17 Best Project Management Software in 2024 (Our Top Picks)

In our hands-on testing, ClickUp proved to be a powerful tool. Setting up our projects was straightforward, thanks to the AI assistance that helped generate task descriptions and sub-tasks. Organizing tasks was easy with the multiple project view options.

The Chat view stood out as a unique feature. It allowed us to create different chats for various purposes, much like Microsoft Teams. This made communication within the team seamless.

Although the automation builder was a bit clunky compared to other software, it was still quite functional once we got the hang of it.

We did find ClickUp’s customizability to be a double-edged sword. While it offered extensive options, it could sometimes be overwhelming. The platform’s load times were slower than expected, which was a drawback during our testing.

We’ve found Jira to be a flexible tool for managing projects. It simplifies tracking multiple projects and boosts team collaboration. Its notification system and automation features save us time, especially when handling complex issues.

However, there are some drawbacks. The error notifications can be annoying. If you accidentally assign a task to the wrong person, fixing this sends two notifications, which can be disruptive. Additionally, Jira sometimes faces server issues, making it hard to track work.

Despite these inconveniences, the benefits generally outweigh the downsides, especially with its useful integrations.

Using Celoxis has been a transformative experience. The customizable dashboards stand out, allowing us to tailor the view to our most critical data. The real-time analytics keep us updated, making project tracking efficient. The What-If Analysis tool is particularly valuable, helping us foresee the impact of potential changes.

However, the platform’s complexity can be daunting initially. Investing time to input detailed team and project data is essential, but it pays off. We missed having dedicated mobile apps, though the mobile browser version is functional.

Overall, Celoxis is highly effective for managing large-scale projects, offering a balance of advanced features and ease of use once mastered.

Using Wrike in our projects has been a mostly positive experience. The interface is clean and user-friendly, though initially, it might feel cluttered. The tool’s capabilities stood out once we got past the learning curve. The Gantt charts and time-tracking features were particularly helpful.

We also appreciated the AI-driven risk predictions, which helped us stay ahead of potential pitfalls. The strong collaboration features, such as shared dashboards and real-time updates, facilitated better teamwork.

The customization options for fields and reports added a level of flexibility that improved our project management.

However, Wrike’s pricing could be a barrier. The cost might outweigh the benefits for small teams or those on a tight budget. Additionally, the full feature set is mainly accessible in the higher-tier plans, limiting access for those on the Free or lower-tier plans.

We found Monday.com to be a great project management tool. The interface is visually appealing and intuitive, making it easy for team members to adopt.

Customizable boards allow us to tailor the platform to our specific needs, whether tracking project progress, managing tasks, or collaborating on team efforts.

The ability to switch between different views—like Kanban, Gantt charts, and timelines—adds flexibility. However, we did notice that comprehending all its capabilities can be challenging initially.

Integrations with other software and automation features are strong points, but setting them up can be a bit complicated.

In terms of collaboration, Monday.com excels. Team members can effortlessly update task statuses and share updates. Still, we observed that the pricing model could be a hindrance, especially for larger teams. Despite this, it is an effective tool for enhancing productivity.

Using Smartsheet has been an interesting journey. The platform offers immense flexibility, allowing us to manage projects, create Gantt charts, and track resources effectively. The interface is user-friendly, resembling a spreadsheet, which made it easy for our team to adapt initially.

One challenging aspect, though, is the steep learning curve. It took us some time to fully understand and utilize Smartsheet’s extensive features. We had to refer to several tutorial videos to get the hang of it.

Another issue was the lack of built-in time tracking, which required us to look for third-party tools.

The variety of templates available helped us set up projects quickly. We found the collaboration features particularly useful, enabling seamless communication within the team.

Despite the need for manual page refreshes to see real-time updates, the system’s ability to handle complex project needs made it worth the effort.

We’ve found Zoho Projects to be an efficient project management tool. The different view options, like Kanban and Gantt, provide valuable flexibility. Whether you’re scheduling tasks or tracking progress, this helps everyone stay on the same page.

Automation is a big timesaver, reducing manual work and minimizing errors. Custom templates make project setup smoother, especially for recurring tasks.

On the downside, the integrations with other software are somewhat limited compared to other tools. It’s especially noticeable if your existing ecosystem isn’t already built around Zoho products. Additionally, while their support is helpful, round-the-clock assistance incurs extra costs.

Despite these drawbacks, Zoho Projects’ features make it a valuable tool for teams that need a mix of customization and automation.

We have found Visor to be an effective tool for managing and integrating data from multiple sources. Its bi-directional integrations ensure that data remains consistent and up-to-date, simplifying data management tasks significantly.

We appreciate the live dashboards for providing real-time insights and metrics, which saves us time and helps in quick decision-making.

However, we encountered some challenges, particularly with the initial learning curve. New team members needed some time to get accustomed to the interface and various features.

Also, while the dashboards are useful, the customization options seemed somewhat limited compared to other tools we have used. We would have preferred more flexibility in customizing our views and reports.

Overall, despite these minor setbacks, Visor’s strengths in integration and real-time data visualization make it a valuable asset for our team.

We found Quickbase to be flexible for various project management needs. The platform’s ability to centralize data makes tracking project progress straightforward.

We particularly appreciated its no-code and low-code capabilities, which allowed team members of all technical backgrounds to create useful applications.

Collaboration was significantly improved as Quickbase facilitates better communication among team members. However, we did face occasional glitches with task notifications not updating correctly, although these were rare.

The initial setup and learning phase took some time, especially for those unfamiliar with project management software.

Overall, Quickbase has been a solid addition to our toolkit, streamlining our workflows and helping us manage projects more efficiently.

Using Bonsai Agency has been a largely positive experience for us. The user interface is clean and easy to navigate, which makes onboarding new team members straightforward. The time tracking feature is particularly useful, allowing us to monitor our hours effectively.

The integration of invoicing and billing within the same platform helps us avoid using multiple software applications, which simplifies our workflow. We found the payment process secure and hassle-free.

However, we did notice that the customization options for reports and dashboards are limited. New users may need some time to get accustomed to all the features available, but once they do, the platform’s efficiency is evident.

We have found Workzone to be an effective tool for project and task management. Its ability to link tasks and create detailed project templates enhances our workflow. The reporting features, particularly for resource management, are powerful, though they need some tweaks.

We appreciate the platform’s friendly interface and support system. The dashboard is one of its strongest points, offering crucial project insights at a glance. However, the interface feels somewhat dated, and we have occasionally experienced lags while updating tasks.

Our team also values the document management capabilities, especially the version control feature. However, due to its wide range of functionalities, the platform can become complex.

We found Trello to be extremely user-friendly. The Kanban-style layout with cards and columns made it simple for our team to track tasks and projects.

Each card can include various details like due dates, attachments, and checklists, which keep everything organized. The visual nature of the boards helped us quickly see the status of different tasks.

The integrations with other tools were a huge benefit, allowing us to effortlessly import data from external sources. However, Trello’s simplicity can be a drawback for more complex projects. For example, tasks that require detailed timelines or resource allocation are harder to manage within Trello.

Despite this, for day-to-day task management and team collaboration, it works remarkably well.

Using Miro has been a transformative experience for our team. The platform’s ease of use immediately stood out, making it accessible even for those who are not tech-savvy. The variety of templates provided saved us time and ensured our projects were well-organized from the start.

We appreciated the built-in video and audio calling features. They allowed us to collaborate seamlessly without needing to switch to another app. Adding elements like shapes, sticky notes, and text to our boards was simple and efficient, enhancing our brainstorming sessions.

However, it’s important to note the platform’s limited offline capabilities. Miro requires an internet connection for most functionalities, which can be inconvenient.

Despite this, its collaborative features and smooth integration with apps like Jira, Asana, and Slack contributed to a cohesive workflow.

Using Asana has been transformative for our team’s workflow. We find the platform’s flexibility to be a standout feature, as it allows us to tailor the tool to our specific needs. The user-friendly interface makes it easy to assign tasks and monitor progress.

The addition of AI-powered tools like smart summaries and smart goals has significantly boosted our productivity. These features help quickly draft project overviews and identify key points from lengthy documents. However, we have noticed that AI sometimes makes mistakes, so it requires oversight.

Despite its strengths, Asana has limitations. It doesn’t offer the resource management or budgeting tools essential for larger projects, and the premium pricing can be a bit steep, especially for smaller teams.

But overall, Asana’s capabilities in enhancing team collaboration make it a valuable tool.