Project Management Software
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Compare the Top Project Management Software of 2021
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Project Management Software Guide
Project management software provides teams and managers with the tools to optimize collaboration, task distribution, resource planning and budgeting for business projects. Compare the best Project Management software currently available using the table below.
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1
ONLYOFFICE
Ascensio System SIA
ONLYOFFICE Docs is a secure online office suite that you get a vast range of collaborative features. Co-edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with your team in real-time: two co-editing modes (real-time and paragraph-locking), commenting, built-in chat, tracking changes, version history, document comparison. It can be integrated in existing platforms or used as a built-in component. ONLYOFFICE Workspace lets you deploy a web-office on your own server. It comprises ONLYOFFICE Docs and comprehensive business tools: Mail, CRM, document and project management, calendar, chat, blogs, forums, polls, etc. Community Edition is the best choice for teams up to 20 users, available free of charge. Enterprise Edition is intended for bigger businesses who need enhanced security options and professional support. ONLYOFFICE cloud service is a cost-efficient business solution with online editors and collaboration platform in the cloud, accessible from anywhere and from any device.
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2
FreshBooks
FreshBooks
Make invoicing and billing painless for your small business with FreshBooks. A top-rated invoice and accounting software for self-employed professionals and small businesses, Freshbooks offers a fast, easy, and secure way of crunching numbers so companies can focus on doing the work they love. It offers a wealth of powerful features that includes invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, project management, payment processing, and reporting. Freshbooks also lets users work from anywhere with the Freshworks mobile app.
Starting Price: $6/month -
3
Office Timeline
Office Timeline
Office Timeline is a robust and easy-to-use PowerPoint add-in that helps you create Gantt charts, roadmaps and swimlane diagrams in minutes, by leveraging professionally built, fully customizable templates. The interface blends seamlessly with the native PowerPoint one, so it's guaranteed to look and feel familiar right away. Intuitive drag & drop actions eliminate the learning curve traditionally associated with project management software and give you full control over the design of all elements. Import features from popular software like Excel, MS Project, Smartsheet or Wrike allow you to bring in external data without manually entering the tasks and milestones. Save the templates and share your work directly from the add-in to make the best use of your time. Our vision is to help users of all levels ace presentations and tell a clear and compelling story via engaging visuals, without putting in hours of work before every single meeting.
Starting Price: $59.00/year/user -
4
ActiveCollab
ActiveCollab, Inc
ActiveCollab is a project management software that gives you complete control over your work. The tool is equipped with just the right set of features to help you organize your work and keep you free from distractions: workload management, time tracking, project profitability, task dependencies, invoicing, collaborative options, third-party integrations. ActiveCollab is used by teams of all backgrounds - from large teams in international corporations to small startups, and everything in between.
Starting Price: $6.25/month -
5
Visual Planning
Stilog
Visual Planning is a simple yet powerful resource management and scheduling solution. Thousands of organizations are using it to share schedules with colleagues and work together more efficiently.
Starting Price: $55.00/month/user -
6
4myRollout
EHSolution.com
4MyRollout is a user-friendly Project / Task Management tool for projects & pre-openings with multiple people or locations, keeping clones / templates connected to provide powerful analytics to optimize outcomes. The need to rollout initiatives with "speed to market" is evolving faster than ever and companies need to act now to meet the heightened expectations of their customers. Implementing enterprise-wide change requires agility, accountability, and reliability; achievable when using the right tools. 4MyRollout optimizes how change and innovation is enacted, tracked, and iterated upon. We appreciate the unique needs of these types of projects, unlike mass-market project management apps. We understand that each location has its own differentiators; the relationships between above property and on location users; and the complexity of opening new locations. We appreciate our end users are not tech experts and they need an app that requires little to no training.
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7
SOPlanning
SOPlanning
SOPlanning is an online planning tool for your projects and resources. You can create tasks for your collaborators or allow them to access the planning and have a complete view of your activity, by project or by person. Any type of activity can be concerned, any business needs a planning! Many filters and views are available to see what you want, and you can define rights that will allow your employees to access only the tasks you want. Test our free demo for 30 days, this will let you validate whether the display of SOPlanning meets your needs, our team is at your disposal to answer your questions.
Starting Price: 20$ per month for 5 users -
8
OneDesk
OneDesk
OneDesk's software combines Helpdesk & Project Management into one application. No need to purchase, integrate and switch between applications. Your team can support your customers and work on projects in one place. Aimed at SMBs as well as departments at large enterprises, OneDesk is frequently used by project managers, customer service, IT, professional services and more. This easy-to-use, feature-rich, and highly configurable software can manage both ticket & task workflows.
Starting Price: $9/user/month -
9
Project Insight
Project Insight
Project Insight is award-winning work & project management software that centralizes all of your work, tasks, and projects into one easy to use online platform. We offer a completely FREE expandable version or a full-featured enterprise edition.
Starting Price: Free + $3 add-ons + Enterprise -
10
TeamHeadquarters
Entry Software
TeamHeadquarters by Entry is an integrated help desk and project management software for IT teams. With TeamHeadquarters, IT teams can focus on the right work at the right time. The platform offers full-function tools for project management, portfolio management, help desk, and time sheets.
Starting Price: $28.00/month/user -
11
ONEPOINT Projects
ONEPOINT Projects
ONEPOINT Projects is the leading provider of easy-to-use, hybrid, project and portfolio management solutions for modern project organizations. Unlike traditional PPM software, ONEPOINT Projects integrates simple, traditional, agile, and Jira projects into a single project portfolio and resource utilization database. ONEPOINT enables project-oriented organizations to increase project and portfolio transparency, shorten project lead times, automate best practices, and optimize resource utilization. By building on open standards and technologies, providing both cloud-based/SaaS and on-premise installations, and strategic focus on making PM systems easy to deploy, ONEPOINT redefines ROI for project management solutions.
Starting Price: € 23.90/month/user -
12
Paymo
Paymo
Paymo is a collaborative work management application that allows small and mid-size teams and individuals to get their job done wherever they are. The software bundles advanced task management, resource scheduling, native time tracking, and billing under a single platform - eliminating the need for any messy and costly integrations.
Starting Price: $8.95/month/user -
13
Resource Manager DB
User Solutions
Resource Manager-DB (RMDB) is a flexible and affordable production planning, scheduling, and tracking solution that is designed to adapt to your operations. We can work with whatever data you have in to achieve better production scheduling, just easier and quicker than you ever thought possible. Resource Manager DB enables users to deploy on-premise and can integrate with any system, or simply stand alone. Resource Manager DB also features finite capacity scheduling and allow users to make scheduling adjustments with drag-and-drop functionality. What makes US (User Solutions) unique: we work with you to solve production scheduling challenges your way. Benefit from an adaptable and affordable solution that will fit you like a glove. LESS TRAINING REQUIRED | QUICKER IMPLEMENTATION | FASTER RETURN Now with EDGE BI! Enhanced Drag and drop Graphical Environment provides an visual, intelligent 'white board' approach for intuitive viewing and easy updating. Call US Today!
Starting Price: $5000.00/one-time/user -
14
GoodDay
GoodDay Work
GoodDay is a modern work management platform that brings together the best tools for high-level planning, project and product management, task organization and productivity growth based on transparency, agility, and motivation
Starting Price: $5.00/month/user -
15
Ravetree
Ravetree
Ravetree is an award-winning work management software platform that empowers teams to deliver work faster, be more informed, and spend less time searching for information. Companies use Ravetree to manage their projects, resources, and creative workflows—all in one place. Ravetree eliminates the pain of moving between different applications to find important information, relying on cumbersome spreadsheets, and entering the same data in multiple places. It’s easy to get work done with Ravetree!
Starting Price: $29/user/month -
16
Atera
Atera
Atera is a cloud based all-in-one remote monitoring & management (RMM) platform for MSPs & IT pros. Atera includes everything you need to solve your clients toughest IT problems in one, centralized location. Atera's fixed cost pricing model helps IT businesses of all sizes grow with no extra costs. Fixed Cost with unlimited devices, it's that simple. Start your 30-day free trial today.
Starting Price: $79.00/month/user -
17
ConnectWise Manage
ConnectWise
ConnectWise Manage is a robust business management platform made for companies that offer, service, and support technology. Trusted by more than 100,000 users, ConnectWise Manage offers a wealth of features that enables teams to achieve greater accountability, operational efficiency, and profitability. The platform comes with help desk, time tracking and billing, project management, account management, agreements, sales and marketing, procurement, and reporting tools.
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18
Journyx
Journyx
Journyx is a detailed time and expense tracking software that helps companies easily and accurately track employee time for projects, billing, and payroll. Our time tracking solutions offer a high level of customization and flexibility and are designed especially for organizations that deliver project or client-oriented work. With automated features like payroll validation rules and robust data analytics and reporting options, Journyx has everything you need to streamline your project management, billing, payroll, and accounting processes. Our system integrates seamlessly with most other business applications, including including Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Project, Sage, QuickBooks, ADP, and more! We offer two core products that help customers reach maximum profitability: JX Time Tracking Software (for workforce time and expense tracking) and PX Resource Management Software (for a complete picture of project and budget status, employee time, and resource availability).
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19
Tempo Timesheets
Tempo
Tempo Timesheets is the #1 time management product in the Atlassian ecosystem since 2010. With Tempo Timesheets, you can build granular reports in seconds and drill down on data to get the detailed information you need. Managers can review and approve their team's timesheets, as well as analyze high-level information on work performed across your organization to make better business decisions. Convert Google Calendar events to worklogs for added value and productivity. Make accurate decisions based on approved and up-to-date information with dynamic reports. Plan for time and future bids based on historical estimates, and measure and report on CAPEX and OPEX with precision. Local support available.
Starting Price: $10/month -
20
7shifts
7shifts
7shifts empowers restaurants of all sizes to trim labor costs, retain staff, and stay labor compliant with robust scheduling, communication, compliance, and engagement tools. 7shifts helps managers save 5 hours/week on scheduling, minimize call & text chaos with streamlined communication, manage staff on-the-go with free mobile apps, and trim labor costs up to 3% by integrating their POS. Join 300,000+ restaurant pros using 7shifts to simplify their life. 7shifts is designed to simplify labor management, one shift at a time. Start your free 14-day trial today!
Starting Price: $17.99/month -
21
Unlock:OKR
UnlockOKR
We turn OKR theory into reality. UnlockOKR is a company that you can trust. For over 20 years, we have been delivering on our promises and we look forward to the opportunity to do the same for you! Our commitment to every client is the same,' results. We do this with an OKR Success Model, built around four key principles: 1. Intense focus on priorities 2. Orchestrating a battle rhythm 3. Creating alignment from CEO to intern 4. Agility to pivot on demand
Starting Price: $1/user -
22
Buildertrend
Buildertrend
Buildertrend is the No. 1 cloud-based construction management software used by homebuilders, remodelers and specialty contractors. The award-winning tool helps construction professionals complete more projects while reducing delays, eliminating communication errors and increasing customer satisfaction. Since 2006, more than one million users across more than 100 countries have chosen Buildertrend as their preferred platform for real-time collaboration throughout each stage of the construction process.
Starting Price: $99.00/month -
23
BQE CORE Architect - Project Accounting
BQE Software
Effortlessly provide principals, project managers, and entire staff with the information they need. Monitor KPIs like project performance, time and expense, and profitability on BQE Core Architect's powerful dashboard. Watch real-time status of tasks by phase, track progress, and compare budgeted hours and costs vs. actual so nothing falls through the cracks. Efficiently allocate resources with interactive Gantt charts and accurately forecast every time. Manage your new sales opportunities, activities, and performance through Core CRM, specifically built to address the needs of professional services. Discover how BQE Core Architect helps you focus on the essential parts of your practice while effectively managing client projects. Sign up for a free 15-day trial today.
Starting Price: $7.95/month/user -
24
MIE Trak Pro
MIE Solutions, Inc.
We want your company to grow and succeed in a competitive manufacturing industry. MIE Solutions provides ERP software for the discrete manufacturing industry, including aerospace, automotive, metal fabrication, electronics, and more. We offer both on-premise and cloud solutions to our customers as well as perpetual and SaaS licensing options. The software, MIE Trak Pro, has a multi-division capability and can be used in both small, start-up manufacturing businesses as well as mid-sized and enterprise companies in the discrete manufacturing industry. MIE Solutions provides services to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. We want your business to grow and improve because what you do and what you make is important to us! Manufacturing is an ever-developing industry and we understand this. Let us help you grow and continue supporting your customers with on-time delivery and competitive prices (while remaining profitable).
Starting Price: $125/user/month -
25
Tempus Resource
Prosymmetry
Tempus Resource’s detailed What-If scenario planning gives you the power to create real options by simulating the effects of a multitude of changes to your project portfolio. Improve decision making with comprehensive understanding of the real-time impact of different resource decisions and scenarios on your project portfolio
What is Project Management Software?
Teams have to handle several tasks at the same time, so relying on human memory to keep everyone organized is impossible. And trying to organize a group of people over email is only going to lead to disaster. Completing projects by a certain deadline and without blowing the budget, teams need to set deadlines, share documents, and write down information. Members of the team need to stay in communication with each other. When organizations start to get serious about managing their projects, it's time to invest in project management software.
Online project management systems are ideal for individuals working on projects and team collaborative efforts. These online systems create real-time workspaces where outside partners and team members can monitor each detail that brings projects to completion. They provide an overview of every project in progress as well as details about the daily tasks being done to help the projects progress.
The most effective project management apps allow teams to handle common issues, like missed deadlines, by automatically rescheduling tasks affected by the missed deadline. The app will create a report that helps managers access which teams have too little work, and which ones are overburdened. Several project management apps will keep track of the time spent working on projects and integrate this feature with invoice and billing systems.
The most important thing to realize is that project management is for project management, unlike work-management apps that are expressly for projects. It might seem obvious, but it's an important distinction to understand.
Projects are a very precise form of work. They have a start date, end date, and result in some type of deliverable. Coming up with a new look for a web page is an example of a project. However, maintaining the website is considered to be continuous work because it does not have a definitive start or end date. Another example of a project is the publication of a monthly magazine, whereas blogging is ongoing work. Blogging could, in theory, be seen as a project. However, because it involves very few people and the turn-around time is fairly fast, the use of a project management system would not be worth the effort.
Project management apps are the most beneficial for work that requires more than a couple of weeks to complete, and there are many people and a lot of steps involved.
How Does A Project Management App Work?
The responsibility of managing projects is the job of a project manager, even when the project employs the use of project management software. While the project manager may be the person who oversees the entire project and directs resources as necessary, the project manager is not the only person to use the project management app. When looking into a project management app, it's pretty noticeable that people work together to sort complex tasks into different components (milestones, tasks, and subtasks).
In the ideal scenario, each component of a task gets assigned to a specific person and the task has a deadline. Other team members have the ability to see who is responsible for a task. Members of the team can also see if the person is on track to meet their deadline. Having this level of insight is important. It tells people who may be working on a future part of the project that there is going to be a delay before it happens.
Being able to see the to-do list of every team member gives insight as to whether people are missing deadlines because the team's members are overworked. When a team member has six task assignments that are due within a day, the issue becomes obvious. It's probably a good idea to redistribute the work before they miss the deadline. By examining a Gantt chart, a feature available with project management apps, managers are able to see when team members are overwhelmed, or don't have enough to do. It allows managers to assess the workflow and distribute resources effectively.
Projects have assets that can range from detailed descriptions of the various components of the project and the project overall to a visual mock-up. Everyone on the team needs to have access to the assets. By using a project management app, the assets are contained in a centralized location.
Most project management apps will include storage, allowing the team to upload the file directly from the workspace. The files are stored in a place where the entire team can access and discuss them. Project management solutions also give users the option to upload the file to online storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and OneDrive, letting team members connect or upload files to the data management system that are located in storage systems that are already in use.
Free Project Management Tools
There are free versions of project management software available, but these often have limited capabilities. The main limitation to using this free software is that organizations are limited to managing one or two projects. Also, the free versions of project management software may block certain features, or limit the amount of storage space.
Most project management apps will offer a two-week, at least, free trial. Once the trial ends, there's no longer a free tier of service. However, the services that offer free trials do require paying a fee once the trial is over.
It is useful to try free software while businesses decide whether or not to upgrade the services. However, most businesses will want features and storage capacity that is available with paid accounts. Businesses should try out products for more than a few weeks to determine which software works best for the business and its teams.
Which project management systems have a free version of their software? Teamwork Projects, Zoho Projects, ProofHub, Volerro, and Wrike all offer free versions. As previously stated, the free versions are limited to managing one or two projects. Wrike is the exception. Wrike limits the number of users to five, it does not give users proofing or approval tools, and 2GB of storage space.
Collaborative Software
Even though it seems like project management software and collaborative software may seem like they are the same thing, they are different. Project management apps are used to collaborate. However, project management software tends to be more specific.
Collaborative Software has many different services and apps that have features like video conferencing that lets two people work on a document simultaneously.
Currently, project management services have collaborative tools and roll communication incorporated into the software. These services also let businesses connect collaboration apps that the team may use services like Google Docs, Slack, and HipChat.
Whether the business uses communications tools that are available with the project management application, or an outside one, the idea is for the team to have a centralized workspace. Having one workspace allows the team to get access to necessary assets, notes from other team members, prioritized to-do list, a calendar to list milestones and deadlines, a place to pose questions, and a resource for answers. A few project management apps have features that allow billing and expense tools.
Workflow Management
As stated earlier, project management apps are created to manage projects but don’t really do much else. So, what types of work are not considered to be a project? Any ongoing work is not considered to be a project. Some examples of ongoing work include answering support calls. Ongoing work is also characterized by tasks that are recurring.
People see the need to use workflow management tools for ongoing work, not project management apps. Project management apps and workflow management software do have some intersection in what they do in theory. Both help people document the tasks that need completion and when the tasks need to get done. However, project management apps have more features that help to create a structure for moving work along. This partly because the app does not make any assumptions about the work getting done. The task has a start and end date. There is also a deliverable at the end of the work. Workflow management also does not make as many assumptions as to the nature of the work being managed and the best ways to get it done. So, workflow management tools tend to offer more flexibility. Workflow management allows the user to choose how they want to use the tool. Project management apps usually don't allow this. The usage of project management apps is slightly more rigid.
Workflow management is hard to categorize because it can be handled as a standalone issue and at other times is used in conjunction with other apps. For example, the Asana app can handle workflow management. All-in-one work hubs like Podio and Workfront also have workflow management tools. However, the user will need to add these tools to their account. The interesting thing about these apps is that neither workflow management or project management is not the core of these services. These are apps that can get added to the account.
Another type of workflow management software is Kanban boards. Kanban is a work style. Derived from Japanese culture, it was commonly used in manufacturing to ensure on-time delivery. Today, kanban apps are commonly used in software development teams. The kanban system is centered on visuals and is good for managing how much additional work a team receives before the work currently in progress is completed. The concept is to keep the work flowing, but not in a way where workers become overwhelmed by too many requests. Businesses do use kanban boards to manage projects. However, kanban apps aren't designed to be project management apps.
Some project management apps are designed to also work with workflow management apps. Of course, this depends on how the apps are implemented. Two examples of apps that can do both are Clarizen and Wrike. Volerro gets included in this list because it gives users a kanban-style experience, which is beneficial to managing workflows.
Software for Task Management
Task management software has some differences when compared to project management software. Most project management apps do include task management features. However, if the business only needs task management, they can get the app independently.
Asana is one of the best task management apps. It is also a good example of a workflow management app. By using Asana, tasks can get assigned to individuals. Users can also give the tasks descriptions, assign deadlines, and attach documents. The assigned tasks do not need to be a part of a larger project.
Task-management apps are good for managing ongoing work. Projects can also get managed in Asana. However, it does take more effort to use the app for project management. The following analogy can explain Asana.
If a kanban board or the Asana app is a deck of cards, project management apps are a board game. Board games have rules, and the game is fun when it gets played as it was intended. A deck of cards can be played in any way the user chooses to play with it. There are games designed for decks of cards, but users can also create their own game. It is important to say that before playing a card game, all players are aware of the rules and agree to them. There's no set of written rules to determine gameplay.
Using a task management app works with a similar concept. Users will spend a lot of time deciding how they want to use it. While these apps do offer flexibility, determining how it works for the business can be a matter of trial and error.
This does not mean that project management systems lack flexibility. In a board game, users can still decide to alter the rules or create their own. But board games are purchases with an understanding that they are most effective when they get used for their intended purposes. Businesses that use project management apps know that apps are being used to manage projects. The managing of products will involve assigning tasks and deadlines, monitoring the progress of the work, logging billable hours, and more.
To-Do List Software
To-do list apps often get confused with project management apps. A few of the to-do apps do have collaborative functionality and give users the ability to create projects. While it is possible to assign a person something to do and create a deadline. It also gives the task creator the ability to see if the task got completed. Even with these capabilities, to-do apps and project apps are not the same.
To-do list software has the same issues as task management apps. They don't allow users a full range of tools and features to track complex projects from beginning to end. Collaborative to-do apps are ideal for light work. They are also ideal for households with more than one person and families. However, they won't create a Gantt chart or figure out how much more needs to get accomplished before starting a project's new phase. Todoist Premium and Asana are both good collaborative to-do apps.
Small Business Project Management
Small businesses use project management software to avoid the overwhelming nature of working in email. Selecting the right project management can eliminate email, but this doesn't occur overnight. It will take time for employees to become familiar with the software. It also takes time for organizations to find the best uses for the software.
Enterprises and small businesses will not have the same needs. But, it's important to find the tool that best meets the needs of the business.
Another characteristic used to determine if the project management solution works best for the business is how the vendor charges. A per-month-fee is typically how enterprises get charged to use a project management platform. Project management software vendors that work with small businesses charge a flat monthly fee for a specific number of licenses or unlimited licenses. The issues aren't whether small businesses should not use software that large enterprises use. However, when software designed for large enterprises is used by small businesses, it may be too much for them. Small businesses may end up spending more money on features that they don't need.
A factor that also differentiates project management platforms is the permission levels. Work front has different permission levels. They are different for portfolio managers, team members, and executives. Having these differences amongst the corporate hierarchy ensures that everyone has the correct access levels. In extremely small businesses, each employee plays multiple roles, so establishing permission levels may not be beneficial. There are several other differences that businesses should consider: work style, the structure of the team, and the type of business.