Best Project Management Software of January 2025
Updated December 27, 2024 at 3:05 am
Project management software keeps your team on track and on budget, exponentially increasing your potential for success. Whether you’re looking to upgrade or you’re just starting to enter the “world” of management tools, you’re in good company. Many turn to project management software options to save time and money as they grow their brand or business, whether they’re working alone or within a team.
Our team of experts at Newsweek have put together a list of the best software available, summarizing everything you need to know about the most competitive project management tools to date.
Our Methodology Our research is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of personal finance services and products that best suit your needs. To help you in the decision-making process, our expert contributors compare common preferences and potential pain points, such as affordability, accessibility, and credibility.
Our Picks - Best for Automation and Workflow: Monday.com
- Best for Content Creation: Asana
- Best for Project Managers on a Budget: ClickUp
- Best for Customization: Airtable
- Best for Freelancers or Small Businesses: Notion
5 Best Project Management Tools of 2024
There are plenty of project management software options out there. Here’s what you need to know about the top five tools out there and how you can benefit from each. Read on to learn more.
Best for Automation and Workflow
Monday.com
Why We Chose It
Automations fuel the project management process, shaving valuable hours off of your timeline. Enjoy intuitive auto-assign features, handover task help, notifications and date reminders, all of which can be personalized to your needs. Monday.com also supports proprietary automation options to streamline your more complex tasks.
Key Features
- Accessible price points for teams of all needs and sizes: Monday.com offers a credit-card-free 14-day free trial, as well as a Free membership tier for those working on a budget.
- Extensive integration libraries for the web’s most famed tools: Mailchimp, Google Suite, Microsoft and Slack are just a few of the most popular on this list.
- Simple setup enterprise options for larger, more complex teams: So many project management tools fall short on scalability—but not Monday.com. Enterprise users enjoy endless perks, including unlimited seats, guest access and 1,000 gigabytes (GB) of storage to start.
- All native automation options are code-free: This means that you can deploy them in seconds using Monday.com’s no-code basal framework.
Pros
- Confidence-boosting 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 live customer support available to all paid members
- Specialty pricing options available for qualified nonprofit organizations
Cons
- Minimal visual or animated completion effects, causing inconvenience for some users
- Some users report “clunky” mobile app experiences
- Some users report overwhelm due to the extensive amount of integration options
Best for Content Creation
Asana
Why We Chose It
Asana has versatile view options and a seamless collaboration framework that makes it a competitive choice for content creation collaboration. Plus, the platform offers templates specifically designed for social media and post approval, allowing you to visualize your entire catalog of content in seconds.
It’s ideal for the fast-moving world of social media and marketing due to its versatility—leaving behind the clunky and time-consuming UIs that many find in Excel or Sheets.
You’ll be able to pivot without missing a beat, leveraging the platform’s tag feature and integrations to move at light speed.
Key Features
- Top-rated integration opportunities for content creation and management: Asana connects to your favorite content creation tools, such as Hubspot, Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma and Canva, as well as 200+ other options.
- Dependency and hierarchy workflow options for more efficient operations: This is an important consideration if you’re looking for the best project management software for your needs. Features like this show your team exactly what needs to be done prior to a task’s completion, leading them to the next logical step. Once roadblock tasks are identified, teams can burst through with little involvement from the project manager—resulting in a more efficient workflow.
- Subtask management for equal work distribution: While simple, this feature shouldn’t be overlooked. Subtask management in Asana can be as granular as you want it to be, allowing for smooth interaction between members of all sizes of teams.
- Calendar content view options give you a real-world glance at your pipeline: Asana’s calendar view is one of the best for content creators, offering a bird’s eye view of what’s upcoming and available gaps to fill. Strategists and project managers (PMs) will also be able to assess the overall workflow cadence, allowing for mid-campaign pivots and efficient resource allocation.
Pros
- Unlimited real-time reporting and insight options across your workload and projects
- Critical path options and public goal options help team members visualize milestones and steps to a task or process
- 80+ pre-made milestone templates that span all areas of business; including content creation
Cons
- Just one primary assignee per task, others can only be added as task collaborators
- Comprehensive interface can be overwhelming to some users
- Per seat, per month cost of Asana Advanced might limit some users on a budget
Best for Project Managers on a Budget
ClickUp
Why We Chose It
ClickUp offers one of the most comprehensive free suites on the market, making it one of, if not the best software for project management for all project types and budgets.
The platform allows for unlimited tasks, collaborative docs, 100 megabytes (MB) of storage, and different views to accommodate all management styles. It also offers 24/7 support for all tiers of membership, including the Free Forever plan—which is becoming rarer to see.
Key Features
- Unlimited seats allowed across all plans—including Free Forever: While other project management tools would limit the number of seats in the Free membership tier, ClickUp doesn’t—instead encouraging you to bring on your entire team at no cost to you.
- Custom field options allow for a tailored work experience: ClickUp allows for custom fields from its Free Forever tier onward, offering convenience without compromise if you’re on a budget.
- Centralize communication via real-time chat: This feature is available across all membership tiers, and is a strong alternative to Slack or other paid services.
- Optional add-on generative AI support via “ClickUp AI” is available to streamline your workflow: It’s $5 per seat per month, offering 100+ tailored prompts for all business operations. You can also generate content, ideas and more using the tool.
Pros
- Two-factor authentication from the Free Forever tier on, giving you peace of mind about your account security
- Budget-friendly per month, per seat pricing to accommodate sustainable growth
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee allows users to buy in confidence
Cons
- Users report overwhelm due to the number of features across all membership tiers
- Limited integration opportunities compared to other platforms
- Limited support options could limit functionality for some
Best for Customization
Airtable
Why We Chose It
Airtable is used by over 450,000 companies to date, and is known for its ease of use and customizable interface. It’s built on the idea of “building,” empowering PMs to take a comprehensive, custom approach to management and task completion.
Airtable is also ideal for those who want to work with a proprietary task management structure but don’t have the time or resources to build one. Airtable’s intuitive AI workflow tool can create frameworks and other helpful resources in minutes, scaling your systems with little to no input.
Key Features
- Custom automation options streamline your workflow: Airtable offers both template and custom automation functionality, helping PMs to save time and resources.
- Computed fields act as failsafes, supporting accurate resource calculation: PMs are often tasked with the role of calculating project elements, such as resource spend rates or return on investment (ROI). Airtable automates this, keeping your process as accurate and efficient as possible.
- Customization guides simplify your onboarding process: Customization is helpful, but it can be time-consuming if you’re new to the tool. Airtable has dedicated modules on the topic, proactively addressing this need for its users.
Pros
- Robust Free membership tier that offers full functionality for up to five editors
- Flexible web application programming interface (API) for additional support and use cases
- Discounts are available for nonprofit organizations or educational brands at the time of this publication
Cons
- Mobile app functionality is somewhat limited
- Users report clunky permissioning processes
- Limited integrations compared to other platforms
Best for Freelancers or Small Businesses
Notion
Why We Chose It
Notion is the first app of its kind, offering a versatile interface for both personal and professional tools. Many use it as a link-friendly, integrated notebook; bringing all parts of their life into a single, centralized location. Small business owners, specifically, can benefit from this level of utility—staying organized through the startup and growth phases.
Key Features
- Workspace collaboration options are available from the Free tier onward: Notion easily scales as your business does, allowing collaboration options that grow with the needs of your team.
- Budget-friendly options for budget-savvy business owners: Notion allows you to have 10 guests on the Free tier and is considerably less per seat/per month than competing options.
- Integration opportunities with top small business tools: Slack, GitHub and Google Suite are just a few examples of the integration opportunities that are available. At the time of this publication.
Pros
- Analytics included across all tiers, offering clear progress visualization
- Notion AI is available as an add-on, offering unlimited use for just $8 per seat/per month
- Certified consultants are available to streamline onboarding and growth steps
Cons
- Limited support options may not be ideal for some business owners
- Users may feel overwhelmed by the comprehensive nature of the tool
- Some users report a steep learning curve initially
Vault’s Viewpoint: Compare the Best Project Management Tools of 2024
| Product | Price | Free Trial | Mobile App | Cloud-Based | Integration-Friendly |
| Monday.com | $0-$20+ per seat, per month | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Asana | $0-$24.99+ per month | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ClickUp | $0-$19+ per seat, per month | Free Forever membership tier | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Airtable | $0-$45 per seat, per month | Free membership tier | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Notion | $0-$18 per seat, per month | Free membership tier | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Learn More About Project Management Software
Looking for reliable project management software you can count on? You’re in great company. 77% of high-performing projects rely on project management software to keep them on track and effective.
Here’s what you need to know about project management tools as a concept and how to use them effectively.
What Is Project Management Software?
Project management software is a centralized, virtual workspace for your team to accomplish tasks. The best project management software allows you to delegate, communicate, and manage resources in real time, moving as efficiently as possible.
How Do Project Management Tools Work?
Every project management tool is different. However, most work to provide visualization of a project’s tasks, helping team members to identify roadblocks and break through them in a cost- and time-efficient way.
Many project management tools offer reporting and insights as well, quantifying your team’s overall level of productivity and current areas of need.
Who Are Project Management Trackers Best For?
Project management tools can be used either professionally or personally keeping track of tasks and projects of all sizes. The best software for project management is generally versatile enough for all use cases, including social media content creation, operational task management, onboarding, strategizing and more.
Types of Project Management Tools
- Individual: These types of project management tools are designed to track tasks for a single person. As a result, they might lack business-specific features—or they might come at a lower overall price to be more accessible to individual consumers.
- Collaborative: Project management tools that are collaborative are robust enough for both large and small teams. They often focus on features like in-app communication, dependencies and delegation-related features.
- Integrative: This project management option embraces the collaboration and coordination of all project parts. These tools are typically data-driven—offering advanced insights for both stakeholder and team member reference, as well as resource allocation tools.
How To Choose a Project Management Tracker
There are plenty of options out there—which is why internal evaluation is so critical as you work to choose the best project management software for your needs.
Our experts have compiled a few features to consider as you shop for your next project management software:
Task Management Tools
Task management tools keep your team on-task, no matter how many members you’re working with. Ideally, your task management system should be able to get as granular as you need it to be, breaking down your big “rocks” into smaller, more manageable bites.
Budget Managing Tools
Resource allocation is a critical part of the project management process. Since 99.5% of major projects fail to deliver targeted results on time and on budget, the importance of this feature can’t be underscored. Budget tools in this category include dashboards, trackers and supportive allocation tools to adjust values and amounts in real time.
Resource Managing Tools
Having native resource management support in your project management system can support you in staying on budget and on time, allowing your teams to pivot as needed with little extra effort.
Client Managing Tools
Certain businesses might want to include clients in the project management and execution process. Popular client management tools and features include centralized communication channels, approval processes, and more.
Integrations
Project management tools are designed to enhance your team’s efficiency. Integrations can help centralize your team’s workflow and communication to a single, cloud-supported location.
Reporting Tools
Reporting is critical in the project management process, quantifying your team’s results over time. Many project management software options offer detailed and tailored reporting options that you can access in just a few clicks.
Collaboration Tools
Project management software is designed to bring your team together. Ideally, your solution will include collaboration tools—such as in-platform chats, tagging, comments and assignees.
Automation
Automation has become commonplace in project management tools, running in the background to preserve your time and resources. Since 51% of workers spend about two hours or more a day on repetitive tasks, it could be a worthwhile feature to watch for as you pick your next project management software.
Other Project Management Software Alternatives
Hive
Hive offers task management to some of the biggest names in business, including Starbucks and Google. Their claim to fame is their accessibility, user-friendliness and commitment to customer service—taking client suggestions and implementing them into the interface over time.
Users will enjoy a 90-day money-back guarantee, which offers a true risk-free look at the tool before you go into a long-term commitment.
Wrike
Wrike is one of the best project management software options for Agile leaders and for those who want the comprehensiveness of Asana without the hassle of integrating tools. Users can enjoy native proofing support, extensive custom automation capacities and 24/7 global support. There’s little to no learning curve, and the onboarding process can be completed in just a few minutes.
Jira
Jira is one of the most popular customer-led tools. Users will start with a baseline “experience” or map and will customize their workflow over time. The service offers thousands of plugins and integration opportunities, as well as specific support options for those working in specialized fields (such as developmental operations (DevOps). The platform is incredibly scalable and will remain “free forever” for teams of 10 or less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Use Project Management Software?
Project management software can save you time and money, automating and simplifying your workflow.
What’s the Best Free Project Management Software?
ClickUp is the most comprehensive free project management software available, offering paid membership-level functionality in a Free Forever plan.
What Is the Most Common Project Management Tool?
The most common project management tool is Jira, per recent findings from Datanyze. However, it’s best to choose the best project management software for your needs vs. the most common tool out there.
What’s the Difference Between Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software and PM Software?
The goals of both types of software are different. Project management software is designed for task and goal management, while CRM tools focus on customer interaction, retention and data management.
What’s the Best Project Management Software for Small Teams?
Notion is the best project management software for small teams and freelancers. Its affordability and integration-friendly interface offer near-infinite opportunities for personalization and expansion.
Editorial Disclosure: We may receive a commission from affiliate partner links included on our site. However, this does not impact our staffs’ opinions or assessments.
