We all have projects to work on, right? And we all know these projects don’t stand a chance of moving forward efficiently without the right project management solution — even when you work with small teams. To-do lists just won’t cut it when you’re working with multiple people on multiple projects at any given time.
As a freelance writer and as a full-time employee at a tech company, I’ve had plenty of opportunities in the past decade to test out different project planning and execution tools, which is why I’m able to put together a good list of the best project management software options on the market.
There are many different project management software options available. Some are better for software development, others better for document management, still others better for time tracking, etc. When you are looking for the best software for your needs, you need to evaluate those options and find the right tool for your team — small teams, large teams, whomever.
Some factors to consider when choosing a project management solution include:
– The size of your team. (For example, do you need unlimited projects for a large team?)
– Your budget. (You can start with a free version for many project management solutions.)
– The type of project you are working on. (Are you managing creative projects?)
– The features that are important to you. (For example, do you need interactive Gantt charts?)
Once you have narrowed down your options, it’s important to test out the project management system to see how it works for you. Make sure to ask other team members for their opinions on the software as well — especially anyone in a project manager role. Ultimately, the best project management software is the one that meets your specific needs and helps you achieve success with your projects.
The 6 Best Project Management Tools for 2022
OK, so now you know that project management software needs to fit your needs. Below, you’ll find a list of the top project management software options, including superlatives that can help you find a specific project management solution that meets your needs. There are other project management tools — the market is flooded with options — but the tools you see below cover about 90% of the market.
Without further adieu, here are your 6 best options when searching for project management software tools.
1. Monday.com (Best Overall Project Management Software)
Monday.com is a popular project management tool that is designed for small teams. It offers a simple, easy-to-use interface and a wide range of features that can help you manage your projects. If you’re looking for a comprehensive project management solution, you’ve found it with Monday.com.
Monday.com is customizable project management software, empowering managers to build functions and workflows that match how teams work. Over time, the Monday.com platform modifies itself to better match how your team likes to manage projects.
You’ll find that many of the options on this list offer a free version, and Monday.com is one of those project management tools that lets you get started without paying. A caveat, though: Most enterprises will quickly find that they need more than just simple project management software. They often need multiple licenses, advanced features, responsive support, etc.
But Monday.com is trusted among different-sized businesses needing everything from a simple project management tool to those needing a solution for complex projects. Check out Monday.com’s pricing.
2. Asana (Best for Creative Teams)
I’ve personally used Asana more than any of the other project management software options on this list — mostly within the context of marketing teams. And I can say this: Once you get the hang of Asana, it’s a powerful resource management tool that allows for time tracking, budgeting, and much more. It also offers a free plan if you’re just trying things out. (The free version even allows for unlimited projects, unlimited tasks, unlimited messages, and unlimited storage.)
You can manage unlimited projects through any of Asana’s plans, but you’ll have to upgrade to get features like goals, workload, portfolios, custom rule builders, approvals, etc. Still, I can’t recommend this option enough no matter how many team members you’re working with on project tasks. Check out Asana’s pricing.
3. Zoho Projects (Best for Unique Task Management Features)
Zoho Projects is a great option for businesses that are looking for a comprehensive project management tool. It offers everything you need to manage your projects, including task management, time tracking, and invoicing. It’s also priced affordably, making it a great value for businesses of all sizes. If you’re interested in Zoho Projects, check out the different plans available.
4. Wrike (Best for Managing Projects at Fast-Growing Companies)
Wrike is highly regarded among remote teams and others that need to track projects. Juggling multiple projects at once can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure which tool to use to help manage them. It’s hard to keep track of all the different tasks you need to do for each project, and it’s easy for something important to fall through the cracks.
Wrike is the solution for you. This award-winning project management software has been used by millions of people and is trusted by some of the world’s biggest brands. With Wrike, you can easily switch between Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and traditional workload views so that you can always see your priorities in the way that works best for you. Plus, Wrike’s task lists, subtasks, schedules, shared workflows, file sharing, and real-time communication and collaboration tools make it easy for everyone on the team to stay on top of their tasks.
If you’re interested in taking advantage of Wrike and all of its features, check out its pricing and choose the plan that best fits your business.
5. Smartsheet
Traditional project management tools are either too complex or not versatile enough. Projects always seem to take longer than you think they will, and it’s hard to keep track of all the moving pieces. It shouldn’t be so hard to track project progress and keep the entire team on track.
SmartSheet is a powerful, easy-to-use project management tool that can help you get your projects done on time and under budget. With Smartsheet, you can easily create dynamic workflows that automate tasks and ensure that everyone on your team is always up-to-date on the latest changes. Plus, SmartSheet’s Gantt, calendar and card views provide a visual overview of your project so you can stay on top of everything.
Find the right Smartsheet plan for your growing business.
6. LiquidPlanner (Best for Automating Project Tasks)
Struggling to keep track of your projects and who is working on what? LiquidPlanner was built for companies like yours that need a better way to manage their projects. LiquidPlanner’s software makes it easy to see what everyone is working on, how much time they have left to work on it, and when the project is due.
Stop wasting time trying to track down information from different people. With LiquidPlanner, all the data you need is in one place. You’ll be able to hit your deadlines without any stress or last-minute scrambles. Check out LiquidPlanner’s different pricing plans, and sign up for a free trial to get started.
What is project management?
Everyone knows that they have projects to complete at their places of business. But not everyone is aware of the art form that is project management. The concept of project management was first introduced when Henry Gantt created a charting system that still bears his name today: Gantt charts.
In the modern age, project management technology has brought the art of project management (and the power of successful project management) to the forefront. According to PWC, 77% of high-performing teams use some type of project management software. Is this a coincidence? Come on … of course not!
What is project management? It’s more than a project manager berating creators to submit their deliverables. It’s an art form that requires the right technology for teams to reach peak performance.
Key Features of a Project Management Tool?
The best project management tools focus on tools that assist with the “doing” part. That is, if a project must get from A to B to C to D to E in a certain amount of time and within a certain budget, project management tools help the doers complete their specific tasks so that the project can move to the next phase.
Features to look for include:
- Time tracking
- Budgeting
- Capacity monitoring
- Billing
- Integrations with other software
- Etc.
Different types of project management software will deliver different feature sets. And then different pricing/service plans for any given project management app will also include different features. For example, free project management software is going to offer fewer features than paid options from popular project management software providers. Your goal is to identify what your organization needs — and then identify the right project management software to meet those needs.
Benefits of Project Management Software
When you find the right tool for project management, your teams can work more efficiently, and individual projects reach completion on time — or even before deadlines arrive. Project management software empowers this efficiency by tracking progress, organizing campaigns, managing resources, plus more.
Also, project management software creates transparency across departments and organizations. Doers and creators can see status updates, as are project managers, directors, and executives. Everyone knows where everything is at any given time, which helps projects move forward naturally.
What’s Your Best Project Management Software Option?
As a long-time freelance writer, and as someone who’s worked full-time at a large tech company, I’ve had the chance to discover and evaluate all different types of project management systems. I would recommend:
- Moving your entire company (all departments) onto the same project planning tool.
- Matching features with the needs of your business.
- Going as far as possible with free plans before upgrading.
But here’s the payoff: When you find and implement the perfect tool for project management, your work accelerates, empowering your teams and your employees to do more than ever before. Get the right solution in place, and you’ll reap the benefits.
Questions about task management tools or project management software reviews? Get in touch to ask.
