Best Project Management Software for Book Publishers in 2026
TBy the TaskReports Editorial Team Published 2 Nov 2026 · Updated 2 Nov 2026Last verified 2 Nov 2026How we score
TaskReports may earn a fee from some links on this page, and some placements are paid and labelled. Neither one decides the order. See our disclosure.
The short answer
The best pick for most book publishers is Asana Starter. It gives you Timeline and Gantt views for the publication schedule, custom fields for manuscript stage, and unlimited free guests for authors at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026. That mix fits editorial calendars, proofing and freelance editors. Price source: Asana, checked 2 Nov 2026.
publishers that want a clear publication schedule and free guest access for authors
Timeline and Gantt views with task dependencies
$10.99 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026
Personal plan is free for up to 2 users.
Monday.com
publishers that want colour-coded boards for each title and stage
Boards with Kanban, Timeline
$9 per seat per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026
Free plan is $0 for up to 2 seats.
ClickUp
publishers that want Gantt charts and goals at a low entry price
Unlimited Gantt charts, custom fields and task types on Core
$9 per user per month billed yearly, checked 2 Nov 2026
Free Forever is $0, with unlimited tasks and members and 60 MB of storage.
Smartsheet
publishers that track titles in sheets and need strong formulas
Grid, Gantt, board and calendar views
$9 per member per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026
No free plan.
Airtable
publishers that need a linked catalogue of titles, authors and editors
Relational bases that link titles
$20 per seat per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026
Free plan is $0, with 1,000 records per base, up to 5 editors and 1 GB of attachments per base.
Notion
publishers that want notes, databases and a manuscript tracker in one place
Databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties for tracking work
$10 per member per month billed yearly, checked 2 Nov 2026
Free plan is $0, with unlimited pages and blocks for a single member.
How we choose
We considered 10 tools and shortlisted 6. We compared pricing pages, feature docs and public guidance, and checked every price on 2 Nov 2026. We scored each tool, as set out in how we score, on fit, billing, price, ease of use and integrations.
Publishers need a title list that moves from proposal to manuscript, edit, proof and print, with dates a whole team can see. A tool scored well only if it could show stages, hold an editorial calendar, and let authors and freelance editors join without a paid seat for every reader.
We checked the vendor pages ourselves. Prices come from the vendor pricing page for each tool. If a vendor shows no price, we write Quote only and say so.
Best for publishers that want a clear publication schedule and free guest access for authors.
Timeline and Gantt views with task dependencies, so a schedule stays visible.
Custom fields and templates for stages, owners and dates.
Forms for intake, plus unlimited free guests on paid plans.
Skip it if skip Asana if you need portfolios, workload and approvals without paying for Advanced.
PriceThe entry plan is $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 per user per month billed monthly. Advanced is $24.99 per user per month billed annually. See the [Asana pricing page](https://asana.com/pricing), checked 2 Nov 2026.
Asana lists the entry paid plan at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 per user per month billed monthly on its Asana pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Personal plan is free for up to 2 users. Paid plans have a free trial, and no credit card is required. Its key features are Timeline and Gantt views with task dependencies, so a schedule stays visible. Custom fields and templates for stages, owners and dates.
Price: The entry plan is $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 per user per month billed monthly. Advanced is $24.99 per user per month billed annually. See the Asana pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: skip Asana if you need portfolios, workload and approvals without paying for Advanced.
Unique element: Asana lists unlimited free guests on Starter, so outside collaborators can join without a paid seat.
The free plan covers only 2 users, so a real team must pay.
Portfolios, goals, workload and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month.
Timesheets and Budgets is a separate paid add-on, not part of Starter or Advanced.
2
MMonday.com
Best for publishers that want colour-coded boards for each title and stage.
The entry plan is $9 per seat per month billed annually, or $12 per seat per month billed monthly. Standard is $12 per seat per month billed annually. See the [Monday.com pricing page](https://monday.com/pricing), checked 2 Nov 2026.
Monday.com lists the entry paid plan at $9 per seat per month billed annually, or $12 per seat per month billed monthly on its Monday.com pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Free plan is $0 for up to 2 seats. Paid plans have a 14-day free trial of Pro. Its key features are Boards with Kanban, Timeline, Gantt and calendar views in one place. Dashboards that combine several boards for a whole portfolio view.
Price: The entry plan is $9 per seat per month billed annually, or $12 per seat per month billed monthly. Standard is $12 per seat per month billed annually. See the Monday.com pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: skip Monday.com if you need time tracking and private boards without paying for Pro.
Unique element: Monday.com sells seats above 3 in blocks of 5, so a 4-person team pays for 5 seats.
What we like
Boards with Kanban, Timeline, Gantt and calendar views in one place.
Dashboards that combine several boards for a whole portfolio view.
Guest access from Standard, so clients can view work without a paid seat.
Watch out for
Basic has no automations and no integrations, so Standard at $12 is the realistic start.
Time tracking and private boards need Pro at $19 per seat per month.
Paid plans have a 3-seat minimum, and annual billing is paid in one upfront instalment.
Skip it if skip Monday.com if you need time tracking and private boards without paying for Pro.
Best for publishers that want Gantt charts and goals at a low entry price.
The entry plan is $9 per user per month billed yearly. Business is $17 per user per month billed yearly. See the [ClickUp pricing page](https://clickup.com/pricing), checked 2 Nov 2026.
ClickUp lists the entry paid plan at $9 per user per month billed yearly on its ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Free Forever is $0, with unlimited tasks and members and 60 MB of storage. Its key features are Unlimited Gantt charts, custom fields and task types on Core. Goals, Docs and Chat, with 1,000 automations a month on Core.
Price: The entry plan is $9 per user per month billed yearly. Business is $17 per user per month billed yearly. See the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: skip ClickUp if you need timesheets and resource management without paying for Business.
Unique element: ClickUp lists Core at $9 and Business at $17 on its current pricing page, which replaced the older Unlimited and Business prices.
What we like
Unlimited Gantt charts, custom fields and task types on Core.
Goals, Docs and Chat, with 1,000 automations a month on Core.
Time tracking is included even on the free plan.
Watch out for
Timesheets and Resource Management need Business at $17 per user per month.
Upgrading upgrades the whole Workspace, so you cannot put only some people on Business.
People from inside your organisation added as guests are billed as paid users.
Skip it if skip ClickUp if you need timesheets and resource management without paying for Business.
Best for publishers that track titles in sheets and need strong formulas.
The entry plan is $9 per member per month billed annually, or $12 per member per month billed monthly. Business is $19 per member per month billed annually. See the [Smartsheet pricing page](https://www.smartsheet.com/pricing), checked 2 Nov 2026.
Smartsheet lists the entry paid plan at $9 per member per month billed annually, or $12 per member per month billed monthly on its Smartsheet pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. No free plan. A 30-day free trial is offered, and no credit card is required. Its key features are Grid, Gantt, board and calendar views, with rich formulas for tracking. Unlimited sheets, forms and reports on paid plans.
Price: The entry plan is $9 per member per month billed annually, or $12 per member per month billed monthly. Business is $19 per member per month billed annually. See the Smartsheet pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: skip Smartsheet if you need resource management in the base price, not as a paid add-on.
Unique element: Smartsheet Pro allows only 250 automation runs a month, while Business allows unlimited automations.
What we like
Grid, Gantt, board and calendar views, with rich formulas for tracking.
Unlimited sheets, forms and reports on paid plans.
Timeline view, baselines and team workload tracking on Business.
Watch out for
Pro is capped at 10 members, so a growing team is forced onto Business at $19.
Baselines, Timeline view and workload tracking are gated to Business.
Resource Management, Control Center and Dynamic View are paid add-ons, not in the base price.
Skip it if skip Smartsheet if you need resource management in the base price, not as a paid add-on.
Best for publishers that need a linked catalogue of titles, authors and editors.
The entry plan is $20 per seat per month billed annually, or $24 per seat per month billed monthly. Business is $45 per seat per month billed annually. See the [Airtable pricing page](https://airtable.com/pricing), checked 2 Nov 2026.
Airtable lists the entry paid plan at $20 per seat per month billed annually, or $24 per seat per month billed monthly on its Airtable pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Free plan is $0, with 1,000 records per base, up to 5 editors and 1 GB of attachments per base. Its key features are Relational bases that link titles, authors, editors and dates in one catalogue. Gantt and timeline views on Team, with calendar view and Interface Designer.
Price: The entry plan is $20 per seat per month billed annually, or $24 per seat per month billed monthly. Business is $45 per seat per month billed annually. See the Airtable pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: skip Airtable if you need Gantt views and a large backlist without paying $20 per editor.
Unique element: Airtable charges only for editors, so a reader who only views a base does not need a paid seat.
What we like
Relational bases that link titles, authors, editors and dates in one catalogue.
Gantt and timeline views on Team, with calendar view and Interface Designer.
Only editors are billed, so read-only collaborators and form submissions are free.
Watch out for
The free plan cap of 1,000 records per base is reached fast by a backlist.
Gantt and timeline views need Team at $20 per seat per month.
SAML SSO, the admin panel and two-way sync need Business at $45 per seat per month.
Skip it if skip Airtable if you need Gantt views and a large backlist without paying $20 per editor.
Best for publishers that want notes, databases and a manuscript tracker in one place.
The entry plan is $10 per member per month billed yearly, or $12 per member per month billed monthly. Business is $20 per member per month billed yearly. See the [Notion pricing page](https://www.notion.com/pricing), checked 2 Nov 2026.
Notion lists the entry paid plan at $10 per member per month billed yearly, or $12 per member per month billed monthly on its Notion pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Free plan is $0, with unlimited pages and blocks for a single member. Its key features are Databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties for tracking work. Charts, custom forms and sites, with file uploads up to 5 GB on Plus.
Price: The entry plan is $10 per member per month billed yearly, or $12 per member per month billed monthly. Business is $20 per member per month billed yearly. See the Notion pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: skip Notion if you need full AI and granular permissions without paying for Business.
Unique element: Notion Plus includes a limited trial of Notion AI, while Business includes the full version.
What we like
Databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties for tracking work.
Charts, custom forms and sites, with file uploads up to 5 GB on Plus.
Collaborative blocks and Notion Calendar on the free plan.
Watch out for
On Free, blocks are limited once a second member joins, with a 1,000-block cap.
Full Notion AI is gated to Business at $20 per member per month, while Plus gets only a limited trial.
Page history on Free is 7 days, and uploads are capped at 5 MB.
Skip it if skip Notion if you need full AI and granular permissions without paying for Business.
Which project management software is cheapest for book publishers?
ClickUp is the cheapest paid start, at $9 per user per month billed yearly. Asana costs $10.99 per user per month billed annually, which is more, but it includes the features most book publishers need on the working tier. If you need the cheapest useful plan, check what is gated to a higher tier first, because a low entry price can hide approvals, reports or time tracking that you will need in the first month.
Which project management software is best for a small team?
Asana is the best fit for most small teams, because it covers the core work at a clear price and has a free trial to test. ClickUp is the budget choice, at $9 per user per month billed yearly, and its free plan can carry a very small team. Count seats carefully, because seat minimums and guest rules change the real cost for a team of three or five.
Which tool is best for work across several clients or projects?
Asana is best for work across several clients or projects, because it organises work by client and shows the whole portfolio in one view. Monday.com is a good second choice, with boards and dashboards that roll up several projects. Pick the tool that keeps client work separate, and check that portfolios, dashboards and guest access sit on the plan you buy.
Which project management software is easiest to start with?
ClickUp is the easiest to start with, because it has the lowest entry price in this guide and a free plan or trial. Asana is also quick to start, with templates and a free trial on most plans in this guide. Set up one real project, add your team, and run it for a week before you decide. That test shows whether stages, views and reports fit your daily work.
What to check before you buy
Manuscript stages: confirm you can track a title from proposal to print, with a stage for each step.
Editorial calendar: confirm the calendar view shows publication dates, not just task due dates.
Author access: confirm authors and freelancers can view work without a paid seat.
Proofing: confirm approvals and proofing sit on the plan you buy, not on a higher tier.
Backlist size: confirm record and storage limits fit a backlist, not just new titles.
Trial terms: confirm the trial length, whether it needs a card, and whether it covers the plan you want.
Which project management software is best for book publishers?
Asana is the best fit for most book publishers because it covers the whole publishing workflow at entry price, with Timeline for the publication schedule, custom fields for manuscript stage, and unlimited free guests for authors and freelancers. The price is $10.99 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026.
How much does project management software cost for book publishers?
Entry paid plans in this guide start at $9 per user per month billed yearly for ClickUp. Mid plans run higher, and the top pick costs $10.99 per user per month billed annually. A team of ten on Asana would pay about $1,319 per year before tax at that rate.
Can clients and freelancers use project management software without a full paid seat?
It depends on the tool. Some tools in this guide offer free guests or free client users, while others charge for every person who joins. Check the seat rule on the pricing page before you invite clients, authors or freelancers, and count those seats in your monthly cost.
What should book publishers check before they buy project management software?
Check manuscript stages: confirm you can track a title from proposal to print, with a stage for each step. Also check editorial calendar: confirm the calendar view shows publication dates, not just task due dates. Confirm the price on the vendor pricing page, the trial length, and whether outside collaborators need paid seats.
Do book publishers need invoicing in the project tool?
Not always. Small teams can export time and bill in accounting software. Larger teams that bill by the hour save time when hours turn into invoices in the same tool. If you bill by the hour, pick a tool with invoicing on the plan you buy, and check the price first.