Software of August 2025
Compare the best project management software, find the
perfect tools for your organization, and start your free trial today
- Award-winning, all-in-one platform
- Easily assign tasks and prioritize
- 100% customizable to your team’s needs
- Get a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan
- Your all-in-one productivity hub
- Trusted by over 2,000,000 teams
- AI-powered assistance tailored to your needs
- Tailored views for cross-functional projects
- Build, streamline & scale your workflows
- Powerful generative AI tools for all plans
- Enterprise-class security
- 14-day free trial, no credit card needed
- Marketing, sales, and CRM in one place
- Manage all projects in one place
- Connect tasks to your email and calendar
- No third-party tools or log-ins required
- Award-winning, all-in-one platform
- Easily assign tasks and prioritize
- 100% customizable to your team’s needs
- Get a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan
What is project management software?
Project management software makes it easy for managers and teams to plan, track, and collaborate on projects. Project management programs also help teams control costs, improve productivity, and meet deadlines. The best project management software for small teams typically includes pre-set workflow templates and a visual interface where users can track progress and assign tasks to one another.
The top project management tools are usually cloud-based and highly intuitive, requiring no coding or technical know-how. Just choose the project management software you need for your team, set user permissions for each person, and watch productivity soar.
What features and functions does project management software have?
Project management software is actually quite a broad term encompassing a range of project management tools. Some project management software providers specialize in project management only. Others offer project management tools as part of a broader setup incorporating sales, marketing, and/or operations tools. With so many [project management apps] available, it’s easier than ever to match your team’s workflow needs.
The best free project management software typically provides just a few basic tools for file sharing or communicating with one another. Subscription-based project management software may contain any number of features, including:
- Workflows: Ready-made and customizable templates for working and collaborating with one another.
- Visualization: Dashboards showing progress of the team and individual members in a variety of formats including Kanban, Gantt, calendar, map, and timeline view.
- File sharing: Central depository where team members can upload, search for, tag, and give feedback on each other’s work.
- Calendar sharing: Project timelines that automatically update and sync across all user accounts.
- Time tracking: Enables team members to track time spent on tasks for third-party stakeholders.
- Automation: Automation of repetitive workflows through sets of rules, triggers, and alerts.
- Integrations: Third-party apps that expand the capabilities of your project management software.
- Insights: Customized dashboards enable managers to track and analyze trends in team performance and make data-driven decisions.
Are project management programs easy to set up?
Like other SaaS platforms, the setup process really depends on how complex you want your features to be. The best project management tools can be used straight off the shelf or customized to suit your needs. For 99% of small businesses, it’s enough just to purchase project management software and use whatever features and integrations are on offer. For the 1% of businesses with the technical capabilities, you may also want to build your own custom tools and apps.
How easy are project management tools to use?
The best project management tools are easy to use, after all, the entire reason they exist is to improve your team’s workflow. With intuitive drag-and-drop functions and a user-friendly interface, it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours for your team to use your new project management app like pros.
How much does the best project management software cost?
You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 enterprise to get access to the best project management tools. The best project management software for small teams can be had for as little as $5 per user per month, often after a free trial period. Good project management software is scalable, meaning you can start with a cheap (or free) plan and then upgrade to a more expensive package as your team – and needs – grow. Whether you're using a basic [task manager] or transitioning to a premium project management app, costs are structured to suit any team size.
From a scan of the top 10 project management software providers, here’s what you can get at each price level:
- Free: basic project tracking, file sharing, desktop and mobile project management apps, limited (~2 GB) storage space
- $5 to $15 per user per month: visualization tools, collaboration tools, limited integrations, 5-10 GB storage
- $15 - $25 per user per month: Custom workflows, advanced insights and analytics, real-time report sharing, time tracking, project and task approvals, automations, up to 50 GB of storage space.
- Enterprise solution – custom pricing: app builders, 24/7 dedicated support, advanced user controls, advanced security features, 100 GB+ of storage space.
Our Top 3 Project Management Services
In a Nutshell
Monday.com is a comprehensive work operating system (Work OS) designed to empower teams to plan, execute, and track projects and workflows efficiently. Its intuitive interface and customizable features make it suitable for a wide range of industries and team sizes.
Features
- Award-winning, all-in-one platform
- Easily assign tasks and prioritize
- 100% customizable to your team’s needs
- Get a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan
Most Popular Products
Pros
- Highly customizable workflows
- User-friendly interface
- Robust integration capabilities
- Advanced automation features
Cons
- Some advanced features are limited to higher-tier plans
- Pricing can be higher for smaller teams
In a Nutshell
ClickUp is an all-in-one project management platform designed to streamline workflow, improve collaboration, and increase productivity. With its extensive customization options, ClickUp is ideal for teams of all sizes, offering features such as task management, multiple project views, automation, integrations, and real-time collaboration tools. The platform's scalability makes it a great fit for businesses ranging from startups to large enterprises. ClickUp's free plan provides a strong entry point, while its paid tiers unlock more advanced functionalities tailored to various team needs.
Features
- Your all-in-one productivity hub
- Trusted by over 2,000,000 teams
- AI-powered assistance tailored to your needs
- Tailored views for cross-functional projects
Most Popular Products
Pros
- Comprehensive free plan
- Highly customizable interface
- Robust integration capabilities
- Multiple project views
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Occasional performance issues
In a Nutshell
Wrike is a cloud-based project management software that helps teams collaborate efficiently, automate workflows, and track project progress. Designed for businesses of all sizes, Wrike offers a customizable workspace with task management, real-time reporting, workflow automation, and multiple project views. With strong integrations, advanced analytics, and enterprise-grade security, Wrike is an excellent choice for teams looking for a scalable and robust project management solution.
Features
- Build, streamline & scale your workflows
- Powerful generative AI tools for all plans
- Enterprise-class security
- 14-day free trial, no credit card needed
Most Popular Products
Pros
- Highly customizable workspace with automation features
- Multiple project views, including Gantt charts and Kanban boards
- Seamless integrations with 400+ third-party apps
- Advanced security and compliance for enterprise use
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Higher pricing for premium features
What can you get with free project management software?
If you only need a few basic functions for your team, then free project management tools may be sufficient. Free project management tools may include file sharing, basic communication and collaboration (e.g. messaging), and basic project tracking. Many top project management software providers operate on a freemium model where you get basic tools for free and start paying when you want to scale up.
In short, if you have a small team (less than four people) or only need basic functions, then the basic, free project management software may be good enough for you. But if you manage a larger team and want to supercharge productivity, then you’re better off looking for subscription-based project management software.
Is my data safe with project management software?
Project management apps are cloud-based, so safeguarding your security is essential. Through your admin controls, you’ll be able to decide which users have access to which features and how often users have to update passwords and security controls. The more you pay for your plan, the tighter the security features you’ll have at your disposal. Enterprise plans offer the greatest security, with the ability to implement two-factor authentication, custom password policies, and more.
When selecting a project management software provider, take a look at the security safeguards they have in place to protect users, including firewalls and encryption. Project management software reviews can help you identify which providers are serious about security and which aren’t.
Finding the best project management software
Project management tools exist to improve your team’s productivity and ultimately cut costs and save time. However, a certain amount of research is required to find the right software for your team. Before selecting a provider, we recommend reading through project management software reviews, comparing the features they provide, and maybe even giving one to two providers a trial run. If your workflow depends heavily on mobility, consider testing the best task management app options too.
Why the Best Project Management Apps Matter
The best project management apps make it easy for teams to stay connected and productive, no matter where they are. These apps provide essential features like task tracking, file sharing, and real-time updates, all optimized for mobile use. Choosing the best project management app ensures your team has access to the tools they need on the go, helping them stay organized and efficient. To make the best choice, consult project management software reviews to see what real users say about different platforms, including ease of use and feature effectiveness. In many cases, the best task management app] will combine these mobile features with advanced project management capabilities, replacing the need for multiple tools.