According to statistics, 85% of project managers juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
If you’re one of them, you know how crucial it is to find project management tools that are efficient and simple. I’ve been in the same boat, searching for that perfect balance. ⚖️
But here’s the thing: most project management software complicates things. While the “robust features” sound great, they often have a steep learning curve and unnecessary complexity. 😮💨
But not all tools are like that.
In this blog, I’ll share the 15 best project management software I’ve personally tested—tools that are simple, efficient, and packed with the right features to manage both professional and personal projects.
💡Bonus: I work extensively on ClickUp (no surprises there), and it’s the only project management tool on this list that converges all the key elements of work:
- Tasks and project management
- Docs and knowledge management
- Chat and collaboration
…all connected with AI.
Summarize this article for me please⏰ 60-Second Summary
Here are the top 15 project management software you should try:
- ClickUp: Best for all-in-one, AI-powered project management ✅
- Asana: Best for task management and team collaboration ✅
- Wrike: Best for customizable workflows and project tracking ✅
- Trello: Best for visual task organization with Kanban boards ✅
- Basecamp: Best for simple project communication and file sharing ✅
- Smartsheet: Best for project planning with a spreadsheet-style interface ✅
- Nifty: Best for managing tasks, goals, and milestones in one tool ✅
- Monday.com: Best for team collaboration and visual progress tracking ✅
- Microsoft Project: Best for advanced project scheduling and resource management ✅
- Miro: Best for brainstorming and collaborative visual planning ✅
- Jira: Best for agile project management and issue tracking ✅
- ProofHub: Best for task management with built-in proofing tools ✅
- TeamGantt: Best for Gantt charts and visual project timelines ✅
- Zoho Projects: Best for budget tracking and project automation ✅
- Airtable: Best for creating customized workflows with a flexible database system ✅
15 Best Project Management Software for Individuals
- Why Do You Need Personal Project Management Software for Individuals?
- What Should You Look for in Project Management Software for Individuals?
- The 15 Best Project Management Software for Individuals
- 1. ClickUp (Best for AI-powered project management)
- 2. Asana (Best for task management and team collaboration)
- 3. Wrike (Best for customizable workflows and project tracking)
- 4. Trello (Best for visual task organization with Kanban boards)
- 5. Basecamp (Best for simple project communication and file sharing)
- 6. Smartsheet (Best for project planning with a spreadsheet-style interface)
- 7. Nifty (Best for managing tasks, goals, and milestones in one tool)
- 8. Monday.com (Best for team collaboration and visual progress tracking)
- 9. Microsoft Project (Best for advanced project scheduling and resource management)
- 10. Miro (Best for brainstorming and collaborative visual planning)
- 11. Jira (Best for agile project management and issue tracking)
- 12. ProofHub (Best for task management with built-in proofing tools)
- 13. TeamGantt (Best for Gantt charts and visual project timelines)
- 14. Zoho Projects (Best for budget tracking and project automation)
- 15. Airtable (Best for creating customized workflows with a flexible database system)
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhy Do You Need Personal Project Management Software for Individuals?
Simplicity aside, here are some other solid reasons why I believe personal project management software can make for a worthy addition to your toolkit: ⚒️
- Organization: Personal project management apps enable you to break and organize complex projects into smaller tasks to ensure better management 😎
- Time management: Personal project management tools facilitate time management. With features like deadlines and reminders, they keep you aligned with different project schedules ⏱
- Increased productivity: They centralize all projects, tasks, resources, etc., to minimize time loss and maximize productivity 🫡
- Collaboration: If you work with a team, these tools help you collaborate with them to execute the project more effectively 🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻
💡 Pro Tip: New to the world of project management? Check out free project management templates so you don’t have to start from scratch! With the number of templates on offer, you’re sure to find something that fits your needs and that you can easily customize to your preferences.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in Project Management Software for Individuals?
When choosing the right project management software, most project managers only pay attention to the efficacy of core features like task organization, prioritization, etc. While this is essential, my approach is slightly more encompassing.
So, here are a few key features that you should assess while choosing project management software for yourself: 📋
- User-friendly interface: Choose project management software with a simple, easy-to-navigate user interface. This makes it easy to manage projects 😊
- Customization options: Look for a tool to customize important aspects like task categories, labels, views, etc. This way, you’ll be able to effortlessly manage both personal and professional projects simultaneously 😎
- Comprehensiveness: Go for project management tools with features like time tracking, collaboration, etc., to eliminate the need for switching between apps ✌🏻
- Integration capabilities: Pick a tool that easily integrates with other tools in your workflow. This will enhance your overall project management experience 🔌
- Mobile accessibility: Choose a tool that has a responsive project management mobile app to track progress—anytime, anywhere easily 📲
Read More: Here’s a list of the best project management tools available today, for projects of all sizes.
Did You Know: 37% of projects fail due to the lack of defined project objectives and milestones, according to research by PMI!
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 15 Best Project Management Software for Individuals
Finding it difficult to manage projects effectively? Check out these 15 project management software solutions:
1. ClickUp (Best for AI-powered project management)
I use ClickUp for all my work as an editor, a content marketer, and to track my personal projects. As one of the most trusted project management software tools around, it’s comprehensive, versatile, and packed with easy-to-use features.
Having migrated from tools like Jira and Asana, I was excited to try out ClickUp. Its neat, rich, and diverse features make an excellent first impression.
First things first, ClickUp has mastered the art of simplification. With ClickUp Teams for Project Management, you can track projects, assign tasks, and allocate resources without hassle.
Choose from Views like Table, Timeline, Workload, and Activity to visualize everything and make the best move.
That’s not all—ClickUp has many other advanced features that streamline project management. One of my personal favorites is its solid collaboration tools.
🚀 ClickUp Docs
ClickUp Docs is more than just a virtual document for creating notes and project plans. Think of it as a collaborative workspace where you and your team members can discuss ideas, scribble project updates, and make to-do lists—everything in real time.
Since every document you create automatically connects to your workflow, you don’t have to worry about manually managing anything—not even the tiniest change.
🚀 ClickUp Chat
Another mention-worthy feature in this regard is ClickUp Chat. It truly makes ClickUp the everything app for work by combining project management and chat in one. I love how the Chat feature on ClickUp makes it easy for teams to stay aligned on tasks.
It supports project views, follow-ups, sync-ups, and ClickUp’s native AI integration. This means you can communicate with your team members, retrieve documents, tasks, and lists, create action items with AI, and organize them from the same chatbox.
Here’s what one of the users had to say:
🚀 AI-powered project management with ClickUp Brain
ClickUp Brain is not your regular AI assistant. It is an in-platform tool that connects you with every app element. Documents? Yes. People? Absolutely. Tasks? Not a problem. With ClickUp Brain, you’re always just a prompt away from getting everything up and running.
Also, did I mention what an incredibly promising project manager this AI is? It automates repetitive tasks, shares updates, and sends reminders in just one click!
But that’s not the extent of AI. With Connected Search, you can unlock the collective knowledge residing in every List, Folder, and Doc in your workspace + your integrated apps. Use conversational language to find anything from literally anywhere.
🚀 ClickUp Project Management Template
And there’s more! ClickUp’s got an array of free, intuitive project templates that can help you set up your project in no time. For example, the ClickUp Project Management Template creates a roadmap for all your projects, highlighting every step from start to finish.
It also:
- Organizes tasks for clarity so you can navigate through your project seamlessly
- Automates workflow tracking so you get to concentrate on the important things
- Boosts team collaboration efforts so you get to assign work more efficiently
ClickUp best features
- Plan projects with ClickUp Tasks to break down complex workflows into manageable actions
- Visualize timelines using ClickUp Gantt Charts to set milestones and track progress
- Automate recurring tasks using ClickUp Automations to save time and reduce manual effort
- Track team performance through ClickUp Dashboards, consolidating real-time data and actionable insights
- Use ClickUp Integrations to incorporate GitHub, Slack, and other tools into your workflow
ClickUp limitations
- New users might face a slight learning curve
- Limited offline functionality for mobile users
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per user
- Business: $12/month per user
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $7 per member per month
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)
Though there are tons of reasons why users love ClickUp, its customizability stands out for most of them—like this one:
2. Asana (Best for task management and team collaboration)
Asana is a popular project management platform that connects teams across different departments. It contains a range of features that help with task management, resource allocation, collaboration, and other elements of project management.
I like the tool’s AI assistant in particular. It automates repetitive tasks to spare you time and effort. Additionally, Asana has a well-functioning mobile app that allows you to work from anywhere!
Asana best features
- Lets you manage tasks with nine project views, including Board, List, and Timeline
- Provides time tracking and workload management options for teams
- Offers portfolio management features to track multiple projects at once
- Integrates with other project management tools like Trello and Instagantt
Asana limitations
- Too many features, which can confuse first-time users
- Can only assign one task at a time, which can be counter-productive
Asana pricing
- Personal: Free forever
- Starter: $8.50/month per user
- Advanced: $19.21/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Enterprise+: Custom pricing
Asana ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (10,660+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (13,200+ reviews)
This user likes Asana because it simplifies their workflow, helping them onboard quicker.
3. Wrike (Best for customizable workflows and project tracking)
Next up on my list is Wrike, which helps you customize your workflow and speed up projects. This project management tool proves specifically helpful in managing personal projects.
It has some cool resource management features. I, for one, like its team load optimization capability. It provides a clear view of manageable tasks and available resources, going beyond project planning and making project execution a piece of cake.
Wrike best features
- Generates real-time reports with advanced analytics tools
- Visualizes timelines and resources using dynamic Gantt charts
- Tracks time and balances workloads with built-in planning tools
- Integrates with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, and Salesforce
Wrike limitations
- The platform offers a steep learning curve for inexperienced users
- The free plan has limited features
Wrike pricing
- Free Forever
- Team: $10/month per user
- Business: $24.80/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Pinnacle: Custom pricing
Wrike ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (3,730+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (2,720+ reviews)
🧠 Fun fact: Many project management techniques, like the Gantt chart and Critical Path Method (CPM), were initially developed for military use during World War I and II before becoming widespread in business. 🤯
4. Trello (Best for visual task organization with Kanban boards)
Trello is a versatile personal project management app. It is best for those who manage multiple projects efficiently. The tool is visually functional, with cards, lists, and boards that let you browse through things quickly.
You can assign and organize tasks, track their progress, and make timely deliveries—all on an interactive Kanban board. But that’s not all. Trello also encourages collaboration by integrating it with major communication tools like Gmail and Slack.
Trello best features
- Provides a visually intuitive Kanban-style board for task management
- Automates workflows with Butler commands and custom rules
- Offers real-time collaboration on tasks with comment features
- Integrates with multiple platforms like Google Drive, MS Teams, and Dropbox
Trello limitations
- Limited customization, which may be limiting for teams with diverse needs
- The application offers no native time-tracking feature
Trello pricing
- Free Forever
- Standard: $5/month per user
- Premium: $10/month per user
- Enterprise: $17.50/month per user
Trello ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (13,630+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (23,290+ reviews)
As I scrolled through the reviews, I noticed really positive reviews of Trello’s ease of use—like this one:
5. Basecamp (Best for simple project communication and file sharing)
Basecamp is yet another ideal software for managing personal projects. I like everything about this tool, from its features to its interface. And yes, it’s easy to work with.
Basecamp’s real-time collaboration and risk assessment features, in particular, are very impressive. The project management software also provides solid tracking systems to monitor project progress.
Basecamp best features
- Facilitates daily progress tracking with automatic check-ins and task updates
- Customizes workflows with task assignments and recurring task options
- Supports unlimited file storage and document sharing across teams
- Integrates with Google Drive, Slack, and Zapier for added functionality
Basecamp limitations
- No free plan, which can prove to be expensive for some users
- Lacks advanced task dependencies, making it unsuitable for longer project cycles
Basecamp pricing
- Per User: $15/month per user
- Pro Unlimited: $299/month
Basecamp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.1/5 (5,310+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (14,460 reviews)
Did You Know? According to the Wellingtone Project Management report, 42% of companies reported receiving most or all benefits from their project management software investment.
6. Smartsheet (Best for project planning with a spreadsheet-style interface)
If you want a project management tool that mimics a spreadsheet, Smartsheet could be the right choice. The software’s project planning feature is its main USP. With interactive dashboards and graphs, it simplifies complex projects from start to finish.
Apart from this, I like Smartsheet’s budget management features. They keep track of your expenses to help you stay within the financial premises of the project.
Smartsheet best features
- Manages multiple projects with Portfolio views for progress monitoring
- Automates workflows with custom triggers and alerts to save time
- Supports document management with version control and file attachments
- Provides detailed reporting with real-time updates and customizable dashboards
Smartsheet limitations
- The interface can be overwhelming, making it difficult to use for inexperienced users
- Higher pricing for individuals with tight budgets
Smartsheet pricing
- Pro: $9/month per member
- Business: $19/month per member
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Advanced Work Management: Custom pricing
Smartsheet ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (17,755 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (3,380+ reviews)
Smartsheet’s project management templates seem to be a hit among users like this one:
🔍 Did You Know? 55% of project managers state that many projects fail due to trivial budgeting mishaps! So, better make every cent count! 💸
7. Nifty (Best for managing tasks, goals, and milestones in one tool)
Nifty is a great workspace for small teams or solopreneurs. Whether you want to conduct group discussions or create a roadmap for your next project, this personal project management software facilitates it all.
While I like this comprehensiveness, Nifty’s intuitive design steals the show. This project management software seamlessly connects with your workflow and has over 2,000 integrations!
Nifty best features
- Automates project workflows using custom triggers and task dependencies
- Customizes dashboards for team progress tracking and project health
- Supports time tracking and budget management with integrated tools
- Integrates with various project management apps like Miro and Jira
Nifty limitations
- Lacks advanced resource management tools
- The free plan has limited features, which can be a disadvantage for individual use
Nifty pricing
- Free Forever
- Starter: $39/month
- Pro: $79/month
- Business: $124/month
- Unlimited: $399/month
Nifty ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (430+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (430 reviews)
8. Monday.com (Best for team collaboration and visual progress tracking)
Undoubtedly, Monday may be slightly advanced for personal project management! However, it is the right choice if you tackle complex projects or want software to handle personal and professional projects.
This project management tool is designed for efficiency. Automation features like workflows and custom triggers reduce manual input. Apart from this, Monday’s time-tracking functionality works great for most types of projects.
Monday.com best features
- Offers 20+ customizable board views, including Kanban, Timeline, and Calendar
- Offers advanced project analytics and reporting with visual dashboards
- Customizes task details with priority settings, due dates, and assignees
- Integrates with other project management software like Workflow and TeamBoard
Monday.com limitations
- Mobile app functionality is limited, making it unsuitable for people who travel extensively and cannot be in front of their laptops at all points
- It can be expensive for small teams or individual users
Monday.com pricing
- Free Forever
- Basic: $9/month per seat
- Standard: $12/month per seat
- Pro: $19/month per seat
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Monday.com ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (12,650+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (5,320 reviews)
9. Microsoft Project (Best for advanced project scheduling and resource management)
Another advanced project management solution, next up on my list, is Microsoft Project. This tool is highly collaborative and versatile. It functions as this all-in-one solution for managing projects.
The software’s best feature is its resource management feature. It seamlessly automates resource distribution by visualizing tasks and estimating requirements, which means zero errors.
Microsoft Project best features
- Provides detailed project planning and tracking with Gantt charts and task dependencies
- Enables task prioritization and scheduling with a drag-and-drop interface
- Tracks project budgets, costs, and time with comprehensive reporting features
- Integrates with Microsoft 365 apps like Excel, OneDrive, and Teams
Microsoft Project limitations
- The steep learning curve makes it a tricky option for people with limited knowledge of how to use project management software
- Limited mobile app functionality, so you need to be around your laptop at all times
Microsoft Project pricing
- Project Plan 1: $10/month per user
- Project Plan 3: $30/month per user
- Project Plan 5: $55/month per user
- Project Standard: $679.99 (one-time)
- Project Professional: $1,129.99 (one-time)
Microsoft Project ratings and reviews
- G2: 4/5 (1,610+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (1,980+ reviews)
For many users, one of MS Projects best aspects is its comprehensive suite of features—just like this user:
🧠 Fun Fact: Do you also wonder why Bill Gates and Paul Allen named their company “Microsoft?” Well, it’s a combination of two words—microcomputer and software. So, Micro+Soft = Microsoft!
10. Miro (Best for brainstorming and collaborative visual planning)
As a project management app, Miro is a great choice. It contains a list of project management features that make sense. If you’re looking for a tool specializing in task status visualization, you will benefit from Miro’s various task views. Collaboration is another area where the software shines.
But Miro’s AI is the best part for me. It works as an assistant to help you make the most of every other software feature.
Miro best features
- Provides an interactive online whiteboard for brainstorming and team collaboration
- Supports real-time collaboration with unlimited board space and sticky notes
- Tracks project progress with visual indicators and real-time updates
- Integrates with other tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Microsoft Teams
Miro limitations
- Some users report that it’s not easy to manage, which can eat up a lot of your time
- The free plan has restrictions, so you need to spend to use the advanced features
Miro pricing
- Free Forever
- Starter: $8/month per member
- Business: $16/month per member
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Miro ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (7,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,590+ reviews)
11. Jira (Best for agile project management and issue tracking)
Let me introduce you to a project management tool you’ve probably already heard of: Jira. Because of its comprehensiveness, Jira could be a helpful personal project manager.
Regardless of the complexity of the task, the tool can help you with its planning, organization, and execution step by step. Another aspect of Jira that I like is its dependency management system. It simplifies the identification and elimination of project bottlenecks.
Jira best features
- Provides issue and project tracking with customizable workflows for agile teams
- Automates repetitive tasks with custom workflows and rule configurations
- Facilitates real-time collaboration with comments, attachments, and mentions
- Integrates with Bitbucket, Confluence, GitHub, and Slack for seamless development workflows
Jira limitations
- It has a complex interface, so you need to spend time to understand the platform
- Limited customization options, so you only get solutions for basic project management needs
Jira pricing
- Free Forever
- Standard: $7.53/month per user
- Premium: $13.53/month per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Jira ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (6,030+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (14,920+ reviews)
For this user, Jira’s collaboration efficiency stands out the best:
12. ProofHub (Best for task management with built-in proofing tools)
If I had to suggest task management software especially tailored for smaller organizations, it would be ProofHub. This tool enables project managers to create tasks, assign them, track them, and allocate resources more conveniently and collaboratively.
To visualize the whole process, utilize different views, charts, graphs, etc. But the best feature for me is ProofHub’s built-in proofing tools that streamline reviews and approvals.
ProofHub best features
- Organizes tasks with to-do lists, project timelines, and discussions
- Facilitates real-time communication with group chats and discussions
- Customizes workflows with task assignments and recurring tasks
- Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive for seamless file sharing
ProofHub limitations
- No Gantt charts or advanced project visualizations
- There are limited integrations, so you may feel restricted at some points
ProofHub pricing
- Ultimate Control: $99/month
- Essential: $50/month
ProofHub ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (100 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (110+ reviews)
13. TeamGantt (Best for Gantt charts and visual project timelines)
If you want a tool with simple yet intuitive project management features, I recommend TeamGantt. This software creates easy-to-comprehend Gantt charts for visual project tracking.
If you are new to project management, features like a drag-and-drop builder and milestone tracking will simplify the process. I also like the tool’s interactive user interface, which is easy to navigate and beginner-friendly.
TeamGantt best features
- Offers visual progress tracking to monitor task statuses and resource usage effectively
- Tracks workloads to prevent overburdening team members by visualizing task allocations
- Facilitates task communication with in-chart comments for seamless team collaboration
- Integrates with tools like ActiveCampaign and 123FormBuilder for extended functionality
TeamGantt limitations
- Minimal mobile app functionality
- The advanced reporting features may sometimes feel insufficient.
TeamGantt pricing
- Pro: $49/month per manager
- Unlimited Everything: Custom pricing
TeamGantt ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.8/5 (880+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (200+ reviews)
As I mentioned earlier, TeamGantt’s ease of use and intuitiveness are loved by many. Look at what this user has to say:
🔍 Did You Know? Henry Gantt is considered the father of modern project management. An American mechanical engineer and management consultant, Gantt is known for developing the Gantt chart in the 1900s, a visual representation of a project’s phases.
14. Zoho Projects (Best for budget tracking and project automation)
Next on my list is Zoho Projects, which aims to boost users’ productivity through a comprehensive dashboard that showcases all tasks, milestones, timelines, etc.
More advanced features include issue tracking, blueprints, and reporting. Although a slight learning curve is involved to reap maximum benefits, it’s a suitable project management tool, particularly for remote and cost-conscious teams.
Zoho Projects best features
- Automates tasks with custom workflows to streamline repetitive processes
- Provides custom dashboards to visualize key metrics in real-time
- Includes built-in time tracking for accurate billing and productivity monitoring
- Integrates with Zoho apps like Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and third-party tools like Slack and Google Workspace
Zoho Projects limitations
- Outdated user interface, which can be a challenge for tech-savvy team members
- The application offers limited integrations
Zoho Projects pricing
- Free Forever
- Premium: $4/month per user
- Enterprise: $9/month per user
Zoho Projects ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (450+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (720+ reviews)
💡 Pro Tip: Want to speed up project management? Learn how to optimize tasks with automation so you save the time spent on repetitive tasks such as sending reminders, setting up meetings, etc.
15. Airtable (Best for creating customized workflows with a flexible database system)
Last but never least, Airtable is on my list.
This project management tool has various basic and advanced features for streamlining project management processes. Users can assign tasks, track their progress, view involved resources, and more. Airtable also helps with various aspects of project management, such as product operations, marketing, finance, and HR.
Airtable best features
- Combines spreadsheet simplicity with database functionality for versatile project tracking
- Supports Kanban, Calendar, and Grid views to adapt to different workflow styles
- Offers rich data fields such as attachments, dropdowns, and checkboxes for custom tracking
- Integrates with other project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira
Airtable limitations
- Challenging to manage, as it is more suited for large enterprises
- Offers minimal native time tracking
Airtable pricing
- Free Forever
- Team: $24/month per seat
- Business: $54/month per seat
- Enterprise Scale: Custom pricing
Airtable ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (2,600+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,100+ reviews)
Airtable turns out to be helpful for large teams—just like in this case:
Summarize this article for me pleaseChoose ClickUp, the Best Project Management Software for Individuals
Managing projects can be exhausting, especially when you’re a solopreneur or a freelancer with many clients. Juggling multiple tasks, teams, and deadlines can take a toll.
Fortunately, the right project management software turns chaos into clarity. While plenty of project management tools exist, not all deliver a comprehensive feature set for effective project management.
This is where ClickUp shines. With its intuitive interface, advanced project management systems, and flexibility to adapt to your needs, it’s undoubtedly one of the best tools available today.
Don’t wait to transform how you manage your projects. Take ClickUp for a spin today—sign up now for free.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
