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Managing projects remotely comes with its own particular set of hurdles, as you must facilitate communication, assign tasks, and meet deadlines—all without face-to-face interaction. Without the right tools to keep everyone aligned, projects can easily veer off course.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of remote project management tools. These solutions are designed to help your team stay connected, organized, and productive, no matter where they’re working from.

I’ve personally reviewed each tool to offer you an honest, unbiased assessment of their features and benefits. In this article, you’ll find a clear overview of what each remote project management option provides so you can choose the best fit for your team.

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Best Remote Project Management Tool Reviews

Here’s a brief description of each of the remote project management tools on my list showing what it does best, plus screenshots to showcase some of the features.

Best remote project management for growing portfolios

  • 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $10/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.4/5

Celoxis' comprehensive features address the real-world complexities of managing projects across organizations and functions; it excels at planning, delegation, collaboration, tracking, and reporting with agility and user-friendliness. Celoxis can help you plan and manage real-world, diverse project portfolios and it is highly customizable to suit a variety of business needs.

Celoxis boasts auto and manual scheduling features that accommodate geographically distributed remote project teams. The platform functionality can adapt to different time zones, time-constrained tasks, part-time resources, unavoidable absences, interim resource swaps, and even one-off exceptions such as teams working weekends to meet deadlines.

Along with everything you would expect from the remote projects and task planning, Celoxis offers a whole suite of built-in accounting tools, which makes it stand out against competitors. Celoxis can generate reports for budget spends, receivables, and profitability across projects and portfolios. Celoxis can also handle margin tracking, revenue forecasting, and custom financial KPIs.

Celoxis integrates with over 400 third-party apps like Google Drive, MS Excel, JIRA, QuickBooks Online, Salesforce, Evernote, Slack, Zendesk, G Suite, Trello, Harvest, MailChimp, and more through a paid account with Zapier.

Celoxis costs from $22.50/user/month with a 5 user minimum and offers a free 30-day trial.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Easy to use interface
  • Customizable dashboards for each team members
  • Scheduling for geographically distributed teams

Cons:

  • No freemium plan
  • No cancelation refunds post-purchase
  • Only 2GB file space per user included in cloud plan

Best for real-time profitability tracking

  • 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $10/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.6/5

Productive is a professional services automation software designed for agencies and consultancies. It combines project management with financial oversight, so you can manage tasks, resources, and budgets without juggling multiple tools.

I picked Productive because of its real-time profitability tracking. This feature lets you see whether projects are staying profitable as they unfold, giving you visibility into costs, revenue, and margins as they change. For remote teams working across multiple clients, this kind of live financial insight can be the difference between a profitable quarter and one that slips off track.

Beyond profitability tracking, Productive offers resource planning so you can balance team workloads and avoid overbooking. It also includes time tracking for accurate billing, plus budgeting tools that highlight where you’re under or overspending. Together, these features make it easier to keep both projects and finances aligned.

Integrations include Google Calendar, MS Outlook, Xero, QuickBooks, Exact, Visma e-conomic, Jira, Slack, Zapier, Gmail, Mailchimp, and Trello.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Built-in time tracking
  • Strong resource planning
  • Accurate profitability tracking

Cons:

  • Complex initial setup
  • Limited customization options

New Product Updates from Productive

Productive Adds Agent Triggers, Teams Integration, and Time Controls
Productive connects with Microsoft Teams for notifications and automated channel messages.
August 9 2026
Productive Adds Agent Triggers, Teams Integration, and Time Controls

Productive adds automated agent triggers, broader AI file support, Microsoft Teams integration, Resource Planner improvements, and new time entry controls. These updates expand automation while improving scheduling, collaboration, and time tracking. For more information, visit Productive’s official site.

Best for remote collaboration across departments

  • 14-day free trial + free plan available
  • From $10/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.3/5

Wrike is a cloud-based work management platform with robust remote workflow functionality, and it’s a popular choice among enterprise and agency teams. PMs will appreciate being able to build custom dashboards and workflows as well as implement team-specific workflow automation. Progress reporting is easily shareable across clients, stakeholders, and team members no matter where they are located.

Wrike offers a free plan with limited features and a free trial for paid plans.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Ease of use and setup
  • Holistic, comprehensive task modeling
  • Variety of project views meet different user needs

Cons:

  • Best features limited to Business plan
  • The commenting system needs to be more prominent

New Product Updates from Wrike

Wrike Inbox Adds Search and Notification Filters
Wrike Inbox adds search and filters to help users find important notifications faster.
August 16 2026
Wrike Inbox Adds Search and Notification Filters

Wrike Inbox adds search across Incoming, Sent, and Archive, along with filters for Approvals and @mentions. The update helps users find specific notifications faster and apply bulk actions only to matched results. For more information, visit Wrike’s official site.

Best remote PM tool for 3rd-party integrations

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $9/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.6/5

monday.com is a colorful, user-friendly, jack-of-all-trades remote workspace tool for modern teams. Plan, track, and deliver projects using hundreds of visual and customizable templates. View data on a map, calendar, timeline, kanban board, and more. Automate repetitive administrative tasks, like creating new lead entries according to incoming emails.

monday.com costs from $6/user/month and comes with a free 14-day trial. They offer a free plan for up to 2 users.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Very easy to invite others, share timelines, and assign tasks
  • Simple organization by dragging and dropping tasks
  • Excellent collaborative features

Cons:

  • No bottleneck identification or assistance
  • Automations are not fully customizable
  • Best features locked to Standard or Pro versions

New Product Updates from monday AI Workspace

August 9 2026
monday AI Workspace Adds Human Approval Routing

monday AI Workspace adds a human-in-the-loop approval block to AI Workflows, sending approval requests and routing workflow paths based on responses. For more information, visit monday AI Workspace's official site.

Best remote project planning software with collaboration features

  • 15-day free trial + free plan + free demo available
  • From $4/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.3/5

Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management solution that can support distributed and remote teams. The software is capable of supporting multiple projects and has a secure online storage space that serves as a centralized database for all relevant project information.

Ready-made templates can speed up project planning, helping to ensure no details are missed. Users can create multiple tasks and subtasks, and distribute them among different team members. Dependencies can be identified and managed, and users can automate key processes and reminders.

The software is also equipped with collaboration tools that support remote project management. Team members can comment on tasks, chat, share files, and notify each other of completed tasks. The platform's reporting data gives detailed insights into productivity and project performance.

Zoho Projects is completely free for up to three users. Paid plans start at $5 per user/month with the Premium package.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Collaboration features support virtual teamwork
  • Free for up to 2 projects and up to 3 users
  • Migrate from another software provider

Cons:

  • Takes time to get familiar with the large feature set
  • Minimal support documentation

New Product Updates from Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects Adds Time Log Grid View for Faster Tracking
Zoho Projects’ Time Log Grid view speeds up logging across tasks and issues.
August 2 2026
Zoho Projects Adds Time Log Grid View for Faster Tracking

Zoho Projects adds Time Log Grid View, a unified interactive grid for logging and reviewing hours across tasks and issues, helping teams enter time faster and identify work patterns more easily. For more information, visit Zoho Projects’ official site.

Best for project lifecycle management

  • 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $8/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.7/5

Workzone is an intuitive remote project management tool that caters to industries such as marketing, healthcare, and education, providing a solution for teams managing numerous time-sensitive projects. With its emphasis on collaboration and real-time visibility, Workzone helps you streamline project lifecycle management and organize project intake efficiently. Whether you're part of a nonprofit or an educational institution, Workzone offers the tools needed to enhance productivity and ensure projects are completed on time.

Why I Picked Workzone

I picked Workzone for its ability to provide real-time project visibility, which is essential for remote teams needing to stay updated on project progress. The tool's project lifecycle management supports every phase of your project, from initiation to closure, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Additionally, its collaboration tools, such as integrations with Slack and Microsoft Teams, facilitate seamless communication among team members, making it a valuable asset for remote project management.

Workzone Key Features

In addition to its standout project visibility and lifecycle management, I also found the following helpful:

  • Pre-Built Reports: Offers workload management and budget tracking to keep your projects on target.
  • Project Request Forms: Allows for organized and efficient project intake, ensuring all requests are documented and tracked.
  • Unlimited Training and Support: Provides comprehensive assistance to ensure your team can fully utilize Workzone's features.
  • Proofing and Approvals: Streamlines document review processes, allowing for quick feedback and approvals.

Workzone Integrations

Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Salesforce, Dropbox, Box, Outlook, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and SharePoint.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Structured request and workload management
  • Built-in document proofing and approvals
  • Strong project visibility and tracking

Cons:

  • Mobile experience weaker than desktop
  • Smaller integration ecosystem than competitors

New Product Updates from Workzone

Workzone Adds Forecasts to Project Baselines
Workzone compares baseline and current project data to forecast schedule and budget changes.
August 9 2026
Workzone Adds Forecasts to Project Baselines

Workzone adds Forecasts to Project Baselines for Enterprise users, comparing baseline snapshots with current project schedules. The feature helps teams anticipate project outcomes and identify potential scope, schedule, or cost overruns earlier. For more information, visit Workzone’s official site.

Best tool for online, remote task management

  • Free trial + free plan + free demo available
  • From $13/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.7/5

MeisterTask allows remote teams to organize and manage tasks in a beautifully designed, customizable environment that adapts to individual user needs. Kanban-style project boards allow teams to create streamlined, automated workflows no matter where they are physically located in the world. Their app is available for Android and iOS, as well.

MeisterTask costs from $8.25/user/month and offers a free version for up to 3 projects.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Intuitive and user-friendly UI
  • Very easy to manage several projects at the same time
  • Access to unlimited project boards

Cons:

  • Timeline and custom fields are restricted to Business accounts
  • File attachments limited to 200 MB per file
  • After loading a file into a task it cannot be downloaded immediately

Best for building custom project workflows

  • 30-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $24/user/month
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Rating: 4.6/5

Kintone is a web-based project management tool used by teams at Volvo Trucks North America, Japan Airlines, Shiseido, and over 23,000 organizations worldwide. Their unique approach to project and task management lets you build a wide variety of customizable “apps” either from scratch, using templates or from your existing spreadsheets, for data management, business processes, and workflows. Kintone apps can be customized for project management, sales CRM, customer databases, expense reports, shared to-do lists, equipment management, product feedback, and much more.

Kintone lets you build online project management apps by dragging and dropping elements that you want to see onto the page: rich text fields, date fields, drop-down menus, number fields with built-in calculations, spaces for attachments, user or group selection menus, related data from other apps, tables, and more.

Once you’ve built the app you want, you can use it to more easily manage whatever data and tasks you and your team need to track. And with custom notifications and reminders as well as detailed permissions settings, your online project management solution can look and work however you want it to.

What makes Kintone particularly great for online project management are the features to filter and prioritize tasks by data field or team member to generate custom reports or dashboard views, as well as the ability to automate reminders and handoffs between team members for multi-step workflows. Because Kintone is a cloud-based platform, users can also view, edit, and update workflows from a desktop web browser or the platform’s mobile app.

Kintone lets you expand its capabilities with both free native plugins built by the Kintone team as well as integrations with other tools like Slack, Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, Tableau, Dropbox, Salesforce, HubSpot, Eventbrite, WordPress, QuickBooks, MailChimp, and many more through a paid plan with Zapier or via API integrations.

Kintone costs $24/user/month with a minimum requirement of 5 users. They offer a 30-day free trial (no credit card required) and discounted prices for nonprofits and educators. Kintone’s team also offers a free custom app build as part of the free trial process.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Ease of use and adaptability
  • Endlessly flexible and customizable
  • Good price point for what you get

Cons:

  • Takes time to set up your own apps
  • Deeper search functionality welcomed

Best for Agile and Scrum teams

  • Free plan + 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $8.50/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Shortcut is a comprehensive project management tool designed to improve collaboration and organize workflows between product and engineering teams. It integrates planning and development processes through features such as Kanban boards, roadmaps, and reporting tools, allowing teams to track progress, measure efficiency, and align work with organizational goals. 

Shortcut offers tools for teams utilizing Agile, Scrum, or Kanban methodologies. Its Kanban-style interface fosters improved team collaboration and efficient project management, which is essential for remote teams. Other notable features include project backlog and sprint planning for effective task organization and prioritization, as well as workflow automation to handle repetitive tasks, allowing you to concentrate on development. 

The platform also offers capabilities for stories, epics, and milestones to enhance transparency, organization, and communication, which are vital for remote project management success.

Integrations include Slack, GitHub, GitLab, Figma, Codestream, Bitbucket, Notion, Loom, Dailybot, Plecto, LinearB, Lambda Test, Testlodge, Google Calendar, Miro, Productboard, Sentry, FireHydrant, and Vanta.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Good team collaboration features
  • Supports agile project management
  • Ability to customize workflows

Cons:

  • Advanced custom fields limited to higher-tier plans
  • Can't track time without integrations

New Product Updates from Shortcut

March 22 2026
Shortcut Introduces SLA Alerts for Workflow Tracking

Shortcut introduces SLA Alerts within Stories, currently available in early access. This update enables automatic deadlines and early breach warnings to help teams stay on top of high-priority work. For more information, visit Shortcut’s official site.

Best for large companies and enterprises

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $9.99/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Teamwork contains all the project management essentials that you need in a collaborative remote team: the ability to create tasks and projects, upload and share files, and add comments to tasks. Use Gantt charts, board views, portfolio management tools, time tracking, reporting dashboards, and workload management tools. Access readily available project health status updates for all remote employees.

Teamwork costs from $10/user/month and offers a free version for up to 5 users.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Excellent time tracking feature
  • Easy and comprehensive report building
  • Easily track comments and feedback from clients

Cons:

  • More integrations with popular CRMs would be welcome
  • Doesn't sync with QuickBooks
  • Can be difficult to move/adjust milestones

Other Remote Project Management Tools

Here’s a few more that didn’t make the top list.

  1. ProjectManager

    Software for remote teams using hybrid project methodologies

  2. GoodDay

    For customizable personal workspaces

  3. Ravetree

    Project management in an all-in-one work platform

  4. Height

    For organizing and streamlining complex projects

  5. Miro

    Collaborative whiteboard for hybrid teams

  6. ClickUp

    Remote project management tool for screen recording

  7. Quire

    For breaking down complex projects

  8. Smartsheet

    Remote project management tool for sales reps

  9. Scoro

    For managing remote team workflows

  10. Hive

    Tool for project templates

  11. GoodDay

    For Kanban-centric Agile project management

  12. Kantata

    Remote project management software for service businesses

  13. Kissflow

    Simple project management software for remote teams

  14. Hub Planner by Milient

    For team scheduling, capacity planning, & requesting work

  15. PathPro

    For product development teams

  16. Basecamp

    For IT teams

  17. Paymo

    Remote project management tool for freelancers

  18. Forecast

    For managing your projects, resources, and finances in one

  19. Trello

    For Kanban-style organization

  20. Planview Vantage

    For scalability

How I Evaluate Remote Project Management Tools

I split my evaluation into two layers: the baseline capabilities a tool must have to keep a distributed team aligned across time zones, and the differentiators that set the best options apart.

Core Functionality (Table Stakes For This List)

When I'm selecting tools for my list, I rank each one on a scale from 0 (does not offer the functionality) to 5 (excels in this area) for each core functionality listed below. Then, I calculate the tool's total score into a percentage. Each tool needs to achieve a minimum total score of 65% to be considered for inclusion.

  • Task & Project Management: I check whether you can create tasks with subtasks, dependencies, and custom fields—the kind of structure a distributed team needs to hand work off across shifts.
  • Multiple Project Views: Different team members prefer different layouts, so I look for at least Kanban, list, calendar, and Gantt options similar to what Asana and monday.com offer.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: I evaluate how teams can communicate within the tool itself—comments, @mentions, shared editing—so remote contributors stay in context instead of switching to email.
  • Cloud-Based Accessibility: Full web and mobile access matters when your team spans multiple time zones, so I check for feature parity across platforms and reliable offline sync.
  • File Sharing & Documentation: I look for native file storage, version tracking, and integrations with cloud drives like Google Drive or OneDrive to keep project assets centralized and accessible.
  • Progress Tracking & Reporting: Dashboards, workload views, and status reports help remote managers stay informed without scheduling check-in calls, so I evaluate depth and customization here.

Once I have a list of tools that meet the criteria, I consider what sets each platform apart.

Differentiating Factors (What Sets Vendors Apart)

Here's how I compare and contrast different vendors:

Standout Features

Automation rules are a big differentiator—I look for tools that let you trigger task assignments or status updates based on conditions, so a handoff between team members in different time zones happens without anyone waiting on a manual nudge. AI features are gaining ground too, with tools like ClickUp and monday.com offering generated summaries and task suggestions that cut down on async back-and-forth. I also evaluate resource and capacity planning, since workload heatmaps help managers spot burnout risks across distributed teams before deadlines slip.

Beyond Features

Integration depth matters when your remote stack relies on Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for daily standups—I check whether the tool connects natively or requires workarounds. Security is another key factor for distributed teams where data crosses jurisdictions. I look for SOC 2 compliance, SSO, and role-based permissions that let you grant contractors limited access. Pricing flexibility also plays a role; guest or external collaborator seats are valuable when you regularly loop in clients or freelancers without paying for full licenses.

How to Choose Remote Project Management Tools

It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:

FactorWhat to Consider
ScalabilityEnsure the tool can grow with your team’s needs, from small projects to enterprise-level workloads.
IntegrationsCheck for compatibility with the tools you already use, such as Slack, Google Workspace, or Asana.
CustomizabilityLook for options to tailor dashboards, workflows, and task views to match your team’s preferences.
Ease of UsePrioritize a clean interface and intuitive design that won’t overwhelm your team.
BudgetAssess whether the pricing aligns with your team size and feature needs without unexpected add-ons.
Security SafeguardsMake sure the tool offers features like data encryption, role-based access, and regular backups.
Collaboration FeaturesConfirm that the tool supports real-time chat, file sharing, and progress updates to keep everyone aligned.
Reporting ToolsLook for detailed analytics and custom reports to track progress and identify bottlenecks.

In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different remote project management tool vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:

  • AI-Driven Insights: Tools are increasingly using AI to predict project delays, allocate resources more efficiently, and provide actionable insights. These features analyze past project data and patterns to help teams make better decisions and optimize workflows.
  • Focus on Mental Health: Vendors are adding features like workload balancing and team well-being metrics to reduce burnout. Tools now include pulse surveys and features that encourage healthier work habits for distributed teams.
  • Advanced Collaboration for Hybrid Teams: Tools are evolving to offer virtual workspaces where remote and in-office teams can collaborate effectively. These include shared visual spaces, real-time communication tools to mimic in-person interaction, and screen-sharing capabilities for presentations and collaborative problem-solving during meetings.
  • Sustainability Tracking: More and more, project management tools are incorporating carbon footprint tracking and resource usage monitoring to help businesses meet sustainability goals.
  • Visual-First Interfaces: Platforms are prioritizing Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and other visual workflows to simplify managing complex projects. These designs reduce reliance on text-heavy formats, making it easier for teams to see project progress at a glance.

What are Remote Project Management Tools?

Remote project management tools are software solutions that help teams plan, organize, and track work, even when members are in different locations. These tools are commonly used by project managers, team leads, and freelancers who need to collaborate and manage projects remotely. Features like task tracking, team communication, and file sharing help teams stay aligned, meet deadlines, and avoid miscommunication. Overall, these tools make it easier to manage projects efficiently, no matter where team members are located.

Features of Remote Project Management Tools

When selecting remote project management tools, keep an eye out for the following key features of project management software:

  • Task management: Lets you assign, track, and prioritize tasks to keep projects organized and on schedule.
  • Team communication: Provides built-in messaging or discussion boards to simplify communication among team members.
  • File sharing: Allows teams to upload, share, and store documents in a centralized location for easy access.
  • Time tracking: Helps monitor how much time is spent on tasks and projects to improve productivity and budgeting. See our picks for best remote time tracking software.
  • Progress tracking: Offers visual tools like Gantt charts or Kanban boards to track project milestones and deadlines.
  • Resource allocation: Ensures team members and assets are assigned efficiently to avoid overloading or underutilization.
  • Mobile access: Lets team members manage tasks and collaborate from smartphones or tablets while on the go.
  • Project reporting: Generates reports and insights to evaluate project performance and identify areas for improvement.
  • User permissions: Allows admins to set role-based access for secure and controlled use of the platform.
  • Integration options: Connects with other tools like calendars, email, and CRM systems to keep workflows connected.

Benefits of Remote Project Management Tools

Implementing remote project management tools can provide several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:

  • Improved collaboration: Helps your team stay connected with features like chat, file sharing, and real-time updates, no matter where they’re working.
  • Increased productivity: Keeps tasks organized and visible so team members can focus on what matters most.
  • Better resource management: Tracks workloads and availability to ensure no one is overworked or underutilized.
  • Enhanced transparency: Gives everyone access to progress updates and deadlines, reducing confusion and miscommunication.
  • Time savings: Automates repetitive tasks like reminders and reporting, freeing up time for more important work.
  • Cost control: Tracks time and resources spent on projects to help you stay within budget.
  • Scalability: Adapts to your growing team or changing project needs, ensuring long-term usefulness.

Costs and Pricing of Remote Project Management Software

Selecting remote project management software requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in remote project management software solutions:

Plan Comparison Table for Remote Project Management Software

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features
Free Plan$0/user/monthBasic task management, limited storage, simple collaboration tools, and access for small teams.
Personal Plan$5-$15/user/monthTask prioritization, basic reporting tools, integrations with calendars, and limited file sharing.
Business Plan$15-$40/user/monthAdvanced reporting, time tracking, workflow automation, unlimited storage, and custom dashboards.
Enterprise Plan$40+/user/monthDedicated support, advanced security features, custom integrations, scalability, and API access.
remote project management tools logos list

Remote Project Management Software FAQs

Here are some answers to common questions about remote project management software:

What's Next?

If you're in the process of researching remote project management tools, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.

You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.

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By Ben Aston

I’m Ben Aston, a digital project manager and founder of thedpm.com. I've been in the industry for more than 20 years working in the UK at London’s top digital agencies including Dare, Wunderman, Lowe and DDB. I’ve delivered everything from film to CMS', games to advertising and eCRM to eCommerce sites. I’ve been fortunate enough to work across a wide range of great clients; automotive brands including Land Rover, Volkswagen and Honda; Utility brands including BT, British Gas and Exxon, FMCG brands such as Unilever, and consumer electronics brands including Sony. I'm a Certified Scrum Master, PRINCE2 Practitioner and productivity nut!