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Why do I need project management software?
Project management software is a force multiplier. It helps you organize your time and resource management, create reports about business and employee performance, and get a better idea of what’s working and what isn’t. Project management software can also make team collaboration easier and more seamless than ever before. Using free project management software can be a great starting point for businesses looking to enhance their project management capabilities without a financial commitment.
Is it easy to use?
Project management software is designed to be easy to use; after all, that’s sort of the whole point of systems that are supposed to make your work easier. These programs shouldn’t take long for employees to master and should have a straightforward, intuitive interface for carrying out tasks and communicating with teammates. Many free project management tools offer user-friendly interfaces that require minimal training, making them accessible for teams of all sizes.
How steep is the learning curve?
Project management software platforms tend to have a wide range of capabilities, and if you are looking to master every facet, it could take you some time. For most employees, though, the basic tasks they would need to carry out shouldn’t take long to master at all and don’t require any previous tech know-how. Many free project management apps are designed with simplicity in mind, ensuring that users can quickly adapt and start managing their projects effectively.
How much will it cost me?
The amount you pay for project management software depends mainly on how many users you’ll have and how many features you want. For the most basic plans, the price will be around $5 per user per month, though if you opt for the “Enterprise” plan, the per-user price will jump to $23.60 per month. If you have a lot of employees, this can add up quickly. Make sure that you only order the plan that you need, so that you aren’t paying for capabilities that you don’t use. Alternatively, exploring free project management templates and free online project tracking tools can provide substantial cost savings while still offering robust project management features.
Is my data safe with a PM software?
PM software runs online, so safeguarding your security is quite important. With your system, you’ll be able to determine which users have access to which parts of the platform, and how often you update passwords and security protocols. When selecting a provider, take a look at the security safeguards they have in place to protect users, including firewalls and encryption. Many free project management tools also prioritize security, ensuring that your data remains protected while you manage your projects.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1
Exceptional9.8
Efficient resource management tool- Price - From $27/month ($9/user/month)
- Team collaboration tools - Collaborative docs, updates, Zoom integration, whiteboards
- Free trial - 14 days
Free TrialEfficient resource management toolFree TrialRead monday.com Reviewmonday.com unifies your team’s tasks and processes into one user-friendly and visually pleasing interface.
As a work operating system, monday.com gives teams a clear view of responsibilities and deadlines, boosting transparency, accountability, and resource management. It features over 200 templates that can be customized with 20+ column options and various integrated apps. These tools simplify project setup and save time, helping you work more efficiently.
Additionally, you can tailor dashboards to provide detailed, team-specific views of tasks, project progression, and upcoming deadlines to enhance your team’s workflow clarity. Samyuktha Shivakumar, Global Marketing Operations Manager at Thoughtworks, reinforces this, stating that monday.com enables them “to budget the team’s time and efforts much more scientifically.”
Why we chose to review monday.com: monday.com tops our list for its combination of power, flexibility, and user-friendly design, making it ideal for even the most complex projects. It lets you seamlessly import data from spreadsheets and integrate it with your existing tools, eliminating manual data entry and freeing up time for other priorities.
Our experience: monday.com lets me implement processes that would’ve previously taken days or weeks within a few minutes. The platform’s communication tools, such as document sharing, comment annotation, and direct communication with task managers, improve collaboration within my team. The platform allows for excellent transparency for task management through easy-to-use sorting and color-coding methods.
monday.com Pros & Cons
PROS
Color-rich interface for improved organization and coordinationRobust list of supported, third-party integrationsDrag and drop project charting and timeline constructCONS
Pricing structure is fragmented and unclearCertain features (Gantt charts, timelines, etc.) are paywalled by higher-tier plans - 2
Excellent9.3
Visualize tasks and integrate apps- Price - From $7/month/user
- Team collaboration tools - Collaborative docs, real-time chat, file sharing, proofing
- Free trial - Free plan available
Visualize tasks and integrate appsRead ClickUp ReviewClickUp stands out with its diverse visualization tools, including Gantt charts, mind maps, and Kanban boards, which suit various project management styles.
These features make it easy to track tasks, monitor progress, and identify challenges.
The "Timeline View" offers a clear, linear way to plan schedules and create visual roadmaps. You can group tasks by assignee, priority, tags, custom fields, and more, allowing for a flexible and organized workflow. ClickUp also boosts team visibility with the "Pulse ClickApp," which shows who's online and their current tasks. Its global timer lets you track time automatically or manually, syncing seamlessly with your desktop, mobile, or browser.
Why we chose to review ClickUp: What sets ClickUp apart is its seamless integration with over 1,000 other apps, including Slack, GitLab, GitHub, and Webhooks. This capability makes it a go-to choice for development teams, allowing them to streamline their existing workflows.
Our experience: While trying out ClickUp, I was particularly impressed with ClickUp’s unique features, such as notepads, time tracking software, goal-setting tools, and pre-made templates. I also liked that I could use slash commands (typing “/” in any text field to trigger a command menu) to assign tasks, set due dates, or create subtasks quicker.
ClickUp Pros & Cons
PROS
AI CompatibleCan integrate with over 1,000 appsOffers numerous project tracking toolsCONS
Extensive feature list can be overwhelming for new usersSteep learning curve for beginners - 3
Very good8.6
Powerful visual project management tools- Price - From $8 per user, per month
- Team collaboration tools - Yes
- Free trial - No
Powerful visual project management toolsRead Miro ReviewMiro is a powerful project management app that enables you to create visual plans. There are thousands of templates to choose from, numerous third-party integrations, and a selection of collaboration tools.
It’s also a user-friendly option, and the main dashboard is intuitive and easy to navigate. Overall, I’d recommend giving it a try if you’re looking for a program that enables visual project management backed by real-time collaboration features.
Why we chose Miro: We chose Miro because of its suite of project management tools backed by powerful collaboration features and a huge template library.
Our experience: My favorite thing about Miro was how easy it was to sign up and use the program. Although it comes with loads of features, it remains one of the simplest project management apps I’ve seen.
Miro Pros & Cons
PROS
Very easy to get started with and useBuilt-in collaboration toolsA great selection of third-party integrationsCONS
Limited offline functionalityBasic mobile app
