Project management software can help your small business improve planning, collaboration and delivery of results. Entry-level (or even free software) can help with team and task management, while more sophisticated packages can help you cost projects, manage resources, report progress and more
Here’s our quick guide to what to look for in project management software, and our review of the UK’s most popular project management packages to help you choose the right tools for your business.
What is project management software?
Project management software helps you plan and control a project, for example:
- Identifying what tasks are involved
- scheduling the people and other resources needed
- managing timetables and budgets
- tracking and reporting progress
The kind of project management software your business needs depends on how large and complex your projects are. A sole trader, for example, might need little more than a to-do list to keep track of the jobs that need to be tackled. Larger businesses, with long-term projects involving many people, will want much more advanced options.
So before looking for project management software, it's worth thinking about what sort of projects you take on and what would enable you to manage projects more effectively. You should also think about your existing IT systems and tools, and how project management will fit with these.
For example, key parts of project management can include controlling project documentation, and improving communication and collaboration between project team members. Do you want an integrated package that includes these, or will you want the software to link in with your existing systems?
Project management software can have a fairly steep learning curve, particularly if you choose one of the more sophisticated packages aimed at larger businesses. Most small businesses should be able to find a low-cost package that hits the right balance between features and ease of use.
Find out more about:
Microsoft Project
Integration with the Microsoft 365 family of software and powerful features make this a market leader – but it’s not an easy option for smaller businesses.
Key benefits:
- easy integration with Microsoft Teams for collaboration and Microsoft 365, OneDrive and SharePoint software
- lower-cost, entry level package will be enough for many smaller businesses
Disadvantages:
- need to invest in training to get started and make the most of the software
- difficult to integrate with non-Microsoft tools
- no free option and not as competitively priced as most competitors
Pricing:
- £7.50 - £41.50 (plus VAT) per user per month
Find out more about Microsoft Project.
Trello
Intuitive design makes this one of the most popular task management tools – but it lacks the full project management capabilities of more powerful competitors.
Key benefits:
- easy to use tool for organising tasks within a team
- free starter plan could be enough for small businesses with simple requirements
Disadvantages:
- lacks full project management functionality such as costing, resource management and advanced reporting
- paid plan allowing added integrations / ‘Power-ups’ needed to deliver more powerful collaboration functionality
Pricing:
- free starter package with limited functionality
- $10 - $17.50 per user per month
Visit the Trello website.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet will appeal to spreadsheet enthusiasts, while it also offers powerful features at a competitive price.
Key benefits:
- ability to go beyond project management to creating a platform for running your business
- wide range of customised templates for different activities and industries
- powerful automation tools
Disadvantages:
- over-powered for many smaller businesses
- may need to invest in training to make the most of sophisticated functionality
Pricing:
- £11 - £19 per user per month
Find out more about Smartsheet project management tools for small to medium businesses.
Airtable
Another spreadsheet-related tool, Airtable could be a simpler alternative to Smartsheet for smaller businesses.
Key benefits:
- quick start with relatively easy learning curve
- strong for collaboration, particularly marketing projects
- bold visual design and useful visualisation tools to help track progress
Disadvantages:
- lacks full project management planning and reporting functionality
Pricing:
- free package offering reasonable core functionality
- $12 - $24 per user per month, discount for annual subscription
Learn more about Airtable workspaces and apps.
Asana
A flexible work management tool, the free version could be worth trying out if you don’t need fully-featured project management capabilities.
Key benefits:
- solid collaboration tool and task management, ideal for remote teams
- free plan can be a good entry-level route into this kind of software
Disadvantages:
- lacks full project management functionality
- paid plans a little more expensive than some other tools
Pricing:
- free plan limited to 15 users and core functionality
- £11.59 - £25.69 per user per month, discount for annual subscription
Find out more about how Asana helps you manage your team’s work, projects and tasks online.
Wrike
A powerful alternative to Microsoft Project, Wrike is most appealing for larger businesses.
Key benefits:
- free version offers extensive task management functionality
- paid plans include powerful task request and resource management features
Disadvantages:
- powerful features and customisability make this a little complex for many smaller businesses
- most integrations with other apps are a premium add-on
Pricing:
- free version offers effective task management
- $9.80 - $24.80 per user per month for project management
Read more about versatile and robust project management software from Wrike.
Celoxis
An all-in-one package offering strong resource management and reporting - ideal for mid-sized and larger companies.
Key benefits:
- great for managing multiple projects with good range of reporting tools
- project accounting features give clear visibility on costs
Disadvantages:
- no free plan
- limited file storage included (extra cost for additional storage)
Pricing:
- $22.50 per user per month, minimum 5 users
- $10 per $10GB additional storage over included 2GB/user
Find out more about project management software by Celoxis.
monday.com
Pricing and features hit the sweet spot for smaller teams, but larger businesses with more complex project management requirements may want to look elsewhere.
Key benefits:
- full team management platform
- quick start with easy set-up, ready-made template library and good range of integrations available
- lower cost than more fully-featured competitors
Disadvantages:
- lacks more powerful project management capabilities
- lower-priced ‘Pro’ package excludes timeline feature
Pricing:
- Free for individual or two-person team
- £7-£14 per user per month (minimum three users)
Read about how monday.com can help you manage your team and projects.
MeisterTask
Visually appealing and easy to use, adding the optional MindMeister makes this a strong choice for creative teams.
Key benefits:
- clear focus on core functionality makes this one of the easier packages to get started with
- integrations offer the flexibility to build on additional tools if you need them
- optional MindMeister tool for brainstorming ideas
Disadvantages:
- visual design may not appeal to everyone
- pricing is a little aggressive given the lack of full project management functionality
Pricing:
- Free basic package for managing up to three projects
- £8.25-£20.75 per user per month
- £0-£12.49 for MindMeister, discounted pricing for MeisterTask/MindMeister bundle
Find out more about MeisterTask task management for teams.
It’s worth checking up-to-date information on pricing and features for individual project management software packages before making your choice. Ease of use and visual appeal are key features to get employees using the software, so it’s worth taking advantage of free trials to get a hands-on feel.
The pricing details in this guide do not include VAT, any introductory discounts or free trials, or the more expensive ‘enterprise’ plans for large businesses.