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When you're on the hunt for the best cloud-based project management software, there are so many things to consider. You want a tool that will integrate smoothly with the ones you already use—nobody wants to waste time dealing with compatibility issues. Of course, data security matters too. You need to be confident that your sensitive information is well-protected. And let's not forget about mobile accessibility. In today's world, being able to manage projects on the go is a must, but not all software gets this right.

In this post I make things simple, leveraging my experience managing big, complex projects, and using dozens of different PM tools to bring you this shortlist of the best cloud-based project management software.

You Can Trust Our Cloud-Based Project Management Software Reviews

We’ve been testing and reviewing cloud-based project management software since 2012. As project managers ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.

We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different Project Management use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our cloud-based project management software review methodology.

The Best Cloud-Based Project Management Software Comparison Chart

Here is a convenient table where you can look at all the tools we just covered in the overviews. If, however, you would like to expand your research, we have more tools below.

Tools Price
monday.com From $8/user/month (billed annually)
Hub Planner From $7/user/month (billed annually)
Celoxis From $15/user/month (billed annually)
Zoho Projects From $4/user/month (billed annually)
Kintone From $24/user/month
Hubstaff From $4.99/user/month (billed annually)
PSOhub From $8.50/user/month
Nutcache From $12.49 project-planning/user/month (billed annually)
GoodDay From $4/user/month
Ravetree From $29/user/month (billed annually, min 5 seats)
Compare Software Specs Side by Side

Compare Software Specs Side by Side

Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.

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How To Choose Cloud-Based Project Management Software

With so many different cloud-based project management solutions available, it can be challenging to make decisions on what cloud-based project management software is going to be the best fit for your needs.

As you're shortlisting, trialing and selecting cloud-based project management software consider:

  • What you want to use it to do - Start by identifying the cloud-based project management software feature gap you're trying to fill to clarify the features and functionality the cloud-based project management software needs to provide.
  • Who will need to use it - To evaluate cost and requirements, consider who will be using the software and how many licenses you'll need. You'll need to evaluate if it'll just be your team or the whole organization that will require access. When that's clear, it's worth considering if you're prioritizing ease of use for all, or speed for your project's power users.
  • What other tools it needs to work with - Clarify what tools you're replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate with, such as accounting, CRM or HR software. You'll need to decide if the tools will need to integrate together, or alternatively, if you can replace multiple tools with one consolidated cloud-based project management software.
  • What outcomes are important - Consider the result that the software needs to deliver to be considered a success. Consider what capability you want to gain, or what you want to improve, and how you will be measuring success. For example, an outcome could be the ability to get greater visibility into performance. You could compare cloud-based project management software features until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to drive, you could be wasting a lot of valuable time.
  • How it would work within your organization - Consider the software selection alongside your workflows and delivery methodology. Evaluate what's working well, and the areas that are causing issues that need to be addressed. Remember every business is different — don’t assume that because a tool is popular that it'll work in your organization.

Best Cloud-Based Project Management Software Reviews

Read the individual tool overviews to find what makes this tool great for hosting projects online. The description includes stand-out features, integrations, and pricing information.

Best for its customization and capacity to handle almost any workflow.

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

monday.com is a great project management software because of the way the tool has done away with a lot of the trimmings of typical management tools and focused on simple, visually appealing layouts that help clarify the sequence of work.

Why I picked monday.com: With this software, you can upload and attach files to cards, comment, mention teammates, and more. It also offers a great project reporting dashboard that can collect data from multiple boards, allowing better tracking abilities of progress. And while monday.com doesn’t offer a complete set of tools for project accounting and invoicing solution as other tools, you can use monday.com to track hours, timelines, and invoices.

Overall, it’s a highly customizable tool that lets you work in whatever methodology—kanban or otherwise—that fits your project and team. You’ll also find some useful workflow tools for automating parts of your process.

monday.com Standout Features & Integrations

Features include resource and project management, agile views, dashboards, automation, collaborative docs, time tracking, mentions, comments, forms, and reporting features.

Integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Basecamp, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform and many more, accessible via Zapier.

Its free forever plan is available for up to two users and allows a max of three boards.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Helpful visual/color coding customization
  • Easy to customize a workflow or Board
  • Long list of supported integrations
  • Huge focus on collaboration

Cons:

  • Timeline & Gantt views not available in free version
  • Complex pricing rubric

Best to track project costs via a billing rates extension

  • 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $7/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.2/5

Hub Planner is a cloud-based project management software that helps users plan and execute projects of any size. This software makes it easy to keep your team members informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in a project.

Why I picked Hub Planner: The software lets you assign tasks, track milestones, and monitor their project budgets. It offers a variety of reports and dashboards to help you monitor your project progress, plus tools to optimize your workflow with features such as task dependencies, Gantt charts, and resource utilization reports.

Its built-in messaging system lets you quickly and easily communicate with all your team members in one centralized location. Its detailed activity logs show you exactly what each team member is working on at any given time.

The software’s billing rates extension allows you to see the cost of a project in real time. By entering the billing rates for each team member, you can see how the project cost will change based on the number of hours worked. This feature can also generate client invoices and is especially useful for projects with tight budgets, as it helps users avoid overspending. Hub Planner's flexible reporting tool gives you the ability to customize reports so that you only see the data that's relevant to you.

It also includes a file-sharing feature that allows users to upload and share files with other users in the same workspace, to improve team collaboration. All files are encrypted and can only be accessed by users with the correct permissions. Users can simply drag and drop files into the workspace, which will automatically be shared with other users.

Other features include a Gantt chart tool allows you to visualize projects and see how different tasks are interconnected, and an action item feature that tracks tasks to ensure they're completed on time, helping improve productivity and preventing essential tasks from falling through the cracks.

Hub Planner Standout Features & Integrations

Features include a task extension, built-in templates, resource management, resource availability, timesheets with approvals, custom fields, time-off management, and reporting.

Integrations include Basecamp and thousands of third-party applications available through Zapier.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Useful communication and collaboration features keep team members on track
  • Affordable price point
  • Advanced billing rate extension reduces project overspending

Cons:

  • Specific software integration details are not readily available
  • 24/7 support not available in 1st pricing tier

Best for project portfolio management and collaboration

  • 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $15/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.5/5

Celoxis is an award-winning all-in-one project management software tool that’s backed by over 17 years of company experience and provides solutions for businesses of all sizes. The tool is the platform of choice for brands like HBO, Bombardier, KPMG, Tesla, Adobe, University of Washington, and The World Bank.

Why I picked Celoxis: It helps you plan and manage diverse project portfolios. It is customizable to suit a variety of business needs, such as time and expense tracking, resource management, financial tracking, and work collaboration. The help centre is packed with easy-to-use self-help resources such as getting started guides, product FAQs and how-tos, short explainer videos, product documentation manual, and community forums.

Celoxis' comprehensive features address the complexities of managing projects across organizations. Businesses can get rid of multiple applications and spreadsheets to manage schedules, resources, budgets, costs, invoices, communication, approvals, risks, issues, and change requests. You also get access to 24/5 customer support with their paid plan.

Celoxis Standout Features & Integrations

Features include planning, delegation, a real-time project tracker, task management, resource availabilities and utilization, timesheets, project finances, collaboration, tracking, and reporting on a user-friendly platform.

Integrations include over 400 business applications including Google Drive, Microsoft Project, Jira, QuickBooks Online, Salesforce, Microsoft Active Directory, Evernote, Slack, Zendesk, Wufoo, Google Forms, Trello, Freshdesk, Survey Monkey, and a growing list of others.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Support for multiple billing models
  • Available in 8 international languages
  • Free client portal
  • Scheduling accommodates geographically distributed teams

Cons:

  • Substantial updates may require additional training time
  • No mobile app
  • Basic users may find the UI visually cluttered

Best for its low price point and user friendly interface

  • 10-day free trial + free plan available
  • From $4/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.2/5

Zoho Projects is a project management tool that's built with customization features that enable it to adapt to just about any industry. It allows users to virtually meet online, collaborate over chats, discuss comments or collaborate within documents.

Why I picked Zoho Projects: The tool provides Gantt charts with a simple drag-and-drop interface to plan projects, resource utilization charts to plan work allocation, and numerous reports and charts to analyze and track project metrics. Other capabilities include time tracking, issue tracking, budgeting and portfolio management. Users can also automate routine work processes like assigning users to work items, updating fields, or sending notifications with workflow rules and blueprints.

Zoho Projects Standout Features & Integrations

Features include time tracking, issue tracking, budgeting, portfolio management, task management, task automation, blueprints, time and issue tracking, and reporting.

Integrations include tools such as Google Drive, Google Calendar, Slack, Github, Bitbucket, and Dropbox. Access even more integrations through Zapier.

Zoho Projects has a free plan for up to 3 users.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Time tracking & timesheets functionality
  • Integrates with other Zoho solutions
  • Freemium plan available

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • Vast feature list results in cluttered dashboard

Best for its easy creation of custom project workflows you can automate

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $24/user/month
Visit Website
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.

Why I picked Kintone: 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.

There are so many ways to customize Kintone it can be hard to know where to start. Read the starter blog “What Can You Build with Kintone?” or watch Creating an App from Scratch for a quick look at how the drag-and-drop builder works.

Kintone Standout Features & Integrations

Features include a pre-built application library, enhanced process management, private messaging, real-time custom graphs and charts, and granular permission controls.

Integrations let 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.

A free custom app build is part of the free trial process.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent list of integrations & plug-ins
  • Excellent list of integrations & plug-ins
  • Discounts for educators & NGOs

Cons:

  • Storage above 5GB/user costs extra
  • All account types require min. 5 users
  • No freemium plan

Best online project management software for progress tracking

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $4.99/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.3/5

Hubstaff Tasks is a cloud-based project management tool that offers several task organization and progress tracking features. Users can stay on top of projects and collaborate with teams on one platform.

Why I picked Hubstaff: It uses Kanban as its user interface, and you can create task cards and organize them in different columns based on their respective project stages. You can create labels, set deadlines, and attach files to your tasks. The app also lets you communicate with teammates through task comments, which notify them when they are mentioned.

The app has a Sprints view that shows users all the tasks assigned to them in one location, eliminating the need to manually search through each project board. In this view, you can organize tasks by current sprint, future sprint, or backlog.

Hubstaff Tasks also lets you create custom workflows, which can automate moving tasks to different project stages and assigning them to team members.

Hubstaff Standout Features & Integrations

Features include client budgets, attendance, custom workflows, invoicing, scheduling, payments & payroll, expense tracking, timesheet approvals, and time-off management.

Integrations include over 30 different tools, including Asana, Breeze, Insightly, Pivotal Tracker, Paymo, Jira, Slack, Payoneer, Gusto, and Salesforce.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Automate moving tasks forward with custom workflows
  • Switch between Kanban and Sprints views for better project planning
  • Team notifications make collaboration simpler
  • Intuitive and easy to navigate interface

Cons:

  • Limited free plan
  • Only one integration
  • No reporting features

All-in-one Project Management seamlessly integrating with all CRMs

  • 30 days free trial (no credit card)
  • From $8.50/user/month
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Rating: 4.7/5

PSOhub is professional services automation (PSA) software that provides all-in-one project management, enabling users to maintain visibility into all facets of the process, from deal won to deliverables and all the moving parts in between. PSOhub was designed with marketing and creative agencies in mind, but it can be used by anyone from accounting firms to architects to managed IT services companies and beyond.

Key features include predictive project management, accessible task management, smart contract management, real-time resource management, time and expense tracking, and invoicing. PSOhub’s best features are its self-driving tools, which automate project setup, milestone alerts, time tracking, and more. While automated and self-driving features handle repetitive and time-consuming tasks, users can focus less on administration and more on serving clients.

Integrations include CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Dynamics 365 and accounting software like Quickbooks, Xero, and more. Additional integrations are available via Zapier and PSOhub’s API.

PSOhub costs from $8.50/user/month and offers a 30-day free trial.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly, easy to onboard
  • Excellent integration opportunities
  • Robust time tracking tool built-in

Cons:

  • Resource management module limited to highest plan
  • No freemium plan

Project management tool with mobile time tracking functionality and capable of processing invoices.

  • Free plan available
  • From $12.49 project-planning/user/month (billed annually)
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Rating: 4.2/5

Nutcache is an online project management tool with a suite of communication and collaboration tools built into daily workflow processes.

Nutcache features include project management, project budgeting, task management, time tracking, expense tracking, online invoicing, and reporting capabilities. The tool is a collaborative workspace with features for live editing, commenting, and mentions.

Nutcache lets you use custom workflows, divide work into manageable chunks, prioritize tasks, assign multiple members to a task, define budget alerts, set budget tracking by the hour or amount, use KPIs to stay on budget, and has a roadmap of features to come.

Integrations include Dynacom Accounting, PayPal, 2Checkout, Stripe, Authorized.Net, Google Sign In, and GitHub.

Nutcache is free to use for up to 20 users. Paid plans start at $6/user/month with a minimum of 5 users and offer a free trial.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Customizable workflows
  • Unique time management features
  • Easy to set up and learn

Cons:

  • Limited customization in the invoicing module
  • Notes can’t be quickly added to stopwatch
  • No option to create recurring tasks

Work management platform with support for Scrum, Kanban, and more.

  • Free plan available
  • From $4/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.3/5

GoodDay is a modern, highly customizable work management platform that includes powerful yet user-friendly tools for project planning, task management, resource and portfolio management, time and budget tracking, and progress tracking and analytics, as well as customizable workflows, templates, integrations, and more.

The tool includes advanced project planning functionality for creating detailed project plans. Users can add tasks, milestones, and dependencies, as well as get a full picture of progress against the plan. Resource management capabilities include managing resource utilization and workload balance.

The tool also includes a productivity suite that comes with personal work scheduling, group and private chats, meetings management, project & personal events, built-in documents & wikis, unlimited storage for files, and more. Another great feature is the action required feature, which allows team members to notify each other of when action is needed.

GoodDay is highly customizable to both sophisticated project structures and basic project structures. Users can create custom views, adjust the user interface, customize fields, and create custom task types, project templates, priorities, workflows, and more.

GoodDay has 100s of integrations with apps like Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Slack, GitHub, GitLab, Excel, Jira, Trello, and many others, accessible via native integration or Zapier. Custom integrations can be built through GoodDay’s API.

GoodDay costs from $4/user/month and offers a free-forever version for up to 15 users.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Generous freemium plan for 15 users
  • Easy to use interface
  • Good project management template selection
  • Responsive, available customer support team

Cons:

  • Gmail integrations sometimes disconnects
  • Difficult to export task lists
  • Mobile app struggles with certain things, like file uploads

Best cloud based PM software for professional service providers

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $29/user/month (billed annually, min 5 seats)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.1/5

Ravetree is a work management platform that brings its project management functionality together with resourcing, billing, budgeting, and contact management tools.

Why I picked Ravetree: Teams can consolidate various aspects of their operations with the software, including client and contact management. Its built-in CRM keeps customer data readily available, and client portals can be created to maintain communication and keep customers updated on progress. Request forms can be set up for client projects or cross-departmental initiatives, and estimates can be sent out to new prospects.

The software has a comprehensive set of project management features. Teams can build out their project plans and save them as templates to reuse in the future. Tasks can be outlined with checklists and assigned to specific team members, and can be set as recurring to reduce repetitive admin work. Milestones can be created to have specified work deadlines through the course of a project. All projects can be managed with a calendar or spreadsheet view, or via a Kanban board.

Resource management can also be performed with the software, which has time off requests and utilization views. Employees can track their time, enabling allocated vs actual comparisons and estimates to be made. Custom working hours can be set for each employee, making it easier to assign people to projects or tasks to people.

Ravetree Standout Features & Integrations

Features include timeline and calendar views, Kanban boards, project templates, repeating tasks, checklists, dependencies, request forms, client portals, CRM, resource planning, billing and invoicing, budget management, and file management.

Integrations include Box, Dropbox, Facebook, HubSpot, Instagram, Github, Google Drive, Gmail, OneDrive, Outlook, QuickBooks, and Stripe.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Video and chat support
  • Personalized onboarding
  • Resource, client, and project management in one

Cons:

  • Limited customizability
  • Somewhat complex interface

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Other Cloud-Based Project Management Software

Here are other online software options that did not make it to the top 10 but are worth your consideration.

Selection Criteria For Cloud-Based Project Management Software

Selecting the right cloud based software hinges on identifying a solution that not only encompasses a comprehensive range of functionalities, but also aligns perfectly with the specific use cases and needs of your team. Having personally tried and researched numerous cloud-based project management tools, I prioritize features that cater to the multifaceted demands of online collaboration, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Here's a breakdown of my evaluation criteria:

Core Cloud-Based PM Software Functionality (25% of final scoring): Common features for cloud management software typically include task assignment, progress tracking, file sharing, real-time communication, customizable dashboards, and reporting tools. To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best cloud-based project management platforms, the solution had to support the ability to fulfill common use cases:

  • Seamless team collaboration and communication
  • Efficient task and project tracking
  • Effective resource allocation and management
  • Comprehensive project planning and visualization
  • Streamlined integration with other business tools

Additional Standout Features(25% of final scoring): Unique features that set a cloud business management software apart from its competitors are crucial. I look for innovative functionalities like AI-driven analytics, automated workflows, and advanced security protocols.

Cloud-based project management that includes novel capabilities such as real-time language translation for global teams or integration with emerging tech platforms can also offer a competitive edge.

Usability (10% of final scoring): For project management cloud software, balance between powerful features and user-friendly design is key. I prefer interfaces that are intuitive and visually appealing. Elements like drag-and-drop scheduling and easy-to-navigate dashboards also ensure a flatter learning curve while still offering depth in functionality.

Onboarding (10% of final scoring): When evaluating cloud project management tools, I tend to value platforms that facilitate a smooth transition with resources such as detailed training videos, customizable templates, interactive tours, and responsive chatbots.

Effective onboarding resources are crucial for teams to quickly migrate, adapt to the project management cloud, and start realizing its value, enhancing overall adoption and satisfaction.

Customer Support (10% of final scoring): Prompt, helpful, and accessible customer support stands as a pillar of a great user experience. I look for cloud IT management software tools online that offer multiple support channels, including live chat, email, and phone support, with a reputation for quick and effective resolutions.

Value For Money (10% of final scoring): Comparing pricing models, subscription plans, and features offered, I aim to identify cloud-based software that delivers the best return on investment, catering to businesses of various sizes and budgets without compromising on critical functionalities.

Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring): Peer reviews and user feedback play a significant role in my evaluation. I seek out consensus on strengths and areas for improvement, focusing on project management cloud software that consistently receive high marks for usability, functionality, and customer satisfaction.

This approach ensures that the cloud-based job management software recommended not only meets the foundational requirements for managing projects online, but also offers the unique features, user experience, and value that businesses need to thrive in a digital-first work environment.

The project management software cloud is witnessing a transformation driven by the evolving needs of remote and hybrid work environments, as well as the increasing complexity of projects across industries. These shifts demand cloud-based programs that not only enhance project efficiency, but also promote seamless collaboration, real-time communication, and innovative functionalities to meet unique project demands.

Here's an in-depth look at the prevailing trends shaping the future of cloud-based business management software.

  1. Integrated Collaboration Tools: A significant push towards integrating advanced collaboration features directly within project management platforms. This includes real-time chat, video conferencing, and collaborative document editing.
  2. AI and Automation: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms into cloud-based task management software allows users to automate routine tasks, provide predictive analytics, and offer personalized project insights. Tools like monday.com and Smartsheet have introduced AI-driven features that automate task assignments based on team members' capacities and predict project deadlines with greater accuracy.
  3. Novel and Unusual Functionality: The introduction of novel functionalities such as virtual reality (VR) meeting spaces and augmented reality (AR) project visualization. Though still emerging, some cloud-based project management solutions are experimenting with VR and AR to offer immersive project planning and review sessions, indicating a futuristic approach to remote collaboration.

These trends highlight a collective move towards creating more integrated, intelligent, and customizable project management environments. By addressing the unique challenges faced by project managers today, such as the need for greater collaboration in dispersed teams, the automation of repetitive tasks, and the provision of strategic insights, the management cloud is evolving to become more than just task management solutions—they're becoming central hubs for project delivery and team collaboration.

What is Cloud-Based Project Management Software?

Cloud-based project management software is a tool that helps teams plan, organize, and manage their work over the internet. Unlike traditional software that you install on a specific computer, this software runs on servers in the cloud and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud planning software lets teams collaborate in real time, share documents and information easily, and keep track of all aspects of a project, like deadlines and budgets. This makes it easier for people who are in different locations to work together and stay updated on the project's progress.

Features of Cloud-Based Project Management Software

As companies move toward having a digital core, cloud-based service management software has become indispensable for teams seeking to streamline their workflows, enhance collaboration, and ensure timely project delivery.

Let me walk you through the most important features to consider when choosing a cloud-based project management tool.

  1. Real-time Collaboration Tools: These allow team members to work together seamlessly, regardless of their location. The ability to collaborate in real time is crucial for maintaining project momentum and ensuring all team members are aligned on their tasks and goals.
  2. Task and Milestone Tracking: This feature enables the detailed monitoring of project progress against deadlines. It's essential for keeping projects on schedule and identifying potential delays early.
  3. Integrated Communication Channels: This includes direct messaging, video calls, @mentions, and discussion forums within the project management software. These centralize conversations and make information retrieval easier.
  4. Document Sharing and Management: A centralized repository for project documents ensures that all team members have access to the latest versions of files, reducing confusion and errors caused by outdated information.
  5. Customizable Dashboards and Reports: Tailored dashboards offer at-a-glance insights into project health, resource allocation, and performance metrics, aiding in informed decision-making and strategic planning.
  6. Access Controls and Permissions: Robust access management ensures sensitive project information is securely controlled and only accessible to authorized personnel, safeguarding client and project confidentiality.
  7. Integration Capabilities: The ability to integrate with other tools and systems (like CRM, ERP, or email platforms) streamlines workflows and enhances data consistency across business functions.
  8. Automated Notifications and Reminders: Automated alerts help keep team members informed about upcoming deadlines, changes in project status, or pending approvals, reducing the risk of oversights and delays.

By focusing on finding a cloud project management tool that offers these capabilities, teams can improve collaboration, maintain tighter control over project timelines, and enhance stakeholder communication, ultimately driving successful project outcomes.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Project Management Software

The best cloud project management software has changed the way teams collaborate, plan, and execute projects, offering flexibility and efficiency that traditional methods cannot match.

For potential project managers exploring digital solutions, understanding the primary benefits of these a cloud-based project management system is crucial. Here are five benefits of cloud-based PM solutions:

  1. Accessibility and Flexibility: The best cloud-based project management software provides the ability to access project information and collaborate with team members from any location, at any time. This benefit ensures that users can work on their projects outside of the traditional office environment, fostering a flexible work culture that adapts to the needs of the team and project demands in today's workforce.
  2. Real-time Collaboration and Communication: Cloud-based platforms facilitate instant communication and collaboration among team members. This feature eliminates delays in information sharing and decision-making, leading to more efficient project execution and the ability to address issues as they arise.
  3. Integrated Tools and Features: Many cloud-based project management applications offer a suite of integrated tools, including task assignment, time tracking, and document sharing, all within one platform. This integration helps expand the capabilities of the software and reduces the need for multiple disparate systems while simplifying the user experience.
  4. Scalability: Cloud-based solutions can easily scale with the growth of your business or the expansion of your team. This flexibility allows for the addition of new users, projects, and functionalities without significant infrastructure changes, making it easier for organizations to adapt to changing needs.
  5. Enhanced Security and Data Backup: With robust security measures and automatic data backups, cloud software management ensures that sensitive project information is protected against unauthorized access and data loss. This peace of mind is crucial for businesses handling critical data and looking to maintain operational continuity.

Adopting cloud job management software offers tangible benefits that impact both the efficiency and effectiveness of project delivery. By leveraging these cloud-based planning software, project managers and their teams can enjoy a more cohesive, secure, and adaptable project management experience, positioning their projects for success.

Costs & Pricing For Cloud-Based Project Management Software

Navigating cloud-based job management software can be daunting, especially for new buyers. Price is a critical factor because it directly impacts the features and capabilities your team can access. Opting for a lower-tier plan might save money initially, but it could mean missing out on advanced features such as enhanced collaboration tools, comprehensive reporting, and automation capabilities. These features can significantly improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and facilitate better communication across your team.

By understanding the typical plan structures and what each offers, you can make an informed decision that ensures your team has the right project management cloud service that it needs to succeed. Below, I've outlined the common plan options, including a free version, to help you get started.

Plan Comparison Table For Cloud-Based Project Management Software

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features Included
Basic$10-20/user/monthTask management, limited project tracking, basic reporting, limited integrations
Standard$20-35/user/monthEnhanced project tracking, collaboration tools, more integrations, basic automation, and support
Premium$35-60/user/monthAdvanced reporting, unlimited projects, full automation and customization options, priority support
EnterpriseCustom pricingAdvanced security features, personalized onboarding, dedicated account manager, unlimited everything, custom integrations
Free Option$0Task management, basic collaboration tools, limited projects and tasks, basic integrations
A breakdown of plan types, costs, and features for project management software cloud based.

When considering which plan to choose, it's important to weigh the needs of your team against the features and limits of each plan. Cost-effectiveness and scalability should be key considerations, ensuring that the chosen cloud-based program management solution grows with your team and projects, without overwhelming your budget.

Cloud-Based Project Management Software FAQs

Find out answers to common questions about this topic.

What is cloud-based project management software?

Cloud-based project management software refers to a type of project management tool that operates on a cloud computing platform, allowing users to access and manage their projects and related data online. It is any digital tool that can help the facilitation of day-to-day team management and workflow, including communication tools (direct messaging, social feeds, alerts), task lists (todos, Kanban boards), calendars and schedules (monthly/weekly views, Gantt charts), and reporting and analytics functions.

Examples of online project management software include:

Trello Board-based SaaS for more visual project management. Using Trello for project management can help PMs easily manage their workflows and collaborate with team members.

Asana Browser-based Saas for cross-functional work. Project managers can use Asana to help with organizing, tracking, and managing work tasks and projects.

Teamwork – Project platform with real-time collaboration for remote teams.

How much does cloud-based project management software usually cost?

Discounting freeware, which obviously doesn’t have a cost, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5/user/month up to upwards of $100/user/month. The average tends to be between $10-15/user/month for a basic plan.

What is cloud project management software used for?

Cloud-based project management software helps people get stuff done throughout an organization—whether they work in marketing, sales & CRM, design, software development, HR, or real estate. There’s even cloud-based construction management software. Here are some of the use cases that online project management software can offer for your project, team, and organization.

  1. Project planning
  2. Resource management
  3. Visualization tools
  4. Reporting
  5. Tracking personnel

Find more information about what project management software is used for.

online project management software logos list

What's Next?

Once you decide on a project management software, I suggest you learn how to get the most out of a demo. You may also want to check out how to build a Gantt chart and create a project kickoff that will leave everyone with open mouths.

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Ben Aston
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!