/
Key Monday.com Features
Among the features that help increase team productivity in collaborative tasks within projects are:
- Business process automation tools;
- Various views (Gantt chart, Timeline, Kanban, Calendar);
- Customized notifications;
- Dashboards that consolidate multiple project boards;
- Time tracking (available with the Pro subscription).
Monday.com Integrations
The integrations available with the Monday.com service include programs and solutions for communication and collaboration between marketing and IT teams: Slack, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, GitLab, Mailchimp, Excel, Outlook, DocuSign, and more.
Monday.com Pros and Cons
Monday.com Pros:
- Easily configurable and customizable interface.
- A large collection of pre-made templates.
- Different field types and the ability to create custom fields.
Monday.com Cons:
- Users report regular issues with updates.
- Very limited trial version with limitations for up to two users.
- Access for external users (read-only users) is not available in the basic subscription plans.
- Small internal file storage capacity.
- Limited retention period for activity logs.
Monday.com Cost and Free Version
Monday.com has a free version, but it is limited in its functionality and only available for teams of up to two people (up to two seats).
- Free – $0
- Basic – $8
- Standard – $10
- Pro – $16
- Enterprise – prices available upon request
- At least three seats are required in all paid plans.
7. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is well-suited for small teams managing tasks and projects, as well as for companies that use other Zoho products. By using Zoho’s software solutions, you can unify the work of all teams within a single information environment. It’s important to note that each product is licensed separately.
Source: https://www.zoho.com/projects/
Key Zoho Projects Features
Among the functional features that help optimize project management within a company are:
- In-depth analytics with customizable reports;
- Built-in time tracking;
- Integrated document management systems;
- Risk management;
- Gantt chart;
- Project Custom Status and Tags.
Zoho Projects Integrations
In addition to integrations with third-party programs and services such as Google and Microsoft services, email services, and calendars, Zoho also integrates with its other programs such as Zoho CRM, Zoho People, Zoho Desk, and others.
Zoho Projects Pros and Cons
Zoho Pros:
- Extensive integrations with Zoho products (licensed separately).
- Built-in time tracker and time management.
- Comprehensive task and project analytics.
- Extensive automation functions for business processes.
Zoho Cons:
- The Gantt chart for projects is only available in the highest price plan.
- Custom fields in tasks and projects are only available in the highest pricing plan.
- Access for external users (Read-only users) comes at an additional cost and is only available with the highest price plan.
- Limited trial period – 10 days.
Zoho Projects Cost and Free Version
The free version has limited functionality and is available for up to 3 users. Zoho also offers a trial version, but it’s limited to 10 days.
- Free – €0
- Premium – €5
- Enterprise – €10
8. Teamwork
Users rate Teamwork as a platform with an intuitive and pleasant user interface. The service offers a whole range of functions for task and project management. Training courses and an extensive collection of reference materials are available for learning.
Source: https://www.teamwork.com/
Key Teamwork Features
The main functional features for teamwork on tasks and projects include:
- Time tracking and timesheet;
- Templates;
- Automation: fixed actions per month;
- Gantt chart;
- Team chat;
- Notifications.
Teamwork Integrations
Teamwork’s website features integrations developed by its own team as well as third-party integrations, including HubSpot, Slack, MS Teams, Parallax, Google services, etc.
Teamwork Pros and Cons
Teamwork Pros:
- Desktop application.
- Invoicing functions.
- Internal storage from 50 GB for paid plans.
Teamwork Cons:
- Limitations on custom fields.
- Lack of PDF or image markup tools.
- Lack of modification logging in the basic plans.
- Limited options for creating reports.
Teamwork Cost and Free Version
Teamwork offers a free plan for teams of up to 5 people. In terms of functionality, it is suitable for personal use, such as managing individual projects, or for small start-ups just beginning to set up their business processes.
- Free – $0 up to 5 users
- Starter – $5.99 from 3 users
- Deliver – $9.99 from 3 users
- Grow – $19.99 from 5 users
9. Basecamp
Basecamp suits small and medium-sized teams, especially those willing to work with an out-of-the-box product. Users looking for a customizable solution that suits their needs may encounter discomfort due to the lack of flexible settings.
Source: https://basecamp.com/
Key Basecamp Features
This project management software program offers a wide range of functions for task and project management. Among the key offerings are:
- Hill Charts – a tool for tracking the project life cycle;
- Chats – for exchanging messages and news with colleagues;
- Internal storage – for storing documents related to your projects;
- Project tracking tools for automating teamwork.
Basecamp Integrations
The list of available services for integration includes programs for developers, marketing, customer support, analytics, and reporting services.
Basecamp Pros and Cons
Basecamp Pros:
- Suitable for small companies.
- Pre-made templates and dashboards.
- Ability to set different access rights for the team and external users.
Basecamp Cons:
- Users consider the main weakness to be that the product is no longer keeping up with the state of the art.
- Lack of flexibility and limited customization options for processes and workspaces.
- Absence of a free version.
Basecamp Cost and Free Version
Basecamp does not offer a free version of the product. The pricing options consist of two levels for small teams or startups and larger teams. The unique feature of the latter is a fixed monthly payment for an unlimited number of users.
- Basecamp – $15
- Basecamp pro unlimited – $299
10. Smartsheet
This is an easy-to-configure tool with powerful features for project automation. Beginners can use pre-made templates to create their team’s work processes.
Source: https://www.smartsheet.com/
Key Smartsheet Features
Functional features for project activities:
- Creating custom work processes;
- Working with formulas and field customization;
- Different types of views: Gantt grid, table, calendar;
- Templates for reports, scenarios, and documents;
- Resource management.
Smartsheet Integrations
Among Smartsheet’s integrations are services for communication, content and document creation, as well as security solutions: Slack, MS Teams, Power BI, Adobe Creative Cloud Integration, McAfee, MS Defender for Cloud Apps, etc.
Smartsheet Pros and Cons
Smartsheet Pros:
- A wide range of optimization tools is already available with the free plan.
- Formulas and calculated fields for handling various data and creating reports.
- Ready-made templates not only for documents but also for business processes.
- Mobile app.
Smartsheet Cons:
- Revisions are not automatically updated, which does not guarantee data accuracy.
- Integrations with third-party services are somewhat unpolished and may not fully meet users’ needs.
- Limited customization and formatting options for tables, charts, and reports.
- Many integrations are only available on the Enterprise plan or must be purchased separately.
Smartsheet Cost and Free Version
The free version of Smartsheet is suitable for personal use in managing individual tasks and projects.
- Free – $0 up to 1 user
- Pro – $7 up to 10 users
- Business – $7 from 3 users
- Enterprise – prices available upon request
What to Look for in Project Management Software?
There can be no universal advice here; the choice of a set of system functionalities will depend solely on your organization’s needs. However, a modern project management system should include the following tools and functions:
- Flexible task and project management tools.
- Storage and sharing of documents within the system.
- Tools for automating business processes.
- Integration with third-party services and applications.
- Platform customization and workspace configuration for each team.
- Communication options: internal chat, email integration, external chat, IP telephony.
- Time management, team workload management, and time tracking capabilities.
How To Choose the Best Project Management Tool?
To get a really helpful tool for managing projects and making teamwork easier, make sure the solution meets what you need and fits your budget. We’ve gathered important things to look out for.
Trial Period
No description of functional benefits can match the experience of using the product. Without trying the product, it is unlikely that you will see how well it fits your requirements and tasks. Please note that not all providers offer a 30-day trial period; some provide a 14-day trial period, which is relatively short.
Availability of a Free Version of the Product
For small teams and start-ups, the availability of a free version of the product is of great importance. This is an excellent opportunity to get started without a significant financial investment. By organizing business processes at the beginning of the project, the company can scale its information environment as it grows and later move to a paid plan.
Pricing
We recommend carefully reviewing the provider’s pricing plans and licensing when deciding on a solution. To create a budget, you should understand how the final cost is determined: whether there is a one-time fee, whether support is free or charged separately, and whether all necessary features are included in the price of the package or must be purchased separately.
Onboarding and Training
Many solution providers offer help centers and free training courses for administrators and users. Also, look out for the availability of training videos that can make the onboarding process easier for your colleagues.
Customer Support
Pay attention to the availability of customer support and its cost, as support can be charged separately. Consider which communication channels are available: email-only, or chat and messaging? Is 24/7 support available, or is it only accessible during business hours and on working days? Is support offered in your language?
Reviews from Existing Users
If unsure whether a solution suits you, we recommend reading customer reviews on review platforms. This will tell you how satisfied users are with the system and what challenges users typically face.
FAQ about Project Management Tools
What Is the Best Project Management Software for Small Businesses?
For small businesses, the best project management software should offer features like task tracking, collaboration tools, time tracking, and budget management.
Some of the best online project management tools – Asana, Trello, Monday.com and Planfix, which are user-friendly, scalable, and offer customizable workflows to suit the needs of small teams. These top rated project management software solutions facilitate efficient project planning, communication, and task execution, making them ideal choices for small business project management.
What are the Three Main Types of Project Management Software?
The three main types of project management software are Traditional Project Management Software, Agile Project Management Software, and Hybrid Project Management Software.
Traditional Project Management Software tools follow a sequential approach, with tasks and activities organized linearly. Agile Project Management Software is designed for iterative and adaptive project management, these tools focus on collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement. Hybrid Project Management Software combines aspects of traditional and agile methodologies, hybrid tools offer flexibility in project planning and execution.
What Are the Benefits of Project Management Software?
Project management software offers numerous benefits, including streamlined communication, centralized project data, task organization, and collaboration tools.
It improves productivity, ensures deadlines are met, and enhances project visibility. Additionally, project management software facilitates resource allocation, budget tracking, and risk management, leading to more efficient project execution and successful outcomes.
Why Is Project Management Important?
Project management is crucial as it ensures projects are completed on time, within budget, and with the desired quality.
It involves planning, organizing, and overseeing tasks, resources, and timelines to achieve project goals effectively. Project management enhances communication, reduces risks, optimizes resource allocation, and fosters collaboration, leading to successful project outcomes and satisfied stakeholders.
Conclusion
We recommend trying a trial version to decide which software solution best suits your company and fits your business processes.
Planfix offers a full-featured trial version of the product for 30 days. Why not give it a try right now?
Feel free to contact our support team if you have any questions about how the system works or need assistance with the setup process. They are always ready to help.
