Best software · Productivity
10 Best Project Management Software of 2026
This list is for team leads picking one tool where projects are planned, every task has an owner and due dates are visible to everyone. We compared documented features and published prices for 10 project management tools. Asana, ClickUp and monday.com are the strongest general picks, Smartsheet suits teams that think in spreadsheets, Jira and Linear are built for software teams, and Trello, Basecamp and Notion cover simpler or more document-heavy ways of working.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 6, 2026 · 10 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 6, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Asana is our top pick for most team leads: its Starter plan at $10.99 per user per month billed annually adds timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards, unlimited automations and unlimited free guests, which covers planning, ownership and deadline tracking without extra add-ons. ClickUp packs the most into a low price, with Gantt charts, custom fields and goals from $9 per user per month billed yearly, though its interface takes longer to learn. monday.com is the most approachable board-based option, but timeline and Gantt views start on its Standard plan.
Top picks
Best overall
Asana
8.7 / 10
Team leads who want clear owners, due dates and progress reporting across several projects.
Read the review →Runner-up
ClickUp
8.6 / 10
Teams that want many views and features in one tool at a low per-user price and can spend time on setup.
Read the review →Also great
monday.com
8.5 / 10
Teams that want a visual, colorful board they can set up quickly without training.
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asana | Team leads who want clear owners, due dates and progress reporting across several projects. | Free Personal plan for 2 users; Starter $10.99 per user per month billed annually ($13.49 monthly); Advanced $24.99; Enterprise by quote | 8.7 |
| 2 | ClickUp | Teams that want many views and features in one tool at a low per-user price and can spend time on setup. | Free Forever plan; Core $9 per user per month billed yearly ($12 regular price); Business $17 ($25 regular); Enterprise by quote | 8.6 |
| 3 | monday.com | Teams that want a visual, colorful board they can set up quickly without training. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.5 |
| 4 |  Linear | Software and product teams that plan in cycles and want a quick, keyboard-driven tracker. | Free plan; Basic $10 per user per month billed yearly; Business $16; Enterprise by quote with annual billing only | 8.3 |
| 5 |  Smartsheet | Teams that already plan in spreadsheets and want formulas, Gantt charts and dashboards on shared sheets. | Pro $9 per member per month billed yearly ($12 monthly); Business $19 billed yearly ($24 monthly); Enterprise by quote | 8.3 |
| 6 |  Jira | Software and IT teams that run agile sprints and need customizable workflows. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.2 |
| 7 |  Trello | Small teams that want simple boards with assignees and due dates at the lowest price. | Free plan; Standard $5 per user per month billed annually ($6 monthly); Premium $10 ($12.50 monthly); Enterprise $17.50 billed annually | 8.2 |
| 8 |  Wrike | Growing teams that expect to need resource planning, budgeting and advanced reporting later. | Free plan; Team $10 per user per month for 2 to 15 users; Business $25 for 5 to 200 users; Pinnacle and Apex by quote | 8.1 |
| 9 |  Basecamp | Small agencies and client teams that want simple projects and predictable flat pricing. | Free plan for 1 project; Freelancer $29 a month for 3 projects and up to 5 users; Pro $79; Pro Plus $99; Pro Unlimited $199 a month billed annually | 7.9 |
| 10 |  Notion | Teams that want project tracking inside the same workspace as their docs and wiki. | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 7.9 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Asana
A work management platform for planning projects, assigning tasks and tracking deadlines, with AI teammates included on paid plans.
asana.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: Team leads who want clear owners, due dates and progress reporting across several projects.
Asana fits the core job of a team lead well: every task gets an owner and a due date, and Starter adds timeline and Gantt views so dependencies and deadlines are visible in one schedule. Reporting dashboards turn that data into status views, forms route incoming requests into tasks, and Starter lists unlimited automations for handoffs. Paid plans also include Asana's AI Teammates and AI Studio for building automations without code.
The free Personal plan is meant for one or two people, so a real team will start on Starter at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 monthly. Leads who run several projects at once and need portfolios, goals, approvals or workload balancing will need Advanced at $24.99, which is a large jump. For a team that wants one clear place to plan and track work without a long setup, Asana is the most balanced choice on this list.
Standout feature
Timeline, dashboards and unlimited automations all arrive on the first paid plan.
Use cases
Marketing team leads
Plan a campaign on a timeline with task dependencies
Outcome: Everyone sees which late task moves the launch date
Operations managers
Collect requests through a form and assign them automatically
Outcome: Requests stop getting lost in chat and email
Agency leads
Invite clients as free guests on Starter
Outcome: Clients follow progress without paid seats
Key features
- List, board and calendar views on every plan, with timeline and Gantt views from Starter
- Reporting dashboards and unlimited automations on Starter
- Forms that turn requests into tasks, plus custom fields and templates
- Portfolios, goals and resource management on Advanced
- AI Teammates, Asana Dash and AI Studio included on paid plans
Pros
- Starter covers timelines, dashboards and automations in one plan
- Unlimited free guests for clients and partners on Starter
- Free Personal plan lets two people try the core task tools
Cons
- The free plan is limited to 2 users
- Portfolios, goals and workload balancing need Advanced at $24.99
- Monthly billing costs about 23% more than annual on Starter
Rank 2 · Runner-up
ClickUp
An all-in-one workspace that combines tasks, docs, chat, goals and dashboards, with ClickUp Brain AI credits on paid plans.
clickup.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: Teams that want many views and features in one tool at a low per-user price and can spend time on setup.
ClickUp offers more features per dollar than any other general tool here. Its Free Forever plan already includes unlimited tasks and members, docs, Kanban boards, calendar view, sprint management and time tracking. Core, at $9 per user per month billed yearly, adds custom fields, unlimited Gantt charts, unlimited storage, goals, guest permissions and 1,000 automations a month. Business at $17 adds advanced dashboards, resource management, timesheets and private views.
The trade-off is complexity. Because ClickUp tries to replace docs and chat as well as task tracking, a team lead has to decide on spaces, statuses and fields before the team starts, and new members can find the interface busy. The Workload view that shows who is overloaded is only a trial on Free and Core. If your team is willing to invest a few days in setup, ClickUp gives you most of what Asana does at a lower price.
Standout feature
Unlimited Gantt charts, custom fields and goals on a $9 plan.
Use cases
Small product teams
Run sprints, specs and task tracking in one workspace
Outcome: Fewer separate tools to pay for
Team leads on a tight budget
Map project schedules with Gantt charts on Core
Outcome: Deadline planning for $9 per user per month
Growing teams
Use Business for workload and timesheets
Outcome: Leads can spot overloaded people before deadlines slip
Key features
- Unlimited tasks, subtasks and free members on the Free Forever plan
- Kanban, list, table and calendar views, with unlimited Gantt charts from Core
- Custom fields, goals and 1,000 automations a month on Core
- Workload view, resource management and timesheets on Business
- Collaborative docs, ClickUp Chat and sprint management in the same workspace
Pros
- Low entry price for Gantt charts and custom fields
- Free plan has unlimited members and tasks
- Docs, chat and tasks live in one tool
Cons
- Many options make the first setup slower than simpler tools
- Free plan storage is 60 MB
- Workload view is only a trial until Business
Rank 3 · Also great
monday.com
A board-based work management platform with templates, automations and AI agents, sold in seat bundles.
monday.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Teams that want a visual, colorful board they can set up quickly without training.
monday.com is the easiest of the major tools to get running. Boards hold items that can be tasks, clients or anything else, more than 200 templates give teams a starting structure, and viewers with read-only access are free from the Basic plan. Standard is the plan most team leads will need: it adds timeline and Gantt views, a calendar view, guest access, 3 workflows, and automations and integrations with 250 actions a month each. Paid plans also include AI credits for the Sidekick assistant and AI agents.
The catches are in the packaging. Basic lacks timeline views, so deadline-heavy teams must start on Standard, and automation actions are capped each month. Seats are bought by choosing a team size, which can leave you paying for a few unused seats. Our price check here showed euro amounts rather than USD, so confirm the US price on monday.com before you buy.
Standout feature
More than 200 templates and free read-only viewers make rollout quick.
Use cases
Non-technical team leads
Start a project board from a template
Outcome: A working plan on day one without training
Department heads
Share boards with stakeholders as free viewers
Outcome: Status is visible without buying extra seats
Event and campaign teams
Track deadlines on Standard's Gantt view
Outcome: Dependencies and dates stay on one timeline
Key features
- Free plan for up to 2 seats with 3 boards and 200+ templates
- Unlimited free viewers and unlimited items from Basic
- Timeline and Gantt views, calendar view and guest access on Standard
- Automations and integrations with 250 actions a month each on Standard
- Sidekick AI assistant and AI credits included on paid plans
Pros
- Very quick to set up from templates
- Viewers with read-only access are free
- 14-day trial of the Pro plan
Cons
- Timeline and Gantt views need Standard or higher
- Automations and integrations are capped by monthly actions
- Seats are chosen as a team size, so you may pay for unused seats
Rank 4
Linear
A fast issue and project tracker for product and engineering teams, with cycles, initiatives and AI agents.
linear.app8.3
out of 10
Best for: Software and product teams that plan in cycles and want a quick, keyboard-driven tracker.
Linear is a strong choice when the team you lead builds software. Work is organized as issues inside projects, cycles group work into time-boxed sprints, and initiatives roll projects up into larger goals, which gives a lead a clear line from roadmap to daily tasks. Triage, customer requests and API access are on every plan, and the free tier allows unlimited members.
The free plan stops at 250 issues and 2 teams, so most teams will move to Basic at $10 per user per month billed yearly, which removes the issue cap and allows 5 teams. Business at $16 adds private teams and guests, Linear Insights for reporting and help desk integrations. Linear is less suited to marketing or operations teams that need Gantt charts, forms or resource planning, but for engineering-led teams it is quicker to use than Jira.
Standout feature
Cycles, projects and initiatives give software teams a clean path from roadmap to task.
Use cases
Engineering leads
Plan two-week cycles and track issues to completion
Outcome: A clear view of what ships this cycle
Product managers
Group projects under initiatives
Outcome: Roadmap goals link to the work behind them
Startup teams
Start on the free plan with unlimited members
Outcome: Everyone joins before the team pays
Key features
- Issues, projects, cycles and initiatives on every plan
- Customer requests, triage and issue sync included
- API and webhook access on the free plan
- Private teams and guests, Triage Intelligence and Linear Insights on Business
- Zendesk and Intercom integrations on Business
Pros
- Free plan allows unlimited members
- Cycles and initiatives connect daily work to larger goals
- API access on every plan
Cons
- Free plan is capped at 250 issues and 2 teams
- Built around software work, so it suits non-technical teams less
- Private teams and guests need Business
Rank 5
Smartsheet
A spreadsheet-style work management platform with Gantt, board and calendar views, dashboards and automations.
smartsheet.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: Teams that already plan in spreadsheets and want formulas, Gantt charts and dashboards on shared sheets.
Smartsheet looks like a spreadsheet but works as a project tool. Every plan includes grid, Gantt, table, board and calendar views, rich formulas and unlimited sheets, forms and reports, so a lead who already tracks projects in Excel can move over without changing habits. Pro costs $9 per member per month billed yearly and allows unlimited free Contributors, which keeps costs down when many people only update their own rows.
Pro is capped at 10 Members and 250 automations a month, so larger teams land on Business at $19 per member billed yearly, which adds timeline view, workload tracking, unlimited automations, unlimited free Guests and 1 TB of storage. There is no permanent free plan, only a 30-day trial. Smartsheet is less inviting than Asana for casual users, but for leads who want formulas and Gantt charts on structured data it is a good fit.
Standout feature
Gantt view and spreadsheet formulas on every paid plan.
Use cases
PMO and operations leads
Move project trackers from Excel to shared sheets
Outcome: One live plan instead of emailed spreadsheets
Construction and facilities teams
Schedule phases on a Gantt view
Outcome: Dates and dependencies stay visible to every contributor
Cross-functional programs
Use Business workload tracking
Outcome: Leads balance assignments across members
Key features
- Grid, Gantt, table, board and calendar views on every plan
- Rich formulas and unlimited sheets, forms and reports
- Unlimited free Contributors on Pro
- Timeline view, workload tracking and unlimited automations on Business
- Portfolios and SAML-based SSO on Enterprise
Pros
- Familiar grid layout for spreadsheet users
- Gantt view included from the entry plan
- Unlimited free Contributors and, on Business, Guests
Cons
- No permanent free plan
- Pro is limited to 10 Members and 250 automations a month
- Workload tracking needs Business
Rank 6
Jira
Atlassian's work tracker with Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs, roadmaps and automation, used widely by software teams.
atlassian.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Software and IT teams that run agile sprints and need customizable workflows.
Jira is the standard tracker for many software teams. Every plan includes Scrum and Kanban boards, a backlog, agile reports and customizable workflows, and the free plan covers up to 10 users, which is generous for a small team. Atlassian's automation runs on step allowances, from 150 steps on Free to 400 steps per user per month on Standard, and Rovo AI can help break work into tasks and assign it.
The cost is complexity. Jira's flexibility means someone has to own workflows, fields and permissions, and the features a team lead most wants for planning across teams, such as advanced Plans, capacity planning and cross-team dependency mapping, sit on Premium. Single sign-on needs a separate Atlassian Guard subscription below Enterprise. Our price check could not load USD prices here, so confirm on Atlassian's site. For engineering teams already using Confluence it is hard to beat; other teams will find Asana or monday.com easier.
Standout feature
Free plan for up to 10 users with Scrum boards, backlog and customizable workflows.
Use cases
Engineering managers
Run Scrum sprints with a backlog and agile reports
Outcome: Sprint scope and velocity stay visible
IT teams
Model approval steps in a custom workflow
Outcome: Work moves through the same stages every time
Small dev teams
Start on the free plan for up to 10 users
Outcome: Full boards and backlog at no cost
Key features
- Scrum and Kanban boards, backlog and agile reporting on every plan
- Customizable workflows plus apps and integrations
- Automation with 150 steps on Free and 400 steps per user per month on Standard
- Basic roadmaps on Free and Standard, advanced Plans on Premium
- Capacity planning and advanced dependency management on Premium
Pros
- Free plan for up to 10 users
- Highly configurable workflows
- Large app and integration catalog
Cons
- Setup and administration take more effort than other tools here
- Cross-team roadmaps and capacity planning need Premium
- SSO requires a separate Atlassian Guard subscription below Enterprise
Rank 7
Trello
Atlassian's Kanban board tool for organizing cards into lists, with Power-Ups, automation and AI on paid plans.
trello.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Small teams that want simple boards with assignees and due dates at the lowest price.
Trello is the simplest way to put a team's work on a shared board. Cards move across lists, and even the free plan supports assignees, due dates, unlimited cards and unlimited Power-Ups per board for up to 10 collaborators in a Workspace. Standard, at $5 per user per month billed annually, removes the 10-board limit and adds custom fields, advanced checklists and card mirroring.
For deadline tracking, the important views are on Premium at $10 per user billed annually: Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views, plus Workspace views across boards. Trello has no built-in workload view or portfolio layer, so leads running several interdependent projects will outgrow it. For a small team that needs owners and due dates on a clear board, it is the lowest-cost paid option here.
Standout feature
The lowest paid entry price on the list at $5 per user per month.
Use cases
Small teams
Track tasks across To do, Doing and Done lists
Outcome: Everyone sees who owns each card and when it is due
Content teams
Plan an editorial calendar on Premium
Outcome: Publish dates sit on one calendar view
Volunteer groups
Use the free plan for up to 10 collaborators
Outcome: Shared boards at no cost
Key features
- Unlimited cards with assignees and due dates on the free plan
- Unlimited Power-Ups per board
- Unlimited boards, custom fields and advanced checklists on Standard
- Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views on Premium
- Quick capture of to-dos from email, Slack and Microsoft Teams
Pros
- Cheapest paid plan on this list
- Boards are easy to understand on first use
- Free plan for up to 10 collaborators per Workspace
Cons
- Free plan is limited to 10 boards per Workspace
- Timeline and calendar views need Premium
- Lacks built-in workload or resource planning
Rank 8
Wrike
A project management platform with Gantt charts, dashboards and AI features, scaling up to budgeting and resource planning.
wrike.com8.1
out of 10
Best for: Growing teams that expect to need resource planning, budgeting and advanced reporting later.
Wrike covers the basics well and has the longest upgrade path on this list. The free plan includes project and task management with board and table views, and Team at $10 per user per month adds interactive Gantt charts, shareable dashboards and AI Essentials such as comment summaries and natural language automation rules. Business at $25 adds templates and AI Elite actions for teams of 5 to 200 users.
Where Wrike stands out is the top end: Pinnacle adds advanced resource and capacity planning, budgeting with bill and cost rates, and advanced reporting and BI. That suits teams that expect to manage billable work or many concurrent projects. The downside is price and complexity in the middle tiers, as Team caps at 15 users and Business costs more than comparable plans from Asana or ClickUp. Pick Wrike when you know you will need its higher plans.
Standout feature
Budgeting and advanced resource planning are available inside the same tool as tasks.
Use cases
Professional services teams
Track project budgets with bill and cost rates on Pinnacle
Outcome: Leads see budget and schedule together
Small teams
Plan with interactive Gantt charts on Team
Outcome: Schedules adjust as dates move
PMOs
Use advanced reporting across portfolios
Outcome: One view of delivery across departments
Key features
- Project and task management with board and table views on the free plan
- Interactive Gantt charts and shareable dashboards on Team
- AI Essentials such as comment summaries and automation rule generation on Team
- Templates and a starter pack of AI Elite actions on Business
- Advanced resource planning, budgeting and BI reporting on Pinnacle
Pros
- Gantt charts and dashboards from the first paid plan
- Clear upgrade path to resource and budget management
- Web, desktop and mobile apps
Cons
- Team plan is limited to 15 users
- Business costs $25 per user, more than most rivals' second tier
- Budgeting and advanced resource planning are on quote-only plans
Rank 9
Basecamp
A project communication tool that keeps to-dos, message boards, chat, schedules and files together, with flat monthly pricing.
basecamp.com7.9
out of 10
Best for: Small agencies and client teams that want simple projects and predictable flat pricing.
Basecamp takes a different approach from the other tools here. Each project is a shared space with to-dos, a message board, chat, a card table, a schedule and files, so discussion and tasks stay together, which works well with clients. Pricing is flat rather than per user: Freelancer is $29 a month for 3 active projects and up to 5 users, Pro is $79 for 8 projects and 10 users, and Pro Plus is $99 for 12 projects and 15 users with time tracking.
The limits are planning depth and project caps. Basecamp does not list Gantt charts or workload views, so leads juggling many dependent deadlines will want Asana, Smartsheet or Wrike. Teams with many concurrent projects quickly need Pro Unlimited at $199 a month billed annually. A free plan covers one project for personal use, and a 30-day trial includes every feature.
Standout feature
Flat pricing per package instead of a per-user fee.
Use cases
Small agencies
Run each client engagement as a Basecamp project
Outcome: Clients see to-dos and messages in one place
Freelancers
Manage 3 active projects on Freelancer
Outcome: Predictable $29 monthly cost
Teams that bill hours
Track time on Pro Plus
Outcome: Hours sit next to the project's work
Key features
- Projects that combine to-dos, message boards, chat rooms, card tables and files
- Flat pricing with no per-user fees inside each package
- Project and to-do list templates from Pro
- Time tracking from Pro Plus
- Official ChatGPT and Claude connectors with MCP support
Pros
- Flat monthly price, not per user
- Simple layout that clients can follow
- 30-day free trial of every feature
Cons
- Packages cap active projects, from 3 on Freelancer to 12 on Pro Plus
- No Gantt chart or workload view listed on its pricing page
- Unlimited projects and users require Pro Unlimited at $199 a month billed annually
Rank 10
Notion
A connected workspace for docs, wikis and databases that teams can shape into project and task trackers, with Notion AI.
notion.com7.9
out of 10
Best for: Teams that want project tracking inside the same workspace as their docs and wiki.
Notion is a workspace first and a project tool second. Its databases support subtasks, dependencies and custom properties on every plan, so a lead can build a task tracker, a roadmap and a meeting notes archive that link to each other. Plus adds charts on database data and custom forms, while Business adds Notion Agent for multi-step tasks, AI Meeting Notes, SAML SSO and granular database permissions that limit collaborators to rows assigned to them.
The flexibility is also the cost: Notion gives you building blocks rather than ready-made Gantt, workload or portfolio features, so someone has to design and maintain the system. For teams whose projects are mostly documents, specs and decisions, keeping tasks next to that context is a real advantage. Teams that mainly need deadline tracking across many projects will be better served by Asana or ClickUp. Our check showed euro prices, so confirm the USD price on Notion's site.
Standout feature
Tasks, docs and wikis share one connected workspace.
Use cases
Product teams
Link specs, tasks and meeting notes in one workspace
Outcome: Context stays attached to the work
Startup founders
Build a simple task database with owners and due dates
Outcome: One tool for the wiki and the task list
Teams on Business
Use AI Meeting Notes to capture follow-ups
Outcome: Action items land in the workspace automatically
Key features
- Databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties on every plan
- Docs, wikis and project tracking in one workspace
- Charts that visualize database data on Plus
- Notion Agent and AI Meeting Notes on Business
- Granular database permissions and SAML SSO on Business
Pros
- Free plan includes databases with dependencies
- Project plans sit next to specs and meeting notes
- Highly flexible page and database building blocks
Cons
- Project views must be built from databases rather than ready made
- Notion Agent and AI Meeting Notes need Business
- Less suited to resource and workload planning
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best project management software in 2026?
Asana is our top pick for team leads who plan work, assign owners and track deadlines, with Starter at $10.99 per user per month billed annually. ClickUp is the best value at $9 per user per month billed yearly, and monday.com is the quickest to set up.
+What is the best free project management software?
ClickUp's Free Forever plan has unlimited tasks and members, and Jira's free plan covers up to 10 users with Scrum and Kanban boards. Trello is free for up to 10 collaborators per Workspace, while Asana's and monday.com's free plans are limited to 2 users or seats.
+What is the cheapest project management tool?
Trello Standard is the cheapest paid plan here at $5 per user per month billed annually, or $6 monthly. ClickUp Core at $9 and Smartsheet Pro at $9 per member billed yearly are the cheapest plans that include Gantt charts.
+Which project management tool is best for software teams?
Jira and Linear are built for software teams. Jira offers Scrum and Kanban boards with a free plan for up to 10 users and deep workflow customization, while Linear is faster to use and starts at $10 per user per month billed yearly.
+Which tools include Gantt charts on the first paid plan?
Asana Starter, ClickUp Core, Smartsheet Pro and Wrike Team all include Gantt or timeline views. monday.com adds timeline and Gantt views on Standard, and Trello adds a Timeline view on Premium.
+How did we rank these tools?
We compared documented features and published prices from each vendor's own website and scored features, ease of use and value. The overall score weights features at 40% and ease of use and value at 30% each.
About this list
Updated November 6, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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