Free Project Management Tools
Our goal is to bring you the top free project management tools on the market today. We test every free project tracking tool featured on our site, so you can be sure that the app you choose will support you in successfully completing all of your projects. Take a look at our reviews and choose the right project management software free of charge, based on your goals.
But first, let’s take a look at what project management software is and how to choose the right tool for you and your team.
What is project management software?
Managers and team leaders use project management software tools throughout the different stages of a project: from planning, scheduling, and task division to implementation, tracking, and reporting. These tools can come in the form of software installed on the company’s servers, cloud-based services, web-based applications or open APIs.
Recommended free project management tools
These are some of the most recommended online to do lists apps:
Is there a difference between free and paid project management tools?
The main difference between free project tracking tools and the premium solutions lies in the variety of features, storage space, and the number of users and of projects you can manage within one account. If you manage a small team and your needs are limited, you can certainly make do with free project tracking software or a free version of such a system. However, if you want to take advantage of all the productivity features offered, you’ll have to allocate a budget and invest in a premium project management tool.
How do I choose a project management tool?
Choosing the right tool for your team, department, or project comes down to understanding your needs. This is the only way to know what features to look for in project management software, whether free of charge or not. Here are some things you should consider:
Ease of use
Most free online project management apps boast about their user-friendly interfaces, but some project management software, whether it’s free or premium, can be really complicated. So before deciding on the right tool for you, we suggest you take advantage of the free trials or free versions most of them offer. There are a number of free project management tools for Macs and Windows, so there are options for all users.
Project planning and scheduling
This is a complex task made easier by the right project management software. If you are working with a small team or managing a small project, free project management apps that allow you to build lists of tasks might suffice. However, when dealing with complex projects involving multiple people, you’ll want a tool that displays your project’s plans in a Gantt chart format, for example. Check how each project management app organizes and displays your project data and timelines.
Task tracking
Even if they lack other features, some of the top free project manager software out there do offer task tracking tools, such as timesheets. This is the best task tracking feature, as it enables you to get early warnings in case of project delays, as well as the ability to check if your time estimates are realistic.
Efficient reporting
Reports are a big part of free task manager software. Check to determine if the free project manager software you’re considering offers real-time reporting. This way, you will know the current status of a project and estimated completion at any given time. In case the project becomes past due or exceeds its budget, you will be able to pinpoint the issue and know which task took more time and resources than initially estimated.
Free project management tools that are worth a try
Are you looking for a good project manager tool but don’t quite have a budget for one? No worries! Some of the best project management software out there are free of charge or offer free versions. These tools will cover most of your needs, especially if you are not managing a complex project.
Many tools offer full versions of their project management software for free trials. This way you can access everything, including 50+ premade templates for a wide variety of industries, timeline and kanban board views, and integrations with most popular business tools. These free trials give you the opportunity to test drive a tool before committing to anything.
Another option is Trello, a great free project management tool that allows you to organize lists of tasks into Kanban-style boards. If your project planning stage consists of brainstorming sessions and creating mind maps, then Meister Task is the best free project management software for you.
Is a project management tool a good investment?
While free project management apps offer some advantages, getting the full premium version is the way to go if you want to have all the features you need in one place. Investing in project management software is worthwhile for small and large companies alike and will be a benefit in the long run.
Besides boosting productivity and improving work efficiency, project management tools also allow you to achieve a better level of communication between team members. All communication about a single project is done in one place, as opposed to various channels like email, Google Hangouts, Skype, SMS, and more.
Conclusion
When using specialized tools, such as project manager software, project managers, and team leaders can get a better understanding of their team’s strengths and weaknesses. Project management tools allow you to better analyze the time estimations, understand bottlenecks and identify performers.
Check out our reviews of the top free task management tools on the market in our Reviews section.