Top 10 Best Project Management Software 2021 [Free & Paid]

Are you looking for the best project management software. We are reviewing some of the top project management tools which you can use for your business.

Do most people ask why project management software even we have a team leader? Then, my friend, this is the time to get one because, in this busy time, we can’t manually update our spreadsheet or give the details on little changes through team meetings. So what’s the solution? The answer is project management software.

And here in this post, we will share every little information about project management tools along with the top 10 tools to have a look at. So let’s start.

What Is Project Management Software?

When people work in a team, they have to do multiple tasks as a team. And all these things can’t rely on human memory or manual note-taking. You have to organize multiple things to complete the task at the time.

Also, sharing all the details by 10 meetings a day over email is a productivity disaster. And to deliver the project on time needs to plan everything. We have to note down the information, share documents, plot deadlines, and share tasks with the respective person. It means a team member needs to communicate with one another frequently. And here, the project management tool comes in the role.

Project management software is an online system that helps a group of people work and collaborate on a project. It is a remote workspace where people work on the same task without sitting around the table together.

One can update all the details related to the project. Even outside members can keep an eye on the work if invited to do so. In short, it helps the team to handle all the common problems like deadlines. It could extend the deadlines if any other task is added to the work. It also gives work insight and time to spend on a specific piece of work.

Note that project management apps are the opposite of work management software. The project is a part of work that starts on one date and needs to be finished before the decided date. For example, designing new software is a project. And to make this happen, you need a perfect mapping of your work. For that, you can use project management tools.

How Project Management Software Work?

Project management software is a crucial tool to enhance the communication and productivity of the project team. A dedicated project manager designs the project schedule and monitors the progress of team members.

However, this can’t do manually if the unit is significant. A Project manager can collect the Progress report or status from each employee when the team is of hundred people. In such a case, the project management software comes into the picture. All of the team members, including the project manager, has access to this project management software. A project manager has more authority than a team member.

People involved with the project can use this software to submit their work and update the assigned tasks. They need to login into the project management software and enter the details of their work. Employees can share their work status, and they can also submit the files and relevant documents.

Employees, Contractors, and even some clients are also part of the project management software. All of them have access to this software. It will help to create transparency in the business. Employees can share all relevant documents and files on this platform. It is easy for documentation purposes.

When the project is on time, you can consider that the employees also complete each milestone, task, and subtask. It will help to finish the job within the given deadline. When the project is behind schedule, you can monitor the aspect we lack and then improve them. It will enhance the productivity of employees.

You can manage various events to maintain the timeline of the project. Having visibility to each employee’s work helps the management team analyze employees‘ mentality and introspect about the project management’s problems and issues. For example, if you have two tasks due by tomorrow, you will select the work according to priority.

This software also provides the visual representation of work by bar chart and Gantt chart. It will help the Project manager to see the broad picture. This software has many customization options. So, you can modify the software according to your requirements. The project manager has admin power to supervise other employees.

This project management software also addresses some problems like storage space like google and iOS storage. It provides some free and paid cloud storage. The cloud storage’s size is depending on the program you select. Project management software can easily integrate this tool with many other third-party tools.

Why Should We Use Project Management Software?

The project management tool’s main benefit is that it helps the project manager analyze the team’s work throughout the different phases of the Project. There are many other advantages of project management tools.

#1. Effortless Project Planning:

For any project manager, it is very tough to make a plan for the Project. Project planning and scheduling is very tedious but the most critical work. With a project management tool’s help, the project manager can quickly and efficiently perform this task. Project management tools have specific features that estimate the time and capture various constraints like cost, scope, and schedule.

#2. Balanced Resource Management:

For a project manager, resource management should be effective and efficient. So, they need to develop such a strategy that balances the company’s resources and proves cost-effective. Overbooking and underbooking employees with work are futile, and this will decrease productivity. Project management software has a unique tool for resource management. These tools use historical data and analysis to book the resource for the Project.

#3. Pipeline Forecasting:

The project manager has to deal with multiple projects simultaneously. Because taking projects at a time will be more time-consuming. That is why most of the project manager initiates their projects parallelly.

It will improve profitability and also create healthy competition between different project teams. But the manager can do multiple limited projects assigning without project management software. This tool provides an overview of the Project to each member and helps in giving a task.

#4. Improved Team Collaboration:

When the team can see all team members’ work and progress reports, it will help design a schedule that improves team collaboration. Teamwork is essential for any project. And with the help of Project Management tools, you can create a small team in the Project and assign them to work with reasonable deadlines. It has tools like a discussion panel, timelines, dependencies, and many more.

#5. Real-time project budget management:

Budget management is not the same for all kinds of projects, and even it fluctuates between the projects. So, it is essential to create such a budget that allows efficient working. Project management software has budget forecasting tools that help you visualize each Project’s financial picture with appropriate Financial metrics.

Recommended: Best Free Accounting Software For Small Business

#6. Reliable up to the time reporting:

To get long-term success in the Project, submission of all tasks is essential. If all task is submitted within the time, Project can meet the deadline. Project Management software is dedicated to this task. It plays a major in the reporting of the task. Each employee can submit their task and update the progress status according to work done. The project manager can also modify the team member’s work and assign a new task after completing one.

#7. Effective Internal and External Communication:

Project Management software helps to communicate with all members who are associated with the Project. It is an all-in-one platform that allows user to share their quarries and submit the work on the deadline. The project manager can supervise them. It increases the transparency between the management and employee level.

How To Select The Best Online Project Management Software?

The Project Management tool is beneficial in project management. It tracks down the deliverables for managing resources and also forecasts the project budget. You have to be considered so many aspects while selecting the best online Project management tool. These aspects are essential to have in a project management tool. It includes:

#1. Task Lists:

The tool has a feature to assign and update the task and work’s status so that each team can reach the same page and communicate fairly.

#2. Schedules:

For Scheduling, the Project management tool must have calendars, Gantt Charts, or milestone tools. This function helps to map the project’s progress into time. It is helpful to set realistic deadlines as per the performance of the employees.

#3. File-Sharing:

It is essential to have various features on a single platform to avoid any confusion. So, the Project management tool also has a file-sharing option. Due to this function, the project management tool becomes an all-in-one platform. Various teams can now submit their work through this software, and the Project manager can also look into the files from this platform.

#4. Communication:

If you want to improve the team’s productivity and efficiency, you should increase communication and transparency in the group. The project management team should have a chat option that allows users to discuss one particular topic and share announcements.

#5. Reporting:

If the team members can submit work on one platform, this will be easy for the management level to assess their work, and it also helps the employee for the reporting. They can easily change the work status and submit the work report in the Project management tool.

Best Project Management Software

#1. Trello Project Management Software

Website: https://trello.com/

Trello is based on a card-based management system known as Kanban. If you want a simple start with a free trial and easy to understand interface, this name is best for you. Trello project management system is ideal for small businesses and individuals.

It is much flexible and free tool that manage all the resources and track progress on each day. The dashboard and cards are easy to understand. Whether you want to manage ongoing work with a team or an individual project, you can do both seamlessly.

You can’t imagine its hidden features. One can attach images, files, due dates, hyperlinks, dropdown menus, and others with the cards. When you have set any card with project details or work, it shows on the dashboard until you complete the task.

Once you are done with the board or card, it can be archived and can access in the future if you need some time. It offers 3 different plans according to use and money.

Trello has limited inbuilt reporting functions, but you can use multiple extensions to add more options. You need to look at other names for advanced needs, but it is a great name for the starters. It is available as a web version, desktop app, and mobile app.

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Business Class: $9.99/ user/ month
• Enterprise: $17.50/ user/ month

#2. Wrike Project Management Software

Website: https://www.wrike.com/vd/

If You are looking for versatile and robust project management software, Wrike is for you. If you see that Trello has a limited set of functions and wants some additional, go and check Wrike.

The learning curve of this tool not steep. You don’t need to spend hours learning and setting the tool. It offers some standard and excellent features like comprehensive reporting, Gantt charts, easy an understandable dashboard.

If you are working with small to medium size team, you can use it without much learning. Even the free plan offers quite amusing features like board view, file sharing, real-time activity streaming, integration to google drive, dropbox, one drive, ad MSFT office 365.

A built-in time tracking tool works best for the individual person and manages a project in a team. You can’t replace it with a time tracking system, but it is good enough to handle your basic requirements.

The functional interface is refreshing and does a fine job. The free plan is charming. It does not bound you with any restrictions like number project. However, there is a restriction on the number of users. Compare to other names, the paid plans are a bit expensive. It is available for android, iOS, and web.

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month (up to 5 users)
• Professional: $9.80/user/month (up to 15 users)
• Business: $24.80/user/month (up to 200 users)
• Enterprise: Ask for the quote

Try Wrike

#3. Basecamp Project Management Software

Website: https://basecamp.com/

Basecamp may be one of the oldest names in the list of project management tools. It is present in this industry for over a decade. Over time, it has a great customer base around the globe.

It replaces most of the monthly paid services like Slack. Yes, you can’t call it a perfect replacement, but yes, to some extent, you can choose it over other tools. The features and inbuilt tools at fixed prices make it different from the rest of the names. Some of them are file storage, private message, real-time chat, calendars, scheduling, etc.

The official website is a little cluttered, but the tool is quite clear and understandable. It makes the tool straightforward to use. One can easily find images, messages, tasks, and reports quickly.

Email integration, sharing individual tasks, personal messages, and messages to people outside the organization make it ideal for clients to work. One can customize all the notification, shut them off according to time or resume it anytime.

Yes, the fixed plan pricing is best for the big organization. Small to mid-size firms find it quite expensive. However, it offers a 30-day free trial with all the functions and features. It is available for the desktop, mobile, and web.

Pricing:

• Free: 30- day free trial
• Personal: Free (3 projects, up to 20 users & 1GB storage space)
• Basecamp: $99/month

#4. Zoho Project Management Software

Website: https://www.zoho.com/projects/

Zoho is a known name for everyone who is using online productivity tools. Zoho project is a part of tools from the same company. It has almost all the standard features you are looking for in the project management application. Most importantly, the price is quite affordable, and anyone can get it.

One can view tasks in Kanban or other traditional styles. Dependencies can be set between individual tasks. It includes multiple tools like customized reporting, issue and workflow management, Gantt charts, and others to maintain easy to complex level projects.

It offers multiple integration options with Zoho’s suit and other known applications like Microsoft and Google. There is a built-in time tracking feature. The inbuilt chat option lets the team members contact other members. It means you don’t have to jump to other applications like email or Slack to ask your doubt or others.

In the free plan, you can include an unlimited number of users, but there is a limitation in storage and project. The free plan offers only 10MB of storage and is limited to one project only. However, you can jump to the paid plan free trial as all the plans are available for the 10-day free trial.

Zoho project charges according to the features it provides instead of the only number of users. It means it saves your organization money. Like other tools, it offers mobile and web versions.

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Standard: $3 /user/month
• Premium: $4 /user/month
• Enterprise: $5 /user/month

#5. LiquidPlanner Project Management Software

Website: https://www.liquidplanner.com/

LiquidPlanner is one of the smartest project management software. This software tries to bind big teams with many things, and unlike the other name, it succeeds in this aim.

It has powerful features to run the projects traditionally. What I like about LiquidPlanner are its general resource management tool and helpdesk-style issue tracker. Built-in strong reporting and integration to the major cloud are also there. The Zapier support lets you build your automated connection with other business tools you are using it.

When extra work is assigned to a specific person to the group, people’s performance is taken into account for those people while estimating project deliverables. With extra features, you will find little complexity. However, the liquid planner shows a good explanation for such aspects. It still needs your time to set up, learn, and master it. For that reason, it is best for longer teams and terms than small teams and individuals.

Pricing:

• Free trial: 14 days
• Professional: $45/user/month
• Enterprise: Ask for a quote

#6. ProofHub Project Management Software

Website: https://www.proofhub.com/

ProofHub is for those who love simplicity. It mainly focuses on small to mid-size businesses. One can assign the task to clients and groups. From this, one can discuss, share, and edit the work. Proofhub creates custom roles for users. It can create Gantt charts.

Some of the features are custom roles, workflows and boards, task management, Gantt charts, reports, discussions, time tracking, chat, calendar, notes, file management, and in-app notifications.

Its graphic skills and email notification are one of the best features. Files can be uploaded securely from anywhere. It offers great comfort and flexibility. Powerful tools for data storage and communication are also a plus point.

Pricing:

• Free: 14-days free trial
• Essential: $45/month (no user restriction)
• Ultimate: $89/month (no user restriction)

#7. Microsoft Project Management Software

Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/project/project-management-software

Microsoft Project is unbeatable for the time, as it has been around 30 years in varying forms. Still, it is a preferred tool for many people. With the high price and steep learning curve, people used it for large and complex projects. It means people, with time, expertise, and hefty budget can invest in this comprehensive tool.

The interface of this best project management software looks almost similar to other Microsoft Office apps. The new members find it daunting, but tutorials and hints help them.

Trained professionals appreciate this tool and its in-depth details available for each task and resource. And all the resources are for a specific person, team, physical material, role, and something else.

Reporting is also powerful for customizable and pre-built reports. All the reports are quickly exported to Microsoft PowerPoint. Third-party integration is limited, which is one downside to this tool.

You can use it with an office 365 subscription. One can use it as a cloud-based subscription or on-premises. The price is based on users and the type of plan you chose.

Pricing:

A. Cloud-based project:

• Plan 1: $10.00 user/month
• Plan 3: $55.00 user/month
• Plan 5: $55.00 user/month

B. On-premise solution:

• Standard: $620
• Professional: $1020
• Project: Ask for a quote

#8. Teamwork Project Management Software

Website: https://www.teamwork.com/project-management-software/

If you ever wanted easy-to-use project management software, the teamwork project tool is for you. Even though it offers a full set of features, the interface of the app is quite adaptive. It shows all the useful information easily without any long list and complex charts.

It automates various actions. You can even choose such action within the app or using third-party tools and services. Its flexibility is such a time save thing after you have done the setup.

One can view the tasks as a definitive list or Kanban boards. You don’t have to go through multiple screens to find out the details you need, and all thanks to its sensible menu option.

I like its various pricing model as well. However, it offers a free trial version to 2 projects with limited storage space. Those who required the best project management tool with high-end functions or want to handle more projects need to switch to the paid version. It supports the web, iOS, and Android platforms.

Pricing:

• Free Forever: $0 (up to 5 users, 2 projects, 100 MB storage)
• Pro: $10/user/month (30day free trial)
• Premium: $18/user/month (30day free trial)
• Advanced: ask for a quote

#9.Nifty Project Management Software

Website: www.niftypm.com/

If you are looking for advanced project management software that reduces the work, notably, then Nifty is for you. It will surely reduce the development cycle and improve team productivity.

It combines all important features in this tool, and as a result, it offers excellent progress. It is combining all of the important features of project management into one software. And the end, the result is amazing. It inspired all the team to work better.

This software ensures that your organizational goals complete at the time. You can manage the task through as a list view and Kanban. It also has an inbuilt calendar and can integrate with Google. It also allows you to share files and other documents.

Teams can collaborate with a team or individual discussion in a specific communication way. It has an integration with Github, which makes it unique.

It offers different packages and can get as many guests or clients without extra charge for a specific package.

Pricing:

• Free: 7-days free trial
• Starter: $39/month
• Pro: $79/month
• Business: $124/month
• Enterprise: ask for a quote

#10. JIRA Project Management Software

Website: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira

JIRA is a last name on the list, but it is quite a popular project management software. It developed based on agile software teams. Within the software, teams can customize scrum boards, Kanban boards, and the agile method to improve productivity.

Users can track bugs, find issues, and monitor the task and time spend on it. It has a robust set of API that allows users to connect it with multiple third-party software.

Users can create a project roadmap to map out the progress of projects. The Project board has a drag and drop interface to manage every little detail of the project. The system functions to create issues, plan sprints, stories, and distribute tasks to team members.

Users get direct access to thousands of business applications and access all information about them. One can get info from design to monitoring tools and source code to productivity apps.

The prices are monthly based, not per user. A mobile app is available for android and iOS. You can get support through the portal or video tutorials.

Pricing:

• Free: $0 (for 10 users)
• Standard: $7/ user
• Premium: $14/ user
• Enterprise: ask for a quote

Conclusion:

It is all about the 10 best project management software to look at before investing in it. The great part of these tools is that most of them are available for the free trial to know which one to invest in. We have tried to include all the information we can; still, you have any doubts, you can ask your questions using the comment section below.

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