Wondering how many project management software solutions are mainly in use today and need a handbook on them? You are on the right page. Efficiently managing projects is the only key to success and growth. Plus, given the circumstances of today, you need some software or tool of some kind for this task.
You still can manage projects without project management apps. However, it would be at an expense. Moreover, it will be complex, time-consuming, and confusing, and tracking the progress will be hard. Furthermore, the real problem begins, when you and your team have to manage complex projects simultaneously.
So, in this blog, as a project manager, I will provide you with an introduction to project management software and help you choose the right one for your business. Furthermore, you will get other useful insights including its features, benefits, and more including the best 15 project manager software options. So, with that out of the way. Let’s get right into it.
What is Project Management Software?
Software for managing projects is used to plan project schedules, allocate resources, manage projects, and modify them. It is designed to help you manage projects and tasks effectively. Whether you’re managing a project for your company or an individual, it can be very useful.
Therefore, in a nutshell, project management system features help you to work more productively. Also, the best employee monitoring software helps to collaborate and communicate among the project stakeholders to maintain project visibility.
Key Features of Project Management Software in 2024
Regardless of the type of project management software, each will have some features as per the requirements of the various businesses. Moreover, you will find these key features, which will help you simplify and effectively manage your projects, no matter how complex they are.
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- Project Planning: By using tools for managing projects, a project manager can map project tasks and visualize interactions.
- Task Management: This project management software simplifies setting up and assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and generating status reports.
- Document Sharing and Collaboration: The apps for managing projects provide you with a central repository of project documents, which makes it easier for stakeholders to collaborate.
- Calendar and Contact Sharing: Project management software helps businesses in scheduling meetings, and activity dates, and automatically shares stakeholders’ contact information across all PM and stakeholder calendars.
- Bug and Error Management: With the best tool for project planning, it is possible to report, view, notify, and update bugs and errors in project management software for stakeholders.
- Time Tracking: The project time tracking software solutions are capable of tracking time for all tasks and maintaining records for third-party consultants.
Benefits of Project Management Software in 2024
So far, you know that all types of project management software provide essential features that help you plan your projects efficiently, resolve issues, manage available resources, and involve all the project associates.
Having the best tools for managing projects implemented to your company’s services can provide you with a better outcome. Here are some of its benefits that can help you understand the software better:
1. Planning and Scheduling
Planning and scheduling play an important role in managing projects, and with each type of project management software, you can have records of previous projects that can help you in the present ones. Also, project managers can schedule tasks like assigning resources, setting dependencies, specifying deadlines, and creating project deliverables effortlessly.
2. Better Association
Teams consist of different departments and handle their daily responsibilities as well. This creates inconsistency among the stakeholders as they are sometimes not available to have meetings or necessary discussions. Therefore this gap creates delays and issues in completing the projects on time. An app for managing projects can help you achieve your targets on time. It creates an effective project team collaboration, maintains communications in a collaborative form, and provides insights with timesheets and status updates that can help in better management.
3. Remote Working
At present times working on projects by being with your team at a particular place does not matter. Also, managing projects from different locations is not that flexible. However, with the best project management software for freelancers or remote teams, managers can easily maintain every project and lead their teams effectively.
4. Task Delegation
Many of the time, team leaders find it hard to allocate tasks to their team members, which may impact the productivity of the complete team. However, with tools for managing projects, managers can easily assign tasks to their team members per their roles and responsibilities.
5. File Access and Sharing
File accessing and sharing is the most essential task. Therefore, project management software helps users maintain their records and offer storage for feedback, changes, etc. Also, it provides transparency among the employees regarding every project.
6. Improve Productivity
A major benefit of using tools for managing projects is that they help your workforce improve productivity and optimize your decision-making approach at work.
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Types of Project Management Software in 2024
Nowadays, most companies use technical methods for effortless work solutions. Likewise, project tracking tools help your company to achieve organizational goals on time for better outcomes. With that being said, here are the multiple types of project management software:
1. Individual Project Management Software
Apps for managing projects for individuals are the best option for solo project managers who need a lightweight tool to manage projects. It allows you to manage single projects at a time & gives limited features. You can get all the information you require on one platform. This type of software helps with communication, tracking time and tasks, and creating budgets.
2. Collaborative Project Management Software
This type of software helps you share information with other members of your team or with external clients. You can create templates that will be used by everyone who uses the employee productivity monitoring software, so everyone will have the same starting point when they start working on a project. This makes it easier for everyone involved in a project to work together as one team.
3. Online
Online project tools are one of the types of project management software, which are beneficial for every type of company including small businesses, freelancers, etc. that is based on SaaS subscription with every type of internet connection. Also, users can use this from any location and device, PC, laptop, desktop, tablet, and smartphone, to get up-to-date project status.
4. On-Premise
This tool for managing projects works for on-premise task management. The server will be under the control of the company and leads. When the company has its servers, it can have complete control over data security and storage.
5. Free
One of the types of project management software I recommend to freelancers is this one. Not only it is affordable but also a fully-featured and open-source system available for small businesses or teams of 2-4 people. Teams, who are just testing out a new implementation can have these opportunities that are beneficial to help in their decision-making methodology.
6. Industry-Specific Project Management Software
A standard software for managing projects does not work for every industry, and that’s why industry-specific software comes into place. It helps lower the amount of customization a business will require upon execution. Construction, architects, software developers, civil engineers, financial services, healthcare, and law have features and customizations that make them fit for industry work. Here are some examples.
- Freelancing: This project management software is one of the most important tools every freelancer needs. It helps you plan your projects, track progress, and ensure that deadlines are met.
- Accounting Firms: Tools for project planning are popular among accounting firms and their clients. This type of software helps in tracking projects, managing deadlines, and providing reports on the progress of the project.
- Consulting: This project management software helps you in managing your projects, tasks, and clients. It helps you create a project schedule, manage the project budget, manage client expectations, and keep track of all the changes that are made during a project.
- Construction: Software for managing construction projects is a very important part of construction management. It helps in planning, scheduling, budgeting, and controlling the project activities. This can be achieved by using several software tools as well as manual methods.
- Architecture Industry: It is the project management software, which can help you manage all aspects of your architectural practice efficiently and effectively. From scheduling to budgeting, it’s easy to see how these tools can make your job easier.
- Interior Designing: Interior design is a profession that requires you to be organized. This is especially true when it comes to managing projects and clients, as well as keeping track of files and projects. This software for managing projects is an essential part of any business. It helps you keep track of all your projects, manage their progress, and provide you with reports that show you how your business is doing.
7. Project Management Software for Small Business
There are many types of project management software for small businesses, which provide numerous benefits. Managing multiple projects at once lets you prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and keep track of progress. You also get the added benefit of having one place where you can view all your project data, making it easy for you or your team members to access information about any project at any time.
8. Project Management Software for NGOs
software for managing projects is also used in non-profit organizations as a tool for managing their projects. Non-profit organizations may have multiple projects going on simultaneously so they need to have an effective project manager app in place.
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5 Industries That Benefit the Most from Project Management Software
It’s a general fact that all industries can use and will benefit from project management software. However, these industries must use such applications for handling their individual and team projects and tasks.
- For IT businesses, such software solutions ease the task distribution processes with real-time task tracking and seamless collaboration.
- In the education sector, for example, in schools, software tools for managing projects ensure a smoother flow of curriculum.
- In the architecture industry, project-handling tools help simplify resource management.
- Marketing sectors can easily launch campaigns and strategies on schedule with such software solutions.
- Project monitoring and management software simplifies resource planning, providing quotes, creating estimates, job scheduling, and project status tracking for manufacturing sector businesses.
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8 Steps to Choose the Best Project Management Software in 2024?
With so many types of project management software in the industry, choosing the best-fit task management tool for your business can be overwhelming. You need to evaluate various requirements and options before finalizing. Fortunately, it only takes a few expert measures. With that being said, here’s how you choose the best project software for your business.
- The first step is to evaluate the various needs and requirements of your business.
- Next, you need to define the requirements of your teams. These must be fulfilled by the software for managing the projects you choose.
- Hire someone or a team to buy the task management software for you.
- Now, your team requires researching the various options. Here, I recommend paying close attention to customer success stories, available support, and security features.
- Every project manager software offers free trials. Thus, it’s always wise to avail of it to test whether the features benefit your business or not.
- Get the opinion of your leaders and managers by sharing the feedback with them.
- Finally, once you have finalized the tool, all that’s left to do is purchase and implement the task management software.
- You can follow up by scheduling a review to identify any challenges and opportunities with the software.
Top 15 Project Management Software in 2024
So far, we have covered the nitty gritty of software tools for managing projects, which helped us wrap our heads around the solution. However, when it comes to choosing the best option in this category, it dawns on businesses even after knowing how to choose the best-fit software solution. Because:
- There are tons of task manager tool options available in the industry.
- There is no one-size-fits-all solutions.
- You need to stay away from fakes and scams.
- You also have other important tasks to attend to than choosing a software asset for your business.
- Hiring a team to choose project management software will incur unnecessary expenses, which you don’t want.
Instead, the better option is to choose the best-fit solution as per your requirements from this top 15 apps for managing the projects list.
- DeskTrack (Best overall)
- ClickUp (Best for agile project management)
- monday.com (Best for startups)
- Asana (Best for collaboration tools)
- Zoho Projects (Best for integrations)
- Smartsheet (Best for workflow automation)
- Notion (Best for content creators)
- Teamwork.com (Best for client-facing service providers)
- Wrike (Best for AI features)
- Jira (Best for product development teams)
- Confluence (Best for whiteboard notes)
- Airtable (Best for data-driven businesses)
- Trello (Best for kanban-style boards)
- Coda (Best for form creation)
- Todoist (Best for task management)
1. DeskTrack
DeskTrack is the best project management software in the industry, which is well-known for one thing. Real-time tracking, which helps streamline workflows and fix any obstructions. Plus, if you want more functionality and optimized processing, it can seamlessly integrate with the other tools and apps you use.
Pros:
- Project simplification via the unlimited tasks, subtasks, and checklists creation.
- Real-time progress tracking
- User-friendly interface
- Real-time activity and time tracking
- Online and offline URL, file, and app tracking
Cons:
- None
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Best overall | $5.99/user/month |
5/5 |
2. ClickUp
If your organization works on agile project handling, then you can rely on this tool for managing projects. Best for teams relying on scrum for development, it has more features than what you would expect from software in this category. For example, agile software development templates.
Pros:
- Free plan for individuals
- More than 1000 integrations
- Advanced task management
Cons:
- Glitchy time tracking
- Overwhelming for new users
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Agile project management | $7/month |
4.9/5 |
3. monday.com
This project management software focuses on risk-free timely project completions. Plus, the multiple project views simplify the simultaneous handling of multiple projects. Plus, don’t forget the advanced project tracking features, integrations, and automation.
Pros:
- The free version is available
- Easy to customize and attractive user interface
- Gantt and Kanban charts
Cons:
- Limited reporting options
- Not suitable for in-depth or complex projects
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Startups | $9/user/month |
4.9/5 |
4. Asana
One of the the best apps for project managers, Asana provides you with the best collaboration tools with built-in messaging. Plus, you also get multiple project views, which is great for in-depth understanding.
Pros:
- Built-in messaging
- Cross-team collaboration task management
- 100+ integrations
Cons:
- More expensive than the industry average
- Too complex at the beginning of use
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Collaboration tools | $10.99/user/month |
4.6/5 |
5. Zoho Projects
Firstly, what we like about this project management software is its affordability for all business sizes. However, that’s not all. The many customization options it provides are worth every penny. Furthermore, don’t forget the on the go integrations, which is a feature we find very intuitive.
Pros:
- No minimum users
- Built-in chat
- Many customization options
Cons:
- Limited customer support
- Limited storage space
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Integrations | $4/user/month |
4.6/5 |
6. Smartsheet
If you are familiar with handling spreadsheets, then you won’t have any issues using this app for managing projects. Plus, it’s highly customizable with pre-made editable templates that save you time.
Pros:
- Workflow automation
- Real-time commenting
- Intuitive for spreadsheet users
Cons:
- No live support
- Pricing increases with add-ons
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Workflow automation | $9/user/month |
4.5/5 |
7. Notion
The best project management software for content makers, Notion has everything you need to simplify your project handling from the beginning till the end. Plus, it also has unique features for productivity monitoring, which we find very useful.
Pros:
- Highly customizable
- Free version with unlimited pages
- Unique productivity features
Cons:
- Tedious mobile app
- Plans for small businesses don’t have security features
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Content creators | $10/user/month |
4.4/5 |
8. Teamwork.com
One of the best apps for project managers for seamless management of client relationships and work, Teamwork.com provides you with the best features for unlimited collaborations. However, there are only a few integrations available.
Pros:
- Unlimited clients
- Budget tracking
- Client management features
Cons:
- Only a few integrations
- Limited free plan
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Client-facing service providers | $10.99/user/month |
4.4/5 |
9. Wrike
Wrike is a project management software with the best AI features for error-free and accurate project handling. Affordable for businesses of all sizes, Wrike claims to be committed to automating tracking every task.
Pros:
- No minimum user requirement with the free plan
- Custom fields and workflows available with all paid accounts
- Many AI-assisted features
Cons:
- Job roles and budgeting only available with the highest-paid plan
- No real-time reporting or work-hour tracking on the free and lowest plan
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| AI features | $9.80/user/month |
4.4/5 |
10. Jira
Jira is one of the software tools for managing projects, which used to be a bug tracker. Although it’s the best for product development teams, it’s versatile enough to work well for planning, assigning, tracking, and managing any type of project and task.
Pros:
- Most features available with all plans
- Integrates with popular development tools
- Manage resources with capacity planning (higher tiers)
Cons:
- Complex guest-access allowance
- Limited customer support with lower-tier plans
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Product development | $8.15/user/month |
4.3/5 |
11. Confluence
Confluence has been influencing the project management software industry since 2003. This project management software is in a class of its own and will surely work best as an assistant tool to traditional project handling tools.
Pros:
- User-friendly
- Easily share code snippets
- Flexible templates
Cons:
- Tricky document creation
- Higher tier plans are expensive even for large organizations
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Whiteboard notes | $6.05/user/month |
4.2/5 |
12. Airtable
Another one of the spreadsheet apps for managing projects on our list is Airtable. What we like about it is the seamless integration with data points including photos, videos, and files, which makes project visualization simple.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Highly customizable
- The free version is available
Cons:
- Limited features in the free plan
- Clunky automation
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Data-driven businesses | $20/user/month |
4.2/5 |
13. Trello
If you are looking for one of the best kanban-board styles of project management software, then we recommend Trello. Plus, don’t forget that it’s compatible with iOS and Android operating systems with separate mobile apps for each.
Pros:
- Highly visual design
- Drag and drop usage
- Simplifies management of tasks and projects
Cons:
- The free version is limited
- Expensive scalability
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Kanban-style boards | $5/user/month |
4.2/5 |
14. Coda
For easy collaboration, you can easily rely on Coda. Simply put, it’s a combination of an app for managing projects with a document-like interface. Additionally, you also get comprehensive features for monitoring the performance of your teams.
Pros:
- Useful templates with the free plan
- Powerful collaboration tools
- Easy team performance monitoring
Cons:
- Hard to use
- Costlier than similar products
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Form creation | $10/user/month |
4.1/5 |
15. Todoist
Todoist is the project management software you need if you wish to simplify staying on track with your projects and tasks. Plus, what we like about it is that it also provides you with an AI assistant to reduce manual work.
Pros:
- Inexpensive plans
- Easy to learn
- Seamless multi-device task access
Cons:
- No offline functionality
- Not all features are intuitive
|
Best for |
Initial Pricing | User Rating |
| Task management | $4/month |
4.1/5 |
Why is DeskTrack the Best Project Management Software in 2024?
DeskTrack is the best tool for managing projects in the industry with many users and organizations worldwide. The reason we picked it as the best software for handling your tasks and projects is because of the intuitive features, user-friendly interface, real-time monitoring, and zero learning curve. Plus, it also provides you with.
- One-click leave management (HRMS)
- Employee activity monitoring (employee monitoring)
- Automated timesheets and timers (time tracking)
- Detailed reporting (employee monitoring and time tracking) and much more.
Conclusion
Now you are clear about project management software and how each one benefits individuals, organizations, and sectors. As a closure to this topic, I can again repeat that in today’s diverse workforce and the given technological circumstances, every business, and organization needs project manager tools to simplify tracking, scheduling, and planning of every project regardless of its complexity for more growth and success. With the many features, tools, and functionalities these software solutions provide you with, you will eliminate the expenses including complexities, time consumption, confusion, and difficulties in tracking the project’s progress. However, when it comes to managing projects with software, there is never a one-size-fits-all solution. You need to choose the right task management tool for your business, otherwise, it will be futile. Fortunately, it only takes a few steps. Moreover, if you require an all-in-one project manager tool, DeskTrack is the perfect software solution for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is Software for Managing Projects?
Ans. Software solutions for managing projects are intuitive feature-rich digital software systems, which simplify every aspect related to modern projects. The software helps with elements including planning, scheduling, managing, and tracking tasks and projects. What this does is remove the project complexities and streamline workflows for more success.
Q. What are the Features of Software for Managing Projects?
Ans. Project manager tools provide you with these features to help simplify project planning, scheduling, and management.
- Project Planning
- Task Management
- Document Sharing and Collaboration
- Calendar and Contact Sharing
- Bug and Error Management
- Time Tracking
Q. What are the Benefits of Using Software for Managing Projects?
Ans. Using software to manage projects gives you many benefits. Other than project simplification, you also get these advantages.
- Simplified Planning and Scheduling
- Better Association
- Easy Remote Work management
- Task Delegation
- Simplified File Access and Sharing
- More Productivity
Q. How Much Does Software for Managing Projects Cost?
Ans. The cost of software for managing projects can vary based on various factors. However, on average, it falls between $7 to $1500/month. It can vary depending on:
- The use cases
- Vendor reputation
- No of features
- No of employees
- Payment modes and frequency
Q. Which are the Best Software Solutions for Managing Projects?
Ans. When it comes to effectively managing projects, these software solutions provide the best tools, features, and functionalities.
- Asana
- Zoho Projects
- Smartsheet
- Notion
- Teamwork.com
- Wrike
- Jira
- Confluence
- Airtable
- Trello
- Coda
- Todoist
