Top Project Management Software Tools for 2021
Deciding which top project management software tools to use can be tough. Finding one you can test out for free can be that much harder. Get your 2021 Software summary here.
What are the professional-level best online free project management software tools for 2021. These tools can save you time and money. Knowing how these tools work can help build a reputation for having the right skills. And for delivering organized and well-managed projects. So read on, and fast-track your next project success.
What are your PM Tool needs?
Before looking for a Project Management software, ask yourself some questions and make a note. This way, you are not swayed by the different ‘shiny offering’ but get the tool that will work for you.
What functionality do you need?
How many users will access the tool?
What intergration should be supported?
Is your team implementing new methodologies or just software?
Do you want to start with Freemium options to test out the solution first?
Knowing what tools will work best in your situation is important. Employers expect you to level up your skills and learn these new tools fast. So understand what you are looking for and why it is important to your project.
The options below offer free software tools fit for a small team or an individual running a small project. But they can scale up to handle larger complex projects as well. Some of these tools are capable of running multi-year programs or large government contracts.
Freemium: free software with limited functionality before you buy. Although free software may be limited, it can still be very helpful in many ways.
Allow you to get a feel for the product.
Assess specific functionality
Test usability with your team
Use the free tool for smaller projects
Begin your project on freeware and upgrade as needed.
The Best software options fit for any Project
So let's get to the list and break down the choices.
Click the software graphic to go to the website.
And see the comparison chart below for a “side-by-side’ detail overview.
Asana
This software is one of the best cloud-based project management software tools. It helps plan every detail of your organization's project. Asana enables you to plan your work in a way that is best suited for you. It is flexible, allowing you to adapt it to your needs.
Features:
Basic dashboard and search in the free tool
Groups of the tasks into sections or columns
Tasks can be shown as a list or project "Kanban style" board
Gantt chart style reports are avaialble
A personalized inbox notifies employees
Shows the projects in a Gantt style
Generate detailed Progress reports
Pros:
Freeplan
Variety of integrations
Prioritization
Security
Customization
Team collaboration
Cons:
Overwhelming for new users
Too many features
Single assignee for tasks
No time tracking
Limited exporting functionality
Monday.com
This is an intuitive tool that helps people meet deadlines, manage their work, and build a culture of transparency. This free project management software tool is considered best for streamlining discussions, checking who is working on what, working on the right task, and keeping everyone in the know.
Features:
Centralized communication and document management
Visual project management and tracking
Analytics and reporting are well-executed
Works well with almost any file sharing and project management tool
Pros:
Built for multiple users
Great tracking features
Alternative Views
Powerful communication tool
Reliable project organization and management
Cons:
Per-user pricing limits the number of people
Difficult to track time and expenses
Can overwhelm users with too much going on
Limited mobile app
Integration problems
ProofHub
This is a useful software management tool used by many prominent organizations and corporate companies like NASA, Taco Bell, and Disney, and the list goes on. This powerful all-in-one tool comes with a great package of features and capabilities. It is an all-in-one software. It eliminates the need to depend on multiple products and integrate tools.
Features:
Task Management
Time Management
Project Communication
Collaboration
Project Planning
Project Reporting
Pros:
Easy to set up and use
Great proofing tool
A good combination of tools and features
Powerful file management and generous storage
Affordable solution
Cons:
Limited integration
Interface needs improvement
Missing messages/tasks
Good for simple projects for small teams
Scoro
Scoro is another great PM software tool. It is a versatile software specially designed for comprehensive business management for professional and creative services. Scoro is a good PM software for those who want to bring more structure to their work.
Features:
One place for all users: projects, clients, and teams
Seamless workflow and organization of every aspect of the project
Automated reports, real-time overview of the project
Integration possible with tools like Dropbox, MailChimp, Outlook, etc
Pros:
Strong help center and learning materials
Enhanced bonus features like CRM and budgeting for business management
Advanced filtering and general settings
Strong reporting capabilities
Cons:
Light collaboration features
Super costly onboarding
Cluttered interface
Trello
This software started as an easy-to-use, user-friendly visual system of boards, cards and to manage to-do lists. But then it quickly grew to become a tool that ticked every box for a basic project user. The tool is easy to learn since users can add cards between boards and across apps with this software. It launched almost a decade ago, becoming an important and central hub for managing and controlling all project-related tasks. Businesses are now using it for their working teams—organizations with multiple locations like its user-friendly design and ability to multi-task actions.
It has continued to provide top functionality in its free version for years. The additional views and features provided make Trello a long-time favorite. Users can add cards between boards and across apps with this software.
Features:
There are many features of Trello. Some of them are listed below:
Front/Back cards' detailed quick view
In-line editing
File attachment
Voting options
Information retrieval
Mobile friendly views
Pros:
Well-Organized Board & Card System
Smooth Editing
Collaboration
Reasonable use of timeframes
Searchable database
Security
Integrations
Mobile Optimization
Cons:
Limited Email integration
No free form tags
Limited number of labels
No Gantt (project bar chart)
Workzone
This best-in-class Project Manager software gives professional managers full control and visibility over their projects. They can all send and share their work in a central place in this software, and that's how they can track the progress of the project and stay on the same page.
Features:
Top-level reports
Faster communication
Improved collaboration with features like creating tasks, to-do lists, and easy file sharing
Grant permission to different users also the clients
Pros:
Solid project management
Just the right set of tools
Secure platform
Great customer support
Easy to use
Cons:
Schedule tracking issues
Workload tracking issues
Archiving issues
Search issues
Features need more frequent improvements
Top Tools Comparison Chart
Sources: Tool websites, Trustradius.com, Financesonline.com
Using the best Project Management software tools makes the difference between a Project Manager's success or failure. Be aware of what your needs are and map them to the best tool for the job.
If you are running a long-term project, look at the company behind the tool to ensure they continue to scale up the product and regularly add functionality.
Also, spend time on user training to ensure your team understands how your project uses the various features and uses them consistently. Training will ensure the data and reporting is reliable.
I hope you found this article helpful. Let me know in the comments below: what tool you use today and what tool you may be considering for the future! And please don't forget to share this information with others.