{"id":160,"date":"2022-07-07T15:51:04","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T15:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/?p=160"},"modified":"2025-04-24T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T00:00:00","slug":"creative-project-management-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/creative-project-management-software\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Creative Project Management Software to Streamline Your Work in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It\u2019s a well-known fact that properly managing time and organizing work takes you one step closer to achieving a long-term goal. And, you must admit it has happened, at least once, that you forgot to reply to an email or missed an important deadline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what\u2019s the missing ingredient? <strong>How can you make your work life easier and organize your creative team better?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re a freelance artist managing <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/creative-design-request\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creative design requests<\/a> or you run a creative team, one thing\u2019s for sure \u2014 if you don\u2019t plan well, you\u2019ll barrel down to <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/reasons-for-project-failure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project failure<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, there are tools that can help you prepare a project plan and take your creative project management to the next level.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, I\u2019ll tell you about the 10 best creative project management tools that all creatives should consider using in 2025.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Creative-Project-Management-Software-1-1.png\" alt=\"Creative Project Management Software - cover\" class=\"wp-image-12555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Creative-Project-Management-Software-1-1.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Creative-Project-Management-Software-1-1-600x300.png 600w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Creative-Project-Management-Software-1-1-1110x555.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Creative-Project-Management-Software-1-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Creative-Project-Management-Software-1-1-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e5f6fe\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>WHY TRUST US?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The apps we talk about are selected, tested, and written about by human reviewers who follow strict review and editorial guidelines. We pick solutions that are practical, purposeful, and can offer real value for the specific use case or business context we\u2019re covering \u2014 while also being justified in their pricing. Our methodology is transparent, clear, and available to everyone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/our-software-review-methodology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our review methodology here \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-i-picked-the-best-pm-tools-for-creatives-in-this-list\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How I picked the best PM tools for creatives in this list<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With so many choices on the market, how did I decide on the best options?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, I imagined the following situation:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The clock is ticking, and I promised to submit my project in 1 hour \u2014 but I need to upload the project file and report it to my team members for additional approval.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I anxiously scroll through my project management app, but I just can\u2019t seem to find where to add the file or write a message to my teammate.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I lose too much time on this endless search \u2014 until it overwhelms me, and I give up.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This seems like torture to me \u2014 and, I\u2019m guessing, you too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, <strong>the first thing I looked for in creative project management software is user-friendliness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from being easy to use, here are some more features I took into account:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Collaboration <\/strong>\u2014 As creative teams usually have tons of outputs to share, I looked for apps with great communication and collaboration features, as well as file-sharing and storage options.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/what-is-task-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Task management<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 Creative teams often deal with quick turnarounds, like a marketing agency publishing content across multiple social media platforms. That\u2019s why I paid attention to customization, easy <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/project-deadline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">deadline<\/a> management, access to different board views, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accessibility <\/strong>\u2014 Finally, I wanted these apps to be easily accessible, not only in terms of user-friendliness but also in affordability, support, and things like templates, which should help you get started with your projects fast.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, you\u2019ll see how different creative management tools fare against these criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, this comparison will provide you with all the necessary information on <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-project-management-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to choose project management software<\/a> for creative agencies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-default pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5 pb-lg-4 pr-0\" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                Free creative project management software            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Want the most reliable PM tool with a powerful free plan? Organize your creative agency with Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/default@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid px-lg-0\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/default.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"overview-of-the-10-best-project-management-tools-for-creatives\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview of the 10 best project management tools for creatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The following are the apps I reviewed for this list. In this table, you can find their basic info \u2014 for more details, check out their individual reviews below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Tool<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Free trial<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Free plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Lowest price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Plaky by CAKE.com<\/td><td>Creative management on a budget<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$3.99\/seat\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Asana<\/td><td>Multifaceted teams<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$10.99\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ProofHub<\/td><td>Best for large teams<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>$45\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Trello<\/td><td>Beginners<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$5\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ClickUp<\/td><td>Complex projects<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$7\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wrike<\/td><td>Creative collaboration<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$10\/seat\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hive<\/td><td>Busy teams<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$5\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>monday.com<\/td><td>Workflow customization<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$9\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Miro<\/td><td>Brainstorming sessions<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$18\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>FunctionFox<\/td><td>Small teams<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-plaky-by-cake-com-best-for-creative-management-on-a-budget\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1 <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com<\/a> \u2014 best for creative management on a budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Plaky is cloud-based <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/agency-project-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creative project management software<\/a> that allows you to plan, manage, and collaborate on any project with your team with ease.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, one of the best perks of using Plaky is that you won\u2019t have to pay a fortune to organize projects and tasks, even for a large creative team. Plaky allows you to add an unlimited number of users for free \u2014 something we\u2019ll see many other tools struggle with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manage creative projects with Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Plaky\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Plaky\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Intuitive and easy to learn<br>&#8211; Organized and task-specific file sharing that promotes collaboration<br>&#8211; Fully customizable fields that cater to every project<br>&#8211; Affordable, with a powerful free plan<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Lack of integrations \u2014 for now, only 2 integration are available: Clockify and Pumble<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-plaky\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Plaky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After using all of the apps on this list, I can confidently say that Plaky is my favorite because it covers all the criteria listed above: collaboration, management, <em>and<\/em> accessibility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A couple of years ago, when I didn\u2019t even have a clue what a \u201cPM tool\u201d was, it took me less than a day to get used to Plaky \u2014 that\u2019s how intuitive its interface is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back then, I didn\u2019t need them, but I just know I\u2019d have loved the templates Plaky offers too. Whether you need a <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/templates\/creative-requests\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creative request<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/templates\/strategy-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marketing strategy plan<\/a> template, you can be sure you\u2019ll start your project without wasting any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a creative project is a lot more than that. Most notably, it\u2019ll usually produce too many files to count.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a solution, Plaky lets you organize files by the items they belong to. This simple system works incredibly well \u2014 to the point where I haven\u2019t misplaced a file since I started using it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best of all? There\u2019s no limit to the number of files you can store, no matter which plan you go for, as long as the files are the correct size!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sharing-files-in-Plaky.png\" alt=\"Sharing files in Plaky project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sharing-files-in-Plaky.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sharing-files-in-Plaky-536x300.png 536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sharing-files-in-Plaky-1110x622.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sharing-files-in-Plaky-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sharing-files-in-Plaky-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sharing files in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Creative projects need a lot more than file sharing, though. So, Plaky helps them out with:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fully customizable fields<\/strong> \u2014 Whether you\u2019re running a marketing agency or design team, you can set up Plaky to cater to your <em>exact<\/em> needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kanban and Gantt views<\/strong> \u2014 Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/kanban-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kanban view<\/a> to visualize task completion easily. Alternatively, rely on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gantt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gantt view<\/a> to improve your time and workload management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/comments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Comments<\/strong><\/a><strong> and @mentions <\/strong>\u2014 Creative teams need to collaborate to be successful. Plaky\u2019s comments let them notify each other of any important information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/user-roles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>User roles<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 You can set up special user roles for external collaborators, like clients, so that they have a better insight into the project.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And finally, all of this is available in the free plan and more \u2014 unlimited users, boards, and items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, and downsides? Plaky has just one \u2014 a lack of integrations. In a creative tool, integrations can make your life easier, but for now, there are only 2 integrations: <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/integrations\/track-time-in-plaky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky-Clockify integration<\/a>, which enables effortless time tracking and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pumble-integration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky-Pumble integration<\/a>, which helps you get critical project updates directly in your communication app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t worry, though, as the Plaky team is working hard on improving that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-landing-3 pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5  \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                The best creative project management software            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Easy to use, boosts collaboration, fully customizable \u2014 Plaky by CAKE.com\u2019s perfect for any creative team. Try it out today!<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-3@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-3.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-plaky\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Plaky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Plaky recently added the option to log in with the <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/updates\/cakecom-account\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com Account<\/a> \u2014 which connects Plaky, <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pumble<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clockify<\/a> under one organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms:<\/strong> web, Android, iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plaky\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Plaky\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free (Personal)<\/td><td>Yes, for an unlimited number of users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pro<\/td><td>$3.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>$8.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/bundle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com Bundle<\/a> (Plaky, Clockify, &amp; Pumble)<\/td><td>$12.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have a good tool, you need the knowledge to lead a creative project. So, check out our comprehensive guide, as well as our resource text on how you can use Plaky to tackle common creative project management challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/creative-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Creative Project Management: The Definitive Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/plaky-for-creative-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Solve Creative Project Management Challenges With Plaky<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200b\u200b\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-bundle pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5  \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                Try CAKE.com Bundle            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Boost your productivity and free more time for creativity with the CAKE.com Bundle, which gets you 3 tools at an incredible price: Plaky \u2014 for polished project management, Pumble \u2014 for smooth team communication, and Clockify \u2014 for efficient time tracking.<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/try\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/bundle\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/bundle@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/bundle.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-asana-best-for-multifaceted-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2 <a href=\"https:\/\/asana.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asana<\/a> \u2014 best for multifaceted teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Asana is a creative project management tool that combines a simple interface with complex functionality. It\u2019s an app that truly gives your creative team options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Asana\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Asana\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; 200+ integrations to support any kind of team<br>&#8211; Plenty of view options allow for flexible task management<br>&#8211; Easy to get started with an intuitive interface<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Steep learning curve for more complex features, like Rules<br>&#8211; Many good features are locked behind premium subscriptions<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-asana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Asana?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Among its many features, I found Asana&#8217;s ability to integrate with other tools, such as Google Docs, Adobe CC, Figma, and many others, the most useful for creative work. It has over 200 integrations, after all \u2014 which is fantastic news for multifaceted teams that work with many different tools throughout their projects and need to ensure their workflow is uninterrupted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another reason I believe Asana is great for multifaceted teams is its Forms feature, which should make a crucial part of a creative agency\u2019s workflow \u2014&nbsp; making <strong>creative requests <\/strong>\u2014 so much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asana\u2019s Forms are easy to set up and are pretty customizable. With them, you can set up a creative request form that you can send out to clients \u2014 reducing the need for excessive communication with the same result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And no, your clients don\u2019t need to be Asana users to reply to a form. They can even add attachments to form replies, which helps when words can\u2019t describe what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Asanas-creative-requests-template.png\" alt=\"Creative request template shown in Asana project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Asanas-creative-requests-template.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Asanas-creative-requests-template-609x300.png 609w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Asanas-creative-requests-template-1110x547.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Asanas-creative-requests-template-768x378.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Asanas-creative-requests-template-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Asana&#8217;s creative request template<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The downside? Forms aren\u2019t available in the free plan. Plus, I was peeved that some really neat features aren\u2019t available in the Starter plan either, e.g., branching forms or, more importantly, default assignees. This trend continues with other useful Asana features \u2014 like the free plan only allowing 10 users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do decide to get Asana\u2019s premium plans, though, you\u2019ll get more features to improve your creative project management, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Timeline and workflow views<\/strong>, which help you organize that multitude of creative requests,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Milestone tracking<\/strong>, which can help you track the progress of larger creative projects, like <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/marketing-campaign-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marketing campaigns<\/a>, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automations<\/strong>, which let your team focus on the actual creative work, and handle the repetitive stuff for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, Asana\u2019s more complex features can be hard to adjust to, so if you don\u2019t have the time or resources for it, Asana might not be the tool for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-asana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Asana?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Asana recently added the Goals strategy map, which gives you a nice overview of how goals are connected with the tasks you perform. The company also introduced a Salesforce integration recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Asana\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/asana-pricing\/\"><strong>Asana\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free (Personal)<\/td><td>Yes, for up to 10 users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Starter<\/td><td>$10.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Advanced<\/td><td>$24.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise+<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-landing-3 pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5  \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                Free Asana alternative            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Asana\u2019s pricey \u2014 one of the more expensive tools out there. So why not try out a free option first? Give Plaky by CAKE.com a go!<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-3@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-3.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-proofhub-best-for-large-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.proofhub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ProofHub<\/a> \u2014 best for large teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>ProofHub is a project management tool that helps creative teams stay organized amid hectic work and jumbled schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-proofhub\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose ProofHub?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ProofHub\u2019s biggest strength is in offering plenty of clear tools for making sense of large projects and a large number of tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>ProofHub\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>ProofHub\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Built-in proofing tools to speed up the process<br>&#8211; Gantt chart with dependencies for schedule management<br>&#8211; Dedicated file sharing tab<\/td><td>&#8211; There\u2019s a learning curve when onboarding<br>&#8211; No free plan<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Logging into ProofHub, it was immediately clear to me how organized this app is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every part of your project will have a dedicated tab so you can avoid clutter, especially in large teams with lots of tasks. This is also meant to streamline your workflows, so you don\u2019t waste time managing the mess instead of doing the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I especially like this logic in ProofHub\u2019s built-in proofing tools. When reviewing a creative task, you usually need an external app to clearly communicate what changes need to be made. For example, proofing a PDF requires a tool that lets you highlight sections of text and leave comments on them. Otherwise, you\u2019d have to explain through text what segment needs to be changed, which is too big of a headache to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, with ProofHub, you can leave comments on specific parts of a file in-app. There are 2 parts to this tool:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The rectangle and arrow<\/strong> let you highlight specific parts of the file, with the option to change their colors, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The comments<\/strong> connect to the highlights and link to that comment once you post it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that the file stays uncluttered until you click a specific comment, when you see everything selected for that specific comment.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Leaving-comments-directly-on-an-uploaded-file-in-ProofHub.png\" alt=\"Comments and files in ProofHub\" class=\"wp-image-16124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Leaving-comments-directly-on-an-uploaded-file-in-ProofHub.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Leaving-comments-directly-on-an-uploaded-file-in-ProofHub-535x300.png 535w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Leaving-comments-directly-on-an-uploaded-file-in-ProofHub-1110x623.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Leaving-comments-directly-on-an-uploaded-file-in-ProofHub-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Leaving-comments-directly-on-an-uploaded-file-in-ProofHub-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Leaving comments directly on an uploaded file in ProofHub<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>That being said, I dislike that ProofHub doesn\u2019t offer a free plan, since that means small or mid-sized teams most likely won\u2019t turn to it. And even though it offers a 14-day free trial (with no card required), there are better apps to turn to if you\u2019re not looking to overspend on subscription plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are more features in ProofHub that help creative teams out, though, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gantt view<\/strong> \u2014 This Gantt view is clear and even includes <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/dependencies-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">task dependencies<\/a>. I especially like that the app notifies you if moving a schedule will affect any dependent tasks. Though, I find it confusing that the Gantt is split in half into a table and timeline view.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Discussions tab<\/strong> \u2014 This section gives you a dedicated space to discuss the entire project, without being limited to just the task comments. I especially like that there are public and private discussions, so you can mind information security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>File sharing <\/strong>\u2014 While you can share files in every task, there\u2019s also a dedicated file sharing tab where you can access and organize all files in the project. This way, finding them quickly and storing files from related tasks together for reference is much easier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, to take full advantage of ProofHub\u2019s features, you need quite a bit of onboarding. Since its workspace tries to keep everything segmented, it takes some time to figure out how navigation works and where a click will take you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most notably, I don\u2019t like that the Gantt and calendar views are separated from the other board views, but the form view isn\u2019t.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-proofhub\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in ProofHub?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ProofHub recently introduced Swift, a modern reconstruction of their UI that improves navigation and responsiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also added chat upgrades \u2014 you can now save messages, which in turn saves you from time wasted scrolling and emoji reactions to simplify communication.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for: <\/strong>Web, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>ProofHub\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Proofhub\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Essential<\/td><td>$45\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ultimate Control<\/td><td>$89\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-trello-best-for-beginners\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4 <a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trello<\/a> \u2014 best for beginners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Trello is a project management tool used by more than 2,000,000 teams worldwide. The tool is popular due to its uncomplicated nature, which makes it a good option for novice creatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Trello\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Trello\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Simple interface<br>&#8211; Plenty of integration and customization options with Power-Ups<br>&#8211; Good task management with the Kanban view<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Many features are locked behind a paywall (e.g., all but one view)<br>&#8211; Not suitable for more complex projects<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-trello\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Trello?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Trello\u2019s boards and their customizable backgrounds aren\u2019t just pretty \u2014 they\u2019re also welcoming to new users.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By default, Trello is in the Kanban view, which provides a great visual overview of tasks (even though it&#8217;s the only free view). This means that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your team won\u2019t need much time to acclimate and can spend more time on creative work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tasks and their deliverables, e.g., the files your team will need, will be easy to find.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any external collaborators, e.g., clients, will get a grip on the system easily.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A tiny personal grudge, though \u2014 since Trello\u2019s tasks open in their own window, you have to close them before taking a look at the other tasks. During my test use, this created a lot of unnecessary (and frankly, annoying) back-and-forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, Trello\u2019s standout creative feature that I definitely appreciated is Power-Ups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Essentially, Power-Ups let you add improvements to your board \u2014 either as integrations or additional features. The best part? Community inclusion \u2014 anyone can make a Power-Up, which is a challenge that creatives should find quite fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I found plenty of useful widgets for creatives here \u2014 like whiteboards and mind maps for brainstorming, or an attachment archive and 3D viewer for file sharing. I\u2019m sure that there are even more useful tools to find if you have the time to dig around.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-tasks-in-Trello.png\" alt=\"Managing tasks in Trello project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-tasks-in-Trello.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-tasks-in-Trello-606x300.png 606w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-tasks-in-Trello-1110x549.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-tasks-in-Trello-768x380.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-tasks-in-Trello-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Managing tasks in Trello<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Still, some useful features \u2014 such as unlimited workspaces, board guests, and attachment permissions \u2014 come only with a paid plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further, I\u2019ve noticed that the Trello interface can get cluttered with too many tasks. Since creative teams often have short task timelines, you might want to hold off on Trello for larger projects with lots going on at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other Trello features that\u2019ll help out creative teams remind me of Asana, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Templates<\/strong>, which should help non-tech-savvy creative teams jumpstart their projects fast,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Timeline and calendar views<\/strong>, which help you keep track of deadlines with ease, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automations<\/strong>, which can speed up parts of your creative workflow, e.g., the automatic moving of tasks through different project stages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-trello\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Trello?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most recently, Trello added additional IP ranges for Atlassian Cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms:<\/strong> web, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Trello\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/trello-pricing\/\"><strong>Trello\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes, for up to 10 users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Standard<\/td><td>$5\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premium<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>$17.50\/user\/month (est. cost for 50 users)*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-landing-4 pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5  \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                Free Trello alternative            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Looking for a creative management tool that allows for complex projects \u2014 but doesn\u2019t lock unlimited users and boards behind paywalls? Try Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-4@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-4.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-clickup-best-for-complex-projects\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#5 <a href=\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ClickUp<\/a> \u2014 best for complex projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>ClickUp is a project management tool that encourages you to keep track of not only your tasks and projects but also your notes, docs, timelines, calendars, and much more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, mastering ClickUp will take some time due to its many features \u2014 so the learning curve may be too steep for some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>ClickUp\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>ClickUp\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Collaborative with real-time chat<br>&#8211; Plenty of views, including the whiteboard and calendar views<br>&#8211; Highly customizable<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Steep learning curve, which can be overwhelming<br>&#8211; Important features are only available in paid plans<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-clickup\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose ClickUp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We talked about apps that integrate with others \u2014 but how about an app that barely needs that? ClickUp has a built-in whiteboard, notepad, and time tracker, which basically lets you keep all your key data within one single app.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For me, the whiteboard was especially fun to use, and I believe it\u2019ll help designers communicate ideas more naturally. Whether you\u2019re making sketches with the pen or creating a mind map, you can use the whiteboard however you like. This will make brainstorming sessions a lot more seamless overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing I noticed about ClickUp\u2019s features is that most are customizable. So, ClickUp really shines when used to run complex, long-term projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take file organization, for example. You can share, create, edit, review, invite external collaborators to review, and export project files.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you can\u2019t create or edit task-specific files on the spot, which would be handy for creative work. But, the review process will be as easy as clicking the spot on the file you want to comment on.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Instagram-success-checklist-in-ClickUp.png\" alt=\"Example of an Instagram success checklist shown in ClickUp project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Instagram-success-checklist-in-ClickUp.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Instagram-success-checklist-in-ClickUp-606x300.png 606w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Instagram-success-checklist-in-ClickUp-1110x549.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Instagram-success-checklist-in-ClickUp-768x380.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Instagram-success-checklist-in-ClickUp-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Instagram success checklist in ClickUp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, this level of customization and features is a double-edged sword. The first time I accessed ClickUp, the sheer amount of features was daunting \u2014 and even though they tried their best with video tutorials, it took a while to get the hang of the app.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bottom line? If you\u2019re not dealing with a large project, ClickUp might just not be worth the trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you <em>are<\/em>, however, there are plenty of other features that can help you out, like:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In-app chat<\/strong> \u2014 No need to integrate with external team chat apps since ClickUp comes with a real-time chat box.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time tracking <\/strong>\u2014 Keep track of how much time a creative needs for each task or use the data to calculate how much you should charge a client.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Progress tracking<\/strong> \u2014 Use the dashboard to get a visual overview of your project and make creative work a bit less hectic than it usually is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-clickup\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in ClickUp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most recently, ClickUp added timesheet approval to its roster of features, as well as the ability to ask its AI bot about connected app links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms: <\/strong>web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>ClickUp\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/clickup-pricing\/\"><strong>ClickUp\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes, for up to 5 users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Unlimited<\/td><td>$7\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$12\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plaky vs ClickUp | Project Management Software Comparison\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_dl42UsZGCU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"6-wrike-best-for-creative-collaboration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#6 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrike.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wrike<\/a> \u2014 best for creative collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wrike is another project management platform that you can use to manage creative teams and their workloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Wrike, you won\u2019t get overwhelmed by <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/project-management-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project organization<\/a>. This tool will help you get things in order, create a neat project strategy, and most importantly \u2014 collaborate with your team with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Wrike\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Wrike\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Enables collaboration with interactive proofing<br>&#8211; Allows internal and external collaborators<br>&#8211; Customizable and flexible<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Limited storage options<br>&#8211; Important features are only available in paid plans<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-wrike\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Wrike?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since creative teams need to handle a large number of files, Wrike offers interactive proofing for 30+ file formats across all file types.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Essentially, you can comment on something specific in a file, not just the whole task \u2014 making the proofing process more centralized and communication less confusing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I especially liked that you can compare different versions of a file side by side. This feature enables your team to stay on top of all the latest edits and in line with the most recent versions of attachments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We just talked about the same feature in ClickUp, though \u2014 so why do I think Wrike\u2019s version is better?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To put it simply, I think it\u2019s a bit simpler to navigate and supports more file formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s not all \u2014 Wrike\u2019s proofing goes a step further when you connect it to the Adobe Suite.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you\u2019re working in Illustrator or even Premiere Pro, you can get notified of reviews made to your file. Then, you can see those reviews, change what\u2019s needed, and upload the newest version without ever leaving the Adobe app \u2014 pretty neat!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"759\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Wrikes-creative-asset-production-template.png\" alt=\"Creative asset production template shown in Wrike project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Wrikes-creative-asset-production-template.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Wrikes-creative-asset-production-template-474x300.png 474w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Wrikes-creative-asset-production-template-1110x702.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Wrikes-creative-asset-production-template-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Wrikes-creative-asset-production-template-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wrike&#8217;s creative asset production template<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>But this comes with a price \u2014 Wrike will give you only 2 GB of storage space per account with their free plan. For reference, a recent collaborator sent me a 200 MB file \u2014 just 10 of those, and I\u2019d need an upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, in Wrike, you can also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Add external collaborators<\/strong> \u2014 It seems pretty standard, but coupled with interactive proofing, you can give your clients a great (and more efficient) service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrate with DAM software <\/strong>\u2014 Keep track of your data with digital asset management (especially helpful for marketing teams).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get detailed reports<\/strong> \u2014 Schedule automatic reports or check in by yourself to see the progress of your creative work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-wrike\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Wrike?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Wrike recently improved its automation with dynamic dates management, aiming to improve working within <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/project-timeline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project timelines<\/a>. The company also added new filters in the Table view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms<\/strong>: web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Wrike\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Wrike\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes, for unlimited users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Team<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$25\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pinnacle<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed monthly<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wrike\u2019s expensive \u2014 try Plaky!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"7-hive-best-for-busy-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#7 <a href=\"https:\/\/hive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hive<\/a> \u2014 best for busy teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s another collaborative creative agency management software \u2014 but this one does it a bit differently. Hive puts a lot of focus on automation, letting you focus on the work that <em>truly<\/em> matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Hive\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Hive\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Great AI assistant that makes setting up easierIn-app messenger that makes <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/communication-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project communication<\/a> more efficient<br>&#8211; Easy to learn<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Advanced customization options are only available in paid plans<br>&#8211; Lacks integrations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-hive\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Hive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As I mentioned, creative agencies often have quick turnarounds. When you\u2019re expected to create social media posts every other day, you don\u2019t want to spend half of that time in your PM tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, Hive makes everything quicker, with plenty of features \u2014 but my favorite is Buzz.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buzz is a virtual AI assistant that makes using Hive simple and carefree. If you want to set up automations, you don\u2019t need to spend hours on tutorials and test tasks. Just ask Buzz, and it\u2019s done in a couple of seconds. Overall, this helps creative teams stay focused on their work, while Hive\u2019s nifty AI takes care of the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I found this great for busy teams already, I wasn\u2019t surprised to see more features that help with what they need most \u2014 centralization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like Asana, you can send out forms in Hive in the format of a creative request, and check what a client needs without leaving the app. Similarly, Hive also offers interactive proofing, but with fewer capabilities than previous entries.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Making-a-content-calendar-in-Hive.png\" alt=\"Making a content calendar in Hive project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Making-a-content-calendar-in-Hive.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Making-a-content-calendar-in-Hive-609x300.png 609w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Making-a-content-calendar-in-Hive-1110x547.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Making-a-content-calendar-in-Hive-768x378.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Making-a-content-calendar-in-Hive-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Making a content calendar in Hive<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>On the downside, proofing isn\u2019t available in the free plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Worse, customization is sorely lacking in the free plan. As a creative, I expect to work on many different types of tasks, so adjusting fields to my specific needs without having to pay extra is a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make up for that, though, Hive offers some other useful features, like the:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In-app messenger<\/strong>,&nbsp; which helps you waste no time getting feedback on your <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/creative-workflow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">creative workflows<\/a>,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creative templates<\/strong>, which help you get started on projects like product advertising or design in mere minutes, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parent and child projects<\/strong>, which let you organize your work into more manageable chunks by setting specific clients or campaigns as parent projects, and then adding child projects to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-hive\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Hive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Hive just released a new mobile app, which improved the user experience for their smartphone users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms<\/strong>: web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Hive\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Hive\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes, for up to 10 users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Starter<\/td><td>$5\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Teams<\/td><td>$12\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Can\u2019t set up Hive? Try Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"8-monday-com-best-for-workflow-customization\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#8 <a href=\"https:\/\/monday.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">monday.com<\/a> \u2014 best for workflow customization&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>monday.com is a creative agency workflow software that boosts your team\u2019s collaboration, efficiency, and productivity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With its many convenient features, monday.com is a fine choice for a creative team looking to customize their <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/project-management-workflow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project workflows<\/a> to their needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>monday.com\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>monday.com\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Highly customizable<br>&#8211; Offers plenty of views, with great widget options<br>&#8211; Effective progress tracking<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Very limited in its free plan<br>&#8211; Steep learning curve<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-monday-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose monday.com?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s not obvious that I value customization options for creative teams, here it is again. One of monday.com\u2019s best features is its number of customization options \u2014 even in the free plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides fields, you\u2019ll also be able to add widgets and views, making your workspace a bit more personalized and adding more benefits for your creative team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Widgets are added to your dashboard, or to a blank view \u2014 and there\u2019s plenty to choose from. For now, I like the File Gallery widget the most because it lets you keep lots of files in one place neatly organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find a lot more options in monday.com\u2019s app. A good example is Bookmarks, which lets you store ideas, references, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of this, monday.com\u2019s views let you approach your project in many different ways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the Forms view is great for creatives working with lots of clients. It turns your fields into a form, and then the responses back into tasks on your board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The free plan also comes with the Forms and Files view, aside from the usual List and Kanban. The rest, however, you need to pay for.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/monday.coms-creative-processes-template.png\" alt=\"Creative processes template shown in monday.com project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/monday.coms-creative-processes-template.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/monday.coms-creative-processes-template-606x300.png 606w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/monday.coms-creative-processes-template-1110x549.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/monday.coms-creative-processes-template-768x380.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/monday.coms-creative-processes-template-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">monday.com&#8217;s creative processes template<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>That said, monday.com is another one of the <em>really-versatile-but-hard-to-use <\/em>apps. The options are there, but you need to get your elbows greased to take full advantage of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, I say the options are there \u2014 in reality, the options are mostly in the paid plans. The free plan is very limited (only 2 users, yikes!), and pricey compared to other apps in this niche.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can get past the price tag, though, you can find more useful features, like:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Time tracking <\/strong>\u2014 Set the perfect timeline by learning from past tasks, or calculate client fees more easily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shareable boards <\/strong>\u2014 Share your boards with clients to keep them up-to-date and get immediate feedback.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Templates<\/strong> \u2014 Use many free templates to get started with no delays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-monday-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in monday.com?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, monday.com rolled out improvements to its CRM features, like generating quotes and invoices and scheduling meetings through Google and Outlook calendar integrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms:<\/strong> iOS, Android, Web<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>monday.com\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/monday-com-pricing\/\"><strong>monday.com\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes, for up to 2 users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basic<\/td><td>$9\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Standard<\/td><td>$12\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pro<\/td><td>$19\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-pricing pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5 pb-lg-4 \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-dark\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-dark\">\n                Best monday.com alternative            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">monday.com\u2019s free version is pretty limited \u2014 but even the paid plans are costly. Discover a more reliable tool at a better price. Try Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-primary text-white\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-black px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/pricing@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/pricing.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"9-miro-best-for-brainstorming-sessions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#9 <a href=\"https:\/\/miro.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miro<\/a> \u2014 best for brainstorming sessions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Miro is a design project management software that focuses on collaboration in creative teams. Its unique interface and focus on creativity make it a perfect fit for teams that often need to innovate with their tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Miro\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Miro\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Great whiteboard options make for easier collaboration<br>&#8211; Multiple communication options<br>&#8211; Simple to set up and start using&nbsp;<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Limited board management options<br>&#8211; Frequent bug issues<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-miro\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Miro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Miro has a very unique interface \u2014 it\u2019s like ClickUp\u2019s whiteboard, but on steroids. The whole interface is surrounded by a whiteboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does this mean? You can draw, add notes, and collaborate in real time, all around the tasks that you\u2019re organizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ignore that I just think it\u2019s really fun to use \u2014 it\u2019s also great for brainstorming sessions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Miro\u2019s real-time collaboration works perfectly, which means that you won\u2019t have to worry about losing any data or time and effort \u2014 unless you have a poor internet connection. You can collaborate in the same space and then just put the end result into a task right next to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of tools Miro gives you is almost overwhelming \u2014 from a voting poll to complex diagrams, you can brainstorm any solution in Miro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also upload files or even create new ones. And then, you can review them, leave comments, add sticky notes or stickers, or use any other creative way to communicate within the same whiteboard.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Brainstorming-in-Miros-whiteboard.png\" alt=\"Brainstorming in Miro project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Brainstorming-in-Miros-whiteboard.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Brainstorming-in-Miros-whiteboard-606x300.png 606w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Brainstorming-in-Miros-whiteboard-1110x549.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Brainstorming-in-Miros-whiteboard-768x380.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Brainstorming-in-Miros-whiteboard-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brainstorming in Miro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>That is, however, where things get messy \u2014 it\u2019s <em>all<\/em> on the same whiteboard. I can see myself <em>literally<\/em> getting lost in Miro\u2019s interface after a month of work fills it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, there\u2019s a big risk of clutter, and it\u2019d be everyone\u2019s role to prevent a catastrophic mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, this type of freedom also leads to limited board management options. Where you can find creative solutions, you\u2019re missing straightforward ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, Miro manages to impress with even more creative management features, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>160+ integrations <\/strong>\u2014 If Miro\u2019s own tools aren\u2019t enough, connect any tool you\u2019re working with and work seamlessly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mind maps<\/strong> \u2014 Outline creative ideas to organize their execution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Templates<\/strong> \u2014 Like its interface, Miro\u2019s templates are rather creative too and challenge you to manage your team in new and innovative ways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-miro\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Miro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can now mix, match, and stack your sticky notes \u2014 which is a step toward decluttering that mess we just talked about. Users can also mention specific team members in Docs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platforms:<\/strong> web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Miro\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Miro\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>Yes, for unlimited users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Starter<\/td><td>$8\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$16\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"10-functionfox-best-for-small-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#10 <a href=\"https:\/\/functionfox.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FunctionFox<\/a> \u2014 best for small teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FunctionFox is marketing agency management software specifically built for creative teams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It helps teams deal with profitability and handle their budget \u2014 something small teams often need to worry about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>FunctionFox\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>FunctionFox\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; Reports give you an insight into the project<br>&#8211; Unlimited clients and projects<br>&#8211; Financial management features like budget estimates and tracking<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">&#8211; No free plan<br>&#8211; Lacks certain important features, like automations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-functionfox\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose FunctionFox?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>FunctionFox is built specifically for creatives, but in a different sense. It aims to help them organize their workflow and track profitability \u2014 this leads me to believe it\u2019s best for smaller agencies, working project to project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this purpose, the prime feature you get with FunctionFox is definitely Reports. This useful option allows you to generate all kinds of reports based on the information in your account \u2014 e.g., the budget report lets marketing agencies stay on top of their spending.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides that, it gives estimates for the rest of the project so that you can plan accordingly. Trust me \u2014 if you\u2019re running a marketing campaign, it\u2019s good to know if you\u2019re going to be over budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, the resource forecast lets you see how underutilized or overutilized a resource is, specifically human resources. After all, while working on tight schedules, you don\u2019t want to burden any creative with too much work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FunctionFox also gives you unlimited clients and projects, as well as unlimited budget estimates and tracking. All of this would make the work of a freelance marketing agency a lot easier.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-a-creative-project-in-FunctionFox.png\" alt=\"Managing a creative project in FunctionFox project management software\" class=\"wp-image-12564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-a-creative-project-in-FunctionFox.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-a-creative-project-in-FunctionFox-400x300.png 400w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-a-creative-project-in-FunctionFox-1110x833.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-a-creative-project-in-FunctionFox-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Managing-a-creative-project-in-FunctionFox-16x12.png 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Managing a creative project in FunctionFox<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>However, the app does lack in many areas \u2014 I wish I\u2019d seen a free plan first and foremost. Catering to smaller businesses with no free option doesn\u2019t make much sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further, it lacks certain features, like dependencies and automations. Dependencies are important in marketing because they tell you exactly in which order tasks have to be done. For example, you <em>need<\/em> a designer\u2019s finished visuals before you post them anywhere \u2014 because your posts would otherwise make no sense!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, FunctionFox offers other features that could prove useful to creatives, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Time tracking <\/strong>\u2014 Evaluate your team\u2019s efficiency with timesheets and reports.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Timeline view<\/strong> \u2014 Track which tasks are due soon, which are overlapping, or dependent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automated alerts<\/strong> \u2014 Get notifications when you\u2019re nearing a certain threshold, e.g., the allocated budget, so you can focus on creative work in the meantime.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-functionfox\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in FunctionFox?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most recently, FunctionFox updated several pages to make navigation easier \u2014 something that was sorely needed. The company also added a QuickBooks integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available platform<\/strong>s: web, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>FunctionFox\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>FunctionFox\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Classic<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premier<\/td><td>$15\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>In-House<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FunctionFox\u2019s limited \u2014 try Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"some-pm-tools-offer-more-for-free-than-others\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some PM tools offer more for free than others<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the very beginning of this blog post, we mentioned some of the criteria a creative <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/project-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project management tool<\/a> should fulfill to satisfy any creative team\u2019s needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you\u2019re a keen reader, you might\u2019ve noticed that in most tools, these criteria are fulfilled only in paid plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Plaky, on the other hand, you get everything you need in the free plan \u2014 so the only things you might pay for are improvements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a 7-day <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/activity-log\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">activity log<\/a> in the free plan is just enough to check out your team members\u2019 recent work. However, if you want to take it to the next level, you can pick a 6-month or even unlimited activity log with Plaky\u2019s premium \u2014 but still affordable \u2014 paid plans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"807\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Plakys-paid-plans.png\" alt=\"Plaky's paid plans\" class=\"wp-image-12565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Plakys-paid-plans.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Plakys-paid-plans-446x300.png 446w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Plakys-paid-plans-1110x746.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Plakys-paid-plans-768x516.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Plakys-paid-plans-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plaky&#8217;s paid plans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Want the best creative management features for the best price of $0? Sign up for a free Plaky account today!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get started with Plaky by CAKE.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you choose creative project management software for your organization? Let\u2019s take a look at some of the best ones and help you decide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":12598,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comparisons"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160"}],"version-history":[{"count":97,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17089,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions\/17089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}