16 Best Free Project Management Software For You in 2024

Looking for the best free project management software?

After diving into the world of project management, I’ve realized just how crucial it is to stay organized. Managing multiple projects can quickly become overwhelming, and I’ve been there feeling the stress of deadlines creeping up.

I was on the lookout for fresh tools that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg but still help keep you on track. And guess what? I found some fantastic options that will really make a difference!

These free project management tools have been instrumental in tackling various task management challenges. They help you break down tasks into manageable steps, set deadlines, and keep track of progress all in one place.

In this blog, I’ve narrowed down the 16 best free project management software that will genuinely help you streamline tasks and stay productive. These tools will make a real difference in how you manage your projects, and I can’t wait for you to check them out. Let’s dive in and find the perfect solution for you!

The Best Free Project Management Software: Quick Comparison

Project Management Software	Ideal For	Best Feature	Free Plan
1. Nifty	Uniting goals, processes, and actions in one place	Time tracking & visual reporting, Nifty Orbit AI, and built-in automations	Unlimited team members and free AI feature
2. Hive	Small and medium-sized teams that want customized project management software	Workflow automation and interactive dashboards	Unlimited tasks for up to 10 workspace members
3. Workstatus	Managing a team, both large and small teams,  organize projects by location.	Tracks time, showing project progress and team performance with detailed task data	Limited Projects and Users
4. Zoho Projects	Juggling different tasks, tracking project metrics, and collaborating with teams	Survey cost overruns and compare the planned budget with actual spending	Can be used for up to 3 users and for 2 projects
5. Trello	Managing projects visually	Customizable Kanban Boards to visualize the workflow and assign tasks easily	Unlimited cards and up to 10 boards per Workspace
6. ClickUp	Multiple options for customized task views	Streamlined project management with 15+ task views	Unlimited tasks and unlimited free plan members
7. Asana	Managing teams	Portfolio view is great for looking at ongoing projects with a bird’s eye overview	Unlimited tasks and projects
8. Wrike	Those who prefer using Spreadsheet-like features	Rule-based automation helps automate workflows and keep the team on track	Unlimited users
9. Monday.com	Tracking work progress and reviewing team performance	Intuitive task tracking with real-time collaboration features	Unlimited docs and up to 3 boards
10. nTask	Teams and individuals who want to stay organized	Kanban Boards and Gantt charts to centralize project management	Free for up to 5 team members, unlimited workspaces, and unlimited tasks
11. GoodDay	Project planning, portfolio management, and task management	GoodDay AI engine to analyze work data and assess time spent on tasks	Unlimited projects and tasks, and up to 15 members
12. Airtable	Creating a customized app	Ability to create connections between data across tables	Unlimited bases and for up to 5 editors
13. Freedcamp	Collaboration features such as file sharing and discussions	User-friendly interface	Unlimited projects, tasks, storage, and users
14. Plaky	Small and mid-sized companies that want essential project management features for free	Ability to simplify and visually represent Scrum Sprints	Unlimited users, boards, items, and views
15. TeamGantt	Project managers, team leaders, and executives who want a visual planning project management tool	Highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface for scheduling tasks	1 manager, 2 collaborators, 1 project, 60 tasks
16. Teamwork	Completing tasks quickly and boosting productivity	Complete operations control and project management in one tool	For up to 5 users

Top 16 Free Project Management Software in 2024

1. Nifty

The All-In-One Free Project Management Software

Nifty is the ultimate all-in-one project management software to truly transform your workflow. It replaces the need for several apps by seamlessly bringing all aspects of project and workflow management—tasks, goals, chats, and project docs into one collaborative workspace.

It transformed our chaotic workflow into something manageable and streamlined. Instead of stressing over deadlines, we now have a clear overview of what needs to be done and by when, and my team feels more connected than ever.

If you’re looking to build a dedicated knowledge base, automate repeating work, or enhance collaboration across different departments, I’d highly recommend giving Nifty a try. It’s not just another tool; it’s an all-in-one free project management app that replaces several apps into one.

Why I Recommend Nifty as the Best Project Management Software?

Having dabbled in numerous project management tools, I can confidently say that Nifty really sets itself apart. Its comprehensive, well designed, super-fast, and user-friendly features are built to supercharge any type of workflow.

Top Features:

• Knowledge Hub: I’ve really enjoyed using the discussions feature. It’s great for keeping our conversations focused, so we can tackle important decisions without getting sidetracked.
• Task Management: Organizing, prioritizing, and managing tasks has never been simpler. With Nifty, you can dive into the details and keep everything running smoothly.
• Project Milestones: Picture this: a visual project guide that updates automatically based on task completion. That’s what Nifty’s Milestones feature delivers, keeping you on track effortlessly.
• Project Portfolio Management: If you’re managing multiple projects, Nifty’s Project Portfolios feature helps you bring order and automation to your workflow. It’s perfect for structuring projects by location, manager, or department.
• Roles and Permissions: One thing I appreciate about Nifty is its flexibility in managing team roles. You can assign different permissions like Admin, Owner, Member, or Guest, ensuring everyone has the appropriate access they need to contribute effectively.
• AI Tools: Imagine automating your workflow at scale. Nifty’s built-in AI connects your projects, tasks, and docs, making your life a whole lot easier.

What You Get in the Free Version:

• Team Members: Unlimited
• Core Features: AI, Tasks, Roadmaps, Discussions, Docs, Team Chat, Recurring Tasks, Reminders, and more
• Account and Security: Two-Factor Authentication

✨ Nifty is free forever! Get Started with Nifty today.

Why Nifty is a perfect solution for you

Compared to other project management software, Nifty isn’t just another app; it’s a collaborative workspace that integrates seamlessly across Web Browser, Desktop, Android, and iOS. The color-coded milestones and goal tracking features make project progress and timeline management a breeze.

For project managers or startups who need to categorize projects by location, department, or manager, Nifty’s portfolio management feature is invaluable. It helps assign tasks and avoid bottlenecks in real-time.

Plus, the built-in time tracking offers powerful insights into projects and team activities, capturing task names, dates, durations, and more. With Nifty, you’re equipped with all the tools you need to streamline your workflow and keep everything in check.

Nifty Pricing

• Free Forever Plan (best for personal use)
• Starter Plan (best for time tracking ($7/user per month)
• Pro Plan (best for automations ($10/user per month)
• Business Plan (best for unlimited projects ($16/user per month)

What people say about managing projects in Nifty:

Nifty is the best tool for managing projects I’ve ever used for my official work. I don’t need multiple tools anymore and work can be embedded with third party apps like Figma, GitHub and Google calendar across projects, tasks, and docs to bring it all in one place. – G2

Nifty is simple to use, but at the same time has a lot of features. It’s intuitive, so no need for any training. In our company, we use it for project management, task assignment, docs organization, and client communication. Even the less tech-savvy client is able to use it with no major issues. – G2

Nifty is easy to navigate, compared to other productivity tools. I can switch to mobile device mode when I’m not on PC and I will still get work done. Everyone knows where to go to finish their tasks. I can quickly grasp the use of a feature without breaking sweat. – G2

✨ Free forever. No credit card required.
Get Started with Nifty

2. Hive

A Free Project Management Software for Hybrid Work—Shaped by Users

Hive is one of the best free project management software that enables teams to work together in any capacity–be it online, in-office, fully remote, or with the hybrid model. The biggest advantage of Hive, in my experience, is its user-friendly interface. It makes everything feel intuitive, allowing me to access all the key project management features with just one click. such as task management, collaboration, time management, notes, native chat, and more.

Features:

• Project management: It allows you to simplify workflows for complex processes and managing projects in a centralized platform.
• Time management: You can understand where your team members are spending their time and manage in-person, remote, and hybrid teams with ease.
• Team collaboration: You can leverage enhanced collaboration features to keep your entire team on the same page.  
• Advanced automation: You can use Hive to put your projects on autopilot.
• Hive Notes: You can use the tool’s best-in-class and most-loved Notes feature from within the platform itself.

What do you get in the free version:

Hive Free is the platform’s free-forever plan, which offers the following features:

• Up to 10 workspace members
• 200MB storage
• Unlimited tasks
• Unlimited collaborative notes
• Work your way views
• Email in Hive
• Desktop, iOS, and Android apps
• Native chat messaging
• Custom emojis

Who should use it?

Hive is an ideal free pm solution for individuals, smaller teams of up to 10 people, freelancers, and solopreneurs who have basic project management requirements and need to use the tool to organize their projects in one place.

Why I picked this tool?

• It is a community-built, democratic software platform. This tool is the world’s first productivity platform that is built on user feedback. This is why the tool boasts of a loyal user base who can offer feedback and get the features they want to be rolled out.

• Hive can be easily used by everyone. There’s little to no learning curve, and you don’t need to be a full-stack, certified project manager to use this tool.
• The user interface is extremely intuitive and easy, allowing you to view and set up your projects within 10 minutes!

3. Workstatus

Feature-rich free project management solution for remote first teams

Workstatus is a feature-rich and incredibly adaptable free project management solution crafted to cater to your and your colleagues’ unique work requirements. It’s a tool that I rely on for everything from managing projects to managing my team effectively to keeping projects on track while ensuring seamless communication across departments.

Features:

• Centralized Dashboard: A functional and multiplatform dashboard makes managing various projects and assignments, as well as your team, easier.
• Task Management: Specific tasks are easily created, assigned, and tracked. Deadlines may be set, and the rank of a particular task on the to-do list may be changed.
• Project Tracking: Book your job wisely with functional features for project planning, scheduling, and monitoring in terms of milestones and timelines.
• Team Collaboration: Promote better cooperation in one-on-one calls, chats, file and document transfers, and posting on bulletin boards.
• Reporting and Analytics: Prepare detailed documents and charts to better understand the project conditions, the staff’s efficiency, and the utilization of the resources.

What Do You Get In The Free Version:

• Limited Projects and Users: The free viewer version is available, enabling the user to control a specific number of projects and members.
• Core Functionality: It is recommended to stick with the basic functionality to organize and prioritize tasks to keep track of the projects and create simple forms of report generation.
• Basic Integrations: Organizational integration with common applications and services likely to enhance work output.

Who should use it?

Perfect for project managers who aim to organize projects by location, team, or department, Workstatus provides powerful portfolio management capabilities. This feature allows real-time task assignment and efficiently minimizes workflow obstacles.

Why I picked this tool?

• Workstatus can support any type of team, easily support both large and small teams, and can grow with the company as it expands. With the help of several features and an interface that is easy for every user, you can improve the effectiveness of your team and complete projects.
• Workstatus has a time-tracking feature that offers insights into project progress and team performance. It provides detailed data on tasks, durations, and timestamps, enhancing project transparency and accountability.

4. Zoho Projects

The Best Online Free Project Management Software for Businesses of All Scales, Sizes, and Types

Zoho Projects is an online free project management software that enables project managers to plan their projects, track the work efficiently, and collaborate with team members. It offers a suite of robust features–from sales and marketing to powerful integrations and cloud storage.

You can also leverage a larger suite of Zoho products, such as the popular CRM platform, meeting tools, virtual assistant software, and more. So, if you are looking to bundle multiple software and want value-driven free ppm software for your team, Zoho Projects is for you.

Features:

• Customizations: You can create custom layouts for your tasks and projects and address your project requirements.
• Team collaboration: You can get quick updates across all your projects through an interactive feed. This feed allows you to post comments, tag team members, and add attachments.
• Automation: You can design workflows to automate task processes and tackle routine work like a pro.
• Charts and reports: You can easily see basic/advanced reports on all tasks in a project based on the status, completion percentage, owner, or priority. 
• Integrations and add-ons: You can integrate this tool with Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Spreadsheets, Zoho Sprints, CRM, Analytics, and more.

What do you get in the free version:

• Users: Free for up to 3 users
• Storage: 10MB file storage
• Projects: 2
• Other features: Custom Status, Task Management, Gantt Chart, Project Feeds, Calendar & Forums, Basic Task and Issue Reports, Mobile Apps (Android, iOS, iPad OS)

Who should use it?

Zoho Projects can be used by smaller teams as a free project planner. It’s free for up to 3 users. 

Why I picked this tool?

• This tool is trusted by the likes of established giants such as Stanford University, Tata Chemicals Limited, Dell, HDFC Securities, and more.
• It is a low-cost tool that is perfect for small, growing businesses.

Try the best Zoho alternative, Nifty.
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5. Trello

A Robust Free Project Management Software for Agile Teams

Trello is a completely free project management software that brings your team members, tools, and tasks together. This free pm software empowers your team to manage diverse projects, workflows, and tasks. You can also customize your project management experience by leveraging advanced features and security–at scale.

Features:

• Trello Views: It allows you to see your projects from every angle with Board, Timeline, Table, Calendar, Dashboard, Map, and Workspace views to lend a fresh perspective to the task at hand.
• Templates: This feature enables you to give your team a blueprint. You can leverage tried-and-true templates from the Trello community. All you need to do is copy, customize, and collaborate!
• Automation: Thanks to Butler automation, you can easily automate the workflow and tasks.
• Power-ups: You can power-up your teams by linking their favorite tools with Trello plugins.

What do you get in the free version:

• Unlimited cards
• Up to 10 boards per Workspace
• Unlimited Power-Ups per board
• Unlimited storage (10MB/file)
• 250 Workspace command runs per month
• Custom backgrounds and stickers
• Unlimited activity log
• Assignee and due dates
• iOS and Android mobile apps
• 2-factor authentication

Who should use it?

The free tool is perfect for small teams and individuals who wish to keep their work organized.

30 Best Trello Alternatives

Why I picked this tool?

• Trello is a great tool for agile projects. 
• It offers a slew of useful features, such as quick-glance Kanban boards and seamless workflow automation, and is easily available on iOS and Android apps.
  •  
• It offers unlimited boards to free users so that you can successfully complete tasks.

6. ClickUp

An End-to-End Free Project Management Software

ClickUp is a highly customizable free project management software that empowers you to edit and control the platform. It offers a host of integrated features to address your needs. Plus, with 100MB of storage, access to unlimited tasks and members, and the ability to use real-time chat as well as collaborative docs in the free version, you can set up your team for project management success.

Features:

• ClickUp Overview: It helps you create the perfect structure that scales with your needs. Each level offers greater flexibility and control over organizing everything.
• Views: You can access 15+ powerful views to get ahead of your workload. These include Board, Box, Calendar, Gantt, Form, Doc, Chat, and more.
• Customization: You can easily customize the tool and manage diverse projects with no code or add-ons needed.
• Collaboration: You can collaborate with your team members using Whiteboard, Chat, Email, Comments, Proofing, etc.

What do you get in the free version:

• 100 MB storage
• Unlimited tasks
• Unlimited free plan members
• Collaborative docs
• Whiteboards
• Two-Factor Authentication
• Real-time chat
• Kanban boards
• Sprint management
• Native time tracking
• In-app video recording
• 24/7 support

Who should use it?

ClickUp’s free plan is ideal for personal use. It can also be useful for smaller teams looking to optimize their work processes.

Why I picked this tool?

• This free pm software is best if you want to use popular collaboration tools such as Salesforce and Dropbox.
• Its drag-and-drop capabilities are user-friendly. This tool enables you to engage in seamless resource allocation. Plus, you get access to 15+ View options such as Gantt, Scrum, Board, and so on.
• Finally, ClickUp offers hundreds of features that can be customized based on your unique requirements.

Try Nifty; the more intuitive and performant ClickUp alternative.
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7. Asana

One of the Best Free Project Management Tools for Cross-Functional Work

Asana is undoubtedly one of the best free project management tools for driving efficiency across your organization. The tool is flexible and easy to use and helps deliver quality work together in no time at all.

Whether you need to orchestrate your work or tackle daily strategic tasks, Asana empowers your team members to be more confident, move with speed, and accomplish more with less—irrespective of their location.

Features:

• Workflow Builder: You can create automated processes to coordinate your teams.
• App Integrations: You can bring all your tools and apps together and support your teams.
• Automation: You can streamline processes, reduce errors, and automate routine tasks, saving invaluable effort and time. 
• Timeline: You can build a beautiful Gantt chart in minutes.
• Reporting: You can get real-time insights into projects and/or work progress at the click of a button.

What do you get in the free version:

• Unlimited tasks
• Unlimited projects
• Unlimited messages
• Unlimited activity log
• Unlimited file storage (100 MB per file)
• Collaborate with up to 15 teammates
• List view projects
• Board view projects
• Calendar view
• Assignee and due dates
• Project Overview and Project Brief
• iOS and Android mobile apps
• Time tracking with integrations
• 100+ free integrations with your favorite apps

Who should use it?

Asana is the best platform for visualizing and tracking the smallest of details. It is ideally a project management software for individuals and/or teams who are just getting started with project management.

Why I picked this tool?

• Asana has the first-mover advantage as it was one of the market’s first free project management software. This platform boasts an impressive 9100+ user reviews on G2. According to a user, “The interface is beautiful, and the gamified tweaks, like celebrations after completing tasks, make Asana fun to use.”
• The platform has mastered To-Do lists like no other tool. You can leverage organized To-Do lists to your advantage and streamline your work requests with greater ease. 
• Project managers also get access to the status of progress goals, allowing for more informed decision-making.
• You get instant access to user-friendly features such as interactive dashboards, task assignments, sub-lists, and re-arrangeable components.
• The tool also functions as a free project tracker software as it has built-in time tracking capabilities. 

Nifty is a better (and free) project management software than Asana.
Know Why

8. Wrike

A 360-Degree Online Free Project Management Software

Wrike is another top-performing online free project management software on our list that deserves special mention. For starters, its Spreadsheet and Workbook features are unparalleled. Wrike is an enterprise project management software tool that adapts to every kind of management style and supports teams on the go. The tool follows a linear approach and offers clear calculations, columns, tables, etc., to help project managers stay on top of their work.

Features:

• Dashboards: This feature enables you to visualize tasks, processes, analytics, and so on.
• Automation: You can easily define as well as trigger automated workflows to iron out manual effort of any kind.
• Kanban boards: You can view project progress and build customized workflows.
• Cross-tagging: This feature enables project managers to gain unparalleled visibility across multiple work streams.
• Project resource planning: Project managers can plan and allocate resources for on-time delivery.  

What do you get in the free version:

• Web, desktop, and mobile apps
• Project and task management
• Board view
• Table view
• Active task (limitations apply)

Who should use it?

This project management software tool is ideal for teams that are just getting started and want to engage in centralized task management.

Why I picked this tool?

• In our opinion, this tool offers great time-tracking features, a customized dashboard, and extensive as well as easy-to-understand Gantt charts.
• This tool is mobile-friendly, having a presence for both iOS and Android apps. Plus, the free version provides access to unlimited users.
• It is used by esteemed clients such as Estée Lauder, Nielsen, Ogilvy, Hootsuite, Siemens, Tiffany & Co, and more. It also offers multi-lingual support to users (think: German, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc.)

9. Monday.com 

One of the Best Free Project Management Software for Increased Efficiency + Productivity

Need an open platform where you can build and shape the tools you need to improve the way your business runs? Monday.com is worth a try. This tool combines the building blocks of project management (think: excellent access to apps and integrations, customized workflows, and more). 

Features:

• Dashboards: This feature allows you to simplify the decision-making process with real-time insights.
• Automation: You can save your team’s time by automating repetitive processes.
• Kanban: The much-loved Kanban feature helps you to prioritize tasks and balance the workload based on resource availability and capacity.
• Gantt: You can visualize your project’s milestones and dependencies with relative ease.

What do you get in the free version:

• Access for up to 2 team members
• Up to 3 boards
• Unlimited docs
• 200+ templates
• Over 20 column types
• iOS and Android apps

Who should use it?

The free plan is built for individuals who wish to keep track of their work.

Why I picked this tool?

• Monday.com offers multiple industry-specific products, such as Monday marketer, Monday dev, Monday sales CRM, Monday projects, and Monday work management, all built on top of the Work OS. This makes it easy to use a specialized app for unique business use cases.
• Monday.com is also useful if you want to understand your project’s dependency and want a tool that offers world-class app integrations, such as Jira, Slack, Asana, and HubSpot CRM, to name a few. The platform also offers features such as native social media management, CRM, and free educational webinars for its subscribers.
• The best part about the tool is the “panic button” feature. This feature allows you to immediately lock your account in case the data gets compromised.

10. nTask

An all-in-one, free project management tool

The nTask tool comes power-packed with an intuitive and minimalistic interface. So if your business requires you to onboard new users on a routine basis, nTask is for you. That’s not all. This platform offers multiple project manager-friendly features such as team management, meeting management, bug tracking, Gantt charting, timesheet management, and more.

Features:

• Project planning: You can easily define your projects, set billing methods, decide the payout rate, and allocate resources to your projects in this free project management tool.
• Team chat: You can connect with team members anytime on your projects with the Team chat feature.
• Task management: This feature enables you to instantly plan, organize, and assign tasks in your projects. As a result, you’ll be able to see who is working on what and what needs to be completed on priority. You can also create to-do lists and make unlimited sub-tasks.
• Gantt chart: The interactive Gantt Chart feature empowers you to get organized, gain transparency, and become flexible with your ongoing projects. 

What do you get in the free version:

• The Basic free plan is free for teams with up to 5 people
• Unlimited workspaces
• Unlimited tasks
• Unlimited access to meetings, issues tracking, and timesheets to manage time spent by your team

Who should use it?

This tool is ideal for users who wish to integrate their project management software with Slack and other useful third-party apps.

Why I picked this tool?

• This platform offers work-friendly features such as one-click CSV import and export, advanced filters, and robust timesheets.
• You can create multiple tasks and projects and easily define team member roles, milestones, budgets, and more.
• The Gantt chart is drag-and-drop and can be personalized to accommodate real-life changes to your project.

11. GoodDay

The World’s Most Customizable Free Project Management Software

GoodDay is a free project management software that empowers teams to tackle day-to-day work with powerful tools and drive continuous improvement of all processes. The platform aims to boost transparency, accountability, and recognition within your project management processes.

Features:

• Views: You get access to 20+ views (think: Gantt, Kanban, Board, Calendar, etc.) to build your ideal workspace.
• Customization: You can build your own work management experience with a sophisticated structure and extensive workflows.
• Apps: You can access the tool on your mobile or desktop and work on the go.
• Templates: You can get started quickly with ready-to-use, one-click start templates designed for teams of all shapes and sizes.

What do you get in the free version:

• Unlimited projects/tasks/events
• 1 GB of storage
• Up to 15 members
• Calendar and events management
• Custom workflows, tasks, and project types
• Time tracking
• Analytics
• Basic integrations (G-Suite, Google calendar, G-Mail, Google Drive, Email)
• Activity stream
• Dashboards
• Views
• Basic support
• Customer success webinars

Who should use it?

The GoodDay tool can support smaller teams and startups that wish to boost their productivity and want to leverage a tool that can be quickly adopted across departments.

Why I picked this tool?

• This free project management tool doubles up as a great project, product, time, task, and team management platform. Whether you want to engage in high-level planning or track the project status, this tool might be right for you.

12. Airtable

A Free Project Management Software for Building Custom Apps

If any other free project management tools haven’t quite hit the mark for you, Airtable might just be the perfect fit. It starts off with a familiar, spreadsheet-like interface and offers several pre-made project templates that can be tailored to your team’s needs.

You can either kick off with one of the ready-made templates or create your own project, known as a “base,” from the ground up. Airtable truly shines when you dive into customization.

While setting it up to suit your exact requirements may take some initial effort, the possibilities are virtually endless. You have the freedom to tweak everything—from methodologies and column headers to field types and more.

Features:

• Templates: You can access plenty of templates for project management and resource allocation.
• Automation: Airtable AI connects your workflows to the existing data within the tool.
• Integration: Airtable seamlessly integrates with popular tools such as Google Drive, Salesforce, Jira, and Tableau.

What do you get in the free version:

• Unlimited bases
• 1,000 records per base
• Up to 5 editors
• 1 GB of attachments per base
• 100 automation runs
• Interface Designer

Who should use it?

Airtable is best suited for individuals or businesses who need to organize and collaborate on projects.

Why I picked this tool?

Airtable’s low-code platform is trusted by more than 300,000 organizations, including industry giants such as Amazon, Baker Hughes, Netflix, and Nike. Around 80% of the Fortune 100 companies rely on Airtable to streamline their operations.

13. Freedcamp

One of the Best Free Project Management Tools for Easy Collaboration

Freedcamp serves as a centralized hub for all your project management needs. Whether you are coordinating a large team or managing individual tasks, Freedcamp consolidates everything in one place. You can effortlessly create projects, assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress, eliminating the need for multiple applications and complex email chains.

Features:

• Task List: It helps you to stay on top of your task lists and stay in touch with what’s happening.
• Kanban Board: Its Kanban Boards are a modern way to manage tasks by dragging them into completion columns.
• Gantt Chart: It offers the ultimate bird’s eye view of your tasks and allows you to quickly adjust your project plans.
• Tasky: It allows you to keep some tasks private.
• AI Project Creation Assistant: This virtual project management expert offers smart features to create AI-generated tasks, assign tasks to the most skilled team members, etc.

What do you get in the free version:

• Unlimited projects, tasks, storage, and users
• All essential features included

Who should use it?

High-performance teams should use it to streamline processes,  projects, and workflows. They can also use it to track time and issues on the spot.

Why I picked this tool?

Freedcamp’s free plan offers unlimited projects, storage, tasks, and users. If you need essential features to manage projects, its free version is a great option.

14. Plaky

For a Holistic View of Tasks and Resources, All in One Place

Plaky is a free project management software that comes in handy if you want visual and simple software. You can track the team’s productivity with task management, get notifications on updates, and view the project’s status in a centralized place. 

Features:

• Boards: You can have a dedicated space for every project.
• Templates: Use templates to create Boards on the fly.
• Group: You can easily group tasks into sections and create an item for each task.
• Files and Comments: Share task-related information using documents and comment directly within items.

What do you get in the free version:

• Unlimited boards, items, and views
• Summary row
• 6 fields per board
• Member and admin user roles
• 10MB storage per file
• 7 days activity log
• Google & Apple SSO

Who should use it?

Plaky is ideal for teams who want to get their hands on essential project management features for free.

Why I picked this tool?

It is an extremely flexible and highly customizable tool that project managers and team leads can use to streamline workflows for HR, marketing, sales, etc.

15. TeamGantt

A Flexible and Easy-to-Use Gantt Chart-based Free Project Management Software

TeamGantt is great for managing smaller projects. It is also well-suited for students. Given its visual nature and drag-and-drop interface, everyone can use the software. The tool comes power-packed with plenty of project manager-friendly features such as Dependencies, Portfolio Views, Workloads, Calendars, and more.

Features:

• Intuitive Gantt Chart: The tool’s Gantt charts are interactive. So the team can understand the data easily and work with greater clarity.
• Resource management: You can allocate resources efficiently, invite guests to your projects, and view team workloads all in one place.
• Built-in collaboration: You can collaborate with unlimited collaborators and share files.

What do you get in the free version:

• One manager (plus 2 collaborators)
• 1 project
• 60 tasks

Who should use it?

A secure online Gantt chart software like TeamGantt is best suited if you demand better collaboration with clients and teammates in real time. You can also set permissions to control who can edit tasks.

Why I picked this tool?

We selected TeamGantt because it is an elegant and simple collaborative project management tool.

16. Teamwork

For Simplifying Work and Streamlining Workflows from Day One

Teamwork is a robust free project management platform that offers multiple views, such as List, Kanban, and Gantt charts. This allows the tool to cater to different project management styles.

Features:

• Task Views: Choose from List, Kanban, or Gantt chart options to match your project management style.
• Integration: It seamlessly integrates with tools such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Slack to supercharge your workflow.
• Centralized communication: You can drive centralized discussions, share files at the moment, and leverage feedback tools at your fingertips.

What do you get in the free version:

• Project Management Essentials
• Client Work Foundations
• Key Integrations

Who should use it?

Teamwork Desk makes team communication easy. Plus, its seamless integrations with popular tools allow you to get more done without wasting time on learning how to operate new tools.

Why I picked this tool?

We picked Teamwork.com because it’s a top cloud-based project management tool that adapts to your preferred working style. You can use List, Chart, or Board views to organize projects and tasks granularly.

How to Find the Best Free Project Management Software Options

Are you curious about how to find the best free project management software? Keep reading. You can follow these steps to narrow down on a relevant and suitable choice.

Step 1: Narrow Down Your Project Lists

The first thing you’ll need to assess is understanding the kind of projects your organization deals with. Make sure to look at the current pain points and obstacles. By categorizing these projects, you’ll have a better understanding of the best tool to use to augment your team’s efforts and how the software will impact your project process in the long run.

Step 2: Ask for Input from Your Team

This step is incredibly important. Remember that your team members will ultimately be using the free project management software, so their opinions must have a seat at the executive’s table. So, collaborate and take input and feedback from your team to understand what’s working (and what’s not) and focus on collecting your team’s specific needs.

Step 3: Evaluate the Features You Need

An extension of the previous step, make a list of the top must-have features you need within the tool. Do you want to track your team member’s time in a better manner? Are you struggling with getting real-time visibility into resource availability?

Do you need a tool that offers free project management apps? Do you want to visualize your project roadmap and deliverables? By factoring in your project (and business) end goals, you can get a clearer understanding of the key features you need. 

Step 4: Understand Your Team Size

Another step that’s often missed is analyzing your organization’s team size. The project management software you choose must be able to sufficiently address all your active team member’s concerns. So, make sure to analyze your team size before you hit the buy button.

Step 5: Focus on the User Experience

Finally, do not follow the latest fad and invest in an increasingly complex product that no one understands (and, by extension, can use). If the tool has a steep learning curve, your team members are more likely to jump ship and avoid using it altogether. So, focus on investing in a tool that offers a simple, easy-to-use user interface to ensure widespread and seamless adoption.

Read also: Best agile project management software

What Are the Benefits of Free Project Management Software?

A free project management software on your side has multiple benefits:

• Get things done smoothly: You get to organize tasks and track progress so that deadlines are met and everyone’s on the same page.
• Boost teamwork: Some tools offer useful features, such as the ability to share calendars and documents and drive team chats, for a more collaborative work environment. Team members can communicate and share their ideas in real-time without meeting in person.
• Save time and effort: You can automate repetitive tasks and enable the team to focus on higher-priority tasks.
• Keep everyone accountable: Most tools allow you to clearly define task goals and expectations. This way, everyone takes ownership of their work and improves the quality as well as speed of the project outcome.
• Manage your time better: To improve time management, schedule and prioritize tasks and prioritize those that add the most value.
• Have all information in one place: You can store and share sensitive data without losing it when things get chaotic.

Final Thoughts 

Here’s a guide to finding the right task management software, construction management software, or program management software for your needs. When looking for free project management apps, remember that each organization has unique requirements. What works for one may not suit another.

Next time you’re Googling “free project management software,” explore this curated list of the 16 top-notch free tools for managing projects. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach when selecting your all-in-one project management software. Instead, dive deep into your organization’s specific needs to choose a custom tool that enhances productivity, profitability, and personalization in delivering your projects.

FAQs

How Can I Track My Project Progress for Free?

There are numerous free project management software you can leverage to track your project progress, deadlines, and milestones. Some of these include Nifty, Hive, Zoho Projects, Trello, ClickUp, Asana, Wrike, Monday.com, nTask, and GoodDay.

How Do You Evaluate a Project Management Tool?

Evaluating a project management software typically comprises the following process:

• Step 1: Start by outlining your business needs and project goals.
• Step 2: Look for the must-have features as mandated by your team members and stakeholders. Collaborate to understand the best features your business needs.
• Step 3: Determine the cost of the software basis your budget.
• Step 4: Test at least two to three software options by trying a demo or a free trial to see if it is a good fit for your business.

How Can I Manage Multiple Projects for Free?

There are numerous strategies you can leverage to juggle multiple projects at a time:

1. Invest in robust free project management software, which will help you to prioritize the most important projects.
2. Leverage advanced productivity-friendly features such as time tracking, task management, resource management, etc., to streamline your workload.
3. Delegate the tasks and sub-tasks accurately and stay on top of your project deadlines.
4. Keep tracking your project progress and work in an organized, data-informed manner.
5. You can also make use of insightful reports to get project status updates and progress to pivot as needed and drive your projects to success.

Is Free Project Management Software Really Free?

Yes. Typically speaking, most tools have a free plan making them free project management software that is actually free and can be used by users.

That said, note that in some cases, the free plans may offer limited features. You may need to upgrade to a paid plan to get access to advanced capabilities and drive better project management.