Project Management Software
- Project Management Software Package
- Microsoft Project Management Software
- Project Management Software Microsoft
May 24, 2020 8 Free Project Management Software Tools to Keep Your Team on Track 1. Freedcamp When it comes to free project management software, Freedcamp has so much to offer its users. ClickUp I was about ready to give ClickUp the top spot for this list since they offer unlimited users. Bitrix24 is an intuitive free project planning software and project management solution that tries to solve multiple business needs at once. Great for some businesses, especially small businesses, but it kind of depends on both your personality and your team’s habits. The annoying bit is, you’re probably using several of these tools already.
What do the ancient pyramids of Egypt, the building of the Titanic, and the first Apollo Space Mission all have in common? Answer: they were all extremely complex projects that required an entire team of dedicated people and a well thought out plan to complete successfully.
As a project manager, you work on complex projects every day. And while your current endeavor might not be rocket science, it still demands an attention to detail and the ability to properly manage both people and resources.
Fortunately, there are tools out there that can help make your project management efforts much easier and more successful.
In this article, we'll take a look at project management software: what it is, why it's important, the eight best apps in this category, and how to choose the right one for your organization. Sound interesting? Then let's get started!
What is Project Management Software?
According to Techopedia, project management software is, 'software used for project planning, scheduling, resource allocation and change management.' Simple enough, right? But let's get more granular:
- Project Planning: Project management software will help you plan and schedule your entire project, ensuring you and your team stay on track. This aspect of the tool is especially helpful for large projects which will take years to complete.
- Resource Allocation: A quality project management app will also give you the tools to appropriately allocate resources like employee time and company funds. For example, most apps give you the option to assign tasks to specific team members.
- Change Management: As a project manager, you know that no project ever goes exactly according to plan. Project management software will help you manage changes effectively and help to ensure each project meets with success.
Why is Project Management Software Important?
Now that we've covered what project management software is, we can discuss why it's important. There are three main benefits to working with this kind of tool. They are: direction, collaboration, and productivity.
1. Direction
If you want your next project to be a success, you have to know what success looks like. In other words, you need direction. You need to develop a plan that will help you get from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible.
Project management software allows project managers to evaluate the scope of a project, break down complex undertakings into manageable steps, and plan every aspect of a project — from task assignment to budgeting.
2. Collaboration
Most projects worked on in a company setting aren't one man (or woman) shows. They require a whole team of people to complete, each with different skill sets and experience levels. Project management software allows team members to better collaborate by offering document sharing, checklist, and communication tools.
These features are especially useful to distributed teams. If you work closely with remote employees or staff members in satellite offices, you'll definitely appreciate the collaboration tools that comes with most project management apps.
3. Productivity
Last but not least, project management software makes teams more productive. When your employees have direction and understand what's expected of them; when they have quality communication, document sharing, and checklist tools at their disposal, they'll be able to complete their work in a much more efficient manner.
This kind of tool also helps managers better delegate tasks and resources so that the entire team runs like a well-oiled machine. No employee is ever over worked and no available resource is wasted.
An Objective Project Management Software Comparison
The following list contains a mixture of free project management software and paid for solutions. Each tool offers exciting features. You'll just need to choose which app best fits your company and go from there.
1. Trello
Trello is a highly visual, completely intuitive project management software. It's based on the Kanban methodology and projects, called boards, can be organized into workflows by creating column like lists and filling them with cards. Each card can be made to represent a task and given due dates and assigned to specific team members.
Trello also makes team collaboration easy by including a chat area where employees can converse about the project and share attachments.
To top it all off, this project management app integrates with many other popular tools such as Slack, Evernote, and Dropbox. Get started today for free or upgrade to the Business Class plan for just $9.99 a month.
2. Asana
Asana can be thought of as a super powerful todo list — powerful enough to accommodate large teams and complex projects. It places a heavy focus on company goals and achieving them on time and on budget.
Once inside the app, Asana users have the ability to view their projects in multiple ways. There's the task list view which (unsurprisingly) lists tasks in the standard to-do list style. There's also the boards view which is essentially a kanban board similar to what Trello offers, and the timeline view which gives a visual representation of how each piece of a project fits together.
One unique aspect of Asana is its industry templates. If you're new to project management, you'll love this feature! Basically, Asana has created a bunch of different project templates for various departments including marketing, HR, and design. Users can use these templates as a proven foundation when building their own workflows.
Just like Trello, Asana offers basic functionality for free. Its Premium plans starts at $9.99 a month, though, if you need to upgrade.
3. Zoho Projects
Zoho is a complete business software suite that's become quite popular over the last view years. One of the company's offerings is Projects, a project management software that makes planning, tracking, and collaborating on projects a breeze.
First off, this app has just about every project management app feature you could ever dream of. It's really powerful! Milestones? Check. Time tracking? Check. Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and live chat capability? Check, check, and check!
No matter what kind of project you happen to be working on, you can plan and manage it effectively inside Projects. But all that functionality is going to cost you if you ever want to graduate past the Free Forever plan.
The Standard plan costs $18 for 6 users per month
4. Wrike
Wrike is another popular online project management software. This tool offers the convenience of a todo list and the power and flexibility of a spreadsheet. That way you can easily see what needs to get done and when as well as more detailed information like task directions, team member assignments, and live chat.
To use Wrike, first start a new project and create specific tasks that needs to be completed. Then click on each task and add important details like who is in charge of completing it, directions for them to follow, and any attachments they might need.
Users can also email each other (not just use an internal chat feature) directly inside this project management app too which could definitely come in handy.
Get started with Wrike today for free. Or upgrade to a more advanced plan for as little as $9.80 a month per user.
5. Monday
What makes Monday, formerly known as Dapulse, different is its focus on workflows. The folks behind this project management app understand that projects rarely go as planned. So instead of simply giving users a standard tasks list to check off, they included a workflow stages feature.
Once a task is created, a colored 'stages' column can be added to represent various stages in the completion of said task. For example, a green mark would mean the task is complete, orange would represent that the task is still being worked on, and red would mean that the person assigned to the task has hit a roadblock.
This system makes it very easy to see, at a quick glance, how far along certain projects are.
Monday also includes useful features like a timeline view, priority level tracker, and internal chat capability. After a free trial, Monday can be accessed for $39 a month for up to five users.
6. Mavenlink
If you constantly work on tight deadlines, Mavenlink may be the perfect project management software for you. The app's Gantt chart feature allows users to estimate time frames for each stage in a project and add dependencies so that they always know which tasks need to be completed first. Deadlines can then be updated based on this information.
Other features include resource management tools, project templates, internal communications, AI powered reports, and much more.
Mavenlink does offer a free plan but it seems that most of the exciting features are only available via upgraded packages which start at $19 a month for five users.
Project Management Software Package
7. Smartsheet
Do you love the organization possibilities of standard spreadsheets but wish they packed a bit more punch? Take a look at Smartsheet, a project management app that combines everything you love about spreadsheets with comments, task assignment, project status, and budgeting features.
The great thing about Smartsheet is its flexibility. You can add extra rows, columns, and checkboxes to your super spreadsheet at any time. You can also view projects via a Gantt chart, set conditional reminders, and add attachments.
Smartsheet is the ideal project management software for spreadsheet enthusiasts and can be accessed for $14 a month after a 30-day free trial.
8. Podio
Podio, a project management tool that's really multiple apps in one. Users choose the apps they want to use and combine them into a single intuitive dashboard. It's a unique approach that allows users to build smarter workflows.
Podio includes all the standard project management features you need like deadlines, task creation, commenting and chat, file attachments, and templates. The monthly cost to access these features ranges from $0 to $24 a month.
9. Teamwork
Teamwork is project management software that boosts collaboration and simplifies workflows. Designed for in-house and remote teams, Teamwork helps everyone communicate more efficiently and transparently.
Included in Teamwork are time-tracking and analytics features. It also has an in-app chat, which lets users discuss projects all in one place. Teamwork’s customizable boards and workflows make the software a fit for nearly any project.
Thanks to its customizations, Teamwork works for teams of all sizes. Small teams can use the free version forever or upgrade to the pro plan for just $10 per month. Bigger teams get additional tools and templates for $18 per month via the premium edition. Enterprise plans are priced to suit and come with stronger access controls, APIs, and security features.
How to Choose Project Management Software
We just mentioned eight different project management software solutions. Each has unique features and benefits. Which one is right for your team? That's what we'll cover in this section.
To discover which project management app is right for your company, follow this simple three-step process:
- Know What Features You Need: Start by deciding which features your team actually needs, which would be nice to have, and which are irrelevant. Then narrow down your list of potential apps by eliminating any that don't have the capabilities you desire.
- Evaluate Your Company's Budget: Next, look at your budget. How much software can you realistically afford? While each of the tools in our list have free versions, some of the features you need or want might only be available in higher priced plans.
- Experiment and Get Feedback: Once you've narrowed your options down by features and price, it's time to start experimenting with the remaining tools on your list. Sign up for a free plan or trial. Which apps do you and your team enjoy using?
After going through each of these three steps, you should have a good idea of which project management software is right for you.
Manage Your Projects More Successfully
Project management software will help you and your team complete projects on time and on budget, collaborate effectively, and reach peak productivity levels. We encourage you to try some of the apps listed above and begin experimenting with them. Then choose the tool that suits your organization best. Good luck!
Want to really improve productivity and collaboration on your next project? Pair any of the above mentioned project management software solutions with CloudApp, a powerful visual communication tool. CloudApp's screen recorder , screen shot for Mac , webcam recording, GIF creation, and image annotation features will allow you to clearly communicate with your team and help ensure each of your projects is completed on time and on budget. Give it a try today for FREE.
What do we mean by best? These are the top-rated free solutions in our software directory.
Missed deadlines. Bottlenecks. Conversation silos.
These issues are costing you time and money. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to find a project management tool.
If you have a small team, are on a tight budget, and are willing to compromise on some premium features, then a free or freemium project management tool may be right for you. (Freemium products are free versions of paid software that offer limited functionality, user seats, or both.)
In this article, we highlight the 10 top-rated free project management (PM) software options on Capterra and explain each product offering and the cost to upgrade.
Use this list to determine 1) if free software is the right solution for your organization, and 2) which free project management solution is best for your needs.
What does “top-rated” mean? Each of the 10 tools included in this piece have an above-average overall user rating compared to other products in the category. You can find our full methodology here.
The 10 free project management software options we’ll cover:
(Products are listed alphabetically)
Airtable
Asana
Basecamp
ClickUp
Jira
MeisterTask
Podio
Quire
Teamwork
Wrike
Project management vs. work management—which do you need?
“Project management (PM) software” has become an umbrella term, encompassing a range of solutions from lighter, collaborative work management tools up to robust portfolio management solutions.
It’s important to understand the differences between these types of software, so you can choose the tool that best meets your needs:
- Work management software helps teams manage workflows, organize tasks and activities (projects and processes), and collaborate in a shared workspace. These tools capture work execution, providing live notifications and views relevant to different stakeholders. Their target user is non-technical business professionals.
- True PM software helps project managers and organizations execute projects: unique initiatives with a set scope (deliverables), timeline, and budget (resources). These tools help businesses plan, monitor, and control costs, schedules, and resources so they can deliver value and meet project success criteria. Their target user is technical professionals, i.e., project managers. Many of these software tools also offer a project management app so you can check status updates and messages and respond on the go.
10 top-rated free project management software solutions
Airtable
Airtable is a cloud-based, collaborative work management solution. Teams can view tasks on a grid (similar to a spreadsheet), calendar, Kanban board, or gallery. Key features include task management, collaboration, reporting/project tracking, and time tracking.
The central component of Airtable is bases, which contain all the data you need for a project. Bases are made up of a collection of tables, and each table covers a particular aspect of the project. Tables contain fields (file attachments, checkboxes, etc.) and records (relevant data points you’re tracking).
- Free plan: Includes unlimited bases, 1,200 records per base, 2GB of attachment space per base, and two weeks of revision and snapshot history, as well as real-time collaboration and commenting.
- Paid plans: Includes additional records per base, more attachment space, and longer revision history, as well as priority support and access to “blocks,” modular apps that extend the functionality of bases. The paid plans are per user, per month, and the next tier up from the free version is $10 per user, per month.
Asana
Asana is a cloud-based project and task management solution that helps companies manage and organize tasks and projects, communicate, and collaborate. It’s helpful for teams and companies that handle multiple projects at a time, and it can serve companies of any size.
Features include task management, reporting, automatic notifications, a customer portal, collaboration tools, dashboards, a mobile app, document management, and task assigning. Asana also includes an inbox feature that captures all updates generated automatically by the software.
Asana can be accessed through mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It can also be accessed on both Android and iOS smartphones.
Asana can be integrated with various applications such as Dropbox, Slack, Gmail, and Zapier. It has a 100MB limit per individual attachment.
- Free plan: Includes up to 15 users and allows list, board, and calendar view, time tracking, and 100+ free integrations. It also includes unlimited tasks, projects, and the activity log.
- Paid plans: Upgrades start at $13.49 per user, per month. Paid plans include things such as advanced integrations, dashboards, and custom branding.
Basecamp
Basecamp is a real-time communication tool. It includes to-do lists, calendars, due dates, and file sharing, which provides a way for teams to keep track of priorities and actionable items.
With Basecamp, users can create projects, document progress, and manage tasks. It’s web-based software, allowing users to sign in either through a web browser or through a mobile app.
Basecamp can be used by any organization that needs to manage a group, including nonprofits, startups, and client service firms—and even freelancers. Subscriptions are scalable, with tiers for varying amounts of storage and numbers of users.
- Free plan: Intended for freelancers, personal use, families, and light use and includes 1GB of storage, three projects, and 20 users.
- Paid plans: $99 per month flat fee and includes unlimited projects, users, and 500GB of storage space.
ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based work management solution that bills itself as “productivity software.” It helps individuals and teams set goals, manage tasks, and organize work in “project spaces.” Key features include task management, collaboration, reporting/project tracking, time tracking, and Gantt charts.
The central components of ClickUp include tasks, custom fields, goals (defined objectives that are broken down into, and assigned, a measurable target), and portfolios (a high-level overview of your work, similar to a dashboard).
- Free plan: Includes unlimited users, unlimited tasks, and project workspaces, 100MB of file storage, 24/7 support (chat, phone, email, and an online help center), as well as 100 uses of custom fields, 100 uses of goals, 100 uses of portfolios, and limited reporting.
- Paid plans: Include unlimited storage, integrations, full reporting options, and additional features such as Gantt charts.
Microsoft Project Management Software
Jira
Jira software is a workflow management tool that Agile teams use to plan, track, and release software. Jira works for teams that use Scrum, Kanban, a hybrid model, or other unique workflows.
With Jira, users can create project roadmaps to map out all in-progress projects. The project board includes a drag-and-drop interface that allows teams to manage every project detail. Users can create user stories and issues, plan sprints, and distribute tasks across the team. Users also have access to information from thousands of business apps, from design and monitoring tools to source code and productivity apps.
Jira offers a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. Support is available through an online support portal, online documentation, and tutorial videos.
- Free plan: Includes Scrum and Kanban boards, Agile reporting, customizable workflows, 2GB of storage, and community support.
- Paid plans: Pricing is per user, per month, and depends on the number of users. For 10 users, pricing starts at $7 per user, per month, on average, or about $70 per month. The paid plan includes 250GB of storage (this increases as the pricing tier increases) and additional features like an audit log.
MeisterTask
Project Management Software Microsoft
MeisterTask is a visual work management software tool that helps teams manage workflows and organize tasks on a shared Kanban board. It can be deployed in the cloud or installed on Mac or Windows OS. Key features include task management, collaboration, reporting/project tracking, and time tracking.
- Free plan: Includes unlimited users, tasks, Kanban boards, storage, and file attachments up to 20MB.
- Paid plans: Include priority support and additional features such as recurring tasks, reporting, and custom fields. To upgrade to the first paid plan tier, the cost is $8.25 per user, per month, when paid annually.
Podio
Citrix Podio is a project management and social collaboration tool. It allows businesses to create custom applications to meet unique business requirements and preferred workflows. Users don’t need technical skills to use the software, and it helps save development resources.
Users can access hundreds of free apps through the Podio App Market, such as task management, project portfolio management, and issue management. There are also apps for functions such as customer relationship management (CRM) and applicant tracking.
Across all apps, Podio offers a range of social collaboration features, including Facebook-esque “likes” and file-sharing anywhere within the system, as well as internal instant messaging and video chat.
Podio’s app-building capabilities make it a good fit for smaller organizations that require a high degree of customization—particularly those looking to manage multiple business processes within a single system.
- Free plan: Up to five employees allowed, and includes apps and workspaces and task management features.
- Paid plans: Start at $9 per user, per month and include unlimited items, user management, and unlimited external users. There is a discount on the per user pricing if paying annually.
Quire
Quire is a cloud-based project management solution designed to help small and midsize businesses manage to-do lists and tasks to enable collaboration across teams. Key features include document management, real-time editing, communication tools, discussion boards, file sharing, milestone tracking, and project planning.
Teams using Quire can arrange and prioritize tasks via a Kanban board so members can visualize workflows. Managers can assign tasks to team members, sort assignments according to priority, filter tasks, and view start/due dates of projects using Gantt charts. Additionally, users can follow tasks in order to receive reminders in registered devices about upcoming deadlines.
Quire comes with an application programming interface (API), which allows integration with various third-party applications, such as Slack, Outlook Calendar, iCal and others. Users can remotely manage business activities through mobile applications for Android and iOS devices. Quire provides support via email and FAQs.
- Free plan: Quire only offers a free plan at this time. According to their website, they’re currently working on paid versions, but whatever is free now will continue to be free even after paid versions have been added.
Teamwork
Teamwork is a cloud-based work management solution that helps teams collaborate, organize tasks, and deliver on time. Key features include Gantt charts, Kanban boards, task management, collaboration, reporting/project tracking, time tracking, and resource management.
- Free plan: Includes access for five users, two active projects and 100MB storage, and multiple support options (email, live chat, phone, online knowledge base, and training guides).
- Paid plans: Include additional projects, greater storage, priority support, and more robust tracking, such as the portfolio view and risk register. To upgrade to a paid plan, the cost is $12.50 per user, per month. There is a slight discount if paying annually.
Wrike
Wrike is a cloud-based project management platform for teams of 20+ for both enterprise and small businesses. It comes with Gantt charts, calendars, a workload view for resource management, custom dashboards, and real-time updates. It allows for structuring via folders, projects, and tasks and auto-assignment based on task statuses. Wrike supports a wide range of teams, from finance and tech to creative and advertising.
Wrike for Marketers is a separate product with tailored templates, proofing tools, and an Adobe extension.
Wrike integrates with a variety of tools including Salesforce, Dropbox, and Slack and offers an API.
- Free plan: Allows for up to 5 users. It includes board view, task management, file sharing, a real-time activity stream, basic integrations, and 2GB of storage space.
- Paid plans: The first tier is $9.80 per user, per month and includes a Gantt chart feature, task and subtask management, advanced integrations, shared dashboards, and 5GB of storage space (storage space increases for more expensive tiers).
Streamline your software search with our Top 20 guide
Quickly find the right tool with this snapshot of the most popular project management tools.
Feature descriptions
Below are descriptions of the software functionality that’s referenced in the product write-ups above:
| Key capabilities and features of PM software | |
|---|---|
| Task management | Create tasks, add descriptions, set start and due dates, set a priority, estimate level of effort (e.g., hours, points, etc.), and assign tasks to users. Users can add attachments, leave comments, and update the task status as they work on the item or move tasks through a workflow on a task board (either Kanban or Scrum). Additional functions include: convert emails to tasks, set dependencies, create subtasks, create recurring tasks, create task checklists. |
| Collaboration | Provides a centralized workspace that enables multiple users to communicate, conference, and coordinate among themselves to facilitate group work. Create shared team and/or project task boards, calendars, wikis, dashboards, etc.; stay up to date with other users’ activity via activity feed; loop in project team members via @mentions; share files; chat; video conference, and invite guests to participate. |
| Reporting/project tracking | Reports and dashboards provide a quick, visual way for users to understand the status of a project, its costs, or other key information. View progress made against the project plan, track milestones, track active tasks, view a completed task list, compare estimated time to actual time spent, compare estimated spend to actual costs, and track team performance. |
| Project planning | Define project scope, timeline, and resources/budget. Break complex projects down into milestones, identify deliverables, and forecast cash flow. Create the work breakdown structure, outline the critical path, identify dependencies and constraints, and plan key resources. |
| Time tracking | Track time spent on various tasks, report on estimated versus actual time spent working on tasks, measure billable versus nonbillable hours, pull time logged into a timesheet for invoicing clients. |
| Resource management | Create resource chart/record with contact information, pay rate, role, and skill level. Allocate staff to projects and monitor workloads. Functions may include resource capacity planning and project prioritization based on demand for key resources. |
| File sharing | Digitally share a wide variety of media types. |
| Gantt chart | Cascading, horizontal bar chart with dates that mark the start and finish of the interdependent parts of a project. Tasks are laid out in order of when each item needs to be completed. Often used to create the work breakdown structure and outline the critical path during project planning and then to compare current project status with initial plans during project execution. |
| Kanban board | The digital equivalent of sticky notes on a white board, Kanban boards provide a visual representation of a workflow or process. The board is divided into columns representing stages in a workflow (e.g., “backlog,” “developing,” and “testing”), or a status (e.g., “to do,” “in progress,” and “done”). Tasks are represented as “cards” that can be expanded to show assignee(s), task details, and comments. Kanban metrics include cumulative flow diagrams and lead and cycle time diagrams. |
Methodology
This article was updated 12/15/20. Products considered for this article had to:
Offer a free, stand-alone version of the software (not a trial version of the software where you must purchase a product after a limited amount of time).
Meet our project management market definition.
This definition includes project management software’s evolution to encompass a range of solutions, from lighter task/work management tools up to robust portfolio management solutions:
Work management software helps teams plan and manage workflows, organize tasks and activities, and collaborate in a shared workspace. These tools capture the work execution, providing live notifications and views relevant to different stakeholders.
Project management (PM) software helps managers and organizations execute projects: initiatives with a defined start and end date, a defined scope, and defined resources/budget. PM solutions help businesses plan, monitor, and control project costs and schedules so they can deliver value and meet project success criteria (e.g., on time, on budget, within scope, and meeting business goals).
Software that met the market definition also needed a minimum of 10 user-submitted reviews published between Nov 30, 2019 – Nov. 30, 2020, and have an above-average overall user rating compared to other products in the category.
Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users does not represent the views of Capterra. The applications selected in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations. They have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.
Looking for Project Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Project Management software solutions.