Sections of this topic
Project management software is your company’s ticket to a productive and efficient business approach. With so many available options, choosing the right platform for your business is no easy task. We’ve identified the best project management software for solopreneurs to help you make your selection.
Features of Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
Project management software is not only for businesses with teams of people. Here are some of the top features individuals can use to help their ventures grow.
Task Management and Project Management
Task and project management are where the real magic is at. From one interface, you can lay out all your project work to feel the pulse of your business. Tasks and subtasks break projects down into bite-size pieces you can pick off and chew on as time opens up. There’s nothing more satisfying than checking off tasks as you complete them.
Project Planning and Scheduling
You may be a one-person army, but that doesn’t mean scheduling is unimportant. In fact, it quickly becomes clear how essential project planning is should you have any hope of getting everything done on time. Making use of your project management software’s scheduling tools to map out your day helps keep you on task and efficient with your time.
Time and Resource Tracking
Speaking of time, many of the best project management software for individuals come with automatic time-tracking tools. You can set the service to record your hours as you jump from project to project and see where the day went. Analyzing time sinks can help you better manage time and uncover areas that just aren’t worth the effort.
Budget and Expense Management
You’ll want to dedicate funds to projects and tasks in the same way you allocate your time. You have a finite cash flow and don’t want to break the bank trying to make ends meet on a runaway assignment. Adding all your budget information into project management software makes tracking easy. Similarly, you can record expenses to ensure you’re sticking to the parameters you set and maximize a return on investment.
Document and File Sharing
We all have file creation tools we love, but keeping those documents outside of your project management software only hurts your productivity. The best project management software for solopreneurs incorporate file sharing so you can embed files right within a project. Having documents saved in your projects also allows you to access them from anywhere.
Integration with Other Software and Tools
There’s a good chance that project management software won’t have every feature you need to run a business. Integrations make this a non-issue, enabling you to link your project management tools with other apps to track clients, crunch financials, or create new content. The best options eclipse 200 integrations and can sync fields to save time.
Customization and Flexibility
No two businesses look the same, and project management software can adapt to your individual needs. Customization features abound, letting you choose from a number of unique project views or add in fields to contain data vital to you. Some even allow automations for further customization options under the hood.
Benefits of Using Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
The best project management software options have a lot to offer solopreneurs. Let’s take a look at some of the top benefits these platforms bring to the table.
Improved Productivity and Efficiency
There’s simply no better way to track all your projects than through project management software. Not only can you see all your active jobs at a glance, these platforms make it painfully clear where you’re on schedule and when you’re not. The buck stops with you, so when one area slides, the entire mountain can crumble if you’re not careful.
Many project management tools also add automations to remove mundane tasks from your plate. Using AI feels like having multiple pairs of hands working behind the scenes to keep your operation running smoothly.
Enhanced Time Management and Resource Allocation
Having all your projects laid out in your favorite view helps you locate bottlenecks before they happen and where you need to plug in the lion’s share of your time. Managing your time is paramount to your success, and doing so effectively may allow you to take on more than you otherwise could. Your business may not have a ton of resources to work with, but having a clear pulse on projects should reveal whether it’s time to bring in some help.
Better Budget and Expense Management
Project management software paint a full picture of your company’s operations. Through custom fields, you can log a budget at the beginning of a new project and track its progress throughout the duration. Utilizing the same sections to capture expenses helps you see if you’re staying in the green or needing to reallocate funds.
Since you’ll also track changes to project timelines, you can use software to manage your budget accordingly. Planning projects out through tasks and subtasks allows you to identify budget pinch points that you can work around well in advance.
Improved Decision-Making and Risk Management
Planning out your projects from beginning to end with tasks may alert you to areas that could lead to loss. Using project management software, you can flag these problem spots and mitigate issues as they arise.
As a solopreneur, you’ll also have to be careful not to bite off more than you can chew when growing your brand. The last thing you want are dissatisfied customers dropping bad reviews or having to deal with lawsuits.
Real-Time Project Visibility
Customization plays a crucial role in keeping your projects front and center. Through the dashboard on your project management portal, you control views that matter most to you and how you want to see them. This extends to reporting tools that can track in real-time project deliverables, budgets, and other fields you deem important.
Scalability and Adaptability
Solopreneurs will likely walk into project management software at the lowest tier, which, in many cases, is free. These plans typically cast a look into all the programs a service has to offer as you move up the ladder. Your growing business can slide into these other tiers when you need additional functionality or decide to bring some employees on board.
Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
- Monday.com – Best Overall
- ClickUp – Best for Flexible Views
- Asana – Best Free Option
- Wrike – Best for Ease of Use
- Trello – Best for Kanban Boards
Our Methodology
When determining the best project management software for individuals, we considered cost and the availability of a free version for those on a tight budget.
We also researched project management tools and checked for popular app integrations that can save time and money. Finally, we took a look at customer service and how easy it is to find help when you need it most.
You can find a more detailed description of our methodology here.
Software
Pricing
Free Version
Project Management
Integrations
Customer Support
$8 to $16/month per user
Yes
View work in multiple ways, customize workflows, insights
Outlook, Slack, Google, Dropbox, Zoom, and more
24/7 support via contact form
$5 to $19/month per user
Yes
Organize projects at a glance, track progress, build workflows
GitHub, Slack, Google Drive, Discord, YouTube, and more
24/7 real-time support via phone & chat, webinars, free coaching
$10.99 to $24.99/month per user
Yes
Multiple views to sort projects, assign due dates
Slack, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Vimeo, and more
Forum, academy, guides, use cases
$9.80 to $24.80/month per user
Yes
Customizable dashboards, workflows, request forms, and more
Google suite, Salesforce, OneDrive, Zoom, and more
24/7 support via contact form, interactive training, videos, community forum
$5 to $17.50/month per user
Yes
Customizable cards using the Kanban boards system
Slack, Jira, Dropbox, Google Drive, Miro, and more
Contact form, documentation, community site
1. Monday.com: Best Overall Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
4.7
As a solopreneur, you can quickly take note of active projects and set action items to get them done. You’re free to create the custom setup of your dreams, choosing views and widgets to compliment your methods.
A free plan makes Monday.com an exciting option for startups as well. Link up tools like Zendesk and Salesforce with a click to keep all your operations under one umbrella.
Why we chose it: Monday.com’s deep customization, streamlined interface, and long list of integrations made it our favorite project management software for solopreneurs.
- Long list of integrations
- Several customizable options
- Free plan available
- Free plan lacks features
- Lacks some reporting tools
- No phone support
Pricing
There are a number of pricing tiers to pick from with Monday.com, but none of them are set up for solopreneurs. In each instance, you’ll have to buy at least three seats to tap into the features embedded within. It can be worth investing if you need them, but each tier can serve you well as you bring on some staff.
Free Version
Monday.com’s free version is for up to two seats and lets you capture unlimited documents, three boards, and over 200 templates to build off it. There’s only 500MB of embedded storage, so you’ll likely need to tap into your integrated Google Drive or Dropbox account if you plan to exceed that limit. The biggest downside here is a lack of views that come with the higher paid service tiers.
Project Management
Keeping all your projects visible offers your best chance at success, and Monday.com does this amazingly well. The platform features a number of project management tools to stay productive and a slew of insights to see the full picture. Thanks to the flexible interface, you don’t have to view tasks in an unfamiliar format.
Integrations
In addition to the storage applications mentioned above, Monday.com marries perfectly with Excel, PandaDoc, and more to create and integrate files. You can also connect with your sales or customer experience tools and track results from your Monday.com account. If you are making video chats, Microsoft Teams is just one of many more good tools you can bring on board.
Customer Support
If we have to give Monday.com a black eye for something, it would be customer service. Even as a member, your only real way to connect with an agent is through a form on its website. The form is available 24/7, but it will take some time to get a response. If your issue is dire, the wait may be more than you can handle.
2. ClickUp: Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs With Flexible Views
4.6
It’s hard to look past the sheer number of views ClickUp makes available for its members. Many of these are made available to free users, while others unlock as you move up the price ladder.
The software is also known for excellent reporting capabilities and more customization options than you can shake a stick at. ClickUp’s interface becomes second nature in time, but finding your way around can be a challenge when you first join.
Why we chose it: Toted as “the one app to replace them all”, ClickUp’s abundant views and advanced reporting earn it top honors.
- Over 20 available views
- Advanced reporting capabilities
- Deep customization tools
- Complicated interface
- Mobile app lacks functionality
- Learning curve for advanced features
Pricing
Like Monday.com, ClickUp has four paid services to pick from. Each adds to the previous, bringing in new features, views, and depth you didn’t have before. If you need more features, you can access any tier as an individual and not have to pay for unnecessary seats. Adding staff in the future is as simple as purchasing another seat.
Free Version
ClickUp’s free plan allows for five seats right out of the gate, making it possible to bring consultants, temporary help, or an actual hire on without forcing you into a paid tier. The service gives access to most views, although several of them have limitations you’ll need to work around. Reporting features share at a glance where you’re ahead and which areas are falling behind.
Project Management
With ClickUp, you can create the perfect workflow for every project with nothing more than a few keystrokes. It doesn’t hurt that the site has 20 unique views to choose from. Drag and drop important KPIs onto your dashboard to follow important indicators from one screen. If you want to see how long you’re spending on a particular project, engage time tracking to know for certain.
Integrations
Native integrations include ClickUp’s own API software along with apps like GitHub for programmable content. Limited storage may force you to rely on Dropbox or Google Drive for file dropping, which you can do right from your ClickUp dashboard. Other tools you can join forces with cover everything from calendars to video chat programs and time management tools to supplement what ClickUp already has.
Customer Support
At any time of day or night, you can contact a ClickUp support agent through phone or chat for questions or technical help. The service also puts out regular coaching sessions and webinars to teach about less-used portions of its software.
3. Asana: Best Free Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
4.6
As a solopreneur, you may never have to look beyond Asana’s free plan for all your needs. It’s possible to set up an unlimited assortment of projects and tasks without ever having to pick and choose what matters most.
Furthermore, the platform shares unlimited storage and a healthy number of views. All this rolls up into a crisp user interface and ways to add in your favorite outside apps as well.
Why we chose it: The ability to create unlimited tasks, projects, and activities from a crisp interface makes Asana the best free project management software on the market.
- Excellent free version
- Crisp, clear user interface
- Unlimited storage
- Pricey at higher tiers
- Limited assignments
- Clunky mobile app
Pricing
With only two paid tiers to select from, Asana doesn’t give a lot of variety. Shelling out $10.99 per month introduces a handful of tracking tools and reporting features you can’t get with the free version. The only way up from there is a $24.99 plan, enabling custom rules, portfolios, and advanced reporting.
Free Version
Chances are, Asana’s free version has everything a solopreneur will need to track projects. Not only can you create an unlimited number, it’s possible to line them all up in the project overview or tap into one of your favorite views instead. Limitless file storage is the icing on the cake, as long as you keep files to 100MB or less.
Project Management
Dashboards keep all your pertinent tasks in front of you and all on one screen. Clicking on these tasks lets you dig deeper, finding areas that need immediate attention or opportunities about to slip. The scheduling tool lets you set goals, and Asana will flag you when something falls behind.
Integrations
Asana integrates with over 200 apps, and you can make use of over 100 of these in the free version. Popular tools include Google and Microsoft’s suite of products, Salesforce, and Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Paid tiers open up even more possibilities that your business may or may not benefit from.
Customer Support
There’s no easy way to get in touch with a member of Asana’s team, but they have laid down a number of guides to help with user-related issues. You can view specific use case scenarios to see how features play out and how you can capitalize on them. Worst case, you can turn to the community forum for assistance with sticky areas.
4. Wrike: Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs for Ease of Use
4.4
With Wrike, you can build tasks and subtasks or let the site’s artificial intelligence do the work for you. From the user-friendly dashboard, you can use project templates to automate steps that take the mundane out of your hands.
Real-time analytics are a win for solopreneurs juggling several balls at the same time. It’s best to run the platform from a computer, since mobile apps lack some of the detailed functionality you’ll need.
Why we chose it: Wrike’s no-nonsense, simple project management software removes frivolous bells and whistles so you can focus on the task at hand.
- User-friendly dashboard
- Real-time analytics
- Automated workflows
- Minimal views in the free version
- Expensive advanced plans
- Limited mobile functionality
Pricing
Wrike’s paid plans are set up for teams, which the company goes so far as to spell out in its naming conventions. These leveled-up tiers do come with advanced features and automations you won’t get at the free level. Should you make the leap, you’ll have to buy at least two seats even if you’re still flying solo.
Free Version
If your company ever needs to add someone to the roster, Wrike makes it easy with unlimited seats in its free version. You’ll get to work with tasks and subtasks as you see fit, connecting the dots to overarching project goals. It’s possible to build out work schedules for yourself so you know where to devote your time, but you need to capture everything within 2GB of storage space.
Project Management
The platform’s user interface may be simple, but it allows you to break large goals into any number of actionable tasks to get the job done. Your project can start out from scratch, or you can take advantage of pre-built templates and work off those. At the end of the day, customized reports lay out project performance and areas of concern.
Integrations
Wrike makes it possible to connect tasks with spreadsheets, have visibility on clients, and accelerate workflows depending on which integration you use. For something Wrike can’t do, there’s a good chance you’ll have access to an app that fills in the gaps for you.
Customer Support
Like Monday.com, Wrike has 24/7 support via an on-site contact form. If you need immediate answers, look through the many videos the software keeps on hand. The software has tons of members hanging on community forms who can help with problems as well. Interactive training seminars will bring you up to speed on corners of Wrike you didn’t even know existed.
5. Trello: Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs for Kanban Boards
4.3
Trello is undoubtedly best known for its Kanban board setup alongside a simple but intuitive user interface. Not to sell Trello short, the platform features other views and customization tools to keep your interface fresh.
A solid free plan kicks off the majority of these features, leaving paid versions to pick up the slack. There are some scaling issues, and Trello doesn’t have some Google and Microsoft integrations some solopreneurs may find essential.
Why we chose it: Lovers of Kanban boards need to look no further than Trello for their project management software demands.
- Excellent Kanban board
- Simple, intuitive to use
- Solid free plan
- Missing some Google and Microsoft integrations
- Doesn’t scale well
- Limited views
Pricing
In terms of paid options, Trello has a $5 plan with unlimited boards and storage. The $10 plan is where additional views come into the mix, such as calendar and timeline. Starting from $17.50 per month, you’ll have unlimited workspaces to work from with a number of organization-wide permissions only a larger team would benefit from.
Free Version
Trello’s free version hands you an unlimited number of Kanban cards and power-ups to customize projects as you see fit. You get up to 250 workspace command runs and unlimited storage for files up to 10MB. Trello templates and built-in no-code automation only add to an already full feature set.
Project Management
Since you’re flying solo, taking advantage of Trello’s no-code automations can save you time and money. Creating rules for repetitive tasks frees you up to work on other areas of your business. You also get to play with all of Trello’s customization tools to visualize simple to the most complex projects in a meaningful way.
Integrations
Trello has more than 200 integrations containing a number of the tools you’re already working with on the side. Each one helps you track what these other apps are doing so you don’t have to constantly flip back and forth between them. Surprisingly, Trello does not have connections with Microsoft or Google files that could simplify your work schedule.
Customer Support
You can deal with technical issues by reaching out to Trello through an online contact form from its website. While you’re waiting for a response, post your questions in the helpful community forum to see if someone else has been where you are. The site also has several documents with how-tos you can turn to in a pinch.
Methodology for the Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
To determine the best project management software for individuals, we made a list of methodologies to consider when doing our research. We deemed these the most important:
- Pricing: A software’s pricing is the most likely cause to derail a purchase. Project management software for individuals can be a game-changer, but not if it runs you out of business in the process.
- Free Version: As a solopreneur, you may be counting every penny that comes your way. Fortunately, many project management tools offer free versions with a limited feature set to play around with before making a purchase. In many cases, the available features from the free version are enough to maintain your company for a significant amount of time.
- Project Management: Project management software is nothing without its tools. We looked at every nook and cranny of each product, verifying their offerings and how each component can benefit your business.
- Integrations: There’s something nice about apps working seamlessly together to share data. Integrations can bring in data from other sources and allow you to view everything from one convenient location. It saves a lot of time and energy not having to upload the same information over multiple mediums.
- Customer Service: When issues inevitably happen, you want to know there’s someone you can count on for help. Some project management services make it easy to connect with a live agent, while others hide behind forms. Platforms can also have guides or webinars you can turn to for learning about complex features.
How to Choose the Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
Ready to select the best project management software for your solopreneurship? This guide will help you make a decision.
Identify Your Needs
Before doing anything else, make a list of all the features your business must have from a project management software. This includes views and customization options you have to have, along with budget tools and the number of projects you’ll ultimately need.
Ask yourself if you can handle tech-heavy automations or if you need software with more of a drag-and-drop approach. Tapping into AI can save you a lot of time, but only if you know how to use it.
Do a thorough analysis of all the other apps your company uses so you know exactly what your project management software needs to integrate with. Think through your entire software suite, from calendars to file creators and customer tracking apps.
Assess Your Budget
Now that you know what you need, it’s imperative to come up with a figure you can safely afford to spend to attain them. Project management software should improve your efficiency immensely, leading to financial gains you didn’t have before. The price of project management may quickly pay for itself if executed correctly.
That said, don’t hesitate to study free versions of software until you can afford to move up. There’s nothing wrong with an initial budget of $0 and working from there. Keep in mind that you may have to compromise a bit on features, though.
Research the Available Options
You’ve outlined the parameters of what you’re looking for, and now it’s time to find the perfect project management software. With so many options out there, we recommend starting with our list and only branching out if you need to.
Evaluate the Software Against Your Needs
The next step is to narrow down the list of software options that meet your needs. Look at the budget first, since there’s little wiggle room there. Next, compare product features to your list of essentials and toss any project management companies that don’t offer enough for the price.
Test the Software
With your top few picks, see if you can test the software before making any sort of purchase. Many companies do have free versions, but the functionality can be somewhat limited. To show off the full range of their features, many project management software options have an unadulterated free trial for you to put through the paces.
Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Want to learn more about the best project management software for individuals? This FAQ may have the answers you’re looking for.
Bottom Line
The best project management software for solopreneurs helps you streamline projects while watching budget numbers and tracking your time. You can keep tabs on your company’s well-being through customized dashboards and make important decisions as they arise.
Monday.com is our top pick, thanks to a generous free version, customization tools, and a flexible interface. However, we feel any one of the options on our list could serve you well.
Noah is an American copywriter on a mission to help clarify the nuances of the business world through unique insights stemming from backgrounds in both engineering and the medical field. When not working, you’ll likely find him running or traveling.
