Managing projects as a small business owner can be a daunting task, but project management software can help streamline your work and increase productivity. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best project management software for small businesses. But before we dive into the list, here are a few things to consider when choosing project management software.
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Factors to Consider When Choosing Project Management Software
- Budget: Project management software can range from free to several thousand dollars per year. Determine how much you’re willing to spend before looking at software options.
- Features: Different software options offer varying features. Make a list of the features you need and those that are nice-to-have to help you make a decision.
- Ease of Use: Consider how user-friendly the software is, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
- Integrations: Check whether the software integrates with the other tools you use, such as email or calendar software.
- Scalability: Consider whether the software can grow with your business and accommodate an increasing number of team members and projects.
Now that we’ve discussed what to consider, let’s take a look at our top picks for the best project management software for small businesses.
monday.com
monday.com is a great option for startups on a tight budget. It offers flexibility and integrations, and provides a wide range of project management features, including time tracking, file sharing, and progress tracking. It also has a user-friendly interface and customizable workflows to fit your team’s needs.
Features
- Time tracking
- File sharing
- Progress tracking
- Customizable workflows
- Integrations with other tools
Pros
- Great for startups on a tight budget
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of project management features
- Customizable workflows
- Integrates with other tools
Cons
- Limited reporting capabilities
- Pricing can increase quickly with additional features
- Limited customization options for the dashboard
Pricing
monday.com offers several pricing plans, starting from $8/user/month up to $16/user/month for its most popular plan.
2. Asana
Asana is the best free project management tool for small businesses. It delivers critical features, such as timeline management and automation, and offers customizable project templates and workflows. It also has a clean, easy-to-use interface and integrates with a variety of other tools, including Google Drive and Dropbox.
Features
- Timeline management
- Automation
- Customizable project templates and workflows
- Integrations with other tools
- Clean, easy-to-use interface
Pros
- Best free project management tool
- Customizable project templates and workflows
- Integrates with other tools
- Clean, easy-to-use interface
Cons
- Limited reporting capabilities
- Lack of time tracking features in the free plan
- Limited customization options for the dashboard
Pricing
Asana offers a free plan with basic features, and several paid plans starting from $10.99/user/month up to $24.99/user/month for its Business plan.
Wrike
Wrike is a cloud-based project management software that provides users with a comprehensive platform to manage projects, tasks, and deadlines. It is designed for teams of all sizes and can be customized to fit any project management needs.
Features
- Customizable dashboards to monitor progress
- Task prioritization and scheduling
- Gantt chart visualization
- Time tracking
- Resource management
- Project templates for easy setup
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros
- Intuitive user interface
- Robust features for project management and collaboration
- High level of customization
- Strong security measures
Cons
- Expensive compared to other project management software
- Steep learning curve for some features
- Limited integrations with other tools
Pricing
Wrike offers four pricing plans:
- Free plan with limited features
- Professional plan for $9.80 per user per month
- Business plan for $24.80 per user per month
- Enterprise plan with custom pricing
ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based project management software that is designed for teams of all sizes. It is highly customizable and can be used to manage a variety of projects, from simple to complex.
Features:
- Customizable dashboards and views
- Task management with priority and status tracking
- Time tracking and billing
- Gantt charts and calendars for project planning
- Collaborative features such as commenting and mentions
- Project templates for easy setup
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Highly customizable with a variety of features
- Intuitive user interface
- Affordable pricing compared to other project management software
- Wide range of integrations with other tools
Cons
- Some features can be overwhelming for new users
- Limited customer support options
- No offline access
Pricing:
ClickUp offers four pricing plans:
- Free plan with limited features
- Unlimited plan for $5 per user per month
- Business plan for $9 per user per month
- Enterprise plan with custom pricing
Airtable
Airtable is a cloud-based project management software that combines the features of a spreadsheet with a database to provide users with a unique and flexible project management tool. It is highly customizable and can be used to manage a variety of projects, from simple to complex.
Features:
- Customizable grids for organizing data
- Collaborative features such as commenting and mentions
- Task management with priority and status tracking
- Project timelines and calendars
- Automated workflows with triggers and actions
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Highly customizable with a variety of features
- Intuitive user interface
- Affordable pricing compared to other project management software
- Wide range of integrations with other tools
Cons:
- Limited support for complex data structures
- Steep learning curve for some features
- Limited project management features compared to other software
Pricing:
Airtable offers four pricing plans:
- Free plan with limited features
- Plus plan for $12 per user per month
- Pro plan for $24 per user per month
- Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
Notion
Notion is a cloud-based project management software that provides users with a comprehensive platform to manage tasks, projects, and notes. It is designed for teams of all sizes and can be customized to fit any project management needs.
Features:
- Customizable dashboards to monitor progress
- Task prioritization and scheduling
- Database and knowledge management
- Collaborative features such as commenting and mentions
- Project templates for easy setup
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Highly customizable with a variety of features
- Intuitive user interface
- Great for teams that need to manage both tasks and notes
- Offers a wide range of integrations with other tools
Cons:
- Can be expensive for larger teams
- Steep learning curve for some features
- Limited project management features compared to other software
Pricing:
Notion offers four pricing plans:
- Free plan with limited features
- Personal plan for $4 per user per month
- Team plan for $8 per user per month
- Enterprise plan with custom pricing
nTask
nTask is a cloud-based project management software that offers a comprehensive suite of tools to manage tasks, projects, and teams. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and can be customized to fit any project management needs.
Features:
- Task management with priority and status tracking
- Gantt chart visualization
- Time tracking and invoicing
- Collaboration and communication tools
- Project templates for easy setup
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Affordable pricing compared to other project management software
- Intuitive user interface
- Offers a wide range of project management features
- Great customer support
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- Limited integrations with other tools
- No offline access
Pricing:
nTask offers three pricing plans:
- Free plan with limited features
- Pro plan for $2.99 per user per month
- Business plan for $7.99 per user per month
GoodDay
GoodDay is a cloud-based project management software that provides users with a comprehensive platform to manage tasks, projects, and teams. It is designed for teams of all sizes and can be customized to fit any project management needs.
Features:
- Customizable dashboards to monitor progress
- Task management with priority and status tracking
- Gantt chart visualization
- Time tracking and invoicing
- Collaboration and communication tools
- Project templates for easy setup
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Highly customizable with a variety of features
- Intuitive user interface
- Offers a wide range of project management features
- Great customer support
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other project management software
- Steep learning curve for some features
- Limited integrations with other tools
Pricing:
GoodDay offers four pricing plans:
- Free plan with limited features
- Basic plan for $4 per user per month
- Standard plan for $7 per user per month
- Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
Active Collab
Active Collab is a cloud-based project management software that provides users with a comprehensive platform to manage tasks, projects, and teams. It is designed for teams of all sizes and can be customized to fit any project management needs.
Features:
- Task management with priority and status tracking
- Time tracking and invoicing
- Collaboration and communication tools
- Project templates for easy setup
- Customizable project workflows
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Offers a wide range of project management features
- Customizable with a variety of integrations
- Provides task dependencies and time estimates
- Great customer support
Cons:
- Can be expensive for larger teams
- Steep learning curve for some features
- Limited visualization tools
Pricing:
Active Collab offers three pricing plans:
- Self-Hosted plan for a one-time fee of $999
- Cloud Essential plan for $7 per user per month
- Cloud Plus plan for $10 per user per month.
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a project management software that provides users with a comprehensive platform to manage tasks, projects, and resources. It is designed for businesses of all sizes and offers a wide range of features to help streamline project management.
Features:
- Task management with priority and status tracking
- Time tracking and resource allocation
- Gantt chart visualization
- Customizable project workflows
- Collaboration and communication tools
- Project templates for easy setup
- Mobile app for remote access
Pros:
- Offers a wide range of project management features
- Great visualization tools, including Gantt charts
- Provides resource allocation and time tracking
- Integrates with other Microsoft products, such as Excel and SharePoint
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other project management software
- Steep learning curve for some features
- Limited integrations with non-Microsoft products
Pricing:
Microsoft Project offers two pricing plans:
- Project Plan 1 for $10 per user per month
- Project Plan 3 for $30 per user per month
Both plans include a free trial period.
Comparison of features for Project Management Software for Your Small Business
| Software | Project Organization | Task and Subtask Management | Collaboration and Communication | Customization Options | Reporting and Analytics | Integrations | Mobile Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asana | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Monday.com | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| ClickUp | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Wrike | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Trello | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Airtable | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Notion | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| nTask | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| GoodDay | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Active Collab | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Microsoft Project | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Can project management software be used in small projects?
Yes, project management software can be used in small projects. In fact, project management software can be particularly useful in small projects where resources and timelines are limited. By using project management software, you can create a project plan, set timelines, assign tasks, track progress, and communicate with team members more effectively. This can help ensure that your small project is completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard of quality. There are several project management software options available, with varying levels of complexity and features, so it’s important to choose one that is appropriate for the size and scope of your project.
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