Choosing a Project Management Tool That Works for Your Team
Project management tools are becoming increasingly popular across companies, with 91% of teams relying on digital solutions to manage processes and projects. These tools serve as a hub for seamless collaboration and communication and allow for real-time project monitoring, file sharing, task assignment and scheduling, deadline tracking, and even integration with other applications.
This helps organizations, especially those with employees working remotely, to make workflows more efficient and to achieve better transparency and higher productivity.
In this article, we cover six of the most popular project management tools you can consider for your team.
Benefits of Using Project Management Tools
With the right tools, you can easily keep track of and manage your projects. Here are some benefits of using project management tools:
- Better Collaboration: A project management tool can keep all of your project data in one place. Project management tools usually have commenting and file-sharing features, making it easy to keep your team in the loop about any updates.
- Improved Remote Work Management: Most tools are made with cross-platform app development, so they are available on both web browsers and apps. Employees can easily access project details and work from anywhere as long as they can connect to the Internet.
- Workflow Automation: AI and automation can help save time and effort on project planning by automating repetitive tasks. Some tools can also use AI to forecast information to help you plan ahead.
Exploring 6 Popular Project Management Tools
1. Trello
Trello is one of the most popular project management tools. Its free basic version offers features that can get you through simple projects. Trello is a good option for startups, small teams, and freelancers.
Pricing: Basic version is free. Paid plan starts at $5 per user per month.
Key Features
- Kanban board: The Kanban board-style interface makes it easy to track project details.
- Custom task cards: Tasks are added as cards, which are easily customizable for editing project details.
Pros
- Lightweight: Trello boards are easy to manage and set up.
- Cost-effective: The free basic version carries plenty of features that are good enough for simple projects.
Cons
- Limited customization: Trello has limited customization options for more complex projects and workflows.
- Scalability: Bigger projects may need paid plans for access to bigger file upload limits and better automation features.
2. Asana
Asana is a lightweight project management tool because it focuses on tracking tasks for smaller groups and certain projects, such as marketing campaign planning. It’s best for small teams, midsize companies, and nonprofits.
Pricing: Starts at $10 per user per month.
Key Features
- Workflow builder: You can make custom workflows to help coordinate work across teams with automated processes.
- Real-time insights: Track your progress through real-time charts and insights into your work.
Pros
- Easy communication: The site has built-in messaging tools for fast and simple communication.
- Gantt chart timeline: Tasks can easily be rescheduled and managed with a very intuitive Gantt chart view.
Cons
- Task assignment: You can only assign a task to one person.
- Complex: The site may be a bit complex for new users.
3. MS Project
Microsoft’s MS Project is a project management tool that can be really handy if your company primarily uses Office 365. MS Project can easily integrate with the company’s other products like MS Office and Outlook.
Pricing: Starts at $10 per user per month.
Key Features:
- Budget tracking: You can track your resources and manage expenditures for projects.
- Gantt timeline: You can use a Gantt-type view to monitor project details and progression.
Pros
- Office 365 integration: MS Project is ideal for companies that primarily use MS Office and Outlook.
- Automated scheduling: As you add actual start times for tasks, MS Project automatically adjusts the dependencies and dates.
Cons
- Heavyweight: MS Project has a wide range of features for project management, and it takes a lot of time to learn how to navigate and set up.
- Dated interface: Some parts of the tool’s interface may feel outdated and difficult to navigate.
4. Jira
Like Trello, Jira is also developed by the software company Atlassian. Jira is great for teams handling multiple complex projects. It’s highly customizable, so you can adjust the tool to suit your company’s workflow.
Pricing: Free version available. Paid plan starts at $7.53 per user per month.
Key Features:
- Dashboard view: Jira’s dashboards have a simplified interface, so you can easily track your projects.
- Search functionality: Its search functionality uses query language and filters for a more efficient way of searching for tasks and projects.
Pros
- Integrations: Jira can easily integrate with its sister sites like Trello and Confluence.
- Customizable workflow: Jira’s workflow tools are easily customizable to suit your company’s work process.
Cons
- Setup time: Jira takes some time to set up and learn.
- File size limitations: Jira limits file uploads to 10 MB. Photos, videos, and documents cannot be larger than 10 MB.
5. Wrike
Wrike is a highly customizable project management tool that can help you manage project details. Its message-pinning feature allows you to pin relevant information to prevent it from getting buried under new notifications. It’s also useful for tracking task progress with its built-in time-tracking system.
Pricing: Starts at $10 per user per month.
Key Features
- Pinned messages: You can pin messages to make sure that important information doesn’t get buried under new notifications.
- Real-time updates: A real-time task management dashboard displays all projects and will help you track progress with real-time updates on tasks.
Pros
- Time tracking: This project management tool has a built-in time tracker for projects.
- Automation and AI: Wrike’s self-learning AI and automation engine can help save time and resources and possibly predict project risks.
Cons
- Pricing: Wrike’s basic plan accommodates 15 maximum users. Companies with more than 15 employees will have to upgrade to higher plans.
- Scrum and sprints: The site doesn’t support a Scrum workflow with sprints.
6. Basecamp
Basecamp is a good option if you want a lightweight but powerful project management tool. It comes with unique messaging features that make it easy for your team to communicate on projects for smoother collaboration. Basecamp is a great option for freelancers, small teams, and startups.
Pricing: Starts at $15 per user per month.
Key Features
- One-page dashboard: Basecamp tidies up your workspace by keeping your projects, schedules, and assignments on a one-page dashboard.
- Centralized discussions: Basecamp’s message board allows you to discuss specific topics and sort them into separate pages to keep organized.
Pros
- Fixed pricing: Basecamp offers fixed pricing per month, so expanding your team won’t cost extra.
- User-friendly: The site offers powerful features for project management, but its lightweight interface is easy to learn and use.
Cons
- Sprint tracking: The site can only support sprint tracking through third-party tools.
- Boards: Basecamp doesn’t have its own Scrum and Kanban boards. You will need third-party tools to use these templates.
The table below compares the six project management tools based on certain factors and features.
| Free Plan | Easy Setup | Customizable | Kanban Board | Scrum Support | Gantt Chart | Time Tracking | |
| Trello | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Asana | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MS Project | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jira | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wrike | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Basecamp | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
When choosing project management tools, consider the types of projects you’re planning, the pricing of the tools, and your team’s project management methodologies. It’s also important to consider whether you’re planning on expanding your team because some project management tools may have steep learning curves.
If you’re looking for a software development company that can help you build custom software for project management solutions, Taazaa can help. As a recognized software development company, we can provide you with affordable and intuitive tools and software to help your business succeed in the digital world. Contact us today to learn more.
