Best project management software 2026
Asana is the best all-round project management software for most teams, combining Timeline and Gantt views with workflow automation rules and cross-project portfolios, from about $10.99 a user a month. ClickUp is the better pick for a team that wants to configure every view and field itself, at a lower $7 entry price. Trello stays the right choice for a single team that only needs one simple kanban board, from about $5 a user a month. All 6 tools compared here are checked on pricing, free plans, features and platforms, verified against vendor sources.
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-03. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Pricing from | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asana | Yes | Free plan; paid from about $10.99 per user per month | cross-team work management at scale | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Trello | Yes | Free plan; paid from about $5 per user per month | simple kanban boards for small teams | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| ClickUp | Yes | Free Forever plan; paid from about $7 per user per month | highly configurable all-in-one work hub | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
| monday.com | Yes | Free plan for up to 2 seats; paid from about $9 per seat per month | visual, colour-coded work operating system | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Wrike | Yes | Free plan; paid from about $10 per user per month | structured project delivery for larger teams | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Basecamp | Yes | Free plan (one project); paid from about $15 per user per month, or $299 per month flat for unlimited users | calm, opinionated project and team communication | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
The shortlist
1. Asana
Free planFounded 2008
Free plan; paid from about $10.99 per user per month. Best for cross-team work management at scale.
- Timeline and Gantt views
- Workflow automation rules
- Goals and portfolios
- Forms and intake
2. Trello
Free planFounded 2011
Free plan; paid from about $5 per user per month. Best for simple kanban boards for small teams.
- Kanban boards
- Butler automation
- Power-Ups
- Card checklists
3. ClickUp
Free planFounded 2017
Free Forever plan; paid from about $7 per user per month. Best for highly configurable all-in-one work hub.
- Custom views and fields
- Docs and whiteboards
- Automations
- Goals and dashboards
4. monday.com
Free planFounded 2012
Free plan for up to 2 seats; paid from about $9 per seat per month. Best for visual, colour-coded work operating system.
- Customisable boards
- Automations
- Dashboards
- Integrations
5. Wrike
Free planFounded 2006
Free plan; paid from about $10 per user per month. Best for structured project delivery for larger teams.
- Gantt charts
- Custom workflows
- Proofing and approvals
- Resource management
6. Basecamp
Free planFounded 2004
Free plan (one project); paid from about $15 per user per month, or $299 per month flat for unlimited users. Best for calm, opinionated project and team communication.
- To-do lists
- Message boards
- Campfire chat
- Hill charts
Head-to-head comparisons
- Asana vs Trello
- Asana vs ClickUp
- Asana vs monday.com
- Asana vs Wrike
- Asana vs Basecamp
- Trello vs ClickUp
- Trello vs monday.com
- Trello vs Wrike
- Trello vs Basecamp
- ClickUp vs monday.com
- ClickUp vs Wrike
- ClickUp vs Basecamp
- monday.com vs Wrike
- monday.com vs Basecamp
- Wrike vs Basecamp
FAQ
- What is the best free project management software?
- Tools with a free plan here include Asana, Trello, ClickUp, monday.com, Wrike, Basecamp. Compare limits before committing.
- How many project management software tools did this list compare?
- This page compares 6 tools, each linked to its own site.