Top 20 Project Management tools
Most of these useful project management tools are complex solution with integrated time management, collaboration, version tracking, code repositories, bug and issue tracking, etc. Both free and commercial project management apps are included. I intentionally focused not on famous tools such as Microsoft Project or Basecamp but on less popular but sometimes more efficient and useful alternatives. Though you can spend some time learning these project management tools as well as teaching your team and clients, in the long term properly integrated project management tools lets you save your time and money, make your project and work of your team more efficient.
Redmine
Redmine is a free flexible cross-platform and cross-database project management web application. Redmine features include: multiple projects support, role based access control, issue tracking system, Gantt chart and calendar, news, documents & files management, feeds & email notifications, wiki, forums, time tracking.
Google Calendar
In Google Calendar you can have separate calendars with different color for everyone in your project team. You can assign activities through Google calendar and use simple notes such as priority <1>, done # or question? Google Calendar can be synchronized with your mobile phone which is a great advantage too.
Project Blogs
Team member can publish important information in the project blog. The rest of the team can discuss and express their opinions in the comments. Project blog can be based on Wordpress or any other blogging software.
Google Docs
Google Docs is a feature rich online office suite. It lets you to collaborate with multiple users. Google Docs only takes a minute to get all of your users editing the same document in realtime.
JIRA
JIRA is paid customizable issue- and bug-tracking software that includes advanced reporting features, workflow mapping as well as issue and project organizing. JIRA also offers a number of plug-ins to extend its functionality, including Bamboo integration, charting, time tracking, project management, a calendar and more.
Wiki
Wiki can be used for development process description, how to collection, minutes, links, contacts and other elements of shared knowledgebase. You can choose from free downloadable Mediawiki (which is used as engine for Wikipedia) and paid but easy PBwiki (featuring files sharing, access controls for pages and folders). Confluence is another wiki aimed for enterprise users with status updates and ability to follow users. It lets you use images, charts and videos as well as large number of plugins.
Board, Pen and Paper
Old school Board with sticky notes, calendar, personal organizer and Todo lists can be a good alternative to all web and computer based tools especially if all your small team members work in the same office.
Bugzilla
Bugzilla is a free Web-based general-purpose bugtracker and testing tool originally developed and used by the Mozilla project. Bugzilla features include optimized database structure for increased performance and scalability, excellent security to protect confidentiality, editable user profiles and comprehensive email preferences, comprehensive permissions system.
ProjectPier
ProjectPier is a free easy-to-use, well designed, web based project management tool with the look and feel of Web 2.0. It features E-mail notification, tasks, milestones, files, unlimited projects and users and broad community to support its development.
Mantis
Mantis is a free popular web-based bugtracking and project management system. The main features include: Twitter Integration, support for mobile devices, simple/advanced Issue Pages, multiple Projects per instance, time tracking, different user access level per project, changelog support, roadmap, built-in reporting (reports / graphs), Email notifications, attachments, RSS Feeds, source Control, chat and wiki Integration.
Trac
Trac is a project management and bug/issue tracking system. It provides an interface to Subversion, an integrated wiki and convenient reporting. Trac uses a minimalistic approach to web-based software project management. A timeline shows all current and past project events in order, making the acquisition of an overview of the project and tracking progress very easy. The roadmap shows the road ahead, listing the upcoming milestones.
Agilo
Agilo is a free project management tool (paid Pro version has extended support) built on top of Trac. Agilo supports Scrum, its roles, ceremonies and artifacts: burndown chart, product backlog, release management, individual reports, subversion integration. It also features wiki, bi-directional traceability and rich reporting.
activeCollab
activeCollab is a paid software for planning, progress tracking and communication. activeCollab features module system, email notifications, API, tools for collaboration and file sharing, milestones and tasks, role and permissions.
OpenGoo
OpenGoo is an Open Source Web Office providing complex solution to create, collaborate, share and publish all its internal and external documents. OpenGoo lets you and your team create and collaborate on: text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, task lists, E-mails, calendars, web links, contacts.
Assembla
Assembla is a paid online collaborative project management service. Assembla tools include task management, issue tracking, subversion repositories, scrum meetings, subversion, wikis and message boards.
Collabtive
Collabtive is free web-based project management software aimed to be an alternative to Basecamp and ActiveCollab. Collabtive supports Basecamp projects import, Role-based permission management, reports, RSS feeds, calendars synchronization, messaging and instant messaging. Collabtive allows to work with unlimited project, members, To-do lists, Milestones, Files, and to track the time worked on specific tasks.
ClockingIT
ClockingIT is a free hosted application keeping track of all you tasks and the time you spend on them. It also features Project Management and collaboration tools such as milestones, timeline, calendar, graphs, drag and drop organizing, notes, comments, reports.
Comindwork
Comindwork is paid online project management software that includes project tasks, schedule, Gantt charts, milestones, project risks, issues, collaboration tools such as blog and wiki.
LessProjects
LessProjects is a free web based project management tool focused on agile development methodology: iterations and spec items rather than simply tasks. It features drag&drop interface and innovative sticky notes.
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a project management package with support of creating tasks, assigning ownership, setting deadlines and tracking milestones; working with calendars, Gantt charts, reports, share supporting files. The free version allows only a single project.
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Thanks for the article. From this list I like ActiveCollab, but I recommend to add just one more of my favorite project management tools 5PMweb.
Its a great alternative for all known PM softwares.
Another one I wanted to share that is a bit “simpler” than some of the PM tools listed here is Office Live Workspace. It offers easy integration into MS Office programs allowing users to save files to the cloud that can then be shared among selected coworkers. While it lacks some features that some of these PM tools are capable off, it is never a bad thing to have important project-related accessible from anywhere.
Cheers,
Jeff
MSFT Office Live Outreach
Good list! Google docs is one of the simplest I think. I also like a PM tool DeskAway, i dunno if you have tried that it is definitely a good one to work with!
RationalPlan is another project management product that is worth to be seen.
Thanks for this list. Very useful indeed!
I’ve been using <a href=”http://www.aceproject.com” AceProject for quite a while and it’s been working well for me.
I’ve got one more to add to your list. Intervals. It’s a web-based project management tool that combines time tracking with task management and other relevant features. It’s definitely worth a look, and you can try it free for the first 30 days.
I do use Google Apps for project management. But additionally, I also prefer using DeskAway (http://www.deskaway.com). It is indeed a very efficient and feature rich tool for project management & collaboration.
The open Source Scrum Tool
Agilo for Scrum can now be extended with the subscription to Agilo Pro. The Pro Version includes professional support and has Online Whiteboard etc.
Try alternative for web based project management tools is 5PM
They are really good and cheaper and in the same time with powerful tools and reports.
Great list! Another awesome online project management tool is SantexQ. It focuses on task and time management, is effective, easy to use and is only 10 bucks a month!
Great list! and thank you for including Comindwork, we are working hard and new features are added every couple weeks, if you are interested check out our development blog.
I work for a graphic design outsourcing firm. We use Ubidesk to communicate with our clients. The tool has almost all features we need such as task management, document and file sharing, and calendar. Can create and manage multiple projects for each individual clients.
My favorite feature is the preview of PSD(Photoshop) files. You don’t need to make another JPG or GIF files for the screen shots.
We’re using wrike.com. It’s not open source, but we don’t need open source. We’re quite happy with wrike, as it has several really cool features like gantt charts with drag and drop support and email engine, that lets you create tasks with attachements from emails and sends you interactive to-do lists. One more cool thing, it charges per user, not per project.
Can anyone just post into this?