Introduction
Whether you’re a startup, small business, or just managing personal projects on a limited budget, free and open source project management software can help you stay organized without breaking the bank. In this post, we take an in-depth look at 15 top-rated solutions that offer core features without costing a penny. We’ll examine their functionality, ease of use, and value they provide to help you find the best fit for your needs and team.
Methods of Evaluation
To determine the top project management software options, we evaluated each solution based on features, customization options, pricing, and user reviews. Beyond this, we also factored in more objective metrics like traffic, backlinks, keyword trends, and community engagement to gauge overall popularity and recognition for each provider. This helped ensure the solutions highlighted are not only highly capable but also widely adopted and supported.
1. GitHub Projects
GitHub Projects is a popular project management tool from GitHub. GitHub is a developer platform with over 100 million users for source code management, collaboration, and code review. GitHub Projects allows users to manage their projects, workflows and work in one integrated environment directly in GitHub.
Pros: Some key advantages of GitHub Projects include:
– GitHub integrated kanban boards and backlogs
– Customizable boards and cards for tracking work
– Automation capabilities like linking issues to tasks
– Free basic project tracking functionality for open source projects
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that GitHub Projects is only available on paid GitHub plans starting at $4/month whereas some competitors offer more full-featured project management for free.
Pricing: GitHub Projects is included with GitHub paid plans starting at $4/month for the Personal plan. Enterprise and team plans are available starting at $21/month and offer additional features and support.
Some key stats about GitHub Projects include:
– Used by over 100 million developers worldwide across all industries
– Integrated directly with GitHub repositories for seamless project tracking
– Supports Agile methodologies like Kanban and Scrum
2. TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a German software company known for its remote connectivity software. The software allows users to remotely access and support computers and mobile devices. It also offers online meetings, file sharing and collaboration capabilities. The free personal version allows remote access to your computers and mobile devices to facilitate tech support for friends and family.
Pros: Key advantages of TeamViewer:
– Remote desktop access and control allowing support for family and friends remotely
– Online meetings for collaboration even without local software installation
– File sharing and transfer capabilities built-in
– Integration with task management and time tracking features in the paid version
– Free basic personal use version for remote access and support needs
Cons: The free personal version has some disadvantages including:
– Limited to non-commercial, non-enterprise use only
– Remote control capabilities are limited to one device at a time
– Watermarked screen sharing during meetings with the free version
Pricing: TeamViewer offers several paid plans from $7.50/month for personal use up to enterprise plans starting at $999/year. But the basic remote connectivity features are provided for free for personal, non-commercial use indefinitely.
Some key stats about TeamViewer:
– Over 2.5 billion devices have been connected via TeamViewer worldwide
– Supports remote access to desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones running Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux
– Used in over 200 countries and available in 35+ languages
3. Airtable
Airtable is a low-code platform that allows users to design and build custom applications using a flexible base-app model without extensive coding knowledge. With Airtable, users can create customized databases, automate workflows, and collaborate on projects in one online workspace.
Pros: Some key advantages of Airtable include:
– Customizable database structure allows it to be applied to any project or process.
– Pre-built templates for common workflows save time in project setup.
– Deep integrations enable data and workflows to span multiple tools.
– Free forever plan for teams up to 5 users is very cost effective.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that while less technical than building a customized application, Airtable still requires some knowledge of databases and application design to fully leverage its capabilities.
Pricing: Airtable offers the following pricing plans:
– Free plan for up to 5 users
– $10/user/month for team plan
– Custom enterprise plans for large teams and customized features
Some key stats about Airtable include:
– Used by over 150,000 companies including Spotify, Siemens, and Deloitte.
– Over 5 million users across 190 countries.
– Integrations with over 400 tools including Google Workspace, Slack, Dropbox, and Microsoft 365.
– Templates available for popular workflows and processes like project management, CRM, help desk, marketing, and more.
4. Asana
Asana is a free project management and task management tool that allows users to plan and work together. It provides capabilities for managing tasks, projects, and workflows in one online platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of Asana include:
– Free forever option for unlimited public and private projects
– Task management with boards, lists, calendars and workflows
– Teams, comments, attachments and reporting
– Integrations with many popular business apps like Slack and Google Drive
– Offers both desktop and mobile apps for managing work on the go
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that paid plans are required for additional features like offline access, advanced permissions, and reporting analytics.
Pricing: Asana offers the following pricing plans:
– Free forever option with unlimited public and private projects
– Premium paid plans starting at $8.25/user per month billed annually for additional features like admin controls, advanced permissions, etc.
Some key stats about Asana include:
– Used by over 100,000 companies including Intel, Verizon, Dropbox and BuzzFeed
– Over 50 million users globally
– Integrates with over 150 apps including Slack, GitHub, and Google Drive
– Available on desktop and mobile platforms
5. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is an online project management and collaboration platform that allows teams to plan, capture, manage, and report on work. Founded in 2005 and based in Bellevue, Washington, Smartsheet provides a modern work platform for managing projects, automating processes, and scaling programs.
Pros: Some key advantages of Smartsheet include:
– Spreadsheet-style task management allowing for easy planning and organization
– Free forever plan for 1 user with limited features allowing you to try it risk-free
– Calendars, Gantt charts, workflow and reporting tools provide flexibility and visibility
Cons: The main disadvantage is that the free forever plan has restricted functionality and only supports 1 user. To unlock the full feature set you need to upgrade to a paid plan, starting at $12.50 per user per month for the Standard plan.
Pricing: Smartsheet offers the following paid plans:
– Standard: $12.50/user/month
– Advanced: $25/user/month
– Enterprise: Custom pricing
There is also a free forever plan but it is very limited with just 1 user support and restricted features.
Some key stats about Smartsheet include:
– Used by over 90,000 companies including over 50% of the Fortune 500
– Over 100,000 paying organizations as of January 2022
– Available in 12 languages
– Integrates with 200+ apps like MS Teams, Slack and Google Workspace
6. Monday.com
Monday.com is a popular project management and work execution platform. Founded in 2014, Monday.com aims to provide a flexible platform for teams to track work, collaborate on projects, and manage business processes. Over 150,000 organizations across 175 countries use Monday.com to manage their work.
Pros: Some key advantages of Monday.com include:
– Kanban-style boards for tasks, lists and calendars
– Real-time collaboration with comments and in-app notifications
– Customizable workflows for any process
– Free plan for up to 3 active users on one board
– Visual reporting and analytics
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free plan is limited to one board and 3 active users. For larger or more complex work, a paid subscription may be required.
Pricing: Monday.com offers the following pricing plans:
– Free Plan: Supports 1 board and up to 3 active users. Ideal for freelancers and small teams.
– Pro Plan: Starts at $8/user/month billed annually. Removes user limit and adds more features.
– Business Plan: Starts at $24/user/month billed annually. Includes priority support and additional admin tools.
Some key stats about Monday.com include:
– Used by over 150,000 organizations globally
– Supports over 175 languages
– Available on desktop and mobile apps
– Integrates with over 150 apps like Slack, Dropbox, Google Drive
– Named a leader in the G2 Grid Report for project management software
7. Todoist
Todoist is a cross-platform to-do list and task management application that can be used for free. It helps users stay organized and focused by allowing them to create lists of tasks and activities. Todoist currently has over 30 million users worldwide and is trusted by both individuals and teams.
Pros: Some key advantages of Todoist include:
– Cross-platform usability – Access tasks from any device
– Natural language input for easy task entry
– Reminders and recurring tasks help maintain productivity
– Simple interface keeps the focus on what needs to get done
– Collaborative abilities when using a paid team or business plan
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free version has limited functionality compared to the paid plans. Things like file attachments, task dependencies, and advanced due dates require an upgrade to the premium versions.
Pricing: Todoist offers both free and premium paid plans. The free plan allows for basic task and list creation. Paid premium plans start at $3/month and increase functionality with features like file attachments, additional integrations, and collaborative workflow abilities for teams.
Some key stats about Todoist include:
– Available on all major platforms including web, iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac
– Used by over 30 million people worldwide
– Provides both free and premium paid plans
– Allows natural language commands to add and manage tasks
– Includes reminders and repeat tasks to help ensure things don’t fall through the cracks
8. Wrike
Wrike is a versatile and robust project management software that offers collaboration features, task and project management, resource management, time tracking and reporting. Wrike has been a leader in the project management space since 2006.
Pros: Some key advantages of Wrike include: – Collaboration platform that integrates task and project management – Central hub to assign work, track progress and manage resources across teams – Intuitive Gantt charts, calendars and reports to visualize schedules and keep projects on track – Flexible workflows and approval processes to manage work from start to finish
Cons: The main disadvantage of Wrike is that the free plan only supports 5 users with limited features. For more users or advanced capabilities, you need to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Pricing: Wrike offers four paid pricing plans starting at $9.80/user per month billed annually for the basic plan. Additional features and capabilities are included in the higher tier professional and enterprise plans.
Some key stats about Wrike include: – Used by over 12,000 companies worldwide – Supports over 25 languages – Free plan allows up to 5 users with limited features
9. Podio
Podio is a leading all-in-one flexible project management, communication and CRM solution. Founded in 2008, Podio makes teamwork easy with customizable workspaces and built-in collaborative tools to manage projects, customers and business processes.
Pros: Some key advantages of Podio include:
– Flexible project workspaces and customizable apps to track any workflow
– Built-in kanban boards, Gantt charts, CRM and calendar tools
– Strong permissions and sharing controls to manage team access
– Robust API and marketplace for hundreds of third party integrations
– Available as web, iOS and Android apps for managing work on the go
Cons: One potential disadvantage of Podio is that the free version only supports two active members and five completed workflows. For larger teams, a paid subscription is required to gain additional features and storage.
Pricing: Podio offers both free and paid pricing plans:
– Free plan supports 2 active users and 5 completed workflows
– Premium plan starts at $8/user per month for self-hosted apps and unlimited storage
– Enterprise plan for customized large team pricing
Some key stats about Podio include:
– Used by over 35,000 companies worldwide including NASA, Toyota and Nestle
– Available in over 30 languages
– Integrates with over 300 apps including Dropbox, Google Drive, MailChimp and Zendesk
– Named a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Content Collaboration Platforms
10. Aha!
Aha! is a product management platform that provides product and roadmap management software. More than 700,000 product teams use Aha! to build better products and be happy doing it. Some key features include product and roadmap management, custom boards and workflows, and integrations with tools like Jira and Github.
Pros: Some key advantages of Aha! include:
– Product and roadmap management to track features and launch progress
– Customizable boards and workflows to visualize work
– Free forever plan for teams up to 3 users
– Integrations with popular tools like Jira and Github
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that paid plans may be required for larger teams or advanced features.
Pricing: Aha! offers the following pricing plans:
– Free forever for teams up to 3 users
– Premium plans starting at $99/month billed annually for 5+ users
Some key stats about Aha! include:
– More than 700,000 product teams use Aha! worldwide
– Available in over 40 languages
– Integrates with over 50 tools including Jira, Github, and more
11. Planview Enterprise One
Planview Enterprise One is a comprehensive project and portfolio management solution developed by Planview. In use by thousands of organizations worldwide, Planview Enterprise One helps align strategy with execution to accelerate on-strategy delivery at scale.
Pros: Key advantages of Planview Enterprise One include portfolio management, resource management and forecasting, customizable dashboards and reports, and it is free for teams up to 10 users.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that for teams larger than 10 users, paid subscription plans are required starting at $50/user/month which may not fit some budgets.
Pricing: Planview Enterprise One offers free usage for teams up to 10 users. For larger teams, pricing starts at $50 per user per month for Professional/Team edition and goes up based on the number of users and desired features.
Some key stats about Planview Enterprise One include: used by over 4,000 customers worldwide across industries like technology, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. It supports teams of all sizes from 5 users up to enterprises with thousands of users. Over 25 years of experience helping organizations manage projects, programs and portfolios.
12. Teamwork
Teamwork is a leading project management software that provides a full range of tools to help teams collaborate and deliver projects on time and on budget. Founded in 2006, Teamwork has grown to support over 50,000 teams across 175 countries with its flexible and easy to use platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of Teamwork include:
– Intuitive and flexible interface that is easy for anyone to use
– Allows teams to manage tasks, files, schedules and more from one central place
– Provides excellent reporting and analytics on project performance
– Supports both Agile and Waterfall project methodologies
– Integrates with over 200 popular tools like Dropbox, Slack, GitHub via Zapier
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free plan limits projects to a single user and project only. For larger or more complex projects, an upgraded paid plan is typically needed.
Pricing: Teamwork offers the following pricing plans:
– Free Plan: Forever free for 1 user on 1 project
– Plus Plan: $9/user/month billed annually for up to 5 users
– Pro Plan: $19/user/month billed annually for unlimited users and projects
– Enterprise Plans: Custom pricing for large enterprise teams
Some key stats about Teamwork include:
– Supports over 50,000 teams globally
– Used across 175+ countries
– Provides task and project management, file storage, time tracking, reporting and Agile/Kanban boards
– Offers a free forever plan for 1 user on 1 project
13. ProjectManager
ProjectManager is award-winning project & work management software designed for teams to plan, track & collaborate online. It helps teams stay on top of projects through tasks, files, and discussions in one central hub. ProjectManager offers both free and paid plans to support teams of all sizes.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of using ProjectManager include:
– Tasks, files, discussions in one central place for better visibility and collaboration
– Templates for common project types to speed up setup
– Kanban board, gantt charts and timelines for different views of projects
– Free plan forever for teams up to 15 members
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free plan has limited storage and functionality compared to the paid plans. For larger teams or those with very large projects, a paid plan may be necessary to get more storage and advanced features.
Pricing: ProjectManager offers both free and paid plans. The free plan is forever free for teams up to 15 members with limited storage. Paid plans start at $9/member/month for the Plus plan (unlimited storage and features) and $24/member/month for the Premium plan (includes advanced reporting).
Some key stats about ProjectManager include:
– Used by over 10,000 companies worldwide
– Supports teams of all sizes from freelancers to enterprises
– 15+ default project templates for common project types like software development, events, and product launches
14. Taiga
Taiga is an open source project management platform for agile teams. Taiga helps teams plan, track and manage their work with agile and kanban techniques. It allows teams to visualize their work and track progress through task boards, backlogs, milestones and more. The platform is very intuitive and easy to use.
Pros: Some key advantages of Taiga include:
– Agile project management capabilities for both scrums and kanbans
– Free and open source version available to self-host
– Visual taskboards and kanban boards to track work
– Support for epics, user stories, tasks & subtasks
– Ability to track workflows & customize statuses
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free open source version requires self-hosting and managing the infrastructure.
Pricing: Taiga offers both a free open source version that can be self-hosted as well as paid hosted plans starting at $19 per month for 10 users.
Some key stats about Taiga include:
– Used by over 500,000 users worldwide
– Available in over 30 languages
– Supported both on-premise and as a hosted SaaS service
– Integrations available with tools like Slack, GitHub, GitLab and more
15. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a free online workspace for small businesses that provides CRM, tasks and project management, online meetings and file sharing. It offers businesses an all-in-one solution to manage sales, marketing, support and internal team collaboration.
Pros: Some key advantages of Bitrix24 include:
– All-in-one platform for CRM, tasks, projects and online meetings
– Gantt charts and time tracking for managing projects
– Integrations with over 300 apps like Google, Slack, Dropbox
– Free basic plan for small teams up to 5 users
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the free plan has limited storage and features compared to the paid plans. For larger teams or more advanced functionality, a paid subscription may be required.
Pricing: Bitrix24 offers a free version for up to 5 users with basic features. Paid plans start at $15/user per month for the Standard plan and includes more storage, features and support.
Some key stats about Bitrix24 include:
– Used by over 2 million businesses worldwide
– Available in over 30 languages
– Free tier includes basic features for up to 5 users
Conclusion
Hopefully this overview has provided a helpful starting point for finding the right free or open source project management solution for your budget-conscious team. While many excellent paid options exist, the top 15 examined here offer robust feature-sets at no cost. Consider your specific needs, team size, and use cases to identify the best fit from the leaders in ease of use, functionality and popularity. With the right tool, you can stay focused on outcomes rather than spend precious time and funds managing workflows.