Navigating the sea of project management tools can feel like being a kid in a candy store. Sure, some industries have a specialized needs and straightforward options — for example, a construction contractor’s scheduling software. But when it comes to inter-department teams and less specialized industries, there are so many shiny options, each promising to be the sweet solution to all your team’s needs. But as we all know, not all candies are created equal. Some are just too hard to chew, others lack flavor, and only a few hit the sweet spot. In this post, we’ll guide you through the candy shop of project management tools, and reveal why morningmate is the sweetest pick of them all.
The Recipe for a Great Project Management Tool
Before we embark on our candy hunt, let’s first understand the ingredients that make a project management tool truly delectable:
- Ease of Use: Just like your favorite candy, it should be easy to enjoy. No complicated wrappers or hard-to-open packaging. The tool should be intuitive and easy to navigate, even for non-tech teams.
- Collaboration Features: A great candy is one you can share with your friends. Similarly, look for tools that facilitate communication and collaboration within your team.
- Task Management: The ability to assign, track, and manage tasks is as crucial as the sweet center of your favorite candy.
- Integration: The tool should seamlessly integrate with other software your team uses, just like how the right mix of ingredients creates the perfect candy.
- Security: Just as you’d want your candy to be safe and hygienic, ensure the tool has robust security measures in place to protect your data.
Now, let’s unwrap some of the best project management tools of 2023.
The Sweetest Project Management Tools of 2023
1. morningmate
morningmate is like that candy that everyone reaches for. It’s simple, delicious, and leaves you wanting more. Designed to feel like a social media platform, morningmate is intuitive and friendly for non-tech teams, making it easy to pick up without extensive onboarding processes.
Why morningmate is Your New Best Friend:
- Social Media-Like Interface: morningmate’s interface is as easy to use as scrolling through your favorite social media feed. No need for a manual or a how-to guide. Just dive right in and start swimming. Dive into morningmate’s interface
- Built for Collaboration: morningmate is not just a project management tool; it’s a collaboration playground. It’s designed to make work fun and engaging, promoting collaboration and sharing within teams. Discover how morningmate fosters collaboration
- Great for All Types of Teams: Whether you’re a tech team or a creative team, morningmate has features that cater to your needs. It’s especially great for creative teams who need a platform that supports their unique workflows. Explore how morningmate supports different teams
- Security: morningmate takes security as seriously as a candy maker takes hygiene. With robust security measures in place, you can trust that your data is safe. Learn more about morningmate’s security measures
Pricing:
morningmate offers competitive pricing options that cater to teams of all sizes, begin with a free edition, followed by a pro version for $9.99 and a business+ plans for $14.99. morningmate also provides a free 30-day trial for the business+ plans. Check out our pricing page for more details.
2. Trello
Trello, with its card and board-based layout, has been a staple in the project management world for years. It’s akin to the timeless chocolate bar – basic, but reliable. With Trello, you can create boards for different projects, add lists that act as progress stages, and cards that represent tasks. Users can collaborate within these cards by sharing files, setting deadlines, and leaving comments. While Trello’s simplicity is appreciated, some teams might find themselves outgrowing its features and seeking a tool with more flair and versatility.
Pricing:
Trello has a forever free plan for individuals and small teams. For larger teams and additional capabilities, premium plans start at $10 per user per month and an additional function of unlimited workspace costs $17.50 per user per month.
3. Asana
Imagine a layered candy with different flavors and textures; that’s Asana for you. Known for its versatility, Asana allows users to view tasks in multiple formats, including lists, boards, timelines, and calendars. This is especially beneficial for teams that need to juggle diverse work processes. Asana also supports integrations with various third-party applications. However, its richness in features might be daunting for those who are looking for simplicity in a project management tool.
Pricing:
Asana offers a free basic plan for small teams. Premium plans with additional features start at $10.99 per user per month and business plans cost $24.99 per user per month.
4. Wrike
Wrike is comparable to a gourmet truffle – rich and complex. It is tailored for large enterprises and is packed with features like resource management, time tracking, and detailed reports. Its ability to handle complex workflows makes it a good fit for larger teams with intricate projects. However, this complexity might not be suitable for smaller teams or those looking for an easier way to manage their projects.
Pricing:
Wrike has a free plan with basic features. Standard plans, which include advanced features for larger teams, start at $9.80 per user per month, while premium plans cost $24.80 per user per month.
5. Monday.com
Monday.com is like a rainbow-colored candy – vibrant and visually engaging. It stands out for its customizable workflows and visually appealing interface. With Monday.com, teams can create dashboards that provide insights into project performance and team productivity. Its colorful and dynamic interface can be appealing, but some users perceive the interface to be cluttered, disorganised, or perplexing, which takes extra effort to get used to.
Pricing:
Monday.com has a free plan with basic features. Standard plans cost $12 per user per month, while premium plans cost $16. Furthermore, the trial period is limited to 14 days.
6. Jira
Jira is akin to hard candy – sturdy and resilient, but it can be tough to get through. Primarily geared towards software development teams, Jira excels in tracking issues and bugs. It is highly customisable and supports Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban. However, its complexity and robustness might make it less suitable for non-tech teams or those who prefer a more intuitive user interface.
Pricing:
Jira offers a free plan for small teams. Standard plans for larger teams and with additional features start at $7.75 per user per month, whereas premium plans cost $15.25 per user per month.
7. Basecamp
Think of Basecamp as a box of assorted chocolates; it has a bit of everything. Basecamp’s features include to-do lists, message boards, schedules, and file storage. It is aimed at improving communication and collaboration among team members. While Basecamp is known for reducing the need for back-and-forth emails, some users might find its assortment of features to be overwhelming compared to more streamlined alternatives.
Pricing:
Basecamp has a 30-day free trial. Thereafter, it offers a flat rate of $299 per month, regardless of the number of users.
8. ClickUp
ClickUp is like a Kinder Egg, with its unexpected features inside. ClickUp has an extensive set of features such as tasks, docs, goals, and integrations. It’s versatile and can be used by teams from various industries. However, with its abundance of features, some users might find ClickUp to be too cluttered or complex for their liking.
Pricing:
ClickUp has a free plan with limited features. Premium plans start at $12 per user per month and business+ plans cost $19 per user per month.
9. Teamwork
Teamwork, as the name suggests, is like a candy designed for sharing – it’s all about collaboration. Teamwork helps in improving team collaboration by providing tools like task management, time tracking, and file sharing. Its detailed reporting feature allows teams to track project performance closely. However, its interface might not be as simple and engaging as those on social media platforms.
Pricing:
Teamwork offers a free basic plan. Premium plans start at $9.99 per user per month, while an advanced plan which is only available for a minimum of 5 users, costs $17.99 per user per month.
10. ProofHub
ProofHub is like a luxurious chocolate brand; it’s favored by big names. It’s versatile and provides planning, collaboration, and organizational tools. Big players such as NASA, Disney, and Taco Bell use ProofHub for its reliability and features. However, for some, its interface may not be as engaging as that of morningmate.
Pricing:
ProofHub has a flat pricing structure with plans starting at $45 per month.
11. Smartsheet
Smartsheet, like a meticulously crafted praline, is all about precision and work efficiency. It’s a collaboration tool with spreadsheet-like functionality. Teams can use Smartsheet for project planning, tracking, resource management, and more. However, its work-centric approach might not offer the same level of engagement and fun as a tool like morningmate.
Pricing:
Smartsheet does not offer a free plan. Pricing starts at $14 per user per month for pro plans whereas the business plans cost $25 per user per month.
Why Choose morningmate?
morningmate is more than just a project management tool; it’s a platform that fosters collaboration and makes work enjoyable. With its intuitive, social media-like interface, it’s easy for anyone to pick up and start using. Plus, it’s designed to cater to all types of teams, not just tech teams.
So why wait? Join the 400,000+ active teams that have improved their workflow with morningmate. Sign up today and experience the difference for yourself.