Categories   >   Project Planning Software
Last Reviewed: November 25th, 2024

Best Project Planning Software Of 2024

What is Project Planning Software?

Project Planning Software (PPS) is a tool built to streamline and simplify the process of creating, executing, and managing complex project plans. It addresses pain points like schedule delays, cost overruns, communication breakdowns, and scope creep. PPS's chief benefits include improved project timelines, enhanced budget management, superior team coordination, and increased clarity in project objectives. Key features range from Gantt charts and task management tools to real-time collaboration capabilities and budget tracking functionalities. It's particularly useful for project managers, team leads, and stakeholders across various industries, especially those managing large, complex projects. However, some limitations might include steep learning curves for complex software or the lack of flexibility in predefined parameters. To summarize, PPS is an essential tool that substantially enriches project planning and execution - ensuring projects stay on track, within scope, and under budget. It's a crucial instrument for effective and efficient project management.

What Are The Key Benefits of Project Planning Software?

  • Enhances project scheduling
  • Improves budget management
  • Streamlines task allocation
  • Facilitates real-time collaboration
  • Increases project transparency
  • Supports risk management
  • Promotes resource optimization
  • Ensures accountability tracking
  • Fosters team communication
  • Encourages strategic decision-making
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 60 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Project Planning Software overall:

Wrike
Wrike
Start Price
$9.80
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Wrike

Wrike, a cloud-based project management platform, has attracted significant attention for its comprehensive features and ability to streamline workflows. Users frequently highlight its intuitive interface, robust functionality, and scalability as key strengths. The platform's customizability empowers teams to tailor their project management processes to their specific needs, enhancing efficiency and productivity. Wrike's Gantt charts, for instance, provide a clear visual representation of project timelines and dependencies, enabling project managers to track progress and identify potential bottlenecks. Additionally, Wrike's automation capabilities, such as automated workflows and custom request forms, free up valuable time for teams to focus on high-impact tasks.

However, some users note that Wrike's extensive features can lead to a steeper learning curve compared to simpler project management tools. Navigating the interface and discovering all the functionalities may require some initial investment of time and effort. Additionally, while Wrike offers various pricing plans to accommodate different team sizes and requirements, some users find the cost to be relatively high compared to other options in the market. Despite these considerations, Wrike remains a popular choice for teams seeking a powerful and versatile project management solution. Its ability to adapt to diverse workflows, coupled with its robust features and scalability, makes it particularly well-suited for larger teams and organizations with complex project requirements. Wrike's comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities further enhance its value proposition, providing valuable insights into team performance and project progress.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly Interface: Approximately 60% of users mention Wrike’s user-friendly interface and features in addition to easy installation.
  • Collaboration: According to 90% of users, it's easy to share files and collaborate with internal and external team members, stakeholders and business partners.
  • Support and Learning Materials: Wrike offers helpful customer support to help with implementation questions and any other concerns that arise as stated by 65% of users.
  • Customizable and Flexible: Approximately 75% of users say Wrike has a customizable and flexible system to fit their business needs.
  • Organization: There are plenty of folders and labels to keep files and projects organized, as reported by 85% of users.
  • Notifications: Wrike delivers various project notifications and alerts as stated by 61% of users.
  • Helpful Tools: Approximately 71% of users appreciate Wrike's various dashboards, Gantt charts, reports and other distinct modules.
  • Steep Learning Curve: Of the users who describe Wrike's user interface, 39% say the interface has a steep learning curve and is hard to understand.
  • Training: Approximately 35% of users iterate that implementation training and support is available but is difficult to learn.
  • Alerts: Of the users who discuss Wrike's alerts and notifications, 38% of them say there's no way to adjust how many they receive.

Key Features

  • Gantt Charts: Zoom out to see the full view of a project’s tasks, dependencies, timeline and scope. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to adjust task dates and add dependencies. It’s also easy to toggle between different views (day, week, month, etc.). Wrike facilitates data transfer for users switching from Microsoft Project, ensuring all elements are imported for MPP, MPX and XML formats. 
  • Task Management: Wrike brings together all aspects of your project — tasks, schedules and team communications — into a single location for more efficient project management. The platform connects with Gmail, Apple Mail and Outlook, allowing you to manage tasks directly from your inbox. It also facilitates time tracking and reporting. 
  • Project Templates: A range of pre-built templates allow teams to start with key elements already in place. Specific template types include agile teamwork, project scheduling, event management, product launches, Kanban projects, ticketing and helpdesk, sprint planning, and product roadmaps. 
  • Reports: Wrike offers reporting capabilities to users with business and enterprise accounts. The report builder takes you through the four-stage process of creating a report, with inputs for type, source data, filters and layout (table or column). Report topics include weekly project status, unassigned tasks, active tasks by assignee and others. 
  • Wrike Resource (premium add-on): This feature provides resource management and is available with Business, Wrike for Marketers and Enterprise plans. A visual, intuitive interface facilitates workload planning and changes, providing full visibility of team performance. You can also customize resource utilization analytics tools to track KPIs for better insight. 
  • Wrike Proof (premium add-on): Streamline feedback processes and review cycles with visual tools and a centralized system that keeps version control in check. You can assign approvers internally as well as invite external reviewers. The software also connects with Adobe Creative Cloud tools, letting creatives review feedback and make updates from the app they work in. 
  • Wrike Lock (premium add-on): Wrike provides cloud security and privacy with encryption keys. Both your data and the keys are encrypted, letting you determine who can access and edit the information stored on the platform. You have full control over the individual keys via a master key that’s stored by the Key Management Service from AWS. 
  • Wrike Publish (premium add-on): This feature enables digital asset management (DAM). Integrations with DAM platforms provide a range of capabilities, including stakeholder collaboration and file proofing. You can also attach files to tasks, quickly search your workspace for the right asset and gain brand consistency across campaigns. 
Asana
Asana
Start Price
$10.99
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Asana

Asana is a work management platform designed to help users organize and streamline operations with a user-friendly, customizable interface, automation and AI. Key features include the ability to create custom fields, deadlines, and subtasks, utilize various project views like Kanban boards and timelines, and leverage AI for summarizing tasks and drafting workflows. During my test of the software, I liked how easy it was to create a task by email and create project and task summaries using their AI tool.

Customization was also a win. I built a task template for my Content Creation project with custom fields, relative due dates, assignees and a bulleted checklist. However, head’s up, adding task templates to existing tasks requires creating a new task with the template and merging it. Hands down, workflow management was one of my favorite parts of testing Asana. Adding in new sections (without having to go to the list view) and creating custom rules for transitions with a little help from their version of prompts was a breeze.

Collaboration is another plus, with in-card comments and mentions, an inbox, group and individual messaging in platform and guest accounts with custom permissions for external users.

On the downside, if you don’t have access to a free trial of the paid version (like I did), the free version may not be as effective. You won’t be able to access AI features, certain project views and resource management. The setup also isn’t exactly intuitive, and you may need training plus multiple visits to the help center to conceptualize your project and pick the right template.

Overall, Asana is a fantastic all-in-one project management solution for users looking for a flexible tool with AI assistance and don’t mind springing for one of the paid plans.

Pros & Cons

  • User Friendly: Reviewers appreciated that the system is easy to use and intuitive with a clean UI, even if you’re new to projects.
  • Overall Functionality: Workflows and automation, task management and collaboration are everything you’d look for in a project management system, according to users.
  • Customization: Users liked the customization options for unique team needs, projects and workflows.
  • >Cost: Users mentioned Asana’s paid plans were too expensive for smaller businesses making it difficult to upgrade from the limited free version.
  • Set-Up: Getting started can be overwhelming with so many customizations and task options. Users said you may need extra time to implement it effectively.
  • Advanced Features: Reviewers noted some features like AI, advanced project views, resource management and multiple task assignees require expensive plan upgrades.

Key Features

  • Task Management: Create tasks with custom fields, deadlines, tags, subtasks, dependencies and descriptions during setup, adding tasks to the section you want when you create your first project or forwarding an email to [email protected]. Save time by converting your custom tasks into a template you can apply to new tasks and using AI to summarize tasks and draft subtasks. Switch between list, board, timeline, calendar and Gantt views to optimize visualization and drag-and-drop tasks between sections.
  • Project Planning and Scheduling: Kick your projects off with a plethora of templates ranging from product rollouts to hiring pipelines, or import your project from a spreadsheet. Convert tasks into milestones on the card and add details about why it’s a milestone. Add tasks to multiple projects and organize strategic initiatives by creating a portfolio where you can track the updates of all your projects.
  • Resource Management: Keep track of what’s on everyone’s plate by switching to the workload view. Drag and drop tasks to manage timelines and assignees and assign custom values like hours or points to tasks to accurately factor in employee effort.
  • Sprint Management: Hit the ground running by applying the sprint template to a new project. Add custom fields, use the timeline tab to map out sprint tasks and deadlines and set start and finish dates in the project view.
  • Collaboration Features: Add updates, questions and notes into the description. Comment on cards with mentions, files, lists, code blocks and even AI assists. Send messages directly to individuals or teams using the inbox. Keep your clients in the loop by creating guest accounts and sharing specific tasks and projects with them.
  • Reports and Insights: Tap into a bird’s eye view of your project by clicking on the dashboard tab where you can monitor overdue, complete and incomplete tasks and burnup charts and create custom charts with their AI tool. Visit the reporting tab to view trends, progress, resourcing and work health.
  • Custom Automations and Workflows: Build a workflow that’s a perfect fit for your project in the workflow tab by adding sections for each step in the process with custom transitions and rules when tasks are moved. Add custom automations and rules from scratch, use the options provided as a starting point or get a helping hand from the AI studio. Check out the automations we built in depth below.
Jira
Jira
Start Price
$10
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Jira

Jira is an agile-based project management platform that caters to a vast range of industries thanks to its all-in-one functionality, customization and flexibility. It allows users to fully customize workflows, issue types, fields and automations.

After watching a few tutorials, I personally found it quite simple to create my own projects using the templates and modifying it to meet my needs. Although some of the automation actions and issues have some programming language involved, it’s not a huge roadblock and I created and tested multiple automations successfully.

Task (or issue) management was on point, with multiple views, custom workflows, task assignment, in-card collaboration and time tracking and custom fields. It offered comprehensive (but not overly advanced) reports and a helpful summary dashboard.

Sprints were intuitive and easy to execute, and I especially appreciated the drag-and-drop feature for planning. Some users mentioned a learning curve, and I would agree, as I relied on videos to guide me through some parts of the setup lest this test take weeks not days.

Overall, Jira is a match made in heaven for agile enthusiasts and users who want a flexible, customizable project management platform and don’t mind getting into the weeds with learning courses and tutorials.

Pros & Cons

  • Functionality: Users appreciated the ability to customize workflows, issue types and fields and the flexibility to navigate complex projects and problem-solve.
  • Collaborative: The system helps users collaborate with other teams, projects, and stakeholders and efficiently bridges gaps between remote teams, noted reviewers.
  • Integrations: Reviewers liked the extensive integrations with most third-party modules like Slack, Bitbucket and more to complete workflows and processes.

What Users Like

  • Customization: “We were able to tailor the workflow to fit our specific needs, which greatly enhanced our efficiency. For instance, we created custom issue types that aligned with our unique project phases, making it easier for team members to understand their tasks at a glance.” - Balázs Keszthelyi, Founder and CEO at TechnoLynx
  • Project Visualization: “[Jira’s robust roadmapping and dependency tracking capabilities are] invaluable for coordinating multiple product launches. Also, the premium version's Advanced Roadmaps feature lets us visualize our entire product pipeline so that's from sourcing to launch, but you've got to invest time in learning the system, and I think for smaller operations, it might be overkill.” - Dennis Sanders, Founder and CEO of Burning Daily
  • Task Management: “Jira has given us the structure to break down our complex workflows into clear, manageable steps, which was exactly what we needed as we expanded our customer base. With Jira, we can create specific 'boards' for each client’s SEO campaign, where every task is detailed and assigned to the right team member. Each board has phases, like keyword research, content writing, and on-page optimization, with clear deadlines. Having this setup has helped us catch any bottlenecks early. If the content team takes longer to deliver, for instance, we can adjust the timeline for the next steps right away instead of rushing it.” - Mushfiq Sarker, CEO of LaGrande Marketing
  • Lags: Reviewers noted that the system sometimes lags and takes time to load, especially for multiple projects and large data sets.
  • Learning Curve: Its UX can feel complex, and it takes time to set up, customize and use to its full ability. An internal Jira expert may be required, according to some users.
  • Administration: Users mentioned that the system is difficult to administer, and its back-end is hard to manage.

What Users Dislike

  • Slow Loading Time: “Its interface moves like molasses.” - Dennis Sanders, Founder and CEO of Burning Daily
  • Learning Curve: “We had some initial challenges with team members who were not familiar with the platform, which required additional training sessions to ensure everyone was on the same page. However, once they became accustomed to the interface, the benefits outweighed the initial hurdles.” - Balázs Keszthelyi, Founder and CEO at TechnoLynx

Key Features

  • Agile Boards: Manage your tasks, or issues using Scrum and Kanban boards with custom statuses, fields and transitions. Create new issues using the button below each status. You can view projects using a list, board or timeline view.
  • Reports and Insights: Get insights into where your team is at throughout every stage of the project by generating custom reports like the average age report, created vs. resolved issues report and sprint report. Manage workloads with the time tracking report, user workload report and version workload report. Use the summary view to monitor activity, status overview, priority breakdown and related projects.
  • Collaboration Features: Communicate with team members and assignees directly on the issue card with comments and mentions. Attach files, view card activity and add descriptions for additional instructions. Integrate with Outlook, Slack and other communication tools.
  • Custom Automations: Build custom automation rules by setting a trigger with the option to add an action, a condition or a branch. Get a helping hand by searching for triggers related to what you want to automate and selecting recommended actions and conditions.
  • Sprint Management: Use the Scrum option to run sprints. Fill in project details like name, duration and scope and add tasks and drag and drop them to your sprint using the backlog. Complete your sprints and auto-add pending tasks to the backlog or to a new sprint and run a sprint report for insights.
  • Task Management: Manage tasks by creating customizable issue cards under each status or by importing issues from CSV files. Add assignees, due dates, time tracking, comments, descriptions, teams, labels, status and priority to issues. Move tasks from status to status using transitions and workflow automation.
  • Customizable Workflows: Create custom workflows for your tasks and subtasks by going to project settings and clicking on issue types. Set statuses based on the type of task you’re completing or from the project template you select. Automate actions by setting rules for transitions from one status to another.
monday.com
monday.com
Start Price
$9
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked monday.com

monday.com is a cloud-based project management platform that caters to a wide range of industries thanks to its customization, user-friendly interface and templates. It allows users to build boards from templates or from scratch and view projects through multiple views like list, calendar, Ganntt and Kanban. During our test, we enjoyed using the platform's pre-built templates and drag-and-drop feature to set up projects and reorganize tasks.

Its task management features are stellar. We liked how easy it is to custom groups for tasks, assign them to specific team members, and leverage various communication tools like comments, mentions and board discussions. The updates feature means everyone is on the same page and the view option boosts accountability. On the automation front, we successfully used the built-in automation engine, which comes with both pre-made templates and no-code customization options, to build a custom automation for status changes with little to no difficulty.

On the flip side, monday.com may have a slight learning curve for users who aren’t familiar with project management tools. Additionally, some advanced features, such as custom notifications and time tracking, require upgrading to a higher pricing tier, which could become expensive for larger teams.

All in all, we thought monday’s intuitive interface, customization options and no-code automations make it a great option for users without a ton of technical expertise and a flexible budget.

Pros & Cons

  • Task Management: Users appreciated how easy it is to monitor tasks with customized views, an activity feed and task updates.
  • Collaboration: Instant messaging, integrations, board discussions and easy scheduling and planning were a plus for reviewers.
  • User-Friendly: Reviewers said it was simple to set up and use for less tech-savvy users, and liked the attractive, colorful interface with helpful templates.

What Users Like

  • Project Tracking: "The ability to customize columns and task dependencies lets us create a clear, tailored workflow." - Jeffery Zhou, CEO and Founder of Fig Loans
  • Interface: "The timeline and calendar views were particularly useful when we had multiple projects running alongside each other, helping everyone stay aligned without a lot of back-and-forth." - Rob Stevenson, Founder of BackupVault
  • Notifications: “The automation features were especially useful in notifying different people responsible at different steps of the journey while maintaining transparency and accountability with the rest of the team and building a frictionless and trust-based culture.” - Alok Jain, CEO of Reveal
  • Cost: Reviewers noted that advanced features like customized notifications or time tracking required a plan upgrade which could become expensive.
  • Learning Curve: It takes time to get used to the navigation and features according to users.
  • Mobile App: Some users said the mobile app doesn’t have all the features available.

What Users Dislike

  • Complexity: “[monday.com] lacked some flexibility in handling complex, multi-step tasks that needed a lot of customization, which sometimes left us manually tracking those details elsewhere.” - Rob Stevenson, Founder of BackupVault
  • Time-Based Automations: “Creating an automation to notify a user three days after a certain date, for example, was more complex than it needed to be. We had to set up custom date columns to drive these instead of just being able to calculate it as a part of automation.” - Alok Jain, CEO of Reveal

Key Features

  • Custom Dashboard: Build your own custom dashboard using built-in widgets and third-party integrations. Get a bird’s eye view of your boards and teams along with individual team member and board views. Monitor workload, timelines, feed activity and custom charts, like in-progress tasks, from a central location.
  • Multiple Views: Toggle between different views to track your projects using Gantt charts, Kanban boards, calendar views, project reports and custom filters like task owner, status and timeline.
  • Task Management: Create tasks under custom groups like To-Do, In-Progress, On-Hold, and Complete and add personalized fields, assignees, due dates, labels, statuses and priorities. Mention assignees, add comments, files, links and tables directly in the tasks using the Updates tab. Drag and drop tasks and groups to reorganize things.
  • Automations: Streamline workflows with no-code automations using templates or building custom automations from scratch using conditions and actions. Apply automations to specific boards and save your custom automations as a template to use on other boards.
  • Templates: Create boards suited to your project needs by accessing the template center and choosing from a range of templates, including marketing, project management, sales and CRM, design, software development, and HR.
  • Workflow Management: Organize your processes by creating custom workflows. Search for the trigger you’re looking for and add it as a starting block. Build on those blocks by choosing from several options: action, if or else or delay. Select the board where you want the action to happen, add conditions and edit blocks. View active workflows and pause or edit workflows as processes change.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet
Start Price
$9
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a cloud-based work management platform that helps users streamline and organize processes with a spreadsheet-esque interface, flexible templates, multiple views and team collaboration. Apart from the grid view, you can visualize projects using a Gantt chart, Kanban board, calendar view, card view or timeline view. No-code automations are another note-worthy feature, where you can build from templates or scratch.

It streamlines project creation with templates suited to different industries and end goals, so you have a jumping-off point instead of going in blind. Team collaboration is another area where Smartsheet shines, with comments, conversations and file and sheet sharing (even with people outside your organization). It also offers a customizable dashboard view, although I did find some of the chart widgets a little tricky to work, without training.

Highlights for me were definitely the familiarity of spreadsheet formatting (but with more views and automations), robust collaboration capabilities and guided explainers throughout the setup. However, user reviews noted limited filters and integrations, lags and expensive add-ons as downsides.

Overall, Smartsheet is a great option for teams familiar with spreadsheets but are on the lookout for more visualization and collaboration, along with the budget to spend on advanced features.

Pros & Cons

  • Automation: Reviewers appreciated the no-code automation and said that it helps to eliminate productivity killers and saves time.
  • Collaboration: Users liked the sharing option with level-based permissions that allow collaboration with non-users and help coworkers and external stakeholders stay up-to-date on projects and processes.
  • Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface and templates make it easy to set up, customize and access multiple views, according to reviewers.

What Users Like

  • Customization: “We can customize it to fit various projects, whether we’re tracking client cases, managing document revisions, or planning team tasks. For instance, I created a project tracker for a major client contract negotiation. The ability to set deadlines, assign tasks, and update statuses in real time has streamlined our communication and kept everyone on the same page.” - Russ Johnson, Founder of Linx Legal
  • Collaboration: “We had this one job in a high-rise condo that put Smartsheet to the test. The sliding door system was an older model with custom-sized panels that aren’t easy to source, and it needed specific adjustments due to the unique structure of the frame. Typically, coordinating the right parts, tools, and technician experience for something like this would require several phone calls and a lot of back-and-forth. With Smartsheet, we were able to set up the job details to track not only the special parts needed but also assign a technician who was experienced with that model. When the parts came in, the technician was notified directly through Smartsheet, so he knew the moment everything was ready. It saved us from potential delays and kept the customer fully updated on when the work could be done.” - Gal Cohen, Business Development Leader and Field Area Manager JDM Sliding Doors
  • System Integration: Limited integrations and complex configurations were an issue for reviewers.
  • Premium Add-Ons: Reviewers noted that advanced features come with a price tag that can be prohibitive for some businesses.
  • Slow Loading Time: Users reported it takes time to display screens export formats occasionally.

What Users Dislike

  • Integration: “Despite its many benefits, integrating Smartsheet with other systems posed some challenges. Initially, we experienced issues with data syncing between Smartsheet and our CRM software, leading to discrepancies in our financial reporting. Recognizing this, I allocated specific time for thorough testing before our full implementation, allowing us to identify and resolve any integration issues early on.” - Austin Rulfs, Founder of Zanda Wealth Mortgage Brokers
  • Learning Curve: “While Smartsheet is powerful, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. I found that investing time in training sessions helped bridge that gap, making it easier for everyone to adapt and use the tool effectively.” - Russ Johnson, Founder of Linx Legal

Key Features

  • Dashboards and Reports: Customize your dashboard by adding widgets like reports, project-specific charts, shortcuts, images and text. Consolidate data from multiple sheets into a summary view using system reports. Track sheet changes using bi-directional functionality. Send reports via collaborative tools and change statuses to recur.
  • Multiple Views: View your tasks using the grid view, akin to a spreadsheet, a Gantt view as an add-on to your grid view, a Kanban board where you can drag and drop tasks and group them by assignee or status, a timeline view, a card view with customizable lanes and a calendar view that displays your tasks across its duration or by start dates only.
  • Task Management: Add your tasks and subtasks into each cell and use the indent and outdent buttons to divide tasks into groups that can be minimized to provide a project overview. Create or modify custom fields with your own text, dropdown lists and symbols to show status, assignees, priority, dates and latest comment. Attach files and proofs, write comments and mention users and set reminders for tasks.
  • Automations and Workflows: Save time with custom processes and workflows you can build by modifying templates for reminders and alerts, document generation, row changes, sheet changes and updates, and approval requests. Build your own workflow automations from scratch by choosing your trigger, setting conditions and adding actions. Manage automations by deactivating, deleting, duplicating or unsubscribing.
  • Templates: Use pre-built templates ranging from event management to HR workflows and marketing to streamline project creation. View complexity, task management and process before you apply a template. Build and save your own templates by customizing pre-built templates or creating them from scratch.
  • Integrations: Drive productivity with integrations like Office 365, Dropbox, DocuSign and Google Workspace and use iCal or Google Calendar to track project statuses.
  • Team Collaboration: Communicate with team members by commenting and mentioning users in individual tasks, adding files for additional information and chatting via the conversations tool where everyone with access to the sheet can see your comments. Integrate with Slack or Microsoft Teams to receive updates about your sheet and send messages to channels.
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project
Start Price
$10
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project remains a robust project management software, praised for its intuitive interface and comprehensive feature set. Users appreciate its Gantt charts, resource management capabilities, and integration with other Microsoft products. However, some find its advanced features overwhelming and its reporting capabilities limited compared to specialized project management tools.

Project differentiates itself with its ease of use and integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. Its intuitive interface makes it accessible to users of all skill levels, while its integration with tools like Microsoft Teams and SharePoint streamlines collaboration. These strengths make it an excellent choice for teams heavily reliant on Microsoft products.

Microsoft Project is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses and teams that prioritize ease of use and Microsoft integration. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive feature set make it a valuable tool for managing projects effectively, while its integration with other Microsoft products enhances collaboration and productivity.

Pros & Cons

  • User Friendly: The platform’s functionalities are intuitive and easy to use, as noted by approximately 80% of users who mention the system’s usability.
  • Project Scheduling: Approximately 81% of the users find its project scheduling capabilities helpful.
  • Feature-Rich: Approximately 81% of the users who mentioned features said the system provides everything required for proper project handling. It can handle complex projects, create Gantt charts, project timelines and reports.
  • Customization: Nearly 61% of users who mentioned customization said its customization options were helpful. It integrates with ClearQuest seamlessly and 67% of users find its integrations helpful.
  • Support: Support is responsive, knowledgeable and helpful, as reported by 100% of reviewers who mention support.
  • Templates: Approximately 80% of users who mentioned templates find them to be helpful as they display data in an organized manner.
  • Learning Curve: Nearly 96% of the users that mentioned accessibility think that the software has a steep learning curve.
  • Efficiency: About 72% of users that mentioned efficiency said the software improved their process optimization.
  • Collaboration: Close to 83% of the users who mention collaboration said that Project does not facilitate collaborative processes well.
  • Cost: Approximately 94% of the users who mention cost think that its price is prohibitive and that the software is very expensive for the features it offers.

Key Features

  • Resource Management: Set up teams for success by requesting resources. Heat maps help identify overworked or underused resources. Lets managers project usage, monitor progress and address issues using analytics.  
  • Portfolio Optimization: Models different scenarios using tools like analysis scatter charts. Weigh project proposals against strategic business drivers with organizational cost and resource constraints in mind. 
  • Reports: Offers a number of reports that include a dashboard, progress and cost that provide insight into project metrics. Individual reports include burndowns, project overviews, critical tasks, cash flow, earned value, late tasks and more. Create a customized report from four template types: blank, chart, table and comparison.  
  • BI Capability: Connect with business intelligence apps like Power BI Pro to gain visibility across portfolios. Supports data aggregation to gain comprehensive insights. 
  • Proposal Evaluation: Gather project ideas, use standardized processes to evaluate them and funnel project charters and business cases to management for review and approval.
OpenAir
OpenAir
Start Price
$399
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked OpenAir

OpenAir, a project management software solution, has received positive feedback from users for its ability to streamline project management processes. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface, flexibility, and comprehensive features that enhance efficiency and organization. The software's task management, resource management, collaboration tools, and reporting capabilities have significantly improved project outcomes for many businesses.

Compared to similar products, OpenAir stands out due to its ease of use and adaptability to various project types and sizes. Users have highlighted its intuitive design, which allows for quick adoption and minimal training time. Additionally, OpenAir's flexibility enables businesses to customize workflows, dashboards, and reports to align with their specific needs. This adaptability is crucial for organizations with diverse project requirements and evolving processes.

OpenAir is well-suited for businesses of all sizes seeking to enhance their project management practices. Its scalability and comprehensive features make it an ideal choice for small teams, large enterprises, and everything in between. The software's ability to centralize project information, facilitate collaboration, and provide real-time insights empowers teams to make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and deliver projects on time and within budget.

Pros & Cons

  • User Friendly: The system is easy to use and intuitive, as noted by approximately 86% of users who mention the system’s usability.
  • Time Tracking and Expense Reports: Approximately 90% of the users reviewed think this feature increases their productivity and effectiveness.
  • Customization: Nearly 75% of the users reviewed find this feature to be quite robust.
  • Reporting: About 57% of the users reviewed find its reporting capabilities to be helpful and informative.
  • Support: Nearly 67% of the users reviewed think the support offered by OpenAir is helpful.
  • Cost: Nearly 100% of users who mentioned cost reported that OpenAir’s offerings were too expensive for smaller businesses or prohibitive.
  • Implementation: The physical implementation process misses the mark, and can be difficult according to 70% of reviewers who mention implementation.
  • Intuitive Interface: Nearly 65% of the users reviewed think that the interface is not intuitive and that administrative tools are limited.
  • Bugs: Approximately 100% of users that mentioned bugs or slowdowns think that the system is clunky and disrupts work.
  • Integration: Nearly 60% of the users who mention integration think that integration between OpenAir and NetSuite is not seamless. Also, Microsoft Projects importing is not smooth.

Key Features

  • Time Tracking: Customizes timesheet approvals by client and project, supports multi-level and project-based approvals and lets users track leave and vacation time. View who is in or out of the office to schedule meetings and appointments. Add notes and descriptions to each input, and sort time by billable and non-billable hours.  
  • Project Management: Users can view the complete status of a project to keep tasks on-track and reduce the potential for errors or incomplete deliverables. Develop “what if” project planning scenarios to adjust margins, billing rates, pricing and staffing. Also supports Gantt charts, project status summaries and exceptions reports.  
  • Reporting/Dashboard: Dashboards reflect KPIs on initial login. Present profit margins, resource utilization and projected vs. actual budgets as graphs to make development of actionable insights faster and easier. Build reports using drag-and-drop tools. 
  • Resource Management: View labor resource allocation and deploy staff members to different projects based on experience, skills, availability and more. using the resource management tool. Deploy labor resources from across the globe, attribute work back to the correct project teams and bill labor resources in the appropriate currency.  
  • Expense Tracking: Integrates with workflows like project accounting and invoicing to expedite the expense management cycle, including expense submission, approval and reporting. Expenses are tied directly to projects, eliminating confusion regarding where an expense came from and who should be billed.  
  • Invoicing: Supports multi-currency and multi-taxation requirements such as PST, VAT and GST. Manages finances from the time a bid is prepared to the time an internal charge-back is issued. Project profitability is tracked on a case-by-case basis due to the complexity of measuring ROI for diverse projects. Revenue recognition is conducted separately from project billing. 
Trello
Trello
Start Price
$5
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Trello

Trello includes robust workflow management and organizational capabilities for users to efficiently manage a project lifecycle. Its intuitive UI and clean dashboards simplify task delegation and monitoring, along with streamlining workflows. Its collaborative tools foster team communication and information sharing, while flexible integration capabilities help complete workflows. However, it lacks enterprise-grade project management abilities and is not suitable to handle large projects that require bulk movements. Additionally, the system provides limited features in its basic plan, and its mobile application lacks several functionalities offered by the desktop version.

Pros & Cons

  • Functionality: Trello offers robust organizational tools that simplify task delegation and streamline workflows, as reported by nearly 88% of the users who mention the product’s functionality.
  • Easy to Use: The system is intuitive, user friendly and doesn’t require a steep learning curve to understand its features, as noted by approximately 82% of users who referred to its usability.
  • Collaborative: Approximately 79% of users who talked about collaboration noted that project collaborations are a breeze with Trello as it shares information with team members and clients in an organized manner while adding specific members to project cards.
  • Customizable: The system is highly customizable with numerous display choices and features to adapt to users’ requirements, as reported by nearly 74% of reviewers who referred to customization.
  • Scalability: Nearly 75% of reviewers who mention scalability note that it is cumbersome to scale the system to a company’s growing needs and cannot manage complex projects.
  • Cost: Trello offers limited functional and storage capabilities in its basic version, and advanced version requires per-user licensing, making it expensive for large teams, reported nearly 83% of users who mentioned cost.
  • Mobile Application: The system doesn’t perform well on mobile platforms, and its mobile application cannot perform all the functions of the desktop version, as reported by nearly 71% of users who mentioned mobile accessibility.
  • Installation: Trello is challenging to install and can overwhelm new users with its host of features, as reported by nearly 69% of users who talked about product set-up.

Key Features

  • Boards: Create multiple boards for different projects, workflows or other needs. Keep all related information organized in a single location. 
  • Cards: Build processes, follow progress and manage all aspects of a project. Foster collaboration and organization within teams. 
  • Task Management: Represent tasks on each card and move them through the workflow. Set up and manage task dependencies by creating checklists and linking associated cards to one another. 
  • Templates: Create real-world boards from the inspiration section for teams. Use pre-built or custom templates to create boards, lists or cards. 
  • Power-Ups: Integrate it with apps like Slack, Zapier, Google Drive, MailChimp, Salesforce, Dropbox, SurveyMonkey and Zendesk to complete workflows. Choose from over 130 modules for file management, reporting, automation and developer tools.
  • Mobile Apps: Access it through iOS and Android devices, including smartphones, iPads, smart watches and Kindle fire tablets. 
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects
Start Price
$4
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
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Platform
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Why We Picked Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects offers comprehensive solutions for its customers to tackle multiple business needs with ease. Users have full control of their projects as they can manage every stage of project progress, allocate resources, manage tasks, record timesheets and automate workflow processes for standardization. It offers an extensive knowledge base and fosters team collaboration for efficient project completion. However, its UI is clunky and difficult to use, it requires a steep learning curve to make optimal use of its full capabilities, comes with limited features in its basic version and offers sluggish customer support.

Pros & Cons

  • Functionality: Zoho Projects offers robust tools to manage multiple business needs, including project management, resource allocation, efficient collaboration and timesheets, as reported by approximately 90% of the users who mention the product’s functionality.
  • Flexible: The system is highly flexible and can be configured for different purposes like marketing and other business requirements, noted nearly 85% of customers who talked about its flexibility.
  • Integrations: Approximately 75% of the reviewers who mentioned integrations observed that the solution offers multiple APIs and seamless integration with other Zoho suite products and popular external modules for project planning and implementation.
  • Centralized Communication: The system centralizes all project communication between teams, which makes it easy to search and fix issues, noted nearly 72% of the users who talked about its communication capabilities.
  • Not Intuitive: The system is not user-friendly with a clunky and unintuitive UI compared to its competitors, reported 88% of reviewers who mentioned the system’s usability.
  • Cost: Nearly 92% of the users who mentioned cost remarked that Zoho Projects is expensive for small teams looking for more features on a limited budget, doesn’t offer options to customize functionality and its package price is a costly investment for bigger teams with more users.
  • Data and Reporting: Data generated by the system is difficult to comprehend, and it doesn’t allow report customization using different fields and visuals, observed by about 86% of customers who mentioned reporting.
  • Support: Customer support is slow and doesn’t offer enough support documentation or tutorial videos to exploit the system’s capabilities fully, noted 80% of reviewers who talked about support.

Key Features

  • Task Management: Control important task details, add important information such as priority or duration with tasks and subtasks. Link tasks to create dependencies. Highlight each project phase with milestones. Organize tasks using drag-and-drop Kanban boards and custom layouts. 
  • Social Project Management: Communicate and collaborate for effective project management. Create public or private chat rooms, pages for team knowledge base and forums to engage in discussion. Centralize project updates with feeds. Create new posts while adding comments to existing posts. 
  • Charts and Reports: View project details and metrics using a variety of charts. Get a high-level view of project tasks and dependencies through Gantt charts while resource utilization charts break down each team member’s workload by day. Gain insights into project performance across a wide range of KPIs with over 50 out-of-the-box reports and dashboards. 
  • Time Tracking: Let employees log their hours on a timesheet automatically or manually while allowing managers to view reports based on personnel, time or project. Transform a timesheet to an invoice with a few simple steps. Compare the expected task duration with the actual time spent on a task. Track each member’s availability, issues and milestones using calendar views. 
  • Issue Tracking: Report issues with all the relevant details and assign them for attention. Importing issues in bulk keeps them all in one place, and you can then export them as an XLS or CSV file. Track all issues according to criteria using filtered views. View committed changes with all changeset details included. 

COMPARE THE BEST Project Planning Software

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Project Planning Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
Wrike
$9.80
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Wrike
Asana
$10.99
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Asana
Jira
$10
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Jira
monday.com
$9
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
monday.com
Smartsheet
$9
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Smartsheet
Microsoft Project
$10
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Microsoft Project
OpenAir
$399
Per User, Monthly
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
OpenAir
Trello
$5
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Trello
Zoho Projects
$4
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Zoho Projects
Mavenlink
$45
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Mavenlink

All Project Planning Software (60 found)

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Freedcamp

by Freedcamp
Freedcamp
Freedcamp is a web-based solution that enables companies to oversee and execute projects. Its free version caters to businesses and individuals who require basic functionality and includes core features such as time tracking, task management, collaboration and a calendar. Users with more robust needs can choose one of the paid plans to receive extra capabilities like reports and templates.Enterprise features include daily backups, two-factor authentication, the option to host on a private cloud and single sign-on (SSO) using SAML. All plans provide users with on-the-go access via mobile apps for iOS and Android.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
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Deployment
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Platform
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MeisterTask

by MeisterLabs
MeisterTask
MeisterTask is a cloud-hosted task management solution that allows businesses to collaborate with team members, create project dashboards and work together in real time. Users can personalize project sections via customizable dashboards while getting an overview of all notifications and projects. Managers can create project plans while collaborating with teammates using an online mind-mapping module. Its section actions capability delegates tasks, modifies task status and moves tasks to various channels. It fosters real-time communication while sending instant task completion notifications.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
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Paymo

by Paymo
Paymo
Paymo is an online work management solution that supports resource scheduling, team collaboration, project accounting and time tracking. Managers can create projects, assign tasks to multiple employees, save templates for future use and monitor project progress using different task views like tables, lists, boards and Gantt charts. Monitor team productivity with its built-in time tracker and accurate timesheets. Organizations can share data as time reports with clients for transparency. Its project accounting capability helps generate automated client invoices, tracks expenses and converts proposals into projects while keeping a check on financials and payments.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
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Deployment
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Platform
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TeamGantt

by TeamGantt
TeamGantt
TeamGantt is an online task management solution that offers collaborative modules like time tracking, Gantt charts, file sharing and project communication. Businesses can view tasks assigned while tracking team project progress. Employees can comment on tasks while attaching documents to them. It helps filter tasks by assignees and due dates while converting Gantt charts to PDFs. Users can view and edit projects on Gantt charts while tracking project progress with task dependencies.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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BigTime

by BigTime Software
BigTime
BigTime is a cloud-based professional services management software suite built to manage projects, billing and tracking. It is designed for accounting firms, government contracting, advertising agencies, legal, construction companies, engineering, government contracting and IT services. It provides functions teams need to deliver billable work within budget and on time. It gives users a 360-degree view of employee schedules, clients and engagements, and helps them track, bill and budget their time. It is suitable for companies of all sizes and supports invoicing, expense tracking, DCAA compliance and workflows. It also supports iOS and Android devices for on-the-go entries. BigTime offers comprehensive project management modules that lets managers track statuses, define activities and tasks and assign tasks. Core features offered include time tracking, mobile timesheet application, task and engagement tracking, advanced reporting, built-in billing and invoicing tool, expense tracking, costing, budgeting, workflow management capabilities and seamless integration with QuickBooks and Lacerte Tax.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Platform
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Bugzilla

by Bugzilla.org
Bugzilla
Bugzilla is a web-based bug tracking system that helps software development teams manage and track software defects. It's a great fit for organizations of all sizes that need to streamline their bug tracking process. Bugzilla's ease of use, scalability, and flexibility make it a popular choice among developers. Its robust features, such as advanced search capabilities, email notifications, and customizable workflows, contribute to its effectiveness in improving software quality. Bugzilla is free and open-source software, making it a cost-effective solution compared to some commercial bug tracking tools that may require licensing fees. User experiences with Bugzilla vary, with some users finding it highly effective for their needs and others preferring alternative solutions with different features or interfaces. Consider exploring different options to determine the best fit for your specific project management requirements.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
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Platform
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ProofHub

by ProofHub
ProofHub
ProofHub is a cloud-based solution that helps manage, collaborate and discuss work with clients and team members at a central location. It helps managers prepare notes and to-do lists, discuss plans and lay down daily tasks, calendar milestones and Gantt charts. Project requirements and deadlines can be drilled down for team members by sharing files, notes, timesheets and schedules. Its reporting engine generates customized reports for managers to monitor project progress and resource utilization. Its proofing tool eliminates shuffling back and forth between files and emails by allowing stakeholders to discuss and finalize documents in a single window. Its centralized workspace streamlines review processes and allows content collaborations. It includes modules for time tracking and resource planning.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Zenkit

by Zenkit
Zenkit
Zenkit is a collaborative project management software offered on a subscription basis. The end-to-end structure organizes data with tools for brainstorming, execution, communication and follow ups. Built on the use of tasks, data fields and real-time collaboration, establish clear communication through the creation of projects.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
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Assembla

by Scaleworks
Assembla
Assembla is an extensive suite of applications for software development, enabling distributed agile teams. It allows development teams to manage, initiate and maintain agile projects, applications and websites. It offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. The suite offers Assembla Workspaces and Assembla Portfolios. Assembla Workplaces is designed to provide a range of modules, including problem management and ticketing, code repository administration and collaborations. Assembla Portfolio, on the other hand, includes support for managing team jobs and multiple projects. The console also provides a unified user management console, a branded portal and multiple reporting modules.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
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Deployment
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Platform
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FunctionFox

by FunctionFox Systems Inc.
FunctionFox
FunctionFox is a cloud-based resource management solution that tracks projects, project time and expenses. It helps creative firms transition to a paperless ecosystem and replace cumbersome spreadsheets with efficient inclusions that monitor projects and time. It also offers task assignment, timesheets, scheduling and reporting. It supports timesheets and the billing requirements of creative teams, including graphic design, advertising, marketing, multimedia and public relations. It helps organizations take charge of their project lifecycles, understand their workflows in detail and increase their billing hours. It supports unlimited projects and clients and can be customized according to an organization’s workflow. Users can monitor project estimates, costs, expenses, budgets and quotes. It sends automatic email alerts and can generate reports on expenses, personnel, clients and more. It also includes a stopwatch to track billable and non-billable hours. It also offers a mobile application for iOS and Android devices.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Celoxis

by Celoxis Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Celoxis
Celoxis is an online solution that manages diverse and complex project portfolios. It helps users manage resources, budgeting, revenue forecasts, time-tracking, expense management, team collaboration and reporting. It can be implemented on-premise or as a cloud-based service. It is customizable and integrates seamlessly with third-party modules like Excel and Outlook. It is also bundled with a notification center that helps users view all notifications in one location.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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LiquidPlanner

by LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner is a cloud-based solution that lets teams monitor and collaborate while managing resources, projects and portfolios. It uses a distinct scheduling methodology that focuses on prioritizing tasks. It provides a simple drag-and-drop interface, social communication tools and integrations to support project workflows of all sizes. It matches the needs of SMEs and large enterprises in industries like IT, professional services, marketing teams, development management and more. It provides a 14-day free trial and a professional plan priced per user per month. It also offers an enterprise plan, which is ideal for large organizations.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
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Platform
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Axosoft

by Axosoft
Axosoft
Axosoft (previously OnTime Scrum) is Scrum software designed to help Agile teams get through each sprint on time and track bugs along the way. Built for software developers, Axosoft boasts an offering of tools that support Agile processes so dev teams can work more productively. Companies can deploy on-premise or in the cloud.Accounts for non-profits and academics are available. Axosoft also offers free accounts (with some restrictions) for students who need an Agile project management program to complete coursework.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
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Platform
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Targetprocess

by Targetprocess
Targetprocess
Targetprocess is an online visual solution that helps users scale with agility across the enterprise. Organizations can customize their structure and management processes and connect products, portfolios and teams. Its robust inclusions provide data visualization at every level of a company. Organizations can flag projects using visual encoding and automatically prioritize incoming work. Businesses can adopt agile methods and visualize value flows with LeSS, SAFe, Scrum of Scrums and other frameworks. Its timeline mode lets users set milestones and track progress.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
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Deployment
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Mosaic App

by Mosaic
Mosaic App
Mosaic is a web-based resource management software that automates project management and teamwork. Create a single custom hub to simplify budgeting, billing, hiring, workload management and profit plans. Use AI to make suggestions and forecast productivity.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
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GrowthZone

by MicroNet, Inc.
GrowthZone
GrowthZone (formerly known as MemberZone) is an association management software that has marketing automation and prospecting built in for greater functionality. It also has productivity modules to help users with day-to-day tasks.It assists businesses with growth in a risk-free manner and drives efficiency by eliminating unnecessary processes. It also facilitates the elimination of duplicate data, report accuracy, dashboard customization, and real-time communication and updates.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
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Platform
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Moovila

by Moovila Inc.
Moovila
Moovila is an AI-supported work management solution that identifies, rectifies and monitors project risks. It monitors multiple risk factors associated with a project, including hidden resource interdependencies in real time. Companies can use resulting and scoring visualizations to conduct critical operations with predictability, accuracy and consistency. Its real-life capacity management and AI, IoT and machine learning integration helps companies adhere to project costs and timelines. Organizations improve operational efficiency through accurate timeline forecasts, in-depth training and user adoption.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
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Platform
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KeyedIn

by KeyedIn Solutions
KeyedIn
KeyedIn Projects is an enterprise-level solution that offers a suite of features including program management and professional services automation. It combines powerful resources management with a simple interface to overcome any capacity management challenges. It tracks multiple complex projects simultaneously and helps businesses take charge of the entire project lifecycle — from ideation to delivery. It lets managers prioritize projects based on company resources, project planning and more. It facilitates easy communication exchange between managers and team members to make smart decisions on resource and time allocation. It assesses the distribution of resources and assets and alerts managers if a modification in one project can affect others. Its project hierarchies offer a peek into all ongoing projects and ensures they meet their deadlines. It automates prioritization, supports what-if scenario planning, sends push notifications and offers REST API to integrate with third-party additions. It can be deployed on-premise or hosted on the cloud.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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NetPoint

by PMA Technologies
NetPoint
NetPoint is a rising platform that ranks 58 among all Project Scheduling Software according to our research analysts and 54 crowd-sourced reviews from 2 sources. Starting from $500, NetPoint is priced at a premium, commonly offers a free trial and is most advisable for businesses on the small or medium side. NetPoint can be deployed online and on-premise and is accessible from a few platforms including Windows and Linux devices. Similar alternatives to NetPoint include KeyedIn, TeamWave and Moovila.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Optessa

by Optessa
Optessa
Optessa offers advanced software solutions designed to optimize manufacturing processes. This software excels in managing complex tasks such as production scheduling, inventory management, and supply chain optimization. It is particularly well-suited for industries like automotive, electronics, and consumer goods manufacturing, where efficiency and precision are paramount. One of the standout benefits of Optessa is its ability to provide real-time data analytics, enabling manufacturers to make informed decisions quickly. The software's powerful algorithms ensure optimal resource allocation, reducing waste and improving overall productivity. Users often praise its intuitive interface and robust customization options, which allow for seamless integration into existing workflows. Compared to similar products, Optessa is noted for its high level of accuracy and reliability. While specific pricing details are not readily available, potential users are encouraged to contact SelectHub for a tailored pricing quote based on their unique requirements.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
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Deployment
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Buyer's Guide

Project Planning Software Is All About Mapping Activities and Critical Paths

By Pragya Singh, Technical Writer and Market Analyst at SelectHub

Project Planning Software BG Intro

Delivering projects within deadlines and under budget is never easy. Project management solutions with a focus on planning make life easier by defining objectives and prioritizing deliverables.

Looking for a way to streamline your initiative plans? Project planning software might be right for you. This buyer’s guide will cover what project planning software is, its benefits and how to pick the best solution.

Executive Summary

  • Project planning software visualizes initiative completion activities and interdependencies.
  • It fosters inter-departmental communication while assessing project risks.
  • Be sure to ask potential vendors any questions you have about the software before committing to a purchase.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Project Planning Software?

Project planning software is a platform that helps businesses visualize critical paths, task durations and interdependencies to complete initiatives. It plans and schedules tasks, identifies goals and prioritizes deliverables for timely delivery.

Effective planning software:

  • Addresses project completion within timeframes, with designated resources and defined stages.
  • It defines measurable objectives, task schedules and deliverable identification.
  • It manages risks and fosters team communication methods.
  • Uses Gantt and PERT charts for IT projects.

Primary Benefits

Implementing project planning software can benefit your business in the following ways.

Project Planning Software Benefits

Project Planning Software Categories

Improve Planning and Scheduling

Successful project execution requires efficient planning and scheduling. Planning solutions offer precise AI predictions like project cost, schedule, scope and time to improve initiative plans.

Managers get insights on key deliverables, milestones and individual roles for initiative execution. They measure project performance against baseline while continuously updating plans.

Mitigate Risks

It’s vital to detect, analyze and respond to risks to keep projects on track. Project planning solutions detect bottlenecks while implementing effective countermeasures.

They assign necessary resources to mitigate risks while boosting team responsiveness.

Boost Collaboration

Planning applications establish communication channels to boost internal and external collaboration. Teams can share reports, dashboards and other documents in real time while updating everyone.

They maintain project logs to simplify visualizing initiatives while inducting new employees.

Key Features & Functionality

Resource Management

These systems configure resource management strategies for successful project delivery. They prioritize tasks, track deadlines and streamline operations.

They offer capabilities like heatmaps to track individual workloads to avoid burnout.
Reporting and Dashboards

They monitor project statuses for successful task execution. They generate insightful reports while dashboards provide a single source of truth for managers.
File-sharing

Planning solutions support secure file storing and sharing capabilities to maintain organizational confidentiality.

Users can make changes, annotate and leave feedback while exchanging documents.
Budget Management

Planning software tracks project expenses to control budgets and curb unnecessary spend. Managers can apply modifications to prevent costs from spiraling.

Businesses can automate invoicing processes by integrating with third-party payroll solutions.
Integrations

These applications integrate with popular PPM, project management, workforce management, project scheduling, resource management, payroll, POS, and time and attendance modules.

Software Comparison Strategy

While many project planning solutions offer similar capabilities, it can be overwhelming to decide on the best fit. Check out our Lean Selection Methodology to simplify your search.

Start by considering your organizational requirements. How many employees will use it, and will they adapt easily or require training?

It’s also critical to assess where your current project planning processes suffer and how planning software could fill the gaps. It’s also important to research your vendor.

You can check online reviews, read industry guides and ask colleagues for recommendations. Some vendors may even offer a free trial so you can see how your employees do with the program before committing.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Cost is vital when looking for a suitable project planning solution. Most products offer monthly subscription plans depending on user numbers.

Focus on applications that are user-friendly with mobility access to streamline planning and scheduling. Premium packages provide added features like unlimited users, priority support and increased storage at extra cost.

The Most Popular Project Planning Software

Jumpstart your software search with our research team’s list of the most popular project planning software.

ClickUp

ClickUp is an end-to-end work management solution that creates to-do lists and manages cross-functional projects. It fosters team communication by seamlessly integrating with third-party collaboration modules while offering a suite of native applications that promote transparency.

Businesses can split large initiatives into digestible tasks and manage projects using boards, lists and calendar views.

ClickUp

ClickUp’s everything view provides task overviews from all spaces and views. Source

Wrike

Wrike is an online project management solution that efficiently plans and manages resources while offering flexibility and visibility to balance variable workloads.

It optimizes team performance and effectively manages operating costs. It keeps teams humming along optimally by capacity utilization and avoiding burnout.

Wrike

Wrike’s planning and scheduling modules help teams perform at optimal levels. Source

Teamwork

Teamwork is a cloud-hosted solution that plans, schedules and tracks tasks at granular levels. It configures customized workflows and offers enhanced control over planning, scheduling and tracking tasks.

Managers get overviews of project timelines, schedules, milestones and time spent on jobs.

Teamwork

Teamwork’s Gantt chart view tracks and schedules projects while detailing interdependencies. Source

 

 

Questions To Ask

Use these questions to prompt internal dialogue about project planning workflows:

  • What’s my budget?
  • How many employees will use the system?
  • Will my employees need training to use it?
  • What are my key pain points?
  • What features will address those pain points?

Project Planning Software Key Questions To Ask

Here are a few questions to ask potential vendors to help you learn more about their software and services:

  • What support and training plans do you offer?
  • Is the system customizable?
  • Is it compatible with my existing applications?
  • How can your software’s capabilities benefit companies in my industry?
  • How does your technical support team handle help requests?

Next Steps

Project planning software can efficiently plan and schedule projects for successful execution. It offers valuable insight into resource allocation and management and tracks real-time project performance.

Still feeling overwhelmed in your product search? Grab our free comparison report to find out how popular systems stack up against your key requirements.

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About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Kriti
By Kriti Sahay
Technical Content Writer
Kriti Sahay is a Technical Content Writer at SelectHub, writing content for Help Desk and Call Center Software. Kriti is based out of New Delhi, India. When she's not handling Buyer's Guides and other informational articles, she can be found experimenting in her kitchen, street shopping, or painting!
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Joan
Technical Research By Joan Akash
Senior Analyst
Joan Akash, a Senior Research Analyst at SelectHub, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management with a specialization in Marketing. Her expertise as a researcher and reviewer spans diverse software categories, including Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, Live Chat, and Help Desk. Beyond her professional pursuits, Joan is spiritually driven, with a passion for teaching children and a penchant for reading biblical blogs and crafting poetry.
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Manan
Technical Review By Manan Roy
Principal Analyst
Manan is a native of Tezpur, Assam (India), who currently lives in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). At SelectHub, he works on categories like CRM, HR, PPM, BI, and EHR. He has a Bachelor of Technology in CSE from The Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Master of Technology from The Institute of Engineering and Management IT, and an MBA in Finance from St. Xavier's College. He's published two research papers, one in a conference and the other in a journal, during his Master of Technology.
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Dianna
Edited By Dianna Dragonetti
Content Editor
As an editor, Dianna Dragonetti leads a team of five writers in writing about a variety of software, with an emphasis on how these tools empower businesses. Categories include accounting, learning management systems, content management systems, supply chain management, and electronic data interchange.
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