17 Best Desktop Project Management Software Picks For 2025
10 Best Desktop Project Management Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 17 tools reviewed.
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Managing projects effectively often comes down to having the right tools. Desktop project management software offers a reliable way to plan, track, and deliver your projects without depending on a constant internet connection. It’s perfect for those who need stability, privacy, or enhanced control over their data.
In this article, I’ll share my top picks of the desktop project management software available today. I’ve evaluated each option based on usability, features, and how well it meets the needs of modern project managers.
In this article, you can get a brief overview of your options, compare the details, and ultimately decide which desktop software will work best for you.
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The Best Desktop Project Management Software Comparison Chart
Here is a table where you can review the options we covered in the overview section.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | An almost perfect reflection of their browser experience. | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Open multiple tabs and get a better experience than their browser platform. | Freemium version available | From $10/user/month (min of 2 seats) | Website | |
| 3 | The same robust platform, but with offline access to work from anywhere. | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $7/user/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for complete agency work management | 14-day free trial | From $9/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 5 | Collaborative, visual, & feature-rich desktop project management software | 10-day free trial + free plan available | From $4/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 6 | Best for visual collaboration & innovation | Free plan available | From $8/user/month | Website | |
| 7 | Reliable software that is best for limited-to-no internet connection. | 30-day free trial | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 8 | An easy-to-learn platform with offline sync in your mobile. | 14-day free trial | From $5/user/month (billed annually) + free plan available | Website | |
| 9 | Native desktop app that works exactly as the browser app | 30-day free trial | From $10.99/user/month (min 3 users, billed annually) | Website | |
| 10 | Best for small projects with time tracking needs | 14-day free trial + free plan | Starts from $11/month for up to 3 users | Website |
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monday.com
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Miro
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8 -
Ravetree
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.1
Best Desktop Project Management Software Reviews
Here’s a brief description of each project management solution to showcase noteworthy features in their desktop environment, and screenshots to give you an idea of the user interface.
monday.com is a project management platform that helps teams organize, track, and execute work efficiently. It caters to businesses of all sizes, offering tools to manage workflows, projects, and collaborative tasks. Overall, the software simplifies complex processes with customizable boards and automation.
Why I picked monday.com: monday.com delivers a desktop experience nearly identical to its browser version, ensuring your team has a consistent workflow across devices. Its customizable boards allow you to tailor task tracking to match your project needs. Automation features can also save you time by handling repetitive tasks, such as status updates or notifications. You can additionally visualize your work in multiple views, including timelines, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards, to gain better insights into your progress.
monday.com Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include built-in time tracking to help your team monitor how long tasks take and identify inefficiencies. The software also supports resource management tools that allow you to allocate workloads and track team capacity. Additionally, the platform's dashboard functionality pulls data from multiple boards into one view for better overall project visibility.
Integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform and many more, accessible through a paid plan with Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Consistent desktop and browser experience
- Advanced search for locating tasks quickly
- Automation reduces repetitive administrative tasks
Cons:
- Boards can become cluttered with large projects
- Learning curve for setting up custom automations
Wrike
Open multiple tabs and get a better experience than their browser platform.
Wrike is a collaborative project management tool designed for teams to organize tasks, manage workflows, and track progress in real time. It’s particularly suitable for businesses looking to enhance team productivity and simplify task management processes.
Why I picked Wrike: Wrike provides a desktop platform that allows you to open multiple tabs at once, enabling better multitasking compared to its browser interface. You can quickly switch between projects, dashboards, and tasks without losing context. The desktop app also minimizes distractions by consolidating all your tools in one place, improving focus for you and your team. This setup is ideal for teams balancing complex workflows or managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Wrike Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include task automation to reduce repetitive work and AI-powered risk predictions to help you identify potential bottlenecks. The software also includes dynamic request forms to streamline project intake and advanced workload management tools to prevent team burnout.
Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Slack, Salesforce, Box, Dropbox, Zoom, OneDrive, Jira, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Flexible permissions for different team roles
- Real-time updates across all devices
- Centralized file management system
Cons:
- No built-in chat feature for quick team discussions
- Limited native storage for attachments
ClickUp
The same robust platform, but with offline access to work from anywhere.
ClickUp is a versatile project management platform designed to help teams organize, track, and execute their work more efficiently. It caters to businesses of all sizes, providing tools for task management, time tracking, and collaboration. The software aims to centralize your team’s work in one place to improve productivity and accountability.
Why I picked ClickUp: ClickUp’s desktop app mirrors the browser version while offering offline access, so you can stay productive even without an internet connection. Customizable task views, like list, board, and timeline, let you organize your workflow in a way that makes sense for your team. You can also manage resources and budgets by assigning workloads and tracking time spent on tasks. Automation features reduce repetitive tasks, ensuring your team focuses on what matters most.
ClickUp Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include goal tracking that allows you to set, monitor, and achieve team objectives with clear metrics. The platform’s document creation tool makes it easy to draft and share project-related documents without leaving the app. ClickUp also provides advanced recurring task options, so you can automate repeating assignments without manual updates.
Integrations include Google Drive, Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, GitHub, Zapier, HubSpot, Evernote, and Outlook.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Highly customizable task views
- Time tracking integrated into task management
- Offline mode for uninterrupted work
Cons:
- Some features require extra configuration
- Resource-intensive on older devices
Productive is a comprehensive work management platform designed to help agencies plan, track, and deliver projects while managing team resources effectively. It offers tools to streamline workflows, monitor progress, and ensure project profitability.
Why I picked Productive: Productive provides an all-in-one solution for managing agency work, from project planning to financial tracking. You can use features like resource scheduling to optimize team workloads and time tracking to monitor billable hours. The platform also includes profitability reports that show how projects are performing financially in real time. Collaboration tools keep your team connected, and built-in invoicing simplifies billing for completed work.
Productive Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include resource utilization dashboards to see team availability and workload at a glance. Profitability tracking helps you measure the financial performance of individual projects, while advanced time tracking ensures accurate billing. Task and project templates simplify repetitive workflows for quicker setups.
Integrations include Slack, QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Jira, Google Drive, Dropbox, Harvest, HubSpot, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Custom project and task templates save time
- Visual dashboards for resource utilization and availability
- Simplified setup for recurring tasks and projects
Cons:
- Time tracking requires consistent manual input
- Reporting may lack granularity for niche metrics
Collaborative, visual, & feature-rich desktop project management software
Zoho Projects is a project management tool designed to help teams plan, track, and execute projects effectively. It provides a comprehensive platform for organizing workflows, monitoring progress, and enhancing team collaboration.
Why I picked Zoho Projects: Zoho Projects offers a visual interface with Gantt charts, task boards, and resource management tools to help your team stay on top of every project. You can assign tasks, set milestones, and track progress using customizable workflows. The platform's built-in time tracking and timesheets make it easy to monitor billable hours and project timelines. Moreover, collaboration features like forums and feeds keep your team connected, making it a great choice for teams looking for an all-in-one project management solution.
Zoho Projects Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include task automation to reduce repetitive work and baseline reports to compare planned versus actual progress. You can also use dependencies to link tasks and avoid scheduling conflicts and advanced time logging for better resource allocation.
Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Dropbox, Zapier, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Trello, Asana, and GitHub.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Task dependencies prevent scheduling conflicts
- Advanced time logging helps allocate resources
- User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
Cons:
- Some features require extensive configuration to implement
- Lacks built-in advanced analytics or dashboards
Miro is a collaborative tool designed to help teams brainstorm, visualize ideas, and work together effectively on creative and strategic projects. It’s ideal for teams that need a flexible and visual workspace to organize their ideas and workflows.
Why I picked Miro: Miro offers an interactive platform where your team can use templates, sticky notes, and drawing tools to collaborate visually. It’s great for brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, and process diagrams, as it gives you the flexibility to create workflows that suit your team. You can use the infinite canvas to organize projects, ideas, and discussions in one space. The desktop app also makes it easy to work offline and sync your changes later, ensuring your team’s progress isn’t interrupted.
Miro Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include the infinite canvas, which allows you to expand your boards as needed without constraints. You also can use built-in templates to jumpstart projects and sticky notes to organize ideas quickly. Additionally, the platform supports voting and timer tools to enhance team decision-making during collaboration sessions.
Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Asana, Google Drive, Trello, Zoom, GitHub, Confluence, and Dropbox.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Timer tool helps structure collaborative sessions
- Organized layout reduces visual clutter for teams
- Supports drawing and annotation directly on boards
Cons:
- Task management feels secondary to collaboration tools
- Minimal resource tracking for project management
Reliable software that is best for limited-to-no internet connection.
Microsoft Project is a project management tool designed to help teams plan, execute, and monitor projects of various sizes. It is particularly suitable for teams working on complex projects that require detailed scheduling and resource management.
Why I picked Microsoft Project: Microsoft Project offers offline functionality, which makes it ideal for teams working in areas with limited or no internet connectivity. It allows you to build detailed project plans using Gantt charts, task dependencies, and resource management tools. You can also assign tasks, track progress, and manage budgets all within the same platform. The software’s robust scheduling capabilities further ensure your team can maintain project timelines even without online access.
Microsoft Project Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include advanced resource allocation tools that help distribute workloads efficiently and project timeline visualization for tracking progress. It also supports critical path analysis to identify bottlenecks and built-in templates to simplify project setup. Additionally, the software allows you to generate in-depth reports to monitor performance and costs.
Integrations include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, Power BI, Planner, Dynamics 365, and Project Online.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable views for personalized project dashboards
- Allows export to multiple file formats
- Comprehensive budget tracking and forecasting tools
Cons:
- High reliance on manual updates for data accuracy
- Requires significant time for initial project setup
Trello is a project management tool that helps teams organize tasks, collaborate on projects, and track progress visually. Its user-friendly design makes it accessible for individuals and teams seeking a simple way to manage workflows.
Why I picked Trello: Trello offers an easy-to-learn interface with visual boards, lists, and cards that let you customize workflows quickly. You can create tasks, set due dates, and add labels for better organization. Its offline sync feature ensures you can access and update your tasks on mobile, even without an internet connection. Trello also integrates task automation through its Butler feature, reducing repetitive work and saving time for your team.
Trello Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include drag-and-drop functionality for task reorganization and advanced filtering options to find specific tasks quickly. You can set up recurring tasks to save time on repetitive work and use checklists within cards to manage subtasks. Trello also provides board backgrounds and custom stickers to make your boards visually engaging.
Integrations include Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, GitHub, Salesforce, Evernote, Jira, Confluence, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Activity logs to track team updates
- Checklists within cards for better task management
- Supports unlimited team members on shared boards
Cons:
- Task dependencies need manual workarounds
- Can feel simplistic for highly complex workflows
Teamwork is a project management tool designed to help teams organize, collaborate, and deliver projects efficiently. It is especially suitable for teams managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining clear communication and accountability.
Why I picked Teamwork: Teamwork’s native desktop app mirrors its browser version to give your team consistent functionality across platforms. You can manage tasks, set deadlines, and track progress seamlessly without switching devices or interfaces. The tool also includes advanced project planning features like task dependencies and milestones to keep projects on schedule. The built-in time tracking additionally helps monitor billable hours, making it ideal for projects that require precise accounting.
Teamwork Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include time logging directly within tasks and workload management tools to balance your team’s responsibilities effectively. The software also supports custom task views to let you organize work based on your team’s preferences and advanced reporting to track project performance.
Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Teams, HubSpot, Google Drive, Dropbox, QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Mailchimp, and Harvest.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Built-in templates for faster project setup
- Time tracking integrates seamlessly with invoicing
- Centralized platform for all project communication
Cons:
- Resource management tools require manual updates
- Lacks built-in video conferencing capabilities
ActiveCollab is a project management tool designed to help teams plan, organize, and execute projects efficiently. It’s ideal for managing tasks, tracking progress, and improving collaboration, particularly for small and medium-sized teams.
Why I picked ActiveCollab: ActiveCollab simplifies project management by combining task management with time tracking. You can assign tasks to your team, set deadlines, and monitor progress all in one place. Its time tracking tools let your team track hours directly within tasks, making it easy to manage billable and non-billable time. The software also offers workload management features to help your team avoid over-scheduling.
ActiveCollab Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include recurring tasks that save time on repetitive work and budget management tools to keep your projects financially on track. You can also use task labels to categorize work and timeline views to visualize project schedules. ActiveCollab also supports team discussions within projects, which reduces the need for external communication tools.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Slack, Xero, Dropbox, Google Drive, Zapier, Gmail, Mailchimp, FreshBooks, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Focuses on simplicity for small teams
- Custom roles and permissions for team members
- Tracks billable vs. non-billable hours
Cons:
- Can feel limited for enterprise-level projects
- No built-in Gantt chart feature
Other Desktop Project Management Software
Here are more tools that did not make it to the top but are still worth your consideration.
- BLUE
For for small businesses with small budgets
- Merlin Project
Gantt, kanban, and mind mapping for macOS
- Height
Project management for software developers
- Smartsheet
Google Chrome app integrated with Google’s suite
- Hive
Lives in your computer as Windows or MacOS dedicated software.
- RationalPlan
Project management software that follows PMBOK guidelines
- ReptonPOD
For comprehensive planning and execution
Selection Criteria for Desktop Project Management Software
When selecting the best desktop project management software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like the lack of offline access and compatibility with existing systems. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Task management
- Gantt chart creation
- Resource allocation
- Time tracking
- Progress reporting
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Offline mode functionality
- Customizable dashboards
- Advanced reporting capabilities
- Built-in integrations with desktop apps
- High-level security features
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Ease of navigation
- Intuitive interface
- Speed of performing tasks
- Minimal clicks to complete actions
- Aesthetic appeal of the design
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of step-by-step tutorials
- Pre-built templates for faster setup
- Interactive product tours
- Live chat or chatbot support during setup
- Access to webinars and training materials
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- Availability of 24/7 support
- Responsiveness to tickets
- Access to support via multiple channels
- Availability of a dedicated account manager
- Quality of self-service resources
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Cost compared to features offered
- Scalability of pricing plans
- Availability of free trials or demos
- Transparency of pricing
- Flexibility of payment options
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Frequency of complaints about reliability
- Positive feedback about ease of use
- Praise for support responsiveness
- Consistency of high ratings over time
- Feedback about return on investment
How to Choose Desktop Project Management Software
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:
| Factor | What to Consider |
| Scalability | Will the software grow with your team's evolving needs? |
| Integrations | Does the software integrate seamlessly with your existing tools? |
| Customizability | Can you tailor the software to fit your team's specific workflows? |
| Ease of Use | How quickly can your team get up to speed using the software? |
| Budget | Is the tool's pricing structure sustainable for your long-term needs? |
| Security Safeguards | Does the software offer the level of security your data requires? |
| Collaboration | Does the software support efficient teamwork and communication? |
| Reporting | Does the software provide the insights your team needs to track progress? |
Trends in Desktop Project Management Software
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different desktop project management software vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- Hybrid Deployment Options: Users are increasingly looking for flexibility in how they access their tools. Vendors are offering Windows desktop management software that can switch between cloud-based and offline modes, allowing for seamless work whether users are online or off.
- Customizable Dashboards: There's a growing demand for desktop tools that let users tailor their workspaces. From changing layouts to prioritizing key data, users want more control over their PC desktop management experience. This trend is especially evident in open source project management software, where custom dashboards are a must-have.
- AI-Driven Project Planning: AI is making its way into project desktop apps for smarter scheduling and resource allocation. It’s no longer just a gimmick but a feature in Windows project management tools, where AI suggests optimized timelines and task dependencies.
- Security-Focused Features: As concerns about data security grow, desktop management suites are evolving to include more powerful encryption and access control. For example, both laptop management software and PC management software now offer multi-factor authentication and secure file-sharing options.
- Collaborative Desktop Technology: While integrations aren’t a trend, the way teams collaborate within desktop project management software is changing. New features like real-time feedback within desktop management solutions let teams work together without needing separate tools for communication, making collaboration more efficient directly from the desktop.
What is desktop project management software?
Desktop project management software is a computer application installed on a computer that helps you plan, organize, and manage projects. It typically includes features such as task management, scheduling, resource allocation, collaboration tools, and offline access.
Desktop project management software serves as a centralized tool to control projects directly from your desktop environment and may provide faster performance and responsiveness compared to browser-based solutions – perfect when working with large and complex project data.
Features of Desktop Project Management Software?
We expect a project management app with desktop software to have the same features as cloud-based solutions. Here are some of the features that you can find in these project planning tools.
- Integrations: Connecting the software to other platforms. i.e. Google apps.
- Task management: Ability to prioritize and track project tasks and move them within the project workflow.
- Communications: A place within the project management system where team members communicate to increase team collaboration across multiple projects, have access to file sharing, and more.
- Automations: Feature where you streamline recurring tasks by allowing the software to trigger actions on your behalf.
- Views: Workspaces that show your information in different ways, including task list, Gantt chart, kanban board, and calendar view.
- Resource management: A feature where we can see our team’s workload, or how many projects they are assigned to, for example. Small teams can probably get by without it, but it’s not the same for bigger teams.
- Project templates: Pre-made content that can serve as a starting point for your projects.
- Access Control: The ability to set permissions per user so that only the right people edit the tasks. This can help managing freelancers, for example.
- Dashboards: Section within the platform where you can monitor the overall progress of your projects.
- Time management: Module that helps you track individual tasks, timesheets, and measure their impact on your deliverables.
Benefits of Desktop Project Management Software
Implementing desktop project management software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved focus: By using desktop technology, you can reduce distractions caused by browser-based tools, allowing you to concentrate fully on your tasks.
- Offline accessibility: With Windows management solutions, you can keep working even without an internet connection, ensuring your projects stay on track no matter where you are.
- Enhanced security: Computer desktop management software keeps your sensitive data more secure with localized storage and better control over access, reducing the risks associated with cloud storage.
- Customizable workspaces: Desktop management tools allow you to organize your interface, making it easy to adapt to the specific needs of your team or individual projects.
- Faster performance: Computer management software run more smoothly than many cloud-based alternatives, offering quicker access to data and tools.
- Lower costs: Many open source project management software for Windows options are available at no cost, reducing expenses while still giving you powerful project planning capabilities.
- Reliable backups: With software for desktop, your files and project data can be saved directly to your computer, giving you more control over data recovery and backups.
Costs & Pricing of Desktop Project Management Software
Selecting desktop 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 desktop project management software solutions:
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic task management, limited storage, and single-user access. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$15/user/month | Task tracking, customizable workflows, and limited project templates. |
| Business Plan | $20-$40/user/month | Team collaboration tools, advanced reporting, time tracking, and more storage. |
| Enterprise Plan | $50-$100/user/month | Priority support, enhanced security features, unlimited projects, and integrations. |
FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about desktop project management software:
Can desktop project management software work offline?
How secure is desktop project management software compared to cloud-based options?
What’s the difference between a desktop app and a web app for project management?
Can desktop project management software be used on multiple devices?
How do updates work with desktop project management software?
Is desktop project management software scalable for larger teams?
Can teams collaborate using desktop project management tools?
What is open-source desktop project management software?
How does desktop project management software use AI and automation?
What is included in free plans for desktop project management software?
What's Next?
There you have it! A list of software you can consider for your team or company if you are looking to move away from apps that only live inside browsers.
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