35 Best Project Planning Software To Keep Stakeholders Aligned In 2025
10 Best Project Planning Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 35 tools reviewed.
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
There are so many different project planning tools that making a shortlist of the best can be tricky. You want to have a central hub to create, visualize, and adjust project plans to ensure successful and timely project delivery - and need the right tool for your team. I've got you covered! In this post, I use my personal experience managing hundreds of projects and planning many different complex projects with large teams to share my picks of the best project planning software.
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
We’ve been testing and reviewing project planning software since 2012. As project managers, we know how critical and difficult it is to choose the right software.
We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested over 2,000 tools for different project management use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our review methodology.
Best Project Planning Software Comparison Chart
Here is a table where you can compare the tools we just reviewed in the overviews.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best software for planning project workflows | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Best project planning software for agencies | Freemium version available | From $10/user/month (min of 2 seats) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for dynamic project management through custom workflows | 30-day free trial + free demo available | From $35/user/month (billed annually, min 20 users) | Website | |
| 4 | Best for comprehensive agency project management | 14-day free trial | From $9/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 5 | Best for project planning with time-tracking | Free trial available | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 6 | Best for planning multiple projects of varying complexity | 10-day free trial + free plan available | From $4/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for visual project planning and collaboration | Free plan available | From $8/user/month | Website | |
| 8 | Best for multiple project views (lists, kanban boards, Gantt charts, etc) | 30-day free trial | From $13/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 9 | Best for agile team planning | 14-day free trial | From $4.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 10 | Best project planning software for creative teams | Free plan available | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
-
Smartsheet
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.4 -
Wrike
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
monday.com
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Project Planning Software Reviews
Here’s a brief description of the project planning software on my list showing what it does best, plus screenshots to showcase some of the features.
monday.com is a colorful, user-friendly, jack-of-all-trades project planning tool for modern teams. You’ll be able to plan, track, and deliver projects using hundreds of visual and customizable templates that make data more digestible. View data as a map, calendar, timeline, or kanban. I also love the ability to automate repetitive administrative tasks, like creating new lead entries according to incoming emails.
monday.com costs from $6/user/month and comes with a free 14-day trial. They offer a free plan for up to 2 users.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent collaborative features
- Simple organization by dragging and dropping tasks
- Very easy to invite others, share timelines, and assign tasks
Cons:
- Best features locked to Standard or Pro versions
- Automations are not fully customizable
- No bottleneck identification or assistance
Wrike is a project planning tool and is ideal for teams of five members to an unlimited number of members. Wrike offers tools for predicting and preventing delays, visualizing deadlines, and monitoring project progress. The tool is highly configurable, and allows users to customize workflows, dashboards, reports, and request forms.
Wrike’s interface is highly visual, and allows users to switch between Kanban boards, interactive drag-and-drop Gantt charts, and traditional workload views to understand priorities. Project planning capabilities include task lists, subtasks, schedules, file sharing, and real-time communication and collaboration.
Wrike includes a robust mobile application that allows users to update team members or upload files and photos. Users can switch between calendars, dashboards, and task lists, and keep an eye on notifications and messages. Wrike also has a dedicated help center with interactive training, videos, a ‘Getting Started’ guide, and a thriving community.
Wrike offers a host of pre-built templates, including a phased project template, which can help break a complex project into manageable chunks, as well as a simple project scheduling template. Real-time reporting helps project managers allocate resources and adjust workloads, and requests keep repetitive admin to a minimum.
Wrike includes over 400 pre-built native integrations, including integrations with the most popular file management software from Microsoft, Google, and Dropbox.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Variety of project views met different user needs
- Holistic, comprehensive task modeling
- Ease of use and setup
Cons:
- Drag and drop feature not flexible
- Commenting system needs to be more prominent
- Best features limited to Business plan
Best for dynamic project management through custom workflows
QuickBase is a user-friendly platform that helps you plan and manage dynamic workflows and projects. You can use its no-code builder to craft customized applications tailored to your unique business needs. It's a flexible solution that provides various tools to support your project and resource management and workflow automation.
Even for complex workflows and projects, this tool is capable of helping your map them out and execute them effectively. Because of its code-free builder, it's easy to set up your workflows and get them up and running quickly. The builder can be used for designing workflows, applications, integrations, and automations, making it a versatile tool to contribute to your various work processes.
Paid plans start from $35 per user, per month, and a 30-day free trial is available.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly and quick to learn
- Helpful and responsive customer support team
- Highly customizable to suit various industries
Cons:
- Limited offline access
- Limited analytics capabilities
Productive is a comprehensive project management software designed to streamline operations for agencies. It offers a robust platform for planning, managing, and executing projects, making it an essential tool for businesses aiming to enhance efficiency and productivity.
The platform offers Gantt charts for visualizing project timelines and dependencies, which is crucial for keeping projects on track. Additionally, its workload feature allows managers to monitor team utilization, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and preventing burnout. The automation tools in Productive also help with repetitive tasks. For example, automations can be set to trigger notifications when an invoice is overdue or when a task status changes.
Another standout feature of Productive is its budgeting and financial management capabilities. With the simple budget editor, users can create and manage budgets with ease, making it ideal for both small and large projects. The platform also supports various billing types such as time and materials, fixed price, and non-billable projects. It also offers project profitability tracking and forecasting.
Key integrations include Jira, Slack, QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Google Drive, Sage, BambooHR, and HubSpot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Robust workload and resource management capabilities
- Good profitability tracking feature
Cons:
- Could have more integrations
- Initial setup can take time
Bonsai Agency Software is an all-in-one business management platform designed to help agencies enhance their operations. It integrates project management, client relationship management, and financial tools into a single, user-friendly interface.
I like Bonsai for its comprehensive project planning capabilities. You can visualize project timelines using Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and list views, which makes it easier to monitor progress and ensure deadlines are met. Additionally, Bonsai offers real-time tracking of tasks and budgets, helping your team stay on schedule and within financial constraints.
It also has robust time-tracking and resource management tools. Your team can log hours directly within the platform, providing you with accurate data on time allocation across various projects. This insight is crucial for assessing productivity and making informed decisions about resource distribution. Bonsai's resource planning feature allows you to allocate work effectively and monitor workloads in real-time, ensuring that no team member is over or underutilized.
Other features include budget tracking and forecasting, which enable you to keep a close eye on project finances and predict potential scope creep before it occurs. The platform also offers profitability reports, giving you valuable insights into the financial performance of your projects.
Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Zapier, Calendly, Xero, Google Drive, HubSpot, ClickUp, Google Sheets, Notion, Slack, Gmail, and Asana.
Best for planning multiple projects of varying complexity
Zoho Projects is a project planning and management solution that can support multiple projects of any scale or complexity. The platform has tools like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, portfolio dashboards, a built-in issue tracker, and a task automation system with blueprint functionality. The task automation with blueprint feature enables project managers and admins to map out their entire workflow, creating a visual flowchart representation.
Tasks and notifications can be automated, and approval criteria can be set for projects and tasks. The software also has collaboration tools like discussion boards, community forums, and real-time activity feeds. In addition to project planning , users can also benefit from in-depth reporting. The cloud-based software’s reporting tools allow project managers to generate detailed reports to keep track of various aspects of project performance and progress.
Pricing for Zoho Projects starts at $5 per user/month with a 10-day free trial included. A free plan is available for teams of no more than three users.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Robust feature suite for team members and project managers alike
- Migration from other software providers is available
- Free plan is available for up to 2 projects and up to 3 users
Cons:
- Large feature set can make for a steep learning curve
- Employee scheduling functionality is limited
Miro is an online collaborative whiteboarding platform designed to facilitate visual project planning and enhance teamwork. It offers an infinite canvas where users can brainstorm, plan, and execute projects in a highly interactive and visually engaging environment.
The platform's whiteboard allows users to map out entire projects, breaking down complex tasks into manageable visual components. Miro's rich set of tools, including sticky notes, mind maps, flowcharts, and Kanban boards, helps teams brainstorm ideas, outline workflows, and monitor progress visually. Real-time collaboration is also at the core of Miro's functionality, enabling team members to work together simultaneously, leave comments, and share feedback.
Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Trello, Asana, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Zoom, Microsoft Office, Notion, Confluence, Salesforce, Airtable, Zapier, and many more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Users can collaborate on plans in real-time
- Variety of templates for project planning
- Infinite whiteboard for various iterations
Cons:
- Mobile app is limited compared to desktop version
- No offline capabilities
Best for multiple project views (lists, kanban boards, Gantt charts, etc)
ProjectManager is a cloud-based project planning software that runs on both Windows and Mac computers with no downloads or complex installation needed. Gantt chart tools help users and your team plan, schedule, and update your projects in real-time. You can plan simple workflows or full Agile sprints with powerful Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task lists.
ProjectManagement costs from $15/user/month and offers a 30-day free trial.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fits well into an Agile framework
- Easy to use project scheduling
- Good for costing and construction work monitoring
Cons:
- Most reports require a manual clean-up
- No way to sort Agile Boards by project, only by task
- No way to track and update partially complete tasks
Hubstaff Tasks is a project management tool built to simplify project planning and team collaboration. With its Kanban interface, you can create multiple project stages, add tasks to them, and move tasks to different stages by dragging and dropping.
Aside from Kanban, the app has a Sprints feature that lets users organize their assigned tasks by the sprint in which they need to be done. Tasks can be moved to current or future sprints — or to the backlog for non-urgent to-dos.
Hubstaff Tasks includes a Roadmaps feature that allows you to view projects in Gantt chart form. Users can see all projects on a calendar, giving an overview of the team’s timeline.
The app also has daily stand-ups that your team can use to report progress updates and what they will be working on next. Project managers will receive a notification if team members report any task roadblocks.
Pricing for Hubstaff Tasks starts at $7 per user per month.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Task notifications help keep everyone on the same page
- Built-in stand-ups feature for progress tracking
- Different project views allow for more accurate project planning
Cons:
- No mobile app
- No reporting
- Limited integrations
FunctionFox is a pretty great project planning tool, but it's an especially good fit for creative teams. It provides easy, visually intuitive project management tools like a simple online timesheet feature that helps you figure out if your billable and nonbillable hours on a project are within your estimates. You can also schedule project milestones, meetings, and actions—everything you'd need to plan out and then carry out projects.
FunctionFox costs from $5/user/month and offers a free demo.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy, accessible automatic timer
- Designed with the creative industry in mind
- Unlimited number of clients and projects
Cons:
- Minimal format options for downloading reports
- No Kanban board planning
- Has time tracking but no automated time capture
Other Project Planning Software
Here are descriptions of a few other tools to try out:
- Tempo Portfolio Manager
For its planning intelligence features
- Birdview
For planning projects, resources, and finances in one system
- Easy Projects
For enterprise teams from medium to large companies
- Office Timeline
For PowerPoint timeline visuals
- Height
For cross-functional project planning
- ClickUp
Project planning software for small teams or small businesses
- Smartsheet
Project template gallery
- Celoxis
For project planning with AI
- Hive
Online project planning tool for 3rd party integrations
- ClickTime
For time tracking & project management
- Kantata
For contextual collaboration
- Hub Planner
Project planning software with built-in budget and resource allocation features
- Ravetree
For integrated project planning and management
- Runn
Software for analyzing project profitability
- PathPro
For product development teams
- Teamwork.com
For project templates
- Trello
For task collaboration
- Forecast
For AI work automation
- ProWorkflow
Planning tool mobile app for most touchscreen-based devices
- Workzone
For personal to-do lists and automatic reminder emails
- Sciforma
For Waterfall and Critical Chain methodologies
- Planview Clarizen
Project planning for marketers
- Basecamp
For software development planning
- Scoro
For building and construction management
- OpenProject
Open source project planning software
Free Project Planning Software
- Nutcache – Pretty generous free plan: free forever for max 20 users (includes unlimited projects, time tracking, some integrations, and more)
- Runn – Free for up to 5 users with unlimited projects
- TeamGantt – Free forever for up to 3 users and 1 project
- Wrike – Free for up to 5 users
- Monday.com – Free for up to 5 users
- ClickUp – Free for unlimited users with some storage and feature restrictions
- Asana – Free for up to 15 users
Selection Criteria for Project Planning Software
When selecting the best project planning software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like the need for seamless team collaboration and managing complex project timelines. 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:
- Creating and managing project timelines
- Assigning and tracking tasks
- Collaborating with team members
- Generating reports and analytics
- Managing resources effectively
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- AI-powered project forecasting
- Built-in budgeting and cost tracking tools
- Seamless multi-platform integrations
- Advanced Gantt chart functionality
- Robust mobile app capabilities
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- An intuitive user interface
- A minimal learning curve
- Customizable dashboards
- A logical navigation structure
- Responsiveness across devices
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of step-by-step tutorials
- Inclusion of pre-built templates
- Access to live webinars or training sessions
- Quality of interactive product tours
- Support for easy data migration
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- Availability of 24/7 support
- Response time for inquiries
- Accessibility of detailed help documentation
- Quality of chatbot or live chat services
- Frequency of updates and bug fixes
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing compared to features offered
- Availability of free trials or demos
- Flexibility of pricing plans
- Scalability of cost as team size grows
- Transparent pricing without hidden fees
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Frequency of mentions of ease of use
- Feedback on customer support experiences
- Ratings for feature comprehensiveness
- Reports of technical issues or downtime
- General sentiment around value for money
How to Choose Project Planning 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 | Ensure the software can grow with your team’s needs. Look for options that support expanding projects, additional users, and increased data without compromising performance. |
| Integrations | Check if the tool integrates with essential platforms like Slack, Google Workspace, or your CRM. Seamless integrations help reduce data silos and improve team efficiency. |
| Customizability | Opt for software that lets you tailor workflows, task types, and reports to fit your processes. Customizable templates can save time and better match your team’s preferences. |
| Ease of Use | A user-friendly interface ensures quicker onboarding for your team. Look for tools with drag-and-drop functionality and simple navigation to reduce learning curves. |
| Budget | Balance your budget with the software’s value. Look for transparent pricing, free trials, or scalable plans that let you pay only for what you need. |
| Security Safeguards | Verify that the tool meets industry security standards. Features like encryption, role-based access, and compliance certifications help keep your data safe. |
Trends in Project Planning Software for 2025
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different project planning software vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-Assisted Planning: AI tools are now helping teams predict risks, adjust schedules, and assign tasks more effectively. For example, an AI feature might flag tasks at risk of delays and suggest ways to reallocate resources.
- Real-Time Collaboration Upgrades: Enhanced live editing and instant updates are becoming standard, allowing teams to work together on timelines and documents simultaneously without delays. These tools reduce email clutter and improve team alignment.
- Scenario Planning Tools: Many platforms now include features to create and test different project outcomes. Teams can simulate potential delays, resource shortages, or budget changes and adjust their plans accordingly.
- Sustainability Metrics: Features to measure project sustainability are gaining more traction. Teams can track energy usage, material efficiency, and environmental impact directly within the software to align with organizational sustainability goals.
- Embedded Video Communication: Built-in video conferencing and screen-sharing tools are being added to project dashboards. Teams can hold meetings, share updates, and discuss plans without needing a separate communication platform. As remote and hybrid teams grow, we’re also seeing increased demand for enterprise task management software, such as Scoro, that combines planning, communication, automation, and resource oversight in a single platform.
What is Project Planning Software?
Project planning software is a digital tool that helps you effectively plan, organize, and manage a project from start to finish. It provides a centralized platform where you can input project tasks, set dependencies, allocate resources, and define milestones, creating a comprehensive plan that serves as a roadmap for the project's execution.
This software helps you set the stage for team members to understand how their work contributes to project success and enables clients to comprehend the project's risks and track progress.
Features of Project Planning Software
When selecting project planning software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Task management tools: Allows you to assign, prioritize, and track tasks and workflow processes, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
- Gantt charts: Visualizes project timelines and dependencies to help manage schedules and deadlines effectively.
- Resource allocation: Enables you to assign and monitor resources, such as team members or equipment, to optimize usage and avoid conflicts.
- Progress tracking: Provides real-time updates on project milestones and overall progress to keep teams aligned.
- Collaboration features: Includes shared workspaces, comments, and file sharing to improve team communication and efficiency.
- Budget tracking: Helps you monitor expenses and compare them against your budget to avoid overspending.
- Time tracking: Tracks how long tasks or projects take, providing insights for better scheduling and future planning.
- Custom reporting: Lets you generate tailored reports to share progress, risks, or results with stakeholders.
- Scenario modeling: Simulates different project outcomes to help you plan for potential changes or risks.
- Integration capabilities: Connects with other tools, like calendars, email, or accounting software, to centralize your workflows.
Benefits of Project Planning Software
Implementing project planning software can provide several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Better organization: Helps you keep all tasks, schedules, and resources in one place, making it easier to manage complex projects.
- Improved time management: Provides tools like Gantt charts and time tracking to help teams stay on schedule and meet deadlines.
- Enhanced collaboration: Enables teams to work together with shared workspaces, comments, and file-sharing features.
- Clearer accountability: Assigns tasks with deadlines, making it easy to see who’s responsible for what and track progress.
- Cost control: Tracks budgets and expenses, helping you avoid overspending and manage financial resources effectively.
- Risk mitigation: Lets you model scenarios and adjust plans, helping you prepare for potential issues before they happen.
- Data-driven decisions: Custom reports and analytics give you insights into performance, helping you make better planning decisions.
Costs & Pricing of Project Planning Software
Selecting project planning 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 project planning software solutions:
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic task management, limited users, minimal storage, and basic collaboration tools. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$15/user/month | Task management, timeline views, basic reporting, and limited integrations. |
| Business Plan | $20-$50/user/month | Advanced reporting, Gantt charts, team collaboration tools, resource allocation, and time tracking. |
| Enterprise Plan | $60-$120/user/month | Custom workflows, unlimited users, advanced security, dedicated support, and API integrations. |
Project Planning Software Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to common questions about project planning software:
How can project planning software assist in resource management?
Is it possible to customize project planning software to fit workflows?
What security measures are in place to protect project data?
How does project planning software handle remote team collaboration?
What's Next?
The best project management software and all the advanced features in the world will not be enough if you cannot create a project plan. In our 10-step guide to a project plan, you can quickly learn about this phase’s deliverables, how to work with agile methodologies like Scrum, and access a template that is perfect for small teams in startups or other small businesses.
And speaking of phases, you should read about the project life cycle. This article tells gives you a quick rundown of each phase and the docs related to them.
For updates on our latest articles and podcasts from project management experts, sign up for the DPM newsletter.