Project Management Software:
Find the Right Program
for your Project

PM Software:

Intro

Managing a project requires a lot of paperwork and documentation. You need to be organized and communicate and share information. The easiest way to accomplish all of this is by finding a good project management software program.[2][3][4][5] There are many programs available, so finding the one that works best for your project, your team, or your business is no easy feat.[1] A great way to start is with a detailed list of project management software programs. There are many lists out there, so here is a sample of some of the software programs available.

All of the software programs listed have a learning curve, some more than others. Some, like monday.com and Google Tables, will have video tutorials to help you learn how to use the program. Others may have a tutorial to walk you through the basics. Most programs allow you to change how you view your project, usually to a list view, a card view, a grid view, or a calendar view. However, each has its own way of organizing all of your information.

Nearly every program listed has a free version. The reason for this is for students and smaller, individual projects. Some software has templates for managing a household or managing a school project.

Let's get into the software programs.

Google Tables

When looking for project management software, I first looked for something connected to software I already use. Google has so many apps and programs that connect to each other. However, Google Tables only recently came into existence and is still in its beta phase.

Screengrab from Google Tables website.

Cool Features

  • Bots you can use to complete tasks like sending out a weekly email.
  • You can easily integrate Google Sheets.

Google Tables displays your project information in a spreadsheet-like grid layout, though you can change the view to a Kanban layout, calendar layout, or queue layout. Interestingly, four of the five project management software articles cited below did not mention either Google or Microsoft software. The article that did mention them was a competing service listing over 200 different software programs.

Google Tables offers many different templates to start your project, including templates for household projects and school projects. The free version also seems quite comprehensive and less limiting than some of the other free software. Pricing plans start at $10 per person per month. [1]

Check out Google Tables for yourself!

Microsoft Lists

Like Google's project management software, Microsoft Lists wasn't mentioned in most of the articles cited. I'm not sure if that's a reflection of the quality of the software, the newness of it, or simply because Google and Microsoft are corporate giants who don't need help advertising their software.

Screengrab from Windows Lists website.

Cool Features

  • Part of Microsoft 365 collection.
  • Has a desktop app.

Like the other programs, you can view your project data in various formats, like gallery, calendar, and of course, list format. You can start with a blank slate, convert an Excel file, or work off one of their many templates.

Microsoft Lists is customizable and has much to offer for a project team. Because it is part of Microsoft 365, there is no free version. For students however, if your school provides Microsoft 365 for free for students, then it is accessible. Pricing plans start at $6 per user per month.[1]

Check out Microsoft Lists for yourself!

monday.com

Like the other software, monday.com allows users to view their project data in many different ways. The free version is also quite comprehensive and useful for students. There are many templates to choose from based on a wide range of categories.

Screengrab from monday website.

Cool Features

  • Can have separate conversations for each individual task.
  • Has many available features and apps you can use to customize and enhance your project.

Some of monday.com's features include budget tracking, email integration, and time tracking. While the free version is great for students and individual projects, monday.com can also handle large teams and projects. Paid plans start at $8 per person per month.[1][4]

Check out monday.com for yourself!

Gantt Pro

Gantt Pro offers board views, list views, workload views, and of course, Gantt chart views. The free version offers enough for students and small projects.

Screengrab from Gantt Pro website.

Cool Features

  • Can show individual hours worked and scheduled on a project.
  • Simple and user-friendly.

Gantt Pro is great for small teams. While it is not very customizable, it gets the job done. Gantt Pro definitely sent the most emails of all the software I tested. Luckily, adjusting email notifications is a simple process. Their pricing plans start at $7.99 per user per month, and their lowest tier offers nearly all features.[2]

Check out Gantt Pro for yourself!

Teamwork

Teamwork seems to have been created with large teams in mind. They do have a free version that is easy to use. However, I have barely scratched the surface of what this software can do.

Screengrab from Teamwork website.

Cool Features

  • In addition to tasks, you can track hours, resources, and more.
  • You can comment on individual tasks.

Teamwork is geared toward teams that work with multiple clients. You can manage various projects at once and view not only individual projects but all the work you are responsible for spread across all the projects you are involved in. The free version is available for teams of five or fewer and is limited in its capabilities. Paid plans start at $9.99 per user per month, and while Teamwork is a little pricier, it can do so much.[2][4]

Check out Teamwork for yourself!

ClickUp

My favorite thing about ClickUp is Dark Mode. It's such a minor feature, but staring at bright screens all day is painful on the eyes, so when a website, app, or program has Dark Mode, I am thrilled.

Screengrab from Clickup website.

Cool Features

  • Hierarchy based. You can split workspaces into smaller spaces.
  • Has Dark Mode!

ClickUp is user-friendly up to a point. I did have trouble figuring out which spaces belonged to which workspaces. This software is meant to handle large projects for large teams, but it still has a lot to offer in the free version. Paid plans start at $5 per month per person.[4]

Check out ClickUp for yourself!

Conclusion

Getting to try out all of these different project management software programs was quite fun. I created tasks for household management and school projects and got to check out how I felt about the user interface. Every person, every team, and every project will have their own needs and preferences when it comes to project management software. So no one can tell you which software you need better than your own team.


That said, I have two favorites from the list. First is Google Tables. I already use many Google products: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and more. Since it is still in its Beta phase, it is not yet able to fully integrate with all of the Google apps yet, but it is headed in that direction. I also like the simplicity, the grid layout, and the fact that the free version has access to all of the features (for now).


My other favorite is monday.com. When monday.com appeared as a top result on multiple searches, I knew I had to check it out. I went in very skeptical, but I get why it is so well-received and well-reviewed. It has many features, and the sheer number of apps available to integrate with your software is incredible. However, the real kicker for me was the ability to create conversations within each task. My biggest problem with most project management software is the lack of a decent chat feature. As someone who works and goes to school virtually, communicating virtually with my project team is vital.


Due to this project's nature, I could only moderately test the various software programs, so there is still much to learn about each of them. This is only a guide to get you started to find which program is best for you, your project, and your team.

References

Sources used in addition to the project management software websites:

Bar-Joseph, S. (2022, September 19). The best and the rest project management software in 2022. monday.com. https://monday.com/blog/project-management/the-complete-project-management-software-list/

Duffy, J. (2022, October 7). The best project management software for 2022. PCMag. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-project-management-software

Kissflow. (2022, July 3). What is project management software? - Features and benefits explained. https://kissflow.com/project/benefits-of-project-management-software/

Rudder, A. (2022, September 8). Best project management software of 2022. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-project-management-software/

TechnologyAdvice. (2022, September 3). TechnologyAdvice project management software buyer's guide. https://technologyadvice.com/project-management/