Top Project Management Software Comparison
By Unknown Author | Published: Undated | Category: Project Management Software
About Project Management Software
Project management software helps teams plan, execute, and monitor projects, tasks, and resources effectively. These tools facilitate collaboration, track progress, manage budgets, and improve overall project outcomes.
Scoring Criteria
- → Ease of Use
- → Task Management Features
- → Collaboration Tools
- → Integrations
- → Reporting & Analytics
- → Pricing & Value
The Best Project Management Software
Asana
By Asana, Inc.
A flexible project management tool focused on task management, workflow automation, and team collaboration.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: Task Management, Project Planning, Marketing Campaigns, Product Launches, Agile Management
Key Features
- ✓Task Management: Create, assign, and track tasks with deadlines, dependencies, and custom fields.
- ✓Multiple Views: Visualize work with List, Board (Kanban), Calendar, Timeline (Gantt), and Workload views.
- ✓Workflow Automation: Automate routine tasks and processes using rules.
- ✓Collaboration: Team conversations, project dashboards, status updates, and proofing.
Scorecard (Overall: 7.8 / 10.0)
Pricing
Basic
Contact Vendor
- Unlimited tasks, projects, messages
- List, Board, Calendar views
- Basic reporting
Limitations: Limited team size (15), No Timeline view, Limited automation
Premium
$10.99 / monthly
- Timeline view
- Workflow Builder
- Unlimited dashboards
- Custom fields
- Admin console
Limitations: Billed per user
Business
$24.99 / monthly
- Portfolios
- Goals
- Workload
- Advanced integrations
- Proofing
Limitations: Billed per user
Pros
- + Highly flexible and customizable
- + Excellent task management capabilities
- + Multiple project views
- + Strong automation features
Cons
- - Can feel overwhelming for new users
- - Some key features (Timeline, Workload) require paid plans
- - Reporting could be more robust on lower tiers
Verdict
"Excellent for teams needing versatile task and workflow management with multiple ways to visualize projects."
Monday.com
By monday.com Ltd.
A Work OS platform allowing teams to build custom workflows for project management, CRM, operations, and more.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (Mac, Windows)
Best For: Project Management, Task Tracking, Workflow Automation, Resource Management, CRM, Bug Tracking
Key Features
- ✓Customizable Boards: Highly flexible boards with numerous column types for data tracking.
- ✓Multiple Views: Includes Kanban, Calendar, Timeline, Gantt, Chart, Map, and Workload views.
- ✓Automations & Integrations: Build code-free automations and connect with numerous third-party apps.
- ✓Dashboards: Create visual dashboards pulling data from multiple boards for reporting.
Scorecard (Overall: 8.3 / 10.0)
Pricing
Individual
Contact Vendor
- Up to 2 seats
- 3 boards
- Unlimited docs
- Basic templates
Limitations: Very limited features, No automations/integrations
Basic
$8.00 / monthly
- Unlimited items & free viewers
- 5 GB storage
- Prioritized customer support
Limitations: Minimum 3 users, Limited views & automations
Standard
$10.00 / monthly
- Timeline, Gantt, Calendar views
- 250 automations/month
- 250 integrations/month
- Dashboards (1 board)
Limitations: Minimum 3 users
Pro
$16.00 / monthly
- Private boards
- Chart & Workload views
- 25,000 automations/month
- 25,000 integrations/month
- Time tracking
Limitations: Minimum 3 users
Pros
- + Highly visual and intuitive interface
- + Extremely customizable
- + Powerful automation and integration capabilities
- + Excellent reporting dashboards
Cons
- - Pricing structure (minimum users, per-user cost) can be expensive for small teams
- - Some essential PM features (Gantt, Time Tracking) restricted to higher tiers
- - Free plan is very limited
Verdict
"A powerful and highly customizable Work OS suitable for diverse workflows beyond traditional project management, especially strong in visualization and automation."
ClickUp
By ClickUp
An all-in-one productivity platform aiming to replace multiple apps with extensive customization and features.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (Mac, Windows, Linux)
Best For: Project Management, Task Management, Goal Tracking, Document Collaboration, Agile Development, Resource Planning
Key Features
- ✓Customizable Hierarchy: Organize work with Spaces, Folders, Lists, and Tasks.
- ✓Multiple Views: Over 15 views including List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, Mind Map, Table, Workload.
- ✓Docs & Whiteboards: Integrated document creation and collaborative whiteboarding tools.
- ✓Goals & Milestones: Set and track project goals and key milestones.
Scorecard (Overall: 8.5 / 10.0)
Pricing
Free Forever
Contact Vendor
- Unlimited tasks
- Unlimited members
- 100MB storage
- Multiple views
- Real-time chat
Limitations: Limited uses of certain features (Gantt, Custom Fields, Goals)
Unlimited
$5.00 / monthly
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited integrations
- Unlimited dashboards
- Goals, Portfolios
- Custom Fields
Limitations: Billed per user
Business
$12.00 / monthly
- Advanced automations
- Advanced time tracking
- Workload management
- Mind Maps
- Timeline view
Limitations: Billed per user
Pros
- + Extremely feature-rich, often replaces multiple tools
- + Very generous free plan
- + Highly customizable structure and views
- + Competitive pricing
Cons
- - Can have a steep learning curve due to the sheer number of features
- - Interface can sometimes feel cluttered or overwhelming
- - Performance can occasionally lag
Verdict
"An incredibly powerful and feature-packed platform offering exceptional value, ideal for teams wanting a single tool for almost everything, provided they invest time in learning it."
Trello
By Atlassian
A simple, visual, Kanban-based project management tool great for organizing tasks and workflows.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (Mac, Windows)
Best For: Simple Task Management, Kanban Workflows, Personal Organization, Editorial Calendars, Onboarding Processes
Key Features
- ✓Kanban Boards: Classic drag-and-drop interface with cards, lists, and boards.
- ✓Cards: Contain details like descriptions, checklists, attachments, due dates, comments.
- ✓Power-Ups: Integrations and feature enhancements (Calendar, Custom Fields, Automations).
- ✓Butler Automation: No-code automation for tasks and processes within Trello.
Scorecard (Overall: 7.5 / 10.0)
Pricing
Free
Contact Vendor
- Unlimited cards
- Up to 10 boards per Workspace
- Unlimited storage (10MB/file)
- Unlimited Power-Ups (selected)
- Basic automation
Limitations: Board limits, File size limits
Standard
$5.00 / monthly
- Unlimited boards
- Advanced checklists
- Custom Fields
- Unlimited storage (250MB/file)
- 1,000 automation runs/month
Limitations: Billed per user
Premium
$10.00 / monthly
- Multiple views (Dashboard, Timeline, Table, Calendar, Map)
- Workspace-level templates
- Admin & security features
- Unlimited automation runs
Limitations: Billed per user
Pros
- + Extremely easy to learn and use
- + Highly visual Kanban board interface
- + Good free plan
- + Flexible through Power-Ups
Cons
- - Limited functionality beyond Kanban without Power-Ups or paid plans
- - Not ideal for complex projects with deep hierarchies or dependencies
- - Reporting is basic
Verdict
"Perfect for individuals and teams seeking a simple, visual way to manage tasks and straightforward projects, especially using Kanban methodology."
Jira Software
By Atlassian
A powerful project management tool specifically designed for software development teams using Agile methodologies.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (Mac, Windows)
Best For: Agile Development (Scrum, Kanban), Bug Tracking, Issue Tracking, Software Project Management, DevOps
Key Features
- ✓Agile Boards: Customizable Scrum and Kanban boards tailored for software development.
- ✓Backlog Grooming: Tools for prioritizing and managing product backlogs.
- ✓Reporting: Agile reports like Burndown charts, Velocity charts, Cumulative Flow diagrams.
- ✓Developer Tool Integrations: Deep integrations with Bitbucket, GitHub, Jenkins, etc.
Scorecard (Overall: 8.0 / 10.0)
Pricing
Free
Contact Vendor
- Up to 10 users
- Scrum & Kanban boards
- Backlog
- Agile reporting
- Basic automation
Limitations: User limit, 2GB file storage
Standard
$7.75 / monthly
- Up to 35,000 users
- Project roles
- Advanced permissions
- Audit logs
- 250GB storage
Limitations: Billed per user
Premium
$15.25 / monthly
- Advanced roadmaps
- Project archiving
- Unlimited storage
- Advanced automation
- IP allowlisting
Limitations: Billed per user
Pros
- + Industry standard for Agile software development
- + Powerful bug and issue tracking
- + Extensive customization for workflows
- + Excellent integration with development tools
- + Robust reporting for Agile metrics
Cons
- - Steep learning curve for non-developers
- - Interface can be complex and overwhelming
- - Can be overkill for non-software projects
Verdict
"The go-to choice for software development teams practicing Agile, offering specialized features and deep integrations, but less suitable for general project management."
Smartsheet
By Smartsheet Inc.
A powerful, spreadsheet-like work management tool with robust project management, automation, and reporting features.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: Project Management, Process Management, Resource Management, Portfolio Management, Data Collection via Forms
Key Features
- ✓Grid View (Spreadsheet Interface): Familiar spreadsheet layout for task and data management.
- ✓Multiple Views: Gantt, Card (Kanban), Calendar views available.
- ✓Automation: Automated workflows for alerts, approvals, and updates.
- ✓Reporting & Dashboards: Create powerful reports and visual dashboards from sheet data.
Scorecard (Overall: 7.5 / 10.0)
Pricing
Free
Contact Vendor
- 1 user
- Up to 2 editors
- Up to 2 sheets
- Grid, Card, Calendar views
- Basic forms
Limitations: Very limited sheets & users
Pro
$7.00 / monthly
- Up to 10 editors (paid)
- Unlimited free viewers
- Unlimited sheets
- Dashboards & Reports
- Basic automation
Limitations: Billed per user, Minimum 1 user
Business
$25.00 / monthly
- Unlimited editors (paid)
- Advanced automation
- Forms with conditional logic
- Proofing
- Activity log
Limitations: Billed per user, Minimum 3 users
Pros
- + Familiar spreadsheet interface
- + Powerful automation capabilities
- + Excellent reporting and dashboard features
- + Scalable for enterprise needs
Cons
- - Interface can feel dated compared to some competitors
- - Per-user pricing adds up
- - Free plan is highly restrictive
- - Less intuitive for pure task management than others
Verdict
"A robust platform excelling in process management, automation, and reporting, particularly suited for organizations comfortable with a spreadsheet paradigm."
Wrike
By Wrike, Inc. (Citrix)
A versatile project management platform with strong customization, planning, and collaboration features for complex projects.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (Mac, Windows)
Best For: Project Planning, Marketing Teams, Creative Agencies, Enterprise Project Management, Resource Management
Key Features
- ✓Customizable Workspaces: Flexible folders, projects, and tasks structure.
- ✓Dynamic Request Forms: Standardize project intake and task requests.
- ✓Gantt Charts & Workload View: Interactive timelines and resource management tools.
- ✓Proofing & Approvals: Built-in tools for reviewing and approving creative assets.
Scorecard (Overall: 7.3 / 10.0)
Pricing
Free
Contact Vendor
- Task & subtask management
- Live activity stream
- Board & Spreadsheet views
- Basic integrations
- Cloud storage integrations
Limitations: Limited tasks, Limited storage (2GB)
Team
$9.80 / monthly
- Unlimited projects
- Interactive Gantt charts
- Dashboards
- Request forms
- 5 GB storage/user
Limitations: Billed per user, Minimum 2 users
Business
$24.80 / monthly
- Custom fields & workflows
- Resource management
- Time tracking
- Proofing & approvals
- Automation Engine
Limitations: Billed per user, Minimum 5 users
Pros
- + Highly customizable workflows and folder structure
- + Strong features for marketing and creative teams (proofing)
- + Robust reporting and analytics
- + Good resource management tools
Cons
- - Interface can be busy and take time to master
- - Pricing can be high, especially with user minimums on higher tiers
- - Free plan is quite limited
Verdict
"A powerful, enterprise-ready platform suited for complex projects and specific use cases like marketing/creative work, offering deep customization."
Basecamp
By Basecamp
A project management and team communication tool focused on simplicity, organization, and reducing complexity.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Desktop (Mac, Windows)
Best For: Team Communication, Simple Project Management, Client Collaboration, Remote Work Hub
Key Features
- ✓Centralized Projects: Each project contains tools like Message Board, To-dos, Schedule, Docs & Files.
- ✓Communication Tools: Message boards, Campfire chat, Pings (direct messages), Automatic Check-ins.
- ✓Hill Charts: Unique progress tracking visualization for tasks.
- ✓Client Access: Share specific project elements with clients.
Scorecard (Overall: 6.8 / 10.0)
Pricing
Basecamp
$15.00 / monthly
- Per user pricing
- All features included
- 500GB storage
Limitations: No free tier for ongoing use (previously offered), Per-user cost
Pro Unlimited
$299.00 / monthly
- Flat monthly fee
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited projects
- All features included
- 5TB storage
- Priority support
Limitations: Higher entry price point for small teams
Pros
- + Very simple and easy to learn
- + Excellent communication and collaboration tools
- + Flat pricing model (Pro Unlimited) is great value for large teams
- + Reduces reliance on multiple tools (chat, file storage, PM)
Cons
- - Limited task management features (no Gantt, Kanban out-of-the-box)
- - Fewer integrations than competitors
- - Basic reporting capabilities
- - Per-user pricing can be costly for smaller teams compared to flat rate history
Verdict
"Ideal for teams prioritizing clear communication and simple project organization over complex features, especially valuable under the flat-rate plan for larger groups."
Microsoft Project
By Microsoft
A comprehensive project portfolio management (PPM) solution for planning, managing, and tracking complex projects and resources.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, Desktop (Windows)
Best For: Complex Project Planning, Portfolio Management, Resource Management, Budget Management, Enterprise PMO
Key Features
- ✓Detailed Scheduling: Robust Gantt charts, task dependencies, critical path analysis.
- ✓Resource Management: Assign resources, track availability, manage costs.
- ✓Portfolio Management: Tools for prioritizing and managing groups of projects.
- ✓Reporting: Pre-built reports and customizable dashboards (Power BI integration).
Scorecard (Overall: 6.8 / 10.0)
Pricing
Project Plan 1
$10.00 / monthly
- Web-based access
- Task management
- Board & Timeline (Gantt) views
- Basic reporting
Limitations: No desktop client, Limited resource management
Project Plan 3
$30.00 / monthly
- Includes Plan 1 features
- Desktop client included
- Resource management
- Timesheets
- Advanced reporting
Limitations: Billed per user
Project Plan 5
$55.00 / monthly
- Includes Plan 3 features
- Portfolio selection & optimization
- Demand management
- Enterprise resource planning
Limitations: Billed per user
Pros
- + Industry standard for traditional, complex project management
- + Powerful scheduling and dependency tracking
- + Comprehensive resource and portfolio management features
- + Strong integration with Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Power BI)
Cons
- - Very steep learning curve
- - Expensive compared to many modern alternatives
- - Interface can feel outdated and complex
- - Primarily focused on waterfall methodologies; less agile-friendly than others
- - Web version less powerful than desktop
Verdict
"A powerhouse for large, complex projects requiring detailed planning, resource management, and portfolio oversight, best suited for experienced project managers and enterprises, particularly within the Microsoft ecosystem."
Zoho Projects
By Zoho Corporation
A comprehensive project management tool within the Zoho ecosystem, offering task management, time tracking, and collaboration features.
Platforms & Use Cases
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best For: Project Planning, Task Management, Time Tracking, Issue Tracking, Team Collaboration
Key Features
- ✓Task Management: Tasks, subtasks, dependencies, milestones, Gantt charts, Kanban boards.
- ✓Time Tracking: Built-in timesheets and invoicing capabilities.
- ✓Collaboration: Feeds, chat, forums, documents.
- ✓Issue Tracking: Integrated bug and issue tracking module.
Scorecard (Overall: 7.5 / 10.0)
Pricing
Free
Contact Vendor
- Up to 3 users
- 2 projects
- Basic task tracking
- Gantt chart viewer
- Limited storage
Limitations: User/Project limits, Limited features
Premium
$4.00 / monthly
- Up to 50 users
- Unlimited projects
- Task automation
- Time tracking
- Project templates
- 100 GB storage
Limitations: Billed per user
Enterprise
$9.00 / monthly
- No user limit
- Custom fields & roles
- Resource management
- Portfolio dashboard
- Task workflow rules
Limitations: Billed per user
Pros
- + Affordable pricing tiers
- + Comprehensive feature set for the price
- + Strong integration with other Zoho apps
- + Good time tracking and issue tracking capabilities
Cons
- - Interface can sometimes feel less polished than competitors
- - Steeper learning curve for advanced features
- - Free plan is very limited
Verdict
"A solid, budget-friendly option offering a wide range of project management features, particularly attractive for businesses already invested in the Zoho ecosystem."
Author information could not be loaded for this review.
Final Thoughts
The project management software landscape offers diverse solutions catering to different needs, from simple task boards to complex portfolio management. Key differentiators include ease of use, feature depth (especially views, automation, and reporting), integration capabilities, collaboration focus, and pricing models. Choosing the right tool depends heavily on team size, project complexity, workflow preferences (e.g., Agile vs. Waterfall), technical expertise, and budget.