12 Best Online Project Management Tools

The number of use of online project management tool is getting higher these days. Most startups I know rely on this kind of tool to manage their team to stay on track. Some project managers of enterprises also use an online project management tool to manage the projects their companies currently handling. On the internet, there are plenty of online management tools. Each has their pluses and minuses.

As a project manager who responsible of managing the projects, you probably have a question in your mind, “which project management tool I should use?”

Well, the answer can be vary depends on the number of team member you have. Most online project management tools offer a free version which you can use to manage your company’s projects without bill, but commonly come with minimum features and limited team members. In general, an online project management tool has the capability to create projects as well as adding tasks to the projects. You, the project manager, can assign a certain task to one or more team members.

A good online project management tool should also supports integration with other kind of services. Here is the list of best online project management tools which fulfilled that prerequisites. Of course, they also come with other features and capabilities.

1. Trello

Trello is one of the most current popular project management tools. This tool is better suited for project managers who responsible of handling a team with a fewer team member. Project managers who just getting started to use a project management tool can also use this tool since Trello offers a free version of its service. Companies like Adobe, Google to National Geographic also use Trello to manage their projects. Those companies listed as the users of Trello’s Business Class plan. One of the reasons why Trello became a popular management tool is because it supports so many integrations. You can integrate this online project manager with such popular services as Slack, Mailchimp, GitHub to Dropbox

In Trello, project is represented by board, while task is represented by card. Trello allows you to create either personal or team project as well as adding tasks within the projects you created. You can assign tasks to your team and set due dates to ensure they get the tasks done on time.

2. Asana

Same as Trello, Asana is also a great option for every project manager out there who just getting started to use an online project management tool since you can use this tool for free, with the maximum team member of 15 persons. No matter the plan you use, you can create as many project and task as you want. Asana doesn’t restrict you. However, there will be much features you will get if you upgrade your plan. Including task dependencies, advanced reporting and lots more.

Within a project you created on Asana you can add tasks and set who should take a responsibility to handle a certain task. Basic features like due date and file attachment are also available.

3. Basecamp

Forbes praise Basecamp as one of America’s top small companies. As Forbes stated, “Basecamp provides small businesses with a centralized system that brings together internal communications, projects and client work in one location.”

Forbes was right. You can use Basecamp as a hub of your business tools. Basecamp is a combination between Slack, Asana, Dropbox and GSuite. According to Basecamp calculation, the idea a bundled tool like Basecamp allows you to save your company’s budget. Same as two online project managers above, Basecamp also allows you to create projects and add a number of tasks inside each project. You can also create a team to handle a more specific project. Basecamp itself is a fully paid tool, but you are given a 30-day trial period.

4. Wrike

Another freemium online project management tool. Wrike has nearly all of the features and capabilities you expect from a project manager. You can use this tool whether as a personal project management tool or as a management tool for your team. If you are a startup founder and is looking for a simple project management tool then the free version of Wrike I think is enough, although you are restricted to only 5 members. Wrike also comes with Reports feature that can be used by all kind of users.

In addition to project and task, Wrike also allows you to create folders as containers to organize and categorize work, making it easier to find and share information. Unlike projects, folders do not have attributes you can track.

5. Todoist

Todoist is probably better suited to be adopted as a personal project management. It comes with a very simple interface. The features and capabilities of this tool are also quite simple. Todoit also allows you to create projects and add tasks on them. Furthermore, you can also set the due date to each task.

Sadly, the free version of Todoist comes with very lack of capabilities. You can’t even attach files. The free version also doesn’t allow you to assign tasks. If you want to use Todoist to manage your team, you need to upgrade your account which cost from $3 per month per user. Cheaper than, for instance, Trello and Asana. According the an introduction on the Todoist website, companies like Nike, Coca-cola and Dell use Todoist.

6. Flow

Flow is an online project management tool that is better suited to use by project managers to manage their team as well as their projects. This tool doesn’t offer a free version so that you, like it or not, have to be a paid subscriber if you want to use it. But, before deciding to use Flow you can take advantage of the offered 30-day trial period to explore all of the features and capabilities. Apple, Shopify, TED and Bench are the examples of companies that use Flow.

Just like other tools above, Flow also allows you to create projects and add tasks on them. Each task can also be assigned. Flow also allows you to create a team for a more specific project, like Basecamp. If you have no idea on how to use Flow, there is a project example you can follow.

7. dapulse

Dapulse is also a fully paid project management. You can’t use this tool without being a paid member. At least, you can try this tool for 14 days to explore all of the features and capabilities before judging if this tool is worth enough to be released as a fully paid tool. Companies like Adidas, Outbrain and Uber also use dapulse. Like Trello, in dapulse, project is also represented as board. There are a number of ready-to-use templates that you can use when you create a new project in case you have no idea on how to use dapulse. Each template comes with predefined tasks. You can edit each task to suit your need. Dapulse also allows you create folders to put together the projects you have.

8. Taskworld

Taskworld is also a project management tool that is better suited to use by project managers with several team members although there is no sin or prohibition if you want to use it as personal project management tool. It’s just, Taskworld is a fully tool so that you may need to think twice if you want to use this tool as personal project management tool. You are given a 15-day trial period to dig this tool deeper before making a decision whether to be its user or not. Amazon, Samsung, Salesforces and Netflix are the examples of companies that use Taskworld. Taskworld comes with Timeline and Analytics tool to allow you tracking the progress of your team tasks.

9. Podio

Unlike all tools mentioned earlier above, it takes longer for me before being able to use Podio. But in general, Podio features and capabilities are not far different to other tools above which allow you to create projects as well as adding tasks on them. Each task can also be assigned to your team member while setting the due date of the task. Some companies that use this online project management tool include Sony and Volvo. PC Mag rewarded Podio as one of the best online collaboration tools of 2016, indicating that this tool is basically good enough.

10. Proofhub

Proofhub is a feature-rich online project management tool. Same as all tools above, this tool also allows you to create projects. Additionally, you can also create a specific team to handle certain project. When creating a team for a certain project, you can also specify who should be the manager of the team. You and your team can add such things as files, notes, tasks and so son. There is also a Discussion feature you can use to discuss anything related to the project you are handling. Furthermore, this tool also comes with a Reports feature.

Proofhub is undoubtedly a great project management tool, but this tool tends to targets middle and big sized companies. Proofhub is a fully paid tool with only two plans. The cheapest plan is priced $45 per month. Examples of companies that use Proofhub are Google, Pinterest, TripAdvisor, Nike to NASA.

11. Freedcamp

Freedcamp is a one of the worth-trying items if you are looking for an online project management tool to manage your small team, or even your personal project. This is a kind of a freemium tool, which means you can use it for free. The free version offered by Freedcamp is feature-rich enough. Time tracking, subtask, calendar, discussion board and password manager are the examples of features you will enjoy from any kind of account, including free. Same as several tools in this list, you can also form a team for a specific project. PayPal, Airbnb and Getty Images are some big companies that use the service of Freedcamp.

12. Redbooth

Redbooth is another great online project management tool that you can use for free, whether to manage your team or as a personal project management tool. The key features and capabilities offered by this tool are not far different to all tools above. You can create projects — which called workspaces in Redbooth — and add your team members to handle the projects. If you use the free version of Redbooth, each project is limited to 10 members. Redbooth also supports integration with popular services, including Slack. Integrating Redbooth with Slack is extremely easy. You can find the Integration menu on the Settings page of Redbooth. This integration is available for all users.

One of the cool features offered by Redbooth is a handy reports. Not merely a reports. Redbooth offers custom reports which can display the reports of worskpaces, users, tasks by users, workload and calendar. It’s just, you need to upgrade your account to use the custom reports offered by Redbooth.

This article was originally published on bettertechtips.com