20 Best Public Relations Project Management Software Reviewed In 2024
Best Public Relations Project Management Software Shortlist
Here’s my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
Managing successful PR campaigns can be as challenging as choosing the right software to streamline project management. Many organizations struggle to equip their teams with practical tools, leading to increased workloads and diminished results in their PR efforts.
As a project manager tech analyst, I've noted a rising demand for solutions that tackle these challenges directly. Leveraging my expertise in PR software, I've tested and reviewed several leading PR project management tools to help teams identify the best solutions for their needs.
Whether you're looking to introduce a new platform or upgrade your existing toolkit, my guide will help you make informed decisions to enhance your team's performance and campaign outcomes.
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How To Choose Public Relations Project Management Software
As you work through your unique software selection process, keep the following points in mind.
- Integration Capabilities: Public relations agencies often use various tools for different tasks, such as media monitoring, social media management, and client communication. Choosing a project management software that integrates with these existing tools can significantly enhance workflow efficiency.
- Collaboration Features: Effective collaboration is important in public relations, where teams work together on press releases, media pitches, and event planning. Look for software offering collaboration features such as real-time editing, in-app messaging, and shared workspaces.
- Task and Deadline Management: Public relations projects often involve multiple tasks with strict deadlines. A project management tool that offers features like automated reminders, Gantt charts, and task dependencies can help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
- Budgeting and Resource Allocation: Managing budgets and resources efficiently is essential when running a successful PR campaign. Choose software offering detailed budgeting and resource allocation features, including expense tracking, time tracking, and automated invoicing.
- Reporting and Analytics: Data-driven decision-making is essential in public relations to measure campaign impact and adjust strategies accordingly. Look for project management software with reporting and analytics features, including customizable dashboards, real-time data tracking, and complete reports.
Best Public Relations Project Management Software Summary
We’ve investigated the pricing and availability of free trials and demo versions so you can make a much simpler side-by-side comparison.
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Planable | From $11/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website |
| Toggl Plan | From $8/user/month | Website |
| Basecamp | From $15/user/month | Website |
| Teamwork | From $10/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website |
| Notion | From $10/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website |
| ClientVenue | From $23.50/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Trello | From $5/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website |
| ClickUp | From $7/user/month | Website |
| Scoro | From $26/user/month (min 5 seats) | Website |
| Float | From $6/user/month | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare Software-
ClickUp
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
Wrike
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
Hub Planner
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2
Best Public Relations Project Management Software Reviews
This section provides an in-depth analysis and overview of various public relations project management software. We will walk through the pros and cons, key features, and best use cases.
Planable is a project management software that enhances social media collaboration. It allows teams to create, plan, and review social media content in a collaborative environment.
Why I Picked Planable: Planable focuses on social media content creation, and management. It integrates with major social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. This allows users to publish and collaborate from the platform and multi-level approval processes, and makes it easier for PR teams to manage client approvals.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include an intuitive content calendar, real-time team collaboration, multi-level approval processes, and drag-and-drop functionality. It also includes integrated commenting/feedback and analytics for performance tracking.
Integrations include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), YouTube, Google Business Profile, TikTok, Slack, and Pinterest.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Allows handling of multiple brands in a single account
- Content versioning available
- Instant client and team feedback
Cons:
- Basic CRM capabilities
- Lack of detailed client reporting
Toggl Plan is a time-tracking software that helps businesses improve productivity by allowing teams to track their time and make data-backed decisions. It offers customizable time reporting and billing features for various business needs.
Why I Picked Toggl Plan: Toggl Plan offers time-tracking features and detailed client reports. It has visual overviews of project timelines and team workloads, an intuitive interface for creating, managing, and adjusting project timelines. The software also has a drag-and-drop functionality for users to quickly set up project plans, assign tasks, and adjust deadlines.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include customizable time reporting, project tracking, and team workload management. These features help businesses accurately track billable and non-billable hours, improve productivity, and balance team workloads effectively.
Integrations include Toggl Track. Slack, Asana, Jira, Podio, and Gitlab.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Simple setup and onboarding
- Visual workload management
- Time tracking on individual projects and tasks
Cons:
- Not effective for large teams or complex projects
- No built-in CRM
Basecamp is a project management and team collaboration tool that simplifies workflows by consolidating tasks, communication, and document sharing into a single platform. This helps teams collaborate more effectively.
Why I Picked Basecamp: Basecamp centralizes all project-related communication, tasks, and documents in one place, helping PR teams avoid the confusion of using multiple tools. The platform’s simplicity makes it an ideal choice for PR professionals needing to manage numerous tasks, deadlines, and client communications efficiently. Basecamp also has dedicated message boards for each project for organized and threaded discussions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include to-do lists for task management, message boards for organized discussions, schedule tracking deadlines, and automatic check-ins for regular progress updates. It also includes document and file storage, real-time group chat, hill charts for project visualization, and client access for collaboration.
Integrations include Asana, Trello, Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, Microsoft Outlook, Zapier, Jira, and GitHub.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Hill charts for visual task tracking
- Integrated message boards
- Automated check-ins for team updates
Cons:
- No financial tracking and budgeting capabilities
- Limited customization for project workflows
Teamwork.com is a public relations project management software for agencies that encourages collaboration and productivity.
Why I Picked Teamwork.com: Teamwork.com focuses on client management and collaboration, and provides a dedicated client portal. Here, clients can access project updates, view progress, provide feedback, and approve work. It has communication tools, including messaging, file sharing, and integrated email for interaction. It also has reporting and time-tracking features to generate reporting on project progress.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include task management, time tracking, billing and invoicing, client collaboration portals, and project milestones. It also includes detailed reporting, Gantt charts, file sharing, messaging, and integrated email communication.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Trello, Jira, GitHub, Asana, Figma, Typeform, Zapier, and Intercom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automated reminders and notifications
- Customizable project templates
- Built-in messaging
Cons:
- Limited offline functionality
- Limited chart graph functionality
Notion is a connected workspace for wiki, docs, and projects, offering features such as integrated AI assistant, a centralized knowledge base, flexible project workflows, and time management tools.
Why I Picked Notion: Notion offers flexibility and the ability to create customizable workspaces. It allows PR teams to build their workspace from the ground up, tailoring every aspect to fit their requirements. Notion allows users to create custom databases, task boards, calendars, and content repositories. Its relational databases also allow linking between different types of content.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include building blocks that allow users to visualize, filter, and sort information in various ways, customizable labels and tags for better organization, and drag-and-drop functionality for easy page building and idea communication.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Trello, Jira, GitHub, Asana, Figma, Typeform, Zapier, and Intercom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time collaboration
- Flexible content organization and interconnected databases
- Highly customizable templates
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for customization
- Overwhelming flexibility
ClientVenue is a project management software for agencies with client onboarding, invoicing, real-time project management, and reporting features. It aims to improve team productivity and client satisfaction.
Why I Picked ClientVenue: ClientVenue is a project management software specifically designed for PR agencies. It has workflows and caters to public relations challenges, allowing PR professionals to manage media lists, press releases, and client communications. It centralizes all PR activities, including operations, campaigns, and client collaboration.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include media list management, press release distribution, client portal for real-time collaboration and detailed reporting on PR metrics. It also includes centralized campaign management, social media scheduling, and real-time feedback and approvals.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Localized PR management
- Customizable client access levels
- Integrated media monitoring
Cons:
- Not suited for simple projects
- Interface not user-friendly
Trello is a project management software with an intuitive and flexible board, list, and card system that provides a clear view of project progress.
Why I Picked Trello: Trello uses a card and board system that visually represents tasks and projects, providing a clear overview of the entire workflow. This visual approach helps PR teams quickly see the status of various tasks and priorities. It also allows users to create custom boards for each project.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include visual task management with boards, lists, and cards, customizable workflows, drag-and-drop functionality, detailed card descriptions, and due dates. Other features include attachments, checklists, real-time team collaboration, mobile app access, and commenting and feedback systems.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, Evernote, Salesforce, Jira, GitHub, Asana, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed card and label customizations
- Real-time updates on task changes and comments
- Highly visual and user-friendly interface
Cons:
- No built-in reporting and analytics
- Prone to a cluttered interface
ClickUp is a project management software that offers a variety of features to simplify business processes, improve collaboration, and enhance organizational visibility.
Why I Picked ClickUp: ClickUp consolidates multiple tools and workflows into a single platform, allowing PR teams to manage media relations, content creation, campaign planning, client communication, and performance tracking within ClickUp. It offers customizable dashboards with multiple task views like lists, boards, and Gantt charts. It also supports detailed task dependencies and priority setting.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include task automation, customizable templates, and real-time reporting. ClickUp's flexibility allows teams to tailor the platform to their specific needs. The software also offers a variety of views, such as lists, boards, and Gantt charts, to help teams visualize their work.
Integrations include Slack, HubSpot, TogglTrack, Figma, Loom, Sentry, G Suite, Dropbox, Clockify, and Calendly.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Support complex task dependencies
- Mind maps and whiteboards for brainstorming
- Integrated time tracking
Cons:
- Occasional performance slowdown with large projects
- Complex permissions settings
Scoro is a work management software for professional services that integrates project management, quoting, budgeting, sales, CRM, resource planning, and time tracking into a single platform.
Why I Picked Scoro: Scoro offers an all-in-one solution that incorporates project management, time tracking, billing, and reporting within a single platform. This deep integration allows PR teams to manage their entire workflow, from planning and executing campaigns to tracking time spent on tasks and generating client invoices. Scoro also provides detailed project dashboards that give real-time insights into the status of tasks.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include project management, quoting and budgeting, sales and CRM, resource planning, retainers, time tracking, and reporting and dashboards. These features help businesses manage their entire project lifecycle, from initial quote to final invoice.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Xero, QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Exact Online, Expensify, Stripe, Jira, HubSpot, Salesforce, Google Drive, Dropbox, Okta, Azure AD, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Client portal showing updates, invoices, and reports
- Advanced budget tracking and financial forecasting
- Integrated CRM functionality
Cons:
- Less intuitive interface
- Time-consuming setup and customization
Float is designed to help teams plan, schedule, and track projects. It offers resource planning capabilities for visibility and control over team workloads and project timelines.
Why I Picked Float: Float offers a system that allocates and tracks resources. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows PR managers to easily assign tasks, adjust schedules, and ensure everyone is working at optimal capacity. This ease of use is beneficial for PR agencies needing to quickly respond to changing client demands and shifting project timelines. It also offers real-time visibility into resource availability and utilization.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include resource planning, scheduling, and time tracking. Float allows users to allocate work with a live view of team skills and capacity, set project budgets, and forecast spending. The drag-and-drop scheduling and real-time updates make it easy to adjust schedules and reallocate work as needed.
Integrations include Asana, Trello, Slack, Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Zapier, Harvest, QuickBooks, and Xero.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable reports on resource utilization
- Advanced forecasting tools
- Real-time resource visibility
Cons:
- Limited analytics and reporting
- Limited customization options
Other Public Relations Project Management Software
Below is a list of additional public relations project management software that we shortlisted, but didn’t make it to the top list. Definitely still worth checking them out!
- Function Point
Best for creative agency workflows
- Airtable
Best for customizable workflows
- Nifty
Best for team collaboration
- Zoho Projects
Best for small to medium-sized teams
- Bonsai
Best for freelancers
- Wrike
Best for real-time collaboration
- Ravetree
Best for resource management
- Celoxis
Best for detailed project tracking
- Asana
Best for enterprise-grade security
- monday.com
Best for visual tracking
Related Project Management Software
If you still haven't found what you're looking for, check out these related project management tools we've tested and reviewed.
- Project Management Software
- Resource Management Software
- Workflow Automation Software
- Task Management Software
- Collaboration Tools
- Gantt Chart Maker
Public Relations Project Management Software Selection Criteria
The criteria for choosing public relations project management software should address buyer needs and common pain points, ensuring the tool effectively serves its intended purpose. As an expert who has personally tried and researched this type of software, here are the requirements I use when evaluating these tools.
Core Functionality (20% of total score):
- Media monitoring of social media posts
- Campaign and contact management
- Reporting and analytics of deliverables
- Team collaboration
- Task management
Additional Standout Features (20% of total score):
- Integration with social media platforms
- AI-driven media sentiment analysis
- Customizable dashboards
- Real-time alerts from media contacts
- Advanced data visualization tools
Usability (10% of total score):
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Customizable workflows
- User-friendly navigation
- Mobile app availability
- Minimal learning curve
Onboarding (10% of total score):
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Pre-built templates
- Chatbots for instant support
- Webinars for in-depth training
Customer Support (10% of total score):
- 24/7 customer service availability
- Multi-channel support (email, phone, chat)
- Dedicated account managers
- Informative help center
- Fast response times
Value for Price (10% of total score):
- Competitive pricing plans
- Transparent pricing structure
- Free trial availability
- Discounts for annual subscriptions
- Cost-benefit analysis
Customer Reviews (10% of total score):
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Feedback on ease of use
- Comments on customer support quality
- Reviews on feature effectiveness
- User testimonials on ROI
This criteria ensures that the chosen public relations project management software meets essential requirements, delivers added value, is user-friendly, and offers strong customer support, ultimately leading to an improved user experience and higher ROI.
Trends In Public Relations Project Management Software
Public relations project management software is changing rapidly. As technology advances, staying informed about the latest developments is essential. Here are some key trends to watch closely that could impact your organization
- AI-Driven Analytics: AI-driven analytics help PR teams predict campaign outcomes and measure success with precision. This trend is important for data-driven decision-making.
- Integrated Social Media Management: This software now integrates social media management tools, allowing PR teams to manage campaigns and track engagement from one platform. It simplifies workflows and improves efficiency.
- Real-Time Collaboration Features: Real-time collaboration features are on the rise as these tools allow teams to work together, regardless of location. This trend supports remote work and global collaboration in both large and small businesses.
- Customizable Dashboards: Customizable dashboards are gaining popularity because they allow users to tailor their interface to specific needs and preferences. This enhances user experience and productivity.
- Enhanced Security Protocols: Enhanced security protocols are being implemented to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations. This trend is important for maintaining trust and integrity.
As technology advances, these tools are becoming more sophisticated, offering enhanced analytics, better integration with social media platforms, and improved user experience. Companies that leverage these trends will likely gain a competitive edge in their public relations strategies.
What Is Public Relations Project Management Software?
Public relations project management software is designed to simplify the planning, execution, and evaluation of PR campaigns. These platforms offer tools that facilitate collaboration among team members, track project progress, and manage timelines effectively. It streamlines workflows, automates tasks, and assists with project management in various ways. Some of these ways include task tracking, budgeting, resource scheduling, communication tools, and customer relationship management (CRM).
Key features include media monitoring, measurement analytics, and reporting capabilities. These features enable PR professionals to assess the success of their initiatives. By centralizing communication and tasks, this software improves efficiency and enhances public relations strategies' overall effectiveness. With the rapid transformation of media channels and consumer behavior, investing in project management software is becoming increasingly important for PR teams.
Features Of Public Relations Project Management Software
Public relations project management software provides a structured platform for navigating public relations work, allowing PR teams to focus on delivering outstanding results. Below are the most important features to look for in such software.
- Task Management: Effective task management is important for tracking all activities within a PR campaign. This feature allows you to assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
- Collaboration Tools: Collaboration tools facilitate real-time communication and teamwork. Features like in-app messaging, live edits, and document sharing ensure that team members and clients can work together.
- Time Tracking: Time tracking helps monitor the time spent on various tasks and projects. This feature is essential for accurate billing, resource allocation, and ensuring that projects stay on schedule.
- Budget Management: Automated budget management tracks actual costs against planned budgets. This feature helps avoid financial issues and ensures that projects remain profitable.
- Gantt Charts: Gantt charts provide a visual representation of project timelines and task dependencies. They help manage large, multi-step projects and ensure team members are aware of deadlines.
- Resource Planning: Resource planning tools help allocate and manage resources effectively. This feature ensures that team members are not overbooked or underutilized, optimizing productivity and morale.
- Reporting and Analytics: Complete reporting and analytics provide insights into project performance. This feature helps track KPIs, understand project ROI, and make data-driven decisions.
- Customizable Dashboards: Customizable dashboards allow users to personalize their view of KPIs, tasks, and goals. This feature helps team members focus on their priorities while supporting overall business objectives.
- Integration with Other Tools: Integration with CRM, accounting software, and communication platforms is essential for creating a seamless workflow. This feature reduces the need for manual data entry and ensures that all systems are in sync.
- Automated Reminders: Automated reminders help prevent missed deadlines and overlooked tasks. This feature ensures that all important dates and actions are met, keeping projects on track.
Choosing the right public relations project management software can impact the success of your PR campaigns. By focusing on the right features, you can better ensure that your agency can deliver quality results.
Benefits Of Public Relations Project Management Software
These tools help PR professionals manage tasks more effectively by integrating various functionalities into a single platform. Below are five primary benefits of using public relations project management software for users and organizations.
- Enhanced Collaboration: The software lets team members collaborate in real-time, allowing them to share documents, timelines, and updates effortlessly. This ensures that everyone is on the same page, and reduces the chances of miscommunication.
- Improved Time Management: With features like time tracking and automated reminders, PR project management software helps teams stay on schedule. This ensures that deadlines are met and projects are completed on time, which is important for maintaining client satisfaction and trust.
- Centralized Information Storage: The software provides a centralized repository for all project-related documents and data, making it easy to access and retrieve information when needed. This reduces the risk of losing important files and ensures that all team members have access to the latest information.
- Efficient Budget Management: PR project management software includes budgeting tools that help managers allocate resources and track real-time expenses. This ensures that projects stay within budget and any financial discrepancies are identified and addressed promptly.
- Enhanced Reporting and Analytics: The software offers reporting and analytics features that provide insights into project performance. This helps managers make data-driven decisions, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the value of their work to clients and other stakeholders.
By improving collaboration, time management, information storage, budget management, and reporting, these tools can help PR professionals deliver successful campaigns that meet client expectations and drive business growth.
Costs & Pricing Of Public Relations Project Management Software
This section outlines typical plans and costs for public relations project management software. Pricing depends on the features and scale of the software package.
Plan Comparison Table for Public Relations Project Management Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic task management, simple scheduling, basic collaboration tools, and limited storage |
| Personal Plan | $5 - $10 per user/month | Task management, time tracking, basic reporting, file sharing, and limited integrations |
| Business Plan | $15 - $25 per user/month | Advanced task management, project tracking, resource management, team collaboration, integrations, and reporting tools. |
| Enterprise Plan | $30 - $60 per user/month | All business plan features plus custom workflows, security, priority support, unlimited storage, analytics, and multi-language support |
FAQs About Public Relations Project Management Software
Here are some commonly asked questions I’ve received about public relations project management software.
How can I integrate my public relations project management software with other tools I use?
Integrating your PR project management software with other tools can simplify your workflow and improve efficiency. Most PR software offers integrations with popular tools such as Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and various CRM systems.
To integrate, you access the software’s settings or integrations section, select the tool you want to connect, and follow the on-screen instructions. Some software may require API keys or OAuth authentication to complete the integration.
What are the best practices for managing multiple public relations project management software campaigns?
Managing multiple PR campaigns simultaneously requires careful planning and organization. Use your project management software to create separate projects or workspaces for each campaign. Assign specific team members to each campaign and clearly define their roles and responsibilities. Also, use task lists, timelines, and Gantt charts to keep track of deadlines and milestones.
Regularly update the status of tasks and hold weekly check-ins to ensure everyone is on the same page. Also, prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact to ensure that important activities are completed on time.
How can I measure the success of my public relations project management software campaigns software?
To measure the success of your PR campaigns, you need to set clear, measurable objectives at the outset. Use your project management software to track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as media coverage, social media engagement, website traffic, and lead generation.
Many PR project management tools offer built-in analytics and reporting features that allow you to generate detailed reports on campaign performance. Regularly review these reports to assess whether you are meeting your objectives and to identify areas for improvement.
What are the common challenges faced when using public relations project management software and how can they be overcome?
Common challenges include user adoption, data integration, and maintaining data accuracy. To overcome these challenges, provide complete training to your team to ensure they are comfortable using the software. Also, encourage consistent use of the software by integrating it into your daily workflow and making it the central hub for all PR activities.
How can I ensure data security and privacy when using public relations project management software?
Data security and privacy are important when using PR project management software. Choose software that complies with industry standards and regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. Look for features such as data encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits. You can also limit access to sensitive information by setting user permissions. Make sure you also regularly update passwords and educate your team on data security best practices.
What are the key considerations when choosing public relations project management software for a large team?
When choosing PR project management software for a large team, consider scalability, user-friendliness, and collaboration features. The software should handle a large number of users and projects without compromising performance. Look for intuitive interfaces and easy-to-navigate dashboards to ensure team members can use the software effectively. Also ensure that collaboration features such as real-time messaging, file sharing, and collaborative document editing are present. Additionally, consider the software’s pricing structure and ensure it fits your budget.
How can I customize my public relations project management software to fit my specific needs?
Most PR project management software offers customization options to fit your specific needs. You can customize dashboards, task lists, and workflows to match your team’s processes. Use custom fields and tags to categorize and filter tasks based on your criteria. Some software allows you to create custom templates for recurring projects or tasks, saving time and ensuring consistency.
Additionally, explore the software’s API capabilities to build custom integrations with the tools you use. Consult the software’s documentation or support team for guidance on customization options.
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