For many, the most important part of a project is getting caught up in the maelstrom of activity once it’s well underway. With a major role in overseeing the day-to-day while adhering to big-picture goals, as a project manager, you strive to build momentum with your team in your quest to keep stakeholders happy and hit your milestones.
But what if this weren’t the case? Imagine a scenario where your team workflows were set up ahead of time, collaboration felt easy, and your attention wasn’t pulled in various directions every day. This is possible with the right kind of project planning.
That’s why the time you spend in the project scheduling process could be the key to stress-free execution. The traditional pen and paper might still be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of planning, but these days, there are a wealth of digital planning tools at your disposal.
Project planning software gives you the tools to take full control of upcoming projects in advance so that you can plan out every step in meticulous detail. It gives you the edge as you can effectively evaluate your resources, establish timelines, and manage the details of complex projects — all before the stress of the project has time to take hold over you.
Project planning software benefits explained
Online project planning software acts as an all-in-one hub for mapping out upcoming projects and understanding everything from the major details to the minutiae. It provides tools for visualizing key milestones and measuring progress as you go but also gives you an easy way to communicate with your team in a context-specific way.
Here are some of the main reasons to invest in project planning tools:
Manage resources
If there’s anything that can quickly bring a project to a grinding halt, it’s a lack of foresight regarding resources. If funds dry up before you’ve made substantial progress or there are too few team members to tackle the challenges offered up along the way, then it’s most likely a result of poor resource planning.
To avoid issues that threaten to throw your project off course and become a cause of concern to stakeholders, you can use project planning software to manage your resources. Specifically, you can handle the following:
- Assign workload based on individual capacity
- Allocate funds and set budgets
- Measure resources in real time to make adjustments
- Automate time-consuming processes
A major contributor to lost time during projects can be focusing on trivial tasks. Throughout the lifespan of many projects, there are dozens of recurring tasks that needlessly drain time and energy that could be better used elsewhere.
With project planning tools, you can automate these time-consuming processes and let the software do the heavy lifting. Automating recurring tasks and workflows can free up time to spend on the more cognitively-demanding tasks that do more to move the needle for project progress.
Visualize and analyze data
If you can’t see what’s going on with your projects in real time, it’s incredibly challenging to effectively manage your resources and hit your milestones. The best tools for creating a project plan offer various views to see the data from different perspectives and a centralized dashboard for all the key information at a glance.
Most tools also let you analyze the data by downloading reports, which you can use to check in with stakeholders and make data-driven decisions.
Is free project planning software worth it?
It’s not uncommon for project planning software to offer a free option to users, whether that be a limited version with fewer features or a trial that gives you some time to explore the tools. It’s certainly possible to get to grips with different options without making a financial commitment straight away.
If you run a small team and your resources are limited, you could meet all your project planning needs with a freemium software model. If you have more complex needs, you’ll likely need to make the most of the software’s premium features. In this case, you can sign up for a free trial to make sure it’s a good fit before you invest.
How to choose the best project planning software for your business
Even if you’ve been recommended a project planning tool that has every feature imaginable and receives unanimous praise from its users, it doesn’t mean it will work for your business.
Finding the right software for your business boils down to several factors, which include your budget, the specific needs you have for projects, and ease of use for you and your team members.
If you go by these three criteria, you can’t go too far wrong when you make your choice.
- Budget: When thinking about budget, it shouldn’t be a simple case of “can we afford it,” but an evaluation of how much you stand to gain from using the software compared with the cost.
- Specific project needs: If you have to run a lengthy marketing campaign, then you’ll probably want to track several metrics along the way, so a project planning tool without much scope for data visualization and analysis won’t serve you. If you have many requirements, try carrying out an 80/20 analysis to single out the top two or three needs that, if addressed, can significantly improve your planning process.
- Ease of use: Some project planning tools offer incredible attention to detail, which can come at the cost of simplicity. It’s important to determine what you and your team are comfortable with so you don’t end up with software that takes too long to get to grips with. The best way to figure this out is to opt for a free trial, so you can all get hands-on experience.
Which are the most popular project planning tools in 2022?
In this guide, we’ll explore 30 of the most popular project planning software tools in 2022, so you can make an informed decision and choose the best option for your business.
1. Wrike
Wrike is a top-rated work management platform that offers a comprehensive range of project management and planning features. The software works just as well for the up-and-coming business as it does for the Agile enterprise.
Wrike project planning software features
Real-time data reporting
A lack of visibility can quickly derail a project. It’s impossible to make adjustments and reassign resources if you don’t have current and relevant data at your disposal. With Wrike’s real-time data reporting, you can grab the reins from the get-go and ensure you set up your team for success from the start.
With the click of a button, you can visualize work statuses and progress at a glance, allowing you to make snap decisions based on concrete data. With access to this data whenever you need it, you can start a new project confident in your ability to make on-the-fly tweaks and move resources around to navigate obstacles that arise.
Timeline visualization
Wrike’s Gantt chart timelines give you great insight into the roadmap for upcoming projects, which you can share with stakeholders and team members for full transparency. These dynamic timelines don’t just show you the project at a frozen moment in time but update to reflect your current situation.
With this information at your fingertips, you can identify potential bottlenecks before they threaten to disrupt your progress. The bird’s-eye view gives you full visibility of task dependencies, so you can understand the sequence of dominos that have to fall to make progress towards a particular milestone.
Finally, you can manage multiple projects from a single platform, dragging and dropping items to keep your team updated.
Task-specific templates
Automation can save you a lot of time for future projects, but so can task-specific templates like the project plan. With Wrike’s practical templates, you can effectively reduce the time spent on upcoming tasks, giving you more time to allocate to more challenging endeavors.
Wrike templates provide a framework for completing various tasks, from drawing up an action plan to managing contracts.
RAID logs
RAID (risks, assumptions, issues, decisions) is a valuable acronym in business, and a RAID log can help you map out your project plan accounting for every variable. With Wrike’s RAID logs, you can show your stakeholders that you’ve thoroughly considered all the risks and issues involved with an upcoming project and provide assurance.
With each element in the log, you can go into as much or as little detail as you deem necessary. The end result will be a list of pitfalls to avoid and strategies for making progress with a project.
Task management
Arguably the most important feature once a project is underway, task management can also be a vital part of the planning process. With Wrike, you can distill your most complex projects into a series of small tasks, which you can then assign to your team through the software interface.
Wrike offers full transparency, meaning you can share all of your activity with stakeholders, keeping them in the loop without writing up reports. You can also communicate effectively with your team using a single shared space.
Highlights of Wrike project planning software
- Track metrics with real-time data reports and analytics
- Visualize project information with dynamic timelines
- Use templates to reduce time spent on various tasks
- Shift between dashboard views to get various perspectives
- Keep stakeholders in the loop with 360-degree visibility
- Plan for everything with convenient RAID logs
Other features and considerations
Wrike also offers you and your team a centralized space for resources, so you can access them as and when you need them. You’ll be able to quickly see the capacity of all your team members as well as the remaining resources you have to work with, so you should never run the risk of getting caught short.
Time tracking is another feature that can help you track valuable data. Your team will be able to manually enter the time they spend on various tasks, so you can accurately gauge whether or not you’re on track to meet your goals and update your timeline to reflect current progress.
Wrike’s two-week free trial is a great way to get hands-on experience with the software and see if the project planning features fit your business needs.
Pricing plans
- Free - $0
- Professional - $9.80 per user/month
- Business - $24.80 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom pricing for large teams
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (1799 customers)
Many customers appreciate how Wrike facilitates quick communication between internal teams. A common thread from the user reviews is how Wrike enables effective collaboration, which makes it easy for teams to be productive.
2. Runn
Runn provides big-picture resource management and comprehensive project planning tools primarily for the IT, engineering, and consultancy industries. The software places a heavy emphasis on resource allocation and capacity management to help project managers assess the cost of every project.
Runn works best for medium-sized businesses and enterprise-level organizations but doesn’t align with small businesses as well as other project planning tools do.
Runn project planning software features
Resource scheduling: With Runn’s visual resource scheduling feature, you can allocate work to team members so that everyone is clear on what they need to do. If you manage a large team, you can filter by roles, skills, and teams to find the right person for the job.
Capacity management: See at a glance how your project affects your resources and what you can do to stay within budget. Assign custom work hours to each employee based on their capacity and manage their PTO.
Highlights of Runn project planning software
- Accurately identify the capacity of all your team members
- Make decisions according to the resources available
- Easily allocate work to the right team members with filters
- Create forecasts to effectively manage your project pipeline
Pricing plans
- Free - $0 up to 5 users
- Pro - $10 per person managed/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Runn’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.9/5 (16 customers)
Customers note that the software is easy to use and managing resources is much easier with the tool’s features. While customers appreciate that the developer team is quick to respond to feedback and add new content, the software still lacks certain features.
3. Kintone
Kintone is a workflow management platform that provides tools for automating tasks, sharing data, and collaborating with coworkers. You can use Kintone to set up custom workflows for every member of your team so that everything flows smoothly once projects are underway.
While many teams have enjoyed success with Kintone’s workflow optimization tools, the lack of a calendar can make it hard to visualize upcoming events and project milestones.
Kintone project planning software features
Drag-and-drop process builder: Kintone provides users with the tools to create their own processes from scratch as if they were putting together a series of puzzle pieces. Once you’ve assembled your process or project, you can see the big picture and how each item feeds into it.
Custom workflow management: Create and manage custom workflows that make sense for your team and industry.
Highlights of Kintone project planning software
- Easy to create and maintain custom workflows
- Visualize projects using the drag-and-drop process builder
- Track activities once you set the project in motion
Pricing plans
- $24 per user/month (minimum five users)
Find more information on Kintone’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (89 customers)
Customers praise Kintone for its no-code process builder and custom workflow creation tools. For some, the lack of a calendar makes it challenging to plan ahead.
4. Airtable
Airtable offers a unique blend of project management and spreadsheet data storage, which can be useful for plotting out every last detail of your upcoming projects. You can use Airtable to plan out your content pipeline in advance and manage it as you make progress on various projects.
Airtable brings a visual model for planning future projects, even if the display can become cluttered at times with a wealth of information.
Airtable project planning software features
Real-time data management: From the moment you create a project in Airtable, you can start tracking data and using it to create detailed reports for understanding individual and team performance.
Resource allocation: With a resource allocation chart, you can see whether you’re managing your resources well over time.
Highlights of Airtable project planning software
- Approval requests let you keep in sync with your team
- Status updates and due dates set you up for timely progress
- Allocate resources with a chart to assess efficiency
- Track data in real time and create reports to inform stakeholders
Pricing plans
- Free - $0
- Plus - $10 per seat/month
- Pro - $20 per seat/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Airtable’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (1396 customers)
Customers appreciate how Airtable enables cross-functional collaboration and provides real-time data to inform the decision-making process. Some customers note that finding documents can be challenging at times due to an overcrowded UI.
5. ClickUp
ClickUp is a project management solution that allows you to follow a project from creation to completion. It offers a straightforward way to manage activities with an intuitive Kanban board and makes task delegation and collaboration simple.
Since ClickUp gives you control of the whole project management process, the notifications and reminders can become overwhelming.
ClickUp project planning software features
Team communication: Once you start work on your project in ClickUp, it’s relatively easy to stay in touch with your team. With a combination of action items, comments, and real-time chat, you can drive tasks forward with context-specific communication.
Interactive whiteboards: Developing a shell of an idea into a viable project requires creativity and a canvas. With ClickUp’s interactive whiteboards, you can draw out your vision for a project and invite collaboration so that everyone is on the same page.
Highlights of ClickUp project planning software
- Use interactive whiteboards to plan out and visualize projects
- Provide frequent updates on tasks with team communication tools
- Apply checklists to individual tasks for easy-to-follow instructions
- Store useful project reference information in the documents hub
Pricing plans
- Free Forever - $0
- Unlimited - $5 per user/month
- Business - $12 per user/month
- Business Plus - $19 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on ClickUp’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (3111 customers)
Customers note that ClickUp makes it easy to track the details of a project from start to finish for individual clients. A common gripe is the flood of information, as comments, mentions, and the movement of tasks can prompt notifications.
6. Nutcache
Nutcache is an all-in-one project management tool providing a range of features to plan and measure the success of upcoming projects. With profitability graphs, task tracking, and a workload calendar, you can use Nutcache to stay on top of every last detail.
While Nutcache offers a host of useful features, including billing and invoicing, some are more limited, such as the time tracker, which can be challenging to use.
Nutcache project planning software features
Workload management: Manage your team’s workload based on capacity and priorities. Effectively assign tasks and allocate resources accordingly.
Budget tracking: You can use Nutcache to set project budgets based on hours, amount, or cost. You can also create alerts and use KPIs to evaluate your project spend.
Highlights of Nutcache project planning software
- Create project budgets and use alerts to stay within them
- Manage your team’s workload based on various factors
- Bill and invoice your clients all in one place
- Use Gantt charts to map out data and measure progress
Pricing plans
- Free - $0
- Pro - $12.49 per user/month
- Enterprise - $21.49 per user/month (minimum 5 users)
Find more information on Nutcache’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.4/5 (165 customers)
Customers highlight how easy it is to bill and invoice clients using the software. Some users note that it can be time-consuming to filter each project with drop-down menus to see more details.
7. Hive
Hive is a task management solution with built-in time tracking and automation. While it can provide granular detail for data reports, it can succumb to information overload at times.
Hive project planning software features
Intake forms: Quickly jot down important project information and store it in forms your whole team can access.
Multi-project overviews: Use different views to visualize projects from the outset with as much or as little detail as you need.
Highlights of Hive project planning software
- Use intake forms as knowledge hubs for upcoming projects
- View projects from different angles with overviews
- Collaborate effectively with instant messaging
Pricing plans
- Solo - $0
- Teams - $12 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Hive’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (162 customers)
Customers enjoy how Hive lets them bring together all the necessary details for a project in one place. Some say that notifications come thick and fast, and important messages can get buried.
8. Kissflow
Kissflow is a no-code process management solution that allows you to create feature-packed workflows without technical knowledge. The workflows are highly customizable, but it can be tricky to migrate them to other platforms.
Kissflow project planning software features
Process creator: Create custom forms and workflows with no coding knowledge to drive complex projects forward.
Project dashboards: Project dashboards let you bring forms, datasets, and processes into one place for quick reference.
Highlights of Kissflow project planning software
- Track tasks with regular status updates
- Map out projects using custom dashboards
- Use the process creator to set up detailed workflows
Pricing plans
- Small business - $10 per user/month
- Corporate - $20 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Kissflow’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 3.9/5 (30 customers)
Customers appreciate that Kissflow facilitates the digitalization of decision-making for fast project progress. Several customers note that the workflow migration doesn’t work as well as it could.
9. GanttPRO
GanttPRO is a browser-based tool that helps you visualize tasks and projects using Gantt charts. As a browser-based solution, refresh rates can cause issues for some users.
GanttPRO project planning software features
Resource planning: Check your team’s actions using work logs, invite collaborators, and track workload in the app.
Custom project metrics: Set up a budget for individual projects and use custom columns to measure progress with your own metrics.
Highlights of GanttPRO project planning software
- Manage resources and workload in real time
- Set up custom project metrics
- Collaborate with attachments, comments, and notifications
Pricing plans
- Basic - $7.99 per user/month
- Pro - $12.99 per user/month
- Business - $19.99 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on GanttPRO’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.8/5 (320 customers)
Customers praise GanttPRO’s simple aesthetics, which make it easy to understand project-related data. Sometimes there are performance issues since the software runs in-browser.
10. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management solution that uses timelines, Gantt charts, and data to help users build projects from the ground up. There’s a lot of data you can include in Zoho Projects, though without a multi-select option, it can prove time-consuming.
Zoho Projects project planning software features
Create task blueprints: With task blueprints, you can outsource the heavy lifting behind tasks, as the software can handle approval requests, notifications, and more.
Project administration: Inform your team about projects with custom fields, add stakeholders or clients for transparency, and import or export key data.
Highlights of Zoho Projects project planning software
- Set up task blueprints to automate time-consuming processes
- Use project administration to add context and detail to projects
- View real-time data with charts and reports
Pricing plans
- Free - $0 up to 3 users
- Premium - $5 per user/month
- Enterprise - $10 per user/month
Find more information on Zoho Project’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.2/5 (259 customers)
Customers highlight the suitability of the software for product development teams. Adding lots of code can be time-consuming with the lack of a multi-select option.
11. Asana
Asana is a classic project management solution with features for organizing and assigning tasks, collaborating, and tracking progress with data. Though there isn’t much you can’t do with Asana, users don’t have many options for creating recurring tasks that cater to different routines.
Asana project planning software features
Create timelines: Set up project plans with timelines to see at a glance every important detail, from the individual tasks and how they relate to one another to upcoming deadlines.
Manage workload: Keep team members productive by managing their workloads in real time, and view individual tasks to assess progress.
Highlights of Asana project planning software
- Use project timelines to visualize what’s to come
- Manage team member workloads and dig into specifics
- Set strategic goals for your team to follow
Pricing plans
- Basic - $0
- Premium - $10.99 per user/month
- Business - $24.99 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Asana’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (11,394 customers)
Customers mention how easy it is to stay on top of projects with real-time data and easy communication. A common reservation is that the busy UI can make it challenging to see what different team members have access to.
12. Trello
Trello is a streamlined Kanban board management tool for organizing, assigning, and completing tasks within a team. Trello is an excellent solution for simplifying projects and collaborating effectively, though it’s best suited for smaller teams.
Trello project planning software features
Simplified project management: Use the various views to lay the groundwork for future initiatives. Add custom cards to Trello’s Kanban boards to create and manage new projects in your team.
In-app integrations: Trello Power-Ups expand the functionality of your software with third-party apps, allowing you to add workflow automation, channel-based communication, and more.
Highlights of Trello project planning software
- Simplify your project management with different views and custom Kanban boards
- Use integrations to make Trello your go-to platform for projects
- Add task checklists to accurately measure progress
Pricing plans
- Free - $0
- Standard - $5 per user/month
- Premium - $10 per user/month
- Enterprise - $17.50 per user/month
Find more information on Trello’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (21,394 customers)
Customers appreciate the simplicity of Trello and how it makes organizing easy, even as part of a team. Some say that having various boards with multiple cards can make it hard to stay on top of responsibilities and notifications.
13. ProWorkflow
ProWorkflow is a workflow customization tool that allows you to streamline internal processes and work with external collaborators. The software lets you templatize tasks to cut down time spent on future projects, though data reporting can be time-consuming.
ProWorkflow project planning software features
Custom templates: ProWorkflow lets you build custom templates for tasks and projects to speed up recurring processes such as quoting and invoicing.
Complex workflows: Create custom workflows using an interactive timeline, Gantt charts, and a workload analysis tool.
Highlights of ProWorkflow project planning software
- Set up custom templates to minimize time spent on trivial tasks
- Build efficient workflows and track each team member’s progress visually
- In-app and email notifications help keep everyone updated
Pricing plans
- Professional - $20 per user/month
- Advanced - $30 per user/month
Find more information on ProWorkflow’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (248 customers)
Customers appreciate the clarity that prioritized tasks and custom workflows provide to team members. Some customers noted issues with interpreting data reports and exporting them to accounting software.
14. WorkOtter
WorkOtter is a resource and portfolio management platform for planning projects with data-backed dashboards and custom workflows. While WorkOtter allows you to handle resources for multiple client-facing projects at once, the mobile app has limited features, so it’s best suited for desktop-based work.
WorkOtter project planning software features
Resource forecasting: With or without work plans, you can forecast resources using various methods in WorkOtter. Forecast according to team time spend, allocated resources, and work plans.
Full Microsoft Project integration: WorkOtter is the only PMM (project and portfolio management) platform to provide two-way integration with Microsoft Project.
Highlights of WorkOtter project planning software
- Integrate your Microsoft Project files and quickly send information back and forth
- Forecast resource spend for future projects with different methods
- Use project logs and various planning options to schedule upcoming projects
Pricing plans
- Limited Access - $10 per user/month
- Team Member - $20 per user/month
- Managers - $35 per user/month
Find more information on WorkOtter’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 5/5 (163 customers)
Customers highlight the Microsoft integration as a standout feature of WorkOtter, as it allows for seamless two-way data flow. Some customers would like to see a local onsite version since the software is currently only available in the cloud.
15. Teamwork
Teamwork is a project management tool that hosts a range of client-facing project planning features in one place. As a hub for effective team collaboration, Teamwork excels, though the communication options are limited.
Teamwork project planning software features
Resource management: During the project planning phase, you can manage your team’s resources and create forecasts for future needs with Teamwork.
Scalable templates: Save time with scalable project management templates that you can use as shortcuts for your team.
Highlights of Teamwork project planning software
- Forecast resource availability to avoid issues later down the line
- Build scalable project templates as time-saving shortcuts for your team
- Monitor project profitability with real-time financial performance graphs
Pricing plans
- Free Forever - $0 (up to 5 users)
- Deliver - $9.99 per user/month
- Grow - $17.99 per user/month
- Scale - Custom
Find more information on Teamwork’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (728 customers)
Many customers praise Teamwork for the level of detail teams can add to each task. It can take some time to adjust to the software’s UI, according to several users.
16. Confluence
Confluence is a technical project planning tool primarily designed for DevOps teams. With knowledge hubs, teams can easily share information, though the document search feature can be awkward to use.
Confluence project planning software features
Knowledge base: Your team can use page trees and advanced filters to track down relevant information quickly.
Real-time collaboration: Edit and comment on documents in real time and set up notifications for team members.
Highlights of Confluence project planning software
- Access project-relevant information quickly with the knowledge base
- Make changes on the fly with real-time collaboration
- Create different spaces for teams or projects
Pricing plans
- Free - $0 up to 10 users
- Standard - $5.50 per user/month
- Premium - $10.50 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Confluence’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.4/5 (2348 customers)
Customers highlight the knowledge base feature, which allows for easy access to documentation for projects. Several customers raise concerns about the difficulty of importing and exporting documents.
17. Monday.com
Monday.com is a comprehensive Work OS (Operating System) with custom templates and workflows for most use cases. The app provides data for planning projects, though key information can sometimes get lost in chains of events.
Monday.com project planning software features
Project files: Monday.com lets you consolidate project files in one place, so everything you need, from Google Docs to DropBox files, is easy to access.
Data dashboards: Build custom dashboards to make forecasts, plot out timelines, and track progress.
Highlights of Monday.com project planning software
- Gather all relevant project files in one place before you get started
- Use data dashboards to manage your resources
- Automate tasks for streamlined workflows
Pricing plans
- Individual - $0
- Basic - $8 per seat/month
- Standard - $10 per seat/month
- Pro - $16 per seat/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Monday.com’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.6/5 (2743 customers)
Customers mention how versatile the software is since it caters to custom workflows and can automate recurring tasks. Some users believe task information is hard to digest in its current format.
18. Celoxis
Celoxis is a complete project management solution with everything from time tracking to advanced scheduling. The software offers a simple way to plan and track projects, working best for small businesses.
Celoxis project planning software features
Project requests: Grab requests from forms and emails and feed them into the Celoxis interface to inform your project plans.
Dynamic project plans: Set up project plans that reflect real-time updates and inter-project dependencies.
Highlights of Celoxis project planning software
- Use requests to create stakeholder-serving project plans
- Create project plans that change in real time
- Track the numbers with revenue forecasting and custom financial KPIs
Pricing plans
- Cloud - $22.50 per user/month
- On-Premise - $450 per user billed once
Find more information on Celoxis’ pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.4/5 (268 customers)
Customers praise Celoxis for the progress tracking features. Some users claim that field information entry can be awkward and the results difficult to read.
19. Forecast
Forecast is a resource management solution that makes it easy to create accurate forecasts and track capacity. For scheduling projects, Forecast offers plenty of relevant data, though time entry can cause issues.
Forecast project planning software features
AI insights: Forecast’s AI provides recommendations based on past projects and insights to mitigate risks and prepare you for project difficulties.
Schedule view: Balance resources and workload with Forecast’s schedule view before embarking on new projects.
Highlights of Forecast project planning software
- AI-powered insights help keep you on track
- Use a holistic schedule view to manage workload effectively
- Monitor project profitability with access to financial data
Pricing plans
- Lite - $29 per user/month
- Pro - $49 per user/month
- Plus - Custom
Find more information on Forecast’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (57 customers)
Customers appreciate the project scheduling and data tracking features of Forecast. Several users mention that updating tasks and time entries can be time-consuming.
20. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a project management solution that uses spreadsheets as a canvas for plotting out projects. You can create forms and track data with the platform, though there’s a steep learning curve.
Smartsheet project planning software features
Process management: Use the Smartsheet Control Center to centralize project intake, standardize your processes, and manage resources.
Content management: With approval requests, alerts, and dashboards, you can stay on top of your content pipeline.
Highlights of Smartsheet project planning software
- Centralize project data and create processes for team members to follow
- Use dashboards to measure project progress
- Visualize project-pertinent data with Gantt charts and reports
Pricing plans
- Pro - $6 per user/month
- Business - $22 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Smartsheet’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (2422 customers)
According to many customers, Smartsheet allows for quick data form creation and effective team collaboration. Some customers claim that due to its complexity, it can take a while to adjust to the software.
21. LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner is a dynamic predictive scheduling solution that adapts to the way you work and reflects real-time changes in projects. A tool that can meet your specific team and project needs, LiquidPlanner requires an initial learning curve to get the most out of it.
LiquidPlanner project planning software features
Predictive scheduling: Access real-time forecast data with Monte Carlo simulations for your whole portfolio.
Resource leveling: Smart scheduling informs you when resources will impact deadlines and delivery, helping you avoid overburdening team members and stretching yourself too thin.
Highlights of LiquidPlanner project planning software
- Use the LiquidPlanner engine to accurately predict future changes to projects
- Get an idea of how capacity and resources will impact your projects
- Assign tasks and priorities with a shared portfolio
Pricing plans
- Essentials - $15 per user/month
- Professional - $25 per user/month
- Ultimate - $35 per user/month
Find more information on LiquidPlanner’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (640 customers)
Customers appreciate the visibility LiquidPlanner provides, as it’s clear what each team member is working on and where you’re at with resources. Some users suggest that it can be challenging to manage multiple projects at the same time with LiquidPlanner.
22. Easyredmine
Easyredmine is a flexible project planning tool with templates and scheduling features for staying ahead of the curve. You can track time and activities with the Easyredmine solution, though exporting data can be time-consuming.
Easyredmine project planning software features
Gantt charts: You can use Gantt charts in Easyredmine to visualize cash flow, establish baselines, and map out entire project trees.
Project planner: The quick project planner tool lets you identify key tasks to carry out your action plan effectively.
Highlights of Easyredmine project planning software
- Enterprise-appropriate solution for managing tasks and tracking project activity
- Use the project planner to tackle urgent tasks quickly
- Rely on the Gantt chart visualization for dependable real-time data
Pricing plans
- Essentials - $5.90/month
- Business - $11.90/month
- Platform - $23.90/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Easyredmine’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (65 customers)
Customers praise Easyredmine as an effective solution for IT companies and software development teams. Some users suggest that it’s difficult to manage the different plugins.
23. Basecamp
Basecamp helps you organize all project details in one place with to-do lists, message boards, and scheduling features. Acting as a digital HQ, Basecamp can help you and your team work from one source, albeit without some of the features of other project management tools.
Basecamp project planning software features
Calendar schedules: With each project in Basecamp, you can plot out a roadmap by syncing information from your calendar app.
File storage: Centralize your key documents for all of your projects, so team members can access everything they need in one place.
Highlights of Basecamp project planning software
- Create a digital hub for each project with centralized file storage
- Map out upcoming projects with calendar synchronization
- Use real-time group chat to keep in touch with team members
Pricing plans
- Basecamp Business - $99/month
Find more information on Basecamp’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (13,667 customers)
Customers enjoy the simplicity of Basecamp’s interface and planning projects in a single place. Some customers suggest there’s a lack of core project management features.
24. Nifty
Nifty is a project management OS that combines a host of tools in a single interface, from roadmaps to chat tools. The features make it easy to tackle major projects, though the price may be steep for small businesses.
Nifty project planning software features
Project portfolios: Create portfolios for each project, organizing everything into folders and making it easy for your team to find relevant information.
Project home: Change your project view screen to reflect the most pressing priorities for your team.
Highlights of Nifty project planning software
- Prepare for projects with categorized folders for relevant information
- Change the project home screen to show your priorities
- Use timelines and various views to see what’s ahead and measure progress
Pricing plans
- Free - $0
- Starter - $5 per member/month
- Pro - $10 per member/month
- Business - $16 per member/month
- Unlimited - Custom
Find more information on Nifty’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (135 customers)
Customers claim that the software makes it easy to manage projects and timeframes. Some customers say that having to refresh to see newly uploaded files can lead to confusion.
25. Jira
Jira is an issue and project tracking tool that can help you stay on top of multiple projects and navigate problems with ease. It serves technical use cases well with bug tracking and other features, though pricing models can be steep for smaller teams.
Jira project planning software features
Roadmaps: Gain full visibility for you and your team with roadmaps that can display the status of various projects.
3000+ integrations: Make the most of the app’s many integrations to power your project planning the way you prefer.
Highlights of Jira project planning software
- Create visual roadmaps for upcoming projects
- Use integrations to cover more elements with each project
- Draw up Scrum boards to help with task management
Pricing plans
- Free - $0 (up to 10 users)
- Standard - $7.50 per user/month
- Premium - $14.50 per user/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on Jira’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.4/5 (12,331 customers)
Customers note that Jira offers many useful project planning features for product development and other technical use cases. Some users claim that the pricing makes the software inaccessible for small teams.
26. Kantata
Kantata (formerly Mavenlink) is a resource management platform that lets you set up forecasts for upcoming projects and analyze relevant data. You can track time with timesheets and gather project information to inform decisions, even if real-time reporting isn’t available.
Kantata project planning software features
Financial management: Use real-time finance forecasts to budget accordingly for each project and provide stakeholders with accurate predictions.
Real-time resource management: View team member capacity and manage workloads accordingly.
Highlights of Kantata project planning software
- Keep stakeholders informed with accurate financial forecasts
- Manage capacity with real-time graphs
- Use the activity feed to keep tabs on project progress
Pricing plans
- Starts at $59 per user/month
Find more information on Kantanta’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.2/5 (572 customers)
Customers enjoy the extensive data reporting features of Kantata. Some users say the software lacks a single consolidated dashboard for seeing all project information at a glance.
27. MeisterTask
MeisterTask provides simple drag-and-drop Kanban board task management for executing project plans quickly and efficiently. You can use the software to manage day-to-day activities in your team, yet reporting features are limited.
MeisterTask project planning software features
Customizable dashboards: View everything related to your project on a customizable dashboard with time tracking and checklists.
Agenda display: Pin different tasks and projects to your personal agenda for an overview of all your responsibilities.
Highlights of MeisterTask project planning software
- Use Kanban boards to meet due dates with efficient task management
- Set up your dashboard with a personal checklist and time tracking
- Create a custom agenda with everything you need to view in one place
Pricing plans
- Basic - $0
- Pro - $8.25/month
- Business - $20.75/month
- Enterprise - Custom
Find more information on MeisterTask’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (1016 customers)
Customers claim that the software is user-friendly and easy to start using straight away. Due to the lack of advanced reporting features, some users feel that MeisterTask isn’t suitable for some teams.
28. Float
Float is a project scheduling solution that offers a visual way of managing your team and resources. It’s a tool that’s easy to pick up and provides a simple way to plan upcoming projects, though navigating the interface can be awkward at times.
Float project planning software features
Resource scheduling: Use budgets and forecasts to assess your resources for future projects.
Project timelines: Map out projects with timelines to ensure you and your meet your milestones on time.
Highlights of Float project planning software
- Create budget estimates to reduce the risk of overspending
- Analyze capacity with accurate resource forecasting
- Visualize progress and milestones with project timelines
Pricing plans
- Essential - $59/month
- Premium - $99/month
- Enterprise - $199/month
Find more information on Float’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (1358 customers)
Customers appreciate the software’s modern UI and data visibility. Some users claim that it can be challenging to navigate the interface and find specific project details.
29. Adobe Workfront
Adobe Workfront offers enterprise-level work management features for planning and collaborating on projects. There isn’t much you can’t do with Workfront when it comes to project management, yet this is reflected in the steep pricing plans.
Adobe Workfront project planning software features
Goal alignment: Use Workfront Goals to align strategy, company vision, and individual objectives so that your projects move your business forward.
Scenario planning: Reduce the risk of uncertainty by running various scenarios in Workfront to make the best move with your projects.
Highlights of Adobe Workfront project planning software
- Apply holistic strategy to your project planning with goal alignment
- Minimize missteps with the scenario planning tool
- Use proofing and approvals to streamline workflows
Pricing plans
- Pro - Based on quote
- Business - Based on quote
- Enterprise - Based on quote
Find more information on Workfront’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (1080 customers)
Customers enjoy Workfront's powerful analytics tools and project planning features. Some users claim that the pricing plans could alienate smaller businesses.
30. Scoro
Scoro provides an end-to-end solution for nurturing leads, planning projects, and moving tasks through the pipeline. The software covers most aspects of business management, though access to so many tools comes at a steep price.
Scoro project planning software features
Data analytics: View all project data in one place, from time spent and billed to profitability.
Real-time Gantt charts: Check tasks, events, and dependencies in a real-time Gantt chart.
Highlights of Scoro project planning software
- Take control of project planning with a real-time Gantt chart
- Measure profitability and other metrics with detailed data reporting
- Automate routine tasks to speed up progress
Pricing plans
- Essential - $26 per user/month (minimum five users)
- Standard - $37 per user/month (minimum five users)
- Pro - $63 per user/month (minimum five users)
- Ultimate - Custom
Find more information on Scoro’s pricing plans and functionalities here.
Customer ratings and reviews
Capterra rating: 4.6/5 (189 customers)
Customers appreciate the wealth of data and project management features available through Scoro. Some users suggest there’s a steep initial learning curve.
How to get started with Wrike project planning software
Wrike makes it easy to plan for upcoming projects and figure out all the details before your team gets started. With this simple three-step process, you can get your next project up and running with Wrike:
- Create a project folder: Your project folder is where you’ll house all relevant information to centralize your documentation.
- Set up a project: Next, create a project in your folder and share it with your team so they can keep up with real-time updates.
- Add and assign tasks: Finally, set up tasks you can assign to team members. You can include due dates and other information to guide your team.
Once you’ve set up your project folder, here are some of the things you’ll be able to do to manage your projects:
- Measure progress with issue tracking and resource allocation
- Use real-time data to get insights into team member performance
- Track tasks with status updates, due dates, and milestones
- Plan workload capacity to optimize workflows
- Visualize what’s happening with Gantt charts
When you choose Wrike for project planning, you gain access to a wealth of tools, templates, and collaboration features that make your job much easier. Start today with a two-week free trial.
