Best Project Planning Software

ClickUp gathers tasks, docs, goals and timelines in one workspace, so a plan can hold the brief, the dates and the work without switching tools. Gantt charts show dependencies and milestones, while list, board and calendar views let each person read the same plan in a preferred layout. Templates cover launches, sprints and client projects, and custom fields track budget, owner and priority beside each date.

The entry tier starts at $9 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers basic task planning for small groups. Automations move tasks, set due dates and send reminders when a step changes, which cuts manual updates on a long plan. The range of views can feel busy at first, so a team should agree on one main view for planning.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: clickup.com

Asana turns a plan into a timeline where tasks sit in date order, with milestones marking the dates a team must hit. Dependencies show which step blocks the next, and portfolio views roll several projects into one status picture for managers who oversee more than one plan. Templates cover campaigns, launches and onboarding, so a new plan starts from a tested shape rather than a blank page.

The entry tier starts at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers basic projects for small groups. Rules move tasks, set dates and notify owners when work changes state, which keeps a plan current without daily manual edits. Teams that need portfolios or advanced reporting move to higher tiers, so the cost follows the depth of oversight a team wants.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: asana.com

Teamwork suits agencies and client teams that plan work around billable projects and fixed delivery dates. Gantt charts, milestones and dependencies map the full project, while task lists and boards show each person what is due next. Templates and project intake forms give a new client project the same shape each time, which keeps plans consistent across accounts.

The entry tier starts at $9.99 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers basic project planning for small groups. Time tracking sits beside the plan, so a manager can compare planned hours with hours logged and spot a project that runs long. Advanced reporting sits on higher tiers, so larger teams should check which tier holds the reports they need.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: teamwork.com

Smartsheet plans in a grid that feels familiar to anyone who has planned in a spreadsheet, with Gantt bars, dependencies and milestones added on top. Rows hold tasks, owners and dates, while card and calendar views show the same plan in a different shape. Templates cover construction, marketing and product work, and forms collect new requests straight into a plan.

The entry tier starts at $9 per member per month billed annually, with a 30-day free trial and no free plan. Automations send reminders, request updates and move rows when dates change, which keeps a long sheet current. The grid-first layout can take time to learn for teams used to boards, and the entry tier lacks some resource views that larger planning teams need.

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

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: smartsheet.com

Wrike plans around folders, projects and tasks, with Gantt charts that show dependencies, milestones and the order of work across a team. Custom workflows move a task through review and approval, and request forms turn new work into planned tasks with an owner and a date. Templates cover campaigns, product work and client delivery, so a plan starts from a known shape.

The entry tier starts at $9.80 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers basic task work for small groups. Dashboards roll several projects into one view, and time tracking sits beside the plan for teams that compare planned hours with logged hours. The range of settings can take time to learn, and workload views and advanced reporting sit on higher tiers.

Price: $9.80 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: wrike.com

GanttPRO focuses on the chart itself, with a clean timeline where tasks, milestones and dependencies sit in date order. A manager can drag a bar to move a date, link tasks to show what blocks what, and set a baseline to compare the plan with how work actually ran. Views for boards and lists sit beside the chart, and templates cover software, construction, marketing and events.

The entry tier starts at $7 per user per month billed annually, with a 14-day free trial and no free plan. Resource views show who holds too much work, and export options carry the chart into reports for clients and managers. The focus on Gantt charts means it lacks the wider docs and chat tools of larger suites, so teams that want one workspace for everything should weigh that limit.

Price: $7 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: ganttpro.com

TeamGantt keeps planning simple, with a Gantt chart where tasks sit in date order and dependencies link one step to the next. A manager can set a baseline, drag bars to move dates, and share a read-only view with a client who only needs to see the timeline. Guest access lets outside readers follow progress without a full seat, which suits small teams that work with clients.

The Base plan costs $59 per month flat and covers 5 projects, 1 manager and 10 collaborators, with a 150-task limit per project, while the free Personal plan covers 1 user, 1 project and 40 tasks, and a 14-day trial opens the subscription tiers. The flat price suits a small team with few projects, but the 5-project limit on Base means a growing team must move up or split work across plans.

Price: $59 per month (flat, Base plan)

Free plan: Yes

Website: teamgantt.com

Microsoft Planner plans inside Microsoft 365, with boards, charts and a schedule view that show tasks, owners and dates in one place. Plans link to Teams, so a team can discuss a task where the plan lives, and Loop components carry a task list into other Microsoft apps. Templates give a new plan a starting shape, and the premium Plan 1 adds timeline and Gantt-style views and dependencies for deeper planning.

Plan 1 starts at $10 per user per month billed annually, with a 30-day free trial and no free plan, and every user also needs a Microsoft 365 licence. Plan 1 is web only, with no desktop client, no baselines and no critical path, so teams that need those views should check the premium tier before they commit. The fit is strongest for teams already settled in Microsoft 365.

Price: $10 per user/month (billed annually, Plan 1)

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: microsoft.com

Trello plans with boards, lists and cards, where each card holds a task, an owner, a due date and a checklist of steps. Calendar and timeline views show the same cards in date order, and templates cover launches and weekly planning. Butler automations move cards, set due dates and send reminders when a step finishes, which keeps a board current with little manual work.

The entry tier starts at $5 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers boards for small groups. The low price and simple layout suit teams that want a visual plan without a long setup, and boards work well for plans with clear stages. Larger plans can need many boards and add-ons, and Gantt views and dependencies sit on higher tiers, so a team with complex sequencing should test the timeline view.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: trello.com