Best Project Management Software for Small Businesses

Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) need to stay efficient and organized. With tight budgets and small teams, the right project management tools are important. These tools help with task tracking and handle collaboration. For SMBs, it's important to find ways to save money when possible. One of the better ways to do it is to find a tool that saves you time and increases productivity. Below, we explore top tools that can improve your team's workflow and support steady business growth.

How to Choose a Project Management Software for Small Businesses

SMBs can benefit from project management tools that are easy to use and support teamwork. Before you make a decision, consider these features:

• Ease of Use: Tools that don't need much training.
• Team Collaboration: Features that keep everyone in the loop.
• Scalability: Software that grows with your business.
• Budget-Friendly: Affordable solutions with the right features.
• Integrations: Tools that connect with your existing systems.
• Support and Customer Service: Reliable support when issues come up.

List of Project Management Tools for Small Businesses

Here are the best project management tools for small businesses in 2024 to improve collaboration, handle projects, and simplify tasks:

• Breeze
• Trello
• Monday.com
• ClickUp
• Asana
• Smartsheet
• Notion
• Basecamp
• Airtable
• Wrike
• Teamwork.com

1. Breeze

• Pricing: Simple pricing at $10 per user per month, with all features included. Save 10% with a yearly plan
• Rating: 4.4/5 on Capterra

Breeze is the best option for small businesses because it was made with simplicity in mind. It supports teams in tracking progress, organizing tasks, and meeting deadlines without unnecessary features or complex setups. Breeze is suitable for teams of 5-10 people. Key features include built-in chat and calendar integration, which help teams stay connected. Breeze also has time tracking and team workload management, giving small teams everything they need to stay on track.

Why Breeze is the Best Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Built-in Chat: Conversations with team members without leaving the platform, ensuring quick decision-making.
• Calendar Integration: Sync tasks and milestones with personal and team calendars to avoid missing deadlines.
• Time Tracking: Monitor work hours directly in Breeze, allowing accurate billing and understanding of where time is spent.
• Team Workload Management: Visualize each team member's workload to distribute tasks evenly and prevent burnout.
• Reporting and Insights: Create reports on project progress and team productivity.
• File Sharing: Share documents directly in tasks or chat to keep all resources in one place.

What People Think About Breeze:

“We're a client to a company that manages their workflow and breeze. the best feature is the visualization of "to-Do" items on the dashboard in different columns. This is a big help to manage our workflow with multiple teams.”

Source: Capterra

2. Trello

• Pricing: Free for basic use, with paid plans starting at $5 per user per month
• Rating: 4.5/5 on Capterra

Trello is a popular choice for SMBs with its visual Kanban boards that make task management simple. Small teams can create tasks, set deadlines, and prioritize work easily. Power-ups add functionality as project needs grow, making Trello an adaptable tool for both daily tasks and long-term projects.

Why Trello is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Visual Boards: Drag-and-drop cards provide a clear visual overview of tasks and progress.
• Collaboration: Team members and clients can easily interact on shared boards.
• Scalable: Integrations like time tracking or calendars adapt as your needs grow.
• User-Friendly: Trello’s easy-to-understand interface is suitable for SMBs that need to get started quickly without extensive training.

If you're interested in tools similar to Trello then we have made a list of Trello alternatives.

What People Think About Trello:

“Trello is a project management tool that makes collaboration simple and, I would say, even fun. The reality is that it serves almost everything, whether you are organizing projects at work, household chores, trips or anything else. Individual cards can contain task lists, images, attachments, delivery dates, color labels and comments from other people who share the board with you. You can have as many boards as you want, use one for "Overall, I'd recommend this product to anyone who is looking to get started on simple task tracking, especially within a team. Hoping the product will release more features, like the ones mentioned above.”

Source: Capterra

3. Monday.com

• Pricing: Starting at $9 per user per month
• Rating: 4.6/5 on Capterra

Monday.com supports SMBs to handle tasks, workflows, and projects flexibly. Its visual dashboards let small teams see project status at a glance. Automation features reduce manual tasks, giving team members more time to focus on important activities.

Why Monday is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Customizable Dashboards: Keep all project details in one central place.
• Automation: Set up automations to save time on routine tasks.
• Real-Time Updates: Share updates with clients and team members, keeping everyone aligned.
• Versatility: Adaptable features make it easy to tailor Monday.com to the specific needs of different departments or teams.

If you're interested in tools similar to Monday.com then we have made a list of Monday.com alternatives.

What People Think About Monday.com:

“Monday has streamlined our processes and given us a better understanding of each other's workloads, which is essential since our entire department is remote. We can quickly ask questions on specific tasks/projects, attach essential documentation, and collaborate at the touch of a button. For me, it's made life so much easier. I use it to create content calendars, social posts, and manage the various projects between our web development manager and myself. It was a game changer!”

Source: Capterra

4. ClickUp

• Pricing: Free for basic use, with premium plans starting at $9 per user per month
• Rating: 4.6/5 on Capterra

ClickUp is an adaptable tool to handle business tasks. It includes features like task management, time tracking, and communication, all in one place. This reduces the need for separate apps, helping small teams stay organized. Customizable workflows and built-in automations boost productivity without the complexity of multiple tools.

Why ClickUp is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• All-in-One Solution: Manage documents, tasks, and communication in one platform.
• Customizable Workflows: Flexible features let you set up processes that fit your team's needs.
• Templates: Use pre-built templates to save time and maintain consistency.
• Integration Capabilities: Connect ClickUp with popular tools like Slack and Google Drive for a seamless workflow.

If you're interested in tools similar to ClickUp then we have made a list of ClickUp alternatives.

What People Think About ClickUp:

“Our company primarily uses this product to coordinate our digital strategy, sales, and design teams to execute campaigns for our digital advertising clients. The ease of assigning tasks and updating the team members working on those projects has helped us to eliminate a lot of email clutter and unnecessary meetings. Employees can see live updates from others, be tagged in comments, and see upcoming deadlines without having to interrupt the workflow of another person. There is also a mobile version that some of our team uses. Tasks are searchable which is a huge plus for us as we offer a lot of different products to our clients.”

Source: Capterra

5. Asana

• Pricing: Free for basic use, premium features start at $10.99 per user per month
• Rating: 4.5/5 on Capterra

Asana supports SMBs handle tasks and deadlines easily. The visual timeline lets teams see the project progress, and the multiple project view keeps everything organized. Asana is flexible and easy to use, making it great for small teams managing multiple projects.

Why Asana is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Easy to Use: Asana’s design makes it accessible to everyone on your team.
• Multiple Projects: Manage different clients or teams without mixing up tasks.
• Visual Timelines: Stay on top of deadlines and track progress easily.
• Team Transparency: Assign tasks and provide visibility into project responsibilities for all team members.

If you're interested in tools similar to Asana then we have made a list of Asana alternatives.

What People Think About Asana:

“Overall I have had a great experience. I rarely need support so not really sure what to say there. The one thing I did ask for (working with Google Aliases) they refused to do, so I guess if you are good with their program as is, you will be fine. Just don't expect them to go above and beyond to work with you.”

Source: Capterra

6. Smartsheet

• Pricing: Starting at €11 per user per month, with advanced plans available for larger teams
• Rating: 4.5/5 on Capterra

Smartsheet combines a familiar spreadsheet layout with powerful project management features. It’s suitable for SMBs needing flexibility. Teams can handle projects, set deadlines, and collaborate easily. Resource allocation features help handle workloads and keep projects on track without overburdening anyone. Smartsheet is great for those who want project tracking without leaving a familiar environment.

Why Smartsheet is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Familiar Interface: Spreadsheet-like layout is easy to understand and use.
• Collaboration: Share sheets with your team and clients to stay informed.
• Automation: Set up automated reminders and status updates.
• Resource Management: Allocate team resources effectively and handle availability to avoid overburdening team members.

What People Think About Smartsheet:

“I also valued Smartsheet's robust reporting functionalities. The platform facilitated the generation of real-time reports, offering valuable insights into the advancement of projects, allocation of resources, and identification of potential bottlenecks. These reports played a crucial role in keeping stakeholders well-informed and facilitating data-driven decision-making.”

Source: Capterra

7. Notion

• Pricing: Free for personal use, with team plans starting at $10 per user per month
• Rating: 4.7/5 on Capterra

Notion combines project management and note-taking features, making it a good option for SMBs. Small teams can track tasks, store documents, and maintain knowledge bases. Customizable dashboards make it easy to adapt Notion to your project needs, creating an effective all-in-one solution.

Why Notion is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Customizable Layouts: Organize workspaces to match your project needs.
• All-in-One Platform: Manage tasks, notes, and documents in a single place.
• Collaboration: Invite team members to view and edit workspaces for seamless collaboration.
• Knowledge Management: Store and organize documents and information in an accessible way.

If you're interested in tools similar to Notion then we have made a list of Notion alternatives.

What People Think About Notion:

“I built a lot of different databases and dashboards and I have to say that it allows me each time to achieve 99% of what I wanted. I just regret that the AI feature is not included in our licence!”

Source: Capterra

8. Basecamp

• Pricing: Flat rate of $299 per month for unlimited users or $15 per user per month
• Rating: 4.3/5 on Capterra

Basecamp is a good option for SMBs needing a central platform for tasks, files, and communications. Its interface makes it accessible to all team members. Automatic check-ins keep everyone updated without the need for constant meetings. Basecamp reduces the number of tools needed.

Why Basecamp is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• All-in-One Platform: Manage tasks, files, and communication in one tool.
• Automatic Check-ins: Get updates from your team without lengthy meetings.
• Client Access: Invite clients to view project progress and provide feedback easily.
• Message Boards: Keep all project discussions in one place, reducing the need for scattered email threads.

If you're interested in tools similar to Basecamp then we have made a list of Basecamp alternatives.

What People Think About Basecamp:

“Our overall experience has been great. We were using a custom-built tool for team communication, but ultimately decided that Basecamp just has more features and will save us a lot of cash in the long run versus building the tool ourselves. It's nice that there is a flat charge for the service, instead of charging by the user like some other services do. This saves us a considerable amount of money.”

Source: Capterra

9. Airtable

• Pricing: Free for basic use, advanced features start at $10 per user per month
• Rating: 4.7/5 on Capterra

Airtable is a useful tool for SMBs needing flexible project management with a spreadsheet-style interface. Small teams can track projects, store data, and visualize work in grids, calendars, or Kanban boards. Airtable integrates with popular apps, making it easy for SMBs to handle projects and keep tools in sync.

Why Airtable is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Custom Views: Organize data in grid, calendar, or Kanban formats.
• Templates: Use pre-built templates to set up projects quickly.
• Integrations: Connect with existing tools like Slack and Google Drive.
• Collaborative Workspaces: Allow team members to update information and collaborate in real time.

If you're interested in tools similar to Airtable then we have made a list of Airtable alternatives.

What People Think About Airtable:

“Despite it's cost and some features we'd still like to see, Airtable is an absolute no-brainer for us. We can track our constituents and their engagement so much more easily than with Excel or a random CRM that doesn't really match our needs. I also have moved most of my content planning, resource banking, quote caching, and attendance taking to Airtable. It's honestly SO multifunctional!”

Source: Capterra

10. Wrike

• Pricing: Free for up to 5 users, with paid plans starting at $9.80 per user per month
• Rating: 4.3/5 on Capterra

Wrike is another good option for SMBs needing a tool to handle projects, track deadlines, and collaborate. Custom dashboards provide an overview of progress, while time tracking ensures accurate billing.

Why Wrike is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Task Management: Create, prioritize, and handle tasks across teams.
• Custom Dashboards: Get an overview of deadlines and project milestones.
• Collaboration: Share project updates and feedback with clients in real time.
• Scalability: Easily add more features and users as your business grows.

If you're interested in tools similar to Wrike then we have made a list of Wrike alternatives.

What People Think About Wrike:

“We have been able to get organized and store a ton of information in one place. This has also given us great insight as to what everyone’s workloads are like. Even if not everything is in the program, you can still get a good idea of what they’re up to or have time to work on. It’s a great way to group your tasks and you can create custom dashboards to make it so you see important tasks and what needs to get done at a glance. Despite some of the quirks, I recommend it.”

Source: Capterra

11. Teamwork.com

• Pricing: Starting at €13.99 per user per month
• Rating: 4.4/5 on Capterra

Teamwork.com supports SMBs to handle client work and internal projects. It includes time tracking, task management, and a client portal to keep everyone informed. The scalability makes it suitable for small businesses expecting growth, ensuring it can expand as the company grows.

Why Teamwork.com is a Good Project Management Tool for Small Businesses:

• Client Management: Keep client and internal projects organized in one place.
• Time Tracking: Log hours directly to tasks for more accurate billing.
• Scalable: Features grow with your team as your business expands.
• Client Portal: Share progress and gather feedback from clients in a centralized space.

What People Think About Teamwork.com:

“Teamwork has a great set of features. Projects, Gantt charts, tasks, sub tasks, due date/time span, dependencies, priorities, task timer, templates, and billing and invoicing. Just to name a few. I can send invoices for billable hours in a flash and because I can see the workload I can spread it out evenly and appropriately.We don't have many negative items here and we have a lot of positives.”

Source: Capterra

Takeaway

For small businesses, the right project management software improves productivity and team success. Review different tools and choose one that fits your needs. This helps create an organized workflow, allocate resources effectively, and build accountability. Whether you’re expanding your team or looking for specialized skills, knowing how to hire freelancers for your small business can also contribute to achieving your goals. Ultimately, the right software will help you reach your business goals and grow steadily.