Compare the Best Free Project Management Software of 2025
10 Best Free Project Management Software of 2025
Methodology
Software testing is a serious business. So, to give software platforms a fair trial, I use our proprietary rubric to help rank multiple features. For the best free project management software, 26 platforms were chosen, and 59 features across nine categories were analyzed. I then performed hands-on testing on the top 10 platforms, and each provider was awarded a final score.
Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
---|---|---|
Expert Score | 10% | I perform thorough, hands-on testing of the top 10 platforms to see how easy the software is to use and determine if the features offer value for money. |
Mobile Applications | 1% | I check if mobile applications for iOS and Android are provided and check user reviews to understand consumer impressions. |
Service and Support | 8% | When testing software, I interact with each platform’s customer service teams through all available means to see how knowledgeable and friendly they are. |
Value | 10% | Software prices are carefully evaluated to see if the features provided are worthy of the provider's price. |
Project Management Features | 19% | General project management features, such as workflow views, dashboards, budgeting and time-tracking tools, are evaluated and considered. |
Organization Features | 9% | The number of organization features, such as resource management tools, subtasks, expense tracking and recurring tasks, are evaluated and considered. |
Task Management Features | 10% | I check whether task management features, such as automations, dependencies and custom fields, are included and whether or not they are easy to use. |
Collaboration Features | 13% | Tools such as whiteboards, collaborative notes, documents and proofing tools are evaluated. I also see how many integrations each platform offers. |
Consumer Sentiment | 20% | We check websites such as G2, Trustpilot and Capterra to see what real-world users think of each platform. User thoughts on ease of use and interface, integrations, pricing, collaboration tools, task management and workflow tools and overall satisfaction are considered. |
How To Choose the Best Free Project Management Software
The following sections will help guide you through the process of choosing a free project management solution that will work for your SMB.
Essential Free Project Management Software Features
Before signing up for the first free project management software you hear about, take the time to research multiple platforms and learn about the tools and features they provide. Below are several features that you should take into consideration when choosing software.
- Task management. Ensure your chosen software provides access to Kanban boards, calendars, Gantt charts, timelines and to-do lists. Finding free software that offers all these task management tools can be tricky, but a good mix of tools should be available.
- Real-time collaboration. If you manage a remote team, check to ensure that your software of choice offers real-time collaboration tools such as live documents, whiteboards and live chat. These features will enhance communication and increase productivity.
- Resource and time management. Before making a final software decision, check to see if the free platform offers resource and time management tools to track time, employee workloads and the resources needed to complete the project.
- Templates. Project templates help get projects off the ground by providing pre-made boards, dashboards and lists that cover the most common aspects of different projects. You can often find templates for software development, CRM, construction, education, HR and many other industries.
- Integrations. SMBs use numerous software platforms to get work done. One of the best things you can do is check to see if the free project management software you’re interested in provides integrations for your existing software. Integrations are usually listed on the provider’s website.
- Automations. You can save tremendous time by implementing workflow automations and recurring tasks. Additionally, automations can increase productivity and save money. So, double-check and make sure that any free program that has caught your attention offers automations.
- Dashboards. If you can’t see how your team is performing, you’re fighting a battle you’ll never win. Make sure that any free project management plan offers reports and dashboards that can display key performance indicators so that you can spot bottlenecks and other performance-related issues.
Value
While we’re focusing on free project management software in this roundup, I recommend researching your chosen platform’s paid plans. The last thing you want is to familiarize yourself with software only to find that you cannot afford its paid tiers when the time comes to expand. Most providers post the cost of their plans on their websites.
Ease of Use
Picking a project management platform with many bells and whistles is fine, but if the software isn’t easy to use, you might face some challenges while trying to complete work. I recommend taking advantage of free trials and demos providers offer so that you and your team can get hands-on experience with interfaces and tools. Only then will you be able to tell if your team will be able to hit the ground running with your project management platform of choice.
Which Free Project Management Software Is Best for Your Business?
It can be hard to choose project management software, especially when so many of them excel at what they do. Still, if you can’t decide which provider to choose after reading this roundup, the scenarios below should help narrow your search.
- If you need robust collaboration tools, look closely at ClickUp, Coda and Notion.
- If you have a larger team, ClickUp, Coda, Trello, Jira and Asana are your best choices, as they support 10 or more users.
- If you use predictive or traditional project management methodologies, such as the Critical Path Method or PRINCE 2, focus on Zoho Projects and Asana, as they offer great Gantt charts.
- If you prefer using Agile frameworks, such as Scrum and Kanban, I recommend spending time with ClickUp, monday.com, Jira and Trello, as they offer the best boards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is free project management software?
Free project management software allows SMBs to plan, organize and track projects without spending a penny. While free project management solutions may offer fewer tools than paid solutions, users should still find enough features to complete simple projects.
How can SMBs benefit from free project management software?
Small businesses can benefit from free project management software in many ways, including managing distributed teams, tracking and completing project tasks, and increasing productivity while protecting their bottom line.
Are free project management software solutions secure?
Yes, free project management software solutions are secure. Most free options provide access to two-factor and multifactor authentication tools, and the servers the cloud-based software is hosted on typically boast SOC Type II certifications and 256-bit AES encryption standards, meaning your data is ciphered and secure.