Asana vs Paymo

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Our analysts compared Asana vs Paymo based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Project Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Asana Software Tool

Product Basics

Asana is a cloud-based project management platform designed to help teams of all sizes manage and organize projects with customization, automation, AI and collaboration. Users can build custom workflows, templates and tasks, and visualize projects in multiple ways, including list, timeline, calendar, Kanban and Gantt views.

You can also build and trigger automation rules when tasks are moved or status or priority is changed. Stay aligned with goals, locate risks and hit project deadlines with reports and collaboration tools. Connect with other solutions using its open API and native integration with dozens of apps.

Our Research Process for Asana

Taking software at face value for a product page review is so passe. Luckily, with a little help from my company’s email address, I got a free trial of Asana’s Advanced plan for 30 days.

I set up a dummy project for content creation, complete with the stages and automations we currently use, so I’d have a more apples-to-apples comparison of a real-world project.

Additionally, I tested some “standout” features our researchers suggested and investigated the pros and cons users mentioned on review sites.

To learn the ropes, I visited the help center, watched demo videos and scoured Reddit for shortcuts. This webpage is the result of a week of dedicating all my working hours to living and breathing Asana.

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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.
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$10.99/User, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
$5.90/User, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
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Android
Chromebook
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Android
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Cloud
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Mobile
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Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Use Asana AI: Leverage AI in your project management strategy by using AI studio to draft workflows and create custom charts. Summarize your project and tasks using AI and use draft with AI to view next steps and actions. I drafted a project update by clicking on the Set Status tab and selecting “Draft update with AI.” After setting a status and date range, I also added an extra custom heading. The final product was comprehensive and easy to edit, which is great if you find staring at a blank page can be a stumbling block.
  • Create Tasks via Email: Make it easy to create tasks on the go by sending an email to your project email with all the details you need. I found the email associated with that project by clicking on the project dropdown and selecting import and then email. After that, I copied the email address and pasted it and added my email so I’d be the assignee, filled out the subject as the task name, added an additional description in the body and sent it. Like magic, the task showed up with all the details I wanted – 10/10, would recommend.
  • Set Up and Implement Custom Templates: Save time by creating your own custom cards and projects and converting them to templates or choosing from the built-in project templates. Click on the Customize button to add task templates and custom fields. I added a new article template with a relative start date, dependency and custom field for the editor and team.
  • Collaborate with External Users: Stay in sync with clients and suppliers by creating guest accounts and inviting them to access specific tasks and projects. I could invite users with a different email domain name and set access permissions like admin, editor, commentator or viewer in the invite.
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  • Manage Projects Efficiently: Divide complex projects into smaller tasks, create task lists, delegate tasks and set milestones. Achieve business goals using ready-to-use templates, task lists, milestone alerts and other measured steps. 
  • Streamline Workflows: Use Kanban boards to improve visibility and streamline workflows. Use pre-built project templates to avoid hassles and save time. Get visibility into project progress through flexible task views. Use Gantt charts to plan and schedule every detail of a project. 
  • Productivity Insights: Monitor employee time and leaves using extensive time-tracking tools. Get detailed team productivity insights through timesheets. Manage workloads and schedule tasks equally to avoid individual employee burnout. 
  • API and Integrations: Use APIs to connect with any open system or integrate using Zapier. Automate workflows by integrating with multiple third-party modules like Slack, GSuite, QuickBooks, Xero and more. 
  • Collaboration: Communicate, plan and manage work from a single place. Prioritize work using a visual burndown, set task dependencies using Gantt charts and view team workload on a resource calendar. Chat with teams in real-time on project updates and notify relevant people. Consolidate client agreements and price quotes in one place while updating email and in-app notifications. 
  • Actionable Insights: Get actionable insights to improve accountability within teams. Monitor task and employee work progress using Gantt charts. Reporting tools provide data on total work time, estimates, invoices and expenses. 
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  • 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.
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  • Task Management: Use the Kanban module to organize activities, tasks, task lists, milestones and due dates. See full task views with details by switching to an advanced task view. Track, schedule and modify activities in real time using Gantt charts. Leave comments on tasks while discussing project updates with co-workers. 
  • Time Tracking: Monitor employee hours while in the office or on-the-go using desktop and mobile apps. Add, edit and view timesheet entries with few clicks. Use s stopwatch to record time spent on projects or browsers. 
  • Timesheet Reporting: Measure time spent on each task and project. Keep clients updated via static and live reports. Personalize reports by choosing from over 20 parameters. Display reports as bar charts or pie charts apart from the text version. 
  • Team Scheduling: Use a visual timeline to find underbooked employees and those available for work. Switch views to display all team and project bookings on a single screen. Convert ghost bookings that show up into real bookings. Save time and money using the built-in leave management tool. 
  • Invoicing: Send estimates prepared according to project plans for client approval. Create invoices manually in different languages or convert timesheets into invoices. Track project expenses and add them to invoices. Create invoices and receive payments using the payment gateway. 
  • Leave Management:  Set public holidays for the entire company in a few clicks. Get an overview of the total and remaining paid and unpaid leaves using the leave widget. Avoid team conflicts by signaling out-of-office time in advance in the team scheduler. Let employees apply for different types of leaves. 
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Product Ranking

#2

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Project Management Software

#57

among all
Project Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Customizations Dashboards And Reporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Features Project Planning And Scheduling Project Tracking Task Management Team Collaboration Time Tracking And Management 84 77 69 93 82 58 95 97 50 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 27379 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 1093 reviews
89%
of users recommend this product

Asana has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 27379 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

93%
of users recommend this product

Paymo has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 1093 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (15)
5.0 (16)
4.4 (10490)
4.6 (585)
4.5 (13154)
4.7 (477)
4.3 (1084)
n/a
4.2 (2636)
4.4 (15)

Awards

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Paymo stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

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.
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Time Management: Paymo provides tools for tracking time spent on tasks and projects, which can be helpful for individuals and teams to manage their time effectively and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
Project Planning: Paymo offers features for planning and managing projects, such as creating project plans, assigning tasks, and setting deadlines. This can help teams stay organized and on track.
Team Collaboration: Paymo includes features that facilitate team collaboration, such as the ability to share files, communicate with team members, and track project progress. This can help teams work together more effectively and efficiently.
Client Management: Paymo provides tools for managing client relationships, such as creating invoices, tracking payments, and communicating with clients. This can help businesses streamline their client management processes.
Reporting: Paymo offers reporting features that allow users to track project progress, team performance, and other key metrics. This information can be used to make informed decisions about project management and resource allocation.
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>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.
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Limited Free Plan: The free plan only allows for one user, making it unsuitable for even small teams.
No Dependencies: Users cannot establish task dependencies, which is a crucial feature for project planning and execution.
Mobile App Shortcomings: The mobile app lacks essential features, such as the ability to log time or expenses, limiting its usefulness for teams on the go.
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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.

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Paymo is a project management software that helps teams stay organized and on track. It offers a variety of features, including task management, project planning, resource management, and collaboration tools. Paymo has been praised by users for its ease of use, flexibility, and affordability. It is also highly customizable, so teams can tailor it to their specific needs. Paymo's time tracking feature is particularly well-regarded, as it allows users to easily track the time they spend on different tasks and projects. This information can then be used to generate invoices, track productivity, and make better decisions about how to allocate resources. However, some users have complained that Paymo can be difficult to learn, and that it lacks some of the features offered by more expensive project management software, such as advanced reporting and analytics. Additionally, some users have reported experiencing glitches with the sign-up process. Overall, Paymo is a solid choice for small and medium-sized businesses that are looking for a project management software that is easy to use and affordable. It is particularly well-suited for businesses that need to track time and expenses, as well as those that need to collaborate on projects with team members. However, businesses that need more advanced features may want to consider other options.

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