- What are project management tools?
- Features to look for in project management software
- The top 10 project management tools to check out
- Other top project management software tools
- So, what’s the best project management tool?
As projects get complex and teams spread across locations, the right project tools are essential to keep everybody aligned and informed. They ensure teams work effectively, meet project timelines, and make the best use of resources.
Still, picking the right tool from many options can be tough. This piece covers top project software for all business sizes. Whether you’re a startup or a big firm, our guide helps find the best fit for your needs.
What are project management tools?
Project management tools are software platforms designed to help teams with projects from start to finish. They streamline task management, resource sharing, and progress monitoring, boosting team cooperation and clarity. With more people working remotely in the digital age, these tools are key for keeping everyone on the same page.
These software choices can be as basic as to-do lists or as complex as no-code database systems. No-code platforms let you design and tweak apps and workflows with easy drag-and-drop options. This makes them simpler to use than old-school task managers like Microsoft Excel. This shift has made advanced project management accessible even to those without technical backgrounds.
Selecting a project management tool depends on your project’s specific needs. However, given the growing emphasis on adaptability, ease of use, and scalability, no-code platforms are quickly becoming the go-to choice for many organizations.
Features to look for in project management software
- Centralized platform: A single, user-friendly hub for all team activities, tasks, and information. Features pre-built templates for a quick start.
- Advanced task management: Efficient task creation, assignment, and monitoring, featuring due dates, priorities, and status indicators. Offers multiple task organization options.
- Real-time collaboration: Features like file sharing, direct project comments, and notifications for deadlines, changes, or updates.
- Multiple view options: Choices such as Kanban, Calendar, Gallery, and Form views.
- Dashboard and reporting: Snapshot views of project progress, detailed reports on performance, milestones, and other key metrics.
- No-code customization: Customize the platform for specific project requirements, including creating custom fields, automating tasks, and integrating with other systems, without coding.
- Access control and permissions: Granular control over who can view or modify certain tasks, projects, or data, ensuring security and relevancy of information.
- Integration capabilities: Easy integration with other platforms for data transfer and unified project management across different tools.
- Open-source, self-hosted options: Freedom to host on your servers, ensuring ultimate data privacy, security, and control. Open-source code for further customization and scalability.
- Flexibility: stay in control and track your projects in the way that fits best the size, complexity, and collaboration needs. Keep it simple or make it as detailed and complex as you need. It´s your choice.
- Avoid vendor lock-in: Choose software that allows you to easily switch vendors or migrate to another system if needed. This ensures flexibility and prevents dependency on a single provider.
The top 10 project management tools to check out
Baserow
Baserow is an open-source no-code database tool that combines database capabilities with the ease of a spreadsheet. Designed for those without coding skills, it offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface for database management.
This flexible platform is suitable for a wide range of use cases. It can function as a project management tool, task manager, inventory tracker, or virtually any application that requires database functionality. Get started instantly using pre-built templates, customize them to your requirements, and easily import data from different sources to simplify processes and boost team collaboration.
Being an API-first tool, Baserow seamlessly integrates with other platforms, enabling businesses to connect it with their existing software ecosystem for seamless data exchange and automation. Its open-source core fosters community-led development, inviting both users and developers to enrich its capabilities and develop bespoke plugins.
With a self-hosting option, Baserow gives you full control over data handling and storage. This flexibility, combined with its capacity to scale, makes Baserow a top project management tool for a diverse range of users—from startups to large enterprises.
Baserow’s top features
- Open-source and no-code
- Intuitive spreadsheet-like interface
- Low learning curve
- Ready-to-use project management templates
- Real-time collaboration with task assignments, comments, notifications, and role-based permissions
- API-first design
- Inter-table linking
- Multiple views including Kanban, Calendar, Grid, and Form
- Row change history, advanced filtering, last visited view, and more
- Option for self-hosting
- Enterprise version offers an admin panel, Single Sign-On, audit trails, priority support, and more
- Handles extensive data volumes with ease
- Free plan with unlimited databases, rows, storage, and row change history
- Competitive pricing plans from $5 user/month
- Dedicated Baserow community
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a cloud-based platform that combines elements of spreadsheets, project management tools, and collaboration software. It offers a familiar spreadsheet-like interface which simplifies the transition for new users while providing the depth of a full project management solution
Users can create and manage tasks, track project progress, and automate workflows to fit their specific process needs. With features like resource allocation, Gantt charts, real-time collaboration, and detailed reporting, Smartsheet is suitable for projects of varying complexity and scale.
The platform integrates effortlessly with numerous business tools, including Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, and Slack. Additional tools, such as Bridge for smart workflows and the Calendar App for building shared calendars, supplement its core offerings.
With a varied pricing model, Smartsheet serves a wide array of teams, ranging from individuals looking for basic management features to large enterprises needing sophisticated functionalities. Plans span from a free version, which allows for one user and up to two editors, to the Enterprise plan designed for large-scale operations and offers advanced features for managing complex workflows.
Smartsheet’s top features
- Spreadsheet-centric
- A range of views including Gantt chart, Grid, and Card view
- Customizable pre-built templates
- Automated alerts, reminders, and other workflow actions
- Real-time collaboration with comments, mentions, and shared views
- Dashboards and reports
- Connects with apps like Google Sheets, Gmail, and Slack
- Secure sharing with adjustable permission levels
- Mobile app available on both iOS and Android
- A range of add-ons are available for editing, integrations, training, and support
- Business plans start from around $29 per user/month
Teamwork
Teamwork is a project management application tailored for agencies and service-oriented businesses. It offers an integrated suite of management tools, along with client-focused functions such as customizable branding, time tracking for billable hours, and invoicing capabilities.
The platform features a user-friendly interface and a range of project management tools, including task assignment, time tracking, milestone setting, and project scheduling. It has multiple views for displaying project details—from simple overviews to task lists, boards, or detailed Gantt charts, as well as a built-in calendar and notification system to ensure that all members stay informed and aligned.
With in-app communication features like message boards, document sharing, and the ability to comment on tasks, Teamwork is ideal for collaborative work. It also integrates with key work tools such as G-Suite, Microsoft Office, and Zapier, allowing you to customize your workflow and run everything in one place.
Teamwork’s free tier caters to teams of up to five, with access to premium features like time tracking, milestones, integrations, dashboards, and more. For more extensive needs, the Scale plan, with pricing upon request, includes unlimited projects and reporting, a resource scheduling tool, and over 500GB of storage.
Teamwork’s top features
- Ready-to-use templates and intuitive UI
- Feature-rich platform with time tracking, resource management, reports, and unlimited clients
- Integrates with a wide range of work apps
- Add-ons including CRM, Desk, Chat and Spaces
- Generous free plan with advanced features
- The most popular plan starts from $24 per user/month and has a 5-user minimum
Trello
Known for its simple card-based design, Trello is a user-friendly project management tool that visually maps out tasks and workflows. It allows users to create project boards and populate them with lists that categorize tasks into cards. These cards can then be shifted from one list to another to show progress or change priorities.
The platform is feature-rich. Users can add comments, attachments, labels, and due dates to each card. It also offers Power-Ups, which are integrations with apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Jira. These transform Trello from a simple tool into a full project management hub.
Trello has a free tier for personal use or small teams, and premium plans for more features. Paid plans offer larger attachments, extra Power-Ups, and advanced automation for complex workflows. Both web and mobile versions are available so that users can access their boards anywhere and anytime.
Trello’s top features
- User-friendly interface with boards, lists, and cards
- Drag-and-drop functionality
- Hassle-free dashboard setup
- Real-time collaboration and notifications
- Power-ups for integrations with Google Calendar, Slack, Jira, and more.
- Customizable backgrounds and stickers
- Mobile application available for iOS and Android
- Good free plan with unlimited cards
- Enterprise plan starts from $17.50 user/month
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a popular tool for project managers in various industries because it’s bundled into Microsoft 365. It offers a wide range of features to help organize tasks, manage schedules, allocate resources, handle budgets, and monitor project metrics.
The software allows projects to be broken down into smaller tasks and sets dependencies to ensure tasks are completed in the right order. Resources, such as people, materials, and finances, can be assigned to these tasks, making it easy for managers to keep track of everything in one place.
Microsoft Project provides different views, including Gantt chart, Task Sheet, and Network Diagram, to visualize project timelines and progress. It also generates various reports on project status, resource allocation, costs, and more. The software seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products like Teams and SharePoint, facilitating collaboration and data sharing.
With its comprehensive capabilities for detailed planning and resource management, Microsoft Project is an excellent choice for enterprises dealing with complex project demands. It can be used as standalone software or as part of the Microsoft 365 suite, offering cloud-based capabilities for accessing project data from anywhere.
Microsoft Project’s top features
- Pre-built templates for various industries and project types
- Seamless integration with other Microsoft tools
- Multiple project views including Gantt chart, Calendar, Task Sheet, and Network Diagram views.
- Part of the Microsoft 365 suite, allowing for online collaboration and real-time updates.
- Tracking and management for all kinds of projects
- Built-in, customizable reports
- Resource management, task scheduler, shared team calendar, and more
- Mobile version for both iOS and Android
- Cloud-based and on-premise solutions
- Plans start from $10 user/month
Other top project management software tools
Wrike
- Best for: Real-time project management and collaboration.
- Key features: Interactive Gantt charts, workload management, document versioning, real-time updates, time tracking,
- Best suited for: Medium to large businesses looking for a scalable and flexible solution.
- Pricing: Professional plans for 5 to 200 users start from $9.80 per user, per month.
Monday.com
- Best for: Visual project tracking and workflow automation.
- Key features: Color-coded boards, automation rules, integration capabilities, time tracking, customizable templates, and mobile app.
- Best suited for: Teams of all sizes wanting a visually engaging tool that can adapt to various workflows.
- Pricing: From $8.50 per user per month (with a 3-seat minimum).
Asana
- Best for: Task and project organization across teams.
- Key features: Task assignments, due dates, project timelines, dependencies, integration with other tools, and goal tracking.
- Best suited for: Small to large organizations looking to streamline task management and team collaboration.
- Pricing: Premium plans start from $14 per user, per month when billed monthly.
Airtable
- Best for: Combining the simplicity of spreadsheets with the complexity of robust databases.
- Key features: Spreadsheet-database hybrid, customizable views (Grid, Calendar, Kanban), rich field types, and extensive integration options.
- Best suited for: Businesses and teams looking for a flexible, user-friendly tool for creative projects and data organization.
- Pricing: Following Airtable’s pricing changes, plans start from $24 per user, per month when billed monthly.
Zoho Projects
- Best for: Comprehensive project management with in-depth functionality.
- Key features: Portfolio dashboard, global Gantt chart, global resource utilization, advanced task and issue reports, collaboration tools, custom roles/profiles/domain, inter-project dependencies.
- Best suited for: Small to medium-sized businesses seeking an all-in-one project management solution with integration to other Zoho products.
- Pricing: Basic plans start from $4.88 per user, per month.
So, what’s the best project management tool?
When selecting project management software for your business, it is important to consider the features that will best meet your needs.
A centralized platform provides a user-friendly hub for all team activities and tasks. Look out for features like real-time collaboration, multiple view options, such as Kanban, Calendar, Gallery, and Form views, and dashboard and reporting features to provide snapshot views of project progress and detailed reports on performance, milestones, and other key metrics.
No-code customization capabilities allow you to tailor the platform to your specific project requirements without the need for coding knowledge. While access control and permissions ensure that only authorized individuals can view or modify certain tasks, projects, or data. In addition, integration capabilities make it easy to connect your project management software with other platforms.
Lastly, open-source, self-hosted options give you the freedom to host the software on your own servers, providing greater data privacy and control, while also offering the opportunity for further customization and scalability through open-source code.
Considering these features will help you select the right project management software that aligns with your business goals and enhances your team’s productivity.
Get started with Baserow
Ready to get started with Baserow? Then sign up for a free account today! Or check out our blog, packed with handy guides and information.
Other useful resources
