{"id":53,"date":"2022-07-07T14:58:59","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T14:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/?p=53"},"modified":"2026-07-13T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T00:00:00","slug":"best-project-management-tools-for-small-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/best-project-management-tools-for-small-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Project Management Software for Small Teams (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Project management software helps small teams streamline workflows, organize tasks, and work faster and more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this blog post, I\u2019ve listed 11 best project management tools for small teams based on weeks of research and testing their free plans and trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While vastly different, each of these tools has its own advantages and reasons why they\u2019ve made it onto this list. So, scroll down to find out which project management software is best for your small team.<\/p>\n\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WHY TRUST US?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><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=\"top-11-project-management-software-for-small-teams-overview\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 11 project management software for small teams \u2014 overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before we get into the details, here\u2019s a quick overview of the top 11 best project management tools for small teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Software<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Free trial<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Free plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing (starting at)<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Free user limit<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Plaky by CAKE.com<\/td><td>Best free project management software for small teams<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$3.99 seat\/month<\/td><td>Unlimited users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Trello<\/td><td>Creating and executing project roadmaps<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$5 user\/month<\/td><td>10<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Smartsheet<\/td><td>Users who want Excel, but better<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>$9 user\/month (up to 10 users)<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>monday.com<\/td><td>Risk management<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$9 per seat (minimum 3 seats)<\/td><td>2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wrike<\/td><td>Creative teams<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$10 user\/month (3\u201325 users)<\/td><td>Unlimited users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zoho Projects<\/td><td>Traditional project management<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$4 user\/month (minimum 3 users)<\/td><td>5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Clockify by CAKE.com<\/td><td>Daily work management<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$3.99 user\/month<\/td><td>5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Asana<\/td><td>Integrations and advanced automation<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$10.99 user\/month (up to 500 users)<\/td><td>2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ClickUp<\/td><td>Brainstorming<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$7 user\/month<\/td><td>Unlimited users<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notion<\/td><td>Document-heavy teams<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$10 user\/month<\/td><td>1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basecamp<\/td><td>One-project teams<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>\u2714\ufe0f<\/td><td>$15 user\/month$299 workspace\/year<\/td><td>20<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-light plaky-gradient-pricing\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">PM software with unlimited users<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Scaling your small team doesn\u2019t have to come with extra costs. Try Plaky by CAKE.com to get unlimited users for free.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/pricing@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/pricing.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-plaky-by-cake-com-best-free-project-management-software-for-small-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1 <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky<\/a> by CAKE.com \u2014 best free project management software for small teams<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"891\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky.webp\" alt=\"Tracking your project progress in Plaky\n\" class=\"wp-image-18751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky-606x300.webp 606w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky-1110x549.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky-768x380.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky-1536x760.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-plaky-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Track your project progress in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plaky is an affordable, fully customizable, and intuitive project management tool that lets your team focus on doing their tasks instead of learning the ropes of a complicated PM tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-plaky\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Plaky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your small team has a tight budget, but still needs to organize and grow its processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Plaky \u2014 free, easy-to-use project management software.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plaky\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Plaky\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Fully customizable<br>\u2013 User-friendly interface<br>\u2013 Custom templates<br>\u2013 Bulk actions<\/td><td>\u2013 Lack of advanced integrations&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manage your workload with Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although I\u2019ve been using Plaky for a few years now, I remember I had no difficulty navigating this tool from the very beginning. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, I wasted no time learning how it functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is especially important for small teams, as overly complicated software means you need to waste time on mastering it, while your job takes a hit. Luckily, Plaky is a simple project management software with a straightforward yet robust design that helps you easily navigate your tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plaky also helps small teams collaborate by enabling them to easily:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Track progress<\/strong> \u2014 The <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/activity-log\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Activity log<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Summary row<\/a> make progress-tracking a breeze, keeping all team members informed without distracting them from their work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Communicate<\/strong> \u2014 The <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/comments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comments<\/a> sections within the <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/items\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Items<\/a> let teammates add relevant updates and information, as well as mention their coworkers.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Meet deadlines<\/strong> \u2014 Adding due dates to items allows for better task management and planning. A simple glance at the deadline and task status can help your team act on time if there are any hiccups.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/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=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-activities-and-changes-made-to-your-plaky-board.webp\" alt=\"Activity log in Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-18723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-activities-and-changes-made-to-your-plaky-board.webp 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-activities-and-changes-made-to-your-plaky-board-532x300.webp 532w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-activities-and-changes-made-to-your-plaky-board-1110x626.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-activities-and-changes-made-to-your-plaky-board-768x433.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-activities-and-changes-made-to-your-plaky-board-18x10.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Track activities and changes made to your Plaky board with ease<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The unlimited number of users across all plans enables businesses to scale up without having to migrate to another software every few months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if you decide to go for 1 of the 2 <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky\u2019s paid plans<\/a>, you\u2019ll get a bunch of sweet upgrades \u2014 e.g., private boards, custom templates, bulk actions in PRO, board permissions, and an unlimited activity log in ENTERPRISE \u2014 at the most affordable price on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only things missing right now are advanced integrations. But as the team behind Plaky is dedicated to constant improvement, those will be available soon as well.<\/p>\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In July 2026, Plaky expanded its <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pumble-integration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">integration with Pumble<\/a>. You can now get notified about key changes in your tasks via Pumble. Additionally, hovering over the task link in Pumble will activate a pop-up preview with all the most important task details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, you can export Plaky <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/chart-view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chart views<\/a> in PDF, PNG, and ZIP formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: web, iOS, Android<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plaky\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Plaky\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/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>CAKE.com Bundle (Plaky, Clockify, &amp; Pumble)<\/td><td>$12.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-light plaky-gradient-pricing\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">Free PM software for small teams<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Help your team get things done without breaking the bank \u2014 try Plaky by CAKE.com today!<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/pricing@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/pricing.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-trello-best-for-creating-and-executing-project-roadmaps\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2 <a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trello<\/a> \u2014 best for creating and executing project roadmaps<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trellos-board-and-inbox-view.webp\" alt=\"Trello\u2019s board and inbox view\" class=\"wp-image-18752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trellos-board-and-inbox-view.webp 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trellos-board-and-inbox-view-604x300.webp 604w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trellos-board-and-inbox-view-1110x551.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trellos-board-and-inbox-view-768x381.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/trellos-board-and-inbox-view-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Trello\u2019s board and inbox view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trello is a solid choice for visualizing and executing <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/project-roadmap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project roadmaps<\/a> in Agile settings. Thanks to its highly visual nature, it\u2019s easy for both you and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/stakeholder-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stakeholders<\/a> to get a bird\u2019s-eye view of the project and know exactly where it stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-trello\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Trello?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: You and your team need a clear visual approach to project management that will help streamline your workflow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Trello\u2019s signature <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/kanban-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kanban<\/a> view can help you with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Trello\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Trello\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Customizable<br>\u2013 Intuitive drag-and-drop interface<br>\u2013 AI writing assistant<\/td><td>\u2013 Cluttered interface<br>\u2013 Lack of some advanced features<br>\u2013 Scalability issues<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I found collaborating in Trello pretty smooth, as it allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Break down the tasks from the project roadmap on different boards.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assign labels and people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add files, links, comments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trello\u2019s Power-Ups (integrations) allow you to connect the boards so that whatever your team does on their board automatically updates your roadmap. They are available in the free plan, which is great for small teams that want to test the waters before investing in an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For smoother communication with your teammates, there\u2019s an AI writing assistant available too, which helps summarize or improve your writing, fix spelling, change tone, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as far as customization goes, Trello didn\u2019t disappoint me. It offers plenty of options, including adding a checklist to your card, which I found especially helpful, as it helps me not forget any of the steps in my workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, Trello offers plenty of automation options, one of which is the card button option. When you create a card button, you select what you want the button to do, from moving the card to another space and adding or removing assignees, to leaving a comment or checking the task off a list.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-a-card-button-in-trello.webp\" alt=\"Creating a Card Button in Trello\" class=\"wp-image-18709\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-a-card-button-in-trello.webp 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-a-card-button-in-trello-730x282.webp 730w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-a-card-button-in-trello-1110x428.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-a-card-button-in-trello-768x296.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-a-card-button-in-trello-18x7.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Creating a Card Button in Trello<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aside from the checklists, Trello enables you to add other options to your cards, thanks again to Power-Ups. However, while it may be handy for an app to present a ton of information, it can become a bit overwhelming \u2014 at least it was for me. So, if you\u2019re more inclined to minimalism, you may want to dial down on the available options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another thing to consider is that Trello might not be so easily scalable. It is useful in smaller, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/agile-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Agile project teams<\/a>. But, I can easily imagine it getting too cluttered if a larger team were to use it for a bigger project, especially in a <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/waterfall-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Waterfall project management setting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-trello\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Trello?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recent Trello changes include a dedicated Inbox for capturing tasks from Siri voice recordings or email messages, a Planner for mapping out your agenda visually, and Mirror Cards that ensure updates stay in sync across several boards at once.<\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re looking for to-do list templates to keep you organized, take advantage of our free to-do list templates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/work-tools-and-templates\/to-do-list-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">20 Free To-Do List Templates (Customizable &amp; Printable)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Trello\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Trello\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 10 collaborators)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Standard<\/td><td>$5\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premium<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>est. $17.50\/user\/month* (50 users)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark plaky-gradient-features\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">Free Trello alternative<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">If you need a PM software as user-friendly as Trello, but more suitable for larger teams and projects, try Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/compare\/trello-alternative\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/features@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/features.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-smartsheet-best-for-users-who-want-excel-but-better\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smartsheet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Smartsheet<\/a> \u2014 best for users who want Excel, but better<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"841\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet.webp\" alt=\"Grid view in Smartsheet\" class=\"wp-image-18713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet-642x300.webp 642w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet-1110x519.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet-768x359.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet-1536x718.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grid-view-in-smartsheet-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Grid view in Smartsheet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can think of Smartsheet as a significantly enhanced version of Excel or Google Sheets. While the software also offers Kanban, Calendar, and List views, its main appeal lies in its Grid (Spreadsheet) view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-smartsheet\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Smartsheet?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: You work in a small team that\u2019s a fan of Excel spreadsheets and is wondering if there\u2019s something slightly better (or less glitchy!).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Smartsheet\u2019s what you need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Smartsheet\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Smartsheet\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Fully customizable<br>\u2013 Easy to use<br>\u2013 Efficient communication in real time<\/td><td>\u2013 Prone to human error<br>\u2013 Steep learning curve<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smartsheet is highly customizable \u2014 if you can do it in Excel or Sheets, you can do it in Smartsheet, but better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to supporting many of the same formulas as Excel and Sheets, it also lets you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create reports.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect and view this information in Gantt or Calendar views.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create project dependencies and determine the critical path.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collaborate with your team in real time (directly in the sheet).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set project baselines.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I especially liked the project baseline feature, as it helps track baselines, actual dates, and the schedule variance between them. This gives you an accurate insight into your project performance, without you having to waste your time constantly checking each task on your list \u2014 a huge deal for small teams that might already have a lot on their plates.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"2099\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet.webp\" alt=\"Baseline feature in Smartsheet\" class=\"wp-image-18705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet-257x300.webp 257w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet-878x1024.webp 878w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet-768x896.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet-1317x1536.webp 1317w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet-1756x2048.webp 1756w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/baseline-feature-in-smartsheet-10x12.webp 10w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Baseline feature in Smartsheet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All this makes Smartsheet great for project managers who like the customizability and layout of spreadsheets, but need more focused PM functionalities built into their software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, the amount of formatting required to create a functioning project management system (much like in Excel or Google Sheets) is Smartsheet\u2019s biggest flaw. If you\u2019re not already well-versed in these tools, using Smartsheet is going to be a major obstacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, just like in Excel, a single mistake somewhere in your sheets or formulas could create errors and potentially botch much of your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-smartsheet\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Smartsheet?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2026, Smartsheet enhanced its dashboard reporting with AI-driven insights, allowing for automated project health analysis and more intuitive resource management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Smartsheet\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Smartsheet\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (1 user, up to 2 editors)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pro<\/td><td>$9 user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$19 user\/month (minimum 3 users)*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1<strong>Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you still want to stick with Excel for project management but need a little help with the process itself, we have just the thing for you \u2014 Excel templates that will make your life easier:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/work-tools-and-templates\/project-management-excel-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Top 16 Automated Project Management Excel Templates<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more project management templates, visit our template center:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky Template Center<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-monday-com-best-for-risk-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4 <a href=\"https:\/\/monday.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">monday.com<\/a> \u2014 best for risk management<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"888\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday.webp\" alt=\"List view in monday.com\" class=\"wp-image-18716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday-608x300.webp 608w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday-1110x548.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday-768x379.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday-1536x758.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/list-view-in-monday-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">List view in monday.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Monday.com is a versatile and customizable project management tool that can accommodate multiple small teams working together toward a common goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-monday-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose monday.com?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your team needs a solution for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Managing project risks effectively<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/project-management-budgeting-methods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Allocating the project budget<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rescheduling activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/identify-and-solve-bottlenecks-with-kanban\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Identifying bottlenecks<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: monday.com could be a good option for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>monday.com\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>monday.com\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Useful for managing project risks<br>\u2013 Customizable<br>\u2013 Great collaboration options<\/td><td>\u2013 Pricey<br>\u2013 Steep learning curve for more complex features (e.g., formula)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I found monday.com\u2019s customization options useful, especially the fact that you can customize the menu and pin the most important tools. You can also set your working status \u2014 for instance, to \u2018do not disturb\u2019, if you want to do your deep work uninterrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As far as collaboration is concerned, I\u2019m pretty satisfied with the options monday.com offers. To be more specific, I like that you can co-edit shared docs in real time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for the project management part of the equation, I particularly liked how the combination of monday.com\u2019s easy automation and the formula column offered an effective way to track and <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/risk-management-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manage project risks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The formulas can be set to apply a corresponding numeric value to the risk probability and impact statuses. It\u2019s then possible to automatically identify the risk level and probability based on the overall risk rate, which lets project managers calculate the risk impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the formula column is only available on paid plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Monday.com also allows you to easily identify bottlenecks by adding the Bottlenecks app to your board views. This app enables you to see the lifespan of a task, as well as how much time a team member needs for a particular task.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The different chart views in the dashboard also allow for simple performance comparisons against the project baselines. You can also set up conditional coloring to spot changes at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"610\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday.webp\" alt=\"Conditional coloring in monday.com\" class=\"wp-image-18708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday-730x247.webp 730w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday-1110x376.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday-768x260.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday-1536x521.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/conditional-coloring-monday-18x6.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Conditional coloring in monday.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, while the software is fairly intuitive overall, it can take a while to understand how to use it to its full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other than this, I personally found the formulas a bit difficult to get the hang of, and the Kanban view much more clunky and less intuitive than in some of the other tools on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-monday-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in monday.com?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New additions to monday.com include visualizing charts using monday\u2019s sidekick AI, building live workflows with monday\u2019s Vibe AI Notetaker access, and exporting editable Office files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: web, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>monday.com\u2019s plans<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>monday.com\u2019s pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 2 seats)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basic<\/td><td>$9\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Standard<\/td><td>$12\/user\/month + AI credits (2,000\/month = $20, 4,000\/month = $40, 8,000\/month = $80)*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pro<\/td><td>$19\/user\/month + AI credits (3,000\/month = $30, 4,000\/month = $40, 8,000\/month = $80, 20,000 = $200)*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-light plaky-gradient-templates\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">monday.com alternative<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Looking for a free project management software with unlimited users, boards, items, and views even on the free plan? Try Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/compare\/monday-alternative\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/templates@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/templates.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-wrike-best-for-creative-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#5 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrike.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wrike<\/a> \u2014 best for creative teams<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"849\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike.webp\" alt=\"Table view in Wrike\" class=\"wp-image-18720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike-636x300.webp 636w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike-1110x524.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike-768x362.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike-1536x724.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/table-view-in-wrike-18x8.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Table view in Wrike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wrike is a project management and collaboration tool that helps teams with their everyday task organization and delegation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-wrike\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Wrike?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your small team works on creative tasks and needs to constantly exchange ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Wrike has got your back, as it offers the ability to seamlessly collaborate on creative tasks in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Wrike\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Wrike\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Real-time team collaboration<br>\u2013 User-friendly<br>\u2013 Document editor for making changes in files directly from the comments section<\/td><td>\u2013 Many unique features are reserved for the Business plan<br>\u2013 Pricey<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wrike has a number of rather useful features, such as request forms, timesheets for logging time spent on tasks, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/workload-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">workload management<\/a> view, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I liked most, though, is that Wrike allows users to leave comments, feedback, files, links, and suggestions directly on the uploaded file. This makes it a particularly useful project management software for creative teams, such as design or marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s say a designer has finished working on a cover image for a blog post and uploaded it to the task card. Other team members can then open the image within Wrike and leave feedback directly on the image. After that, the team lead can view and compare the original and updated versions of the image and make further suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s even possible to make smaller changes to the file itself using Wrike, but this requires users to download and install the document editor on their computers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1110\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike-1110x672.webp\" alt=\"Leaving comments under tasks in Wrike\" class=\"wp-image-18715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike-1110x672.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike-495x300.webp 495w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike-768x465.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike-1536x930.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike-18x12.webp 18w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/leaving-comments-under-tasks-wrike.webp 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Leaving comments under tasks in Wrike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I personally haven\u2019t encountered any major problems while trying out Wrike, aside from the workload management view being slightly confusing. I had to watch the demo tour to get the hang of the effort allocation and different task effort modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aside from this, I did notice that many of Wrike\u2019s unique features (such as the ones mentioned above) are reserved for its pricey Business plan. This is especially true if you have a small team of under 5 people since you have to pay for a minimum of 5 seats, even if there are only 2 people on your team.<\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest Wrike updates include new AI capabilities such as AI Permission Controls and Templates for AI agents. The company has also re-enabled Slack inbox notifications.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: Web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Wrike\u2019s plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Wrike\u2019s pricing<\/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>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pinnacle<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark plaky-gradient-landing-1\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">Free Wrike alternative<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Wrike too pricey for you? Try free PM software with unlimited users, boards, items, and views \u2014 Plaky by CAKE.com!<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/compare\/wrike-alternative\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-bottom \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-1@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-1.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"6-zoho-projects-best-for-traditional-project-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#6 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoho.com\/projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoho<\/a> Projects \u2014 best for traditional project management<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"895\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views.webp\" alt=\"Zoho Projects\u2019 list and Gantt views\" class=\"wp-image-18754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views-603x300.webp 603w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views-1110x552.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views-768x382.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views-1536x764.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/zoho-projects-list-and-gantt-views-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zoho Projects\u2019 list and Gantt views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zoho Projects is an advanced project management tool for experienced project managers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-zoho\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Zoho?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your teammates are fans of traditional project management, which prioritizes structure and documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Zoho Projects is a great option for managing Waterfall projects. Integration with Zoho Sprints enables project managers to run <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/hybrid-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hybrid projects<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Zoho Projects\u2018 pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Zoho Projects\u2019 cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Great for handling project dependencies<br>\u2013 AI agent for generating content<br>\u2013 Easy communication within the comments section<\/td><td>\u2013 Steep learning curve<br>\u2013 Limited integrations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the main reasons Zoho Projects is great for traditional, Waterfall-type projects is because of the way it handles project dependencies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Zoho, you can create all 4 types of <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/dependencies-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">task dependencies<\/a> \u2014 finish-to-start, start-to-finish, start-to-start, and finish-to-finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zoho also allows you to add lag time for activities that need it or in case you want to add buffers to your schedule. All of this is fairly easy to do in the Gantt view, allowing you to effectively manage your project timeline and critical path.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1224\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects.webp\" alt=\"Creating dependencies in Zoho Projects\" class=\"wp-image-18710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects-441x300.webp 441w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects-1110x755.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects-768x522.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects-1536x1044.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/creating-dependencies-in-zoho-projects-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Creating dependencies in Zoho Projects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Zoho Projects, you can communicate with your coworkers in the comments section too. There\u2019s also an AI agent, Zia, that helps you with a number of things, including adjusting the content of your messages. In fact, you don\u2019t even have to worry about conveying the right tone \u2014 Zia takes care of that for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main disadvantage of Zoho, though, is that it has a steeper learning curve than any of the other tools on this list. If you\u2019re not already familiar with team management tools, Zoho Projects might be too complex to start with. I\u2019ve had to dig around or read help pages to figure some features out and there are features you wouldn\u2019t think to look for unless you specifically watched tutorials on how to use the software.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also noticed that the integration options are quite scarce, so you may not be able to link it to other tools you use in your daily work.<\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of recently, Zoho Projects supports new languages in their app. Zoho Projects also launched integrations with SalesIQ and WhatsApp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: web, Android, iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>\u20ac0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Premium<\/td><td>\u20ac4 user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>\u20ac9 user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Projects Plus<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"7-clockify-by-cake-com-best-for-daily-work-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#7 <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clockify<\/a> by CAKE.com \u2014 best for daily work management<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"806\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-view-in-Clockify.webp\" alt=\"Dashboard view in Clockify\" class=\"wp-image-18712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-view-in-Clockify.webp 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-view-in-Clockify-447x300.webp 447w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-view-in-Clockify-1110x746.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-view-in-Clockify-768x516.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-view-in-Clockify-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dashboard view in Clockify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clockify is work management software suitable for small teams and businesses due to its relatively low cost and useful features found on the free and lower-tier plans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-clockify\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Clockify?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your team needs to track time spent on each task so that you can work more efficiently and detect which areas are eating up your time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Check out Clockify, work management software with a standout time-tracking feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Clockify\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Clockify\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Time tracking feature<br>\u2013 Budget-friendly<br>\u2013 Billing and invoicing<\/td><td>\u2013 Lacks some more advanced PM features<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although not primarily a project management tool, Clockify can be used for project management. It allows you to easily organize and add team members and assign them tasks, even in the free plan. Even better, the interface itself is highly intuitive, so you can easily get the hang of the app and use it the way it suits you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need something more robust, you can switch to the affordable PRO plan ($7.99 per seat\/month), as this plan enables you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Forecast progress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visualize project progress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compare scheduled and tracked time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Switch between the Project and Team view.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"875\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify.webp\" alt=\"Track your project progress in Clockify\n\" class=\"wp-image-18750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify-617x300.webp 617w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify-1110x540.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify-768x373.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify-1536x747.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/track-your-project-progress-in-clockify-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Track your project progress in Clockify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As I\u2019ve been using Clockify for a few years now for time tracking, I have to say that its time-tracking feature stands out. You can track time using the timer or by logging your time manually.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if you do decide to use the timer, make sure you click on Stop when you finish your task. I forgot and ended up with 17 hours tracked on doing one task without a break (17 hours, 23 minutes, and 45 seconds, to be precise). That\u2019s when I realized logging time manually is a safer (and more accurate) option for me.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another plus is that the time-tracking feature can be combined with billing and invoicing to calculate the amount an employee needs to be paid based on their hourly rate and time spent working.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, while Clockify truly is great for time management, if you\u2019re looking for a more robust PM solution, it lacks some more advanced features.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luckily, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/integrations\/track-time-in-plaky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clockify integrates with Plaky<\/a>, so you can easily enjoy the full spectrum of PM features (e.g., Gantt chart, Kanban, user roles, space and board permissions, etc.).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark plaky-gradient-marketplace\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">Enhance Clockify with add-ons<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Visit CAKE.com Marketplace and start developing your own custom Clockify add-ons now!<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.cake.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/marketplace@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/marketplace.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-clockify\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Clockify?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of July 2026, expense approval is now separate from timesheet approval. Also, Photo capture is available as a way to clock in on Kiosk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: Web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basic<\/td><td>$3.99\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Standard<\/td><td>$5.49\/seat\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pro<\/td><td>$7.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>$11.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CAKE.com Bundle (Plaky, Clockify, &amp; Pumble)<\/td><td>$12.99\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark plaky-gradient-bundle\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">CAKE.com Bundle<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Together with Plaky and Pumble, Clockify is just a piece of CAKE. Try our Bundle and get the sweet taste of productivity.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/account.cake.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/bundle\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-bottom \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/bundle@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/bundle.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"8-asana-best-for-integration-and-advanced-automation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#8 <a href=\"https:\/\/asana.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asana<\/a> \u2014 best for integration and advanced automation<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"889\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana.webp\" alt=\"Tasks and to-dos in Asana\" class=\"wp-image-18721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana-607x300.webp 607w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana-1110x548.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana-768x379.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana-1536x759.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/tasks-and-to-dos-in-asana-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tasks and to-dos in Asana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asana is a well-organized, intuitive, and effective tool, with all the features you\u2019d expect to find in a project management tool.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-asana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Asana?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your team needs task management software with an abundance of integrations to save time and streamline your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Asana offers more than 200 integrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Asana\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Asana\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 User-friendly<br>\u2013 Feature-rich<br>\u2013 200+ integrations and advanced automations<\/td><td>\u2013 Limited task assignment capabilities<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, Asana is a great free option for small teams of up to 10 people (that\u2019s how many users the free plan can accommodate), and it doesn\u2019t require you to be a certified project manager to understand how to use it. Although, more expensive plans offer a much more robust list of features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main way Asana elevates its performance is through more than 200 integrations and highly advanced automations (or \u201crules\u201d as they call them).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The automations, in particular, take Asana from good to great. They\u2019re easy to create and save a ton of time. Plus, you can even use them in tandem with integrations to connect other tools with your project management tool, e.g., you can create an automation that sends an e-mail to your Gmail account anytime a task is assigned to you.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"487\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana.webp\" alt=\"Automations (rules) in Asana\" class=\"wp-image-18704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana-730x198.webp 730w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana-1110x300.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana-768x208.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana-1536x416.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/automations-rules-in-Asana-18x5.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Automations (rules) in Asana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Automations can also be added to bundles (a combination of rules, fields, sections, and templates) and applied to multiple projects at the same time to standardize workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in the free plan, you only get access to one rule.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I disliked about Asana is that I couldn\u2019t find a way to add more than 1 person to a task. I later found out that\u2019s by design, which is honestly baffling \u2014 there aren\u2019t any clear benefits to this creative choice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-asana\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in Asana?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2026, Asana introduced AI-powered smart status reporting, providing automatic progress summaries, and expanded its workflow automation templates for <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/cross-functional-collaboration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cross-team collaboration<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: web, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Personal<\/td><td>$0 (up to 10 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Starter<\/td><td>$10.99 (up to 500 users)*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Advanced<\/td><td>$24.99 (up to 500 users)*<\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark plaky-gradient-landing-1\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-16\">\n        <h2 class=\"translation-block text-2xl mb-4!\">Free Asana alternative<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"translation-block text-xs!\">Asana\u2019s too limiting for you? With an unlimited number of users and spaces, Plaky by CAKE.com empowers your team.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex space-x-4 translation-block\">\n            <a class=\"rounded-md px-6 py-2 bg-white text-dark hover:text-primary text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2 text-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/compare\/asana-alternative\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-bottom \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-1@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/product-blog\/public\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-1.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"9-clickup-best-for-brainstorming\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#9 <a href=\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ClickUp<\/a> \u2014 best for brainstorming<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"671\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-in-clickup-1.webp\" alt=\"Dashboard view in ClickUp\n\" class=\"wp-image-18758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-in-clickup-1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-in-clickup-1-537x300.webp 537w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-in-clickup-1-1110x621.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-in-clickup-1-768x429.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/dashboard-in-clickup-1-18x10.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dashboard view in ClickUp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advertised as the everything app for work, ClickUp really is a versatile tool for task, goal, and time tracking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-clickup\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose ClickUp?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your small team comes up with the greatest ideas during brainstorming sessions and needs a perfect PM tool for that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: ClickUp has a whiteboard that helps you brainstorm your way out of any conundrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>ClickUp\u2019s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>ClickUp\u2019s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Versatile<br>\u2013 Customizable<br>\u2013 Budget-friendly<\/td><td>\u2013 Steep learning curve for some more complex features<br>\u2013 Limited options in the free plan (e.g., no resource management features)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ClickUp is great for small teams since its free version (for up to 5 users) includes all the basics one team might need when managing their daily tasks \u2014 such as tracking their tasks, goals, and even time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As far as communication is concerned, there is a chat option available in the app itself, resembling <a href=\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pumble<\/a> \u2014 with channels and DMs. In the paid plans, there are also so-called Autopilot Agents, which you can use to get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reminders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Team StandUp \u2014 daily updates on key topics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The answers to the questions posted in chats using the information from your Workspace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, the ability to brainstorm your ideas with your team is what I found the most appealing. While testing ClickUp for this article, I especially enjoyed its Whiteboard feature, as it offers an abundance of options for brainstorming in real time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can even generate AI images in the Whiteboard itself and do mockups of your creative ideas. Mind you, this is only available in paid plans, which might be a dealbreaker for you if you\u2019re looking for a free PM app.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/whiteboard-in-clickup.webp\" alt=\"Whiteboards in ClickUp\" class=\"wp-image-18753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/whiteboard-in-clickup.webp 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/whiteboard-in-clickup-604x300.webp 604w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/whiteboard-in-clickup-1110x551.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/whiteboard-in-clickup-768x381.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/whiteboard-in-clickup-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Whiteboards in ClickUp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you do realize you need some more advanced features (e.g., resource management or previously mentioned AI features), or your team expands to more than 5 members, you\u2019ll need to upgrade to the Unlimited plan. This might be a problem for teams on a tight budget since the price per user goes up to $7\/month in that case.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good thing is that ClickUp is easily scalable thanks to its hierarchical structure. It allows you to organize your work by teams, departments, or initiatives. As your team grows, you can make use of automations, advanced reporting, and any of the plethora of integrations the platform offers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, all these options might overwhelm you (as it happened in my case, I must admit). Their tutorials are top-notch, but not everyone has the time to watch all of them and learn how to play with ClickUp (especially if they\u2019re working in a small team where they\u2019re wearing multiple hats).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-clickup\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s new in ClickUp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ClickUp recently enabled its users to submit, review, and approve Timesheets. It also introduced AI insights on connected app links.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available platforms: web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0 (up to 5 users)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Unlimited<\/td><td>$7 user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$12 user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>POA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"10-notion-best-for-doc-heavy-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#10 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.notion.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Notion<\/a> \u2014 Best for doc-heavy teams<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"890\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview.webp\" alt=\"Notion project overview\" class=\"wp-image-18717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview-607x300.webp 607w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview-1110x549.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview-768x380.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview-1536x759.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/notion-project-overview-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Notion project overview<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notion is a workspace where your team can plan projects, write documentation, manage tasks, and collaborate without constantly switching between apps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your small team relies on notes, SOPs, meeting agendas, and knowledge bases just as much as task lists, Notion is one of the most flexible solutions available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-notion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Notion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your team constantly jumps between a project management app, Google Docs, and a company wiki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Notion brings everything together in one customizable workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Notion&#8217;s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Notion&#8217;s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Highly customizable<br>\u2013 Good documentation capabilities<br>\u2013 Multiple project views (Kanban, List, Calendar, Timeline)<br>\u2013 Large template library<br>\u2013 Powerful AI features<\/td><td>\u2013 Steeper learning curve<br>\u2013 Can become disorganized without a clear structure<br>\u2013 Some advanced features require paid plans<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the first things I noticed while using Notion is how much flexibility it gives you. Unlike traditional project management software that comes with a predefined workflow, Notion lets you build your workspace exactly the way your team works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you&#8217;re managing marketing campaigns, software development, HR onboarding, or client work, you can create databases, dashboards, and task boards that fit your process instead of adapting your process to the software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For project management specifically, I liked that every task can become more than a simple checklist item. Each task can have its own dedicated page containing meeting notes, files, comments, documentation, links, and subtasks. That eliminates a lot of back-and-forth searching when someone needs additional context.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1094\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion.webp\" alt=\"Project details in Notion\" class=\"wp-image-18718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion-494x300.webp 494w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion-1110x675.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion-768x467.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion-1536x934.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-details-in-notion-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Project details in Notion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another feature I found useful is the ability to view the same database in different ways. Depending on what I was working on, I could switch between a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kanban board<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Calendar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timeline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>List<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Table<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Best of all, I didn\u2019t need to recreate any data. It makes it much easier to visualize projects from different perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collaboration also feels natural in Notion. Team members can edit pages simultaneously, leave comments, mention coworkers, and maintain shared documentation alongside active projects. For smaller teams that don&#8217;t have dedicated documentation software, this can significantly reduce the number of tools they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, Notion isn&#8217;t something I&#8217;d recommend if you need to get started immediately with zero setup. Its biggest strength \u2014 customization \u2014 is also one of its biggest challenges. Without an organized workspace or agreed-upon structure, pages and databases can quickly become cluttered, making it harder for teammates to find information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also noticed that setting up an efficient project management system takes more initial effort than with tools like Trello or Plaky, which are much more straightforward out of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-notion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s new in Notion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In July 2026, Notion expanded its AI capabilities. You can now bring multiple agents into your workspace to automate entire workflows. Notion Agents can now read and write Excel and Powerpoint files, and build interactive HTML blocks. Also, AI Meeting Notes now feature speaker labels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Plus<\/td><td>$10\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Business<\/td><td>$15\/user\/month*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Enterprise<\/td><td>Custom pricing<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*billed annually<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"11-basecamp-best-for-simple-flat-rate-pricing\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#11 <a href=\"https:\/\/basecamp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Basecamp<\/a> \u2014 Best for simple flat-rate pricing<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"889\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp.webp\" alt=\"Home page in Basecamp\" class=\"wp-image-18714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp-607x300.webp 607w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp-1110x548.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp-768x379.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp-1536x759.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/home-page-in-basecamp-18x9.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Home page in Basecamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of offering endless customization options, automations, and complex workflows, Basecamp focuses on keeping everything simple.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your small team wants one place for tasks, discussions, files, and schedules, without spending hours configuring the software, Basecamp is a good choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"why-choose-basecamp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose Basecamp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">POV: Your team spends more time managing the project management software than actually managing projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Solution: Basecamp provides a straightforward workspace where everyone knows where to find what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Basecamp&#8217;s pros<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Basecamp&#8217;s cons<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2013 Clean, intuitive interface<br>\u2013 Built-in team communication tools<br>\u2013 Easy to learn and adopt<br>\u2013 Flat-rate pricing option for larger teams<br>\u2013 Excellent organization of project resources<\/td><td>\u2013 Limited customization<br>\u2013 No Gantt charts or advanced reporting<br>\u2013 Lacks some automation features<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the first things I noticed while using Basecamp is how little time it takes to get comfortable with it. Unlike many project management platforms that present dozens of menus and settings, Basecamp keeps the interface clean and focuses on the essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each project has its own dedicated workspace that brings together everything the team needs, including task lists, message boards, schedules, files, and real-time group chat. I found this especially helpful because it reduces the need to jump between multiple apps just to find project information or ask a quick question.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1132\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp.webp\" alt=\"Project overview in Basecamp\" class=\"wp-image-18719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp-477x300.webp 477w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp-1110x698.webp 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp-768x483.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp-1536x966.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/project-overview-in-basecamp-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Project overview in Basecamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To-do lists are straightforward to create and organize. You can assign tasks, set due dates, add comments, and attach files. This means that automatic check-ins help managers gather updates without constantly scheduling status meetings. For small teams juggling multiple responsibilities, this can save a surprising amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1784\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp.webp\" alt=\"To-do list shown in Basecamp\" class=\"wp-image-18722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp.webp 1800w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp-303x300.webp 303w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp-1033x1024.webp 1033w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp-768x761.webp 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp-1536x1522.webp 1536w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/to-do-list-in-basecamp-12x12.webp 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">To-do list shown in Basecamp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another feature I appreciated is Basecamp&#8217;s emphasis on communication. Instead of relying heavily on email, teammates can use message boards for announcements, Campfire for group chat, and comments within tasks to keep conversations tied to specific work. This makes it much easier to follow project discussions without searching through lengthy email threads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, Basecamp&#8217;s simplicity comes with trade-offs. If you&#8217;re looking for advanced project planning tools like Gantt charts, workload management, custom workflows, or sophisticated reporting, you&#8217;ll probably find Basecamp too limiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, you are limited to only one project in the free plan. For teams running multiple projects at once, Basecamp\u2019s free plan won\u2019t be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In light of that, I found that while Basecamp works very well for straightforward project management, it becomes less suitable for teams managing highly complex projects with multiple dependencies or detailed reporting requirements. In those situations, a more feature-rich platform may be a better fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"whats-new-in-basecamp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s new in Basecamp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2026, Basecamp introduced a new version of their app, with a new, action-oriented home screen. You can now view your projects in a more organized way, with an added activity tab on the right.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They\u2019ve also added a For You tab, with all your notifications and messages. Additionally, Basecamp has improved the search experience, calendars, and their AI agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Available for: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Plan<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basecamp Pro<\/td><td>$15\/user\/month<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basecamp Pro Unlimited<\/td><td>$299\/month (flat rate, billed annually)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"which-project-management-tool-is-best-for-your-small-team\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which project management tool is best for your small team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To narrow down your choices instantly, look at your team through three lenses: your team\u2019s size, your budget, and how you prefer to organize work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"check-your-team-size\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check your team size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Micro-Teams<\/strong> (2\u20135 users) need zero setup friction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mid-Sized Small Teams<\/strong> (6\u201310 users) require structured accountability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scaling Small Teams <\/strong>(11\u201320 users) need heavy collaboration features without getting chaotic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"set-your-budget\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set your budget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The $0 Free Tier \u2014 you want full functionality without a monthly bill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paid ($5 to $10+ per user) \u2014 you have the cash flow to pay for advanced features or strict data formatting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"identify-your-workflow-style\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Identify your workflow style<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Visual\/Kanban<\/strong> \u2014 you like dragging cards across columns (like a digital whiteboard).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Docs-Heavy<\/strong> \u2014 you need a digital filing cabinet for text, wikis, and notes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traditional\/Spreadsheet<\/strong> \u2014 you live in rows, formulas, and rigid timelines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-choose-the-best-project-management-tool-for-your-small-team\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to choose the best project management tool for your small team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, you can take a look at this table to find the best small business project management software fit according to these criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Team size<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Budget<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Workflow style<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Best match<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Why it wins<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>2\u20135 users<\/td><td>$0 (Free)<\/td><td>Visual\/Kanban<\/td><td>Plaky<\/td><td>Gives you unlimited users and files for free. No user caps like other tools.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2\u20135 users<\/td><td>$0 (Free)<\/td><td>Docs-Heavy<\/td><td>Notion<\/td><td>Great if you need a shared notebook more than a project board.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2\u20135 users<\/td><td>Free\/Low<\/td><td>Traditional\/Time-focused<\/td><td>Clockify<\/td><td>Perfect if your main goal is tracking and billing hours.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6\u201310 users<\/td><td>$0 (Free)<\/td><td>Visual\/Kanban<\/td><td>Plaky<\/td><td>Competitors start charging or capping seats here, but Plaky stays 100% free.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6\u201310 users<\/td><td>$10+ \/ user<\/td><td>Traditional\/Task<\/td><td>Asana<\/td><td>A solid, clean choice if you have the budget to pay per user.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6\u201310 users<\/td><td>Flat Rate<\/td><td>Docs\/Communication<\/td><td>Basecamp<\/td><td>Ideal if you hate per-user pricing and want one flat monthly bill.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11\u201320 users<\/td><td>$0 (Free)<\/td><td>Visual\/Kanban<\/td><td>Plaky<\/td><td>The only tool that lets a team this size collaborate visually without hitting a paywall.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11\u201320 users<\/td><td>$5 \u2013 $10 \/ user<\/td><td>Traditional\/Rows<\/td><td>Smartsheet<\/td><td>The best option for teams that prefer powerful, advanced spreadsheets.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11\u201320 users<\/td><td>$5 \u2013 $10 \/ user<\/td><td>Feature-Heavy\/All-in-One<\/td><td>ClickUp<\/td><td>Packs heaps of features into one app if you don&#8217;t mind a steep learning curve.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11\u201320 users<\/td><td>$10+ \/ user<\/td><td>Visual\/Custom<\/td><td>monday.com<\/td><td>Highly customizable, but gets very expensive for teams of this size.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Start with Plaky today<\/a><\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1<strong>Plaky Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn what to keep in mind when choosing the ideal project management software for your business:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-project-management-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Choose Project Management Software for Your Business: 7 Key Factors<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"team-management-tools-faq\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Team management tools FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, we\u2019ll answer some frequently asked questions about project management apps for teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"is-there-a-project-management-tool-in-microsoft-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is there a project management tool in Microsoft Teams?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Microsoft Teams integrates with&nbsp;Microsoft Planner,&nbsp;Microsoft Project, and several third-party project management tools like Trello, Asana, ClickUp, and monday.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-best-project-management-software-for-small-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the best project management software for small teams?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It depends on your team&#8217;s needs. Plaky is a strong choice for teams that want unlimited projects for free, Trello is ideal for simple task management, and ClickUp offers the broadest feature set for growing teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-software-do-most-project-managers-use\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What software do most project managers use?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the most widely used project management apps for teams include Asana, Trello, ClickUp, monday.com, Wrike, Smartsheet, Basecamp, and Microsoft Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-best-project-management-software-for-small-businesses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the best project management software for small businesses?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small teams usually benefit most from software that&#8217;s easy to adopt without sacrificing collaboration. Plaky, Trello, Asana, and ClickUp are among the best small business project management software options because they balance usability with essential project management features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"which-project-management-software-is-best-for-beginners\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which project management software is best for beginners?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trello is often a good, simple project management software platform for beginners thanks to its intuitive Kanban boards. Basecamp and Plaky are also simple project management software solutions with straightforward interfaces that require very little training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"is-microsoft-project-suitable-for-small-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Microsoft Project suitable for small teams?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can be, but many small teams find it more complex than necessary. Simpler alternatives like Plaky, Asana, or Trello are often easier to implement and more cost-effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-are-the-top-10-project-management-tools\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the top 10 project management tools?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the best project management tools include Plaky, Trello, ClickUp, Asana, monday.com, Wrike, Smartsheet, Zoho Projects, Notion, and Basecamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"lead-your-small-team-to-success-with-plaky-by-cake-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lead your small team to success with Plaky by CAKE.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best small business project management software should be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Affordable<\/strong> \u2014 You don\u2019t need to break the bank for a decent project management tool.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scalable<\/strong> \u2014&nbsp; Your team might not remain small. Plan to grow and improve, and choose a tool that will be able to grow and improve with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Easy to use<\/strong> \u2014 Don\u2019t choose a piece of software that you think would be too complicated to master, regardless of how amazing its features may sound. A steep learning curve will only confuse your team and slow you down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But, ultimately, the right project management tool depends on your team\u2019s size, workflow, and budget. Here are our top picks after our review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Plaky<\/strong> is your best choice if your team wants a generous free plan with unlimited projects and virtually no set up time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ClickUp<\/strong> is good for big teams that need advanced customization and workflows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trello<\/strong> is good as an easy tool for visual task management and quick adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Can&#8217;t decide? Try Plaky for free \u2014 unlimited projects and views, no setup required.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try Plaky today<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find the best project management software for your small team. Pick Plaky for unlimited users and a generous free plan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":18706,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53","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\/53","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\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53"}],"version-history":[{"count":100,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19044,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53\/revisions\/19044"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}