You’re fully prepared for an important meeting with all the presentations and documents on your device. Minutes before you present, your device decides to reboot or, worse, crash, leaving you with a blank screen.
Cloud-based collaboration solutions and project management tools can ensure that this doesn’t happen. I mean, devices might still crash, but you won’t lose access to your work.
Cloud collaboration lets organizations store essential documents and files in a shared platform. So, if your device decides to act up, team members can still access those documents and help save the day.
A centralized hub for tracking project goals, related tasks, documents, and other activities helps you and your teams work together efficiently. No wonder organizations everywhere prefer to switch to cloud project management software.
But which is the best cloud project management collaboration tool for your specific needs? In this article, we have compiled a list of the top ten cloud project management software, complete with features, pros, cons, and pricing to help you find your best fit.
What Should You Look For In Cloud Project Management Software?
Project management software is the ultimate connector for work, teams, goals, and everything else in between. Some of the essentials to expect from cloud project management tools include:
- Task management and other essential features: Get all the necessary features to help you work efficiently and collaboratively. This includes the ability to create, manage, and assign tasks, create custom workflows, track project progress, and communicate with your team and stakeholders
- Collaboration: Work with your team members seamlessly by picking software that provides advanced collaboration tools for real-time document editing, shared calendars, easy file sharing, and more
- Tech integration: Bring together all your tools in one place, from communication apps like Slack to file-sharing platforms like Dropbox
- Ease of use: Pick a tool that offers robust features but is still easy to use and doesn’t have a steep learning curve. Bring together all your teams, from technical to business-driven departments, on a single platform.
- Centralized record-keeping: Prioritize a platform that can act as a reliable record-keeper for all projects and tasks, making information easily accessible to teams and stakeholders
- Secure storage: Keep your data safe and organized while maintaining privacy controls. Make sure you pick a tool that provides high-security data protection and storage features. No more accidental deletions or lost files
The 10 Best Cloud Project Management Software to Use in 2024
Now that you know the essential criteria for evaluating cloud project management software, let’s delve into the top contenders in 2024:
1. ClickUp
ClickUp is an all-in-one project management software that fits all kinds of teams—big or small, remote or hybrid. It has a user-friendly design, many customizable features, and a range of integrations.
The cloud platform can be accessed via the web or the ClickUp App. This allows your team members to get updates on their tasks and brainstorm from anywhere at any time.
Plus, ClickUp includes a ton of project management templates that can help you get started with your projects instantly. For instance, using the ClickUp Team Management Plan template, you can manage your entire team efficiently, as it allows you to assign tasks, set expectations, and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
The template includes all the essential elements required to manage your teams efficiently, including:
- Custom statuses: Track custom statuses such as Canceled, Complete, Stuck, To Do, and Working On It to easily track team progress
- Custom fields: Categorize and add attributes to manage tasks such as Department and Category
- Custom views: Access project information using views such as Agenda, Agenda by Department, Status by Department, and Getting Started Guide
- Project management: Improve team management and communication with time-tracking capabilities, tags, dependency warnings, emails, and more
ClickUp best features
- Everything in one: Manage all your projects, workflows, docs, and more using ClickUp for project management, the all-in-one project platform
- AI-powered project management: Execute tasks and subtasks efficiently using ClickUp Brain, our AI-based assistant to help you summarize comment threads, write updates automatically, find relevant information, and a lot more
- Sharper tracking and planning: Track project milestones at a glance using customizable dashboards, ClickUp Gantt Chart View, and other visualizations to identify bottlenecks and risks and plan your other project planning activities
- All-in-one task management: Assign tasks, manage project-related activities, and communicate in a single platform, fostering streamlined collaboration
- Centralized wikis and knowledge repository: Create documents and wikis and manage all your company’s information in one centralized cloud-based platform using ClickUp Docs
- Visualize data easily: Build powerful visual databases to track key metrics and gain real-time project insights using ClickUp Table View
- AI automation: Simplify repetitive tasks and workflows with ClickUp Automation, enabling you to select from 100+ automation recipes to accelerate workflows, routines, and project handoffs
- Efficient team communication: Collaborate with your team, consolidate scattered conversations, share project links, and brainstorm alongside coworkers using Clickup Chat View
ClickUp limitations
- A slight learning curve for new users, given the vast feature set
- The user interface needs a little time to get used to
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/month per member
- Business: $12/month per member
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $5 per Workspace member per month
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (4,000+ reviews)
2. Asana
Asana is a project management tool known for its clean UI, simplified project management features, and ability to keep all project-related activities in one place. Its intuitive design offers features like lists, boards, calendars, and Gantt charts.
However, this simplicity can be a double-edged sword, as it lacks some essential project management features and can make users feel restricted.
Asana best features
- Assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress with ease
- Foster collaboration through built-in messaging, commenting, and file-sharing
- Monitor team workload and ensure balanced task distribution
- Protect your information with different access levels for various types of users
- Manage projects and collaborate with your team on the go using the mobile app
Asana limitations
- Lacks functions for recurring tasks
- Cannot add multiple assignees to tasks
- Native time-tracking isn’t available
Asana pricing
- Basic plan: Free
- Premium plan: $13.49/month per member
- Business plan: $30.49/month per member
- Enterprise plan: Contact for details
Asana ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (9,900+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (12,400+ reviews)
3. ActiveCollab
ActiveCollab is a cloud-based collaborative platform that caters specifically to the needs of creative and marketing teams. It offers pre-built templates for common workflows and helps bring order to creative chaos with built-in proofing tools and secure client collaboration features.
It offers cloud-based subscription plans or a self-hosting license.
Users can set hourly rates, send invoices straight from a project, export reports, and track the time and money spent on each task.
ActiveCollab best features
- Leverage pre-built templates for common creative workflows (e.g., website development, design projects)
- Streamline feedback loops with built-in annotation tools and version control
- Track billable hours and monitor project budgets effectively
- Securely share project details and receive client feedback within the platform
ActiveCollab limitations
- Users require time to get familiar with the features and functions
- Integration is not available in many common 3rd party applications
- Lacks advanced interface customization features
ActiveCollab pricing
- Plus: $3.67/month per member for up to 3 members
- Pro: $9 per/month per member
- Pro+Get Paid: $14/month per member
ActiveCollab ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (90+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (350+ reviews)
4. Teamwork
Teamwork is a cloud project management software designed to bridge the gap between internal teams and external clients. It is designed to keep all stakeholders informed and on the same page.
It has built-in chat features and real-time updates, making it ideal for businesses of different sizes. It lets you track progress visually, bringing accountability and simplifying project management activities.
Teamwork best features
- Provide secure access for clients to view project details, track progress, and share feedback
- Visualize project timelines and dependencies for improved clarity
- Collaborate effectively on project milestones and action items by giving each stakeholder real-time visibility into project updates and changes
- Gain insights into project performance with a customizable report
Teamwork limitations
- Lacks advanced charting functionalities
- Requires additional training for users to get comfortable with all features
Teamwork pricing
- Free plan (limited features)
- Deliver: $13.99/month per user
- Grow: $25.99/month per user
- Scale: Contact for pricing
Teamwork ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (1100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (850+ reviews)
5. Hub Planner
Hub Planner is all about user-friendly simplicity. This cloud-based tool is perfect for teams new to project management software.
Its user-friendly interface and streamlined features stand out, as does the availability of integrated timesheets. The tool includes drag-and-drop Kanban boards, built-in chat functionality, and other features make it ideal for collaboration and project organization.
Hub Planner best features
- Generate reports based on logged work hours to gain insights into project performance and resource utilization
- Schedule and manage tasks with a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface for easy visual planning
- Assign and manage resources to create project timelines and track progress while keeping resource capacity in mind
- Request, manage, and track leave or PTO data with ease
Hub Planner limitations
- Lacks advanced task management or communication functionalities
- There is no free plan
- Timesheets and other important features are only available in the more expensive plans
Hub Planner pricing
- Plug & Play: $7/month per resource
- Premium: $18 per/month per resource
- Business Leader: $54/month per resource
Hub Planner ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (15+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2/5 (100+ reviews)
6. Forecast
Forecast takes a financial lens to project management. This software prioritizes resource allocation and financial planning alongside traditional project management features. It offers features for visualizing team capacity, tracking project costs, and creating budget scenarios, making it ideal for teams needing clear financial oversight.
This eliminates the need to switch between different tools for managing projects.
Forecast best features
- Track team capacity and workload to ensure efficient resource allocation
- Gain insights into team productivity and project performance with detailed reports
- Set budgets, track costs, and monitor profitability of individual projects and business units
- Plan projects by visualizing multiple project scenarios based on outcomes to make an informed project decision
- Get AI-powered insights to improve staff utilization and billability rates
Forecast limitations
- Not usable on mobile devices
- Does not integrate well with many common tools, such as Zoom
- The design features may be challenging for first-time users
Forecast pricing
- Custom pricing
Forecast ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
7. Celoxis
Celoxis has a wide range of features for creating project structures and timelines (like Gantt charts) and defining workflows.
It allows allocating resources (people) to tasks and tracking their capacity. Teams can assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress.
The software is also handy in cost tracking and budgeting, as you can track the expenses of a particular project and monitor budgets.
Celoxis best features
- Break down complex projects into manageable tasks with a hierarchical structure using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) templates
- Identify and manage critical tasks to optimize project timelines using Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling
- Track project progress, identify risks, and measure project performance using Earned Value Management (EVM)
Celoxis limitations
- No free plan
- Lacks proofing features
- You can’t use it for billing and invoicing
Celoxis pricing
- Manager: $25/month (billed annually)
- Team Member: $15/month (billed annually)
Celoxis ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (130+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (300+ reviews)
8. Nutcache
Nutcache is a cloud-based project management software with an emphasis on simplifying project workflows and integrating time-tracking functionalities. It allows you to track team hours, generate invoices directly within the platform, and monitor project profitability for a holistic view of project performance.
Nutcache best features
- Track team hours spent on projects and tasks with ease
- Generate and send invoices to clients directly within the platform
- Set project budgets, track costs, and monitor profitability
- Gain valuable insights into project performance and team productivity
Nutcache limitations
- Lacks advanced features and customization you may need for complex projects
- Users have mentioned that the UI is dull
- Time tracking might not be ideal for all teams
Nutcache pricing
- Pro: $13.95/month per member
- Enterprise: $23.95/month per member
Nutcache ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.1/5 (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (160+ reviews)
9. PSOhub
PSOhub is a project management tool that prioritizes visual communication and brainstorming. This cloud-based platform is a good choice for teams relying on visual tools for planning and idea generation.
It also allows teams to track billable hours and expenses and automatically generate invoices from this data. This is handy for businesses to bill clients accurately.
PSOhub best features
- Create interactive whiteboards for brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, and project planning
- Manage tasks with Gantt charts and drag-and-drop Kanban boards
- Collaborate on projects and documents in real time with your team
- Share files easily and provide feedback with built-in annotation tools
- Track time spent on Hubspot tickets to bill for customer support hours
PSOhub limitations
- Those new to automation software may need training
- Users have found it clunky and hard to navigate
- Challenges in integrating with a few third-party applications
PSOhub pricing
- Essentials: $30/month per member
- Professional: $40/month per member
- Enterprise: $50/month per member
PSOhub ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (15 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (70+ reviews)
10. Wrike
Wrike caters to the fast-paced world of marketing and creative teams. This software offers workflow automation, customizable dashboards, and built-in proofing tools to streamline project workflows, boost collaboration, and ensure creative projects stay on track from concept to completion.
It also allows real-time commenting, file sharing, and @mentions, which makes communication among team members easy.
Wrike best features
- Automate repetitive tasks and processes for increased efficiency
- Create personalized dashboards to track key metrics and gain real-time project insights
- Streamline the feedback loop with built-in annotation tools and version control
- Visually track team workload and ensure balanced task distribution
Wrike limitations
- Lacks mind map functionality
- Calendar, Gantt charts, Dashboards, and other essential features are only available with the paid plans
- No screenshot feature
Wrike pricing
- Team: $9.80/month per member
- Business: $24.80/month per member
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Pinnacle: Custom pricing
Wrike ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (2,600+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2/5 (3,600+ reviews)
Find a Project Management Software that Fits Your Team
The right cloud-based project management software can make your team reach a new level of efficiency. Carefully consider their needs and the features that best align with your goals. Don’t be afraid to explore free trials and demos to help you find the perfect fit.
However, most cloud-based project development software tends to focus only on a particular aspect: task management, project proposals, time management, resource management, or simplifying workflows. ClickUp is the only all-in-one cloud project management software with all the core features to bring your entire organization’s activities into one platform.
This allows your teams to foster a culture of transparency, boosts team collaboration, and improves productivity and team performance. As your business evolves, the project management tool enables you to gain additional features and scale up, helping you make informed decisions about your internal and external projects.
ClickUp isn’t just another project management software; it’s a strategic partner in your quest for peak productivity.
Ready to unlock the true potential of your team? Try ClickUp for free today!
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