Pricing comparison of
top project management software
6 Best Project
management software
Compare amongst the best project management software to see which tool can help you do your best work, every single day.
1. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management solution that caters to businesses of all sizes and industries. The preferred project management software of more than 200,000 businesses worldwide, Zoho Projects is an intuitive, user-friendly platform that makes planning, tracking and collaborating on your work simple, yet effective.
Pros: Not only is Zoho Projects a comprehensive solution with a myriad of features such as Gantt chart, resource allocation, workflow automation, issue tracking and advanced reporting features, but this project management software also doubles down as a fully customizable solution to suit your business needs. The tool supports both synchronous and asynchronous work with its remote collaboration capabilities and mobile applications. Onboarding your employees is also easy with its single-page layout that provides easy access to all the important modules in just a few clicks.
Cons: Brimming with a constellation of features that undergo regular enhancements, Zoho Projects can be slightly overwhelming for those migrating from tools like Excel or for those using project management software for the first time. However, with dedicated support that assists with onboarding and migration from different tools, users get accustomed to the product quite easily. The tool is also entirely customizable to suit the customer's needs. As such, customers are willing to invest time in the product in order to witness scaleability and steady growth.
Paid plans start from $5/user/month with a 10-day free trial.
A freemium plan is also available.2. Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is one of the oldest project management tools in the market, making for a great user community. It's a comprehensive platform that has both cloud and on-premise versions available. It offers features such as portfolio management, risk management, and earned value management for those looking for advanced project management capabilities.
Pros: Microsoft Project has all the features a traditional project management practitioner may look for, like portfolio management, project scheduling and budget management. For users who work with many other Microsoft tools, MS Project is a great fit as it integrates very well with its in-house tools, eliminating the need for users to look elsewhere.
Cons: Users who use multiple third party tools may find it frustrating to work with MS Project as it has poor integrations with tools outside the Microsoft ecosystem. It also involves a steep learning curve and many users find it quite difficult to learn the product. MS Project is also exorbitantly priced, not to mention the absence of a free plan.
Paid plans start from $7.5/user/month with the premium version
costing around $14.5/user/month.Looking for a better alternative? Check out our list of top Microsoft Project alternatives.
3. Jira
Jira is a renowned agile project management tool offered by Atlassian, an Australia- based company. It is one of the most popular tools used amongst IT project managers, especially those managing teams that use the Agile framework. The tool can be used for a variety of purposes - from issue tracking to project management to DevOps.
Pros: Jira has several third-party plugins available which highlights its potential to expand according to your business needs. It also has great agile project and issue tracking features and helps managers plan ahead with the help of roadmaps that are easily shareable with stakeholders.
Cons: For people without a technical background, this tool may be difficult to adapt to with a steep learning curve because of its agile-specific nature. As such, it is unsuitable for teams that want to follow the classic waterfall approach. There's also no built-in channels to promote communication within teams and requires paid add-ons.
Paid plans start from $7.5/user/month with the premium version
costing around $14.5/user/month. Free version available.On the lookout for a better option? See why Zoho Projects is one of the top Jira alternatives in the market.
4. monday.com
monday.com is an online work management platform with an intuitive user interface and templates that cater to several industries. With the ability to fully customize work processes, monday.com is a versatile tool that can fit into the needs of diverse industries like human resources, software development, customer relations and more.
Pros: It has great automation and reporting features, making for a scalable platform. The tool has an attractive interface that is easy-to-use and has bold collaboration features. There's also a mobile app that helps users work on the go.
Cons: The tool focuses more on task management rather than project management, and as such is better for small and medium businesses. Moreover, the mobile app lacks in functionality, when compared to the desktop version. A big disadvantage for users who follow the classic approach is the absence of the Gantt Chart feature. Additionally, it is difficult to track time and costs against tasks for client billing.
Paid plans begin from $8/user/month with the Pro version
costing $16/user/month. A free plan is also available.Looking for options with stronger project management capabilities? Check out this list of top monday.com alternatives.
5. Wrike
Wrike is a work management software that's feature-rich in collaboration and project reporting. It's a tool that makes sure that there's effective transparency between and within teams.
Pros: Wrike offers several benefits to users in the form of custom workflows, risk prediction capabilities and advanced reporting features. It also has one of the best free versions available on the market.
Cons: The UI could be deemed a bit complex : navigating from one project to the other could quite often be deemed cumbersome. The paid plans can get quite expensive. The tool is better-suited for smaller teams that manage simple projects. The tool comes with a bit of a learning curve, and first-time users have a tough time finding their way around the product. There is also no option for advanced filtering in the dashboard.
Paid plans begin from $9.8/user/month with just the Standard
plan costing $24.8/user/month. Free version is available.Looking for more affordable options? Check out this list of top Wrike alternatives.
6. Asana
Asana is a web-based project management platform that has a simple, easy-to-use interface which is easily adaptable by anyone.
Pros: This tool has several great features such as custom workflows, risk forecasting and project tracking abilities, that promote cross-functional collaboration. It has a basic work breakdown structure that facilitates easy onboarding, and offers free support as well as unlimited storage.
Cons: For smaller teams, the pricing could be a bit on the higher side for the features offered. The tool also lacks native time and budget tracking features and requires plug-ins or paid add-ons.
Paid plans begin from $13.49/user/month with its Business plan
costing $30.49/user/month. Free plan available.Looking for a better option? Learn why Zoho Projects is one of the top Asana alternatives that's available today.
What is project management software?
Project management software is designed to help organizations with dedicated planning, effective tracking and active collaboration with teams and stakeholders to attain the desired project goals within the established deadline.
Why is project management software important?
Take a look at all the reasons why using project management software is important:
- Organize your work - manage multiple projects with ease
- Sharp tracking of work status - let nothing slip through the cracks
- Combat bottlenecks and delays - meet deadlines
- Budget management - maintain planned costs
- Resource management - ensure a happier, productive workforce
- Effective planning - Simulate projects in real-time, project your goal toward success
- Loop your teams - Active communication that's effortless
- Intuitive Reports - Analyze efforts and progress made, stay adept
- Track time taken by employees for billing clients
Essential project management software features
Though task management is the essence of any project management software, there are many other significant features in a top project management software:
Budgeting
Track expenses and actual cost to invoice clients and pay employees. Compare planned vs actual cost, forecast budget, and monitor your budget health.
Budget forecasting
Estimate project restrictions using budget predictions, EVM, or baselines based on your current performance.
Resource allocation
Utilize your resources optimally with the help of resource utilization chart. Learn which resource is under or over allocated, and distribute work accordingly.
Collaboration
Collaborative features like forums, group chats, audio- video calls and broadcast channels keep everyone in the loop, and on the same page.
Quality management
Bug tracking and resolution capabilities help in regulating the quality of your projects consistently.
What makes the best
project management software?
Break large chunks of
work items into bite-sized portions
Manage your work items in a stratified manner to plan, track and collaborate with much ease.
Bring your favorite tools together
Seamlessly integrate with all of your favourite apps be it Google apps, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Bitbucket or Zapier.
Automate, because why not
Whether simple or complex, routine or brand new, processes of any nature can be automated in just a few clicks.
When in doubt, Gantt it
Track your game-plan, critical tasks, dependencies or any deviations with Gantt Charts, all in one place.
Collaborate to brainstorm,
brainstorm to collaborate
Our collaborative features like chat, audio/video conferencing, social feeds, forums and virtual meetings help you ask the right questions, challenge the status quo and ultimately achieve success.
Keep tabs on your budget
Cost baseline helps you compare your initial estimate and actual project costs, and to identify any potential bottleneck that might cause deviations.
How does project management software work?
From planning to tracking to collaboration, project management software caters to everything that drives your business toward exponential growth. Automating task processes, setting up a project budget and tracking costs, utilizing resources effectively and closely tracking time spent on work items are some of the other activities that would pave the way to a successful project, turning a backbreaking process into a leisurely walk in the park.
How to choose the best project management software?
When it comes to zeroing in on the right project management software that is befitting of your business needs and wants, there could be a sea of options out there for you to choose from that could leave you weary. But, it doesn't have to be so. Here's a check-list of how you could make the right choice without spending months evaluating multiple software:
Why do you need project management software? Emphasise on the why.
Address the pain points. What is it that you want this project management software to solve? Problems that are likely to occur are:
- Siloed teams, communication gaps
- Disproportionate work distribution
- Improper tracking of log hours
- A deluge of emails that go unread
- Prolonged meetings with obscure agendas
- Unrealistic deadlines
Test the water
What are the best project management software out there battling for your attention? Conduct your own research. Here's how you can make the right pick:
- Compare prices and types of plans.
- Test out the trial versions, talk to customer support
- Talk to people who have already used the tool
- Go through the features - are they customizable enough to satisfy your business needs?
- To what extent is the interface user-friendly? What about the mobile version, if there is one?
Run a pilot on a small team:
Create an ad hoc team and have them test the tool that you've shortlisted. Gather feedback, and proclaim a winner. Eureka, you've found your perfect project management software!
What are the benefits of project management software?
- Plan for the big picture
- Real-time tracking of work spent on work items
- Set realistic deadlines and goals
- Collaborate with teams on the fly
- Optimal work allocation and resource utilization
- Identify bottlenecks before they become a threat
"We found Zoho Projects the best fit, as we got everything we were looking for at a very affordable price."
Rakesh Nautiyal, Sunnyland Tours