Project management tools
What are they?
A project management tool is a software application or platform that assists in planning, organizing, and managing projects. It offers a variety of features and functionalities to help you stay on top of tasks, timelines, and project progress.
By streamlining your workflow, increasing your productivity, and helping you stay organized, project management tools can lead to more successful projects, more free time to work on the parts of the process you love, and happy (or happier) clients.
If you find yourself struggling to stay organized with your project management tasks—relying on email chains to track deadlines, juggling multiple tools to manage tasks, or using sticky notes to remember stakeholder comments—then it may be time to invest in a project management tool. Being disorganized can have costly consequences for your project, both in terms of missed opportunities and increased expenses.
When to use oneWhen you're managing multiple projects with multiple stakeholders, and deadlines, a project management tool can help you keep track of everything in one place. |
Remember to:Test out a few options to see which one makes the most sense for you, your projects, and your processes. Five key criteria to consider are: cost, scalability, ability to collaborate, ease of use, an integrations |
Our favorites
Here are our top 5 project management tool that offer a low-cost, feature-rich pricing tier:
1 |
NotionNotion is a versatile all-in-one productivity tool that can be used to manage projects, tasks, and workflows. For early stage presentation designers, Notion's ability to create custom databases can be particularly useful for keeping track of client information, project details, and design assets. It's task lists and kanban boards help manage project tasks, and its timeline feature keeps you on track with deadlines. We love it's ability to integrate with other tools and services so we don't have to switch between multiple platforms and tools. This saves a ton of time and reduces the risk of errors or miscommunications. Price: $0–$15/month |
2 |
WrikeWrike's flexibility in project visualization, and UI customization can help users work more efficiently and effectively, regardless of their preferred workflow or project management style. One of its stand-out features is the ability to create custom workflows for each project so you can streamline your processes and work more efficiently. For example, you could create a task list for finalizing presentation files and delivering them to the client in the appropriate formats. When tasks are completed, it automatically moves to the next stage in the workflow and assigns the task to the appropriate team member for input. Price: $0–$24.80 per user/month |
3 |
Workstreams.aiWorkstream.ai is a Slack-first application—which means that it operates within Slack channels, allowing users to manage their projects and workflows directly within the Slack interface Compared to other popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp, it stands out for its ease of use and intuitive interface. This makes it easy to get started even if you're new to project management tools. Like Wrike, Workstream.ai allows you to create custom workflows for each project, so you can streamline your processes and work more efficiently. We also LOVE it's guest-access feature that allows clients or subcontractors to join a specific channel or project without creating a Workstream.ai account. Price: $0–$9.99 per user/month |
4 |
ClickUpClickUp offers an impressive array of features on its free plan, which allows unlimited users to try out the platform before deciding to upgrade. The first paid tier starts at just $5/month for yearly billing, or $9/month for monthly billing. Just like Wrike, ClickUp accomodates different work styles and preferences. Custom Views, for instance, let you choose from a variety of formats such as checklists, tables, Gantt charts, and more to suit your needs. You can also customize each feature to better organize your projects and workflows. With ClickUp's centralized inbox, you no longer have to switch between multiple communication tools or calendars to keep track of client requests, project updates, or team collaboration. Everything is neatly stored in one convenient location. The biggest challenge we've experienced with ClickUp is its learning curve. Some less tech-savvy clients or team members may find the platform too complex and overwhelming. Price: $0–$29 per user/month |
5 |
HiveHive stands out with its user-friendly interface, which allows people of all skill levels to easily navigate the platform. Similar to ClickUp and Wrike, Hive offers various project visualization options, such as kanban boards, calendars, and Gantt charts, that makes it easy to customize workflows according to your specific needs. Hive also provides advanced project management capabilities, including custom task statuses, time tracking, and project templates, that can boost team efficiency and productivity. Price: $0–$18 per user/month |