The right project Management tool could make your team an unstoppable machine of efficiency and productivity.

But how exactly do you find the right project management tool–a tool that seems designed to meet your unique needs and preferences?

Project Management Tools come in all shapes and sizes, but they all do one key thing: Help you organize and manage tasks to get your best work done on time, every time.

What are project management tools?

A) Tools that help you organize your project work 

B) Tools that help you optimize your project management skills 

C) Tools that help you keep track of deadlines and priorities 

D) All of the above 

Answer: D – All of the above. 

TL;DR section – you know who you are

Why are project management tools important?

Answer: They empower you to focus on work and seamless communication with your team to get more done on time. 

What is our top choice for a project management tool?

The SnackNation FB community has spoken (thank you!)… monday.com has been voted their favorite project management tool and is also the collaborative work tool that we use at SnackNation. 

Think about your to-do lists. They make it easy to remember what you have to do, so you don’t have to risk forgetting critical steps or use your valuable brain power recalling tasks.

Project management tools do something similar for project work. Organizing your steps, priorities, and workflows using a project management tool empowers you to focus on doing your best work—instead of spending time regrouping on what you need to do on any given day.

We know you’re busy managing projects, so we’ve made it easy for you to find a tool that will accommodate your needs.

Our top choices are broken down in the following sections:

• • Project management tools to manage multiple projects
  • Project management tools with time tracking
  • Project management tools with gantt charts
  • Project management tools to manage scope
  • Project management tools to monitor progress

Note: Some of these project management tools feature all or many of these capabilities; we’ve simply grouped the tools according to their most notable strength.

Project management tools to manage multiple projects

These tools have the capability to help teams organize multiple complex projects while still making work streamlined and simple.

1. monday.com

Project management has never looked so good.

monday.com makes every aspect of project management—from planning to tracking progress—an engaging and visually pleasing experience. It brings all the work organization tools you could ever need into an intuitive, attractive interface that’s a joy to use.

Why we love monday.com for project management:

It’s sustainable.

A lot of us have tried organizing our work with the best intentions. We slave over spreadsheets and Gantt charts until everything is planned to a T.

Then something strange happens: We never want to look at those solutions again. They look boring, and they can become difficult to understand as you expand projects.

A tool like monday.com, a tool people actually want to use, increases the liklihood that your team will follow through with their best-laid plans.

We surveyed our SnackNation community to find out what they love about monday.com–here is what they had to say:

“Easy to assign and view tasks and also provides real time communication and updates.”

“monday.com has helped every department in our company become more organized and improved communication within the teams.”

“Automations are amazing. It can do everything.”

Standout features on monday.com:

• Templates to accommodate a variety of project types
• Big-picture views of multiple projects in flight
• An app that makes it easy to check in on progress anywhere and any time
• Deadline views that make it easy to see what’s pressing
• Collaborative capabilities, including team assigning and messaging
• Automations are easy to set up without any coding
• Integrations bring your data from multiple apps into one unified platform

monday.com pricing:

• Free trial period
• Plans $39 – $79+

Similar project management tools to monday.com: 

• Hive
• Paymo
• Gain

2. Shift

Consider Shift the one app to rule them all.

If you’re sick of tabs, windows, countless bookmarks, and constant shifts between your human resources interface to approve time-off requests and your time-tracking application to enter your hours, then this mother-ship tool might be exactly what you need.

Use it to access and seamlessly switch between all your favorite applications.

Why we love Shift for project management:

It minimizes brain clutter. 

It might seem easy, but just recalling the application you need to perform a specific task, finding the right link, and remembering your login information can drain your brain of the valuable processing power it needs to make important decisions.

When you can access and switch between everything you need in one place, you’ll be able to redirect some of the mental energy you spent navigating toward actually doing project work.

Standout features on Shift: 

• Support for as many accounts as you want
• Connect with nearly any app you can think of
• Unified search for finding information across all accounts
• Streamlined design makes shifting between tasks easier than ever
• Extensions provide flexibility as your needs change

Shift pricing:

• Free basic plan
• Other plans $29.99 – $99.99 per year

Similar project management tools to Shift: 

• HelpScout
• SaneBox
• ProofHub

3. Paymo

Paymo designed its platform to address the common reasons projects fail.

Paymo gives teams everything they need to plan and complete projects that exceed client expectations. Use Paymo to do everything from keeping clients happy through project transparency to collaborating effectively with all contributors and stakeholders.

Why we love Paymo for project management:

It’s a one-stop shop.  

Paymo allows users to conduct every piece of project management (team tasks and schedules) and also tasks associated with project management (invoicing and client communication).

This centralized project management helps you streamline work, keep track of everything, and deliver amazing results to clients and customers without ever getting close to that peak stress threshold.

Standout features on Paymo: 

• Guided start and finish times help keep projects on track
• Task budgets match tasks with appropriate hour levels
• Calendars automate resource allocation when people take time off
• Alerts make it easy to give appropriate attention to milestones
• Task views allow sorting by deadline, project, or priority

Paymo pricing: 

• Free basic plan
• Other plans $10 – $16 per user, per month

Similar project management tools to Paymo: 

• Podio
• Freedcamp
• Notion

4. Hive

The Hive platform provides the kind of radical work transparency modern companies need to boost productivity and work better together.

Plan projects in multiple ways according to your preferences, and see team and company-wide views of projects.

With all project information living in one place, you can see work like never before. You can isolate patterns that give you ideas for strategies to strengthen your business.

Plus, when everyone can easily stay informed on key projects, you can enjoy:

• Fewer emails
• Fewer meetings
• Less miscommunication.
• More productive work time

Why we love Hive for project management:

It gives workers autonomy. 

Project management tools could make some personalities feel trapped by mandated processes and therefore unmotivated to do their best.

Hive, however, allows teams to choose the project management structure that works best for them. This allows the centralization managers need to optimize productivity while still giving teams the flexibility they need to perform their best.

Standout features on Hive: 

• Time-tracking functionality makes project tracking and billing easy
• Automated workflows streamline decisions
• Analytics portfolios provide real-time insights that lead to enhanced efficiency
• Email feature provides access to Outlook or Gmail inboxes within the platform
• Action templates make it fast to recreate high-performing tasks and workflows

Hive pricing: 

• Free trial period
• Plans start at $12 per user, per month

Similar project management tools to Hive:  

• monday.com
• Click Up
• Front

5. Gain

Some one-line tasks can be deceptively complex.

Example: Have site content approved.

This is one line, one to-do, but checking it off might involve several substeps and several stakeholders.

Gain helps make tasks like these as simple as they should be.

Why we love Gain for project management:

It makes complex tasks as easy to complete as simple ones. 

Gain provides a platform where people can simultaneously view content, leave feedback, and send approvals. Tasks that used to require tons of emails and meetings can be reduced to a few simple steps.

Standout features on Gain: 

• Password-free access provides all stakeholders with frustration-free viewing
• Automated reminders nudge clients for approvals
• File organization makes handling multiple accounts easy 
• Schedule and publish posts straight to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram
• Realistic previews let clients view content exactly as it will appear

Gain pricing: 

• 30-day free trial period
• Standard plan $99 per month

Similar project management tools to Gain: 

• Quip
• Invision
• Orchestly

Project management tools with time tracking

Tools with time tracking allow users to enter hours and leaders to visualize time spent on tasks and projects. This simplifies billing and also enhances long-term strategic efficiency planning.

6. Wrike

Wrike embraces (and makes it easy for users to execute) the tenets of the Agile Movement, including collaboration and communication.

Why we love Wrike for project management:

It helps users transform how they work as they complete work. 

Using Wrike helps people complete work while also getting experience in using researched-based efficiency techniques.

Standout features on Wrike: 

• Dynamic request forms help with information discovery
• Custom workflows replace status update emails
• Dashboards provide big-picture views of work
• Comprehensive templates allow you to launch any kind of project
• Proof tool makes soliciting and providing feedback a breeze

Wrike pricing: 

• Free basic plan
• Other plans $9.80 – $24.80+ per user per month

Similar project management tools to Wrike: 

• Kanbanize
• Air Focus
• monday.com

7. Asana

Asana is a project management tool as satisfying and usable as a to-do list.

Why we love Asana for project management:

It’s accessible to non project managers. 

Some project management tools have complicated views and features that might make non project planners cringe.

Asana, featuring intuitive views and controls, appeals to everyone and anyone who plays a role in a project.

Standout features on Asana: 

• Automation features simplify workflows
• Workload views demonstrate task burden across team members
• Board view mimics sticky note planning
• Forms allow you to standardize requests
• Task dependencies provide transparency

Asana Pricing:

• Free trial period 
• Free basic plan
• Other plans $10.99 – 24.99+ per month

Similar project management tools to Asana: 

• Basecamp
• Workfront
• Zapier

8. Mavenlink

Mavenlink helps separate teams conduct unified project work without overdosing on communication tools.

Why we love Mavenlink for project management:

It helps bring people together. 

Great bosses know how to keep people informed and make priorities clear. Mavenlink helps separate teams conduct unified project work without overdosing on communication tools.

Standout features on Mavenlink: 

• CRM integration feature keeps work seamless
• Resource management helps you plan projects with confidence
• Task progress view makes it easy to gauge the health of projects
• Collaboration features keep everyone in the loop
• Business intelligence features help you leverage data to make key decisions

Mavenlink pricing: 

• Free trial period
• Other plans $19 – $39+ per month

Similar project management tools to Mavenlink: 

• Groopit
• Trello

9. Productive

Time is money. This phrase may be cliche, but in the world of agency work and billable hours, it rings 100% true.

Productive caters to agencies looking to maximize profitability by streamlining work.

Why we love Productive for project management:

Real-time profitability views remove surprises. 

Productive enables leaders to view hourly costs, fixed prices, overhead costs, and salary details—all to get the hard evidence they need to monitor and adjust workflows to achieve the best outcomes.

Standout features on Productive: 

• Data migration brings key information into one platform
• Multi currency capabilities simplify working with international clients
• Multiple language capabilities ease communication challenges
• Sales pipeline view lets you understand, prioritize, and optimize deals
• Deal-to-project conversion saves time spent duplicating entries

Productive pricing: 

• 14-day free trial period
• Standard plan $12 per user, per month

Similar project management tools to Productive:

• Kissflow
• Workamajig
• Accelo

10. Nutcache

Nutcache’s project management model leverages expertise on how teams work together to help teams work more efficiently together.

Why we love Nutcache for project management:

It focuses on teamwork. 

With features focused on enhancing collaborating, Nutcache’s interface fosters the asset any project needs to be successful: strong teamwork.

Standout features on Nutcache: 

• Visual board makes it easy to track and manage tasks
• Alerts nudge teams about key deadlines
• Billing features make invoicing painless
• Cumulative flow diagrams display project progress
• Permissions give each team member Nutcache’s project management model leverages expertise on how teams work together to help teams work more efficiently together.

Nutcache pricing: 

• • Free trial period
  • Plans $6-$12+ per user, per month

Similar project management tools to Nutcache: 

• Zoho
• Projecturf

11. ProWorkflow

ProWorkflow features all the tools you need to wrap your head around projects and stay on track until they’re complete.

Why we love ProWorkflow for project management:

Excellent support. 

Customers rave about ProWorkflow’s support team and services. These features ensure teams can get the most value from their experience.

Standout features on ProWorkflow: 

• Dashboard provides big-picture view
• Timesheets simplify time tracking
• Workflow by views, categories, and groupings
• Templates speed up project launch
• File sharing eliminates the need for other tools

ProWorkflow pricing: 

• • Free trial period
  • Plans $10 – $30+ per user, per month

Similar project management tools to ProWorkflow: 

• Function Fox
• CoMindWork
• Smart Sheet

Project management tools with gnatt charts

Before interactive online tools existed, many project managers used Gantt project organization charts. Many modern tools still leverage the time-tested principles of Gantt charts in their interfaces.

12. GanttPro

This tool, as its name suggests, uses classic Gantt charts as the foundation for their work strategies.

Why we love GanttPro for project management:

It lets teams view everything. 

Using GantPro, teams can track changes, view comments, see deadline updates, and more. With all this information at their fingertips, teams always know where projects stands.

Standout features on GanttPro: 

• Templates make planning a snap
• Cloud format allows people to check in any place and any time
• Sharing features help keep clients in the loop
• Real-time comments eliminate needless meetings
• Workload feature helps balance assignment distribution

GanttPro pricing:

• Plans $5.90 – $15+ per user per month

Similar project management tools to GanttPro: 

• Aha!
• Inspire Planner
• Good Day

13. TeamGantt 

This solution features an intuitive platform that puts the productivity-boosting capabilities of Gantt charts at everyone’s fingertips.

Why we love TeamGantt for project management:

Task dependencies eliminate confusion. 

When you’re planning work, it may be challenging to document that some tasks are dependent on other tasks without over-complicating workflows.

With built-in features for detailing task dependencies, TeamGantt overcomes this common project management challenge.

Standout features on TeamGantt: 

• Drag and drop functions make updates fast
• Intuitive interface appeals to non project managers
• Availability views help managers assign work
• Exportable reports come presentation-ready
• Timelines let you compare planned and actual deadlines

TeamGantt pricing: 

• Free basic plan
• Other plans $39.50 – $62.25+

Similar project management tools to TeamGantt: 

• Webplanner
• Bryntum

Project management tools to manage scope

Leaders who want to manage scope need to view projects and workflows in a variety of different ways so they can see what’s working and also determine what to do next.

14. Celoxis

Celoxis’s robust solution appeals to project managers who want to get work done as well as visionary leaders who crave tools they can leverage to maximize company growth.

Why we love Celoxis for project management:

It has a practical financial focus. 

Company leaders can use Celoxis to track day-to-day budget progress, but they can also view factors—such as revenue forecasting—relevant to long-term strategic planning

Standout features on Celoxis: 

• Widget and layout options provide comprehensive customization
• Drill-down charts make it easy to isolate performance variables
• Project request queue brings in requests from multiple sources
• Automatic email alerts keep you on top of workflows
• Revenue forecasting enhances business strategy planning 

Celoxis pricing: 

• Cloud-based plans cost $25+ per user per month
• On-premise plans have a one-time cost of $450 per user

Similar project management tools to Celoxis: 

• Liquid Planner
• monday.com
• Adaptive Insights

15. Scoro

You’re good at multitasking, juggling without ever letting the ball drop.

We know you’re on top of projects, but Scoro can help your projects run better than you ever thought possible.

Why we love Scoro for project management:

It consolidates workflows. 

If you’ve ever daydreamed about having just one streaming service that includes all your favorite content, then you already understand the value of Scoro.

Scoro brings multiple aspects of project management under one roof to simplify your life.

Standout features on Scoro: 

• Customer relationship management features handle the burden of contact management
• Reporting features demonstrate progress toward KPIs
• Project views allow you to separate billable and non-billable work
• Financial management features automate invoice reminders
• Meeting scheduling allows you to link key project information to relevant invitations

Scoro pricing: 

• 14-day free trial period
• Other plans $26 – $61 per user per month

Similar project management tools to Scoro: 

• Bright Idea
• Omnifocus
• Planview

Project management tools to monitor progress

Progress monitoring can be especially helpful for teams serving clients or working in companies with a growth mindset. These tools help make progress something visual and, if necessary, adjustable.

16. Backlog

Backlog caters to projects involving developers and coding—factors that tend to add complexity to project management.

Why we love Backlog for project management:

It gives everyone what they need. 

Project managers and stakeholders get a big-picture view of progress while developers communicate to stay on the same page about code-related matters, from versions to bugs.

Standout features on Backlog: 

• Bug tracking makes developer issues easier to resolve
• Task management allows for subtasks and checklists
• Version control cues developers to work on only current code
• Emoji enabled messages make collaboration fun and personal
• Jira and Redmine importer facilitates seamless integrations

Backlog pricing: 

• Free basic plan
• Other plans $35-$175 per month

Similar project management tools to Backlog: 

• Gitlab
• Atlassian
• Beewits

17. Pipefy

Picture all your tasks for all your projects, scattered haphazardly across your to-do list. With Pipefy, you can turn those tasks into one streamlined workflow.

Why we love Pipefy for project management:

It removes “what to do next” syndrome. 

Real-time prioritization can take hours away from project work.

When you use Pipefy, you always know what to do next, and you can prioritize and optimize work.

Standout features on Pipefy: 

• Automation capabilities allow you to set conditions and automatically trigger tasks
• Email templates make critical communication quick and easy
• Connections integrate project-relevant processes
• Database feature provides a secure way to store project information 
• Public forms allow external stakeholders to share project information and requests

Pipefy pricing:

• Free basic plan
• Other plans $9 – $18+ per user per month

Similar project management tools to Pipefy: 

• Integrify
• Tallyfy
• Bizagi

18. Easy Project

Certified General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant, Easy Project makes managing work like a project management ninja easy for anyone.

Why we love Easy Project  for project management:

It makes complex processes easy to use. 

Easy Project integrates the best project management processes into a user-friendly tool that allows users, even non project managers, to leverage expert techniques to improve their project work.

Standout features on Easy Project: 

• Mobile capabilities support on-the-go work
• Integrated tools make every stage of project management efficient
• Portfolio features enable centralized planning
• Agile features give projects radical flexibility
• Workflow views demonstrate project progress

Easy Project pricing:

• Plans 6-19+ euro per user per month

Similar project management tools to Easy Project: 

• Easy Redmine
• Easy Projects
• Flowright

19. Workfront

This comprehensive tool helps teams bring all their work into one management tool so they can view it, optimize it, and improve performance exponentially.

Why we love Workfront for project management:

It provides visibility. 

Workfront provides the tools teams need to get work done, but it also gives leaders views on how work is happening. Using the information available within Workfront, leaders can innovate ways to consolidate company practices and make processes better for everyone.

Standout features on Workfront: 

• Demand management tools keep work on track
• Resource management enables intelligent assigning
• Collaboration tools reduce meetings and emails
• Work-anywhere interface empowers remote employees to stay informed
• Approval flows make complex processes easier

Workfront pricing:

• Price available on request 

Similar project management tools to Workfront: 

• Planview
• Target Process
• Aprimo

Conclusion

We hope one of these project management tools helps make your work more collaborative, effective, strategic, and fun.

If you’re still having a hard time with your decision, then simply think about the questions below to arrive at an answer.

Q: What do we really need in a project management tool?

A: Project management tools will give you much more control over your workflow and allow you to track the progress of every task that you are juggling. Every project management software is designed to solve a different time bottleneck.

We have ideal solutions if your answer is scope visibility, multiple project management, progress transparency, time-tracking, or Gantt charts.

Q: What factors should I consider when choosing an online project management tool?

A: This question has endless answers. We recommend starting off with the basics and evaluating tools by their overall strengths, pricing models, and key features.

If you’re still having a hard time with your decision after this, then consider going with a top-rated tool, one with a well-rounded portfolio of functions and features, such as monday.com.

What project management tools do you use? Let us know in the comments below.

The post The Only Project Management Tools And Techniques You’ll Need In 2020 appeared first on SnackNation.