Project Management Software: Compared & Matched
No paid rankings. Answer five questions and the matcher shows its reasoning, or browse the comparison table. Want a human to review your options? We do that for free too.
Find your best fit in 30 seconds
How the matcher works
Each tool is rated 0–3 on seven traits by our editors based on public documentation and hands-on use. Your answers weight those traits. The score is transparent and unsponsored — no vendor can pay to rank higher. Read our disclosure.
At-a-glance comparison
Pricing and plan limits change often. Always confirm on the vendor's site before buying.
| Tool | Best for | Strengths | Watch-outs | Free option* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asana | Cross-functional business teams | Timelines, portfolios, rules, clean UX | Advanced features on higher tiers | Free tier |
| monday.com | Visual, non-technical teams | Boards, automations, dashboards | Seat bundles; costs grow with add-ons | Limited free tier |
| ClickUp | All-in-one on a budget | Tasks, docs, Gantt, goals, whiteboards | Feature-dense; learning curve | Free tier |
| Jira | Software & agile teams | Scrum/Kanban, workflows, dev integrations | Complex for non-technical users | Free tier (small teams) |
| Trello | Simple boards, small teams | Easiest Kanban, power-ups | Limited reporting & scheduling | Free tier |
| Wrike | Mid-size to enterprise PMOs | Gantt, resources, request forms | Setup effort | Limited free tier |
| Smartsheet | Spreadsheet-minded orgs | Grid + Gantt, reports, governance | Less suited to agile boards | Trial |
| Notion | Docs-heavy teams, startups | Flexible databases, wiki, templates | DIY setup; light scheduling | Free tier |
| Basecamp | Client work, calm communication | Message boards, simple flat pricing | No Gantt or dependencies | Limited free option |
| Microsoft Project / Planner | Microsoft 365 organisations | Scheduling depth, M365 integration | Licensing complexity | Planner basics with M365 |
| Zoho Projects | Value-focused SMBs | Gantt, timesheets, Zoho suite | UI less polished | Free tier (small teams) |
| OpenProject | Self-hosting & data sovereignty | Open source, Gantt + agile boards | You run the infrastructure (or pay for cloud) | Free community edition |
*Based on vendors' public pricing pages at the time of our last review. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any vendor listed.
How to choose PM software in 5 steps
- Write down your workflows — e.g. "intake request → approve → plan → deliver → review". The tool must fit the work, not the other way round.
- List must-haves vs nice-to-haves: Gantt and dependencies, boards, time tracking, resource management, client access, approvals, SSO, integrations.
- Shortlist three with the matcher above.
- Pilot on a real project for two weeks with the people who will use it daily.
- Count total cost: seats, add-ons, admin time, training and migration.
Red flags during evaluation
- Core features you need are only on the top tier.
- No export, or export that loses structure — avoid lock-in.
- The team still keeps a spreadsheet "on the side" after the pilot.
Get a free, personalised software shortlist
Tell us your team size, workflows and budget. A PM specialist replies within 48 hours with three options, pricing notes and migration tips.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best project management software?
There is no single best tool. Small teams that want simplicity tend to prefer Trello, Asana or Basecamp; software teams usually choose Jira; teams needing detailed scheduling look at Smartsheet, Wrike or Microsoft Project; budget-conscious teams often start with ClickUp, Zoho Projects or open-source OpenProject.
Is there free project management software?
Yes. Several tools offer free tiers with user or feature limits, and OpenProject and Taiga are open source. Plans change frequently, so check each vendor's current pricing page.
How do you choose PM software for a team?
List your must-have workflows (boards, Gantt, time tracking, approvals), integrations, team size, security needs and budget. Shortlist three tools, run a two-week trial on a real project and let the team vote.