6 Project Management Software Picks for 2026

Key takeaways

• Popular project management software in 2026 includes Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Wrike, Forecast.app, and ClickUp.

• Good project management software helps project managers and team leads assign tasks, set deadlines, provide direction, track budgets, and keep project documents and conversations in one place. 

• To choose the right software, consider which one offers the features and cost that most closely align with your company's needs.

Use this guide to explore six of the leading project management software options and how to choose the right platform. If you're interested in sharpening your project management skills and earning credentials for your resume, consider enrolling in John Hopkins University's Project Management and Planning Specialization in which you'll master critical project management tools and techniques like Agile methodology, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and product lifecycle management.

Top 6 project management software options

The following six software solutions offer a glimpse of the features to expect. Most of these have a free trial option, so you can test out the software before investing a monthly fee.

1. Trello

Best for freelancers or companies with one to two employees, Trello offers a simple, drag-and-drop platform with boards, cards, and lists. Individual projects are usually listed on a card, with instructions, due dates, and the ability to attach files as needed. You can move the cards from list to list through the company’s workflow. Trello does not have reporting or budgeting tools.

Features

• Project planning through boards, cards, and lists

• Collaboration tools

• Integrations or “Power-Ups” with Google Docs and other office platforms

Price: Free to $17.50 per user/month

Best for: Freelancers

Read more: How to Make a Project Plan in 4 Steps

2. Wrike

Great for small businesses, Wrike provides access for an unlimited number of users, is highly customizable, and is user-friendly. You can set up projects, create workflows, collaborate, and review reports. The software is scalable, so it can evolve with your business as it grows. 

Features

• Project planning with calendar and chart views 

• Time and budget tracking

• Collaboration tools

• Custom reports

• Integration with Slack and Salesforce, extension for Adobe Creative Cloud 

Pricing: Free to $24.80 and up per user/month 

Best for: Small businesses 

4 main types of project management software with examples

1. Task management software: Good for managing individual tasks within a project (Trello, Todoist, Microsoft To Do)

2. Collaboration software: Good for team communication and collaboration (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace)

3. Scheduling software: Good for planning and scheduling project activities, timelines, and resources (Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Asana)

4. Integrated suites: Good for managing all aspects of a project, from planning to reporting (Jira, Monday.com, Wrike)

3. ClickUp

ClickUp is ideal for large teams because it offers unlimited users and storage space. The software comes with planning, scheduling, and collaboration tools. It's also visual-friendly, meaning you can create charts, graphs, calendars, or lists. ClickUp includes basic reporting.

Features 

• Project planning

• Bulk scheduling

• Goal setting

• Time tracker and estimates

• Reporting

Pricing: Free to $12 and up per user/month

Best for: Large teams 

4. Monday.com

Monday.com offers a diverse, robust set of tools that make it the go-to project management software for big-name companies like Hulu, BBC Studios, and Adobe. With multiple project views, time tracking, integrations with top business tools and apps like Shopify, Zoom, Slack, and Dropbox, customized workflows, collaboration tools, and solid reporting, it’s easy to see why large organizations use this software. 

Features

• Project management and assignment tools

• Multiple views and permission settings

• Budget and resource allocation

• Collaboration tools

• Automated workflows and triggers

Price: Free to $19 and up per user/month

Best project management software for: Large companies looking for customizable solutions

Read more: Project Management Tools: Choosing the Best Fit for Your Team

5. Forecast.app

Forecast.app, as the name suggests, is a good fit for companies focusing on project management and budget forecasts. The app uses AI to forecast the time and money needed for each job. Scheduling, project assignment, and private invoicing are also unique features. 

Features

• Project management

• Project accounting

• Work automation 

• Team collaboration

• Advanced analytics 

Pricing: Book a demo for pricing, minimum 25 users, annual fee

Best project management software for: Teams looking for budget forecasts and AI-based planning features

6. Asana

Asana is a work management platform used to plan, track, and organize projects across teams. It helps teams connect day-to-day work with organizational goals and provides visibility into project progress, dependencies, and potential risks in real time.

Features

• Project and portfolio management

• Cross-team collaboration

• Goals and OKR tracking

• Real-time reporting and dashboards

• Multiple project views including List, Board, Calendar, and Timeline

• Task automation with Rules

• Integrations with over 200 tools

• Mobile apps for Mac, iOS, and Android

Pricing: Free plan available for personal use, plans range from $10.99 per month to $24.99, with enterprise pricing available through contacting the sales team

Best project management software for: Organizations managing multiple projects that require coordination across teams and shared visibility into goals and progress

How to choose the best project management software for your needs

With dozens of software choices on the market, weighing your options is essential. You'll need to decide on what features you want and how much you’re willing to pay for a solution. More specifically, consider:

Team needs: How many team members need access? What kinds of projects do you manage? Write down how you plan to integrate the software into your current workflow, and keep this in mind as you research different software tools.

Available features: Jot down which features are a priority and which others are nice to have. If, for example, managing a budget is a priority, make sure you investigate each software’s finance and forecasting tools. Narrow your search by removing solutions that lack the features you need. 

Cost: Most platforms charge a certain amount per user per month, depending on features, the number of users, and file storage volume.

Read more: 12 Project Management Methodologies: Your Guide

Benefits of project management software

Project management software allows stakeholders to see every project, know its process, and quickly identify any obstacles through a centralized dashboard. A few of the many benefits of using project management software include:

Project planning: Plan projects and manage all your assets. A helpful tool might allow you to store all your documents as well as visualize your workflow and enable collaborative planning, for example. With software, managers can instantly see who's available to take on a new project, assign it, and make essential deadlines visible to everyone. 

Collaboration and file sharing: Project management software typically has file-sharing tools that give multiple people access to documents. Changes update in real time so everyone can see them. You can set the software up to notify employees when a task is ready through customized workflows and control permissions for editing and viewing. Collaboration is possible even if teammates are in different departments or time zones.

Budget management: You can often track costs in real time using project management software. Managers can instantly see if a project’s costs are increasing too quickly and take action before the project goes over budget. Some project management software includes budget forecasting that can predict expenses as you go.

Communication: Many kinds of project management software have communication tools built into them, eliminating the need for lengthy, siloed email threads or meetings. Many tools function like a messaging system, where you can leave notes and direct questions to specific people. As a result, every piece of communication regarding a project is in one unified location.  

Customizable reports: Project management software often features customizable reports that give managers an overview of important metrics. The reports can provide graphs and statistics to close productivity gaps, improve processes, or manage a budget.

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