Project management has become an integral part of the business world ever since it was first deployed by the US Air Force for military purposes back in the 1950s.
With the introduction of computers and rapid development, most of the techniques have been digitized into online tools and software for commercial use. While new and innovative solutions keep on coming.
Better known as Project Management tools or PM tools, these software are based on the “work breakdown structure (WBS)” which revolves around the idea of breaking down bigger and more complicated tasks into smaller ones for easy execution.
As such, project management involves the process of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and completing a task within the stipulated time and budget.
There are many ways in which project management tools can help you save time by streamlining the workflow which you can access from anywhere in the world 24/7.
Benefits of Project Management Tools
As a common point of contact for all your projects and team members, project management tools give you the ability to
- connect, communicate, and collaborate remotely.
- plan and prioritize multiple projects.
- allocate the budget and resources.
- delegate and assign different tasks.
- monitor and evaluate the progress.
- prepare and share documents and reports.
- maintain visibility for stakeholders and clients.
- integrate data with other apps and platforms.
The best part is that most of these management tools are either free or offer a trial period. So you can test them out before finalizing the one that fits your company’s profile.
How to choose a project management tool?
Choosing a project management app or software depends largely on your budget and the scale of your projects.
However, certain factors to consider in general before purchasing a management tool for your organization include:
- The duration and scale of the project.
- Estimate of the budget.
- Number of employees/ users allowed.
- Storage capacity of the software.
- Features & functionality.
- Ease of user interface.
Last but not least, the type of “project management methodology” based on your industry and the line of expertise.
FYI, a project management methodology or approach is a set of instructions and commands that make the software work in a specific way.
For instance, the popular “Waterfall” method connects a task with the subsequent one and so on in a linear fashion. Or the “Agile” method which does not follow a fixed pattern and gives you the flexibility to have speed, agility, collaboration, and super-fast computation.
Regardless of the method though, most of the project management tools available online are either desktop-based which means they need to be downloaded on a system, or cloud-based which can be accessed from anywhere via an internet-enabled device.
With that said, let us get familiar with some of the best project management tools that you can find/ use in 2024.
1. Gantt charts
The pioneer in the field of project management, the Gantt chart is the most popular and convenient way of displaying tasks and other activities with clear timelines.
As a visual representation of a project schedule, a Gantt chart is used to illustrate the entire progress of a project from start to finish.
You can add all the aspects of a project such as its various tasks, phases, and resources, and the correlation between them and their status.
The coolest part- it comes with a free 30-day trial period which allows you to test and try it without having to spend a single buck.
2. Asana
Asana is another major player in the world of project management due to its multitude of functions and services.
Suitable for large-scale teams and projects, this management tool allows you to store, organize, collaborate, and manage different tasks from one single place.
Its easy-to-use dashboard and interactive user interface lets you create and customize workflows based on your instructions. You can add specific directions and metrics such as KPIs into the software to track the performance of your employees and the overall progress along the way.
Asana can also be integrated with most of the project management apps that are commonly used.
Available in both free and paid versions, Asana has been used by some of the biggest corporate giants such as NASA, Deloitte, GE, and The New York Times.
3. Wrike
Wrike is a leading work management solution that works across a wide range of platforms including mobile and desktop services of both Windows and Mac.
As an award-winning management app, Wrike allows you to manage and organize your projects by bringing all your favorite tools right to it.
With real-time updates and cross-collaboration between different teams, it lets you plan, manage, and report the progress automatically, thanks to advanced AI features and capabilities.
Easy to integrate with up to 400 apps, it is available at various prices with a free version as well as a free trial period of 14 days across paid ones.
4. Jira
Perfect for developers and agile teams, this all-in-one project management tool is known for its wide range of services such as Jira Software, Jira Core, and Jira Work Management to give you an impeccable work solution.
Provided by the Atlassian group, Jira offers an unlimited storage capacity for projects for up to 10 users.
With an intuitive dashboard, it lets you access all the aspects of a project right from a single screen.
Based on the “Waterfall” methodology, this advanced software is somewhat expensive but worth it given its unique features and functions.
5. Monday.com
Perhaps no other management tool is as versatile as monday.com.
Apart from being a project management tool, it comes with a CRM solution and a dev management tool as well.
Some of its prominent features include automation, customizable dashboards, and plenty of in-built templates.
Its pricing ranges from $0 to up to $60 a month depending on the plan you opt for. Here’s the complete list of different plans and their features.
6. ClickUp
Looking for a more modern approach to managing your projects, look no further than ClickUp!
As a one-size-fits-all type of management app, ClickUp comes with everything you may need to manage and track your projects.
Workflow automation, Gantt charts, resource management, and all other standard features you’d expect from a project management app can be found in ClickUp.
Other advanced features include a progressive knowledge base, up-to-date checklists, and clear roadmaps for the execution of different tasks.
It is highly integrable with most of the third-party apps and comes in both free and paid solutions that can be opted on a monthly or yearly basis.
7. Zoho Projects
Built for dynamic, remote, and global teams, Zoho Projects is known for its vast array of features that make planning, tracking, and collaborating on a project all too easy.
Accessible from desktop as well as mobile smartphones, it is a perfect option for a diverse workforce or remote-based work.
Packed with tons of management features, resources, automation, and integration capabilities, Zoho can save a lot of time for your entire team regardless of where they work.
Available in three different plans i.e. free, premium, and enterprise, it comes with a 10-day trial period as well that you can use to your satisfaction before making the final purchase.
8. Teamwork
A well-known platform for freelancers and clients alike, Teamwork is a simple PM tool that can be downloaded or accessed from a variety of platforms be it web-based or desktop-based.
As a one-stop shop for all your projects and operations, it is claimed to be the best platform for client work.
Furnished with traditional Gantt charts as well as modern Kanban boards, it allows users to access the information of different projects without having to dig too deep into the menus.
What’s more, is that it comes with a month-long trial period of 30 days and a free plan for up to 5 users aside from its paid offers.
9. Trello
Next up, we have Trello, yet another marvel from the Atlassian group in the long line of their proprietary business management tools.
Its punchline states- tasks, teams, and tools together!
Known as a productivity powerhouse, Trello is one of the earliest Kanban-based tools that provides an immersive experience with clean project visualizations and easy-to-do drag-and-drop options.
What’s unique is that, unlike other major platforms, Trello can be used for sharing and collaborating the data with not only the team members but also external users like shareholders, clients, and investors.
You can check out their plans and pricing here.
10. ProofHub
Last but not least in our list of top project management tools, is none other than ProofHub.
A single solution for all your projects and team collaboration, ProofHub brings all the aspects of a business under one roof.
Task management, time tracking, app integration, and seamless workflows of any size and intricacies, all of that and more can be done from a unified workspace of ProofHub.
For an easy hands-on, start your free trial now.
A few other project management tools include Smartsheet, Scoro, and Airtable among others.
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