Best Project Management Software in 2026: 12 tools compared
This page covers the best project management software for different needs: small teams that want a calm shared to-do list, agencies that bill clients by the hour, software groups running sprints, and larger companies that need portfolio views. Each of the twelve tools below is described with its strengths, its limits and the kind of team it suits best.
We compared the tools on how well they fit real teams, which task views and automation they offer, how easy they are to set up, and how transparent the pricing is. Because the sticker price rarely tells the whole story, the page also shows what each project management tool really costs as your team grows.
Top picks at a glance
- Best free plan for growing teams
ClickUpClickUp offers a free tier with unlimited members and a broad feature set that can replace several separate apps for small and mid-size teams.
$9 per user/month billed annually (Core; regular $12) - Best for small teams that want flat pricing
BasecampBasecamp charges a flat monthly fee instead of per seat and bundles message boards, to-dos, chat, scheduling and file storage.
Free (3 users, 1 project); Freelancer $29 per month - Best for software teams
JiraJira is built for agile sprints and backlogs, offers highly customizable workflows, and is free for up to 10 users.
Free up to 10 users; Standard about $8.48 per user per month (monthly, list) - Best for agencies and client work
TeamworkTeamwork includes a built-in timer, billable and cost rates, budgets, a workload planner and profitability reports for teams that bill client projects.
Free (up to 5 users); Basics $9.99 per user per month billed annually - Easiest to set up
TrelloTrello keeps a simple card-based Kanban board with minimal setup, and its free plan covers up to 10 collaborators per Workspace.
$5 per user per month billed annually (Standard) - Best value for Gantt and timesheets
Zoho ProjectsZoho Projects combines Gantt charts with dependencies, timesheets, budgets and workload checks, and starts with a free tier for up to 5 users.
Free (3 projects, up to 5 users); Premium $4 per user per month billed annually (third-party)
What is project management software?
Project management software is the shared workspace where a team plans work, hands out tasks, tracks deadlines and sees how far a project has come. Day to day, people use it to break a goal into tasks, assign owners, set due dates, comment on work and check status without chasing colleagues. Project managers, marketing teams, agencies, IT groups and operations staff all rely on it. The core capabilities that define the category are task lists, Kanban boards, Gantt timelines, time tracking, workload planning and reporting. Simple tools stop at a task board, while larger suites add portfolios and resource management.
Project Management Software compared
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClickUp | Best free plan for growing teams. | $9 per user/month billed annually (Core; regular $12) | Free plan |
| Basecamp | Best for small teams that want flat pricing. | Free (3 users, 1 project); Freelancer $29 per month | Free plan, Free trial |
| Jira | Best for software teams. | Free up to 10 users; Standard about $8.48 per user per month (monthly, list) | Free plan |
| Teamwork | Best for agencies and client work. | Free (up to 5 users); Basics $9.99 per user per month billed annually | Free plan, Free trial |
| Trello | Easiest to set up. | $5 per user per month billed annually (Standard) | Free plan |
| Zoho Projects | Best value for Gantt and timesheets. | Free (3 projects, up to 5 users); Premium $4 per user per month billed annually (third-party) | Free plan, Free trial |
 Smartsheet | Teams used to spreadsheets who want structured project tracking. | About $9 per member/month billed yearly (Pro; estimate, the vendor does not clearly label monthly vs yearly prices) | Free trial |
 monday.com | Small and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations. | $9 per seat/month billed annually (Basic), min. 3 seats | Free plan, Free trial |
 Asana | Cross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier. | $10.99 per user/month billed annually (Starter) | Free plan |
 Notion | Startups and small teams combining wiki and project tracking. | Free; Plus $10 per member per month billed annually | Free plan |
 Wrike | Mid-size teams running cross-functional projects with approvals. | $10 per user/month billed annually (Team) | Free plan, Free trial |
 Microsoft Project | Microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs. | Not confirmed by Microsoft; third parties list Project Plan 3 at about $30 per user per month | No |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 12 best project management software in 2026
Best free plan for growing teams
ClickUp
All-in-one work management platform with tasks, docs, whiteboards and AI credits, sold per user with a free tier.
ClickUp is an all-in-one work management platform with tasks, docs, whiteboards and AI credits, sold per user with a free tier. It suits small and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool and are comfortable setting up custom fields and automations.
- Best for
- Small and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps.
- Company size
- Free tier to enterprise; Enterprise and Max for large orgs.
Key features
- Workflow automation
- 1K automations/month on Core, 10K on Business (pricing page)
- Time tracking and budgets
- Timesheets listed from Business plan.
Pros
- Very flexible way to organize tasks.
- Broad feature set in one place.
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- Some features restricted on lower plans.
- Slow loading and unintuitive interface for some.
Pricing: $9 per user/month billed annually (Core; regular $12) · Free plan
Best for small teams that want flat pricing
Basecamp
Flat-price project tool from 37signals that bundles message boards, to-dos, chat, scheduling and file storage instead of charging per seat.
Basecamp is a project tool from 37signals that bundles message boards, to-dos, chat, scheduling and file storage under flat pricing. It stands out for its calm, async style of working, though it lacks detailed Gantt charts and advanced reporting.
- Best for
- Small teams or agencies that prefer flat pricing over per-seat.
- Company size
- Small teams; 20+ users require Pro Unlimited.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- To-dos, Card Tables (Kanban style), scheduling; Gantt-style timeline not listed.
- Workflow automation
- Automatic check-ins only; no rule-based automation listed.
- Time tracking and budgets
- Listed in plan features; availability on Freelancer and Pro is unclear on the vendor's pricing page.
- Reporting and dashboards
- Reports and automatic check-ins on all plans.
Pros
- Calm, straightforward interface.
- Easy setup and admin (G2 sub-scores 8.6 to 8.7)
- Flat pricing is predictable.
Cons
- Lacks advanced features such as detailed Gantt charts.
- Support scores trail some competitors (8.4 on G2)
Pricing: Free (3 users, 1 project); Freelancer $29 per month · Free plan, Free trial
Best for software teams
Jira
Atlassian's issue and project tracker, built for software teams and configurable enough to run general work management at scale.
Jira is Atlassian's issue and project tracker, built for software teams and flexible enough to run general work at scale. It offers boards, backlog, timeline and calendar views, deep workflow customization and a free plan for up to 10 users.
- Best for
- Software and IT teams running agile sprints and backlogs.
- Company size
- Free for up to 10 users; plans scale to 100,000 users.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- Boards, backlog, list, timeline and calendar views (not confirmed by the vendor)
- Workflow automation
- Automation steps per plan: 150 per subscription Free, 400 per user/month Standard, 750 Premium, 1,000 Enterprise.
Pros
- Highly customizable workflows.
- Strong integrations and ecosystem.
- Good for team collaboration on software work.
Cons
- Steep learning curve.
- Setup is harder than simpler tools (G2 ease of setup around 7.6)
Pricing: Free up to 10 users; Standard about $8.48 per user per month (monthly, list) · Free plan
Best for agencies and client work
Teamwork
Project management built for agencies and client-services teams, with built-in time tracking, budgets and profitability reports, priced per user.
Teamwork is project management built for agencies and client-services teams. It stands out with built-in time tracking, budgets, a workload planner and real-time profitability reports, priced per user with a free tier for up to 5 users.
- Best for
- Agencies and professional services teams billing client work.
- Company size
- Agencies, consulting and professional services.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- Real-time project health views; list, board and Gantt views not confirmed.
- Workflow automation
- AI Project Wizard and AI Teammates.
- Workload and resource management
- Workload Planner and AI utilization summaries.
- Time tracking and budgets
- Built-in timer, timesheet reminders, per-project billable and cost rates and budgets.
Pros
- Task management and client-work features praised in G2 sub-scores (support 8.8, task management 9.1, AI-generated summaries)
Cons
- Ease of use sub-score 8.5, lower than support.
Pricing: Free (up to 5 users); Basics $9.99 per user per month billed annually · Free plan, Free trial
Easiest to set up
Trello
Card-based Kanban board tool from Atlassian that stays simple for small teams and adds timeline, calendar and dashboard views on paid plans.
Trello is Atlassian's card-based Kanban board tool that stays simple for small teams. Paid plans add timeline, calendar, table and dashboard views, while time tracking needs a third-party Power-Up and resource management is not built in.
- Best for
- Small teams that want a visual Kanban board with minimal setup.
- Company size
- Small teams and departments; Enterprise tier for larger orgs.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- Board view on all plans; Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views on Premium and up.
- Workflow automation
- Built-in automation on every board; 250 command runs per month Free, 1,000 Standard, unlimited Premium and Enterprise.
- Time tracking and budgets
- No native time tracking listed on the pricing page; third-party Power-Ups needed (G2 reviewers also mention this)
- Reporting and dashboards
- Dashboard view on Premium and Enterprise.
Pros
- Very easy to set up and learn.
- Clean drag-and-drop boards suit simple workflows.
- Generous free tier.
Cons
- No native time tracking.
- Struggles with large volumes of tasks and many team members.
- Some Power-Ups are limited or cost extra.
Pricing: $5 per user per month billed annually (Standard) · Free plan
Best value for Gantt and timesheets
Zoho Projects
Low-priced project management from Zoho with Gantt, timesheets and budgeting, tied into the wider Zoho suite.
Zoho Projects is a low-priced project tool with Gantt charts, timesheets and budgeting, tied into the wider Zoho suite. It offers workload checks, portfolio dashboards and importers for Microsoft Project, Jira and Basecamp.
- Best for
- Small teams already using Zoho apps.
- Company size
- Small and mid-size teams.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- List, simple list, Kanban and Gantt with dependencies, critical path and baselines.
- Workflow automation
- Blueprints, business rules, workflow rules, webhooks, SLAs, custom functions; 5,000 runs/month on Premium.
- Workload and resource management
- Workload check while assigning, planned vs actual hours per user.
- Time tracking and budgets
- Manual or timer, approvals, planned vs actual budgets, earned value.
Pros
- Feature depth for the price (G2 summaries)
- Drag-and-drop scheduling and task prioritization.
Cons
- Interface and learning curve.
- Support scores lower than some competitors (G2 summaries)
Pricing: Free (3 projects, up to 5 users); Premium $4 per user per month billed annually (third-party) · Free plan, Free trial
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style work management platform with sheets, automation and enterprise governance, sold per member.
Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-style work management platform with sheets, automation and enterprise governance, sold per member. It fits teams that already think in spreadsheets and mid-size to large organizations that need SAML SSO and regional hosting.
- Best for
- Teams used to spreadsheets who want structured project tracking.
- Company size
- Pro 1 to 10 members; Business 3+; Enterprise 10+.
Key features
- Workload and resource management
- Resource Management is a paid add-on on Business and Enterprise.
- Integrations
- Directory integrations on Enterprise; Bridge is Enterprise add-on.
Pros
- Good team collaboration and tracking.
- Strong automation options.
- Versatile for many project types.
Cons
- Steep learning curve, especially formulas.
- Expensive.
- Slow performance and Excel-like limits.
Pricing: About $9 per member/month billed yearly (Pro; estimate, the vendor does not clearly label monthly vs yearly prices) · Free trial
monday.com
Board-based work management platform with a 3-seat minimum on paid plans and quote-based pricing above 40 users.
monday.com is a board-based work management platform with customizable boards and many automations. Paid plans start at 3 seats, pricing above 40 users is quote-based, and data hosting is available in the US, Germany or Australia.
- Best for
- Small and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations.
- Company size
- G2 Learn article reports 63% small business, 29% mid-market, 8% enterprise users.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- Timeline/Gantt and calendar from Standard.
- Workflow automation
- 250 actions/month Standard, 25,000 Pro, 250,000 Enterprise.
- Workload and resource management
- Portfolio and resource management on Enterprise.
- Time tracking and budgets
- Time tracking on Pro.
Cons
- Reviewers often cite price as the main drawback.
Pricing: $9 per seat/month billed annually (Basic), min. 3 seats · Free plan, Free trial
Asana
Work management platform with list, board, timeline and Gantt views, where resource management and portfolios start at the Advanced tier.
Asana is a work management platform with list, board, timeline and Gantt views. It stands out for unlimited automations from the Starter tier, while resource management and portfolios begin at the Advanced tier.
- Best for
- Cross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
- Company size
- Small teams to enterprise.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- List, board, calendar on Personal; timeline and Gantt from Starter.
- Workflow automation
- Unlimited automations from Starter.
- Workload and resource management
- Resource management within portfolios on Advanced; organization-wide on Enterprise.
- Time tracking and budgets
- Timesheets and Budgets add-on on Starter; time tracking comparing estimated vs actual effort on Advanced.
Best for
- Cross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
- Companies needing EU, Australia or Japan data hosting (Enterprise add-on)
Not ideal for
- Teams needing SAML SSO or audit logs below Enterprise.
- Very small groups that need more than 2 users free.
Pricing: $10.99 per user/month billed annually (Starter) · Free plan
Notion
All-in-one workspace for wikis, docs and lightweight project databases, priced per member with SSO starting on Business.
Notion is an all-in-one workspace for wikis, docs and lightweight project databases, priced per member. It suits startups that want project tracking and documentation in one place, but it has no time tracking or workload planning.
- Best for
- Startups and small teams combining wiki and project tracking.
- Company size
- Two-thirds of G2 reviews from small business; Enterprise tier for large orgs.
Key features
- Task views and planning
- Timeline, calendar and board views; dependencies.
- Workflow automation
- Automations for task flows and database entries.
- Reporting and dashboards
- Dashboards with charts from multiple sources.
- Integrations
- Slack, GitHub, Jira embeds.
Pros
- Flexibility to build docs, wikis and databases.
- Strong product direction (G2 sub-score 9.4)
Cons
- Learning curve (ease of use 8.3, lowest sub-score)
- Gaps for time tracking and resource planning.
Pricing: Free; Plus $10 per member per month billed annually · Free plan
Wrike
Work management platform for cross-team projects with tiered plans from a free tier up to custom enterprise packages.
Wrike is a work management platform for cross-team projects, with plans from a free tier up to custom enterprise packages. It suits mid-size teams that run approvals across departments, and it offers EU hosting in Paris.
- Best for
- Mid-size teams running cross-functional projects with approvals.
- Company size
- Team 2 to 15 users; Business 5 to 200; Pinnacle and Apex for larger orgs.
Key features
- Integrations
- Wrike Integrate and Two-Way Sync (22 systems) are add-ons, included in Apex.
Pros
- Easy to use for day-to-day task handling.
Cons
- Steep learning curve.
- Interface feels unintuitive.
- Notification issues and missing features reported by third-party reviews.
Pricing: $10 per user/month billed annually (Team) · Free plan, Free trial
Microsoft Project
Microsoft's scheduling and project portfolio product, sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Microsoft Project is Microsoft's scheduling and portfolio product, sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It is aimed at organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs rather than small teams that only want a simple board.
- Best for
- Microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs.
Best for
- Microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs.
Not ideal for
- Small teams wanting a simple board without Microsoft licensing.
Pricing: Not confirmed by Microsoft; third parties list Project Plan 3 at about $30 per user per month
How to choose the best project management software
The right project management software is the one your team will actually open every day. Start by writing down how your work flows: whether people think in lists, boards or timelines, whether you bill clients by the hour, and how many projects share the same people. Then check each tool against the criteria below, run a real project through two or three finalists, and ask which plan unlocks the features you need.
Task views and planning
Task views decide whether a team can plan work the way it already thinks. Kanban boards suit steady flows of small tasks, lists work for checklists, calendars show deadlines and Gantt or timeline views show dependencies between steps. Strong tools offer several views of the same data, while weaker ones lock you into one. Check which views sit on the free plan, since some tools reserve timelines for paid tiers.
- Basecamp: To-dos, Card Tables (Kanban style), scheduling; Gantt-style timeline not listed.
- Jira: Boards, backlog, list, timeline and calendar views (not confirmed by the vendor)
- Teamwork: Real-time project health views; list, board and Gantt views not confirmed.
- Trello: Board view on all plans; Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views on Premium and up.
- Zoho Projects: List, simple list, Kanban and Gantt with dependencies, critical path and baselines.
Workflow automation
Automation handles repetitive work such as status changes, assignments, reminders and handoffs between teams. Strong tools let you build rules from templates without code and apply them across many projects. Weaker tools offer only reminders or check-ins. Look at how many automation runs each plan includes, because run limits can cap a busy team.
- ClickUp: 1K automations/month on Core, 10K on Business (pricing page)
- Basecamp: Automatic check-ins only; no rule-based automation listed.
- Jira: Automation steps per plan: 150 per subscription Free, 400 per user/month Standard, 750 Premium, 1,000 Enterprise.
- Teamwork: AI Project Wizard and AI Teammates.
- Trello: Built-in automation on every board; 250 command runs per month Free, 1,000 Standard, unlimited Premium and Enterprise.
Workload and resource management
Resource management shows who is overbooked and who has room, which matters once several projects compete for the same people. A good tool compares planned against actual hours per person and shows workload before you assign a task. Many simpler tools skip this entirely, and others reserve it for upper tiers or paid add-ons.
- Teamwork: Workload Planner and AI utilization summaries.
- Zoho Projects: Workload check while assigning, planned vs actual hours per user.
- Smartsheet: Resource Management is a paid add-on on Business and Enterprise.
- monday.com: Portfolio and resource management on Enterprise.
- Asana: Resource management within portfolios on Advanced; organization-wide on Enterprise.
Time tracking and budgets
Time tracking records the hours spent on each task so agencies and service teams can bill clients and compare effort against budget. Strong tools offer a timer, timesheets, approvals and billable or cost rates tied to project budgets. Weak ones rely on third-party add-ons. Check which plan includes it before you commit.
- ClickUp: Timesheets listed from Business plan.
- Basecamp: Listed in plan features; availability on Freelancer and Pro is unclear on the vendor's pricing page.
- Teamwork: Built-in timer, timesheet reminders, per-project billable and cost rates and budgets.
- Trello: No native time tracking listed on the pricing page; third-party Power-Ups needed (G2 reviewers also mention this)
- Zoho Projects: Manual or timer, approvals, planned vs actual budgets, earned value.
Reporting and dashboards
Reporting and dashboards give managers a status view across projects without asking for updates. Strong tools show progress, workload and budget in live dashboards and let you roll several projects into a portfolio. Weaker tools offer only simple task lists or check-ins. Look at whether portfolio views are included on the plan you would buy.
- Basecamp: Reports and automatic check-ins on all plans.
- Teamwork: Real-time profitability reports.
- Trello: Dashboard view on Premium and Enterprise.
- Zoho Projects: Project and portfolio dashboards; Zoho Analytics with 50+ prebuilt reports.
- Asana: Portfolios and goals on Advanced.
Integrations
Integrations connect the tool to the apps your team already uses, such as Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, GitHub and your CRM. Strong tools offer native connectors plus a way to link others through automation platforms, while weaker ones leave you copying data by hand. Confirm that the specific apps you rely on are supported and not locked to a higher plan.
- Teamwork: 150+ listed in site navigation; MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot.
- Trello: Unlimited Power-Ups per board; page cites 200+ apps.
- Zoho Projects: 32 listed integrations plus Zapier and Zoho Flow; importers for Microsoft Project, Jira, Basecamp.
- Smartsheet: Directory integrations on Enterprise; Bridge is Enterprise add-on.
- monday.com: 250 integration actions/month Standard, 25,000 Pro.
Pricing model and real cost
Project management tools charge per user, per plan with a user cap, or per seat with a minimum. Add-ons such as extra automation runs, AI credits or resource management can change the final bill. Compare the price at your current team size and at double that size, and check whether billing is monthly or annual.
- ClickUp: Per user per month, workspace-wide upgrade; AI credits pooled, extra 10,000 credits for $10.
- Basecamp: Flat monthly fee per plan, user count capped by plan (3/5/10/15/unlimited)
- Jira: Per user per month with volume tiers; Free up to 10 users.
- Teamwork: Per user per month; seat minimums of 3 (Basics) and 5 (Accelerate)
- Trello: Per user per month; Free plan capped at 10 collaborators per Workspace.
Target company size
Tools built for a 10 person team and for a 1,000 person company differ in admin controls, support and plan tiers. Small teams need quick setup and low overhead, while larger companies need single sign-on, audit logs and governance. Pick a tool aimed at your current size with a clear path to the next one.
- ClickUp: Free tier to enterprise; Enterprise and Max for large orgs.
- Basecamp: Small teams; 20+ users require Pro Unlimited.
- Jira: Free for up to 10 users; plans scale to 100,000 users.
- Teamwork: Agencies, consulting and professional services.
- Trello: Small teams and departments; Enterprise tier for larger orgs.
What project management software really costs
Features decide the shortlist; the bill decides whether it stays affordable as the team grows. The numbers below come from each vendor's published plans: entry prices, how far plans climb, what single sign-on costs extra and which fees sit on top.
- Median entry price
- $9
- Publish their prices
- 12 of 12
- Free plans
- 10 of 12
- Biggest price climb
- 6.9x
per user per month, cheapest paid plan of each tool
every vendor shows a price
plus 1 free trials
Basecamp, $29 to $199
What project management software costs per year for your size
For 20 users on the cheapest plan that fits, Zoho Projects costs $960 a year and Wrike $6,000. Pick your own size: the order changes because free plans end, plans have user caps and per-user prices multiply differently.
| # | Tool | Plan and price basis | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoho Projects | Premium$4 per user per month | $960 |
| 2 | Trello | Standard$5 per user per month | $1,200 |
| 3 | Jira | Standard$8.48 per user per month | $2,035 |
| 4 | ClickUp | Core$9 per user per month | $2,160 |
| 5 | monday.com | Basic$9 per user per month | $2,160 |
| 6 | Basecamp | Pro Unlimited$199 per month, flat | $2,388 |
| 7 | Teamwork | Basics$9.99 per user per month | $2,398 |
| 8 | Notion | Plus$10 per user per month | $2,400 |
| 9 | Microsoft Project | Planner Plan 1$10 per user per month | $2,400 |
| 10 | Asana | Starter$10.99 per user per month | $2,638 |
| 11 | Smartsheet | Business$19 per user per month | $4,560 |
| 12 | Wrike | Business$25 per user per month | $6,000 |
List prices per month as published on October 24, 2026, billed annually where the vendor shows both, promotions excluded. Full feature plan adds one-time onboarding fees in year one.
How far each price can climb
The entry price is rarely what you pay once the team needs more. Each line runs from a tool's cheapest paid plan to its most expensive published plan. Basecamp grows 6.9x from $29 to $199, Trello 3.5x.
- BasecampFreelancer $29 to Pro Unlimited $199 per month6.9x
- TrelloStandard $5 to Enterprise $17.5 per user per month3.5x
- Zoho ProjectsPremium $4 to Ultimate $14 per user per month3.5x
- Microsoft ProjectPlanner Plan 1 $10 to Project Plan 3 $30 per user per month3x
- TeamworkBasics $9.99 to Accelerate $24.99 per user per month2.5x
- WrikeTeam $10 to Business $25 per user per month2.5x
- AsanaStarter $10.99 to Advanced $24.99 per user per month2.3x
- SmartsheetPro $9 to Business $19 per user per month2.1x
- monday.comBasic $9 to Pro $19 per user per month2.1x
- NotionPlus $10 to Business $20 per user per month2x
- ClickUpCore $9 to Business $17 per user per month1.9x
- JiraStandard $8.48 to Premium $15.56 per user per month1.8x
Published plan prices only; quote-only plans are not on the scale. The scale is logarithmic so cheap and expensive tools fit on one line.
The price of single sign-on
If IT requires SAML single sign-on, the plan that includes it sets your real price, not the entry plan. 3 of the 8 tools that say where SSO sits charge more for it; 4 of 12 publish nothing about SSO, so ask before you budget.
- Zoho Projects+$5per user per month: SAML SSO needs Enterprise ($9) instead of Premium ($4), $1,200 a year for 20 users.
- Notion+$10per user per month: SAML SSO needs Business ($20) instead of Plus ($10), $2,400 a year for 20 users.
- Trello+$12.5per user per month: SAML SSO needs Enterprise ($17.5) instead of Standard ($5), $3,000 a year for 20 users.
- ClickUpAskSAML SSO sits on Enterprise, which is quote only.
- JiraAskSAML SSO sits on Enterprise, which is quote only.
- TeamworkAskSAML SSO sits on Enterprise, which is quote only.
- SmartsheetAskSAML SSO sits on Enterprise, which is quote only.
- AsanaAskSAML SSO sits on Enterprise, which is quote only.
How project management pricing works
Project management pricing looks simple on the page: a price per user per month, a free plan and an enterprise option. The bill is shaped by billing period, user minimums, feature gating and add-ons. Teams that compare only the entry tier are often surprised when they need automation, timelines or single sign-on. Understanding the main pricing models helps you estimate the cost for your team and avoid paying for seats and tiers you do not need.
Per user per month with annual billing
This is the most common model. The advertised price usually assumes annual commitment, and monthly billing costs more, so check which price you are looking at.
Flat pricing for the whole team
A few tools charge a flat amount regardless of seat count within a limit. For larger teams this can be much cheaper than per-user plans, although features may be simpler.
Minimum seats and user caps
Some plans require a minimum number of seats, while others cap the number of users on a tier. Both change the real price, so compare at your headcount.
Security and admin add-ons
Single sign-on and user provisioning may require an enterprise plan or a separate subscription. Across this list, a security add-on for non-enterprise plans is sold per user by one vendor.
AI, modules and extra products
AI credits, whiteboards, resource modules and help desk products are often priced separately. These can add up if every user gets them.
Costs that are easy to miss
Add-ons, usage fees and premium modules often decide the real bill. These are the paid extras the vendors list themselves.
- ClickUpAI Super Credits $10 per 10,000 credits; Certified Agents (custom); ClickUp Assist 2 hours/month expert time (price not listed)
- BasecampExtra 1 TB storage on Pro Unlimited: $50 per month
- JiraAtlassian Guard Standard for SSO/SCIM on non-Enterprise plans (price not listed); Marketplace apps
- TeamworkTeamwork Desk sold separately (Starter $9.50, Pro $17, Premium $33 per user per month annual); Dotty AI for Desk $69 per month per installation; TeamworkAI usage credits from November 2026
- TrelloAtlassian Guard for SSO on Standard/Premium, from $4 per user per month; Some partner Power-Ups carry separate fees
- Zoho ProjectsResources add-on (Enterprise); Lite users (Ultimate)
- SmartsheetResource Management; Dynamic View from $125/month; Data Shuttle from $100/month
- AsanaTimesheets & Budgets (Starter, price not published); AI requests $0.50 prepaid / $0.60 pay-as-you-go; Data residency (Enterprise, price not published)
Our recommendation
Choose the tool that matches how your team already works: Basecamp or Trello for simple coordination, Jira for software sprints, Teamwork or Zoho Projects for client billing, and ClickUp or Asana when you need many views and automation. Run one real project through your top two before you decide. To keep costs under control, price the plan at double your current team size and check which features sit behind higher tiers.
Project Management Software: frequently asked questions
What is project management software?
Project management software is a shared workspace where teams plan work, assign tasks, track deadlines and see progress. Typical building blocks are task lists, Kanban boards, Gantt timelines, time tracking and reporting. Tools range from simple task boards to full portfolio and resource management suites.
What is the best project management software for small business?
For small teams, Basecamp, Trello, Zoho Projects and ClickUp are strong starting points. Basecamp offers flat pricing, Trello is the simplest board, Zoho Projects adds Gantt and timesheets at a low price, and ClickUp combines many features with a free tier.
What is the best free project management software?
ClickUp's free plan allows unlimited members, Jira is free for up to 10 users, and Trello's free plan supports 10 collaborators per Workspace. Zoho Projects and Teamwork each offer free tiers for up to 5 users, and Basecamp has a free plan for 3 users and 1 project.
What features should project management software have?
At minimum it should offer task assignment, due dates, several task views, comments and basic reporting. Depending on your work, add automation, time tracking, workload planning and integrations with the tools you already use.
How much does project management software cost per user?
Paid plans listed here start around $4 to $11 per user per month when billed annually, with Zoho Projects, Trello and ClickUp at the low end and Asana at $10.99. Basecamp uses flat pricing instead of per-user fees, and add-ons can raise the final bill.
What do project management software cost for a team of 20?
Calculated from published list prices: ClickUp: 20 x $17 x 12 = $4,080/year at listed annual price ($6,000 at the $25 regular price); Basecamp: Pro Unlimited annual: $199 x 12 = $2,388 per year; billed monthly: $329 x 12 = $3,948 per year; Jira: Standard monthly list: 20 x $8.48 x 12 = $2,035.20 per year; annual about 10 x monthly = about $1,696 (not confirmed by the vendor); Teamwork: Basics: 20 x $9.99 x 12 = $2,397.60 per year; Accelerate: 20 x $24.99 x 12 = $5,997.60 per year; Trello: Standard: 20 x $5 x 12 = $1,200 per year; Premium: 20 x $10 x 12 = $2,400 per year (annual billing); Zoho Projects: Premium: 20 x $4 x 12 = $960 per year; Enterprise: 20 x $9 x 12 = $2,160 per year (third-party prices). Tools that quote on request are not included.
Which project management software have a free plan or free trial?
ClickUp (free plan), Basecamp (free plan, free trial), Jira (free plan), Teamwork (free plan, free trial), Trello (free plan), Zoho Projects (free plan, free trial), Smartsheet (free trial), monday.com (free plan, free trial), Asana (free plan), Notion (free plan) and Wrike (free plan, free trial), according to the vendors' sites on October 24, 2026.