Category guide

Project Management Software

Tools for planning projects, assigning tasks, automating workflows and tracking progress.

  • 9profiles
  • 8 of 9with a free plan or program
  • $5–$15reported entry price per user per month
  • 3 / 6vendor-sourced / independent-source profiles

Counts and prices come from the profiles in this category and change as listings are added. Latest verification: 17 Oct 2026.

Directory

Project Management Software compared: browse and filter

Filters and search update this list on the page and do not create new URLs.

9 listings

  • Asana

    Asana, Inc. · Work and project management platform (SaaS)

    A work management platform for planning projects, workflows and goals, with a free Personal plan and paid plans from Starter to Enterprise+.

    • Free plan
    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Independent sources
    Key capabilities
    • Tasks, projects and multiple views
    • Forms, custom fields and milestones
    • Unlimited dashboards and reporting
    • Workflow builder and rules
    PricingFree Personal plan; Starter reported at $10.99 per user per month billed annually.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Basecamp

    37signals · Project management and team communication platform (SaaS)

    An opinionated project management and team communication tool from 37signals, with $15 per user pricing or a flat $299 per month for unlimited users.

    • Free plan
    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • Independent sources
    Key capabilities
    • To-do lists
    • Schedule
    • Docs and files
    • Message board
    PricingFree personal tier; Plus reported at $15 per user per month; Pro Unlimited at $299 per month billed annually for unlimited users.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • ClickUp

    ClickUp (Mango Technologies) · All-in-one work management platform (SaaS)

    An all-in-one work management platform with unlimited members on its free plan, per-member paid plans and an AI add-on sold separately.

    • Free plan
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Independent sources
    Key capabilities
    • Unlimited tasks and members
    • Spaces, folders, forms and Gantt
    • Dashboards and custom fields
    • Goals, time tracking and workload
    PricingFree Forever plan; Unlimited reported at $7 per member per month billed annually.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Jira

    Atlassian · Issue tracking and agile project management (SaaS)

    Atlassian's issue and project tracking tool for software and business teams, with a free plan for 10 users and paid plans that include Rovo AI credits.

    • Free plan
    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Vendor-sourced
    Key capabilities
    • Scrum and Kanban boards
    • Advanced roadmaps (Plans)
    • Release tracks and sandbox
    • Automation rules
    PricingFree for up to 10 users; Standard reported at about $7.91 per user per month (annual).Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Linear

    Linear · Issue tracking and project planning tool for software teams (SaaS)

    A fast issue tracker and project planning tool for software teams, with a free plan, Basic at $10 and Business at $16 per user, and AI agent features.

    • Free plan
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Independent sources
    Key capabilities
    • Issues and workflows
    • Cycles
    • Projects, milestones and roadmaps
    • Triage inbox
    PricingFree plan; Basic reported at $10 and Business at $16 per user per month billed annually.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • monday.com

    monday.com Ltd. · Work management platform (SaaS)

    A visual work management platform built on customisable boards, with a free plan, per-seat paid plans and a three-seat minimum.

    • Free plan
    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Independent sources
    Key capabilities
    • Customisable boards
    • Timeline and calendar views
    • Guest access
    • Automations
    PricingFree plan for up to 2 seats; paid plans reported from $9 per seat per month billed annually (3-seat minimum).Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Smartsheet

    Smartsheet Inc. · Work management and project management platform (SaaS)

    An enterprise work management platform with a spreadsheet-style interface, Gantt and dashboards, Pro and Business plans and custom Enterprise pricing.

    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Vendor-sourced
    Key capabilities
    • Multiple views
    • Reports and dashboards
    • Forms
    • Automation rules
    PricingNo free plan for new sign-ups; Pro reported at $9 per member per month billed annually.Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly
  • Trello

    Atlassian · Kanban work management tool (SaaS)

    A Kanban-style work management tool from Atlassian with built-in Butler automation on every plan and a free tier for whole teams.

    • Free plan
    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Vendor-sourced
    Key capabilities
    • Kanban boards, lists and cards
    • Templates
    • Board collections
    • Built-in Butler automation
    PricingFree plan; Standard $5 per user per month billed annually ($6 monthly).Prices from a vendor-published source
  • Wrike

    Wrike, Inc. · Work management and project management platform (SaaS)

    A work management platform with a free plan, Team at $10 and Business at $25 per user, and custom Pinnacle and Apex tiers for larger organisations.

    • Free plan
    • Free trial
    • Cloud
    • AI features
    • Independent sources
    Key capabilities
    • Gantt charts and board view
    • Request forms
    • Custom workflows
    • Automation actions
    PricingFree plan for unlimited users; paid plans reported from $10 per user per month billed annually (Team).Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly

Listings are ordered alphabetically by default. They are not ranked, and there are no user ratings or paid placements.

Quick answer

What is Project Management Software?

Project management software is a system for planning, assigning and tracking work. It stores tasks and projects, shows them in views such as lists, boards, timelines and calendars, and often adds automation rules, reporting dashboards and AI assistance.

Project management software gives teams a shared place to plan work, assign owners and deadlines, and see progress without chasing updates through email and chat. Modern tools combine tasks with several views, automation, dashboards and increasingly AI.

Products range from simple Kanban boards to platforms with portfolios, goals, workload planning and enterprise security. Pricing is usually per user, with free plans and clear tiers, but seat minimums, automation limits and AI add-ons change the real cost.

The profiles below summarise independent sources, with dates and caveats. They are research aids, not rankings, and they do not replace a trial with your own projects.

Buyer's guide

The complete guide to Project Management Software

At a glance

Project Management Software compared on key criteria.

Summaries come from each profile; open a profile for sources and caveats.

ProductPricing modelFree planViewsAutomationAI features
AsanaPer user per month by planYes (Personal)Multiple views; timeline from StarterRules; allowances scale by planAsana AI with credits by tier (reported)
BasecampPer user (Plus) or flat monthly rate (Pro Unlimited)Free personal tier, one projectTo-dos, schedule and Hill Charts; no GanttAutomatic check-ins; limited automationNone documented
ClickUpPer member per month by plan; AI add-on extraYes (Free Forever)Many views; some capped by uses on lower plansAutomations with plan limitsClickUp Brain add-on (separate cost)
JiraPer user per month, sliding tiers; Enterprise quotedYes, up to 10 usersScrum and Kanban boards, backlog, roadmapsRule-run allowances by plan; unlimited on EnterpriseRovo credits on paid plans
LinearPer user; metered AI creditsYes, capped at 250 issuesIssues, cycles, projects and roadmapsTriage, workflows and agent automationsTriage Intelligence, MCP and AI credits
monday.comPer seat per month by plan; 3-seat minimumYes (up to 2 seats)Boards, timeline and calendar from Standard250 actions on Standard, 25,000 on Promonday AI in Pro and above (reported)
SmartsheetPer member; viewers free; guests free on Business+No free plan for new sign-ups; 30-day trialGrid, Gantt, board, calendar and timeline250 automations a month on Pro; Bridge add-onFormulas, charts, summaries and form fill
TrelloPer user per month by planYes (whole team)Kanban boards; advanced views on PremiumButler: 250 / 1,000 / unlimited runs by planAtlassian Intelligence on paid plans
WrikePer user by plan; metered automation and AIYes, unlimited users with basic featuresGantt, board and custom workflows50 to 3,000 actions per user a month by planMetered AI actions from April 2026
Choosing by situation

Which Project Management Software option fits which situation.

  • AsanaMay suit: Teams that want a free start and a clear upgrade path.
  • BasecampMay suit: Agencies and client-service teams of 20 or more that want flat pricing.
  • ClickUpMay suit: Teams that want a generous free plan to evaluate.
  • JiraMay suit: Agile software development teams.
  • LinearMay suit: Software and product teams that value speed and focus.
  • monday.comMay suit: Teams that want a flexible visual board-based tool.
  • SmartsheetMay suit: PMOs and project managers who want Gantt and dashboards in a spreadsheet-style tool.
  • TrelloMay suit: Small teams that want simple Kanban boards.
  • WrikeMay suit: Marketing, creative and PMO teams that manage requests and approvals.

Based on each profile's documented strengths and limits. These are fit notes, not rankings: test options against your own requirements.

Who uses it

Who uses Project Management Software and what problems it solves.

Small teams and agencies

Replace spreadsheets and chat threads with shared boards, deadlines and simple automation.

Cross-functional teams

Coordinate marketing, product and operations work with timelines, forms and approvals.

Programme and PMO leaders

Need portfolios, goals, workload views and reporting across many projects.

Enterprises

Need SSO, audit logs, permissions and governance across large user groups.

Evaluation criteria

Features and criteria to evaluate in Project Management Software.

Views and fit for your method

Check for the views you use, such as Kanban boards, timelines, calendars or Gantt charts, and which plan includes each.

Automation limits

Automation allowances and rule complexity vary by plan, so compare monthly caps and multi-step support.

Pricing, seat minimums and add-ons

Note seat minimums, free-plan limits, annual versus monthly pricing and separately priced AI.

Reporting, goals and workload

Portfolios, goals, time tracking and workload management are often reserved for higher tiers.

AI capabilities

Check which plans include AI, whether credits are capped and how AI is billed.

Security and administration

Review SSO, provisioning, permissions and audit options, and whether they need a separate subscription.

How to choose

How to choose Project Management Software: a step-by-step approach.

  1. Define how your team works

    Decide whether you run Kanban, sprints, timelines or a mix, and which views people need every day.

  2. List must-have limits

    Write down the automations, guests, storage and reporting you need, and check which plan includes them.

  3. Price the full team

    Count paid seats, any seat minimum, AI add-ons and the likely headcount over two years.

  4. Check integrations

    Confirm connectors for chat, email, calendar, files and your engineering or CRM tools.

  5. Trial with a real project

    Move one live project into each shortlisted tool and see how quickly the team adopts it.

  6. Plan for governance

    Check SSO, permissions and export options before rolling out across the company.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes when choosing Project Management Software.

Picking on the free plan alone

Free plans often cap automations, views or boards, so check the limits against your real workload.

Ignoring seat minimums

A three-seat minimum changes the cost for very small teams.

Underestimating AI cost

AI may be bundled, capped by credits or sold per member, which changes the total.

Over-building workflows

Complex automations and fields created too early often go unused.

Skipping change management

A tool only works if the team adopts it, so agree on conventions before rollout.

Glossary

Project Management Software key terms explained.

Kanban board
A board of columns and cards that shows work moving through stages.
Gantt or timeline view
A view that shows tasks over time with dependencies and deadlines.
Portfolio
A group of related projects tracked together for status and priorities.
Workload management
Viewing how much work is assigned to each person to avoid overload.
Automation rule
A trigger-and-action pair that performs routine steps, such as assigning a task when a status changes.
Seat
A paid licence for one user. Some vendors require a minimum number of seats.
FAQ

Project Management Software questions and answers

What is the difference between project management and work management software?

Project management tools focus on planned projects with deadlines and milestones. Work management tools cover broader ongoing work, such as requests and workflows. Many products now do both.

Is free project management software enough?

For small teams with simple needs, often yes. Free plans usually limit automations, views, storage or boards, so check the limits against your workload.

Why do project management prices differ between sources?

Vendors change plans, run promotions and price by region, seat count and billing period. Confirm current prices on the vendor's pricing page.

Should I choose a tool with built-in AI?

Check what the AI does, which plans include it, whether credits are capped and whether it is billed per seat or per use.

Next step

Narrow your Project Management Software shortlist.

Open a profile for sources and pricing, compare two products side by side, or read how others approach the decision.

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