Best Project Management Software
Short answer
The best project management software are Linear, ClickUp, Airtable. Linear is our top pick at 9/10. If budget is tight, Linear has the best free plan.
Our top picks
Linear
9/10
Tops our project management software rankings at 9/10 — best for Software development teams and dev agencies wanting a Jira replacement that doesn't feel slow.
- ✓Fastest PM interface available — everything is instant
- ✓Excellent keyboard shortcuts make power users extremely efficient
ClickUp
8.5/10
The strongest capability-per-dollar in the category — value score 9.5/10.
- ✓Incredible value — replaces many tools
- ✓Highly customizable views (list, board, gantt, calendar)
Airtable
8.5/10
The best project management software option you can start on for $0 and upgrade when you grow.
- ✓Extremely flexible — fits almost any use case
- ✓Multiple views (grid, gallery, kanban, calendar)
All 8 project management software, ranked
Linear
Top pickFast, opinionated issue tracking for modern software teams
Linear is a project management tool built exclusively for software development teams — issue tracking, sprint planning, roadmaps, and Git integration. Its defining characteristic is speed: the interface is instant, keyboard shortcuts are everywhere, and the app never feels slow. Linear has become the default choice for product and engineering teams at venture-backed startups. Agencies building software products use it for internal development workflow. The free plan covers unlimited members with 250 issues.
Strengths
- ✓Fastest PM interface available — everything is instant
- ✓Excellent keyboard shortcuts make power users extremely efficient
- ✓GitHub, GitLab, and Figma integration out of the box
Watch-outs
- ✗Built only for software teams — not useful for non-dev project management
- ✗Free plan caps at 250 issues
- ✗No Gantt chart or resource planning for non-engineering work
ClickUp
One app to replace them all
ClickUp is a feature-packed project management platform covering tasks, docs, whiteboards, goals, time tracking, and reporting. The most popular choice for agencies wanting one tool for internal project management and client delivery tracking.
Strengths
- ✓Incredible value — replaces many tools
- ✓Highly customizable views (list, board, gantt, calendar)
- ✓Strong free tier
Watch-outs
- ✗Feature overload can overwhelm new users
- ✗Notification system is noisy by default
- ✗Mobile app lags behind desktop
Airtable
The database your team will actually use
Airtable is a flexible database platform that works like a supercharged spreadsheet. Used by agencies for client tracking, content calendars, project databases, and custom workflows. Extremely versatile with a large template library.
Strengths
- ✓Extremely flexible — fits almost any use case
- ✓Multiple views (grid, gallery, kanban, calendar)
- ✓Large integration ecosystem
Watch-outs
- ✗Team plan gets expensive per seat
- ✗Record limits on free plan
- ✗Not a true project manager — needs customization
Asana
Project management for teams who want clarity
Asana is a mature project management platform used by teams of all sizes. It excels at task tracking, project timelines, and cross-team coordination. The free tier is generous for small teams.
Strengths
- ✓Excellent task visualization (list, board, timeline, calendar)
- ✓Strong integrations ecosystem
- ✓Generous free tier
Watch-outs
- ✗Can feel complex for small teams
- ✗Reporting features locked to higher tiers
- ✗No built-in time tracking
Teamwork
Project management purpose-built for client-service agencies
Teamwork is a project management platform designed specifically for agencies and client-service businesses. Unlike ClickUp or Monday which are general-purpose, Teamwork's core features are shaped around agency workflows: client access without charging for client seats, time tracking and budgets per project, retainer tracking, invoicing, and a client-facing portal. The combination of project management, time tracking, and billing in one tool makes it a compelling option for agencies billing on time-and-materials.
Strengths
- ✓Built for agencies — client access doesn't cost extra seats
- ✓Time tracking, budgets, and retainer management built in
- ✓Invoicing from tracked time without a separate tool
Watch-outs
- ✗UI denser and less polished than ClickUp or Monday
- ✗Less powerful for non-agency project workflows
- ✗Integration ecosystem smaller than major competitors
Monday.com
The work OS that adapts to any team's workflow
Monday.com is a visual Work OS — a flexible platform that teams use for project management, CRM, HR processes, and more. Its strength is customizability: boards can be shaped into timelines, Kanban views, calendars, Gantt charts, or dashboards. This flexibility comes with a cost: per-seat pricing makes it one of the more expensive PM tools, and the learning curve is steeper than Trello or Asana.
Strengths
- ✓Highly customizable — builds boards for almost any workflow
- ✓Multiple views: Kanban, Gantt, timeline, calendar, dashboard
- ✓Strong automation builder for repetitive tasks
Watch-outs
- ✗Expensive — per-seat pricing adds up fast for larger teams
- ✗Free plan limited to 2 seats (barely useful)
- ✗Can feel overwhelming for simple project tracking
Basecamp
All-in-one project management and team communication
Basecamp combines project management with team communication in one opinionated platform. Each project gets a message board, to-do lists, a shared document space (Docs & Files), a group chat (Campfire), a schedule, and an automatic check-in feature. Basecamp charges a flat fee per account rather than per seat, making it cost-effective for growing teams. It's famously opinionated — there's one way to do things — which works well for teams that want structure without configuration.
Strengths
- ✓Flat per-account pricing — no per-seat charges as team grows
- ✓Combines messaging + tasks + files + schedule in one place
- ✓Client access built in — invite clients to specific projects
Watch-outs
- ✗Very opinionated — minimal customization
- ✗No Gantt charts or resource management
- ✗Integration ecosystem much thinner than ClickUp or Monday
Trello
Visual project boards that anyone can use in minutes
Trello is the original Kanban board tool — cards on lists on boards. It's the easiest project management tool to get started with and remains useful for individuals and small teams managing straightforward workflows. Acquired by Atlassian in 2017, Trello integrates with Jira and Confluence for teams in that ecosystem. Power-Ups extend functionality, though the free plan limits boards to one Power-Up each.
Strengths
- ✓Fastest onboarding of any PM tool — usable in minutes
- ✓Unlimited cards on the free plan
- ✓Part of Atlassian — integrates with Jira, Confluence
Watch-outs
- ✗Weak for complex projects (no native Gantt, dependency tracking)
- ✗Free plan limits workspaces to 10 boards
- ✗Power-Ups limited on free tier
Project Management Software compared
Frequently asked questions
What is the best project management software?
Linear is our top-rated pick, scoring 9/10. Tops our project management software rankings at 9/10 — best for Software development teams and dev agencies wanting a Jira replacement that doesn't feel slow.
What is the best free project management software option?
Linear offers the best free plan among the project management software we reviewed — a genuine way to start at $0 before upgrading.