--- source_url: "https://www.wrike.com/project-management-guide/faq/what-are-project-management-tools/" title: "Best project management tools and software: My 21 top picks for 2026" mirrored_at: 2026-08-14T03:37:12.886Z host: www.wrike.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/www.wrike.com/project-management-guide/faq/what-are-project-management-tools/index" --- > **Original source:** https://www.wrike.com/project-management-guide/faq/what-are-project-management-tools/ ### 2\. Asana Asana is one of the more popular project management software platforms available. Built for businesses of many sizes and industries (like manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and education), this multifaceted tool combines file storage, project roadmaps, dashboards, and more in one attractive interface. #### **Best for:** Asana works best for small to mid-size teams that need a structured, user-friendly platform for managing tasks, projects, and cross-functional workflows. Organizations that want simple, intuitive, and good-looking [task management](https://www.wrike.com/use-cases/task-management/) are often a good fit for the platform. #### **Pros:** Asana is an all-in-one project management software that offers various work organization features, resource management tools, and an attractive interface. The Workflow Builder lets teams set up rule-based automations without any technical knowledge, while the timeline view handles task dependencies cleanly. #### **Cons:** From my experience, Asana's approach to capacity and workload planning doesn't appear to be as robust as some of the other solutions, which could lead to some disconnection between tasks and team members. Workload and capacity planning are also locked behind Advanced and Enterprise pricing, which puts them out of reach for some teams. #### **Key features:** **Workflow Builder:** Asana’s Workflow Builder feature is a visual project management tool that allows users to create custom workflows and connect team members. **Strategic goals:** With strategic goals in Asana, project managers can provide direction to teams and set up metrics to track performance along the way. **Gantt charts:** These are among the most attractive ways to view resources, deadlines, and overall work progress. **Workload management:** The workload view surfaces each team member’s task distribution, making it easier to spot who is overloaded before it affects delivery.  #### **Integrations:** Asana has more than 200 native integrations for customers to continue using apps such as Google Drive, Google Calendar, Slack, and more. #### **Free plan:** Asana’s free plan is limited to 2 users and covers unlimited tasks and projects, with list, board, and calendar views, plus over 100 integrations. It lacks timeline and Gantt views, workflow automations, and reporting dashboards. #### **Paid plans:** Asana offers four paid plans: - **Starter costs $10.99 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes timeline views, task dependencies, custom fields, unlimited automations, and unlimited free guests. - **Advanced costs $24.99 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes approvals and proofing, goal tracking, and workload management. - **Enterprise and Enterprise+ for large teams that need custom pricing** as well as advanced features like SAML-based SSO, user provisioning (SCIM), and advanced admin controls. Enterprise+ adds HIPAA compliance and data residency options. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Asana scores 4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/184581/Asana-PM/), based on over 13,579 customer reviews.  Here’s what Ellie S, a Senior Marketing Campaigns Lead in the Information Technology and Services industry, had to say about Asana: _“As a freelancer, I have countless projects happening at once and I love that I can see things on project boards, but also all at once in tasks. Helps me stay organized!”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/184581/Asana-PM/#Capterra___6522849/). #### **Security:** Asana holds a comprehensive set of compliance certifications: SOC 2 Type II, SOC 2 Type I, SOC 3, ISO 27701, HIPAA, FedRAMP, and more.  All data is encrypted in transit and at rest using 256-bit encryption, with cross-regional backups included even on the free plan. The platform supports multi-factor authentication, private teams and projects, and unlimited view-only licenses.  #### **Customer support:** While Asana does have a variety of support options, there is no phone support or live chat available, which makes it challenging to get fast answers. Training is provided, but some users report that it’s not as comprehensive as it could be, with slow responses to “how-to” tickets. Visit [Asana’s website here](https://asana.com/). **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Asana_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/wrike-vs-asana/) ### 3\. Monday.com I’ve used Monday.com across different teams and industries, and I can see why it’s such a popular choice. It is a project management software option that includes various premade templates and tools to optimize operations and help your teams work toward higher productivity levels. The software displays a lot of information for teams, but key data can get overlooked in long chains of events.  #### **Best for:** Monday.com works well for teams that want a visually driven workspace with lots of customizable templates and a low learning curve. It’s particularly useful for teams managing multiple concurrent projects that need clear visibility across workstreams. #### **Pros:** One thing I appreciate about Monday.com is its clean, colorful interface, which makes managing projects feel more engaging. It also has a full suite of project management features, including automations, customizable dashboards, and a library of premade templates. #### **Cons:** The spreadsheet-like display can get quite cluttered. I’ve noticed that important information can sometimes get buried in long task chains. It also has no native proofing features, nor analytics advanced enough for many complex organizations. #### **Key features:** **Custom dashboards:** Monday.com allows users to create custom dashboards and view project information from different angles (e.g., lists, Kanban boards, timelines, Gantt charts, calendars, or workload charts). It also allows for task creation and, with these dashboards, project managers and team leaders can assess progress at a glance based on real-time data from timelines and budget information. **Automations:** Monday.com offers powerful automation features to streamline work processes. Tasks can be set up with automatic reminders close to due dates, and team leaders can create ‘if this, then that’ scenarios to speed up progress. **Prebuilt templates:** Users can take advantage of Monday.com’s library of 100 different templates to kick-start projects fast, ensure uniformity and high standards across the organization, and create repeatable processes for common tasks. #### **Integrations:** While Monday.com has fewer integrations than some other competitors, it still syncs natively with 200+ apps, including the most commonly used ones like Google, Slack, Salesforce, and more.  #### **Free plan:** Monday.com’s free plan is limited to 2 user seats and covers up to 3 boards, 3 Docs, and 8 column types with 200+ templates. It lacks automations, custom fields, timeline views, and integrations. #### **Paid plans:** Monday.com offers four paid plans: - **Basic costs $9 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes unlimited user seats, items, and boards, 5 GB of storage, and up to 20 AI agent tasks.  - **Standard costs $12 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes timeline, Gantt, and calendar views, guest access, and up to 40 AI agent tasks. - **Pro costs $19 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes premium AI features such as a notetaker and a specialized agent workforce, as well as chart views. - **Enterprise for large teams that need custom pricing** as well as resource management and project portfolio management. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Monday.com scores 4.6 out of 5 stars on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/147657/monday-com/), based on over 6043 customer reviews.  Here’s what Jeanette B., a Development Associate in Non-Profit Organization Management, had to say about Monday.com: _“I love that it allows me to manage my daily, weekly, and monthly tasks all in one place. It also makes project management much easier for both my team and me. Their deal for nonprofits is fantastic!”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/147657/monday-com/#Capterra___7039883). #### **Security:** monday.com holds certifications like SOC 1, SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3, ISO 27001, ISO 27018, ISO 27701, ISO 27032, and HIPAA. All data is hosted on AWS infrastructure, with options to store data in the US, EU (only for Enterprise clients in the EU), or APAC regions, depending on compliance requirements.  The platform supports SSO, multi-factor authentication (for Enterprise clients), and role-based permissions. #### **Customer support:** While Monday.com does offer support to its users, it can be challenging to find a human to talk to. There is no inbound phone line, and callbacks are only available for billing-related questions or queries. Visit [Monday.com’s website here](http://monday.com/) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Monday_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/monday-alternative/) ### 4\. Adobe Workfront I’ve worked with Adobe Workfront in marketing and enterprise settings, and it’s clear why large organizations rely on it. It still has a wide variety of task management features, though, which helps to justify its relatively expensive price tag. This is particularly true of enterprise-sized organizations that need more complex capabilities. #### **Best for:** Workfront is built for large enterprises, particularly those in marketing, creative operations, and professional services that already work within the Adobe ecosystem and need enterprise-level workflow automation and detailed portfolio visibility. #### **Pros:** Packed with all the major project management features the average team would need, Adobe Workfront offers Gantt charts, reporting functions, and advanced dashboards. It also has the strong proofing and asset management capabilities you’d expect from an Adobe product.  #### **Cons:** I’ve seen some teams struggle with Workfront’s UX, which isn’t as intuitive as other platforms. Some users are also reporting that the latest UX isn’t quite delivering on ease of use and enhanced collaboration. This can lead to limited adoption among new users, who might default to existing tools.  #### **Key features:** **Scenario Planner**: Workfront’s Scenario Planner is a good tool to help predict and prepare for various situations. You can create scenarios and run outcomes to evaluate potential responses. **Strategic goal-setting:** This feature helps teams set distinct, measurable goals for teams to deliver. This helps to ensure alignment as work progresses. **Detailed dashboards:** Stay in control with dashboards that allow instant access to the organization or team’s workflow. Track overall goals or individual projects easily. **Workload Balancer:** This tool gives managers visibility into team capacity across projects, making it practical to spot overallocation before it becomes a delivery risk.  #### **Integrations:** Adobe Workfront is part of the very well-known Adobe group. This means that it facilitates seamless integration with most of its sister platforms, including Creative Cloud. However, it does offer a very limited amount of other third-party integrations, which can require teams to set up complex technical configurations via APIs with the rest of their tools. #### **Free plan:** Adobe Workfront does not offer a free plan. A free trial may be available on request through the sales team, but there is no publicly advertised self-serve trial. #### **Paid plans:** Workfront offers three tiers — Select, Prime, and Ultimate — all on a custom, quote-based pricing model. Per-user costs are not publicly listed. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Adobe Workfront holds a 4.4 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/268205/Adobe-Workfront/), based on over 1,493 verified reviews. Here’s what Kerry V., a Social Media Coordinator in Education Management, had to say about Adobe Workfront: _“The resource management feature is really helpful which makes sure every teams gets the balance workload and the dashboard is clear and provides me clear of image of my project performance.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/268205/Adobe-Workfront/#Capterra___7163014/). #### **Security:** Workfront is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified, and complies with GDPR regulations. Adobe’s broader compliance framework also covers HIPAA, CCPA, FedRAMP, TISAX, and WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards.  It has robust data encryption in transit and at rest, while being a good option for organizations in highly regulated industries due to its position within Adobe’s enterprise infrastructure. #### **Customer support:** Adobe Workfront has a standard support package, but it’s only available five days a week, without any help on holidays. In addition, a lack of a free trial means that users can’t experience and test the platform before they sign up. Visit the [Adobe Workfront website here](https://business.adobe.com/uk/products/workfront/main.html) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Workfront_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/workfront-alternative/) ### 5\. Smartsheet I’ve spent quite some time reviewing Smartsheet, and it’s a solid option for teams that prefer a spreadsheet-style approach to managing projects. Based on the traditional spreadsheet model, Smartsheet is one of the more visual project management platforms available. It draws on cloud-based spreadsheets and automated workflows to offer project and task management features and benefits. #### **Best for:** Smartsheet works well for small to mid-size teams and growing organizations that need structured, spreadsheet-style project tracking with real automation capability behind it. It’s a particularly strong fit for teams that manage recurring processes at scale where template standardization and cross-project reporting matter.  #### **Pros:** From my experience, Smartsheet stands out for its technical depth. Smartsheet is rich with advanced features and complex capabilities (e.g., data calculation and formula-driven reporting) that will serve larger organizations quite well, especially when managing projects that require multiple stakeholders. #### **Cons:** Smartsheet’s biggest downside is that there is a steep learning curve for users who don’t have extensive familiarity or knowledge of spreadsheets. Its add-ons can also become quite expensive. #### **Key features:** **Automated workflows:** With Smartsheet, you automate your workflows with repeatable blueprints to make delivery more streamlined, accurate, and fast. **Content management:** Smartsheet offers content management tools such as progress dashboards, automated alerts, and resource management tools. **Detailed dashboards:** Visualize all your project information, team workflow, and organizational goals via data-rich dashboards.  #### **Integrations:** Smartsheet offers 100+ native integrations, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, Adobe Creative Cloud, Tableau, and Dropbox.  #### **Free plan:** Smartsheet removed its free plan in 2025. Instead, the platform offers a 30-day free trial. #### **Paid plans:** Smartsheet offers four paid plans: - **Pro costs $9 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes Gantt, table, board, and calendar views for 1-10 members. - **Business costs $12 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes timeline views, workload tracking, and unlimited automations.  - **Enterprise, which is custom for teams with 10+ users** and offers scenario planning, portfolio management, SAML-based SSO, and unlimited attachment storage - **Advanced Work Management, which is also custom** and similar to the Enterprise plan, but with advanced features like Data Shuttle, Data Mesh, and more. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Smartsheet holds a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/79104/Smartsheet/), based on over 3510 verified reviews. Here’s what Sandy P., a Virtual Assistant in the Information Technology and Services industry, had to say about Smartsheet: _“I like that Smartsheet supports different ways of managing work, including task tracking, automated alerts, shared sheets, dashboards, and project timelines. It helps reduce scattered communication and gives the team better visibility into deadlines, responsibilities, and project progress.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/79104/Smartsheet/#Capterra___7153636/). #### **Security:** Smartsheet holds ISO 27001, SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, and SOC 3 certifications. Data is encrypted in transit using SSL/TLS and at rest using AES-256, hosted on AWS infrastructure. The platform supports SAML-based SSO, multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, granular permissions, and a six-month audit log. #### **Customer support:** Smartsheet provides customer support through email, in-app chat, a learning center, and the Smartsheet Community forum. Enterprise plan users also have access to 24/7 global phone support. Visit [Smartsheet’s website here](https://www.smartsheet.com/) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Smartsheet_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/smartsheet-alternative/) ### 6\. Jira I’ve worked with Jira extensively, and it’s one of the first tools I recommend when teams are invested in Agile workflows. Jira is part of the Atlassian Group now, but it originated as a software development solution many years ago. Today, Jira offers a wide range of advanced features designed to help teams of all sizes plan, track, and manage their work effectively. #### **Best for:** Jira is built for software development and IT teams in early-stage startups running lean sprints or large enterprises managing complex product roadmaps. It handles Scrum, Kanban, and mixed Agile methodologies natively, and the customization depth can be a great benefit to technical teams willing to invest in configuration. #### **Pros:** One thing I appreciate about Jira is its customization. I’ve set up workflows, issue-tracking systems, and dashboards that align perfectly with specific Agile processes, and it does this exceptionally well. If your team follows Scrum, Kanban, or both, Jira provides everything you need to track sprints, assign tasks, and monitor progress. Plus, importing and exporting project data is easy, making it convenient when working across multiple projects. #### **Cons:** I’ve noticed that Jira isn’t the most beginner-friendly tool, particularly if you aren’t someone with a technical background. If you’re not already familiar with Agile frameworks, the platform can feel overwhelming at first.   Another limitation I’ve encountered is Jira’s lack of built-in resource management. Unlike some other tools, it doesn’t provide native workload balancing or capacity planning, which can be frustrating when trying to optimize resource allocation across multiple projects. In some cases, I’ve had to rely on third-party add-ons or additional Atlassian tools to fill the gaps. #### **Key features:** **Dashboard view:** Jira’s dashboards help users to plan projects, measure progress, and track due dates at a glance. They’re also shareable, for updating colleagues. So, if you are managing projects that require frequent updates, this should be a good tool for you. **Backlog and sprint management:** Issues can be organized into epics, stories, tasks, and subtasks, giving teams a clear hierarchy from high-level initiative down to individual work items.  **Unique search functionality:** Jira uses its Query Language and specific filters to make it easier and more efficient to search for tasks and projects. **Customizable work request forms:** By tailoring request forms, teams can adapt their intake to make it more streamlined, with fewer back-and-forth questions and faster delivery. #### **Integrations:** Jira integrates natively with the full Atlassian suite: Confluence, Bitbucket, Jira Service Management, Trello, and Loom. Outside Atlassian, it connects with GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other popular tools. #### **Free plan:** Jira has a free plan for up to 10 users with unlimited goals, projects, tasks, and forms. It lacks user roles and permissions, external collaborators, and customer support outside of the Atlassian community. #### **Paid plans:** Jira offers three paid plans: - **Standard costs $7.58 per user/month for a team of 50**, billed annually, and includes integrated AI-powered work features, user roles, permissions, and multi-region data residency. - **Premium costs $15.25 per user/month for a team of 50**, billed annually, and includes cross-team planning, dependency management, and customizable onboarding. - **Enterprise, which is custom for teams of over 801 users and is only billed annually.** It includes advanced analytics, enterprise-grade identity and access management, and 24/7 support for all users. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Jira holds a 4.4 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/19319/JIRA/), based on over 15,386 verified reviews. Here’s what Lauren F., an owner of a logistics company, had to say about Jira: _“Jira does a good job keeping projects organized and making it clear who owned what. Its helpful for tracking tasks and managing priorities into project status across teams. I especially liked having everything in one place rather than trying to manage work through email and spreadsheets.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/19319/JIRA/#Capterra___7162740/). #### **Security:** Jira benefits from being part of the Atlassian suite, which includes extensive certifications like  ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, and FedRAMP authorization for government environments.  All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and Atlassian supports SSO, MFA, and SCIM provisioning through Atlassian Guard, its identity and access management layer. #### **Customer support:** Jira is strong in support because of its original ticket-based model. It also offers extensive training and additional resources for users to get to grips with the more complicated aspects of its platform. Visit [Jira’s website here](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Jira_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/wrike-vs-jira/) ### 7\. ClickUp I’ve spent time digging into ClickUp, and I can see why it’s gained so much popularity. It’s one of those “does-it-all” platforms that tries to pack every possible project management feature into a single tool. And for the most part, it succeeds. For small to mid-sized teams, it’s a good choice, especially if you’re looking for an affordable, all-in-one workspace that combines task management, goal tracking, and workflow automation. #### **Best for:** ClickUp works well for small to mid-size teams and growing organizations that want a single platform to consolidate their entire workflow without paying for five separate subscriptions. It suits marketing, operations, product, and software development teams, especially those willing to spend time upfront shaping it around their processes. #### **Pros:** ClickUp is an all-in-one project management solution with accessible pricing and all the tools most teams need, including workflow automation, Gantt charts, and resource management features. The feature-to-price ratio and generous free plan can make it a great fit for teams of all sizes and budgets. #### **Cons:** While ClickUp tries to be an all-in-one project management software, I’ve found that this can also be its biggest downside. With so many features, the interface can feel cluttered, and it takes time to fully grasp all its capabilities. New users might feel overwhelmed, and even experienced project managers may find themselves constantly tweaking settings to get things just right. I’ve also noticed performance issues, particularly when working with large datasets or complex projects. ClickUp may not be the best choice if you need real-time project insights across multiple teams or high-volume workflows. Some users have also reported latency issues, which could be frustrating when managing time-sensitive tasks. #### **Key features:** **Multiple views.** ClickUp offers 15+ ways to view the same project data, including List, Board, Gantt, Timeline, Calendar, Workload, Table, Mind Map, and more. Each team member can use the view that fits their working style while staying on the same underlying dataset. **Document hub:** Centralize all your internal documents, wikis, and FAQs to build a knowledge base that can help accelerate and smooth the onboarding process.  **Task creation:** Create project tasks and distribute your workloads amongst teams based on their capabilities.  **Checklists:** Break down tasks into bite-sized activities in a list to kick projects off faster, identify roadblocks quicker, and monitor progress more effectively. **Mind maps:** Plot out projects and tasks visually, so that everyone can see the underlying strategy and understand their role in achieving the goal. #### **Integrations:** ClickUp offers over 50 native integrations, which is relatively low compared to some of the other entries on the list. However, these native connectors still include the most popular tools and platforms, including Slack, Google, Microsoft, and GitHub. #### **Free plan:** ClickUp’s Free Forever plan supports unlimited users and unlimited tasks, as well as multiple views (List, Board, Calendar), and collaborative docs. The hard constraint is 60MB of total shared storage, as well as no integrations or time tracking. #### **Paid plans:** ClickUp offers three paid plans: - **Unlimited costs $7 per user/month,** billed annually, and includes unlimited spaces, folders, and forms, portfolio and resource management, and time tracking. - **Business costs $12 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes mind mapping, Google SSO, and SMS 2-factor authentication. - **Enterprise, which is custom for large teams** and includes advanced permissions and governance, unlimited custom roles, and SAML SSO and SCIM Provisioning. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [ClickUp holds a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/158833/ClickUp/), based on over 4586 verified reviews. Here’s what Shyam Kishor P., a developer in the Information Technology and Services industry, had to say about ClickUp: _“I love how incredibly flexible ClickUp is as an all-in-one hub for project and team collaboration. The ability to customize dashboards, view tasks in multiple ways (like lists or calendars), and set up custom process automations has completely transformed how I track my work. It offers massive value for money given how feature-packed it is.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/158833/ClickUp/#Capterra___7151851/). #### **Security:** ClickUp holds SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3, ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27017:2015, ISO 27018:2019, and ISO 27701:2019 certifications, alongside PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, LGPD, and HIPAA compliance.  All data is encrypted using AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.2+ in transit. ClickUp also supports two-factor authentication for all users, with SSO via SAML and OAuth available on Business and Enterprise plans.  #### **Customer support:** ClickUp doesn’t have any phone support, which might be challenging for some users. Email responses and other resources are available, including “ClickUp University”, which provides on-demand videos, learning paths, and certification exams. Visit [ClickUp’s website here](https://clickup.com/) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. ClickUp_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/wrike-vs-clickup/) ### 8\. Microsoft Planner Microsoft (MS) Planner is a powerful project management software if you’re already deep in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. If your team already relies on Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint, this tool fits in easily. But if you’re looking for an all-in-one project management software that works well with other platforms, you may find it a bit limiting. As an aside, you might be familiar with Microsoft’s other product in this space — Microsoft Project.  While I’ve worked with it across different projects, it should be noted that Microsoft Project Online is retiring on September 30, 2026. Microsoft Project desktop is not impacted for now, but the company is steering Project Online users toward Planner and newer Microsoft 365 project management options. #### **Best for:** MS Planner is a strong fit for teams of all sizes already embedded in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. The free version provides straightforward task management without a steep learning curve, while paid plans layer features for more complex, enterprise-grade use cases. #### **Pros:** MS Planner offers integration with other Microsoft 365 apps, extending beyond just project and task management. In terms of features, it offers a robust set of tools for modern teams, including Gantt charts, grid views, and boards, as well as various resource management features that help to manage tasks and teams. #### **Cons:** MS Planner works best alongside other MS products such as Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint to properly collaborate and work cross-functionally. This can be frustrating for people looking for an all-in-one single platform solution. #### **Key features:** **Task boards and views.** Planner’s Kanban board lets teams organize tasks into buckets, while Grid, Board, Schedule, and Chart views are available across all plans. **Interactive dashboards:** It does require an integration with Power BI, but the ability to view overall project and individual progress status fast with interactive dashboards is a bonus.  **Gantt timeline view:** Scan for upcoming due dates, roadblocks, or progression with the ever-popular Gantt view.  **Budget tracking:** While only optimized for individual projects, this handy feature allows you to keep control of expenditure, staying on budget and on time.  #### **Integrations:** Again, Microsoft Planner is very strong on integrations with other parts of the Microsoft ecosystem, but less so with other tools or third-party apps. Power Automate is the primary mechanism for connecting Planner to many non-Microsoft tools, though this requires some setup and is not as simple as native integrations in other platforms.  #### **Free plan:** MS Planner’s free plan is included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions and includes Grid, Board, Schedule, and Charts views. It doesn’t include any advanced task and project management features like dependencies, timelines, goals, or reports. #### **Paid plans:** MS Planner offers 2 paid plans: - **Planner Plan 1 costs $10 per user/month,** billed annually, and includes task dependencies, premium templates, reports, backlogs, sprints, and more. - **Planner and Project Plan 3 costs $30 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes program and demand management, as well as access to Project Online and the Project Online desktop client. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [MS Planner holds a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/227201/Microsoft-Planner/), based on over 294 verified reviews. Here’s what Alexandra V., a People Business Partner in the Wholesale industry, had to say about MS Planner: _“Microsoft Planner has been an integral resource for planning, both as a single user and across my team. The platform allows me to set goals, monitor progress, and add contributors. The platform is easily accessible, and you can use it as an app on the computer, as well as through the browser, allowing access from multiple devices. The price compared to other platforms is reasonable.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/227201/Microsoft-Planner/#Capterra___7125386/). #### **Security:** Planner inherits Microsoft 365’s enterprise-grade security framework, including data encryption, compliance certifications, and access controls. File attachments are stored in SharePoint, conversations in Exchange, and premium plan data in Dataverse, all governed by the same access controls and compliance frameworks that apply across Microsoft 365. #### **Customer support:** Microsoft Planner support is covered under the standard Microsoft 365 support offering. All paid Microsoft 365 subscribers have access to 24/7 technical support via phone and online chat for critical issues, along with a broad library of documentation, video tutorials, and guided learning paths through Microsoft Learn. Visit [the Microsoft Planner website here](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/planner/microsoft-planner) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Microsoft Project_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/microsoft-project-alternative/) ### 9\. Basecamp I’ve worked with Basecamp in different settings, and its simplicity is both its biggest strength and its biggest limitation. Basecamp is project management software beneficial for small teams. It has functionality that includes scheduling, project tracking, collaborating, and monitoring features.  #### **Best for:** Basecamp is best for small teams, agencies, and remote-first organizations that want a single, straightforward space for project communication, task management, and file sharing. It’s a particularly good option for agencies managing client work. #### **Pros:** One thing I like about Basecamp is its clean and simple interface. Unlike some project management software, Basecamp doesn’t overwhelm you with too many buttons, menus, or settings. The pricing structure is another big win for small teams. Unlike other project management software that only charges per user, Basecamp also has a flat pricing model.   #### **Cons:** I’ve found that Basecamp’s simplicity can also work against it. When I used it for larger, cross-functional projects, I ran into a few limitations. Unlike platforms like Wrike or Asana, Basecamp doesn’t offer much customization. The Line-Up feature is useful for seeing an overview of work, but if you need detailed project tracking or resource allocation, Basecamp may not be enough. Another thing to keep in mind is how teams communicate within the platform. Basecamp leans heavily on message boards and to-do lists. This may work well for smaller teams, but might not be ideal for larger organizations. #### **Key features:** **To-do lists:** Visualize your workloads quickly and break down complex projects with a to-do list for each project, complete with separate notes and attachments. **Message boards:** Stay in constant communication in dedicated boards, helping teams to work together to progress a particular project. **Project scheduling:** This function helps users ensure they don’t miss key deadlines. Create due dates, track project progress, spot roadblocks, and integrate with calendars to stay up-to-date. **Campfire chat.** Always-on group chat at the project level, giving teams a space for quick questions and informal conversation without leaving the platform. Each project has its own Campfire room, keeping chat contextual. #### **Integrations:** While not offering as broad a range as some other software solutions available, Basecamp allows for integrations with other tools and many third-party apps that have extra software development, project management, and reporting capabilities. #### **Free plan:** Basecamp offers a limited free plan that supports a single project, up to 20 users, and 1GB of storage. It’s practical for evaluating the platform but not for sustained professional use. A 30-day free trial of the full product is also available. #### **Paid plans:** Basecamp offers two paid tiers: - **Basecamp Pro costs $15 per user/month, billed monthly,** and includes unlimited projects, all core features (Message Boards, To-dos, Campfire, Hill Charts, Schedules, Docs & Files, Automatic Check-ins), and 500 GB of storage. - **Basecamp Pro Unlimited costs $299 per month, billed annually**, regardless of the number of users. It includes everything in Plus plus 5TB of storage, 24/7/365 priority support, and a one-on-one onboarding tour with the Basecamp team. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Basecamp holds a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/56808/Basecamp/), based on over 14,419 verified reviews. Here’s what Gabby W., a Founder in the E-Learning industry, had to say about Basecamp: _“Pros: Simple and easy-to-use interface Keeps tasks, discussions, schedules, and files organized in one place. Great communication tools that reduce back-and-forth emails. Easy for teams and clients to collaborate together. Faster to set up and less overwhelming than many other project management platforms”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/56808/Basecamp/#Capterra___7156402/). #### **Security:** Basecamp does not currently hold formal independent security certifications like SOC 2 or ISO 27001, but it does follow best practices like encrypting data in transit using SSL/TLS and data at rest with standard encryption protocols.  It supports two-factor authentication via SMS or Google accounts, and uses OAuth 2.0 for API authentication. However, Basecamp doesn’t natively offer SAML-based Single Sign-On (SSO) or SCIM user provisioning on their standard plans. #### **Customer support:** It appears that Basecamp doesn’t offer phone or live chat support. Support is handled through a ticket-based system. Pro Unlimited subscribers receive 24/7/365 priority support and a one-on-one onboarding tour with the Basecamp team. Visit [Basecamp’s website here](https://basecamp.com/) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Basecamp_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/basecamp-alternative/) ### 10\. Trello I’ve used Trello in managing projects, and I can see why it’s remained a go-to project management software for teams that prefer a visual approach to task management. Trello is one of the earliest Kanban-based tools. As part of Atlassian since 2017, it provides an option for simple project visualization and drag-and-drop task management. It also allows for easy sharing and collaboration, even among external users. #### **Best for:** Trello is best suited for individuals and small teams that need a lightweight, visual task management tool without the overhead of a complex platform. It works particularly well for editorial calendars, content pipelines, sprint boards for small dev teams, and any simple workflow where the Kanban format is a natural fit.  #### **Pros:** The first time I used Trello, I immediately appreciated how easy it was to set up. Trello makes task management almost fun, with attractive boards and an easy-to-use interface that make it excellent for optimizing personal or team-based productivity.  Another thing I like is how collaborative Trello is. You can share boards with internal teams or external partners, assign tasks, set deadlines, and comment directly on cards. I’ve seen teams use it for everything from content calendars and sprint planning to event organization and client onboarding. #### **Cons:** Trello is limited in terms of organization-wide project and portfolio management features, so if you need to strategize or plan from a high level, you might be better suited to a more comprehensive project management software option. For that, users who are fans of Atlassian might look to another tool in their suite: Jira. #### **Key features:** **Kanban boards:** Trello is one of the best-known Kanban board tools, with an attractive interface and easy drag-and-drop functionality.  **Custom cards:** Tailor task cards by customizing due dates, comments, and more to make sure everyone on the team can see what’s needed fast. **Workflow automation:** Create automated flows between cards that help to streamline intake and accelerate delivery. **Power-Ups.** Power-Ups extend Trello’s native feature set by adding calendar views, Gantt charts, time tracking, voting, CRM integrations, and more. #### **Integrations:** Trello has more than 200 ready-to-go integrations (via the Power-Ups system) with Google, Slack, and many of the most-mentioned work management tools available. #### **Free plan:** Trello’s free plan supports unlimited cards, unlimited users, and up to 10 boards per Workspace. It includes Kanban board view, unlimited Power-Ups, and basic templates. The 10-board cap is the primary constraint, as teams managing a few active projects will hit it quickly. #### **Paid plans:** Trello offers three paid plans, all billed per user: - **Standard costs $5 per user/month**, billed annually, and removes the board limit, adding advanced checklists, custom fields, and guest access controls. - **Premium costs $10 per user/month,** billed annually, and adds Timeline, Calendar, Dashboard, Table, and Map views, plus Workspace-level views across. - **Enterprise starts at $17.50 per user/month (based on 50 users)**, billed annually, and adds organization-wide permissions, SSO via Atlassian Guard, and advanced admin controls. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Trello holds a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/211559/Trello/), based on over 23,538 verified reviews. Here’s what Olesya K., a CTO in the Information Technology and Services industry, had to say about Trello: _“I like how easily I can drag and drop tasks between lists. Trello has been very helpful for staying organized. The best thing is everyone can see any update in real time when working on projects.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/211559/Trello/#Capterra___7164161/). #### **Security:** Trello’s security benefits directly from Atlassian’s broader compliance infrastructure as the product holds SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ISO 27018 certifications, and is GDPR-compliant.  All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with role-based access controls and regular automated backups. Enterprise customers can enable SAML-based SSO through Atlassian Guard. #### **Customer support:** Trello’s support options scale by plan. Free and Standard users access a searchable help center, community forums, and ticket-based email support. Premium plan customers receive priority support with faster response times during business hours (24/5). Enterprise customers get 24/7 live support, phone support, and onboarding assistance. Visit [Trello’s website here](https://trello.com/) **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Trello_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/trello-alternative/) ### 11\. Zoho Projects I reviewed Zoho Projects, and I realized that if you’re already using the Zoho ecosystem or are looking for a low-cost light solution for your small team, this tool can fit right in. Zoho Projects is part of the Zoho suite of tools, which includes a CRM, recruitment system, and sales platform. Ideal for current Zoho users, it provides a project management solution that allows data to be synced easily between the various tools. #### **Best for:** Zoho Projects works best for small to mid-size teams looking for a genuinely capable project management tool without paying enterprise-level prices. It’s a particularly strong fit for teams already using other Zoho products (e.g., Zoho CRM), where the native integrations create real workflow continuity.  #### **Pros:** Zoho Projects specializes in task management and automation, allowing project managers to oversee projects and team members to collaborate on individual tasks. It’s also quite affordable at $4-$14 per user/month. #### **Cons:** Adding data to multiple custom fields can prove difficult with the lack of a multi-select option, and code often appears alongside the data. #### **Key features:** **Gantt charts:** Create visual project management charts to identify and assign critical tasks with baselines to ensure consistent progress. **Blueprint:** A popular function, blueprints let you map out complicated tasks and set them up to move along the pipeline, with automatic approval notifications. **Issue management:** Easily identify and flag issues in your work with issue management features. Add custom views to highlight the most important or time-sensitive bugs to address. **Time tracking and timesheets.** Built-in timers and timesheets let team members log hours against specific tasks, with logged time feeding directly into budget tracking. #### **Integrations:** Within the Zoho ecosystem, Zoho Projects connects natively with Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, Zoho Analytics, Zoho Desk, Zoho Sprints, and Zoho Cliq. Outside Zoho, Projects still offers valuable integrations but not as many as many of the other entries on this list. #### **Free plan:** Zoho Projects offers a free forever plan for up to five users, a maximum of three projects, and 5GB of storage. It includes basic task management and Gantt views, with the main limitation being the lack of workflow automation, time tracking, and custom fields.  #### **Paid plans:** Zoho Projects offers three paid tiers, all billed per user per month with discounts for annual billing: - **Premium costs $4 per user/month**, billed annually, and includes unlimited projects, unlimited users, 100GB storage, task automation with workflows, and timesheets. - **Enterprise costs $9 per user/month,** billed annually, and includes custom user roles, comprehensive portfolio dashboards, and more granular resource management. - **Ultimate costs $14 per user/month** and increases limits on automations, reports, and project templates while adding the highest tier of AI functionality through Zia. #### **Customer ratings and reviews:** [Zoho Projects holds a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/169455/Zoho-Projects/), based on over 861 verified reviews. Here’s what Rakesh A., a CEO in the Accounting industry, had to say about Zoho Projects: _“What I liked most about Zoho Projects is its intuitive and user-friendly interface, which makes project management simple even for beginners. The task management system is highly efficient, allowing easy creation, assignment, and tracking of tasks with clear deadlines and priorities.”_ [Originally posted on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/169455/Zoho-Projects/#Capterra___7128920/). #### **Security:** Zoho Projects holds ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27018, and ISO 9001 certifications, and is HIPAA-compliant, GDPR-compliant, and CCPA-compliant.  Data is encrypted using AES-256 at rest and in transit, with field-level encryption and URL encryption also available. The platform supports SAML 2.0 for SSO and two-factor authentication.  #### **Customer support:** While telephone support is not available for Zoho Projects, users can access help via an email-only function. There is also a wide range of resources, including a knowledge base, FAQs, and tutorials. Visit the [Zoho Projects website here](https://www.zoho.com/projects/). **_Also read:_** [**_Wrike vs. Zoho_**](https://www.wrike.com/compare/zoho-projects-alternative/)