Are you looking for the right type of project management software for your business? You are browsing the right page. If you are here, then you already know that properly managing projects is the key to getting projects done on time and within budget. For the same, you need the best management software for the job.
Now, here’s your problem. There are many categories of software to manage projects. Plus, there are many software solutions for project managers available in each category. So, which one is the right choice to streamline the project work for your teams and employees? All this can be overwhelming. Besides, you also have a lot of work to manage.
Don’t worry. We have you covered. By the end of today’s post, you will know all about the 30 types of project management software. Plus, we will also assist you in how to make the process of choosing the right tool to manage projects not overwhelming. With that out of our way, let’s get right into it.
An Overview of Project Management Software
A project management software solution is a digital collaboration tool with the aim and capabilities to bring projects, teamwork, and team communication in one place to simplify working together. The solution provides you with a plethora of features to plan projects, implement project management methodologies, and make collaboration among the project stakeholders and teams easy.
Read Also: All You Need to Know About HR Management Software in 2025
5 Key Features of Project Management Software
The software for managing projects can have endless features. Some may be useful for you while others will just take up your space. However, you will at least find these key functionalities in every software solution for project managers.
1. Project Planning
This one is straightforward. The feature lets you break a project down into simple tasks. Plus, you can also define the task completion sequence, task dependencies, allocate resources, time and budget estimation, and define milestones.
2. Task Management
This feature is all about task creation, adding information, such as start and end dates, description, and priority. Plus, you can also delegate tasks to the team members and track progress. Furthermore, you also get a centralized platform to manage changes in schedules and resources.
3. Team Collaboration
This feature makes it easy for your team members to share files, add comments, and facilitate conversations for efficient and effective work.
4. Reporting
The solution also offers you an overview of the status of project progress. Plus, you also get awesome functionalities to evaluate staff and project performance with detailed project data insights.
5. Integrations
This feature lets you integrate third-party apps, such as:
- Cloud storage
- Communication tools
- Calendars
These integrations with your project management software allow you to expand its functionalities.
30 Project Management Software Categories You Need to Know About
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The first step to end up with the right software to manage projects is to wrap your head around its types. Each category of this solution has unique strengths, focus areas, and target audiences. Overall, these insights will let you know which tool will work for you.
1. Task Management Software
If your objective is to enhance operational efficiency, then task management software is the one for you. The focus here is to simplify creation, delegation, and task management. It does so by letting you break a project into tasks, goal setting, progress tracking, and collaboration.
Key Features:
- Task creation and delegation
- Task information addition
- Task attachments
- Task comments
- Discussion board
- Real-time chat
- Roles and permissions
2. Project Planning Software
On the other hand, project planning software solutions claim to empower businesses and organizations with unique features to create a detailed project blueprint.
Key Features:
- Project hierarchy
- Task management
- Gantt chart
- Calendar
3. Resource Management Software
If you are always stuck with resources shared throughout multiple projects and your clients require high-level clarity in resource utilization and billable hours, then resource management software is what you need. These solutions assist you in:
- Scheduling project resources
- Visualizing the percentage allocation of resources across multiple projects
- Efficiently distributing the workload across those projects.
Key Features:
- Percentage resource allocation
- Resource scheduling
- Capacity planning
- Workload balancing
- Utilization tracking
4. Team Collaboration Software
Speaking of the project collaboration aspect, you need team collaboration software to coordinate it all. What you get is a centralized communication, document sharing, real-time collaboration, and digital asset feedback platform.
Key Features:
- Real-time messaging
- File sharing
- Collaborative documents
- File versioning
- Video conferencing
- Online proofing
5. Project Reporting Software
Project reporting software solutions assist in visualizing and evaluating project data to make insights. Businesses and organizations worldwide use it to:
- Analyze project and team performance
- Overview of project progress
- Share insights with stakeholders
Key Features:
- Reporting
- Dashboard creation
- Sharing and exporting
6. Time Tracking Software
Businesses and organizations worldwide use time tracking software solutions to track the time spent on tasks and record it in timesheets. What the software lets you do is:
- Set a manual, automated, or automatic timer to track time.
- Save time on entries by automatically making timesheets.
- Generate invoices based on the time data.
Key Features:
- Automatic or manual timer
- Customizable timesheets
- Invoicing
- Reporting
7. Project Risk Management Software
No project comes without risks. These risks are always unwanted but unavoidable. Thankfully, we have risk management software solutions that identify, asses, and make mitigation plans for these project risks.
Key Features:
- Risk registration
- Risk assessment matrix
- Risk management templates
- Risk prediction and alerts
8. Stakeholder Management Software
As the name suggests, if you have consistent involvement of external stakeholders, such as clients, on a project, then you need stakeholder management software. The tool assists you in identifying, analyzing, and managing project stakeholders’ communication.
Key Features:
- Stakeholder mapping and analysis
- Task management
- Client portal
- Roles and permissions
9. Project Portfolio Management Software
If you are managing many, many projects, for instance, more than 100, then you need the portfolio management software in this category to sort and simplify things. The solution brings all the projects together in one place under multiple programs and portfolios for easy:
- Organization
- Management
- Balancing resources
- Budgeting
- Time management
- Quality management
- Scope management
Key Features:
- Centralized portfolio view
- Portfolio dashboard
- Project intake management
- Resource management
- Project risk management
10. Customer Relationship Management Software
A CRM software solution assists in running projects by keeping a log of all the interactions of customers and/or clients with an organization or business. You can also use it for:
- Sales management
- Marketing operations
Key Features:
- Contact management
- Communication history
- Customer outreach
- Reporting
11. Agile Project Management Software
An agile management software solution provides you with direct features to assist you in applying methodologies to manage projects, such as Scrum and Kanban. Usually, we would recommend it for software development.
Key Features:
- Backlog management
- Sprint planning
- Agile board
- Reports
- Issue and bug tracking system
12. Waterfall Project Management Software
For simplifying traditional project planning, you need the waterfall management software. It offers features to collect and document project requirements, set project scope, make a project plan, and delegate, track, and manage project budget and resources.
Key Features:
- Gantt chart
- Task management
- Document management
- Project reports
13. Hybrid Project Management Software
If you want both waterfall and agile in a single platform, then you need hybrid management software. The tool is best for organizations and businesses that are flexibly using the waterfall method for project planning and the agile method for project execution.
Key Features:
- Project planning
- Kanban board
- Resource management
- Risk management
14. Construction Project Management Software
The construction management software for projects is right for you if you have a construction business. The tool assists you in creating detailed project plans, managing inventory, tracking progress, generating invoices, tracking budget, and managing payroll.
Key Features:
- Project planning
- Budget planning
- Inventory management
- Daily reporting
- Accounting, invoicing, and payroll management
15. Marketing Project Management Software
A marketing management software solution claims to improve your marketing team’s productivity and optimize marketing operations by bringing your projects, teamwork, and team communication in one place. Overall, it brings various tools, such as CRM, CMS, social and web analytics, and invoicing together for end-to-end work management.
Key Features:
- Task management
- Progress tracking
- Team collaboration
- Online proofing
- Integrations
16. IT Project Management Software
For software development teams and employees, the best software solution is IT management software for projects. The project management software provides essential features to make and manage backlog, document, and prioritize user stories, make sprints, track project progress, and manage development bugs and issues. Also, did we mention that it also seamlessly integrates with all the other tools and apps you use?
Key Features:
- Product backlog planning
- Sprint planning
- Issue tracking
- Internal wiki
- Integrations
17. Finance Project Management Software
If you are an accounting firm or professional who wishes to simplify the management of your daily operations, then the finance management software is what you are looking for. It provides you with:
- Tools to manage, store, and organize many documents.
- A centralized place for storing all client information.
- Integration with invoicing software.
Key Features:
- Database management
- Invoicing and billing software
- Integrations
18. Healthcare Project Management Software
Healthcare management software solutions or systems focus on logging and organizing data with HIPAA compliance, ensuring regulatory adherence, EMR management, appointment scheduling, and reporting.
Key Features:
- Electronic medical records
- Appointment scheduling
- Compliance management
19. Manufacturing Project Management Software
Manufacturing management software solutions assist in the management of the production of products to ensure timely delivery. Overall, it has features for order request documentation, setting dependencies, production cycle tracking, and schedule management. Plus, the best part is that it provides a complete business operation management simplification by integrating with:
- Supply chain management
- Inventory management
- Compliance management
- Accounting and invoicing software
Key Features:
- Order management
- Cycle management
- Risk management
- Project reporting
20. Customer Support Project Management Software
Also known as a helpdesk ticketing system, the customer support management software helps document, track, and manage every client and/or customer interaction and provides quick resolutions to their issues.
Key Features:
- Issue management
- Workflow automation
- SLA management
- CSAT
21. Small Business Project Management Software
This software solution is easy to use and scales cost-effectively. Plus, you get a multitude of features in one platform.
Key Features:
- Multiple features
- Easy to use
- Scale cost-effectively
22. Enterprise Project Management Software
The next type of management software for projects provides features according to the needs of large enterprises. Such software solutions are secure, reliable, and integrate with all the apps you use for end-to-end operations management.
Key Features:
- Advanced features
- Reliable and secure
- Fast data processing
23. Freelancer Project Management Software
A freelancer management software solution for projects is lightweight and provides all the basic features to simplify work management for free or at an affordable price. The software is ideal for individual freelancers and contract employees.
Key Features:
- Basic work management capabilities
- Free or affordable pricing plans
24. On-Premise Project Management Software
As the name suggests, on-premise software solutions are installed on-site, and data is hosted on an organization’s private and local servers. The software provides a high level of data security, and you can customize it as per your requirements. However:
- It requires a high level of maintenance.
- It doesn’t scale fast.
- There are additional costs for setup and server management.
Key Features:
- On-premise deployment
25. Cloud Software
Available as SaaS software on the internet, cloud software solutions are easy to set up, require no investment, are easily scalable, and work on a subscription model. However, the data is not hosted on your private or local server. So, you have no control over it.
Key Features:
- Cloud deployment
26. Open-Source Project Management Software
Open-source software solutions are free and provide access to their source codes for anyone to access, modify, and enhance. We recommend it to small businesses with in-house development capabilities that require basic features to manage projects.
Key Features:
- Free
- Scalable
- The source code is freely available for updating
27. Desktop Project Management Software
This software solution is available as a desktop application that locally runs on a standalone computer. The tool supports multiple operating systems, such as Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. Usually, it is free and open-source.
Key Features:
- Desktop app
28. Mobile Project Management Software
This software solution is available as a mobile app, assisting you in managing all your projects on the go. It also supports various operating systems. Plus, usually, all the cloud software for managing projects also provides a mobile app.
Key Features:
- Mobile app
29. Kanban Software
Based on the Kanban method, Kanban software solutions visualize work items as cards on a board, moving through stages. It limits the work in progress for efficient project delivery. Plus, it also promotes clarity and streamlines workflow management.
Key Features:
- Kanban boards
- Task cards
- Workflow automation
- Analytics
30. Project Management Suites
The suites, bundles, or packages for managing projects incorporate features from various management software solutions. Overall, the idea here is to provide a platform that fulfills most of your needs for efficiently managing projects.
Key Features:
- Task management
- Collaboration
- Resource allocation
- Reporting
- Templates
Read Also: Business Management Software: The Complete Guide for 2025
5 Steps to Choose the Best Project Management Software for Your Business
Now, we have wrapped our heads around the various categories of software for managing projects. However, we need a few more formalities to end up with the right option in this category for your business. So, let’s allow your R&D teams to handle the steps.
1. Requirement Analysis
Other than the right type, you also need to identify which human resources are exempt from using such software solutions. Plus, it is also crucial to know the supported operating systems, devices, etc.
2. Feature Evaluation
Based on the above analysis, you will evaluate the features and functionalities you need to efficiently and effectively manage all your projects.
3. Shortlisting
Based on all the above analysis and evaluations, you will make a shortlist of the best project management software solutions. Next, you will cross off all the software solutions that cost more than your budget.
4. Testing the Software
Here are some tips to see what works and what doesn’t work as per your project needs.
- Ask around the ones who are already using the tools from your shortlist
- Get free trials and demos
- Read genuine reviews
5. Finalizing
Now, all that’s left for you to do is cross off all the software solutions that are even marginally different from what you need.
Top 10 Project Management Software for Your Business
Don’t have the time, R&D teams, and resources to do intense research? Don’t worry, we made a shortlist of the top 10 management software solutions for project managers for you.
- DeskTrack: Best Overall
- ProofHub: Best for Task Management
- Trello: Best for Kanban Boards
- Jira: Best for Agile Project Management
- Asana: Best for Goal Management
- Wrike: Best for Workflow Management
- ClickUp: Best for Team Collaboration
- Smartsheet: Best for Enterprise-Grade Project Management
- Monday: Best for Workflow Automation
- Zoho Projects: Best for End-to-End Work Management
Conclusion
Now, we hope that you have wrapped your head around the 30 types of project management solutions and what they do. As a final word, we can say that it can be complex, time-consuming, and inefficient to manage projects without the right tools these days. Especially for managers who face a consistent and constant work rush. Gone are the days of spreadsheets. Nowadays, the best way to efficiently manage projects from planning to execution and delivery is with the right software solution for managing projects. However, what if you need more than that? Using different tools can be expensive. With DeskTrack, you get the best features to monitor employees, track time, manage projects, manage productivity, and much more in a single user-friendly platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Which are the 4 Ms of Project Management?
Ans. The 4 Ms of project management include:
- Machines
- Material
- Manpower
- Methods
Q. Which are the 3 Ps of Project Management?
Ans. The 3 Ps of project management include:
- People
- Process
- Product
Q. What is Project Management Software?
Ans. A project management software solution is a digital collaboration tool with the aim and capabilities to bring projects, teamwork, and team communication in one place to simplify working together. The solution provides you with a plethora of features to plan projects, implement project management methodologies, and make collaboration among the project stakeholders and teams easy.
Q. Which are the Types of Project Management Software?
Ans. Below, we have shortlisted the 30 types of software for managing projects.
- Task Management Software
- Project Planning Software
- Resource Management Software
- Team Collaboration Software
- Project Reporting Software
- Time Tracking Software
- Project Risk Management Software
- Stakeholder Management Software
- Project Portfolio Management Software
- Customer Relationship Management Software
- Agile Project Management Software
- Waterfall Project Management Software
- Hybrid Project Management Software
- Construction Project Management Software
- Marketing Project Management Software
- IT Project Management Software
- Finance Project Management Software
- Healthcare Project Management Software
- Manufacturing Project Management Software
- Customer Support Project Management Software
- Small Business Project Management Software
- Enterprise Project Management Software
- Freelancer Project Management Software
- On-Premise Project Management Software
- Cloud Software
- Open-Source Project Management Software
- Desktop Project Management Software
- Mobile Project Management Software
- Kanban Software
- Project Management Suites
Q. Which are the Most Used Project Management Software Solutions?
Ans. Here are the top 10 software solutions that businesses and organizations worldwide use to manage projects.
- DeskTrack
- ProofHub
- Trello
- Jira
- Asana
- Wrike
- ClickUp
- Smartsheet
- Monday
- Zoho Projects
