Top 15 Project Management Tools For Your Business in 2024 [Free & Paid]

What are the 11 Best Project Management Tools?

Let’s have a look at the top 11 project management tools:

1. WRIKE

Wrike is an advanced cloud-based project management tool that streamlines task tracking, project planning, and stakeholder collaboration. 

Features:

• Task and project management
• Gantt charts
• Real-time newsfeed for collaboration
• Automation for streamlined workflows
• Reporting and analytics

Price:

• Free Plan: Wrike offers a free project management plan with limited features for small teams of up to five users.
• Professional Plan: around $9.80 per user per month (billed annually) for up to 15 users.
• Business Plan: $24.80 per user per month (billed annually) for up to 200 users.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for large teams (billed annually).

2. ASANA

Asana stands out as a platform for project management software that is highly sought after and suitable for companies of all sizes. 

Features:

• Task and Project Management
• Timeline View (Gantt Charts)
• Team Collaboration
• Workflow Automation
• Customizable Dashboards
• Integrations
• File Sharing and Storage

Price:

• Basic Plan: This project management plan is free and suitable for small teams and individuals. 
• Premium Plan: around $10.99 per user per month when billed annually.
• Business Plan: at around $24.99 per user per month when billed annually.
• Enterprise Plan: The Enterprise Plan is designed for larger organizations with more extensive needs. It offers additional security, administrative, and support features. 

3. SMARTSHEET

A project management tool with a strong visual component, Smartsheet was inspired by the conventional spreadsheet model. 

Features:

• Automated Workflows
• Content Management (Progress Dashboards, Automated Alerts, Resource Management)
• Gantt Charts
• Collaboration Tools
• Resource Allocation and Management
• Reporting and Analytics

Price:

• Free Plan: a free project management plan with limited features for small teams of up to five users.
• Pro Plan: about $14 per user per month.
• Business Plan: about $25 per user per month.
• Enterprise Plan: The Enterprise Plan is created for larger organizations with complex needs. 

4. CLICKUP

ClickUp is a well-known project management tool that works well for teams of all sizes, including those that include remote workers.

Features:

• Task Management
• Customizable Workflows
• Goal Setting
• Document Management
• Reporting and Analytics
• Reminders and Notifications

Price:

• Free Plan- $0 Forever
• Unlimited Plan – $9 per user/month (billed monthly)
• Business Plan – $19 per user/month (billed monthly)
• Business Plus Plan – $29 per user/month (billed monthly)
• Enterprise Plan – Custom pricing with personalized features and support.

5.  MICROSOFT PROJECT

Microsoft Project, a dependable component of the widely known Microsoft brand, combines project management features from other sister brands into a single platform. Although it is renowned for managing individual projects successfully, managing several active projects may not be as preferred.

Features:

• Gantt Charts
• Resource Management
• Task Management
• Budgeting and Cost Tracking
• Customizable Templates
• Integration with Office 365

Price:

• Project Plan 1 costs $10 per user/month.
• Project Plan 3 costs $30 per user/month.
• Project Plan 5 is priced at $55 per user/month.

Please note that on-premises solutions have separate pricing structures.

6. PROOFHUB

ProofHub is a potent project management tool that improves and streamlines project management procedures for greater productivity. 

Features:

• Centralized Platform
• Task Management
• Time Tracking
• Collaboration Tools
• File Sharing and Document Management
• Intuitive Interface

Price:

• Essential Plan: Priced at $45/month (billed annually)
• Ultimate Control Plan: For a discounted price of $ 89/month (billed annually)

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7. MONDAY

Monday.com is a well-known option for project management software, providing a variety of templates and tools to simplify processes and increase team productivity. 

Features:

• Diverse Templates and Tools
• Streamlined Operations
• Boosted Team Productivity
• Extensive Information Display
• Customizable Workflows
• User-Friendly Interface

Price:

• Individual Plan: Free of charge.
• Basic Plan: $30 per month (billed monthly).
• Standard Plan: $36 per month (billed monthly).
• Pro Plan: $60 per month (billed monthly).
• Enterprise Plan: Tailored pricing with customized features and support.

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8. JIRA

Jira, which is now a part of the Atlassian Group, began as a software development solution before becoming a complete platform. 

Features:

• Jira Software
• Jira Core
• Jira Work Management
• Comprehensive Platform
• Work Management for Teams
• Support for Various Domains

Price:

• Free: $0 per user/month.
• Standard: $7.75 per user/month (billed monthly on average).
• Premium: $15.25 per user/month (billed monthly on average).
• Enterprise: Tailored pricing with custom features and support.

9. BASECAMP

Basecamp is an approachable platform with scheduling, collaboration, and monitoring tools for smooth project execution. 

Features:

• Message boards
• Project Scheduling
• User-Friendly Interface
• Project Management Functionality
• Collaboration and Monitoring Tools
• Seamless Team Communication

Price:

• Basecamp Plan– $15 per user/month
• Basecamp Pro Unlimited Plan – $349 per month (billed monthly; unlimited users) 

10. TRELLO

Trello, one of the forerunners of Kanban-based tools, maintains its ease of use in task management and project visualization through logical drag-and-drop features. 

Features:

• Kanban-Based Project Visualization
• Drag-and-Drop Task Management
• User-Friendly Interface
• Seamless Sharing and Collaboration
• Integration with External Users

Price:

• Free: Available at no cost.
• Standard: Priced at $6 per user/month, billed monthly.
• Premium: Costing $12.50 per user/month, billed monthly.
• Enterprise: Priced at $17.50 per user/month, billed annually.

11. ZOHO PROJECTS

The Zoho suite includes Zoho Projects, which is primarily geared toward the real estate sector and includes tools like CRM, recruitment, and sales platforms. 

Features:

• Part of Zoho Suite
• Real Estate Industry Focus
• Seamless Integration with Zoho Tools
• Comprehensive Project Management Solution
• Data Synchronization Between Tools
• Ideal for Existing Zoho Users

Price:

• Free: Available at no cost for up to 3 users.
• Premium: Priced at $5 per user/month, billed monthly.
• Enterprise: Costing $10 per user/month, billed monthly.

Additional 10 Project Management Tools

1. NOTION:A single workspace with strong project management, note-taking, and collaboration tools to boost productivity.
2. AIRTABLE:It is a flexible and adaptable tool that combines databases and spreadsheets, making it perfect for managing projects and data.
3. HIVE:A user-friendly platform for smooth project collaboration, task management, and communication that increases team output.
4. LIQUID PLANNER:Better planning and execution are made possible with Liquid Planner, a dynamic project management tool with time and resource tracking.
5. MEISTERTASK:An easy-to-use task manager with Kanban boards, integrations, and automation for productive team workflows.
6. PODIO:Adaptable project management, collaboration, and app integration workspaces for various requirements.
7. REDBOOTH:An all-in-one tool that improves project efficiency through task management, file sharing, and real-time communication.
8. FREEDCAMP:Complete project management for various teams with task lists, calendars, and collaboration tools.
9. WIMI:A centralized platform that facilitates team collaboration and project management through file sharing.
10. TEAMGANTT:A Gantt chart-based project planning and scheduling tool for visual project timelines and task management.

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How to Choose a PM Tool – A Step-by-Step Guide

For efficient project execution and team collaboration, picking the right project management (PM) tool is essential. Here is a step-by-step guide to assist you in choosing wisely:

• Analyse Your Needs: Determine the parameters of your project, the size of your team, and the specific features required for effective project management.
• Establish Your Budget: Establish your financial restrictions and investigate the pricing schemes of potential PM tools.
• Research and Shortlist: Investigate the available various PM tools, read reviews, and make a shortlist of those that fit your requirements and price range.
• Features Evaluation: Contrast features with your project requirements, such as task management, collaboration, reporting, and integration options.
• User-Friendliness: To ensure smooth team adoption, choose a tool with an intuitive interface and simple navigation. 
• Trial Period: Utilize free trials or demos to test the tools that made the shortlist and determine their suitability.
• Customer Support: Examine the provider of the PM tool’s level of assistance and customer support.
• Security and privacy: Ensure the tool complies with your data security and privacy standards.
• User Feedback: Examine user feedback and testimonials to gain insight into the PM tool’s user experience.
• Consult your team: Include your team in the decision-making process to get their opinions on the options that made the shortlist.
• Make an Informed Decision: After weighing all the pros and cons, select the PM tool that most closely matches your needs and your team’s preferences and objectives.

Following this step-by-step guide and armed with a PG Certificate in Product Management from DUKE, you can find a project management tool that optimizes your workflow, improves collaboration, and increases overall project success.

What to Look for When Choosing Paid or Free Project Management Software?

The following factors should be taken into consideration to help you decide between paid and free project management software:

• Features and Functionality: Examine the features and functionalities offered by both paid and free options to ensure they satisfy your project’s needs.
• Scalability: Consider whether the software can handle bigger or more complex projects as well as the growth of your team.
• User Restrictions: Determine whether the free version of the software has any user restrictions that might make it difficult for teams to work together.
• Data Storage: Consider whether the free version’s data storage restrictions are adequate for your project’s requirements.
• Support and Updates: Compared to free versions, paid software frequently provides better customer support and more frequent updates.
• User Reviews: Read user reviews and testimonials to learn about other people’s experiences using paid and free versions.
• Long-Term Needs: Consider your long-term project management needs and whether the software can accommodate your team’s changing requirements.
• Reputation of Vendor: To ensure a reliable partnership, look into the standing and dependability of the software provider.

Top Features of a Great Project Management Tool

• Task and Project Management: Effectively organize and track tasks, projects, and milestones.
• Collaboration and communication: Encourage effective teamwork and communication.
• Gantt Charts and Timelines: Use Gantt Charts and Timelines to visualize project schedules and dependencies for better planning.
• Resource management: involves allocating and keeping an eye on resources, such as team members and assets.
• Customizable Workflows: Tailor processes to specific project requirements and team preferences.
• Reporting and Analytics: Produce thorough reports and analytics for assessing project performance.
• File Sharing and Document Management: Centralize project-related files and documents for easy access.
• Automation: For greater efficiency, automate routine tasks and actions.
• Options for Integration: Connect with other necessary tools and programs without difficulty to enhance workflow.
• Mobile Accessibility: Use mobile apps to access and manage projects while on the go.
• Task Dependencies: Establish task dependencies to make sure the project runs smoothly.
• User Permissions and Security: Manage user access while ensuring data security and privacy.
• User-Friendly Interface: Offer a simple, straightforward platform for easy adoption.

Why Do Companies Need Project Management Software?

Companies need project management software for several reasons, some of the crucial reasons are listed below:

• Project management software helps organize tasks and deadlines to create clear project roadmaps.
• It optimizes the use of resources, including financial and human resources.
• The program keeps track of task advancement and ensures team members are held accountable.
• It enables efficient information exchange and seamless teamwork.
• Centralizes project-related files for easy access and version control.
• Identifies and reduces potential risks to complete the project.
• Monitoring task durations and costs helps teams stay on schedule and within budget.
• Workflows are modified to meet requirements and are scaled as projects progress.