{"id":16146,"date":"2026-02-03T12:51:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T12:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/?p=16146"},"modified":"2026-04-02T12:31:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T12:31:24","slug":"consulting-management-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/consulting-management-software\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Management Software for Consultants (12 Tools Tested)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Calling on all consultants! Does managing client work feel more complicated than delivering it? If so, the real problem often lies in your tool stack. A spreadsheet here, a to-do list there, time tracking in another place\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And suddenly nothing quite lines up anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why this listicle is based on real testing. I paid close attention to project management software for consultants that can keep work <strong>visible and billable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to find your best match!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"project management software for consultants\" class=\"wp-image-16158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-1110x555.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-2048x1024.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/project-management-software-for-consultants-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/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><br><\/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><br><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-chose-and-tested-the-apps-on-this-list\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How I chose and tested the apps on this list<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To make this roundup genuinely useful, I approached the task the way I thought a real consultant would \u2014 with<strong> realistic scenarios and expectations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I only considered reputable tools that offer a<strong> free plan or at least a free trial <\/strong>\u2014 it\u2019s important for you to be able to try out these apps, just like I did, before committing to one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once inside each app, I primarily paid attention to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ease of use,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PM fundamentals (task hierarchy, statuses, dependencies, etc.),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collaboration and communication,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time tracking and invoicing, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analytics and visualization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The result is a list based on <strong>hands-on experience<\/strong>, not just feature checklists. <a href=\"#1-plaky-by-cake-com-best-for-day-to-day-consulting-pm\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#1-plaky-by-cake-com-best-for-day-to-day-consulting-pm\">See my #1 choice now<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e5f6fe\">\ud83d\udca1 Want more insight into how we select and test apps for our reviews? Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/our-software-review-methodology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com software review methodology page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"best-project-management-software-for-consultants-top-12-standouts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best project management software for consultants \u2014 top 12 standouts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a brief overview of all the solutions I tested. Scroll down to find my full reviews, including pros and cons!<\/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 <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com<\/a><\/td><td>Day-to-day consulting PM<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$3.99\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Freedcamp<\/td><td>Consulting low-tech industries<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$1.49\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zoho Projects<\/td><td>Integrated business and PM<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$4\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Asana<\/td><td>Cross-functional consulting<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$10.99\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SmartSuite<\/td><td>Document-centric workflows<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>$12\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Airtable<\/td><td>Data-focused teams<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$20\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wrike<\/td><td>Detailed analytics<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Avaza<\/td><td>Teams that bill by time<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$11.95\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Scoro<\/td><td>Ops-focused firms<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>$19.90\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Podio<\/td><td>Highly customizable workflows<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$11.20\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ProWorkflow<\/td><td>Small to mid-size teams<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>$18\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Teamwork<\/td><td>Direct client collaboration<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>\u2714<\/td><td>$9.99\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-plaky-by-cake-com-best-for-day-to-day-consulting-pm\" 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 day-to-day consulting PM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Plaky by CAKE.com is an affordable tool that helps teams organize work, follow progress, and collaborate in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-plaky\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Plaky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/consulting-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PM software for consultants<\/a>, Plaky delivers clarity and lightweight structure, which is ideal when you need to support daily ops, not just high-level roadmaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Intuitive<br>&#8211; Cost-effective<br>&#8211; Smooth team collaboration<br>&#8211; Multiple custom fields &amp; project views<\/td><td>&#8211; Limited integrations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My team uses Plaky daily. While we don\u2019t do consultancy, I definitely see some similarities with writing\/content management. We both identify pain points and present solutions, translating complex concepts into something more digestible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s why Plaky stands out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Quick onboarding and intuitive UI <\/strong>\u2014 Plaky\u2019s interface is user-friendly, so consultants and even non-technical clients (if provided with viewer roles, for example) can start using it right away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flexible project structure<\/strong> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/fields\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Custom fields<\/a> (text, numbers, assignee, date, status, etc.) let you model each project or client board however you like.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>True collaboration inside tasks<\/strong> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/comments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comments<\/a>, @mentions, and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/notifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">real-time notifications<\/a> keep everyone on the same page without email clutter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Track consulting projects in Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"706\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plaky-is-colorful-yet-neat-for-easy-organization.png\" alt=\"Plaky's board\" class=\"wp-image-16155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plaky-is-colorful-yet-neat-for-easy-organization.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plaky-is-colorful-yet-neat-for-easy-organization-510x300.png 510w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plaky-is-colorful-yet-neat-for-easy-organization-1110x653.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plaky-is-colorful-yet-neat-for-easy-organization-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plaky-is-colorful-yet-neat-for-easy-organization-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plaky is colorful yet neat for easy organization<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, Plaky provides responsiveness and focus needed for <strong>daily consulting work <\/strong>thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Centralized task tracking<\/strong> \u2014 Tasks, deadlines, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/files\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">files<\/a>, and conversations conveniently live on a single platform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Templates<\/strong> \u2014 Everyone can apply and customize <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky\u2019s handy templates<\/a>, while paid plan users can save their own proven workflows with the<em> Mark as template <\/em>option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/board-views\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Board views<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 Plaky can show the same tasks in different views (table-like, Gantt, Kanban, and pie\/bar charts), depending on your preference\/priority.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automation <\/strong>\u2014 Recurring tasks and rule-based <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/automations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">board automations<\/a> help you eliminate routine work (e.g., status updates, task handoffs).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"706\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plakys-Chart-view-enables-easy-data-analysis-and-presentation.png\" alt=\"Plaky's Chart view\" class=\"wp-image-16156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plakys-Chart-view-enables-easy-data-analysis-and-presentation.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plakys-Chart-view-enables-easy-data-analysis-and-presentation-510x300.png 510w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plakys-Chart-view-enables-easy-data-analysis-and-presentation-1110x653.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plakys-Chart-view-enables-easy-data-analysis-and-presentation-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Plakys-Chart-view-enables-easy-data-analysis-and-presentation-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/chart-view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky&#8217;s Chart view<\/a> enables easy data analysis and presentation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The only potential downside to Plaky for me is limited integrations. However, it does integrate with 2 CAKE.com apps, both of which are practical for consultants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pumble<\/strong> \u2014 This is a messaging and video conferencing app. The <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pumble-integration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pumble-Plaky integration<\/a> is an extra way to ensure you never miss task updates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clockify<\/strong> \u2014 There are <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/time-tracking-in-plaky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2 simple ways to link Plaky to Clockify<\/a> and track time. You can then get useful reports and dashboards based on billability status, projects, team members, and more for better productivity and forecasting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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>Want a more detailed picture of how consultants use Plaky? Read this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/plaky-for-consulting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Consulting Companies Use Plaky To Level up Client Delivery<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\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>Recurring tasks were recently introduced in Plaky, as well as the native Plaky-Clockify integration. Additionally, paid plan users can now rely on the <em>My tasks<\/em> page to see all items assigned to a particular team member, besides their own items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see all recent updates, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/whats-new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky\u2019s Changelog<\/a>. And, for upcoming updates, see <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky\u2019s Roadmap<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/ios-project-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iOS<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/android-project-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Android<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pricing\"><strong>Price<\/strong><\/a><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pro-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pro<\/a><\/td><td>$3.99\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/enterprise-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Enterprise<\/a><\/td><td>$8.99\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/bundle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com Bundle<\/a> (Plaky + Clockify + Pumble)<\/td><td>$12.99\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n\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                3 apps for the price of 1            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Our productivity suite gives you all 3 CAKE.com apps bundled together to save over 50%!<\/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    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-freedcamp-best-for-consulting-low-tech-industries\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2 <a href=\"https:\/\/freedcamp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Freedcamp<\/a> \u2014 best for consulting low-tech industries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Freedcamp is a platform that combines project\/task management, calendars, and file sharing in a single workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-freedcamp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Freedcamp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This tool is practical when working with tech-light industries since it\u2019s simple yet effective, especially if you need to share guest access with clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; User-friendly<br>&#8211; White labeling<br>&#8211; Solid time tracking &amp; invoicing<\/td><td>&#8211; Limited project views in the free plan<br>&#8211; Mobile app could be better<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Smooth client communication and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/task-centralization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">task centralization<\/a> are important for consultants, and Freedcamp supports those via:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>All-in-1 project organization <\/strong>\u2014 managing tasks, milestones, calendars, and files in a single app for better alignment and control,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Native time tracking and invoicing <\/strong>\u2014 tracking billable hours and generating invoices without needing separate tools,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrations<\/strong> \u2014 connecting with numerous other useful apps, mostly via Zapier, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>White label experience <\/strong>\u2014 adding your own logos and colors to make Freedcamp look like an in-house tool rather than a generic SaaS platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, Freedcamp\u2019s paid tiers are affordable, but I expected certain features to be available in the free plan \u2014 for example, the table view or detailed subtasks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Freedcamps-homepage.png\" alt=\"Freedcamp's homepage\" class=\"wp-image-16152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Freedcamps-homepage.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Freedcamps-homepage-621x300.png 621w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Freedcamps-homepage-1110x537.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Freedcamps-homepage-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Freedcamps-homepage-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Freedcamp&#8217;s homepage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since Freedcamp balances simplicity and functionality, I think it\u2019s useful when <strong>consulting low-tech industries <\/strong>and sharing guest access to clients. The benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Minimal learning curve<\/strong> \u2014 The simple interface ensures clients and team members don\u2019t get lost in menus and buttons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Visual project tracking<\/strong> \u2014 Different project views (table, calendar, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/gantt-chart-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gantt chart<\/a>, etc.) make it easy to organize and monitor work even when clients\u2019 systems are manual or paper-based.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Effective internal process documentation <\/strong>\u2014 Business\/Enterprise users can store client-specific processes, notes, and reference materials in a Wiki, giving everyone the access they need without digging through emails.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"581\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-details-in-Freedcamp.png\" alt=\"Task details in Freedcamp\" class=\"wp-image-16167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-details-in-Freedcamp.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-details-in-Freedcamp-620x300.png 620w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-details-in-Freedcamp-1110x537.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-details-in-Freedcamp-768x372.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-details-in-Freedcamp-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Task details in Freedcamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Finally, I want to note that Freedcamp offers a native mobile app for iOS and Android, but there are quite a few comments online about it being less polished compared to the desktop experience. This could frustrate consultants who need to update tasks on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-freedcamp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Freedcamp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freedcamp launched a big visual overhaul recently, with improved navigation and animations, as well as better project list sorting and filtering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pro<\/td><td>$1.49\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$7.49\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>$16.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-zoho-projects-best-for-integrated-business-and-pm\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoho.com\/projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoho Projects<\/a> \u2014 best for integrated business and PM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoho Projects is a work management and collaboration platform for planning, tracking, and delivering projects efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-zoho-projects\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Zoho Projects?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your company uses more than just PM software, Zoho Projects is particularly compelling because it\u2019s part of the larger Zoho Suite \u2014 40+ apps for finance, HR, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/what-is-crm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CRM<\/a>, etc. that you can easily connect with Projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Built-in chat<br>&#8211; Client portals<br>&#8211; Seamless integration with other Zoho apps<\/td><td>&#8211; Slight learning curve<br>&#8211; Limited free plan<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Exploring Zoho Projects, I felt it was deep enough for real project complexity, yet affordable and flexible as software for business consultants thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Comprehensive PM <\/strong>\u2014 detailed task management, project views (list, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/kanban-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kanban<\/a>, Gantt), time logs, and reporting for centralizing work,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Value-for-budget functionality<\/strong> \u2014 paid tiers at a lower cost compared to many competitors,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Team communication<\/strong> \u2014 comments, mentions, and a built-in chat for preserving discussions and feedback, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Client collaboration<\/strong> \u2014 client portals for letting external stakeholders view project info or share feedback without full internal access.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering the amount and depth of this app\u2019s features, it can seem overwhelming at first, but the structure starts to make sense once you\u2019ve run a few projects in it.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"613\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-list-in-Zoho-Projects.png\" alt=\"Task list in Zoho Projects\" class=\"wp-image-16168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-list-in-Zoho-Projects.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-list-in-Zoho-Projects-587x300.png 587w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-list-in-Zoho-Projects-1110x567.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-list-in-Zoho-Projects-768x392.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Task-list-in-Zoho-Projects-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Task list in Zoho Projects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you already invest in other Zoho apps or plan to do so, Zoho Projects will become a <strong>hub in your broader business workflows<\/strong> \u2014 here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Seamless Zoho integrations<\/strong> \u2014 Working with Zoho CRM, Books, Invoices, Analytics, and other apps from the ecosystem ensure smooth data flow thanks to unified workflows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automation across apps<\/strong> \u2014 Workflow rules and triggers can stretch across Zoho products, reducing repetitive admin work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Better visibility across functions<\/strong> \u2014 Integrated data improves forecasting, resource planning, and performance reporting, all of which become vital when a consulting business grows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"642\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zoho-Marketplace.png\" alt=\"Zoho Marketplace\" class=\"wp-image-16172\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zoho-Marketplace.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zoho-Marketplace-561x300.png 561w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zoho-Marketplace-1110x594.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zoho-Marketplace-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Zoho-Marketplace-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zoho Marketplace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now, I did say Zoho Projects is affordable, and compared to many competitors it really is, but looking at the free plan \u2014 which may be the only option for some cost-conscious teams \u2014 I\u2019m surprised to see it doesn\u2019t include templates or custom fields at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, unlike Plaky or Freedcamp, Zoho Projects limits the number of users on the free plan (5 maximum).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-zoho-projects\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Zoho Projects?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoho Projects has updated its Timesheets to improve the review and approval aspect. Another novelty is the creation of automations based on user actions (for instance, sending emails to managers when a new user accepts a project invite).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, iOS, iPadOS, Apple Vision, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 5 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premium<\/td><td>$4\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>$9\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ultimate<\/td><td>$14\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zoho Projects Plus (Projects, Sprints, Analytics, and Workdrive)<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-asana-best-for-cross-functional-consulting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4 <a href=\"https:\/\/asana.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asana<\/a> \u2014 best for cross-functional consulting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Asana is a comprehensive tool for planning, monitoring, and coordinating work across projects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-asana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Asana?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This platform does a good job of aligning people with <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/project-roles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">different project team roles<\/a>, priorities, and way of working \u2014 suitable for cross-team consulting activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Has all PM essentials<br>&#8211; Multi-home tasks<br>&#8211; Numerous templates<\/td><td>&#8211; Task assignee limitations<br>&#8211; Inefficient pricing model<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Asana provides structure and visibility with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clear <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/what-is-task-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>task management<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 Tasks have owners and due dates, plus other details via custom fields if you\u2019re a paying user. I just find it awkward that only 1 user can be the primary assignee, which may force you to use subtasks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Standard collaboration features<\/strong> \u2014 Comments, mentions, and file attachments live directly on tasks to preserve context.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guest access<\/strong> \u2014 Asana isn\u2019t exactly built for external users the way client portal tools are, but you can share projects with clients while protecting internal data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, Asana has a new tool for tracking hours and managing project budgets, but it\u2019s available only as a paid add-on (you need to contact sales for pricing details).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Asanas-interface.png\" alt=\"Asana's interface\" class=\"wp-image-16149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Asanas-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Asanas-interface-592x300.png 592w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Asanas-interface-1110x562.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Asanas-interface-768x389.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Asanas-interface-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Asana&#8217;s interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As for why I believe Asana is a decent choice for <strong>consulting that involves <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/cross-functional-collaboration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>cross-functional collaboration<\/strong><\/a>, this is what stood out during testing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Multi-home tasks &amp; dependencies \u2014<\/strong> A task can exist in multiple projects, so any updates are synchronized across the app. Also, you can set <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/dependencies-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">task dependencies<\/a> to see how delays in one function impact others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automation rules <\/strong>\u2014 Native rule-based automations reduce manual coordination between teams (e.g., adding assignees, sending notifications).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>80+ templates<\/strong> \u2014 Prebuilt structures for diverse workflows speed up project setup and guarantee consistency across teams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Templates-in-Asana.png\" alt=\"Templates in Asana\" class=\"wp-image-16170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Templates-in-Asana.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Templates-in-Asana-582x300.png 582w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Templates-in-Asana-1110x573.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Templates-in-Asana-768x396.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Templates-in-Asana-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Templates in Asana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important you know that <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/asana-pricing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asana\u2019s pricing<\/a> works like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2\u20135 users<\/strong> \u2014 adding seats in increments of 1,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Up to 30 users<\/strong> \u2014 adding seats in increments of 5,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Up to 100 users <\/strong>\u2014 adding seats in increments of 10,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Up to 500 users<\/strong> \u2014 adding seats in increments of 25, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>500+ users<\/strong> \u2014 adding seats in increments of 50.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, you must pay for unused seats if your team size doesn\u2019t fit into neat bundles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another minus: there\u2019s no customer service on the free plan, which means no help with technical issues for budget-conscious users apart from the Help page and video tutorials.<\/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>Wanna see how Asana stacks up against its most popular competitors? Check these out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/plaky-vs-asana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky vs Asana<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/trello-vs-asana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trello vs Asana<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/clickup-vs-asana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ClickUp vs Asana<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/notion-vs-asana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Notion vs Asana<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wrike-vs-asana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wrike vs Asana<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/asana-vs-jira\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asana vs Jira<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/asana-vs-monday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asana vs monday.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\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 has enhanced its rule builder so that creating automations is faster and more intuitive. Also, there\u2019s a new integration that lets you search and interact with your Asana data directly through Gemini AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Personal (free)<\/td><td>$0 (up to 2 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-2 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                Simpler, cost-effective Asana alternative            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">If Asana feels like overkill, consider Plaky by CAKE.com \u2014 a more polished alternative with unlimited free users and boards.<\/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\/compare\/asana-alternative\">\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-2@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-2.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-smartsuite-best-for-document-centric-workflows\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#5 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartsuite.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SmartSuite<\/a> \u2014 best for document-centric workflows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SmartSuite is a solution that blends customizable workflows, file and data organization, and automation into a unified system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-smartsuite\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose SmartSuite?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your consulting relies on documents as much as tasks, SmartSuite supports both rich document editing and structured workflows in the same ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Many fields and project views<br>&#8211; Comprehensive reports<br>&#8211; Document designer<\/td><td>&#8211; Occasionally slow performance<br>&#8211; No free plan<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>SmartSuite feels like a hybrid between a traditional PM platform and a robust database tool. Here\u2019s what caught my eye:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Highly customizable workflows <\/strong>\u2014 With 40+ field types, 10+ views (grid, Gantt, map, and more), built-in automation, time logging, and billing capabilities, you can build solutions (workspaces) that match your consulting methodology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User-friendly forms <\/strong>\u2014 SmartSuite\u2019s forms allow you to gather information from clients (intake requests, feedback, approvals) and feed it directly into your flows, avoiding manual re-entry or messy spreadsheets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2,000+ integrations <\/strong>\u2014 Thanks to Zapier, Make, and Ply, you can connect SmartSuite with many other tools if needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dashboards and reports <\/strong>\u2014 The app pulls data from all solutions and transforms them into digestible metrics and trends for stronger visibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, SmartSuite has some powerful features, but I noticed it tends to load more slowly when you have large, complex workspaces.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-UI.png\" alt=\"SmartSuite's UI\" class=\"wp-image-16166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-UI.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-UI-634x300.png 634w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-UI-1110x525.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-UI-768x364.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-UI-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">SmartSuite&#8217;s UI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>What sets SmartSuite apart is<strong> rich documentation features<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Page formatting and elements <\/strong>\u2014 Create different documents by customizing page size and orientation and adding different elements (text, shapes, images, links).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Field dropping<\/strong> \u2014 Insert fields into documents if you want your reports and summaries to auto-populate themselves with live data from your system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Document templates <\/strong>\u2014 Make templates for proposals, kickoff notes, status reports, etc. to save time on recurring work and standardize quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-document-designer.png\" alt=\"SmartSuite's document designer\" class=\"wp-image-16165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-document-designer.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-document-designer-625x300.png 625w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-document-designer-1110x533.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-document-designer-768x369.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SmartSuites-document-designer-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">SmartSuite&#8217;s document designer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>All in all, SmartSuite is robust, but it\u2019s not without some tradeoffs. For instance, teams that prefer simple, minimalistic UIs will probably find this platform too dense and overwhelming at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I must also underscore that SmartSuite doesn\u2019t have a free plan. There is a free trial, but 14 days might not be enough for some firms to evaluate whether an app is the right fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-smartsuite\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in SmartSuite?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SmartSuite has redesigned the workspace administration area to make it easier for admins to find and manage settings. Solution Packaging is new as well \u2014 bundling multiple workspaces together and moving\/duplicating them as a group with all linked records and settings kept intact.<\/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>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Team<\/td><td>$12\/seat\/month* (3+ users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional<\/td><td>$30\/seat\/month* (5+ users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>$45\/seat\/month* (10+ users)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"6-airtable-best-for-data-focused-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#6 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airtable.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Airtable<\/a> \u2014 best for data-focused teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Airtable is a flexible, database-driven work management tool. It lets you structure information in spreadsheets, relate them, and see the same data in different views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-airtable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Airtable?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your team thinks in data, relationships, and systems, Airtable is a solid consultancy software solution for smarter workflows and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Highly flexible<br>&#8211; Client portals<br>&#8211; Relational databases<\/td><td>&#8211; Learning curve<br>&#8211; Expensive<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Testing this app left me under the impression it\u2019s for consulting agencies that work with versatile clients and have different reporting needs. Airtable enables structure without rigidity thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Deep customization<\/strong> \u2014 Get tables, fields, views, formulas, and interfaces to match your project structure and service types.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>White labeling <\/strong>\u2014 Add your company logo and customize the background to make a branded workspace (if you opt for the Business or Enterprise Scale plan).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Client portals<\/strong> \u2014 Create controlled views where clients can follow progress or review <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/deliverable-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project deliverables<\/a> without accessing internal workflows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No-code\/low-code automations <\/strong>\u2014 Automate processes like approvals and status changes with no-code automations, or if you have some coding knowledge, extend the logic with Javascript.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As you might be able to tell, you don\u2019t just \u201cstart using\u201d Airtable. Instead, you design it. This can be a perk, but also a huge struggle for non-technical users.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"581\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Customizable-client-portal-in-Airtable.png\" alt=\"Customizable client portal in Airtable\" class=\"wp-image-16151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Customizable-client-portal-in-Airtable.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Customizable-client-portal-in-Airtable-620x300.png 620w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Customizable-client-portal-in-Airtable-1110x537.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Customizable-client-portal-in-Airtable-768x372.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Customizable-client-portal-in-Airtable-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customizable client portal in Airtable<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>That said, if you have a <strong>data-centric team<\/strong> that works with connected systems, Airtable offers benefits such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Relational databases<\/strong> \u2014 You can link tables (e.g., clients, projects, and invoices) to make a complex consulting setup far easier to manage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strong formula and field logic <\/strong>\u2014 Calculations, dependencies, and conditional fields allow you to build real operational logic into your workflow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Custom dashboards<\/strong> \u2014 Raw data turns into polished dashboards with charts and metrics for seamless reporting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Airtable-allows-database-syncing.png\" alt=\"Airtable allows database syncing\" class=\"wp-image-16148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Airtable-allows-database-syncing.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Airtable-allows-database-syncing-622x300.png 622w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Airtable-allows-database-syncing-1110x536.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Airtable-allows-database-syncing-768x371.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Airtable-allows-database-syncing-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Airtable allows database syncing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, the majority of Airtable\u2019s best features (e.g., extensions, 2-way sync) and unlimited users are locked behind a paywall. What\u2019s more, the cheapest paid plan is pricier than some competitors\u2019 premium tier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, Portals are a paid add-on, starting at a steep $120\/month for 15 guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another downside is that the time tracking feature (via an app in Airtable\u2019s marketplace) doesn\u2019t offer many advanced functionalities, so you\u2019d need to rely on integrations or separate apps for robust time reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-airtable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Airtable?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Airtable rolled out several AI improvements to make its built-in AI assistant Omni easier to use in everyday workflows \u2014 for example, \u201cOpen Omni\u201d action buttons that you can embed in interfaces or record details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 5 editors)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Team<\/td><td>$20\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$45\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise Scale<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Portals (add-on)<\/td><td>starting from $120\/15 guests\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"7-wrike-best-for-detailed-analytics\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrike.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wrike<\/a> \u2014 best for detailed analytics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wrike is a robust PM solution built for teams handling multi-layered projects. It combines task tracking, resource management, automation, and reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-wrike\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Wrike?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your leadership or clients expect detailed visibility into progress and performance, Wrike can deliver more depth than many other PM tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Rich with features<br>&#8211; Strong dashboards &amp; reports<br>&#8211; Multi-home tasks<\/td><td>&#8211; Limited free plan<br>&#8211; Impractical subscription size<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as I saw how many enterprise-level features this app has, I knew it was a solid option for handling multiple clients and timelines at once. Wrike handles complexity thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Robust work management <\/strong>\u2014 Task hierarchies, custom fields, dependencies, and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/project-charter\/#7-project-milestones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project milestones<\/a> support long-running, multi-phase consulting projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Controlled client collaboration<\/strong> \u2014 Wrike allows view-only users on all tiers and broader (but still controlled) guest access on the Business plan and higher. This enables client visibility without exposing internal operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>400+ integrations<\/strong> \u2014 You can connect Wrike with other tools your agency already depends on (CRM, messaging, invoicing, etc.) for a smoother data flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, my favorite Wrike features aren\u2019t available in the free plan (e.g., custom fields, automations) or even the first paid tier (e.g., time tracking, branded workspace).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wrikes-interface.png\" alt=\"Wrike's interface\" class=\"wp-image-16171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wrikes-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wrikes-interface-619x300.png 619w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wrikes-interface-1110x538.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wrikes-interface-768x372.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Wrikes-interface-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wrike&#8217;s interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now, here\u2019s why I see Wrike as suitable for consultancies that rely on<strong> reporting and dashboards<\/strong> to manage\/present their performance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Custom reports<\/strong> \u2014 Users can get detailed reports based on task status, effort, assignees, etc. without exporting data elsewhere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Real-time dashboards<\/strong> \u2014 Executives, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/what-project-managers-do\/#what-is-a-project-manager\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project managers<\/a>, and consultants can each have tailored dashboards showing what matters to them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cross-project visibility<\/strong> \u2014 Wrike can roll data up accurately across multiple clients\/projects, partly because it supports cross-tagging (letting the same task live in more than 1 project without duplication).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-dashboard-in-Wrike.png\" alt=\"Projects dashboard in Wrike\" class=\"wp-image-16160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-dashboard-in-Wrike.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-dashboard-in-Wrike-530x300.png 530w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-dashboard-in-Wrike-1110x628.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-dashboard-in-Wrike-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-dashboard-in-Wrike-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Projects dashboard in Wrike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you asked me what this app could do better, I\u2019d say the pricing structure. Much like Asana, Wrike requires you to purchase seats in bundles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Under 30 Seats<\/strong> \u2014 blocks of 5,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>30\u2013100 Seats<\/strong> \u2014 blocks of 10, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>100+ Seats<\/strong> \u2014 blocks of 25.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, for instance, with 42 users in your company, you\u2019d have to buy 50 seats because of this policy, which forces overpaying and is awkward for growing teams.<\/p>\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 has a new tier called Apex, combining features from all lower plans with enterprise-level capabilities (Wrike Integrate, Sync, Databases, and Whiteboard). The old Enterprise plan is now a legacy option, not available for new purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Team<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month (2\u201315 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$25\/user\/month (5\u2013200 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pinnacle<\/td><td>POA (5+ users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Apex<\/td><td>POA (5+ users)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"8-avaza-best-for-teams-that-bill-by-time\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#8 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avaza.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Avaza<\/a> \u2014 best for teams that bill by time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avaza is an all-in-1 work management platform that helps teams plan projects, collaborate, track time, and invoice clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-avaza\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Avaza?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If billing by the hour is your business model, tracking and visibility are crucial \u2014 and Avaza supports that through several features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Native chat<br>&#8211; 500+ integrations<br>&#8211; Powerful invoicing<\/td><td>&#8211; Limited automations<br>&#8211; Dull design<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as I opened Avaza, it felt straightforward and easy to use. Here\u2019s what I want to highlight after using it with a consulting agency setup:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Centralized task management <\/strong>\u2014 Detailed (sub)tasks with comments and attachments in the list, Kanban, Gantt, and calendar view ensure clear ownership and priorities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Team workload and resource planning<\/strong> \u2014 The Team Schedule tab shows who\u2019s booked, overloaded, or ready for more projects, which is helpful for leveling workload across busy consultants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Built-in chat <\/strong>\u2014 Group or 1\u20131 conversations with teammates or clients are handy for sharing ideas and feedback, especially because you can send files here as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>500+ integrations<\/strong> \u2014 You can connect Avaza with hundreds of popular apps in case you need additional functionality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, I found Avaza\u2019s design outdated and static. I wish it was more polished, with smoother transitions and stronger visual hierarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"704\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avazas-interface.png\" alt=\"Avaza\u2019s interface\" class=\"wp-image-16150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avazas-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avazas-interface-511x300.png 511w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avazas-interface-1110x651.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avazas-interface-768x451.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Avazas-interface-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Avaza\u2019s interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As for why Avaza is great for <strong>consulting teams that bill by time<\/strong>, consider these features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Task-level time logging <\/strong>\u2014 Users can log exact time spent on specific tasks\/ clients and tie it to billing, making everything precise instead of estimated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Excellent invoicing<\/strong> \u2014 Customizable invoice branding and format are a nice touch, along with integrations with apps for receiving fast payments from clients (cards, digital wallets, and bank direct debits).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solid reporting tools <\/strong>\u2014 There are 50+ real-time report types you can customize, save, and schedule for automatic delivery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"704\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Generating-an-invoice-in-Avaza.png\" alt=\"Generating an invoice in Avaza\" class=\"wp-image-16153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Generating-an-invoice-in-Avaza.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Generating-an-invoice-in-Avaza-511x300.png 511w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Generating-an-invoice-in-Avaza-1110x651.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Generating-an-invoice-in-Avaza-768x451.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Generating-an-invoice-in-Avaza-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Generating an invoice in Avaza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now my biggest complaint: Avaza\u2019s automations are mostly about billing\/financial processes, while workflow automation could be more polished. You can create some rule-based automations via Zapier, but there\u2019s no native workflow rule editor like in Plaky or Asana, for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-avaza\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Avaza?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Avaza\u2019s mobile app got a general performance and usability update recently. Also, the platform\u2019s chat tool continues to get refinements for better team communication (I couldn\u2019t find a specific feature list, though, just \u201cbetter experience\u201d notes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Startup<\/td><td>$11.95\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basic<\/td><td>$23.95\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$47.95\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"2\"><strong>NB:<\/strong> Each plan has unlimited collaborators and external contacts with chat access. The maximum number of other types of users on the free plan differs depending on the type, while paid plans allow adding more at $2\u20137\/user\/month.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"9-scoro-best-for-ops-focused-firms\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scoro.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scoro<\/a> \u2014 best for ops-focused firms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scoro is a professional services automation (PSA) platform that mixes PM, resource planning, CRM, time tracking, and billing into a single integrated system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-scoro\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Scoro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This platform is a strong choice for consultancies that don\u2019t just deliver work but optimize every process. The reason is Scoro\u2019s ability to link various aspects of business tightly together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Tight operational &amp; financial control<br>&#8211; Real-time resource &amp; time tracking<br>&#8211; Strong reporting<\/td><td>&#8211; Steep learning curve<br>&#8211; No free plan &amp; pricey<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Scoro feels like a single source of truth thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Comprehensive lifecycle visibility<\/strong> \u2014 There are detailed tabs for your projects, contacts, pipeline, tasks, and more, reducing the need for juggling several apps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial features<\/strong> \u2014 You can create quotes, convert them to projects, and set up automatic invoices, linking quotes to actual delivery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CRM and client context <\/strong>\u2014 Scoro combines CRM with delivery, so you see client contacts, proposals, project status, and billing history together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With so many interconnected modules, onboarding can be challenging, and for me personally it was. Out of all the apps on this list, setting up Scoro took the longest, and I had to reach for their knowledge base several times.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-tasks-in-Scoro.png\" alt=\"Project tasks in Scoro\" class=\"wp-image-16159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-tasks-in-Scoro.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-tasks-in-Scoro-511x300.png 511w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-tasks-in-Scoro-1110x652.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-tasks-in-Scoro-768x451.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-tasks-in-Scoro-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Project tasks in Scoro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>From what I\u2019ve seen, Scoro can be very helpful for <strong>operationally sharp consultancies<\/strong>, considering features such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Resource and time tracking<\/strong> \u2014 Built-in timers and utilization dashboards make it convenient for teams to log hours and for managers to <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/workload-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">balance workloads<\/a>\/forecast capacity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Process automation<\/strong> \u2014 You can automate routine operational tasks (e.g., invoice generation, notifications) to carry out consistent business processes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost and margin visibility<\/strong> \u2014 Tracking real-time budget vs. actual cost lets you catch profit leaks early.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>End-to-end reporting<\/strong> \u2014 Pulling reports from across the platform makes it easier to measure efficiency and forecast performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"708\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Scoros-report-library.png\" alt=\"Scoro's report library\" class=\"wp-image-16164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Scoros-report-library.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Scoros-report-library-508x300.png 508w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Scoros-report-library-1110x655.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Scoros-report-library-768x453.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Scoros-report-library-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scoro&#8217;s report library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Finally, I must point out that Scoro\u2019s depth comes at a pretty high cost compared to many competitors, and there\u2019s no free plan at all. So, if a simpler or single-purpose tool can do the job for you, don\u2019t invest your time and money in Scoro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-scoro\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Scoro?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The latest Scoro updates include automated alerts for key metrics in retainer projects, booking context notes (adding notes to resource bookings), and exporting roles (your roles list in CSV\/XLS, which you can edit and re-import \u2014 great for bulk updates).<\/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>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Core<\/td><td>$19.90\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Growth<\/td><td>$32.90\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Performance<\/td><td>$49.90\/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-podio-best-for-highly-customizable-workflows\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#10 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.podio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Podio<\/a> \u2014 best for highly customizable workflows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Podio (now part of Progress Software, hence it\u2019s sometimes referred to as Progress Podio) is a work management and collaboration platform for building tailored digital spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-podio\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Podio?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should consider Podio if you follow unique processes and want software for consulting firms that doesn\u2019t force uniformity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Built-in chat<br>&#8211; Robust automation<br>&#8211; Custom apps<\/td><td>&#8211; No native time tracking or Gantt charts<br>&#8211; Sync &amp; data refresh can lag<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Exploring this platform, I first focused on the basics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project and task management <\/strong>\u2014 Task tracking, reminders, reports, and different project views (table, Kanban, and calendar) are quite standard \u2014 nothing groundbreaking, but they\u2019re intuitive enough.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Centralized collaboration<\/strong> \u2014 Comments, file attachments, and a native chat ensure deliverables and internal coordination stay aligned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No-code automations<\/strong> \u2014 You can save time by automating task assignment, status updates, emails and texts, and even actions involving integrations (3rd-party tools).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, I was disappointed to see that Podio doesn\u2019t have built-in time tracking or true Gantt functionality. You can get those via extensions, but that can add setup overhead or occasionally inconsistent UX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also seems that Podio offers no direct email\/chat support to free users, but I wasn\u2019t able to find a definitive answer to that, so I wish their pricing page stated it clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-in-Podio.png\" alt=\"Projects in Podio\" class=\"wp-image-16161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-in-Podio.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-in-Podio-589x300.png 589w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-in-Podio-1110x565.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-in-Podio-768x391.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Projects-in-Podio-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Projects in Podio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If I had to name Podio\u2019s forte, I\u2019d go with <strong>highly customizable workflows<\/strong>, with features like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Custom app building<\/strong> \u2014 Make custom structures for storing and managing info (clients, deliverables, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/risk-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project risks<\/a>, and so on) with custom fields and statuses. Simply drag and drop elements for setting up visual, intuitive workflows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>App Market <\/strong>\u2014 Find pre-made apps for common business needs (including consulting) if you don\u2019t want to build from scratch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Open API <\/strong>\u2014 Connect Podio to other software your agency uses through its API. While not plug-and-play for everything, it lets you move data between systems to avoid duplicate work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Podios-App-Market.png\" alt=\"Podio's App Market\" class=\"wp-image-16157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Podios-App-Market.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Podios-App-Market-589x300.png 589w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Podios-App-Market-1110x565.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Podios-App-Market-768x391.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Podios-App-Market-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Podio&#8217;s App Market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since most other apps on this list primarily use gray and blue tones, I found Podio\u2019s pastel palette refreshing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, I didn\u2019t appreciate it when task cards wouldn\u2019t update until I refreshed the page and when deleted projects kept appearing in the interface. These glitches can slow down workflows and reduce trust in the tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-podio\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Podio?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As it completed its brand transition to become Progress Podio, the app got a new visual identity. That includes UI tweaks and improved in-app elements that help users navigate Podio more smoothly.<\/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>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 5 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Plus<\/td><td>$11.20\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premium<\/td><td>$19.20\/user\/month*<\/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                First-class customer service            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Plaky by CAKE.com offers customer support to all its users via email, phone, and live chat \u2014 100% human, 24\/7!<\/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=\"Contact us\" class=\"text-black px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/contact\/\">\n                    Contact us                <\/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=\"11-proworkflow-best-for-smaller-to-mid-size-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#11 <a href=\"https:\/\/proworkflow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ProWorkflow<\/a> \u2014 best for smaller to mid-size teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>ProWorkflow is a PM platform for tracking projects and time while collaborating efficiently with your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-proworkflow\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose ProWorkflow?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With ProWorkflow, small-to-mid-size teams can get all the essentials for project management without the bloat or learning curve of enterprise-level tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Unlimited guest access<br>&#8211; Internal messaging<br>&#8211; Neat reporting<\/td><td>&#8211; No free plan<br>&#8211; Limited automations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My overall impression is that ProWorkflow balances internal PM with client-facing transparency well thanks to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Task organization<\/strong> \u2014 Specify task details with fields such as description, category, stage, assignee, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time tracking and invoicing<\/strong> \u2014 Use built-in time tracking and invoicing for accurate billing without juggling separate spreadsheets and apps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unlimited but controlled guest access<\/strong> \u2014 Give access to as many clients as needed to share updates without revealing internal data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrations<\/strong> \u2014 Connect with other apps if needed using ProWorkflow\u2019s native integrations and many others via Zapier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, ProWorkflow doesn\u2019t offer a free plan, so if you\u2019re budget-conscious, you\u2019ll probably prefer apps like Plaky or Freedcamp.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Item-details-in-ProWorkflow.png\" alt=\"Item details in ProWorkflow\" class=\"wp-image-16154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Item-details-in-ProWorkflow.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Item-details-in-ProWorkflow-596x300.png 596w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Item-details-in-ProWorkflow-1110x559.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Item-details-in-ProWorkflow-768x387.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Item-details-in-ProWorkflow-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Item details in ProWorkflow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you ask me, ProWorkflow is more suitable for <strong>smaller to mid-size teams<\/strong> rather than big enterprises \u2014 here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Quick onboarding<\/strong> \u2014 Smaller teams often don\u2019t have dedicated admins or PM specialists, but ProWorkflow is intuitive enough to let you start managing work right away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Internal messaging system<\/strong> \u2014 As small and mid-size teams often juggle multiple roles and fast changes, built-in messaging helps centralize discussions and preserve project history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Straightforward reporting and insights<\/strong> \u2014 You get useful reports on time, budgets, and workload that you can easily share with teammates or <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/stakeholder-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project stakeholders<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly to Avaza, ProWorkflow doesn\u2019t have rule-based automations natively. There are features like recurring tasks, but rule- or event-based automations require integrating with Zapier.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProWorkflows-interface.png\" alt=\"ProWorkflow's interface\" class=\"wp-image-16162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProWorkflows-interface.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProWorkflows-interface-638x300.png 638w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProWorkflows-interface-1110x522.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProWorkflows-interface-768x361.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ProWorkflows-interface-18x8.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ProWorkflow&#8217;s interface<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>While definitely usable, I must say ProWorkflow is too visually cluttered for my taste. This is most obvious in the Gantt view, causing compressed spacing. Additionally, most interface elements rely on similar blue tones, which reduces visual distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The app was also quite slow to load in the web version for me. It makes ProWorkflow feel heavier and could hurt momentum during planning or client calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-proworkflow\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in ProWorkflow?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>ProWorkflow recently launched its Nexus Financial Suite, bringing real-time financial visibility directly into the platform. Users can see live project profitability, budgets, costs, and more without switching to another app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Professional<\/td><td>$18\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Advanced<\/td><td>$27\/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=\"12-teamwork-best-for-direct-client-collaboration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#12 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teamwork<\/a> \u2014 best for direct client collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Teamwork is a platform for monitoring projects and resources, with time tracking, billing, and client collaboration features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-teamwork\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Teamwork?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike more internally focused PM tools, Teamwork feels intentionally designed for client participation, which is important for companies whose consulting model heavily relies on that dynamic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; Neat clients overview<br>&#8211; Custom branding<br>&#8211; In-app chat<\/td><td>&#8211; No live support for free users<br>&#8211; Not ideal for experimental workflows<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on what I\u2019ve learned about this line of business, Teamwork feels like consultant management software that can support how agencies operate thanks to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clients view <\/strong>\u2014 This is a tab with all client details like name, projects, budget, client health, and more in a single list that you can search and filter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clear task management<\/strong> \u2014 Tasks, subtasks, dependencies, and priorities are straightforward to keep users aligned and help them avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/missed-deadlines-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">missed deadlines<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Native time tracking and billable hours<\/strong> \u2014 Tracking time directly against tasks in Teamwork helps you understand effort and profitability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Teamwork\u2019s free plan covers some features most competitors reserve for paid tiers (e.g., automations, timesheets), it lacks project history and live customer support. I find the latter especially inconvenient, as customer care quality is a big factor for me when deciding whether to buy an app subscription.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Teamworks-UI.png\" alt=\"Teamwork\u2019s UI\" class=\"wp-image-16169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Teamworks-UI.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Teamworks-UI-588x300.png 588w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Teamworks-UI-1110x566.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Teamworks-UI-768x392.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Teamworks-UI-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Teamwork\u2019s UI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Back to the positives \u2014 I believe Teamwork is excellent for <strong>direct client engagement<\/strong>. Here\u2019s what stood out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Personalized branding<\/strong> \u2014 Adding your logo, colors, and domain to client-facing areas makes the workspace feel more professional.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Centralized communication<\/strong> \u2014 Comments, files, in-app chat, and updates are tied directly to tasks, reducing back-and-forth email threads and lost decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Milestones and timelines clients can follow<\/strong> \u2014 Visual milestones and task progress give clients a clear sense of where things stand without constant status calls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All of that improves client trust and reduces micromanagement.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reports-in-Teamwork.png\" alt=\"Reports in Teamwork\" class=\"wp-image-16163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reports-in-Teamwork.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reports-in-Teamwork-586x300.png 586w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reports-in-Teamwork-1110x568.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reports-in-Teamwork-768x393.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Reports-in-Teamwork-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Reports in Teamwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Overall, Teamwork doesn\u2019t come with a steep learning curve, but the UI can feel busy as projects grow unless you maintain it carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, if your consultancy constantly reinvents its processes, Teamwork may feel rigid over time, especially compared to platforms like Podio or Airtable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-teamwork\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Teamwork?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to Google Calendar sync, Teamwork now also supports Outlook calendar sync in the Planning views. The app has also improved its reporting with the Budget Insights Report and custom report filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Available for:<\/strong> web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Price<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 5 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basics<\/td><td>$9.99\/user\/month* (3+ users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accelerate<\/td><td>$24.99\/user\/month* (5+ users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Optimize<\/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<h2 id=\"get-reliable-consulting-project-management-software-plaky\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get reliable consulting project management software \u2014 Plaky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no single perfect PM app for every consulting team. What became clear through testing for me, though, is that the best tools reduce friction more than they add features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, for all of you who wish to handle projects of different complexity without feeling heavy, I encourage you to try <strong>Plaky by CAKE.com<\/strong>. Our platform is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Equipped with PM essentials <\/strong>\u2014 Your work is visible, responsibilities are transparent, and progress is easy to monitor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Secure <\/strong>\u2014 Plaky ensures security by complying with industry standards, as well as allowing you to set up <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/user-roles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">different user roles and permissions<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Affordable<\/strong> \u2014 From a generous free plan to a reasonably priced premium tier, Plaky supports companies at different stages of their professional journey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Want a tool that grows with you instead of getting in the way? Get Plaky right now!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-landing-1 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                Top-grade consulting management tool            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Consultants need flexible and reliable PM software that won't complicate their work \u2014 and Plaky is just that.<\/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\/consulting-management-software\">\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-1@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-1.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We tested and compared different project management software for consultants. Learn more about our top 12 choices in this article!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":16198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16146","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\/16146","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\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16146"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17182,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16146\/revisions\/17182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}