With over 400 online project management tools in the market, professional service providers are spoilt for choice. We speak with businesses every day wanting to switch to a new project management tool. Some come to us with a solution in mind, while others want some help in selecting the best solution for their immediate and future needs.
We know it is not only a daunting task but also a large time investment to navigate trials and software vendors all wanting your attention.
So, to help shortcut the system evaluation process, we’ve put together our perspective on 8 project management tools that we feel address the spectrum of most businesses’ needs today.
Discover more about each of the solutions at a glance below, then click through to our report for each platform.
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ | Designed for small teams (ideal for less than 5 people) | ✓ | Easily draw database from Xero | ✗ ✗ ✗ | Minimal customisation Simplistic reporting Unable to integrate quotes |
| ⇒ | Xero integration | ✓ | Simple set up & usability | ||
| ⇒ | $10 per month (with a Xero subscription) | ✓ | Great invoicing flexibility | ||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on Xero Projects]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ | Suits those with a simple quoting process | ✓ ✓ ✓ | Flexibility in time capture Easy to track project progress View projects at a glance | ✗ | Limited pipeline management functionality |
| ⇒ ⇒ | $12 per person per month Great option for those who prioritise time tracking | ✗ | No link between estimate and project | ||
| ✗ | Limited project management functionality beyond tracking time and expenses | ||||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on Harvest & Forecast]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ | Designed for creatives Xero integration $0-40 per month | ✓ ✓ ✓ | Track time via a ‘to-do’ list Simple timesheet usability Great invoicing flexibility | ✗ | Very fixed dashboard personas offer limited detail |
| ✗ | An adjustment for those used to traditional timesheeting | ||||
| ✗ | No quick way to invoice for repetitive jobs | ||||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on Streamtime]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ | Simple, user-friendly interface Client collaboration Good for businesses with non-complex projects that require little to no customisation in regards to estimating, invoicing and CRM | ✓ ✓ ✓ | Flexible permissions to allow client access to project details Assign custom rates to each client Detailed task lists | ✗ ✗ ✗ | CRM capabilities lack depth Limited flexibility and no templating No invoicing templates for duplicate jobs |
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on ActiveCollab]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ | Variety of modules allows for a customisable all-in-one solution | ✓ ✓ ✓ | Nice facility to track support issues for clients and projects Caters to a variety of working styles Detailed task lists | ✗ ✗ ✗ | Diversity of functionality can feel overwhelming Lacking in financial visibility Comprehensive yet more costly than other solutions |
| ⇒ ⇒ | Client portal for collaboration Suits big teams requiring more complex communication | ||||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on Zoho Projects]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ | Aimed at small-medium businesses | ✓ ✓ ✓ | Good level of customisation Ability to input data in a number of ways Flexible and comprehensive report builder | ✗ | Limited staff scheduling functionality |
| ⇒ | Affordable price (by user bands) | ✗ ✗ | Some integration limitations Some rigidness and lack of flexibility for modern working styles | ||
| ⇒ | Lead management add-on additional $15 per month | ||||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on WorkflowMax]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
| End-to-end solution Extensive functionality and modules that cater for a wide range of professional and creative agencies $34-97 per month | ✓ ✓ ✓ | Excellent dashboard view Streamlined quote and pipeline module Excels with resource planning | ✗ | Configuration of templates is quite difficult to master, some HTML experience is necessary |
| ✗ | Complexity of the solution can result in some confusion when first implementing Scoro | ||||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on Scoro]
| Features | Pros | Cons | |||
| ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
| Accommodates a range of businesses and industries Accessible by both Collaborators (access for free) and Professionals US$39-79 per month | ✓ | Great for tracking the work and progress of a client throughout its lifecycle | ✗ ✗ | Sales module somewhat difficult to navigate Extensive capabilities often hindered by the complexity of the system |
| ✓ ✓ | Project module is impressive though complex Great depth of information that can be stored, filtered, viewed | ||||
Want to know more? [Read our blog review on Accelo]
If you have any questions, or want to know more about any of the solutions we’ve investigated, get in touch! We’d be happy to walk through your business needs and help you find the perfect project management solution.
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