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Project Management by Team · Researched comparison

Best Project Management Software for Research Teams in 2026

By 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 research teams is ClickUp Business. It gives you timelines, custom fields, workload views and docs in one place at $17 per user per month billed yearly, checked 2 Nov 2026. That mix fits labs that track protocols, grant milestones and shared equipment. Prices from the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Best overall ClickUp Core is $9 per user per month billed yearly. Business is $17 per user per month billed yearly; ClickUp shows $25 as the regular Business price. See the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Also great Wrike Team is $10 per user per month billed annually. Business is $25 per user per month billed annually. Pinnacle is quote only. See the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Also great Teamwork Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.99 billed monthly. Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $29.99 billed monthly. See the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
On this page

Key takeaways

  • ClickUp Business is the best pick for most labs, at $17 per user per month billed yearly.
  • Wrike Business is the pick when approvals and proofing matter, at $25 per user per month billed annually.
  • Teamwork Accelerate suits labs that bill time to grants, at $24.99 per user per month billed annually.
  • Asana Starter is the clearest option for small groups that want simple timelines, at $10.99 per user per month billed annually.
  • Check seat minimums and plan gates before you buy; ClickUp prices come from ClickUp's pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forStandout featurePrice rangeFree plan/trial
ClickUpMost research labsWorkload view with custom fields$17 per user per month billed yearly (Business), checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan
WrikeLabs with formal approvalsProofing and approval workflows$10 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan
TeamworkLabs that bill time to grantsTime budgets and invoicing$9.99 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan, up to 5 users
ScoroLarger R&D groups with budgetsCombined projects, time and budgetsFrom $29 per user per month, Projects and Resources, checked 2 Nov 202614-day trial, no free plan
AsanaSmall groups that want clarityTimeline with dependencies$10.99 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan, up to 2 users
monday.comVisual boards for shared equipmentBoards with timeline and Gantt$9 per seat per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan, up to 2 seats

How we choose

We considered 11 tools and shortlisted 6. We compared pricing pages, feature docs and public reviews, and checked every price on 2 Nov 2026. We followed the criteria in how we score tools: fit for the named team at 30, features that matter for the job at 25, price and plan clarity at 20, ease of setup and daily use at 15, and integrations and exports at 10. We also read the project management hub to keep this guide in line with our other team guides.

Research teams need protocol steps, milestone dates, file versions and equipment bookings. A tool scored well only if it could hold a protocol as steps, show a milestone on a timeline, and show who is booked on shared equipment.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

ClickUp

Best for most research labs that need timelines, docs and workload views in one tool.

  • Low entry price, with a free plan for small groups.
  • Custom fields fit protocol steps, sample IDs and equipment names.
  • Workload view on Business shows who is overbooked.

Skip it if skip ClickUp if you want a very simple tool, or strict approval chains on every change.

PriceCore is $9 per user per month billed yearly. Business is $17 per user per month billed yearly; ClickUp shows $25 as the regular Business price. See the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
See ClickUp pricing

ClickUp lists a free plan, Core at $9 per user per month billed yearly and Business at $17 per user per month billed yearly on its ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe custom fields, Gantt charts, docs, and time tracking, with workload views on Business.

Price: Core is $9 per user per month billed yearly. Business is $17 per user per month billed yearly; ClickUp shows $25 as the regular Business price. See the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip ClickUp if you want a very simple tool, or strict approval chains on every change.

Unique element: ClickUp publishes two plan lineups on its pricing page, so confirm which lineup your workspace shows before you budget.

Prices from the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

Watch out for

  • The range of views can confuse new users.
  • Key features sit on Business, so the $9 Core plan is thin for a lab.
  • Permissions need care, or guests can see too much.
2

Wrike

Best for labs with formal approvals, proofing and audit needs.
Team is $10 per user per month billed annually. Business is $25 per user per month billed annually. Pinnacle is quote only. See the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Wrike lists a free plan, Team at $10 per user per month billed annually for 2 to 15 users, and Business at $25 per user per month billed annually for 5 to 200 users on its Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe Gantt charts, dashboards, approvals, proofing and resource planning.

Price: Team is $10 per user per month billed annually. Business is $25 per user per month billed annually. Pinnacle is quote only. See the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Wrike if your team is under five and you do not need approvals.

Unique element: Wrike states that Business plans and above are sold only as annual subscriptions, so you cannot pay month to month for Business.

What we like

  • Approval and proofing workflows fit protocol sign-off.
  • Gantt charts start on Team, so timelines are not locked to the top plan.
  • Folder structure suits multiple labs and grants.

Watch out for

  • Business at $25 per user per month is a large jump from Team at $10.
  • Resource planning needs Business, so capacity views cost more.
  • The interface has many settings for new admins.

Skip it if skip Wrike if your team is under five and you do not need approvals.

Prices from the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Wrike pricing
3

Teamwork

Best for labs that bill time to grants or client projects.
Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.99 billed monthly. Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $29.99 billed monthly. See the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Teamwork lists a free plan for up to 5 users. Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually with a 3-seat minimum, and Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually with a 5-seat minimum on its Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Timesheets, workload planning and invoicing start on Accelerate.

Price: Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.99 billed monthly. Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $29.99 billed monthly. See the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Teamwork if you do not bill time or need invoicing.

Unique element: Teamwork includes free client users on its plans, so outside collaborators do not always need a paid seat.

What we like

  • Time budgets link hours to a grant or a project.
  • Free client users help when outside collaborators need access.
  • Workload planner shows capacity across projects.

Watch out for

  • The useful time and workload features need Accelerate at $24.99, not Basics.
  • The 5-seat minimum on Accelerate raises the cost for a 3-person lab.
  • Setup for budgets takes time and needs clean time logs.

Skip it if skip Teamwork if you do not bill time or need invoicing.

Prices from the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Teamwork pricing
4

Scoro

Best for larger R&D groups that need projects, time and budgets in one system.
Projects and Resources is $29 per user per month, with a 5-seat minimum. Other combinations cost more. See the [Scoro pricing page](https://www.scoro.com/pricing/), checked 2 Nov 2026.

Scoro prices by app combination on its Scoro pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Combinations start from 15 euros per user per month. Its Projects and Resources combination, which covers Do, Deliver, Track and Resource, is $29 per user per month with a 5-seat minimum.

Price: Projects and Resources is $29 per user per month, with a 5-seat minimum. Other combinations cost more. See the Scoro pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Scoro if your lab is under ten people.

Unique element: Scoro sells eight core apps you can mix, so two labs on Scoro can pay different prices for different combinations.

What we like

  • One system holds projects, time, budgets and invoices.
  • Resource scheduling shows capacity across grants.
  • Dashboards report margin and utilisation in one view.

Watch out for

  • The modular price is hard to compare, because the headline rate buys only a starting combination.
  • The 5-seat minimum means a small lab pays for five seats.
  • Setup is heavy and needs an operations person.

Skip it if skip Scoro if your lab is under ten people.

Prices from the Scoro pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Scoro pricing
5

Asana

Best for small research groups that want clear timelines and simple task lists.
Starter is $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 billed monthly. Advanced is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $30.49 billed monthly. See the Asana pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Asana lists a Personal plan free for up to 2 users, Starter at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, and Advanced at $24.99 per user per month billed annually on its Asana pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Timeline and Gantt views start on Starter, with portfolios, goals and workload on Advanced.

Price: Starter is $10.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.49 billed monthly. Advanced is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $30.49 billed monthly. See the Asana pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Asana if you need workload planning on a low budget.

Unique element: Asana charges for seats in blocks above five users, so the seat count on the invoice can be higher than your headcount.

What we like

  • Timeline and dependencies are clear and easy to read.
  • Forms help a lab collect protocol requests in one place.
  • Unlimited free guests on paid plans help with outside collaborators.

Watch out for

  • The free plan covers only 2 users, so a real lab must pay.
  • Workload and portfolios need Advanced at $24.99, more than double Starter.
  • Asana sells seats in groups of five above five users.

Skip it if skip Asana if you need workload planning on a low budget.

Prices from the Asana pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Asana pricing
6

monday.com

Best for labs that want visual boards for shared equipment and project stages.
Basic is $9 per seat per month billed annually, or $12 billed monthly. Standard is $12 per seat per month billed annually, or $14 billed monthly. Pro is $19 per seat per month billed annually. See the monday.com pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

monday.com lists a free plan for up to 2 seats. Basic is $9 per seat per month billed annually, Standard is $12 per seat per month billed annually, and Pro is $19 per seat per month billed annually on its monday.com pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Timeline and Gantt start on Standard, and time tracking starts on Pro.

Price: Basic is $9 per seat per month billed annually, or $12 billed monthly. Standard is $12 per seat per month billed annually, or $14 billed monthly. Pro is $19 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 on a low plan.

Unique element: monday.com sells seats in buckets, so a team of four pays for five seats on Standard.

What we like

  • Boards are visual, so equipment status is easy to scan.
  • Standard adds Timeline, Gantt and calendar views.
  • Automations on Standard can move a task when a stage changes.

Watch out for

  • Basic has no automations and no integrations, so it is thin for a lab.
  • Paid plans need a 3-seat minimum, with seats sold in groups of five.
  • Time tracking needs Pro at $19 per seat per month.

Skip it if skip monday.com if you need time tracking on a low plan.

Prices from the monday.com pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See monday.com pricing

Which project management tool is cheapest for a research team?

ClickUp Core and monday.com Basic are the cheapest paid starts here, both at $9 per seat per month billed yearly, but monday.com Basic has no automations and no integrations. If you need timelines and workload views, the cheapest useful plan is ClickUp Business at $17 per user per month billed yearly. Prices from the ClickUp pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Which tool is best for tracking protocols and milestones?

ClickUp and Wrike are the strongest here. ClickUp uses custom fields for protocol steps and sample IDs, and its Timeline shows milestones in order. Wrike uses Gantt charts, dependencies and approvals, so a step cannot move forward until the last step is signed off.

Which tool handles shared equipment bookings best?

monday.com and ClickUp handle this best for most labs. monday.com boards show equipment status at a glance, and its calendar view shows bookings by date. ClickUp uses a workload view and custom fields to show who has booked what, and when it is due back.

Which tool is best for a lab that bills time to grants?

Teamwork Accelerate is the best pick when hours must link to a grant budget. It adds time budgets, retainers and invoices from logged time at $24.99 per user per month billed annually. Scoro is the pick for larger groups that also need quotes, budgets and margin reports in one system. Prices from the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

What to check before you buy

  • Seat minimums and seat blocks: confirm how many seats you must buy, and whether a team of six pays for ten.
  • Plan gates: confirm timelines, workload views, approvals and time tracking sit on the plan you can afford.
  • Guest access: confirm outside collaborators can view tasks without a paid seat, and what they can see.
  • File limits: confirm storage per user, file size limits, and version history for protocols and reports.
  • Data export: test the export before you commit, and confirm who owns the data if you cancel.
  • Trial terms: confirm the trial length, whether it needs a card, and whether it covers the plan you want to test.

FAQ

Which project management tool is best for a university research lab?

ClickUp is the best fit for most labs because its Business plan adds workload views, timelines and custom fields at $17 per user per month billed yearly, checked 2 Nov 2026. It covers protocols, milestones and shared equipment in one place. Small labs can start free, then move up when they need workload planning and reporting.

What should a research team check before it buys?

Check seat minimums, guest access for collaborators, file limits, and whether timelines and workload views sit on the plan you can afford. Ask who owns the data if you cancel, and test the export. Confirm the price on the vendor pricing page, and confirm the trial length before you share the tool with the whole lab.

Is a free plan enough for a small research group?

A free plan can work for a group of up to five people with a few active projects and simple task lists. It fails when you need timelines, workload views, approvals or audit trails. If you track shared equipment or grant milestones, plan to pay. The paid step is usually $9 to $17 per user per month billed yearly.

How much does project management software cost for a research team?

Entry paid plans in this guide start at $9 per user per month billed yearly, for ClickUp Core and monday.com Basic. Mid plans run $12 to $25 per user per month. A team of ten on a mid plan should budget $1,440 to $3,000 per year before tax, plus any add-ons for time or reporting.

Do research teams need resource planning in the same tool?

Not always. Small labs can manage people with a simple workload view and a shared calendar. Larger groups with shared equipment, multiple grants and staff split across projects need capacity views and utilisation reports. If that is your case, pick a tool with workload planning on the plan you buy, not as a future add-on.

Sources we checked

See best timesheet software for video production agencies and best resource planning software for IT consultancies.

Related guides

How we score

Need the method behind these picks?

We publish the criteria and the weights, so you can disagree with them.

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