Best Project Document Management Software

ClickUp brings tasks, docs, whiteboards, goals, chat and time tracking into a single workspace, so a brief can live as a doc linked to the tasks that carry it out. Docs support headings, tables, checklists and embedded tasks, and the wiki view groups related docs into a knowledge base. The timer sits inside each task, so the hours spent on a doc-driven piece of work are recorded where the work happens.

The Core plan starts at $9 per user per month billed annually and includes unlimited storage, Gantt charts, custom fields and guest permissions. The free plan covers small teams that want to try the core task, doc and timer features before committing. Teams that need timesheets, resource management and advanced dashboards should check the Business plan at $17 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: clickup.com

Asana keeps tasks, subtasks, milestones and timelines in a calm layout that suits teams of 5 to 200 people. Files attach to tasks and projects, and integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive let a team open, edit and comment on docs without leaving the task view. Approvals on the Advanced plan can route a doc through review, and the timeline view shows when each document is due.

The Starter plan starts at $10.99 per user per month billed annually and adds timeline and Gantt views, dashboards, forms, custom fields and unlimited automations. The free Personal plan covers up to 2 users with unlimited tasks and projects. Teams that need portfolios, goals, workload and approvals should check the Advanced plan at $24.99 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $10.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: asana.com

monday.com organises work on boards with columns for status, owner, dates and files, so a doc sits next to the task it belongs to. The Docs feature lets a team write briefs and specs inside the workspace, and dashboards can show which files are ready, in review or overdue.

The Basic plan starts at $9 per user per month billed annually and includes unlimited items, docs and more than 200 templates, with a minimum of 3 seats. The free plan covers up to 2 seats with 3 boards. Teams that need automations, integrations and Gantt views should check the Standard plan at $12 per user per month billed annually, since Basic includes none of those.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: monday.com

Smartsheet presents work as sheets, grids, cards and Gantt charts, which suits teams that plan in rows and columns. Files attach to rows, so a spec, a drawing or a contract sits next to the task it belongs to, and proofing lets reviewers comment on a file without downloading it. Reports and dashboards pull rows from many sheets into one view, which helps when a programme spans several departments and each one keeps its own files.

The Pro plan starts at $9 per user per month billed annually and includes Gantt views, 250 automation runs a month and 20 GB of storage, for 1 to 10 members. A 30-day free trial gives a team time to build a real plan and test the integrations. Teams that need resource management, unlimited automations and advanced proofing should check the Business plan at $19 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: smartsheet.com

Airtable works as a database with linked records, so a document can connect to a project, a client, an asset and a person without copying the same names into four tabs. Attachment fields hold files, images and links, and views include grid, Kanban, calendar, timeline and Gantt. Interface Designer builds simple dashboards for people who only need to view or update a few fields, which suits clients and reviewers who should not see the full base.

The Team plan starts at $20 per user per month billed annually and covers 50,000 records per base and 25,000 automation runs a month. The free plan covers up to 5 editors and 1,000 records per base. Teams that pass 50,000 records in one base should check the Business plan at $45 per user per month billed annually, since it raises the cap to 125,000 records.

Price: $20 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: airtable.com

Zoho Projects covers task lists, milestones, Gantt charts, time tracking and budgets at a price most rivals cannot match. Documents can be uploaded to a project, and the Documents tab groups files by folder, while forums give a team a place to discuss a file without starting a separate chat thread. Integrations with Zoho WorkDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox help teams that already store files in those products.

The Premium plan starts at $4 per user per month billed annually and includes unlimited projects, Gantt charts, time tracking, budgeting and workflow automation. The free plan covers up to 5 users and 3 projects with 5 GB of storage. Teams that need portfolios, critical path and custom roles should check the Enterprise plan at $9 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $4 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: zoho.com

Teamwork is built around client work, with projects, milestones, tasks and time logs kept together. Files attach to tasks and projects, and proofing lets clients comment on a design or a document without downloading it. The Files tab groups project files in one place, and version notes help a team tell which draft is current when several people edit the same file.

The Basics plan starts at $9.99 per user per month billed annually, with a minimum of 3 seats, and covers project delivery, client organisation and billable time tracking. The free plan covers up to 5 users and 5 projects. Teams that need timesheets, workload planning, retainers and invoicing should check the Accelerate plan at $24.99 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $9.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: teamwork.com

Wrike suits teams that need a clear hierarchy of folders, projects and tasks, with approvals and proofing built into the workflow. A file can move through review, comment and approval as a task with a defined owner and due date, and the Gantt chart shows how a delay in one document affects the dates that follow. Reports can show approval status by project, person and period, which helps managers spot a bottleneck before it blocks a deadline.

The Team plan starts at $10 per user per month billed annually and covers 2 to 15 users, with Gantt charts, dashboards and integrations with common business tools. The free plan covers up to 5 users with basic task and board features. Teams that need resource planning, budgeting and advanced reporting should check the Business plan at $25 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $10 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: wrike.com

Trello keeps work on boards with lists and cards, and each card can hold files, checklists, due dates and comments. A card can act as a simple document record, with the file attached, a checklist for review steps and a due date for the next version. The calendar and timeline views on the Premium plan show when documents are due, and the dashboard view sums cards by list or label.

The Standard plan starts at $5 per user per month billed annually and adds unlimited boards, 250 MB per file and 1,000 automation runs a month. The free plan covers up to 10 collaborators per workspace and 10 boards. Teams that need timeline, calendar, table and dashboard views should check the Premium plan at $10 per user per month billed annually.

Price: $5 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: trello.com