Project management tools help managers plan, track, and monitor project progress efficiency. Before selecting the right software, project managers should consider its features and cost. However, that should fit with your company’s needs and requirements. This article will guide you through the best leading project management tools options and how to select the right platform.
Table of Contents
What Is the Project Management Tool?
Project management tools help project managers plan, facilitate, and execute projects effectively and efficiently in a collaborative and organized way.
Project management tools help project managers and their team leads assign project tasks, set milestones, set deadlines, track project budgets, provide essential direction, and keep project reports and conversations in one place.
A project management tool (software) may have specific advanced features, such as a custom dashboard and report generator. However, there are different types of software options available on the market. So, as a project manager, you should consider your project’s needs and requirements before investing money or time.
Benefits of Project Management Tools?
Typically, project management tools provide crucial services for the project’s success throughout the project life cycle. Project management software allows team members to see the essential project details, such as the project process, remind project progress, and identify any defect through the centralized dashboard.
Furthermore, project management software helps you manage and control the project’s triple constraints, including cost/budget, scope, and project schedule. These are some of the benefits of using project management software.
The following are vital benefits of project management tools.
- Create Project Tasks and Milestones
Plan projects and create project tasks and milestones in one software. Furthermore, by using project management software, project managers can instantly see who’s available to take on a new project, assign it, and set realistic deadlines visible to everyone.
- Collaboration and file Sharing
Typically, project management tools have file sharing options that give multiple people access to documents. By using project management software, project managers can be set up to notify employees when a task is ready through customized workflows. On the other hand, project managers can control permission for editing, viewing, and commenting.
Furthermore, if you update any changes from your project schedule, everyone can see them in real time without delay. It will help collaborate with everyone in one place and keep updating the project’s progress when necessary.
- Communication
By using project management software, project managers can communicate with entire project team members in one unified location.
- Generate Project Report
Many kinds of project management software have report-generated features. It will help project managers do their work effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, project managers can receive an overview of crucial metrics in the project. Typically, auto-generated reports can provide statistics to close productivity gaps, graphs, and more.
- Budget Management
Project management software helps project managers to track project budgets in real time. If a project’s budget goes over, project managers can quickly take action to prevent it. Many kinds of project management software include budget forecasting features. It will help project managers to predict project expenses.
How Do Project Managers Choose the Best Project Management Tools?
Typically, project managers are responsible for managing the project life cycle effectively and efficiently to gain acceptable project outcomes. During the project life cycle, you should use many different tools, techniques, and methodologies to succeed in your project.
A good project management tool should be easy to use and user-friendly. As a result, project team members can learn how to use it quickly and easily without any delay. Furthermore, project management software should be,
- Versatile
- Able to handle various tasks from simple to complex
- Able to accommodate different work styles
- Reliable and stable
As a project manager, you should consider the above characteristics before choosing project management tools. However, choosing project management software can be challenging because you should decide which suits your team.
Many project management software is available in the market with different features and prices. However, before introducing new project management tools to your project members, you must decide on what features you want and how much you’re willing to pay for that tool.
Therefore, before buying a new project management software, project managers must consider available features, team size, nature of the project, etc. Read more: Top 5 tips for successfully introducing new tools to the project team
Top 6 Project Management Tools Options
The following are the most popular project management tools, and the best one depends on your specific needs and requirements of your project.
Asana
Asana is a web-based project management software solution that helps project managers track projects, tasks, milestones, and deadlines in one place. Therefore, project managers can manage their project life cycle effectively and efficiently.
Features:
Task management – This feature will help project managers create tasks, subtasks, task assignees, due dates, due times, start dates, timelines, multi-home tasks, dependencies, and more.
Communication – This feature will help project managers give task comments, proofing, and project messages. Furthermore, this feature provides multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Russian, Dutch, Korean, and more.
Views – This feature includes my tasks, inbox, list, search, saved searches, calendars, files view, colorblind-friendly mode, and more.
Reporting – This feature will help project managers understand project goals, milestones, portfolios, status updates, and dashboards.
Team management – This feature will help project managers create and organize project teams, collaborate with teammates and guests, give permission, admin controls, and privacy controls.
Integrations – This feature will help project managers create and share files with Google Drive, Dropbox, Adobe Creative Cloud, and more.
Best for:
- Asana software has a simple interface that makes it easy to use for both team projects and personal.
- Asana is a work management software. Therefore, it is best for larger teams and businesses.
Pricing:
- Asana pricing for basic free forever – US$0
- Asana pricing for premium – US$10.99 per user/per month
- Asana pricing for business – US$24.99 per user/per month
However, you can get a free trial for 30 days.
Monday.com
Monday.com is a work management software that provides many features, including multiple project views, time tracking, and integrations with top business tools and apps. However, this tool is best suited for startups on a tight budget.
Features:
- Plan, track, and collaborate all project work in one place
- Plan project timeline
- Track project progress
- Automated workflows and triggers
- Budget and resource allocation
Best for:
- This software is Best for large companies.
Pricing:
- Monday.com pricing for individuals looking to keep track of their work – US$0
- Monday.com pricing for basic – US$8 per user/ per month
- Monday.com pricing for standard – US$10 per user/per month
- Monday.com pricing for premium – US$16 per user/per month
Trello
Trello is a visual project management software that is the best for freelancers or companies with one or two employees. This tool helps track tasks and projects with cards and boards. Also, this software is easy to use and can be used both for team projects and personal.
Features:
- Collaboration tools
- Project planning through cards, lists, and boards
- Integrations with Google Docs and other office platform
- Mobile-friendly
- User-friendly
Best for:
- This software is best for Freelancers.
Pricing:
- Trello pricing for individuals or teams looking to organize any project – US$0
- Trello pricing for standard – US$5 per user/per month
- Trello pricing for premium – US$10 per user/per month
- Trello pricing for enterprise – US$ 17.50 per user/per month
Wrike
Wrike is a project management tool that is great for small businesses. This tool is user-friendly and highly customizable. However, Wrike software is a good choice for those who need to manage a variety of tasks.
Features:
- Project planning with chart views and calendars
- Budget and schedule tracking
- Custom workflows
- Custom reports
- Integration
- Collaboration tools
Best for:
- This software is best for small businesses.
Pricing:
- Wrike pricing for the team getting started – US$0
- Wrike pricing for growing teams – US$9 per user/per month
- Wrike pricing for business – US$24.80
ClickUp
ClickUp is a project management software that is suitable for large teams because it provides unlimited users and storage space.
Features:
- Project planning
- Project scheduling
- Collaboration tools
- Goal setting
- Visual-friendly
- Create charts, graphs, calendars, or lists
- Reporting
Best for:
- ClickUp software is best for large teams.
Pricing:
- ClickUp pricing for personal use – US$0
- ClickUp pricing for small teams – US$7 per user/per month
- ClickUp for mid-sized teams – US$12 per user/per month
Important Note💡 As a project manager, depending on your specific needs and the size of your team, you should find one of these tools to be a better fit for your project management needs and requirements.
