The Best Dashboard Software List
Here’s a shortlist of the best project management dashboard software tools:
Why is having appealing project dashboard software what we should be aiming for? Consider these two scenarios:
Scenario 1: Scattered sticky notes, rogue Google documents, Excel spreadsheets for days, budgeting books, email follow-ups galore, deadlines scrawled on personal calendars. (Probably sounds like a nightmare, huh?)
Scenario 2: Interactive dashboards with everything you need to know about project progress , a specific metric you are after, and resources of your project in one view. (Much better, right?)
In the unlikely event you prefer scenario 1, it is not efficient to have all your information scattered around and there's a big chance you might miss an important update. The project management tools on this list will help you have something closer to scenario 2.
In my analysis, I will try to find the tool that has the best project status dashboard, one that will make your projects easy to track, give you the opportunity to drill down into specific projects, and save you time so you can focus on other important tasks.
How I Chose the Best Dashboard Reporting Software
If you're wondering how I selected the best project dashboard software, here's where I'll break it all down for you. First of all, I started with project dashboard software that have high user review and satisfaction ratings. Then, using my experience in project management, I discerned what key criteria were most important for project dashboard software and compared how each of them stacked up against the rest.
Comparison Criteria
What am I looking for when I select dashboard reporting software? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
User Interface (UI): Is the office team dashboard UX clean, attractive, and easy to navigate? Does it have good use of space and enough whitespace to properly display project data?
Data Sources: I want to know the places where the software can pull information from. Is it only from a specific module, the entire platform, or even third-party applications?
Integrations: I see if it is easy to connect with other tools. Mainly pre-built integrations and native ones. Can my dashboard connect to these tools through an external connector, webhook or similar?
Pricing: I look at pricing and paid tiers. Also, the level at which dashboards are available and any information on free trials and free software versions.
Overviews of the Best Project Dashboard Software
Here’s a brief description of each of the dashboard tools that are featured on this list.
monday.com
Best for integrations, add-ons, and widgets
monday.com allows you to allocate & prioritize tasks, use various views to see where everything stands and track multiple projects using project dashboards that provide high-level insights visually and intuitively. Dashboards can be added by clicking on the 'add new' button at the bottom of your workspace menu.
Why I Picked monday: The platform is completely customizable so you will be able to adjust it to your workflow. The platform also provides powerful and customizable notifications and automation so you and your team can focus on what’s important.
Every workspace in monday.com can have its dashboard and it is widget-based. Once you open your dashboard you can start adding widgets and connecting them to specific boards. The last step is to arrange your elements. Drag items by clicking on the top left of a widget. Adjust the size by dragging from the bottom-right corner.
monday Standout Features & Integrations
Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, resource management, scheduling, budgeting, API, calendar management, Gantt charts, file sharing, time management, email integration, third-party plugins, and notifications.
Integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform, and many more accessible via Zapier.
Pros
- Tons of integrations to connect to tools you already use
- Offers a free forever plan
- Intuitive task tracking, assigning, collaboration features
Cons
- Multi-level permissions settings only for Enterprise accounts
- Reporting is manual & time-consuming
Wrike
Best for aligning employees, contractors, & stakeholders
Wrike is an award-winning, easy-to-use project dashboard software trusted by 20,000+ organizations worldwide. The tool is suitable for teams with anywhere from five members to an unlimited number of team members. It’s highly configurable and allows users to customize workflows, dashboards, reports, request forms, and more.
Why I Picked Wrike: Wrike’s simple project dashboard software enables users to switch between Kanban boards, interactive drag-and-drop Gantt charts, and traditional workload views, allowing users to tailor their views and dashboards to their needs. Wrike also features task lists, shared workflows, file sharing, and project health analysis tools such as flagging roadblocks.
Wrike has an easy-to-use, intuitive interface and navigation with distinct spaces, folders, and tasks. Users can toggle between the home screen and timesheets, dashboards, calendars, reports, and an activity stream. Wrike has a dedicated help center with interactive training, videos, a ‘Getting Started’ guide, and a thriving community.
Wrike Standout Features & Integrations
Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, resource management, expense tracking, API, budgeting, Gantt charts, marketing automations, collaboration support, and reporting.
Integrations include 400+ pre-built native integrations, including integrations with the most popular file management software from Microsoft, Google, and Dropbox, along with sales and marketing software from Salesforce and Marketo.
Pros
- View projects and tasks in different views (list, table, Kanban, Gantt)
- User-friendly and intuitive for all skill levels
- Users have access to a variety of fully customizable dashboards
Cons
- Time tracking is included in Business and Enterprise plans only
- Only 2GB of storage space with the freemium plan
- Shareable dashboards are limited to paid plans
Smartsheet
Best dashboards system for robust project portfolios
Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-like project management software. The tool is fully featured and ready to scale up to an enterprise level. It’s a nice tool to use if you’re used to Excel but want a break from complicated formulas. Their dashboards will provide you with real-time data and display it on a widget-based dashboard view.
Why I Picked Smartsheet: In addition, those widgets allow you to build customized dashboards. You can easily edit and restructure as needed for different projects. Simply go to the builder, select widgets and connect them to your projects. To create this dashboard, head to the navigation menu, click on the dotted matrix and select 'solution centre'. Then, select the 'create dashboard/portal option'.
Smartsheet Standout Features & Integrations
Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, calendar management, timesheets, time management, expense tracking, file sharing, Gantt charts, budgeting, email integration, and lead management.
Integrations include Microsoft and Google apps, as well as development essentials like Jira, and useful business apps like Salesforce, ServiceNow, Slack, Box, and Tableau. The platform is extensible through a REST API and web hooks.
Pros
- Easily customize fields for granular organization
- Shareable reports with advanced data filtering
- Custom and versatile dashboards
Cons
- Smaller row count compared to Excel
- Larger learning curve than other tools
ProjectManager.com
Best for pre-set reports & dashboard templates
ProjectManager.com is a well-rounded, award-winning project management software with real-time project dashboards. The tool's cloud-based software runs on both Windows and Mac computers with no downloads or complex installation needed.
Why I Picked ProjectManager.com: Using ProjectManager.com, you can create project plans, manage tasks, create reports, and manage timesheets, expenses, and workloads. ProjectManager.com also includes the ability to switch between Gantt chart, task list, and Kanban board views. You can use the in-app communication features to comment on tasks and assign them to team members.
Their real-time reports are easy to use—you can use their pre-set reports (project status, timesheets, expenses), or set up your own custom reports. You can also use the real-time dashboard to get an overview of your current project stats.
ProjectManager.com Standout Features & Integrations
Features include project management, Gantt charts, resource management, time tracking, collaboration, reporting, customizable dashboards, mobile app, Agile processes, and third-party integrations.
Integrations include Google Apps like Drive, Gmail, Calendar, etc. as well as Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project. For all other integrations, you can use Zapier to sync ProjectManager.com with other tools.
Pros
- Multilingual and very flexible
- Time and expense tracking
- Customizable schedule templates
- Excellent high level view of project
Cons
- Doesn’t output schedule files to .mpp
- No way to update partially complete tasks
- No mobile app
Hive
Best for team collaboration & planning
Hive is a robust tool for project management, collaboration, and flexible task coordination. It lets users organize projects in a Gantt chart, Kanban board, table, or calendar and easily switch between each layout. Its dashboard is now called 'workspace overview' and includes an overview, overdue actions, actions due timeframe, and actions completed timeframe section.
Why I Picked Hive: The Hive dashboard provides an overview of progress across all projects, and lets users create project custom fields. If you feel like sharing your dashboard, you can export it to a .csv or PDF file. Project dashboards can be sorted by current status, team member, or assigned labels for a birds-eye-view of progress and milestones.
Hive Standout Features & Integrations
Features include customizable dashboards, task management, collaboration, resource management, time tracking, mobile app, Agile methodologies, reporting & analytics, file sharing, and third-party integrations.
Integrations include Google Drive, Salesforce, Jira, Dropbox, Slack, Zoom, One Drive, Box, and more than one thousand other tools through Zapier. It also imports tasks from tools including Asana, Trello, Basecamp, Smartsheet, and a few others.
Pros
- Windows download available for offline, desktop use
- Unlimited native file storage even with the freemium plan
- Clean and streamlined interface with more advanced features tucked away
Cons
- Cannot pull files from Hive native storage into their built-in messenger app
- User who don’t share an email domain with you cost extra
KeyedIn
Best for resource forecasting dashboards
KeyedIn was recognized as an August 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customer Choice for Project and Portfolio Management. Key features include portfolio insights, revenue forecasting, executive oversight, capacity planning, and CRM and ERP integrations.
Why I Picked KeyedIn: KeyedIn is particularly good at striking a balance between being easy-to-use and also feature-rich. When addressing blind spots in the tool’s capabilities, the dynamic customer support team is quick to point out viable alternatives. This scored them very well in Usability per the evaluation criteria.
KeyedIn Standout Features & Integrations
Features include customizable dashboards, project management, resource management, time tracking, collaboration, flexible workflows, reporting & analytics, mobile app, Agile methodologies, project portfolio management, and third-party integrations.
Integrations include Jira, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, QuickBooks, Microsoft Outlook, Sage Intacct, Salesforce App Cloud, SugarCRM, SAP CRM, Pivotal Tracker, Microsoft Dynamics GP, VersionOne, Fulcrum. Additionally, the software uses API Version 3 that makes it easier for its customers to share or extract project and portfolio data with other business software solutions.
Pros
- Supports multiple languages and currencies
- Robust forecast dashboard with charts
- Data-rich dashboards with multiple views
Cons
- No customer portal available yet
- Project hierarchy gets complex for multiple projects
- Must scroll through tabs to get a holistic view
ProWorkflow
Best dashboard built right into your homepage
Created in 2002, ProWorkflow was designed as a project management solution that supports internal workflow and communication needs. When you log in to this tool, you immediately see a dashboard showing details on your current and future tasks and projects. This dashboard lives in the homepage section of the software.
Why I Picked ProWorkflow: The ProWorkflow dashboard color codes your information to help you prioritize your work. Additionally, it is a readable, aesthetically-pleasing spot to get the lowdown on data like tracked time, quotes and invoices, recent actions, and recent logins. Overdue projects and tasks will show in red at the top of the dashboard page, so time-sensitive material remains front and center.
Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, customer management, scheduling, third-party plugins, contact management, dashboards, data visualizations, Gantt charts, notifications, budgeting, and expense tracking.
Integrations include Xero, Quickbooks, KashFlow, FreshBooks, MYOB AccountRight, Box Storage, DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and hundreds more through Zapier.
Pros
- Integrated time tracking tool
- Simple to learn with intuitive UI
- Wide range of reporting and analytics tools
Cons
- Client-facing invoicing templates could use design work
- Guest accounts cost full per-user price
ITM Platform
Best for goal setting & tracking via dashboards
Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, ITM Platform is a SaaS portfolio management tool with robust project dashboard capabilities. ITM Platform is hugely customizable and many teams will find the flexibility useful to their objectives. For example, custom fields are easy-to-add and endlessly useful.
Why I Picked ITM Platform: One of the strengths of ITM Platform is its project portfolio management capabilities as they align with individual and team goals. The software provides tools for aligning project goals with overall business strategy and managing multiple projects more effectively. This allows organizations to prioritize projects based on their strategic importance and allocate resources accordingly.
ITM Platform also provides comprehensive resource management features, allowing users to track utilization, resolve conflicts, and optimize resource allocation. Additionally, the software includes a time tracker that enables users to track time spent on tasks and bill clients for time worked.
ITM Platform Standout Features & Integrations
Features include project portfolio management, resource management, time tracking, task management, collaboration, flexible workflows, reporting & analytics, mobile app, Agile methodologies, financial management, and third-party integrations.
Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Project, Jira, and Teambot. More integration options are available by linking the software to Zapier or using their API that allows you to integrate with third-party tools, like PowerBI or an ERP.
Pros
- Accessible price
- Initiative user interface
- Customizable properties and fields
- Program and project prioritization
Cons
- No desktop or mobile versions
- No drag and drop functionality
Project Insight
Dashboards that display aggregated data from integrations.
Project Insight is a work and project management software with a complete dashboard tool designed to act as a personalized source of information for you and your team members. The personalized dashboard feature is available as an add-on and will unlock a higher level of collaboration for your projects.
Why I Picked Project Insight: Project Insight's dashboard gives you access to all projects, tasks, and other items assigned to you. Like many other dashboards, you can drag and drop items to rearrange them according to your needs. Additionally, select from 12 different layout options to personalize it even further! One thing I'd like to point out is that Project Insight will aggregate information from the software you integrate into it. Then, it will use that information and your saved projects as a source of data for anything ranging from project management to HR.
Project Insight Standout Features & Integrations
Features include customizable dashboards, project management, resource planning, collaboration, flexible workflows, Agile support, financial management, reporting & analytics, mobile app, time tracking, mobile app, and third-party integrations.
Integrations include Jira, Zendesk, DevOps, and QuickBooks. Additional integrations include Trello, Office 365, Microsoft Project, Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros
- Agile support
- Comprehensive project management tools
- Flexible, drag-and-drop dashboards
Cons
- Has a learning curve
- Somewhat outdated UI
Changepoint
Best dashboard UX/UI
Changepoint was built for purpose project portfolio, services lifecycle, and enterprise architecture management solutions. This tool’s dashboard solutions enable real-time visibility across enterprise resources, projects, capacity, and technology.
Why I Picked Changepoint: Changepoint has a particular standout UX with bright colors, a variety of visualizations, neatly compartmentalized data, an aesthetic workflow, and a general sense of tidiness. Thus, they scored well in the UX section of the evaluation criteria.
One minor con is that knowledge of SQL is highly desirable for the full and easy use of this tool; it can be a bit cumbersome to use overall.
Changepoint Standout Features & Integrations
Features include project portfolio management, resource planning, collaboration, time tracking, financial management, agile support, customizable workflows, reporting & analytics, mobile app, customizable dashboards, custom reports, task management, and third-party integrations
Changepoint integrates with popular software from big-name apps like Google and Microsoft.
Pros
- Resource capacity, planning, and allocation in one view
- Wide array of customizations available
- Ease of report creation and dashboarding
- Dashboard good for estimates-vs-actual
Cons
- Steep learning curve if you don't know SQL
- Inability to move views or fields around
Need expert help selecting the right Reporting Dashboard Software?
We’ve joined up with Crozdesk.com to give all our readers (yes, you!) access to Crozdesk’s software advisors. Just use the form below to share your needs, and they will contact you at no cost or commitment. You will then be matched and connected to a shortlist of vendors that best fit your company, and you can access exclusive software discounts!
The Best Beautiful Project Dashboard Software Tools Summary Chart
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | monday.com Best for integrations, add-ons, and widgets | 14-day free trial + freemium plan available | From $8/user/month (billed annually, min 3 seats) | Visit Website |
| 2 | Wrike Best for aligning employees, contractors, & stakeholders | Free plan available | From $9.80/user/month | Visit Website |
| 3 | Smartsheet Best dashboards system for robust project portfolios | Freemium version available | From $7/user/month | Visit Website |
| 4 | ProjectManager.com Best for pre-set reports & dashboard templates | 30-day free trial | From $16/user/month | Visit Website |
| 5 | Hive Best for team collaboration & planning | 14-day free trial | From $16/user/month | Visit Website |
| 6 | KeyedIn Best for resource forecasting dashboards | Not available | Available upon request | Visit Website |
| 7 | ProWorkflow Best dashboard built right into your homepage | 14-day free trial | From $20/user/month | Visit Website |
| 8 | ITM Platform Best for goal setting & tracking via dashboards | 14 days free trial | Pricing per request | Visit Website |
| 9 | Project Insight Dashboards that display aggregated data from integrations. | Not available | From $3/user/month | Visit Website |
| 10 |  Changepoint Best dashboard UX/UI | Free demo | No pricing details | Visit Website |
Other Project Management Tracking Tools
Here are a few more that didn’t make the top list. If you need additional suggestions for handy status dashboards, check these out:
- Genius Project - Best risk and change management dashboards
- Bubble – Best enterprise PPM dashboards
- Zoho Analytics – Segment comprehensive project intelligence data according to any criteria
- Good Day - Tile-based dashboards with support for multiple project management methodologies
- Acity PPM - Portfolio-level dashboards that help you see risk and make decisions across different projects
- Bubble - Live data and automated reporting tools designed to be highly configurable and supportive of your existing processes
Not looking for dashboard reporting tools? Check out our other lists of useful project tools:
- If you want dashboards and project tracking specifically for marketing projects, marketing project management tools will have what you need.
- Take a look at business intelligence tools that come with great dashboards and analytics tools.
Project Dashboard Software FAQ
See answers to some common questions about project dashboard software below.
What is a project dashboard?
A project dashboard presents you with information surrounding your key performance indicators. Whether you are tracking key metrics for conversion rate, click-through rate, resource scheduling, or employee log time, a project dashboard will display a summary of the relevant data on a single page, sometimes called a KPI dashboard, for you to peruse quickly and easily.
What to put on a project management dashboard?
Building a dashboard can be a challenging first step. Good dashboard design will be data-rich, thorough, clean, easy to read, and contains summaries of all of your key performance indicators (KPIs). You will want to create dashboards that include items that pertain to your long-term and short-term goals, like customer conversion, lead collection, page views, social impressions, time-spent per task, resource allocation, error/bug reports, and more.
Learn more about setting up project management dashboards here.
What is a portfolio dashboard?
A project portfolio dashboard is meant to help you with tracking multiple projects at once. It will most likely display a birds-eye-view of every account you have on the go with options to narrow in on specific clients, projects, tasks, and goals. A portfolio dashboard is particularly helpful for agencies that have an ever-changing list of clients and projects at any given time.
What are the different types of dashboards?
Different types of dashboards will specialize in different types of data display (sales versus impression, for example) and also might specialize in different types of industries (a marketing dashboard will look much different than an accounting dashboard, for example). You might encounter dashboards like marketing dashboard, task management dashboard, business intelligence (BI) dashboard, team workload dashboard, and more.
What are the key features of dashboard reporting software?
These are must-haves for any dashboard reporting solution.
- Real-time data updates – The dashboard connects to your project and displays real-time data. It requires no manual effort other than setting it up for the first time.
- Customizable interface – The user can decide what, when, where, and how they want to view different areas of their data dashboard. Moreover, customization should be intuitive and easy to learn.
- Interactive charts, dashboard templates or graphs – The best dashboard software will incorporate some element of interactive visuals. Also, it should have templates to help beginners get started.
- Project health analysis – Users can quickly and easily spot bottlenecks, delays, problems, missed deadlines, resource warnings, and other indicators for their projects. Therefore, helping you make decisions.
What Do You Think About These Dashboard Tools?
So there you have it: My list of the best project dashboard software. I've done all the testing and research so that you don't have to. I hope you we able to find a solution that fits your needs.
Related Read: Beginner’s Guide To Project Portfolio Management—Critical Steps, Tools, Benefits
Check This Out: How To Use A Project Management Portfolio To Nab A New Job