Best Project Management Software & Tools In 2021

Wrike is a project management tool that is trusted by Google, Airbnb, Dell and other huge technology companies. You can use this platform to create custom workflows, set timelines with interactive charts and reporting, and build a visual representation that shows where you are in every project in real-time. Users can use it to assign tasks and easily build and edit reports, all of which can ensure projects move forward on the anticipated timeline.

Wrike also stands out due to the free version it offers, although this option is only available for teams with up to 5 users. From there, professional plans for 5 to 200 users cost $9.80 per user, per month, and business plans with more features (for 5 to 200 users) cost $24.80 per user, per month. More robust plans for large enterprises are also available.

Who Should Use It

Wrike is an excellent project management tool for companies of all sizes, although small teams that can use the free version may benefit the most.

Asana is a popular web and mobile application that lets customers track, manage and connect projects across any team—and even multiple teams. Asana helps you stay organized by visually highlighting tasks that need to be done and creating a workflow process that lets you assign each step to various members. Users can build project plans, communicate with members, create goals and milestones and streamline processes to save time and stress. Because work can be assigned to team members and overseen in real-time, Asana also helps business owners make sure their workers are staying on task and completing projects in a timely manner.

Asana lets you try out their project management software for free for 30 days, but you can continue with a free plan indefinitely if you have 15 team members or fewer. Premium plans start at $10.99 per month, per user (billed annually) and business plans start at $24.99 per month, per user (billed annually).

While the basic free plan can be sufficient if you have a small team and you only need basic project management help, you can consider upgrading if you want access to more features like dashboards, advanced research and reporting or forms branching and customization.

Who Should Use It

Asana is a solid project management software program for companies of all sizes that need a centralized place to manage workflows and communicate with one another.

Monday is another project management platform that aims to help companies and work teams plan and manage all their duties in one place. Like most competitors, Monday lets users manage work using a visual board where projects and tasks can be grouped and assigned. You can customize column types, create updates and leave comments, and view work and projects using the calendar view. This platform also makes it easy to share files, images, updates and feedback as work is managed and completed.

While a free version of Monday is available to students and nonprofit organizations, basic plans start at $24 per month billed annually. From there, standard plans start at $30 per month and pro plans start at $48 per month. Enterprise plans are also available for organizations that need more security and features, although pricing is variable.

Who Should Use It

The free version of Monday for students and nonprofit organizations makes it a good option for either.

HighGear may be lesser known than some of the platforms that made our ranking, yet it stands out due to its robust workflow management tools and intuitive user features. You can use HighGear to oversee all your projects and tasks in one place, and the platform makes it easy to assign work, create forms, automate processes and review reports.

Notable features of this platform include a customizable dashboard, calendar management, forms management, compliance tracking and plenty of third-party integrations. In-person training and 24/7 customer support from a live person are also standout features.

Be aware that plans start at $590 per month, and that department and business plans start at $3,950 per month and $9,900 per month respectively.

Who Should Use It

HighGear is built for companies that need to automate and manage workflows for 25 to 25,000 employees.

Workfront is a centralized platform where every task and project can be envisioned, managed, assigned and overseen. Users can customize smart forms and set up (and receive) real-time notifications, which makes it easier to collaborate in any remote working environment. Other standout features include project templates, timesheets and enhanced analytics.

Like other project management tools, you can also use Workfront to check in and follow through with every task your project requires. Team scheduling is available, and you can integrate with dozens of applications including Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams and more.

Workfront offers plans for single teams, departments, up to 10 departments and large enterprises, but they are somewhat cryptic about their pricing and they don’t disclose plan costs upfront. They do offer a free trial, but there are limited details on how long that trial might last.

Who Should Use It

Due to the many features and project management tools Workforce offers, it may be best for large companies who need unprecedented access and oversight.

Basecamp markets itself as the all-in-one tool for working remotely, and it’s easy to see why. This platform helps teams keep all of their projects and tasks tidy and organized, all while improving communication and making it easy for all team members to stay engaged. A message board makes it easy to share announcements, and group chat helps every team member stay informed on updates and upcoming projects. You can also use the platform to share documents, files, images and more, and to manage and limit notifications to avoid overwhelm.

One interesting feature of Basecamp is its simple, flat pricing structure. Basecamp offers a plan for $99 per month that includes unlimited projects and users, 500 GB of storage space, advanced client access, project templates and more.

Who Should Use It

Basecamp is best for teams who need basic project management software and tool access.

Trello is a popular platform for businesses of all sizes that need a place to plan, collaborate, manage projects and see all work to completion. This platform makes it easy to assign tasks, move them through various processes, communicate with team members, and automate work that is normally tedious. You can also link your Trello boards to other apps you use, including Slack, Google Drive, Evernote, Dropbox and more.

Since Trello offers a free version with up to 10 boards for unlimited members, this platform is an excellent choice for the self-employed, freelancers or small businesses with a few team members. However, you can also pay $10 per user, per month (billed annually) for a business plan for up to 100 users. Trello plans are also available for large enterprises, and they can be customized to your needs.

Who Should Use It

Trello is an excellent option for any business that needs a platform to help them manage projects among remote teams.

Airtable is an online collaboration tool that helps teams manage work, track and organize their projects and inventory, plan events and meetings and more. It’s customizable as well, so it can be a good option for users who need a project management tool that can be tailored to different types of projects.

Airtable is excellent for managing databases, and for allowing multiple users to collaborate and edit in real-time. Airtable also offers an array of templates that can allow you to take on tasks like social media management, event planning, grant tracking, product launching and more.

You can use the free version of this product if you need limited storage and functionality. However, a plus version starts at $10 per user, per month (billed annually), and a pro version starts at $20 per user, per month (billed annually). Customizable plans for large enterprises are also available.

Who Should Use It

Airtable is best for consumers who manage their work in databases, or for those who would normally track their work, inventory or processes in spreadsheets.

We chose CoSchedule for our ranking based on the many features this project management platform offers. This app is best for companies that have clearly defined tasks and a team of members who can use the platform to manage and collaborate on their work. You can use it to organize your marketing and projects, view your entire business plan and its inner workings in real-time and manage your workflows and progress in view where all team members can see.

A 14-day free trial is offered, although their marketing calendar will set you back $29 per user, per month (billed annually) after that. Large marketing suites are also offered for bigger teams, although pricing can be variable.

Who Should Use It

Because CoSchedule offers features like social media posting and WordPress integration, it is most commonly used by bloggers and publishing companies.

Jira is project tracking software that aims to help “agile teams” manage, develop, plan and track various processes. You can use it to plan stories and distribute tasks to team members, and you can communicate effectively within the platform itself. Real-time, visual data can also help you assess where your team is at with any project, and you can integrate with an array of apps in the Atlassian Marketplace, including ones that let you track employee time or create customized fields and gadgets.

A free version of Jira is available for teams with up to 10 users. Standard plans for up to 10,000 users start at $7 per user, per month, and premium plans for up to 10,000 users are $14 per user, per month. Customized plans for large enterprises are also available.

Who Should Use It

Jira works best for technology companies with developers, project managers, managers and engineers.