Many companies, especially startups and small businesses, face significant challenges when it comes to managing projects efficiently. These challenges include limited budgets, lack of access to sophisticated tools, difficulties in team coordination, and ensuring timely project delivery.
Free project management software or apps can be a game changer for these businesses. Such tools help companies of all sizes complete projects on time and within budget. They streamline project management by offering features for task management, resource allocation, and communication.
The project management tool market is valued at USD 6.54 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 10.86 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 10.67%.
But, with a plethora of project management app options available, finding the right one for your team's unique needs can be both frustrating and time-consuming.
If you’re searching for the ideal free project management solution to meet your specific requirements, you’re in luck. VLink has done the research for you and compiled a list of our top 10 free project management software in 2024 & beyond.
1. Trello
2. Asana
3. ClickUp
4. Monday
5. Wrike
6. Airtable
7. Jira
8. Teamwork
9. ActiveCollab
10. Linear
Let’s start with its features:
What Makes the Best Free Project Management Tool?
Here are a few features of the best free project management software:
User-Friendly Interface
The best project management tool should be easy to navigate with an intuitive interface. It helps in reducing the learning curve and allows team members to accept the software quickly.
Collaboration Tools
The free project management app with effective collaboration features such as real-time chat, comments, file sharing, and notifications. It ensures team members can communicate effectively and stay updated on project progress.
Integration Capabilities
Another feature of the best project management software is the ability to integrate with other tools (such as Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), which is essential for seamless workflow management. It allows team members to leverage their existing tools within the project management platform.
Customization and Flexibility
The best project management software is flexible enough to handle multiple teams, project types, and organization styles. Ensure they support several views and project management methods.
Security and Privacy
Security is paramount when it comes to managing projects, as sensitive information and data privacy need to be safeguarded. Robust security features such as data encryption, user permissions, and secure data storage are essential for the best project management app.
10 Best Free Project Management Software at a Glance
Here are ten best free tools for project managers are shown in the below table:
Project Management Tools | Best For | Free Plan Features | Pros | Cons |
Trello | Kanban boards |
|
| Limited advanced features on free plan |
Asana | Team collaboration |
|
| Steeper learning curve |
ClickUp | Customized task view |
|
| Can be overwhelming due to many features |
Monday | Visual project planning |
|
| Limited to 2 users on the free plan |
Wrike | Detailed reporting |
|
| Complex interface |
Airtable | Database management |
|
| Free plan limits storage and records |
Jira | Agile Software Development Teams |
|
| Steep learning curve
|
Teamwork | Client project and team collaboration |
|
| Limited features on the free plan
|
ActiveCollab | Freelancers and small agencies |
|
| Can become expensive for larger teams
|
Linear | Product & engineer team |
|
| Not Flexible Not for Complex project |
Let’s know about them in detail:
Best Free Project Management Software for Kanban Boards
Trello (Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android)
Trello is a simple yet powerful project management tool that gives you a way to organize your projects with Kanban boards. Freelancers can use this project management app to plan their assignments on a personal board. On the other hand, teams can use this software to visually build a complete project workflow.
Standout Features & Integration
- Simple, Kanban-style layout for quick project view
- Visualize your project’s details as Boards, Lists, and Cards
- Organize all project data, including member details, due dates, or attachments, in one place
- Customized Trello cards to meet specific business demands
- Nifty AI assistant called Butler for automate workflow
Integration includes pre-built connections to apps like Slack, Google Drive, DocuSign, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform, and many more.
Who It’s For
Small businesses that need free project management software with a Kanban approach.
Pricing Plan
Free Plan:
- Unlimited cards and members
- 10 boards per workspace
- Unlimited Power and 250 automated commands each month
Paid Plan ($5/user/month (billed annually)
- Unlimited boards
- Advanced features
- Up to 1,000 automated commands per month
Best Free Project Management Software for Team Collaboration
Asana (Web, iOS, Android)
Whether you're working solo or with a team, Asana is the right software for project management. It will help you start your project quickly with pre-built project templates and an easy-to-use workflow builder. This tool will allow you to break projects down into sections and sub-lists.
Standout Features & Integrations
- Boards, Lists, Timelines, Calendars, and Gantt charts for comprehensive project overview
- Forms, Rules, Bundles, and Templates to setup workflow
- Workload management and time tracking for resource management
- Integration to options includes Slack, Google Drive, and GitHub.
Who It’s For
Asana is an excellent choice for businesses looking to manage different projects and leverage Agile project management into their workflow.
Pricing Plan
Free plan:
- Unlimited projects, tasks, and storage
- Up to 15 users, as well as list, board, and calendar views.
Paid Plan ($10.99/user/month (billed annually)
- Adds Gantt and timeline views
- Extensive reports
- Asana's "coming soon" AI feature
Best Free Project Management Software for Customized Task Views
ClickUp (Web, iOS, Android)
ClickUp is a feature-rich project management app you can use to track projects, organize documents, and make reports. With this simple and free tool, you can select from 11 different task views, including Gantt charts and mind maps.
There are also three different page views: Chat (which displays conversations alongside your tasks), Doc (which allows you to create docs), and Embed (which lets you integrate apps and sites next to your tasks).
Standout Features & Integrations
- ClickUp Tasks to manage project workflows and organize your work effectively
- 15+ ClickUp Views ranging from Gantt charts to Lists to Kanban boards and more
- Chat View to discuss ideas, share updates, and directly Assign Comments as action items
- ClickUp’s Universal Search to find anything within and connected to the app
- Native ClickUp Time-tracking to plan and manage schedules precisely
- Rich and interactive ClickUp Dashboards
Who It’s For
ClickUp is a great choice for organizations that want to move projects fast without breaking any workflow.
Pricing Plan
Free plan:
- Unlimited tasks and users
- Up to 100MB of storage
Paid Plan ($7/user/month)
- Unlimited list, board, calendar, and Gantt views, unlimited dashboards, and guests and permissions.
Best Project Management Software for Visually Project Planning
Monday.com (Windows, macOS, Linux, Mobile)
Monday.com is a cloud-based project management platform that utilizes visual building blocks to improve visibility and facilitate close collaboration among all team members. Whether you’re handling a simple to-do list or developing a detailed work breakdown structure for a complex project, Monday.com makes the process straightforward and efficient.
Standout Features
- Customizable dashboards with 30+ widgets to make smarter decisions
- 10+ project views like Gantt charts, Kanban board
- Whiteboard, embedded documents, and update section for seamless collaboration
Who It’s For
- Monday is the perfect fit for entrepreneurs with a little bit of extra geek.
- It’s ideal for any project leader who wants to automate operations such as task generation, assignment, and tracking.
Pricing Plan
- For 3 to 49 seats: Free
- Basic: $12/month per seat
- Standard: $14/month per seat
- Pro: $24/month per seat
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best Free Project Management Software for Detailed Reporting
Wrike (Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
If you manage your projects in a spreadsheet, Wrike is the right choice. It offers a flexible spreadsheet with columns or every bit of info you want to track tasks. It’s an all-in-one project management tool for both small and large projects.
Standout Features and Integration:
- Time tracking, Gantt charts, and custom dashboards
- Proofing and approval of workflows and blueprints.
- AI features for content creation, editing, risk predictions, & task creation.
- Proofing comparison mode and access to Wrike labs
Integrations in Wrike include 400+ pre-built native integrations that include Asana, Airtable, BambooHR, Chargify, Clearbit, HubSpot, Jenkins, Mailchimp, Replicon, Salesforce, and Slack.
Who it’s For
- Best project management software for large projects and scaling organizations
Pricing Plan
Free plan:
- Unlimited projects for unlimited users
Paid plan (upgrade for $9.80/user/month)
- Includes Gantt charts, shareable dashboards, and more.
Best Free Project Management Software for Database management
Airtable (Web, iOS, Android)
Airtable is an excellent project management solution for Spreadsheet-based projects with advanced spreadsheet features. It’s ideal for Agile teams or cross-functional teams looking to stay on the same page from sprint to sprint.
This software allows you to customize everything from the view type to column headers, field types, data validation, and more.
Standout Features and Integration
- An interface designer is needed to build and share custom interfaces without code.
- Several data visualization formats
- Workflow automation to streamline work and reduce clutter
- Sync to execute workflows in real-time quickly
- Flexible reporting options and built-in extension
Integration with various third-party applications, including Google Drive, Salesforce, Zendesk, Asana, GitHub, Slack, Trello, and Microsoft Excel
Who It’s For
- Project management
- Event planning
- Content production
- Sales
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
Pricing Plan
Free plan
- Limited in terms of customization options, AI features, and integration capabilities.
- Unlimited bases
- Up to 5 users
- Grid, calendar, and Kanban
Paid Plan ($20/user/month)
- Fifty thousand records per base, 20GB of attachments, Gantt and timeline view, and more.
The Best Free Project Management Software for Agile Software Development Team
Jira (Web, iOS, Android)
Jira is one of the best free project management software designed for Scrum and Agile workflows. During the initial sign-up, the onboarding process prompts a few questions about your team's projects, experience with various methodologies, and deadlines. Based on your responses, suggest a suitable methodology and project template.
For Scrum projects, you begin by adding epics to the Roadmap page. From there, you can add individual issues to your backlog, complete with details and sprint assignments. Project tracking takes place on a customizable Scrum board, the project's homepage, where you can modify column headers and update task details and statuses.
Standout Features and Integration
- Access real-time insights through various reports, such as burn-down/up charts, sprint reports, and velocity charts.
- Manage product backlogs efficiently, prioritize tasks, and plan sprints.
- Facilitate team communication through comments, mentions, and direct notifications.
Integration with other development tools like GitHub, GitLab, Sentry, and Jenkins to make quick work of updating and tracking your backlog.
Pricing Plan
Free plan
- Up to 10 users
- Both Scrum and Kanban boards;
Paid plan ($7.75/user/month)
- Comprehensive user permissions
- 250 GB of file storage
Best Free Project Management Software for Client Projects & Team Collaboration
Teamwork (Windows, iOS, Android)
Teamwork is comprehensive project management software designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. It offers a suite of tools for task management, time tracking, resource management, and collaboration. So, it’s a versatile solution for businesses of all sizes.
Standout Features & Integrations
- Monitor time spent on tasks and projects to ensure efficient resource use.
- Interactive Gantt charts for project timelines and progress.
- Use built-in messaging, file sharing, and comments to enhance team communication.
- Create personalized dashboards to keep track of key project metrics.
Integration with other tools like Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, and more for streamlined workflows.
Who is it For
- Project Managers
- Teams and Departments
- Freelancers and Agencies
- Businesses of All Sizes
Pricing Plans
Free Plan:
- Up to 5 users
- Basic project management features
- 2 active projects
- Limited storage
Deliver ($12.50/user/month, billed annually):
- For teams needing more control and visibility
- Unlimited projects
- Advanced project management features
- Time tracking
- 100 GB storage
Grow ($25/user/month, billed annually):
- For larger teams and growing businesses
- All Deliver features
- Advanced Reporting
- 250 GB storage
- Resource management
- Client users
Best Free Project Management Software For Freelancers and small agencies
ActiveCollab (Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
If you want to manage client projects and other activities like invoicing and time tracking in one place, ActiveCollab is the right option.
Built for agencies and freelancers, the app includes thoughtful details to streamline client management. It is highly configurable and rich in planning and organizational project management tools that simplify or automate your processes up to getting paid.
Standout Features
- File uploading and sharing system to share resources with the rest of your team quickly
- A task list system to tag relevant users, comment on task progress, and track task time
- Time tracking, billable hours, and invoicing features to create detailed budget and expense reports
Who It’s For
It’s perfect for users learning the project management basics, especially regarding budgeting, invoicing, and client management.
Pricing Plan
Free plan:
- Unlimited projects and tasks for up to 3 members, with task dependencies and list and Kanban views.
Paid Plan ($9.50/month)
- Access to 3 members
- Gantt and calendar views, project templates, recurring tasks, and more.
Best Free Project Management Software for Product & Engineering Team
Linear (Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android)
Linear is a project management software designed to help teams plan, track, and manage their projects efficiently. It's known for its user-friendly interface, real-time collaboration features, and seamless workflow integration. Linear is particularly popular among software development teams but is versatile enough to be used in various industries.
Standout Features & Integration
- A clean and intuitive interface to reduce friction and increase productivity
- Workflow automation to save time and reduce the potential for errors.Customizable views and dashboards
- Advanced search and filtering options
- Extensive use of keyboard shortcuts to enhance speed and efficiency.
Integration with VS Code, Figma, GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Sentry
Who It’s For
- Project planning & task management
- Team Collaborate in real-time
- Project progress Tracking
- issue tracking and bug management for software development
- Streamline workflows and improve team efficiency
Pricing Plan
Free Plan:
- Ideal for small teams or individual use.
- Basic project management features.
- Limited to 10 users and 250 issues.
Standard Plan:
- $8 per user per month (billed annually).
- Includes all features of the Free Plan.
- Unlimited users and issues.
- Advanced project management and collaboration features.
Pro Plan:
- $12 per user per month (billed annually).
- Includes all features of the Standard Plan.
- Priority support.
- Advanced integration and customization options.
Benefits of Project Management Apps
Here are five common benefits project managers can get with project management apps:
- Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better communication and teamwork by providing a centralized platform for sharing updates, files, and feedback.
- Improved Organization: Helps in structuring tasks, setting priorities, and tracking progress, ensuring that projects stay on schedule.
- Increased Productivity: Automates routine tasks, allowing team members to focus on more critical aspects of the project.
- Real-Time Updates: Provides instant access to the latest project information, enabling quicker decision-making and problem-solving.
- Resource Management: Assists in allocating and managing resources efficiently, ensuring optimal utilization and avoiding overloading team members.
How to Choose the Best Free Software for Project Management?
Here are a few things you need to consider when choosing free project management software:
#1 - Identifying Your Needs
The best project management software depends on your team, industry, and project complexity. Ensure your software can accommodate your team size. In addition, it can handle your project complexity.
#2 - Essential Features
Make sure free project management software has the basic features you need. Look for different project board views for tasks like kanban boards, checklists, or timelines. You can also check if you can create rules for automation in a project board.
Another thing to keep in mind is how your team can communicate via the platform. Some software will allow team members to write comments on task cards, while others allow for in-app group chats and messaging. Finally, the reporting capabilities should be considered, and the integration with work apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams should be checked for ease.
#3 - Ease of Use
Look for project management software that’s convenient and easy for the team. Here are a few things you need to look for in the best free software to simplify your projects:
- Easy task creation and assignment
- Automated alerts and reminders
- Real-time collaboration
- Drag-and-drop functionality
- File sharing
- Customizable dashboard
#4 - Integration and Device Compatibility
Another essential factor to consider when choosing the best free project management tool is integration and device compatibility. Here are a few questions you need to ask:
- Does the software integrate with other apps and your work apps?
- Can it integrate with email, messaging, or document management tools?
- Does your software support both desktop and mobile devices?
- Is the app compatible with the devices and OS used by your team members?
Free vs. Paid Project Management Software
Free project management apps often provide basic features such as task management, file sharing, and free templates. On the other hand, paid software offers more advanced features, dedicated support, and better security, making it suitable for project management software for larger teams or complex projects.
Free tools are great for small teams or simple projects with limited scope, while paid management software is suitable for larger teams or projects that need more advanced features. It offers high reliability thanks to more robust support and security features.
Wrap Up!
Whether you are a solo entrepreneur or freelancer, the abovementioned 10 best free project management software solutions are great.
Choosing the right free project management software can significantly enhance productivity and streamline your workflow. By evaluating what each tool offers and how it aligns with your project management requirements, you can find the perfect fit to help your team stay organized and achieve your goals efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trello is an easy-to-use project management tool that offers a visual, card-based system. It’s intuitive and ideal for both individuals and teams to manage tasks and collaborate effectively.
Project management software provides comprehensive tools for planning, executing, and monitoring entire projects, including resource allocation and progress tracking. Task management apps focus on organizing individual tasks, deadlines, and personal to-do lists. The former handles complex, multi-faceted projects, while the latter is ideal for managing daily tasks and assignments.
Building project management software can cost between $20,000 and $150,000, depending on features, complexity, and development team rates. Factors such as user interface design, integrations, and advanced functionalities like reporting and analytics significantly influence the total cost.
Project management software is a tool that helps teams plan, execute, and track projects. It includes features for task assignment, scheduling, resource allocation, and progress monitoring, enabling efficient collaboration, organization, and management of project goals and timelines.
Free project management software options include Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com (basic plan), and Wrike. These tools offer essential features for task management, collaboration, and project tracking at no cost.