Project Management by Team · Researched comparison

Best Work Management Software for Teams

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The short answer

monday.com is the top pick for teams because it combines boards, timelines, automations, and dashboards in one workspace at $9 per seat per month billed annually, with a free plan for up to 2 seats. Teams that want a simpler board can start with Trello, while teams that need resource planning should compare Wrike and Teamwork first.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • monday.com leads for most teams at $9 per seat per month billed annually, with boards, timelines, and dashboards in one place.
  • Trello is the lowest priced option at $5 per user per month billed annually, and Asana and ClickUp both start at $10.99 and $9 per user per month billed annually.
  • Free plans are available on eight of the ten tools here, while Smartsheet offers a 30 day free trial and Basecamp offers a free plan with limits.
  • Check seat minimums, project caps, and which plan adds timelines, workload views, and time tracking before you choose.
  • Match the tool to your team size and work style, not to the longest feature list, and test the free plan with a real project first.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
monday.comVisual work boards and dashboards$9 per seat/month (billed annually)Yes
AsanaTask lists and team workflows$10.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
ClickUpAll in one tasks, docs, and goals$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
WrikeStructured projects and approvals$9.80 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
SmartsheetSpreadsheet style project plans$9 per member/month (billed annually)Free trial (30 days)
AirtableFlexible databases and views$20 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
NotionDocs, wikis, and task tracking$10 per member/month (billed annually)Yes
TeamworkClient work and project delivery$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
BasecampSimple flat rate team projects$29 per month (flat, Freelancer plan)Yes
TrelloSimple boards and cards$5 per user/month (billed annually)Yes

How we choose

We reviewed the vendor pricing pages, product docs, and feature pages for each tool in this guide, and we compared starting prices, free plans, seat minimums, project caps, and plan limits. We checked which views and features sit in each starting plan, including timelines, workload, time tracking, and reporting, so readers can see what the entry price buys. We focused on facts a buyer can verify on the vendor site, such as the price per user, the free plan terms, and the limits that affect daily use.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

monday.com

Best for Visual work boards and dashboards

  • Clear boards, timelines, and dashboards in one workspace
  • strong automations and integrations for common team workflows
Price$9 per seat/month (billed annually)
See monday.com pricing

monday.com gives teams a visual way to plan work, track progress, and share status without a long setup process. Boards hold tasks, owners, dates, and priorities, while timeline and calendar views show how work fits across weeks. Dashboards pull live data from boards into charts and summaries for reporting.

The platform suits teams that want structure with room to adjust fields, statuses, and workflows to fit their own process. Automations can move items, send reminders, and update statuses when dates change, which cuts manual follow up. The free plan covers up to 2 seats, so a small team can try the core boards before moving to a plan that starts at $9 per seat per month billed annually. The 3 seat minimum on plans means very small teams should check the total monthly cost before they sign up.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: monday.com

Watch out for

  • 3-seat minimum on plans
  • free plan limited to 2 seats
2

Asana

Best for Task lists and team workflows
$10.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Asana works well for teams that run work as a clear list of tasks with owners and due dates. Projects can use list, board, timeline, or calendar views, and tasks can hold subtasks, comments, and files so the detail stays with the work. Rules can route tasks and set due dates when a status changes.

The free plan supports small teams that need basic task tracking and shared projects. Teams that grow into cross project planning will need the Advanced plan for portfolios and workload, which shows who has capacity and where work is stacking up. Asana starts at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, so teams should count the users who need full access and check which views and reports sit in the plan they choose.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: asana.com

What we like

  • Clean task lists with assignees, due dates, and subtasks
  • useful project templates for common team work

Watch out for

  • Portfolios and workload need the Advanced plan
  • reporting depth grows only on higher plans
3

ClickUp

Best for All in one tasks, docs, and goals
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

ClickUp brings tasks, documents, goals, and time tracking into one workspace, which suits teams that want fewer separate tools. Tasks can carry custom fields, priorities, and dependencies, and views include list, board, calendar, timeline, and Gantt style charts.

The free plan covers basic task management and is a fair way to test the layout with a real project. The Business plan adds goals, workload, and more advanced reporting, so teams that need capacity planning should compare that tier before they decide. ClickUp starts at $9 per user per month billed annually. Because the platform offers many settings, teams should agree on a simple structure first and add custom fields only when the team needs them.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: clickup.com

What we like

  • Tasks, docs, whiteboards, and chat in one workspace
  • many views and custom fields for different team styles

Watch out for

  • Advanced features such as goals and workload need the Business plan
  • the range of options can take time to set up
4

Wrike

Best for Structured projects and approvals
$9.80 per user/month (billed annually)

Wrike suits teams that manage formal projects with stages, approvals, and dependencies. Projects use folders, tasks, and subtasks, and Gantt charts show how dates and dependencies connect. Approval workflows route files and tasks to reviewers and record each decision.

The free plan supports basic team work, while the Team plan starts at $9.80 per user per month billed annually. That plan does not include time tracking or resource management, so teams that bill by the hour or need to balance workloads should look at higher tiers. Wrike is a good fit for teams that value clear project structure and formal review steps over a very simple board layout.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: wrike.com

What we like

  • Clear project structure with Gantt charts and dependencies
  • useful approval workflows for review stages

Watch out for

  • Team plan lacks time tracking and resource management
  • higher plans are needed for full capacity planning
5

Smartsheet

Best for Spreadsheet style project plans
$9 per member/month (billed annually)

Smartsheet will feel familiar to teams that already plan work in spreadsheets. Sheets hold tasks in rows with columns for owners, dates, status, and budgets, and Gantt charts and card views show the same data in a different form. Automations can send alerts and update requests when rows change.

There is no free plan, though a 30 day free trial lets teams test the core features. The Pro plan starts at $9 per member per month billed annually and caps at 10 editors, so larger teams need a higher tier. Smartsheet suits operations and project teams that want spreadsheet control with project views, forms, and dashboards, and that are comfortable working in a grid first.

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

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: smartsheet.com

What we like

  • Familiar grid layout with Gantt charts and reports
  • strong formulas and automation for structured plans

Watch out for

  • No free plan
  • Pro plan caps at 10 editors
6

Airtable

Best for Flexible databases and views
$20 per user/month (billed annually)

Airtable combines a database with the look of a spreadsheet, which makes it useful for teams that track structured work such as content calendars, product backlogs, and inventory.

The free plan supports small bases and basic views. The Team plan starts at $20 per user per month billed annually, which is higher than most tools in this guide, and it caps records per base and limits automations. Teams should count their records and check automation needs before they choose. Airtable is a strong pick when the work is data heavy and the team needs linked records more than a simple task list.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: airtable.com

What we like

  • Flexible bases with grid, calendar, and kanban views
  • useful for content, product, and operations tracking

Watch out for

  • Team plan caps records per base and limits automations
  • the price per user is higher than most tools here
7

Notion

Best for Docs, wikis, and task tracking
$10 per member/month (billed annually)

Notion works as a shared workspace for notes, docs, and task tracking in one place. Teams can build wikis, meeting notes, and project pages, then link tasks and databases inside those pages.

The free plan supports individuals and small teams that need docs and basic tasks. The Plus plan starts at $10 per member per month billed annually, though it lacks advanced permissions and SAML SSO, which larger teams may need for control and security. Notion suits teams that want docs and tasks together and are happy to build their own structure, rather than teams that want a fixed project template from day one.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: notion.com

What we like

  • Docs, databases, and tasks in one flexible workspace
  • easy to build wikis and shared team pages

Watch out for

  • Plus plan lacks advanced permissions and SAML SSO
  • project views are less structured than dedicated project tools
8

Teamwork

Best for Client work and project delivery
$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Teamwork is built for teams that deliver work for clients, with projects, milestones, tasks, and time tracking in one place. Each project can hold tasks, files, messages, and time entries, so client work stays in one record. Invoicing links time entries to client billing, which helps agencies track billable work.

The free plan caps at 5 projects and 5 users, which suits a very small team testing the tool. Plans start at $9.99 per user per month billed annually, with more projects, users, and reporting as the tier rises. Teamwork is a good fit for agencies and service teams that need client projects, time tracking, and delivery reporting together, rather than a general task list for internal work only.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: teamwork.com

What we like

  • Clear client projects with tasks, milestones, and time tracking
  • useful for agencies that bill client work

Watch out for

  • Free plan caps at 5 projects and 5 users
  • advanced reporting needs higher plans
9

Basecamp

Best for Simple flat rate team projects
$29 per month (flat, Freelancer plan)

Basecamp keeps project work simple, with to do lists, schedules, message boards, and file storage in one place per project. Teams can post updates, share files, and track tasks without learning a complex project system. The layout stays the same across projects, which helps new team members find their way quickly.

The Freelancer plan costs $29 per month flat and caps at 3 projects and 5 users, while higher plans use flat pricing with no per user fees. There is no Gantt view, so teams that need dependency charts should look elsewhere. Basecamp suits small teams and freelancers who want a calm, simple project hub and who value flat pricing over detailed planning views.

Price: $29 per month (flat, Freelancer plan)

Free plan: Yes

Website: basecamp.com

What we like

  • Simple flat pricing with no per user fees on higher plans
  • clear to dos, schedules, and message boards

Watch out for

  • Freelancer plan caps at 3 projects and 5 users
  • no Gantt view
10

Trello

Best for Simple boards and cards
$5 per user/month (billed annually)

Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to show work at a glance, which makes it easy for new teams to start. Cards hold checklists, due dates, attachments, and comments, and lists can show stages such as to do, doing, and done. Teams can drag cards between lists as work moves, and labels and members make it clear who owns each card.

The free plan supports basic boards and is enough for small personal and team projects. Trello starts at $5 per user per month billed annually, the lowest starting price in this guide, though the timeline view needs the Premium plan. Trello suits teams that want a simple visual board and do not need Gantt charts, workload views, or deep reporting from the start.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: trello.com

What we like

  • Very easy boards and cards with checklists and due dates
  • low starting price for small teams

Watch out for

  • Timeline view needs the Premium plan
  • larger projects need Power Ups and add ons for reporting

What to check before you buy

Use this checklist with real numbers from the prices above before you choose a plan.

  • Count your users first. monday.com needs at least 3 seats on plans, so the entry cost is $27 per month billed annually for 3 seats. Trello starts at $5 per user per month billed annually, so 10 users cost $50 per month billed annually.
  • Check the free plan limits. Teamwork caps the free plan at 5 projects and 5 users, Smartsheet has no free plan and offers a 30 day trial, and monday.com limits the free plan to 2 seats.
  • Confirm the views you need. Trello needs the Premium plan for the timeline view, Asana needs the Advanced plan for portfolios and workload, and ClickUp needs the Business plan for goals and workload.
  • Check time tracking and resource tools. Wrike Team plan lacks time tracking and resource management, so teams that bill by the hour need a higher tier.
  • Count records and editors. Smartsheet Pro caps at 10 editors, and Airtable Team plan caps records per base, so larger teams should check those limits.
  • Compare the top end of the entry range. Airtable starts at $20 per user per month billed annually, which is four times the $5 Trello entry price, so the extra database features must earn that gap.
  • Test with a real project on the free plan or trial, and confirm the cost for your full team before you move to a yearly plan.

FAQ

Which work management software is best for small teams?

monday.com is a strong pick for small teams because it starts at $9 per seat per month billed annually and offers boards, timelines, and dashboards in one place. Trello is cheaper at $5 per user per month billed annually and suits teams that want a simple board. Check the seat minimums first, since monday.com needs at least 3 seats on plans and its free plan covers only 2 seats.

What is the cheapest work management software in this guide?

Trello is the cheapest starting option in this guide at $5 per user per month billed annually, with a free plan for basic boards. Smartsheet and monday.com both start at $9 per member or seat per month billed annually, while ClickUp also starts at $9 per user per month billed annually. Basecamp Freelancer costs $29 per month flat, which can be cheaper for a small team with many users.

Does work management software have a free plan?

Eight of the ten tools in this guide offer a free plan, including monday.com, Asana, ClickUp, Wrike, Airtable, Notion, Teamwork, Basecamp, and Trello, though each free plan has limits on users, projects, or features. Smartsheet is the exception, with no free plan and a 30 day free trial instead. Read the free plan terms on the vendor pricing page before you rely on it for daily work.

How do I choose between Asana and monday.com?

Choose Asana when your team works mainly from task lists with clear owners and due dates, and when you value clean workflows and templates. Choose monday.com when you want visual boards, timelines, and dashboards in one workspace, with automations that update status and send reminders. Asana starts at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, while monday.com starts at $9 per seat per month billed annually.

Do I need a higher plan for timelines and workload views?

In many cases, yes, because timelines, workload, and resource views often sit above the entry plan. Asana needs the Advanced plan for portfolios and workload, ClickUp needs the Business plan for goals and workload, and Trello needs the Premium plan for the timeline view. Check the pricing page for the exact plan that adds each view, then count the users who need access to it.

Can I switch work management tools later without losing my work?

Most tools in this guide offer import options for tasks, spreadsheets, and files, though the exact steps vary by vendor and plan. Export your tasks, dates, owners, and comments before you move, and test the import with one project first. Keep the old tool open until the new workspace is checked, so your team can keep working while you confirm that tasks and files moved across correctly.

Sources we checked

How we score

Need the method behind these picks?

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

monday.com#1 PICK
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