When you’re a company or entrepreneur, you’re likely to manage so many people or tasks that you’ll need a project management tool. This overload can lead to confusion and delays if you don’t manage or plan your activities well.
In recent years, a wide range of project management tools popped up like daisies. The large variety can make it hard to see the wood for the trees. Expensive or free, with or without bells and whistles, there is a solution for everyone.
We have narrowed down the selection to 65 different tools and gathered the most important data to help with project management, such as:
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price;
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trial version or not?
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free version or not?
Other points of review were:
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usability;
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functionality;
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cons;
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integration with extern apps.
Do you think a great one is missing? Drop a line in the comments!
Usability:
Basecamp is one of the most popular tools for project management. It is ‘dummy proof,’ has a basic layout, and is easiest enough for people to understand who don’t regularly use tools or technology.
The starting point begins with creating a project and connecting users to it. It is your choice who has access to each project and what he or she can manage and control. The navigation and functionality related to that project will appear when you select the project.
In the newest version, the functions (adding tasks, files etc) will be opened in a sheet that is layered on top of your project. These functions make it easy to go back to your project by clicking on the layer below it.
Some functions:
– text formatting editor & adding files to tasks
– possibility to notify people of a task or changing of it
– advanced calendar function & email reminders
– autosave and possibility to restore deleted comments
– commenting on topics is possible from your emailclient, you don’t have to login.
Cons:
You can’t label the files you upload. Also the edit function disappeared in the latest function, but they would work on that.
Integration with extern apps:
Dashstack, Slickplan, Zapier, Paymo, Backdrop, Bugdigger etc.
Website : http://basecamp.com/
Usability:
The layout is of 5pm colourful, modern and divided in two windows. In the left window, there are projects with tasks and subtasks. In the right, you have the ability to select projects or task. Easy in use!
Functions:
5pm is available in multiple languages. As a ‘techie’ you might be able to work with the English language, but international clients find it harder maybe.
Some functionalities:
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Interactive timeline
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Email notifications
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Time tracking (via the desktop app)
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Importing data via CSV / Excel and integrations with extern tools
Cons:
There is no preview or thumnail of attachments; it’s directly downloaded to your hard disk. This lack of thumbnails and attachments makes it more difficult to locate specific projects. 5pm is not very user-friendly if your project consists of 50 attachments and you have to specifically find one.
Integration with extern apps:
Google Docs, Gmail, Google calendar, Apple Ical, MS outlook, Mozilla thunderbird, Spiderscribe,etc
Website : http://www.5pmweb.com/
Usability:
The interface is clean and the navigation includes a main row of tabs and a second row of subtabs. This navigation is not ideal in the eyes of usability experts, though it works well for me and is always clear.
Functionalities:
One specific functions ZOHO includes, which you won’t find in most project management tools, is a bug tracking function. This bug tracker is an additional function that may not be needed by everyone.
Further:
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Time tracking
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Dropbox integration
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Bug Tracking
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Forums
Cons:
It becomes expensive when you want to utilize all of the offered functions. You’re charged additional fees for using the wiki, chat and bug tracker & Iphone Addon; these fees alone can increase your $20 per month plan to as much as 4 times the expense.
Integration with extern apps:
Google Apps, Dropbox, Iphone
Website : http://www.zoho.com/projects/
Usability:
Very clean and not overwhelming layout where the basic functions are clearly presented. The layout (3 columns) is providing a clear and logic overview of tasks and actions. Adding users is super easy, you just have to type in their email addresses. They will receive an email and they’re in.
Functionalities:
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Time tracking
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Dropbox integration
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Bug Tracking
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Forums
Cons:
No extended functionalities. It is for instance not possible to assign certain rights to users.
Integration with extern apps:
Google Apps, Dropbox, Iphone
Website : https://do.com/
Functionalities:
This tool has many functionalities, which may sometimes serve more as a disadvantage to the user and create confusion or sloppiness:
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making a task recurring;
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creating issues;
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blog system;
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extensive rapporting functions.
Cons:
When you’re at project level, there are 3 horizontal navigationbars which are below eachother. This makes it difficult to know where you’re working at. The layout consists of a small right column and a wide main column (where projects, tasks etc are shown). This causes you to see the ‘less important’ stuff first.
Integration with extern apps :
Google Apps, Freshbooks, Iphone app
Website : http://www.deskaway.com/
Usability:
Teamwork looks similar like Basecamp. When you’re first logging in, you’ll see 1 thing: “Create your first project.” You do not run into busy interfaces, nor instructions or tutorials; Teamwork is straight to the point.
When you open a project, the navigation is only there to help in that specific project. This tool ensures that you do not wander off to other projects.
Functionalities:
Teamwork provides great functionality. The best aspect is that you can assign projects to a specific client. Another great function is the timetracker. There’s also a built-in billing system with a PDF/Excel exporter.
So what do we have:
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Adding files to tasks. Images have a thumbnail and can be previewed in a lightbox
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Timetracker
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As a source you can add a (YouTube)video, which can also be viewed in a lightbox within the project
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You can set different settings with each project very easily and clearly
Cons:
Nothing directly disrupted me with my work.
Integration extern apps:
Freshbooks, Google docs, Harvest, Dropbox, Quickbooks,…
Website : http://www.teamworkpm.net/
Usability:
Teambox has a clean, modern look that is quite straight-forward. All of the projects are shown in a small column on the right side, but the contents and functions are shown in the big left column after a project is selected.
The structured way of showing tasks, documents etc, makes it clear and easy to work with.
Functionality:
This tool has one of the best ways to create a document or a page. Teambox is very clear, as well as flexible to edit and share. In addition, it has a well functioning print function, which can be functional for other users.
Further:
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choice between row/lists or column layout for tasklists
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very easy to invite people, you only need an emailaddress
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adding files to tasks
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adding tasks or conversations via email
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forwarding emails from users to projects
Cons:
The invitations were not received after an hour and a half of being sent (the receivers couldn’t enter the project until the invitation was received). Also, there are no comments possible on created pages.
Integration extern apps :
Dropbox, Github, Pivotal tracker, Gmail,…
Website : http://teambox.com/
Usability:
Aceproject’s dashboard is one of the few that won’t give you a direct overview of created projects. You can see how many projects you are assigned, but no further details. You can see a clear overview of these projects by clicking another tab.
Furthermore, the layout clean and clear. Projects open in different tabs which makes it easy to switch from project-to-project; all functions will move to the left sidebar.
Functionalities:
In my opinion, there are too many bells and whistles (distracting noises, etc.) that creates confusion.
When you create a project there are so many options that you might not know what to do anymore.
But further:
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Good timetracker
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Creating recurring tasks
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Internal mailbox
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Clear overview of active projects and tasks
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Extensive possibilities to set settings for a project
Cons:
The creation of tasklists in a project is impossible, which can clutter the overview when many tasks are added. I also found it difficult to add users. You are taken out of the project page when you add a user. I also found that keeping track of attachments and documents was very confusing and unclear.
Integration with extern apps :
Not directly found.
Website : http://www.aceproject.com
Usability:
Despite the modern interface and fancy buttons & icons, LiquidPlanner was the biggest mess I’ve seen until now. You don’t know where to start when you’re in LiquidPlanner for the first time. I did not learn anything by watching the training videos and reading the helpguide when I made efforts to try and understand the program.
Functionalities:
5 different function of this program:
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assigning projects to specific clients
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extensive analytics function (by person, team, client etc)
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adding tasks via email
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extensive functions for project planning
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good search function
Cons:
This tool has extenstive possibilities which a small business doesn’t need. Big companies with many employees, clients and projects would perhaps find this as a good option.
Integration with extern apps:
Google-Outlook-Apple Calendar, Microsoft Project, Quickbooks
Website : http://www.liquidplanner.com/
Usability:
Asana is easy to create projects that can be divided in to-do lists or subjects, which you can store tasks. A helpguide isn’t neccesary; everything speaks for itself, as it should be.
Functionalities:
This tool’s layout is divided in three columns: on the left the projects, in the middle are the list of tasks with selected projects, and on the right are the details of the selected subject or task.
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Logging in via Google account
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Easy to add users per task or list
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You can create different workspaces (for instance, private, dev, designer)
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Keyboard shortcuts to work very fast
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Viewing tasks or projects per assigned person
Cons:
Asana has many extra functions, such as time-tracking, though forums and blogs are not included. This lack of few functions depends on your needs and desires.
Integration extern apps:
Google Login, Zapier
Website: www.asana.com