Peter Landau - Author at ProjectManager

Best Project Management Software of 2025 (Comparison List)

Peter Landau — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:00:33 +0000

Many project management software alternatives can be used to plan, schedule and track the execution of projects. However, not all project management software is created equal. Some have a full suite of planning, scheduling and tracking features, while others can only help with some project management activities.

What Is the Best Project Management Software?

That’s not an easy question to answer because what’s best for a project depends on the industry, project management methodology, the work style of the team and many other factors.

However, we’ve sampled the best project management software products and rated each according to what they do well and where they’re lacking for both project managers and teams. This shows which project management software is the best fit for the work.

What Key Features Make the Best Project Management Software?

These are some of the main project management tools to look for when choosing project management software for teams.

Project planning and scheduling: Plan how the project will be executed and make a project schedule
Team collaboration: Communicate with teams and work together using online tools such as file sharing, document management and team messaging
Task management: Assign tasks to team members and track their progress Gantt charts, kanban boards or task lists to schedule and manage tasks
Resource management: Allocate resources, estimate their costs and monitor your resource availability
Time tracking: Log the time the team spends working on project tasks using tools like timesheets and dashboards
Cost management: Estimate costs to make a budget and then use timesheets and project dashboards to track costs
Project tracking: Monitor progress, costs and more to ensure that the actual effort is aligned with the planned effort
Project reporting: Make project reports to keep stakeholders informed on project progress
Work management: Balance how workload is distributed among the team
Mobile app: Project management apps are ideal for connecting teams out in the field

Now that we know what project management is and the features essential for getting the most out of project management software, let’s take a look at the top 17 project management software solutions on the market.

2025 Best Project Management Software Rankings

Many project management tools on the market sell themselves as the go-to solution. But how do they measure up to the task? We’ve thoroughly reviewed different types of software for project management, including:

Agile project management software
Construction project management software
Project planning software
Project scheduling software
Project tracking software
Project portfolio management software
Best open-source project management software

We’ve reviewed the best—here are our top picks.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software that organizes teams and projects from initiation to closure. It helps plan, schedule, execute, monitor, balance resources and workload, track and report on projects in real time.

Since the tool is cloud-based, all of the features are accessible anywhere there’s an internet connection. Teams can collaborate by sitting next to one another, or on opposite sides of the globe. Automated email notifications and in-app alerts notify other team members when there’s a new task comment or update. There’s even a free trial so you try it for yourself.

Plan with Gantt Charts

No project management software worth the investment lacks the workhorse of traditional project management, the Gantt chart. ProjectManager has taken the Gantt chart into the new century, allowing teams to build, edit and share project plans. The Gantt acts as a visual project timeline while linking dependencies, creating milestones and even filtering for the critical path. Users can manage resource costs and other budget components. When a plan is finalized, setting a baseline means that project managers can track project variance in real time to keep their project on schedule and within budget.

Automate Workflows Over Multiple Views

Another reason that ProjectManager tops our list of best project management software is that it automated workflows to streamline business processes. By setting up triggers that automate actions, teams are free to focus on more important work. There’s even a task approval setting to ensure that work never fails to meet quality expectations. The automated workflow is available on all project views, from Gantt charts and sheets to kanban, list and calendar views. This is important as project managers, designers, account executives, customer service, stakeholders, et al., use different tools. With ProjectManager, they can work how they want and stay connected to everyone in the project to work better together. This flexibility allows for unrivaled productivity.

Track & Report with Dashboards

Of course, without a way to monitor the project, all of the automation and project views in the world won’t deliver success. But ProjectManager is project management software that has multiple windows into project progress and performance all in real time. A live dashboard captures project data, calculates it and displays six metrics including time, task, workload, costs, etc. Unlike other project management software, there’s no setup required to get a high-level view of the project whenever you want.

Create Reports in Minutes

Reporting is another integral facet of project management software. Reports can provide valuable real-time data to help managers make better decisions and they’re key to staying on schedule and managing stakeholder expectations. ProjectManager has customizable reports for project and portfolio status, tasks, timesheets and more. They can be filtered to show details for project managers or a more general overview for stakeholders. Plus, it’s easy to share reports in a number of formats.

Track Costs & Resources with Timesheets

Don’t overlook the importance of resource management tools that balance team workload to keep them working at capacity. ProjectManager has secure timesheets to track time on tasks, streamline payroll and tools to see team availability when making assignments. There’s an online file storage and global search that turns project management software into the project hub. With so many noteworthy features, those looking for software that meets their project needs should get started with ProjectManager for free.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Planning, Scheduling and Tracking Projects Across Industries

ProjectManager Key Features & Benefits

Offers a wide variety of tools for managing tasks, projects and workflows
Resource management and cost-tracking features
Online team collaboration solution
Ideal for construction, manufacturing and professional services teams
Mobile app for Android and iOS
Free trial

ProjectManager Cons & Limitations

Limited customization features
Few native integrations
No free plan

ProjectManager Pricing

Team plan: $13 user/month
Business plan: $24 user/month

ProjectManager Reviews

Does ProjectManager offer a free trial? Yes, there’s a 30-day free trial
Does ProjectManager have a mobile project management app? Yes, it’s available for Android and iOS

2. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a popular project management tool that bills itself as a productivity booster. It’s easy to use and flexible enough to manage projects of different sizes. It features a Gantt chart and kanban boards as well as a dashboard to get a big-picture view.

Like most project management software tools, Smartsheet fosters collaboration, but it comes with a high price tag. Some features are missing, even though it’s an otherwise thorough tool. For instance, there are no time-tracking capabilities.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Switching from Spreadsheets

Smartsheet Key Features & Benefits:

Ideal for switching from spreadsheets to project management software
Files can be exported in a variety of formats which facilitates sharing them across platforms and devices
Runs on Windows and Mac computers
Free trial and free plan
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Smartsheet Cons & Limitations:

Most of its project management tools are spreadsheet-based which is not ideal
Users need to learn formulas unique to this software, which are hard to learn for most users
Limited resource management features
User interface isn’t ideal for program or portfolio management as it becomes cluttered and hard to navigate
Limited project reporting features

Smartsheet Pricing

Pro: $7 per user/month (maximum of 10 users)
Business: $25 per user/month (minimum of 3 users)

Smartsheet Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

3. Wrike

Wrike positions itself as an agile project management software. It organizes tasks, facilitates collaboration with file sharing and keeps track of progress. They have Gantt charts, reporting and security features. What distinguishes the tool is its three-pane view, which shows a dashboard, an individual or new task and all tasks and subtasks.

That three-pane view can be a deficit, though, as it can be hard to navigate and onboard teams. Its project tracking is limited, which can be frustrating when trying to keep to your schedule and budget. Like many of the more commercially branded products, Wrike can be expensive.

Verdict: Best Marketing Project Management Software

Wrike Key Features & Benefits:

Allows users without a license to view projects, which helps update stakeholders on project progress
Offers multiple project management tools for planning and scheduling
Free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Wrike Cons & Limitations:

High user minimums for all its pricing plans
Can be hard to navigate due to its non-intuitive user interface
Its project management tools like Gantt charts lack resource management or cost-tracking features
Limited project tracking and reporting functionality

Wrike Pricing

Pro: $7 per user/month (maximum of 10 users)
Business: $25 per user/month (minimum of 3 users)

Wrike Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

4. Monday

Monday is a tool that connects teams so that they can execute their tasks more efficiently. It helps teams plan, manage and track tasks on a visual interface, allowing for the creation of visual workflows. The tool can execute projects no matter their size or complexity, helping teams stay organized and productive.

Oddly, as it targets task management, Monday makes it difficult to track time and expenses related to tasks. The biggest omission, however, is the lack of a fully-featured Gantt chart, which is considered the standard tool when planning and scheduling tasks for teams. If you’re interested in using this software with other applications, the integration is limited. There are many apps that work with Monday, but many popular ones don’t, which has led to the development of Monday alternatives.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Workflow Planning

Monday.com Key Features & Benefits:

Ideal for users who are getting started with project management tools
User-friendly interface
Variety of team collaboration tools
Free trial and free plan
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Monday.com Cons & Limitations:

Most of its features are geared towards work management and not project management
Lightweight project tracking features
Project dashboards and reports are too high-level view and lack detailed information on certain areas such as resource planning or budget tracking

Monday.com Pricing

Pro: $7 per user/month (maximum of 10 users)
Business: $25 per user/month (minimum of 3 users)

Monday.com Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

5. Asana

Asana has a large user base which is a testament to its ability to manage tasks. This large user base might be due to Asana’s integrations with other apps, likely a selling point for many. It also has a full slate of features, from Gantt charts to kanban boards, though some of its features are in-app and others require plug-ins.

One of the main setbacks of Asana as a task management tool is the fact that tasks can only be assigned to one person. If you have a team working together on executing a task, there’s no way to assign it to multiple people. There’s also no time-tracking feature to determine how long a team member has spent working on a task, which can make staying on schedule and budget a challenge. Asana is a popular tool but has tracking drawbacks that leave many looking for an alternative.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Small Teams

Asana Key Features & Benefits:

Focuses on team collaboration and communication
Easy-to-use tools for both team members and project managers
Free trial and free plan
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Asana Cons & Limitations:

It’s Gantt chart functionality is limited compared to most project management software in this list
Overly simplistic features that are not robust enough for certain areas of project management, like budgeting and resource planning
It’s features are a better choice for managing simpler tasks and workflows than larger projects

Asana Pricing

Premium plan: $10.99/user/month, billed annually
Business plan: $24.99/user/month, billed annually

Asana Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

6. Trello

Trello is a collaborative software tool that uses kanban boards, lists and cards to help teams organize and prioritize their work. It’s a highly visual tool that provides users with three tiers of information with drag-and-drop editing. It has real-time updates and is easy to onboard teams who will find its graphic interface intuitive.

But Trello is a bit of a one-trick pony. While it does that one trick well, there are no Gantt charts in Trello, which limits users’ ability to plan their projects or set task dependencies. Even the kanban is limited in that it can only use one board or project. Additionally, there are no customized tags and it has little email integration.

Trello isn’t a great fit for larger teams or larger projects, but luckily there are numerous Trello alternatives that not only offer kanban boards but a whole set of project management features.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Kanban Boards

Trello Key Features & Benefits:

Ideal for Atlassian users as it integrates with Jira and Confluence
Can be used for agile sprint planning and managing scrum projects
Free plan and free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Trello Cons & Limitations:

Has a very limited feature set compared to most project management software
Its functionality greatly depends on integrations and paid add-ons, which isn’t ideal compared to using just one project management tool
There are no Gantt charts

Trello Pricing

Standard: $5/user/month, billed annually
Premium: $10/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: $17.50/user/month, billed annually

Trello Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

7. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is a favorite for organizations to manage large and complicated projects. Because it’s Microsoft, the tool integrates easily with the full suite of MS software solutions. Besides MS Office 365, there are communication platforms such as Skype and Teams. It also offers a full range of project management tools, from Gantts to dashboards, to help better manage projects.

Because it offers so much, MS Project can be difficult for users to get a handle on. There’s a steep learning curve that often requires a lot of training to get users equipped. It’s also expensive and that price increases when licensing the product to everyone on the team. But most irritating is how poorly it works at connecting teams. There are no real-time updates without integration and it doesn’t work on Apple products; if the team uses that operating system, they’ll be locked out. However, Mac users don’t need to panic as there are many similar project planning apps or Mac that can work as an MS Project replacement.

For these and other reasons, Microsoft Project’s popularity has decreased over time. It used to be a common choice for many project managers, but now there are many different Microsoft Project alternatives that might be a better fit for your organization.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Kanban Boards

Microsoft Project Key Features & Benefits:

Ideal for organizations that use other similar Microsoft solutions like Teams, Planner or Lists
Can be used for agile sprint planning and managing scrum projects
Free plan and free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Microsoft Project Cons & Limitations:

Has a very limited feature set compared to most project management software
Its functionality greatly depends on integrations and paid add-ons, which isn’t ideal compared to using just one project management tool
There are no Gantt charts

Microsoft Project Pricing

Standard: $5/user/month, billed annually
Premium: $10/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: $17.50/user/month, billed annually

Microsoft Project Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

8. Primavera

Primavera is Oracle’s pony in the project management race. It’s a cloud-based tool that addresses the needs of project portfolio management. It’s used mostly by the construction and engineering industries and has a slew of features including Gantt charts, risk management tools, real-time reporting, graphical workflow modeling and progress tracking. There are also collaborative tools to connect teams on their preferred device.

As might be expected, the software isn’t the most user-friendly and can take a beginner some time to get comfortable with the tool. Like Microsoft, it’s not cheap, which might explain why it’s marketed to larger companies with the funds to invest in its product. There have also been a lot of user complaints about poor customer service, which is a shame as many new users will require some handholding to get used to working with the otherwise robust tool. Check our blog to learn more about Primavera P6.

Verdict: Best Project Portfolio Management Software for Businesses

Primavera Key Features & Benefits:

Offers specialized features for enterprise project portfolio management
On-premise and online project management software solutions
Has an online version, Oracle Primavera Cloud
Mobile app for Android and iOS
Free trial

Primavera Cons & Limitations:

There’s no customer support from Oracle, contact software resellers
User interface feels outdated compared to most project management software in this list
The software is complex and hard to use
It’s difficult to find product documentation online
Very expensive project management solution for small teams
No free plan

Primavera Pricing

You may acquire a desktop license or pay a monthly subscription for the online service for any of these and other versions of Primavera.

Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management: $2,750
Primavera P6 Progress Reporter: $950
Primavera P6 Professional Project Management: $2,500

Primavera Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

9. ClickUp

ClickUp says it’s the only project management tool you’ll need. It does a lot: tasks, documents, chat, setting goals and more. The project management software lets one manage work and collaborate by creating groups, assigning comments for action items and linking tasks. It tracks progress in real time and has list, board and calendar views.

But there’s a lot of heavy lifting required of users to get what they want in addition to several UI issues. For example, there’s a Gantt chart builder whereas other project management software has a Gantt chart already seamlessly incorporated into the tool. The whole point of project management software is to make work more efficient. While ClickUp might be a good fit for some teams, it certainly doesn’t work for every team.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Team Collaboration

ClickUp Key Features & Benefits:

Offers productivity tools such as document editors and whiteboards for brainstorming with teams
AI task management features for marketing and sales teams
Good alternative for product development projects
Mobile app for Android and iOS
Free plan and free trial

ClickUp Cons & Limitations:

Most of its tools are not related to project management
Lacks cost and resource management features and tools
It’s feature set can be confusing for most users which complicates team onboarding and implementation of the software
While it offers a variety of tools and features, most of them have limited functionality compared to most project management tools in this list

ClickUp Pricing

Unlimited: $7/user/month, billed annually
Business: $12/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: contact sales

ClickUp Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

10. Kantata

Kantata has recently joined Kimble, a professional services automation app, to focus on staff optimal teams and real-time data to boost operational performance. This project management software looks at resources to help teams get better results by scaling and deploying tasks in real time to pivot as things change in the market. It’s all about streamlining to boost efficiency.

What caused us to think twice was the price as it’s always worrisome when no pricing is listed. That’s the first red flag. Second, this project management tool has a learning curve that you have to overcome before enjoying any benefits. Many other project management software products we reviewed were plug-and-play, which might cause some to steer clear of this option. They have a mobile app but it has a lot of improving to do.

Kantata Key Features & Benefits:

Can be used for resource planning and operations management
Time tracking, billing and payment processing features for large organizations
Financial management tools
Free trial

Kantata Cons & Limitations:

Doesn’t have kanban boards, project calendars and other basic project management tools
Not ideal for agile project management methodologies
Lacks features for managing everyday project tasks
Limited collaboration features compared to most project management software in this list
No mobile app
No free plan

Kantata Pricing

Custom pricing depends on company information

Kantata Reviews

G2 review: 4.1/5
Capterra review: 4.2/5

11. Basecamp

Basecamp is a project management software that organizes projects and teams by giving users visibility into what everyone is working on. This fosters collaboration and keeps everyone productive. Basecamp is pushing itself as the remote project management tool that helps teams work together anytime and anywhere.

As with any other project management software, there are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to using Basecamp to manage projects. One thing that might get in the way of that organization is a lack of tags and labels to quickly identify tasks. More problematic is that the project management software has no time tracking. Even though it can bring remote workers together, there aren’t any advanced features that can help them, such as analytic tools for insights into the project. Even chat functionality, which is a benefit, is poorly thought out. Topics and conversations can’t be archived, which is frustrating.

Basecamp Key Features & Benefits:

Low-cost project management tools for larger teams
Guest users can visualize project views without a plan
Mobile app for Android and iOS
Free trial

Basecamp Cons & Limitations:

Lacks Gantt charts and other basic project planning tools that most project management software in this list have
Limited resource tracking and cost management features
Overly simplistic tools and features
No free plan

Basecamp Pricing

Basecamp: $15 user/month
Pro Unlimited: $299/month

Basecamp Reviews

G2 review: 4.1/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

12. Jira

Jira, which is a product of Atlassian, started as a tracking tool for software developers. It has grown since then and has great features for tracking all types of issues, tasks and work items. This project management software helps to plan and track projects, generate reports and automate processes. It has enterprise-grade security and the Atlassian Marketplace is rich with plugins to further the tools’ reach.

With a product that grew out of software development, the setup is challenging for first-time users. There’s a steep learning curve and so many configuration options as to make one feel dizzy. While there are email notifications, there’s no messaging in the tool. Although it can use integrations for notifications, this just adds a layer of complexity to an already complex project management tool. The biggest complaint is that this is more a tracking tool than a full-service project management software. There’s no way to manage costs or assess risks. Plus, it’s not ideal for any methodology outside of Agile.

Verdict: Best Project Management Tools for Software Development Projects

Jira Key Features & Benefits:

Offers specialized tools for software development teams
Free project management software for teams of less than 10 people
Free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Jira Cons & Limitations:

Short free trial period
Kanban boards are harder to use than most project management software in this list due to their agile software development features
Good for agile and scrum projects, but not compatible with other project management methodologies
No free plan

Jira Pricing

Free for up to 10 users
Standard: $7.75 per user
Premium: $15.25 per user
Enterprise: Custom pricing

Jira Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

13. Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is online project management software that does the expected, helping teams to plan, track work and improve collaboration. One advantage users will immediately notice is the price as it’s certainly competitive. The billing and time tracking features are also going to make users take a second look. There are task and project tracking features that add up to an attractive package.

Before putting all of the work into this project management software, though, one should know that the search function is limited to only tasks in a project. There’s no global search. There is, however, a dashboard, but its functionality could use improvement. Besides the features, the whole tool will take a lot of time and effort to set up and use with any level of skill and comfort.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Small Teams

Zoho Projects Key Features & Benefits:

Low-cost project management tools
Free plan for up to three users
Offers a variety of third-party integrations
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Zoho Projects Cons & Limitations:

Its project planning views such as Gantt charts and kanban boards have limited functionality in comparison to most project management tools in this ranking
There are navigability and usability issues across its tools that affect the user experience
Short free trial period

Zoho Projects Pricing

Premium: $5/user/month, billed monthly
Enterprise: $10/user/month, billed monthly

Zoho Projects Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

14. ProofHub

ProofHub sells itself as collaborative project management software, controlling teams and projects to improve timely delivery. Like many others on this list, they have various project tools, such as kanban boards and Gantt charts in addition to custom workflows. Unlike others, they have proofing and markup tools as well as chat for collaboration. There are resource and workload reports and timesheets, too.

While this might seem like a fully loaded project management software, it isn’t. There’s no budgeting function for one, which is a glaring omission. There’s no way to set up budget or tracking requirements during project execution. Less annoying but still a problem is the lack of recurring tasks, which would make work more efficient.

Verdict: Best Low-Cost Project Management Software for Creative Teams

Proofhub Key Features & Benefits:

Has specialized tools for creative projects such as document management and image proofreading features
Special pricing plans for nonprofit organizations
Project management reports and templates
Free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Proofhub Cons & Limitations:

Gantt charts and other project management tools don’t offer built-in resource planning, cost tracking or resource management features
Expensive solution for smaller teams
No free plan

ProofHub Pricing

Essential: $45 per month, flat pricing
Ultimate Control: $89 per month, flat pricing

ProofHub Reviews

G2 review: 4.5/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

15. Hive

Hive is a leading project management tool that helps thousands of teams work faster in today’s hybrid work environment. Hive brings all your workplace tools to one dashboard, so you can manage projects, chat with coworkers, send emails, and even start Zoom calls without ever leaving the window.

Hive is the first and only democratic project management platform. Via the Hive Forum, customers have access to a public roadmap and can submit and vote on the features they’d like to see in Hive. It’s a tool built by users, for users. Some of Hive’s key features include 6 flexible project views, including Gantt, Kanban, Calendar & Table views. It also offers an AI-powered writing tool and a native chat application for private and group messaging.

Hive Key Features & Benefits

Has a library of predetermined project management templates that can help project managers save time with routine tasks
Free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Hive Cons & Limitations:

The setup process for some of its tools like Gantt charts is time consuming compared to other software for project management in this list
The free plan is limited to a number of uses
Must purchase add ons to get the same features as with other free editions on this list

Hive Pricing

Teams: $12 user/month

Hive Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

16. nTask

nTask is a project management software that focuses on task management. It provides transparency into the process and fosters collaboration for teams. Beyond assigning tasks, users can set recurring work, create progress reports, share files and more. It helps monitor the budget, allocate resources and even risks—all important aspects of managing the team’s tasks.

That doesn’t mean nTask is without its problems. One thing that blocks collaboration is that the project management tool doesn’t have a Zoom integration. While it has other communication tools, if the team is already using Zoom, this can be a problem. The tool also has limited customization and formatting options. A big hole in the app, especially for agile users, is that there’s no kanban board. That’s an odd omission for a project management software that specializes in task management.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Managing Every Day Project Tasks

nTask Key Features & Benefits:

Multilingual support
Offers a variety of task management tools like to-do lists and kanban boards
Free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

nTask Cons & Limitations:

Short free trial period
No program and project portfolio management tools
Limited resource management and cost-tracking functionality
No free plan

nTask Pricing

Essential: $45 per month, flat pricing
Ultimate Control: $89 per month, flat pricing

nTask Reviews

G2 review: 4.5/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

17. Adobe Workfront

Adobe Workfront is work management software that focuses on enterprise businesses. This project management software helps teams connect and collaborate on workflows. It streamlines intake, automates workflows and creates custom forms to help enterprises execute strategy. The tool has resource management, configurable dashboards and integrations to help with planning. Some features measure progress and productivity.

This might sound ideal until you try and unravel its complicated pricing structure. It’s certainly not going to attract smaller businesses, and even enterprise customers might find it hard to understand the price structure of the tool. While this is project management software, it looks more like Excel. It’s not the easiest tool to use, which leaves many project managers and team members looking for a Workfront alternative.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Strategic Planning

Adobe Workfront Key Features & Benefits:

Strategic planning and roadmapping tools
Helps large organizations manage workflows and project portfolios
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Adobe Workfront Cons & Limitations:

Limited project planning, scheduling and tracking features
Doesn’t specialize in project management like most tools on this list
No free plan
No free trial

Adobe Workfront Pricing

Enterprise, business and pro license types available, pricing upon request

Adobe Workfront Reviews

G2 review: 4.1 / 5
Capterra review: 4.4 / 5

18. Celoxis

Celoxis is a strong project management software for mid-sized to large organizations that need robust tools for planning, tracking and reporting across complex projects. It excels with features like dynamic Gantt charts, advanced resource management, time tracking, financial forecasting, and custom dashboards. Its ability to handle portfolio management, workflows and project requests in a single platform makes it ideal for organizations managing multiple interdependent projects. The software’s scalability and real-time insights offer strong visibility into performance, helping teams stay aligned and executives make data-driven decisions.

On the downside, as a project management software, Celoxis can be overwhelming for smaller teams or businesses without dedicated project management professionals. The user interface, while functional, is not as intuitive or modern as some competitors, which may result in a steeper learning curve. Customization options can require technical skill and integrations with third-party tools are limited compared to more flexible, API-driven platforms. Additionally, Celoxis is more enterprise-focused, so its pricing and complexity may not be a good fit for startups or teams looking for lightweight, agile-friendly solutions.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Scalability

Celoxis Pros & Key Features

Dynamic Gantt charts
Custom dashboards
Portfolio management

Celoxis Cons & Limitations

Steep learning curve
Poor interface
Customization requires technical skill

Celoxis Pricing

Essential: $25/user/month (billed annually)
Professional: $35/user/month (billed annually)
Business: $45/user/month (billed annually)
Enterprise: Contact sales

Celoxis Reviews

G2 review: 4.5/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“It includes many features like: task manager, cost tracking, resource tracking. You can calculate allocation of resources, build reports, etc.” Enrique L. – from Capterra
“I really like the dashboards offered by Celoxis for streamlining the IT industry as well as i really like the use case of Tuskr for test case management” Ujjwal S. – from Captterra

19. Teamwork

Teamwork is project management software for teams that need robust task management, time tracking and client collaboration features. It shines in professional services and client-facing industries thanks to its built-in billing, workload management and the ability to manage multiple projects across teams. The interface is clean and supports different project views, including Gantt charts and kanban boards, allowing for both high-level planning and detailed execution. It also integrates with tools like Slack, Google Drive and HubSpot, making it easy to embed into existing workflows.

However, Teamwork can be less ideal for teams looking for simplicity or modern UX design. Yet, it can take a while to figure out how to use the software–especially for new users or teams transitioning from simpler tools. Add to that complaints about performance issues such as slow lead times and lag when managing large projects. Additionally, certain advanced features—like full reporting or granular time tracking—are locked behind higher-tier plans, which may not suit startups or budget-conscious teams. As a result, while Teamwork is comprehensive, it may not be the best fit for all organizations, particularly those seeking lightweight, intuitive solutions.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Client-Facing Industries

Teamwork Pros & Key Features

Client collaboration features
Built-in bill
Many integrations

Teamwork Cons & Limitations

Many features can be overwhelming
Steep learning curve
Advanced features behind higher tier subscription

Teamwork Pricing

Grow: $19.99/user/month billed annually
Scale: $54.99/user/month billed annually
Enterprise: Contact sales

Teamwork Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“What I enjoy most about working in a team is when we have a set plan for how to accomplish our goals. It encourages team members to work together toward a single objective, and it establishes some semblance of order and predictability in the process.” Rachel M. – from Capterra
“I really liked the burn down reporting Teamwork offers.” Blake C. – from Capterra

FAQs

Those are 17 of the top project management software products. Which one is best depends on what an organization is looking for. Our top choice is ProjectManager, an award-winning project management software that helps plan, schedule and track costs, resources and more. Many tools help plan and collaborate, but what sets ProjectManager apart is its real-time tracking capabilities that help remain on track and on budget.

What Is Project Management?

Whether a seasoned professional and an accidental project manager, it’s best to define the term project management before diving into project management software. Project management is simply using various processes, methodologies, skills, knowledge and experience to plan, execute and track projects.

There are a number of different methodologies used to manage projects that influence what the best project management software is for an organization. They range from the traditional waterfall methodology, which plans, to agile environments that are more iterative. Project management has grown from a specialized industry to applications in everything from construction and manufacturing to IT and marketing.

What Is the Best Free Project Management App?

Ideally, look for a project management app that manages team workload and tracks progress and costs. Additionally, it should help teams collaborate whether in the office or out in the field.

For example, workers across industries can take ProjectManager’s project management app to their workplace to report on their progress, keep track of tasks, log work hours, share files and much more. These and other features make ProjectManager one of the best project management apps for construction, manufacturing and professional services teams.

Other project management apps in the list above include:

Smartsheet
Monday
Asana

What Are the Best Free Project Management Software Alternatives?

Some project management tools have a free plan which, in most cases, allows users a limited version of their software. Here are some examples:

Jira
ClickUp
Basecamp

Or, to evaluate various alternatives to help make a decision, most project management tools offer a free trial to try all their features.

Archivo MPP: ¿Qué Es y Cómo Editar Un Archivo en Formato MPP?

Peter Landau — Thu, 29 May 2025 22:00:24 +0000

Gestionar un proyecto es un esfuerzo en equipo. A lo largo del ciclo de vida de tu proyecto, es crucial mantener la comunicación con los miembros del equipo, ejecutivos, clientes y otras partes interesadas. Para lograrlo, sin duda compartirás distintos tipos de archivos que contienen datos del proyecto.

Dependiendo de las herramientas de gestión de proyectos que utilices, podrías terminar con archivos de varios tipos—y esto puede generar problemas de compatibilidad. Un ejemplo de esto es un archivo MPP.

Desafortunadamente, como los archivos MPP no fueron diseñados para compartirse fuera de Microsoft Project, el software de gestión de proyectos en el que se crean, intentar abrir una extensión de archivo MPP puede generar confusión y retrasos. Sigue leyendo para ver cómo se crean los archivos MPP y cómo abrir esta extensión de archivo para acceder a datos importantes del proyecto.

¿Qué Es Un Archivo MPP?

Un archivo MPP es un formato exclusivo de Microsoft Project. Cada archivo MPP contiene información detallada sobre un proyecto, incluyendo el plan del proyecto, cronograma, línea de tiempo, presupuesto, entregables y más. En esencia, es un plano completo del proyecto, y exportarlo permite compartir información con las partes interesadas.

La diferencia entre compartir una extensión de archivo MPP y otro tipo de archivo es que los archivos MPP solo pueden abrirse si se cuenta con una licencia de Microsoft Project. Esto impide que muchas personas puedan abrir el archivo que se les ha compartido.

Un ejemplo común de este problema es cuando se comparten archivos MPP con usuarios de Mac. Debido a que Microsoft Project no puede usarse en Mac, no hay forma de abrir una extensión de archivo MPP ni ver la información o hacer cambios. Este problema afecta directamente el flujo de trabajo y ralentiza los proyectos. Incluso si todo el equipo usa Microsoft Project, es probable que alguien con quien compartan los datos del proyecto no lo use. Hay muchísimas herramientas de gestión de proyectos, pero los archivos MPP te obligan a usar únicamente Microsoft Project.

Por suerte, ProjectManager es una alternativa a Microsoft Project con una potente función de importación que te permite acceder a los datos existentes en tus archivos MPP. ¡Además, es compatible con cualquier sistema operativo!

Abre y edita archivos MPP en ProjectManager.

¿Cómo Abrir Un Archivo MPP Con ProjectManager?

Para comenzar a abrir tu archivo MPP con ProjectManager, primero necesitas iniciar una prueba gratuita de 30 días. No solo puedes acceder a cualquier archivo con extensión MPP, también se convierte esa información y te permite comenzar a gestionar tu proyecto de inmediato. Además, cuando exportas tu proyecto desde ProjectManager, el archivo resultante es universalmente compatible y puede ser abierto por cualquier persona.

Esto significa que, incluso si un proyecto se originó en Microsoft Project, ahora puede ser trabajado por miembros del equipo sin licencia de Microsoft, partes interesadas que usan Mac y cualquier otro colaborador. Y lo mejor de todo es que es gratis por 30 días. ¡Sigue estos seis pasos para importar tu archivo MPP!

1. Comienza la Importación de Tu Archivo MPP

Selecciona la vista de Gantt en ProjectManager y haz clic en la opción de importar en la barra de menú. Esto importará tu archivo a nuestra vista de diagrama de Gantt en línea.

2. Elige un Archivo MPP Para Subir

Aparecerá una ventana emergente. Sigue las instrucciones para elegir qué archivo MPP deseas importar. Comienza la importación seleccionando “Siguiente”.

3. Configura Tus Preferencias de Importación

Ahora verás tu importación listada como “archivo seleccionado”. Debajo de esto, marca si deseas importar como un nuevo proyecto o como parte de un proyecto existente. Si seleccionas “proyecto existente”, se te pedirá que elijas entre actualizar o reemplazar los datos existentes.

4. Elige Importar Todo el Proyecto o Solo la Lista De Tareas

A continuación, marca si deseas importar todos los datos del archivo MPP o solo la lista de tareas. Si eliges todos los datos, tu importación te permitirá ver y editar el archivo igual que lo harías en Microsoft Project.

5. Cierra la Ventana Emergente

La ventana emergente ahora debería mostrar “¡Éxito!”. Desde aquí, cierra la ventana y comienza a trabajar en tu proyecto.

6. Comienza a Usar tu Archivo MPP en ProjectManager

Ahora que has completado el proceso de importación, puedes editar tu proyecto en línea, ver los datos en múltiples vistas, compartirlos con las partes interesadas y mucho más.

¡Felicidades! Has importado tu archivo MPP con solo unos clics y sin necesidad de herramientas de conversión. Ahora, disfruta trabajando en tu proyecto desde una ubicación centralizada y exporta archivos para que los datos del proyecto puedan compartirse con cualquiera.

Más Sobre Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project es una de las opciones de software de gestión de proyectos más antiguas y forma parte del paquete MS Office. Microsoft Project permite a los usuarios gestionar cada aspecto de su proyecto, con una variedad de vistas y funciones, incluyendo diagramas de Gantt, cronogramas, herramientas de gestión de recursos y más.

Teniendo eso en cuenta, Microsoft Project es una solución altamente técnica, lo que la hace notoriamente difícil de dominar para los nuevos usuarios. Es especialmente desafiante para quienes no están familiarizados con otras aplicaciones de MS Office o la interfaz de Microsoft. Esta curva de aprendizaje puede retrasar los proyectos.

Además, a diferencia de muchas otras herramientas de Microsoft—Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.—Microsoft Project solo puede ejecutarse en un sistema operativo Windows. Esto significa que los usuarios de Mac OS no tienen forma de utilizar directamente la herramienta. También implica que cualquier persona que trabaje desde un Mac u otro sistema operativo que no sea Windows no podrá abrir archivos con extensión MPP.

Más Formas de Abrir Un Archivo MPP

Si estás abriendo un archivo MPP desde la misma versión de Microsoft Project, el proceso es bastante simple. Pero abrir un archivo MPP desde una aplicación externa es mucho más complicado y puede requerir varios pasos adicionales.

¿Cómo Abrir un Archivo MPP con Distintas Versiones de Microsoft Project?

Si aún deseas usar Microsoft Project para abrir tu archivo MPP, es importante saber que, aunque algunas versiones de Microsoft Project son compatibles entre sí, también existen muchas combinaciones incompatibles. Esto significa que las partes interesadas que trabajen con distintas versiones de Microsoft Project pueden tener las mismas dificultades para abrir archivos MPP que si estuvieran usando software de gestión de proyectos diferente.

A continuación, se muestra una lista de las distintas versiones de Microsoft Project, desde Microsoft Project 98 en adelante. El problema es que no todas estas versiones pueden abrir archivos de las demás. Por ejemplo, no hay forma de abrir un archivo MPP de Microsoft Project 98 usando MS 2013 y viceversa. Estas son las limitaciones de cada versión:

MS Project 98 puede abrir archivos de Project 4.x y Project 98.
MS Project 2000 puede abrir archivos de Project 98 y Project 2000.
MS Project 2002 puede abrir archivos de Project 98, 2000 y 2002.
MS Project 2003 puede abrir archivos de Project 98, 2000, 2002 y 2003.
MS Project 2007 puede abrir archivos de Project 98, 2000-2003 y 2007.
MS Project 2010 puede abrir archivos de Project 98, 2000-2003, 2007 y 2010.
MS Project 2013 puede abrir archivos de Project 2000-2003, 2007, 2010 y 2013.
MS Project 2016 puede abrir archivos de Project 2000-2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 y 2016.
MS Project 2019 puede abrir archivos de Project 2000-2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 y 2019.

Como puedes imaginar, esto se convierte en un gran problema cuando las partes interesadas poseen distintas versiones de Microsoft Project, o peor aún, cuando además de esto usan otras herramientas de software de gestión de proyectos de Microsoft. Clientes e inversionistas, por ejemplo, pueden tener dificultades para acceder a los datos enviados por un equipo de proyecto sin soluciones alternativas.

¿Por Qué No Puedes Usar Excel para Abrir un Archivo MPP?

Cuando las personas tienen problemas para abrir archivos MPP, muchos esperan poder usar Excel como solución, ya que a veces es mejor compartir los datos del proyecto en una plantilla de Excel. Desafortunadamente, esta no es una opción viable para los archivos MPP.

Excel no puede abrir archivos MPP sin una herramienta de conversión que cambie la extensión del archivo de MPP a XLS. Estas herramientas de conversión existen, pero tienen varios inconvenientes. Por un lado, añaden un paso adicional al proceso de acceso a los datos del proyecto. Algo que debería ser simple se convierte ahora en un proceso de varios pasos.

Los programas de conversión también pueden poner en riesgo tus datos. Cada vez que se convierte un archivo de un tipo a otro, existe la posibilidad de que los datos se alteren, se pierdan o, peor aún, ¡sean robados!

¿Qué Hay de un Visor de Microsoft Project para Abrir Archivos MPP?

Para abrir un archivo MPP desde una aplicación que no sea de Microsoft o desde una computadora Mac, muchas personas optan por usar un visor de Microsoft Project. Estos “visores” te permiten abrir archivos con extensión MPP descargándolos en un formato distinto, normalmente en pdf.

Pero incluso cuando el archivo MPP se ha abierto, no podrás hacer cambios en los datos, dejar comentarios, colaborar, etc. Como su nombre indica, solo podrás ver el proyecto. La buena noticia es que ProjectManager es la solución que desbloquea cualquier archivo MPP sin necesidad de Microsoft Project y te permite trabajar en proyectos con facilidad.

ProjectManager Puede Hacer lo Que Microsoft Project No Puede

ProjectManager brinda a los usuarios acceso a un conjunto de funciones y herramientas que hacen que compartir, editar y colaborar en proyectos sea sencillo, no más complicado. Planifica y programa los detalles de tus proyectos con tu equipo en nuestros diagramas de Gantt, donde puedes visualizar todo el proyecto de principio a fin. Lo mejor de todo es que, sin importar el sistema operativo que utilice tu equipo, todos tienen acceso—solo necesitas una conexión a internet.

Una vez que tu proyecto comienza, te damos acceso a un panel en tiempo real que muestra todas las métricas importantes del proyecto en una sola vista. Los gráficos y diagramas se actualizan automáticamente a medida que tu equipo actualiza el estado de las tareas del proyecto.

También contamos con potentes funciones de informes integrados que eliminan la necesidad de compartir archivos potencialmente incompatibles. Solo selecciona las opciones que deseas para generar tu informe y envíalo con la tranquilidad de que llegará a su destino sin problemas.

Contenido Relacionado Sobre Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project es un software de gestión de proyectos complejo, por lo cual familiarizarse con el puede ser difícil. Especialmente considerando que hay muchas otras herramientas similares de Microsoft, que pueden hacer aún más confuso este proceso. Por esta razón, hemos creado blogs informativos para que puedas aprender sobre este software y decidir si es la mejor opción para tu equipo. Aquí hay algunos de ellos.

ProjectManager es una solución de gestión de proyectos basada en la nube, compatible con archivos MPP de todas las versiones de Microsoft Project. Trabaja con los miembros del equipo y otras partes interesadas desde cualquier lugar, ya sean usuarios de Mac o Windows. Sus opciones de importación flexibles significan que el formato del archivo no será un obstáculo. Importa, edita y comparte todos tus proyectos con solo unos clics, sin importar la extensión original del archivo. Comienza tu prueba gratuita de ProjectManager hoy y descubre por qué NASA, Volvo y miles de otras organizaciones confían en nosotros para gestionar sus proyectos.

The post Archivo MPP: ¿Qué Es y Cómo Editar Un Archivo en Formato MPP? appeared first on ProjectManager.

Microsoft Project Online: Ventajas, Desventajas y Alternativas

Peter Landau — Thu, 29 May 2025 22:00:04 +0000

Si has trabajado con Microsoft Project antes, entonces conoces sus potentes funciones de planificación de proyectos, pero también sus muchas, bueno… frustraciones. Para empezar, es difícil compartir archivos MPP, ya que son demasiado grandes para enviarlos por correo electrónico y solo pueden visualizarse si se tiene MS Project. Además, MS Project es bastante caro y normalmente requiere otros productos de Microsoft como Project Server y/o Sharepoint, que requieren renovaciones de licencia y generan costos recurrentes.

Lo que necesitas es poder utilizar las funciones de gestión de proyectos de Microsoft Project en línea, sin todas sus frustraciones. En este artículo, te mostraremos alternativas a MS Project Online que te permiten hacerlo.

¿Qué es Microsoft Project Online?

Microsoft Project Online es un software de gestión de carteras de proyectos (PPM) basado en la nube, creado sobre la plataforma Microsoft Sharepoint. MS Project Online fue diseñado como una alternativa para los usuarios que buscaban las funciones de gestión de proyectos de Microsoft Project de escritorio, pero necesitaban colaborar en línea con sus equipos. También es un software más ligero y fácil de usar que la versión local de Microsoft Project.

Pero si necesitas un software que tenga las funciones robustas de Microsoft Project de escritorio y la facilidad de colaboración de MS Project Online, entonces prueba ProjectManager. ProjectManager tiene casi todas las potentes funciones del Microsoft Project tradicional: diagramas de Gantt, paneles, listas de tareas, informes de proyectos y herramientas de gestión de recursos, en una plataforma en línea que funciona tanto en PC como en Mac. Además, cuenta con una app móvil para que la colaboración ocurra incluso en la obra, con las últimas actualizaciones. Prueba gratuita de 30 días e importa fácilmente un archivo MPP para comenzar.

ProjectManager tiene funciones más avanzadas que Microsoft Project Online.

¿Qué Versiones de Microsoft Project Online Existen?

Es importante señalar que Project Online no es lo mismo que otros productos de Microsoft como Microsoft Project Professional, Project Server, Project for the web o el cliente de escritorio Project Online. De hecho, hay dos formas diferentes de usar Microsoft Project Online.

Project Online Desktop Client: Es una opción local de gestión de proyectos que tiene las mismas funciones que MS Project Online, lo que permite a los usuarios gestionar proyectos localmente en sus computadoras y sincronizarlos con la nube. El trabajo se puede realizar sin conexión y luego los cambios se sincronizan con Project Online al reconectarse a internet. Está disponible en Project Plan 3 y Project Plan 5.
Project Online: Esta es una suscripción disponible en Project Plan 3 y Project Plan 5. Ofrece herramientas completas para la planificación, programación y gestión de proyectos. Es la solución en línea tradicional, pero aún tiene problemas de colaboración para usuarios de Mac. Si deseas funciones adicionales de portafolio, necesitas pagar más por Project Plan 5.

Ventajas de Microsoft Project Online

La versión por suscripción de MS Project Online no tiene las mismas funciones que la versión de escritorio tradicional de Microsoft Project que quizás ya conozcas. Con una suscripción a Project Online, tendrás acceso a funciones de planificación como diagramas de Gantt e identificación del camino crítico, así como funciones de gestión de tareas como tableros kanban y herramientas de colaboración para la programación y actualización de tareas.

También obtendrás funciones de gestión de recursos para el cálculo de costos y la planificación de la capacidad, además de seguimiento del tiempo mediante hojas de tiempo para monitorear cronogramas y líneas base del proyecto. Finalmente, Microsoft Project Online también incluye funciones de gestión de carteras para análisis, priorización, hojas de ruta y presupuestos de proyectos.

Desventajas de Microsoft Project Online

La herramienta de gestión de proyectos en línea es muy potente y es una buena opción para equipos que ya están dentro del ecosistema de Microsoft, como Microsoft Teams, MS Project Server, Microsoft Planner y Sharepoint. Para estos equipos, añadir un pequeño costo por las versiones en línea de sus herramientas de escritorio es una excelente manera de llevar sus planes de Microsoft Project a la nube. Sin embargo, MS Project Online tiene grandes desventajas para todos los demás.

Debes comprar muchos complementos y licencias por separado para usar todas las funciones de MS Project Online. Por ejemplo, necesitarás Power BI, Microsoft Teams, Power Apps y Azure Boards, entre otros.
También necesitas integraciones con Sharepoint, que es el portal para compartir archivos de Microsoft, debido al tamaño de los archivos.
La estructura de precios de Microsoft Project Online es complicada. Incluso con tres niveles de precios, las tarifas de licencia se acumulan si deseas que todo tu equipo participe, especialmente si deseas complementarlo con otras herramientas de software de gestión de projectos de Microsoft.
Los miembros del equipo necesitarán una suscripción a MS Project Online Essentials o Project Plan 1 para realizar funciones básicas como enviar hojas de tiempo y actualizar tareas.

Precios de Microsoft Project Online

Para utilizar la versión completa de Microsoft Project Online, deberás pagar $55 por usuario al mes, lo cual es bastante caro en comparación con otros softwares de gestión de proyectos. Los precios de MS Project Online pueden ser confusos y difíciles de explicar. Esto se debe a que Microsoft Project ya no es un único software, sino un conjunto de herramientas. Además, MS Project ofrece tres planes de suscripción, lo que lo complica aún más. Para usar MS Project Online, necesitas una suscripción a Microsoft Project Plan 3 o Project Plan 5. Estos son los planes disponibles:

Planner Plan 1 ($10 por usuario al mes): Este plan no incluye la versión completa de MS Project Online, pero obtienes Project Planner, que es similar aunque con funciones limitadas.
Planner y Project Plan 3 ($30 por usuario al mes): Anteriormente conocido como Project Online Professional Plan y Project Plan 3, incluye Project for the web, Microsoft Project Online y Project Online Desktop Client.
Planner y Project Plan 5 ($55 por usuario al mes): Incluye los mismos productos que Project Plan 3, con funciones adicionales para gestión de portafolios.

Mejores Alternativas a Microsoft Project Online

La versión de escritorio de Microsoft Project ha sido durante mucho tiempo el estándar para los gestores de proyectos, tanto que muchos no creen que existan alternativas viables a MS Project Online. Pero sí existen softwares de gestión de proyectos más asequibles, con todo el poder de MS Project y sin todas sus frustraciones.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager es un software de gestión de proyectos en línea que tiene la potencia de planificación del diagrama de Gantt de MS Project, pero es más rápido y fácil de usar. ProjectManager es totalmente compatible con Microsoft Project para equipos que usan Project Server y Sharepoint, pero que necesitan compartir sus planes en línea. Además, representa un ahorro significativo de costos, ya que no necesitas las versiones de escritorio del software. Pero lo más importante es que ProjectManager permite importar y exportar archivos de MS Project y Excel sin pérdida de datos.

Y, como siempre está en línea, cuenta con funciones de colaboración en equipo y la posibilidad de compartir planes con cualquier persona. Puedes confiar en ProjectManager para todas tus necesidades de gestión de proyectos, programas y portafolios, y descubrir por qué es una gran alternativa a MS Project Online. ¿Listo para probarlo tú mismo? Empieza gratis e importa tus archivos MPP hoy para una mejor experiencia de gestión de proyectos en línea.

2. Visor de Microsoft Project Online

Si no quieres adquirir MS Project Online, puedes simplemente usar un visor de Microsoft Project, que es una herramienta de gestión de proyectos que permite a los gestores que no tienen una cuenta de Office 365 ni un contrato con MS Project Online abrir y ver archivos MPP en línea.

El problema con una herramienta de solo visualización es que, aunque te permite abrir archivos MPP, hay muy poco que puedas hacer con ellos más allá de ver el plan.

¿Cómo Importar Archivos de Microsoft Project en ProjectManager?

Empieza configurando una cuenta gratuita de 30 días con nosotros. Verás que contamos con múltiples vistas de gestión de proyectos, como tableros kanban, listas de tareas y vista de calendario. Elige el diagrama de Gantt en línea y sigue esta guía. Así de simple.

1. Importar Archivo MPP

Haz clic en el botón de importar en la esquina superior derecha de la página del diagrama de Gantt. Esto te permitirá subir tu archivo de Microsoft Project en línea, para que puedas compartirlo con otros.

2. Seleccionar Archivo MPP

Haz clic en el botón de seleccionar archivo en la ventana emergente. Una vez elijas el archivo de MS Project que deseas importar, solo presiona siguiente.

3. Elegir Opciones de Importación

Selecciona las opciones antes de importar el archivo. El menú emergente te ofrece opciones como crear un nuevo proyecto o agregarlo a uno existente, mantener o reemplazar los datos existentes, etc.

4. Importar Todo o Solo la Lista de Tareas

Utiliza la ventana emergente final para decidir si deseas importar todos los datos del archivo MPP o solo la lista de tareas.

5. Finalizar y Ver tu Plan de Microsoft Project en Línea

Recibirás un aviso que dice “Éxito” y habrás completado el proceso de importación. Así de fácil y rápido. Cierra ese mensaje y ya estarás listo para editar tu archivo dentro de nuestra herramienta. Verás tu proyecto finalizado en forma de diagrama de Gantt. ¡Felicidades! Has movido tu archivo de Microsoft Project a una interfaz en línea.

ProjectManager te da el poder no solo de visualizar tus archivos MPP en línea, sino también de gestionarlos en línea y exportarlos nuevamente a formato MPP con integridad total de datos. Esta alternativa a MS Project Online te permite compartir tus planes con miembros del equipo y clientes en línea de forma libre y segura, mientras sigues usando Microsoft Project.

Más Alternativas a Microsoft Project Online

Aunque ProjectManager es la mejor alternativa a MS Project Online, hay otras opciones que puedes probar si deseas permanecer dentro del ecosistema de Microsoft. Aquí tienes seis opciones que puedes considerar si debe ser Microsoft.

1. Versión de Escritorio de Microsoft Project

Project Online y las versiones de escritorio de Microsoft Project, Project Standard y Project Professional, ofrecen las mismas funciones si eliges un plan equivalente. Debido a las múltiples versiones de Microsoft Project, deberás comparar cuidadosamente lo que obtienes con sus soluciones en la nube y locales.

Solo la versión de Project Online Desktop Client disponible con Microsoft Project Plan 5 tiene las mismas funciones que las soluciones locales de Microsoft Project disponibles con las licencias Project Standard 2021 o Project Professional 2021.

2. Microsoft Project para la Web

Microsoft Project para la Web, es muy similar a Microsoft Project Online. Ofrece herramientas básicas de gestión de tareas como diagramas de Gantt, vistas de cuadrícula y hojas de ruta para ayudarte a gestionar el trabajo de tus proyectos. La diferencia principal es que Project Online tiene funciones más avanzadas como líneas base de proyecto, análisis del camino crítico y herramientas de gestión de portafolios, mientras que Project for the web es una herramienta mucho más básica y fácil de usar.

Otra diferencia importante es que Project Online está construido sobre la plataforma de Microsoft SharePoint, mientras que Project for the web se basa en la plataforma de Microsoft Project.

3. Project Server

Project Server es el software especializado de gestión de portafolios de proyectos local de Microsoft. Cuenta con herramientas empresariales que ayudan a seleccionar y priorizar proyectos, asignar recursos a través del portafolio y supervisar el rendimiento de los proyectos.

Es una buena alternativa para organizaciones que necesitan una solución para rastrear su portafolio y tomar decisiones de gestión de recursos basadas en datos.

4. Microsoft Planner

Esta herramienta de gestión de tareas forma parte de la suite Microsoft 365. Se utiliza para ayudar a los equipos a organizar, asignar y monitorear la ejecución de proyectos de manera visual e intuitiva. Pueden crearse tareas, asignarlas a los miembros del equipo y establecer fechas de vencimiento.

Tiene un diseño tipo kanban para visualizar el flujo de trabajo. El software es colaborativo. Los miembros del equipo pueden comentar tareas, compartir archivos y recibir notificaciones sobre actualizaciones. También cuenta con una app móvil para gestionar tareas fuera de la oficina.

5. Máquinas Virtuales

Una máquina virtual es una emulación por software de una computadora física. Se ejecutan en una máquina anfitriona y funcionan como si fueran computadoras independientes, con su propio sistema operativo y aplicaciones.

Pueden usarse para ejecutar Windows en Macs, aunque se requiere una computadora rápida, ya que implica ejecutar dos sistemas operativos a la vez. Aquí hay algunas marcas comerciales de máquinas virtuales.

Parallels Desktop: permite ejecutar Windows directamente en el escritorio de Mac. Es conocida por su buen rendimiento y facilidad de uso.
VirtualBox: una alternativa gratuita y de código abierto para ejecutar Windows en Macs. Puede no ofrecer el mismo rendimiento que las opciones comerciales.
VMware Fusion: compatible con una amplia gama de sistemas operativos, incluidas varias versiones de Windows. Ofrece integraciones con macOS y funciones de red.

6. Microsoft Remote Desktop

Microsoft Remote Desktop permite a los usuarios conectarse y controlar una computadora remota a través de una red. Se puede acceder al escritorio, aplicaciones y archivos como si estuvieras frente a la máquina remota.

Este software está disponible para Windows, macOS, iOS y Android. Tiene conexiones cifradas para un acceso seguro y varios métodos de autenticación. La herramienta permite transferir archivos entre computadoras locales y remotas, así como imprimir desde la máquina remota en una impresora local.

Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre MS Project Online

Claramente, Microsoft tiene una amplia gama de productos y una estructura de precios compleja que puede resultar confusa para muchos gestores de proyectos. Aquí tienes algunas de las preguntas más comunes sobre MS Project Online.

¿Es MS Project Online lo Mismo Que Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project Online fue diseñado como un servicio aparte y no tiene las mismas funciones que la versión de escritorio Microsoft Project Professional. Las soluciones en línea, como MS Project Online y Project for the web, carecen de ciertas funcionalidades que sí tiene Project Professional.

¿Microsoft Project Online Es Gratuito?

Microsoft Project Online no es gratuito. Se requiere un compromiso anual de $55 por usuario/mes, además de varias suscripciones adicionales para tener una versión completamente funcional de MS Project Online.

¿Microsoft Project Online Está Incluido en Office 365?

Microsoft Office 365 no incluye ninguna versión, ni en línea ni de escritorio, de MS Project. Para usar Microsoft Project Online, deberás pagar una suscripción adicional.

Contenido Relacionado Sobre Microsoft Project

ProjectManager es una herramienta galardonada de gestión de proyectos que organiza equipos y proyectos. Nuestro software en la nube tiene todas las funciones de MS Project Online, sin el costo ni la complejidad innecesaria. Descubre cómo podemos hacer que tus equipos trabajen de manera más productiva con nuestra herramienta todo en uno de gestión de proyectos. Comienza gratis con nuestra prueba de 30 días.

The post Microsoft Project Online: Ventajas, Desventajas y Alternativas appeared first on ProjectManager.

Best Project Management Software for Mac: Free & Paid Options Ranked (2025)

Peter Landau — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:30:03 +0000

Microsoft Project is one of the most commonly used project management software, but its popularity has decreased over the years due to its many drawbacks such as not working on Mac. Luckily there’s project management software for Mac that offers the same robust task management, resource management and time tracking features Microsoft Project does.

Key Features to Look for in Project Management Software for Mac

When evaluating project management software for Mac, the most important thing is to choose a solution that helps you manage as many aspects of your project as possible. In other words, you should choose the software that offers the best mix of project planning, scheduling, tracking and reporting tools. Here’s a quick overview of some of them.

Gantt Charts: The Gantt chart is a planning tool that creates a visual timeline of the entire project. It is made up of two parts. On the left side is a spreadsheet that lists the tasks, duration, start and end dates, associated resources and costs. On the right side, the project schedule is illustrated with a bar char. Gantt charts are used in all different project management methodologies, but especially more traditional, planning-ahead methods, such as waterfall.
Kanban Boards: The kanban board is another project management tool, this one is designed to visualize the workflow of a team as they move through a production cycle. It’s made up of columns that represent the stages of a production cycle. At its most basic, kanban columns will be titled to do, doing and done, though there can be as many column headings as needed for the project. Beneath these columns are kanban cards, which are individual tasks. The kanban card will have a description of the work to be done, priority, due date, who’s assigned and more. As work is done, the kanban cards move from column to column until complete, allowing for transparency in the process.
Calendar View: The calendar view is often nothing more than a calendar. It collects important dates and can be used to see what is due at a glance. It’s another way to see your tasks and get a daily, weekly or monthly context of the work you have to do. Some calendars are more robust and are seamlessly integrated into the larger project management software. These calendars have features that can do more than just change dates but add descriptions, assign team members and more.
Project Dashboards: The project dashboard is a tool to monitor and track progress and performance. It consists of charts and graphs that collect data and show how your project is doing across metrics such as time, cost, workload and more. Some software requires you to set up your dashboard and even input the data, which it then displays. Other project management software for Mac will have the dashboard set up and fully functional, automatically gathering information and calculating the results.
Team Collaboration: Team collaboration is fostered by software features such as chat and file-sharing functions. It’s used to connect managers and team members no matter where or when they are working. For team collaboration to work it must be accessible over a cross-section of project tools, and serve hybrid teams that might not work in the office and any job type, such as those who aren’t as tech-savvy as the project management team.
Task Automation: Task automation is when software streamlines business processes, reducing busywork and giving team members more time to focus on their tasks. Triggers can be applied that set into action simple tasks or a series of more complicated tasks. The purpose of this is to add efficiency and boost the productivity of the team members.

All of these features are important to managing and executing a project. If you’re working on a Mac and software such as MS Project doesn’t work on your platform then nothing gets done. While not everyone works on a Mac, most organizations have people who work on both. They all need to be able to do their jobs. This is something Microsoft fails to understand.

Best Project Management Software for Mac Rankings (2024)

Let’s look at project management software for Mac computers that has all the features you need to deliver project success.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is a powerful alternative to MSP. Our award-winning software is fully online (unlike MS Project) and is available at a price point that’s affordable for teams. It also has features that not only make collaboration simple but also plan, manage and track projects in real time.

Mac users also love the easy-to-use interface and collaboration tools that allow teams anywhere in the world to work together. Plus, our iOS app for mobile phones and tablets supports on-site visits with clients, field updates or even working on your tasks in your pajamas.

Cloud-Based Software for Mac

ProjectManager is a cloud-based project management software that exists entirely online. Manage your projects on any computer with any web browser, including Safari. As long as you have access to an internet connection, you have access to your projects.

You can store all of your files in the cloud with our online file storage, so you can download, upload or view project files whenever you need to. You’ll never have to drag your work computer to the coffee shop again!

Get Multiple Project Views

Not everyone in an organization works the same, but they have to work together. That’s why we have multiple project views so every department can collaborate, whether they’re on a PC or a Mac. People who plan and work more linearly can use the Gantt chart or sheet view. Their schedules are updated on the task list, calendar and kanban view. Kanban boards are perfect for your agile teams, who are more self-directed. Everyone is working from a single source of truth without having to use tools they’re uncomfortable with.

Automate Workflows and Tasks Approvals

Neither PC nor Mac users want to get bogged down with busywork. Our custom workflows keep teams free to work on what matters. You can add as many triggers as you like and then set off actions to streamline simple tasks and add greater efficiency. Watch our task automation features to boost your team’s productivity. Managers can still control the status of work with task approvals.

All this and more is why ProjectManager tops our list of project management tools for Mac. There are also powerful resource and risk management tools that help manage resources, identify and track risks and much more. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Mac for Planning, Scheduling and Tracking

ProjectManager Pros & Key Features

Dashboards work right out of the box and update in real time
Time tracking and resource management features are included at a low price
Project portfolio management features are easy to use
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
Free trial 30-day trial

ProjectManager Cons & Limitations

Limited native integrations
Poor mobile experience unless you have the mobile app
Defaults to dark mode

ProjectManager Pricing

Team: $13.00 user/month
Business: $24.00 user/month
Enterprise: contact sales for a custom quote

ProjectManager Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.1/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“ProjectManager works very well with both large and small-scale projects. Being able to use this with anything from a project involving only two members of staff, to hundreds, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
“We used to manage our projects, resources, and reporting in different systems. Enter ProjectManager. We have consolidated systems and work more efficiently.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
“Having the full scope of activities and who is responsible to do it, plus the time tracking is excellent.” Flavio M – from G2
“It has an excellent accounting system capable of calculating the time that a person has used to develop a task that was assigned to him, I like being able to collaborate with all my colleagues in the Finance sector through ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
“The UI of the application is user-friendly, and it helps to identify what we are looking for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2

2. Wrike

Wrike is another Mac alternative and users will find that the software gives them real-time project updates, allows them to assign tasks to other users, change and update tasks, view calendars and great integrations. Using Wrike on a Mac gives you the features you need and more control to view projects and tasks.

However, there are some shortcomings. For example, you’ll likely get frustrated with its Gantt, which has limited capabilities. There are no project management reports, which will have some users looking for another Mac alternative, as well as its limited tracking features.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Mac for Integrations

Wrike Pros & Key Features

Designed for basic task and workflow management
Ideal for project management beginners
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

Wrike Cons & Limitations

The Gantt chart functionality is limited
Lacks project management reports
Limited cost and budget tracking features
The user interface is hard to navigate

Wrike Pricing

Professional plan: $9.80 user/month
Business plan: $24.80 user/month

Wrike Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Wrike has become essential in my day and keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.” Paige T – from G2
“Productivity has been enhanced by removing essential but repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2

3. Monday.com

Monday.com powers teams to run processes, projects and even everyday work in which real-time updates keep everyone in the loop. This project management software for Mac will track time and progress, automate repetitive tasks and customize workflows. There are kanban boards, timelines.

Yes, there are features like kanban boards, but they are limited in their functionality. There are better kanban software alternatives to choose from. This is also true of its Gantt chart, one of the pillars of project management. As a project management software for Mac, Monday.com is more for task management. Project managers will want to look elsewhere.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Mac for Marketing and Creative Teams

Monday.com Pros & Key Features

Friendly user interface and easy-to-use task management tools
Task management dashboards to track progress, resources and costs
Free trial
Mobile app available for Android and iOS

Monday.com Cons & Limitations

Limited kanban board functionality
Gantt charts lack important project planning and scheduling features
Like Trello is a task management tool with a limited project management feature set

Monday.com Pricing

Basic: $8/user/month, billed annually
Standard: $10/user/month, billed annually
Pro: $16/user/month, billed annually
3-seat minimum

Monday.com Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“We used to have a mess of excel sheets and emails but now everything’s in one place.” Laura A – from G2
“It is overall a great product but it requires a lot of setup initially to take advantage of all its functions and features.” Ana D – from Capterra

4. Asana

Asana is project management software for Mac that helps organize your daily tasks and allows you to communicate with your team, wherever you are or they are. The user-friendly interface is a plus as well as its many integrations with third-party apps. It has an iOS mobile app and you can get a free trial or plan to test it out.

This project management software for Mac is not suited for managing multiple projects. It’s more of a task management tool and suffers a lack of project management features. For example, its Gantt chart doesn’t have cost-tracking, which is an essential piece of any Gantt chart software to help you stay on budget.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Mac for Team Management

Asana Pros & Key Features

User-friendly interface
Integrations with third-party apps such as Google Drive, Microsoft Teams and Slack
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
Free plan
Free trial

Asana Cons & Limitations

Not ideal for managing multiple projects, programs or portfolios
Limited project management features
Gantt chart lacks advanced features such as cost tracking
Workload management tools are easy to use but can be limited for some users

Asana Pricing

Premium plan: $10.99/user/month, billed annually
Business plan: $24.99/user/month, billed annually

Asana Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Asana is very easy to use, intuitive for my team members who don’t have tech backgrounds but need to start and contribute right away.” Sara G – from G2
“Overall, I had great success staying organized with this project management tool.” Mary B – from Capterra

5. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a project management software for Mac that helps you plan, capture, manage and report on work. It’s great for remote teams, allowing them to collaborate, while tracking key metrics with real-time visibility. It has essential project management features, such as a dashboard and automated workflows.

If you love Excel, then this is the project management software for Mac you’ll want. But if you’re looking for more than glorified spreadsheets, you’ll need to look elsewhere. While it has Gantt charts and kanban boards, they’re not as advanced as others on this list. You also have to use complicated formulas to get the most out of the tool and even then there are limited resource management features.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Mac for Project Spreadsheets

Smartsheet Pros & Key Features

Good for users transitioning from Excel to project management software
Work management and reporting tools
Workflow automation features
Free trial
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

Smartsheet Cons & Limitations

Most of its tools are spreadsheet-based
Gantt charts, spreadsheets and kanban cards lack some advanced project management features
The software requires the use of complicated formulas
Limited resource management tools
Project reports have an outdated look and feel compared to other Monday.com alternatives

Smartsheet Pricing

Pro plan: $7/user/month, billed annually
Business plan: $25/user/month, billed annually

Smartsheet Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Smartsheet has allowed me to take my to-do list and run with it in a way that I didn’t think would be possible.” Victoria W – from G2
“I like that Smartsheet has a lot of different functions. It can be used for project management, inventory or event planning.” Lauren M – from Capterra

6. Notion

Notion is a strong project management software for Mac users due to its all-in-one workspace approach, combining task management, notetaking, wikis and databases in a clean, customizable interface. It runs smoothly on macOS and offers seamless syncing across Apple devices, which is ideal for users integrated into the Apple ecosystem. Teams can use Notion to build personalized project dashboards, create kanban boards, timelines and task lists, and collaborate in real time using shared pages and comments—all in one highly flexible platform.

But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Notion also has drawbacks that can hinder project management, especially for complex or large-scale initiatives. While it’s versatile, it lacks built-in Gantt charts, advanced resource management tools and native time tracking, which are essential for more structured project workflows. Users must often rely on templates or third-party integrations to fill these gaps. Additionally, because everything is so customizable, it can take significant time and effort to set up an effective project management system from scratch. Teams needing robust automation, dependency tracking, or detailed reporting might find Notion too lightweight for their needs.

Verdict: Best Project Management Software for Mac for Notetaking

Notion Pros & Key Features

All-in-one workspace
Notetaking
User-friendly interface
Free plan

Notion Cons & Limitations

Lacks Gantt chart
Poor resource management
Customization leads to significant time and effort to get started

Notion Pricing

Free plan: $0 user/month
Plus: $10/month, billed annually
Business: $20/month, billed annually
Enterprise: contact sales

Notion Reviews

G2 review: 4.7 / 5
Capterra review: 4.7 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I usually use it as a note taking, studying board, planner and even to organize my financial life – it is all my life in one place.” Fabiane C. – from G2
“Originally a really good UI, available on multiple platforms, very dynamic and responsive.” Keith P – from Capterra

Project Management Software for Mac Is Better Than Microsoft Project

Most project managers have endured Microsoft Project. For years, it was an industry-standard tool, even though it was (and is) difficult to use. Whether using MS Project for desktop, MS Project Server, or MS Project Online, the problems of the tools are legendary.

The calculations are confusing and overly complex. Sharing files requires add-on tools like Sharepoint. It’s non-collaborative, meaning only PM Pros can use it. And it’s costly. You’ll need a monthly subscription for each user. There are three plans to choose from $10, $30 or $55 a month. For Mac users, MS Project is a non-starter. It simply doesn’t work, leaving many looking for an alternative solution. Luckily, there’s ProjectManager.

18 Best Gantt Chart Software of 2025 (Free & Paid)

Peter Landau — Thu, 29 May 2025 15:25:46 +0000

We tested the best Gantt chart software options out there to help you make the right selection for your projects. But before we get into our list of the best Gantt chart software, we’ll first explain what Gantt chart software is, what the key features are and why it is so beneficial when managing a project.

What Is Gantt Chart Software?

Gantt chart software is a type of project management software that’s used to schedule projects and track their progress using Gantt charts and other complementary project planning, scheduling, monitoring and reporting features. This software can either be cloud based or stored in your PC.

Gantt chart software is commonly used in the project planning phase of project management to schedule tasks, but it’s actually useful throughout the life cycle of a project. It was designed to automate processes of a static Gantt chart, which previously were made on paper or spreadsheets.

Best Gantt Chart Software Features

Just because it’s called Gantt chart software, it doesn’t mean that it should only be equipped with Gantt charts and nothing else. Here’s a quick overview of some of the project management features you should look out for when choosing a Gantt chart software.

Project Scheduling: At a minimum, Gantt chart software should help you create a project schedule showing the order in which project tasks must be completed and their duration on a visual project timeline.
Project Planning: Besides Gantt charts, you’ll also need project planning tools such as task lists, kanban boards, project calendars and project dashboards.
Project Budgeting: You need to be able to track the costs of your project with tools like timesheets and dashboards so you can monitor your project budget.
Team Management: Gantt chart software should let you assign tasks to your team members, monitor their progress and offer collaboration features such as messaging and file sharing.
Task Management: Any Gantt chart tool should let you add a priority level to your project tasks, create milestones and link task dependencies.
Critical Path Analysis: Gantt chart software should also allow you to identify the critical path, which shows those tasks that are essential to getting the project done on time.
Workload Tracking: Throughout the project, you’ll assign tasks to your team members, so it’s important to have workload management tools to know who’s under or overallocated.
Project Reporting: Project dashboards and status reports are essential to keep your project stakeholders informed.

Using Gantt chart software offers other advantages, but first and foremost it disproves the belief that Gantt charts are hard to use. It’s true that making a Gantt chart on paper or even on an Excel spreadsheet is difficult and editing the Gantt chart is even worse, but those hurdles have been cleared with the advent of Gantt chart software.

2025 Best Gantt Chart Software Rankings

By now, you’re ready to hear about the best Gantt chart software. We’ve narrowed it down to a top 16 in order of preference, with the leader starting things off.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is award-winning Gantt chart software with features that expand upon that tool and offer task management, resource management and risk management. It has multiple project views that share live project data, real-time dashboards, reporting and other essential time-tracking features. It’s powerful and expansive project management software that helps project managers and their teams plan, manage and track projects in real time. And there’s even a free 30-day trial you can take to try out the Gantt features for yourself.

Best Gantt Chart Software

While every product here has a good Gantt chart, ProjectManager leaves the competition in the dust. First off, ProjectManager’s Gantt chart is easy to set up. You can import any kind of spreadsheet, even Microsoft Project files (we’ll explain why you’d want to do that in the next segment). There are even industry-related templates to get you started quickly. Once you add the start dates and end dates, the project timeline automatically populates. You can then add milestones, color-code phases, add resources, costs and more.

But what makes ProjectManager’s Gantt chart software special is that it links all four types of task dependencies, which is a must to avoid costly delays. You can also filter for the critical path. That means no time–consuming calculations. It’s done in an instant. Now you can see the tasks that are critical to delivering your project. Best of all, you can set a baseline once you’ve completed the project plan. This feeds the real-time dashboard, reports and more to allow users to track their actual effort against their planned effort. That’s how you stay on schedule and keep to your budget.

Real-Time Tracking

Let’s take a look at the real-time dashboard. Other Gantt chart software products might have it, but they usually require time-consuming configuration or expensive plugins. ProjectManager’s dashboard is ready when you are, capturing live data and displaying it on easy-to-read graphs and charts. There are also secure timesheets that give project managers a live view of how far their team is in completing their tasks. Plus, customizable reporting tools can be filtered to show the data you want to see for project and portfolio status, workload, timesheets, variance and more. Then shared in a variety of formats with stakeholders.

Robust Resource Management Features

ProjectManager’s Gantt chart software is great for planning and managing resources. From nonhuman costs to easy onboarding of labor, accounting for availability and more. There’s a color-coded workload chart that makes it easy to see who on the team is overallocated. You can then reallocate resources right from that page, balancing your team’s workload to keep them working at capacity and productive, but avoiding burnout.

ProjectManager tops this list because its Gantt chart software is superior to the competition. The fact that it builds on that with multiple project views, such as kanban boards, task lists and calendars, a collaborative platform and the flexibility that makes it ideal for construction, manufacturing, IT, professional service and really any industry only sweetens the deal. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Project Management

ProjectManager Pros & Key Features

Multiple project planning views such as kanban boards, task lists, project calendars and spreadsheets
Real-time project dashboards for cost, progress and workload tracking.
Secure timesheets
Robust project reporting functionality
Has a free 30-day trial
Has a mobile project management app available for Android and iOS

ProjectManager Cons & Limitations

Limited customization
Few native integrations
No free plan

ProjectManager Pricing

Team: $14/user/month
Business: $26/user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales

ProjectManager Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.1/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“ProjectManager works very well with both large and small-scale projects. Being able to use this with anything from a project involving only two members of staff, to hundreds, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
“We used to manage our projects, resources, and reporting in different systems. Enter ProjectManager. We have consolidated systems and work more efficiently.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
“Having the full scope of activities and who is responsible to do it, plus the time tracking is excellent.” Flavio M – from G2
“It has an excellent accounting system capable of calculating the time that a person has used to develop a task that was assigned to him, I like being able to collaborate with all my colleagues in the Finance sector through ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
“The UI of the application is user-friendly, and it helps to identify what we are looking for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2

2. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is the gorilla in the Gantt chart software room so it deserves attention. Many larger organizations use it to manage their projects. It seems designed for complexity, which is both a plus and a minus about this Gantt chart software. However, you can’t deny Microsoft its power, with seamless integrations with Teams, Office and more. Plus, it’s got a full suite of project tools, from Gantt charts to dashboards.

It’s also built to do what’s needed in project management. That is, it’s a planning, tracking and management tool. It has an organized view of your tasks and timelines and can allocate resources and report on the project, but these features aren’t intuitively designed. You’ll need to factor in a lot of time before you can even start working on your Gantt chart to figure out how to use it properly.

Of course, lots of Gantt chart software has some learning curve to deal with, but Microsoft Project adds more roadblocks. It’s expensive. That alone is going to drive away the majority of potential customers. Then there’s the issue of compatibility. If not everyone on the team is using the same software, MS Project doesn’t make it easy to share. Add to the limits in customization and buyer beware.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Microsoft Users

Microsoft Project Pros & Key Features

Offers a variety of project management views to plan, schedule and track projects
Robust enough for project, program and project portfolio management.
Built-in project management reports
Has a free 1-month trial

Microsoft Project Cons & Limitations

Both the desktop and online versions are expensive, especially for larger teams
Steep learning curve and overwhelming user interface for beginners
Microsoft Project files have a unique format which makes them hard to use and share with people that don’t have a Microsoft Project license
Doesn’t have a mobile app
No free plan

Microsoft Project Pricing

Planner Plan 1: $10/user/month
Planner and Project Plan 3: $30/user/month
Planner and Project Plan 5: $55/user/month

Microsoft Project Reviews

G2 review: 4/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Microsoft project has really helped to improve my productivity and project planning overall.” Jamie G – from Capterra
“I love the automatically generated gantt charts and the timeline feature.” Eric B – from G2

3. ClickUp

ClickUp is Gantt chart software that helps users manage tasks, workflows, collaborate and streamlines processes with automation. There’s a great deal of customization, which is both positive and negative. It gives you more control but it’s also a bit overwhelming. If you want to take advantage of this, you’ll be spending a lot of time setting up instead of working. However, it’s a great collaboration tool. You can send emails on the app, chat and edit Google Docs together.

What’s really going to stop people from adopting this Gantt chart software is its limited project time management features. While there are some rudimentary time-tracking features, such as deadlines and time spent on tasks, it’s a far cry from other Gantt chart software. A Gantt chart needs powerful time tracking to help you keep to your project plan. Then there’s the steep learning curve. We alluded to it above, with all the customization options available, but it goes beyond that. If you don’t have the hours necessary to learn ClickUp, you might want to keep looking.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Collaboration Features

ClickUp Pros & Key Features

Multiple task and work management views
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS
Free plan

ClickUp Cons & Limitations

User interface is cluttered
Gantt charts can only be exported as PDFs, which makes it hard to export data to other software like Excel or Google Sheets
Gantt charts don’t show the critical path and don’t allow project managers to track costs at the task level
Doesn’t have a free trial

ClickUp Pricing

Free plan: $0/user/month
Unlimited: $7/user/month
Business: $12/user/month

ClickUp Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Good for operational tasks and customer support.” Hovhannes G – from G2
“ClickUp sits right in the middle between typical task management tools and business platforms.” Pawel M – from Capterra

4. Wrike

Wrike is Gantt chart software that’s broad enough to deliver project and product management features, proofing and publishing as well as risk management. It tends to be used by marketers, digital agencies and those working in professional services. They like its simple but effective collaborative features, such as built-in chat. It’s best for monitoring workloads and activities, plus it can track the progress of the project. Agencies like the billing and invoicing capabilities.

It’s lower on our Gantt chart software list primarily because the Gantt chart and other features aren’t intuitive. Even worse, you can’t view projects, only tasks on its kanban board. If you like lists, though, this is for you. Gantt charts, not so much. For example, you can’t track all four task dependencies on its Gantt chart. Also, if you’re managing multiple projects, you’ll not like the lack of portfolio reporting. There’s also no option to pay monthly, the cost is divided into 12 to show how much you’ll pay monthly but you have to sign up for a year.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Workflow Management

Wrike Pros & Key Features

Workflow automation features
Easy to understand project dashboards
Has a 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS
Free plan

Wrike Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts lack critical path analysis features
The software is hard to navigate
Onboarding employees can be hard due to its non intuitive user interface

Wrike Pricing

Free plan: $0/user/month
Professional plan: $10.00/user/month
Business plan: $24.80/user/month

Wrike Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Wrike has become essential in my day and keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.” Paige T – from G2
“Productivity has been enhanced by removing essential but repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2

5. Monday.com

Monday.com is Gantt chart software that bills itself as a project management, workflow and automation and collaborative tool. It’s made an aggressive push to a general market and appeals to users who like a spreadsheet view. It has integrations you can pick from or build your own. Users like its colorful interface and how the software helps to visualize work. It’s also priced for a general market with very competitive subscription tiers.

However, if you’re a business that needs project management software, Monday.com is going to fall short. Even if you’re using it for less dynamic projects, the onboarding and training are not great and support is hard to reach. In terms of Gantt chart software, its Gantt chart is especially problematic. For example, you have to manually add task dependencies. It’s really a task management, not a project management tool.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Creative Teams

Monday.com Pros & Key Features

Simple, minimalistic user interface
Project portfolio reports and dashboards to track progress, resources and costs across projects
Has a free 14-day trial
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS
Free plan

Monday.com Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts are overly simplistic and lack important features such as cost tracking
Limited project reporting capabilities
Customizable views require manual setup

Monday.com Pricing

Free plan: $0/user/month
Basic: $9/user/month
Standard: $12/user/month
Pro: $19/user/month

Monday.com Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“We used to have a mess of excel sheets and emails but now everything’s in one place.” Laura A – from G2
“It is overall a great product but it requires a lot of setup initially to take advantage of all its functions and features.” Ana D – from Capterra

6. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is collaborative software that has some Gantt chart software features but is mostly a super-powered spreadsheet. It emphasizes the sharing of data with teams. It has a lot of templates and forms to help you get started as well as training tools. There are workflow automation tools that create efficiencies. There’s also a high level of customization, which many users will appreciate. If you want a Gantt chart, you’re going to have to create one yourself and it’s not going to satisfy users looking for Gantt chart software.

That should be a clue that this isn’t project management software and is barely Gantt chart software. But it’s popular, which is why it’s included, if at the bottom of our rankings. There’s a lack of project portfolio management features, resource management and capacity planning are expensive add-ons only available for top-tier subscriptions. The dashboard is cumbersome and, if you’re an enterprise customer, you’ll find the tool lacking. It’s not bad as a supplement to other tools, but why pay all that money for only a partial solution?

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Spreadsheets and Pre-built Project Templates

Smartsheet Pros & Key Features

Allows to export Gantt charts as Excel, Google Sheets and other file formats
Offers multiple project management tools such as kanban boards, spreadsheets and Gantt charts
Has a 30-day free trial
Has a mobile project management app available for Android and iOS

Smartsheet Cons & Limitations

The spreadsheet-like Gantt charts aren’t visually appealing and are hard to use
Not ideal for managing multiple projects, as you’ll need a separate spreadsheet for each project
Limited spreadsheet project reports

Smartsheet Pricing

Pro plan: $9/user/month
Business plan: $19/user/month, 3-user limit, making it $75/month

Smartsheet Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Smartsheet has allowed me to take my to-do list and run with it in a way that I didn’t think would be possible.” Victoria W – from G2
“I like that Smartsheet has a lot of different functions. It can be used for project management, inventory or event planning.” Lauren M – from Capterra

7. Ganttic

Ganttic offers a twist on a traditional Gantt. With its resource-centric Gantt charts, users are able to see who or is doing what and when. Offering a high-level overview of their entire resource pool, WBS, and project portfolio, the cloud-based tool is suitable for managers of mid-sized teams or large enterprises. It’s used mostly in industries such as engineering, construction, production, and design – fields where managers need to see the workloads, manage skills, and optimize utilization for equipment, people, and vehicles. Color coding, drag-and-drop scheduling, custom data fields, and automated reports are just a few other features that come standard with the tool.

Ganttic is a comfortable middle ground for those fed up with spreadsheet scheduling and those who don’t need all the bells and whistles of an expensive ERP. And while this makes it a perfect tool for resource management, there are some project management features that some users may find are lacking. Luckily, Ganttic was built with flexibility and modern workflows in mind. Offering native Calendar integrations, as well as robust opportunities for importing your existing spreadsheets or building your own custom workflow with its built-in API or Zapier connections.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Resource Management Features

Ganttic Pros & Key Features

Resource utilization and capacity planning tools
Online Gantt chart software
Has a free 14-day trial
Has a mobile app
Free plan

Ganttic Cons & Limitations

Limited customization features
Missing project portfolio roadmaps, dashboards and other PPM tools, so it’s not ideal for managing multiple projects, programs or portfolios.
Outdated user interface

Ganttic Pricing

Up to 10 resources: $0 per month per resource
Up to 20 resources: $25 per month per resource
Up to 50 resources: $59 per month per resource
Up to 150 resources: $149 per month per resource
Up to 250 resources: $229 per month per resource
Up to 500 resources: $379 per month per resource
Up to 1000 resources: $599 per month per resource
Up to 1500 resources: $790 per month per resource

Ganttic Reviews

G2 review: 4 / 5
Capterra review: 4.3 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Our planning and resource management is made easy with the adoption of Ganttic.” Thomas K – from G2
“Love how quick I can move from project to project.” Nathan R – from Capterra

8. Instagantt

Instagantt bills itself as a simple online Gantt chart software. It’s an affordable option that helps you create projects, manage tasks and set task dependencies. For a little extra money, you can access more features, such as a kanban board view, workload management, dashboards and reporting. In terms of Gantt charts, which is where it puts all its attention, you can schedule milestones, build timelines and create tasks and subtasks. Asana users will like it because it integrates with this project management software.

But when you put all your eggs in one basket, you’re asking for trouble. One thing is that it’s not great for updating stakeholders and you can’t export views to a PDF. While it integrates with Asana, InstaGantt is woefully behind in integrations with the more commonly used third-party tools. Also, the fact that users need to team up with another project management software to get a full suite of features to manage their projects feels like too much effort and cost when there are software solutions that offer it all under one roof.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Beginner Project Managers

Instagantt Pros & Key Features

Visually appealing user interface and simple project management tools
Built-in Gantt chart templates
Has a free 7-day trial

Instagantt Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts fail to show all the information that’s needed to create detailed project schedules
Kanban boards merely show a task status, don’t show task assignees and lack messaging or file sharing features
Project dashboards and reports are not robust enough for project managers or project management offices (PMOs)
Doesn’t have a mobile app, but a mobile-optimized view
No free plan

Instagantt Pricing

Individual Plan: $12 month
Team Plan: $24/user/month

Instagantt Reviews

G2 review: 4.3 / 5
Capterra review: 4.3 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“It links with Asana, that’s a pretty nice feature.” Alex V – from G2
“Automatic creation of Gantt charts, able to share with multiple users.” Lucia F – from Capterra

9. TeamGantt

TeamGantt is intuitive Gantt chart software for beginners and those who are tasked with the management of small projects or businesses. Gantt charts can be complicated, especially for those who aren’t used to working with them. Here the interactive Gantt charts are easy to use, which is further helped by the fact that the software offers strong tutorial content. They hold your hand but still have features such as automatic dependencies, so it’s not a bare-bones tool.

But beginners quickly become more experts and expect their Gantt chart software to follow suit. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. For example, there are no budgeting or invoicing tools, which are going to send users to other software to fill the holes. While there are reporting features, they’re underwhelming. Compared to other Gantt chart software these reports are basic and not very useful. The Gantt chart is good, but the software rests its reputation on that tool. Users who want project management software will have to look elsewhere.

Verdict: Best Mobile-friendly Gantt Chart Software

TeamGantt Pros & Key Features

Collaboration features such as file sharing and messaging
Lets you compare planned and actual timelines
Has a free 30-day trial
Has a mobile app

TeamGantt Cons & Limitations

Missing project management tools when compared with most Gantt chart software
There are no kanban boards
Limited project reporting features
No free plan

TeamGantt Pricing

Pro: $49/user/month

TeamGantt Reviews

G2 review: 4.8 / 5
Capterra review: 4.6 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I like the simplicity of the functionality since it allows me to easily and quickly set up new projects thus saving much time.” Sarah D – from G2
“It really does what it says on the tin! It’s quick and easy to create and move tasks around. The interface is intuitive.” Lola R – from Capterra

10. Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is online Gantt chart software for project planning, tracking work and team collaboration. The fact that they offer a free edition, though with limited features and only for three users, is attractive. If you find the software working for you, then the pricing structure is reasonable. It offers the standard features one expects with Gantt chart software. It’s also pretty easy to navigate, which users who have been scratching their heads with complicated software like Microsoft Project will definitely appreciate.

But users might find this Gantt chart software a bit bland. It hits the basics but doesn’t go the extra mile to make the software more competitive. It’s not easy to find tasks and the tool’s search function could use an upgrade. Same with bug reporting. Users have complained about the dashboard functionality, but the biggest complaint is the steep learning curve. Many Gantt chart software products are hard to learn, which is a hurdle users are often not willing to clear.

Verdict: Best Low-cost Gantt Chart Software

Zoho Projects Pros & Key Features

Invoicing and budgeting features
Multiple project dashboards and reports
Has a free 10-day trial
Has a mobile app
Free plan

Zoho Projects Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts don’t show information such as percent complete, assignee and other information compared with other Gantt chart software in this list
Limited dashboard functionality
There’s no time logging at the task level, which affects how timesheets work

Zoho Projects Pricing

Free plan: $0/user/month
Premium: $4/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: $9/user/month, billed annually

Zoho Projects Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“What I like most is how it integrates perfectly with the entire Zoho ecosystem.” Emy L – from G2
“While the UI and the setup were slightly complicated, Zoho Projects helps you track your projects efficiently.” Shria G – from Capterra

11. GanttPRO

GanttPRO is a simple way to plan with Gantt chart software. It enables users to work alone or create a workspace with Gantt charts that are shared with your team. It’s especially useful for small teams. It’s easy to use and well-designed, with a lot of features that teams will want. It also has kanban boards for those who don’t want to only work on Gantt charts. Add to that a competitive price and you can see why it made it to our list.

However, there’s a reason it lands in the middle of our listing. One is that there are no customizable reporting tools. You can’t even customize its dashboard. If you’re looking to do billing or invoicing, you’re out of luck. There are no such features. You might be able to live with that if you integrate with some of your favorite third-party apps, but that’s not likely. While there’s some integration, it’s very light and is one of the biggest areas that could use improvement on the tool.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Sharing Files

GanttPRO Pros & Key Features

Files can be downloaded in a variety of formats, which makes it easy to view, share and edit them using other software
Cost and budget tracking features
Has a free 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app available on iOS and Android

GanttPRO Cons & Limitations

Time tracking features can be improved, there are no timesheets
Limited project reporting features, no project health reports
Lack of integrations
Doesn’t have a free plan

GanttPRO Pricing

Core: $7.00/user/month
Advanced: $10.00/user/month
Business: $17.00/user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales

GanttPRO Reviews

G2 review: 4.8/5
Capterra review: 4.8/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I especially enjoy the collaboration feature where I can invite colleagues to edit tasks and timelines in the live document. I have moved from using Google Sheets.” Glen K – from Capterra
“GantPro software offers a seamless project management experience with its intuitive interface and robust features.” Dixie F – from Capterra

12. Proofhub

Proofhub is a Gantt chart software for marketing, sales and creative teams. It caters to these types of teams with tools such as file proofing, file versioning and collaboration. This Gantt chart software offers other tools such as kanban boards and project calendars, which allow teams to switch from the Gantt view to other project planning views. In addition to these, Proofhub offers time tracking tools such as timesheets and timers to monitor costs and team performance. This mix of features make this option not only a Gantt chart software, but a decent project management solution overall.

However, while it does have an interesting feature set, some of its tools need further development to be more competitive in comparison to other Gantt chart software in this list. For example, its workflow feature is merely a flow chart that shows a very basic representation of tasks and processes and its time, task and resource utilization reports lack detail. Its biggest omission is the lack of cost tracking and budgeting tools. All-in-all, Proofhub does a good job at helping marketing, sales and creative teams manage their tasks and workflows, but lacks some features that are needed for managing larger, more complex projects.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Proofing, Approvals and Collaboration

Proofhub Pros & Key Features

Fosters collaboration with messaging and file sharing
Has Gantt charts, kanban boards and project calendars
Has a 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app for Android and iOS

Proofhub Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts have a limited functionality, missing cost tracking and project budgeting features
Missing important project management tools, such as workload management charts or project dashboards
Flat pricing isn’t ideal for most teams
No free plan

Proofhub Pricing

ProofHub has a flat pricing fee of $89 per month or $45 with limited features, billed annually

ProofHub Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“The best thing I like about ProofHub is the way it organizes tasks and the detailed information each task captures.” Jagadeep S – from G2
“There are areas that need to be improved and more user customization would benefit this platform greatly.” David F – from Capterra

13. Asana

Asana is a project and work management software that’s mostly used by marketing and IT teams to manage their daily tasks and workflows. Asana offers a variety of project management tools including timelines, kanban boards, task lists and calendars. It pairs these features with reporting dashboards and workflow automation tools, which are focused on streamlining every-day processes and helping teams be more productive. It has recently launched AI tools which help team leaders save time while using the software.

While Asana does a good job in terms of being a task-oriented project management solution, it should work on improving its Gantt charts. Asana’s Gantt charts feel like a lightweight alternative to other Gantt chart software in this list, mainly because they lack the level of detail that project managers need. They merely help project managers create a basic Gantt chart with task dependencies but omit important information such as percent of completion, task costs, planned vs. actual comparisons, among other important details. So, Asana can help you with task and workflow management, but if you’re interested in Gantt charts, it might not be the best choice for you and your team.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Task Management

Asana Pros & Key Features

Workflow automation features
Has a free 14-day free trial
Has a free plan
Has a mobile app available on iOS and Android

Asana Cons & Limitations

Gantt chart lacks features such as critical path analysis and cost tracking
Workload management tools are limited
Timeline and Gantt chart features are not robust enough for project management

Asana Pricing

Free plan: $0/user/month
Starter: $10.99/user/month
Advanced: $24.99/user/month

Asana Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Asana is very easy to use, intuitive for my team members who don’t have tech backgrounds but need to start and contribute right away.” Sara G – from G2
“Overall, I had great success staying organized with this project management tool.” Mary B – from Capterra

14. Chisel

Chisel emerges as a standout product management tool for creating and managing Gantt charts and for good reasons. Its user-friendly interface simplifies the process, making it accessible to beginners and experienced project managers. What sets Chisel apart is its timeline view, providing a clear overview of tasks and their respective timeframes, ultimately resulting in a well-structured Gantt chart.

It comes at no cost, making it a budget-friendly option for efficient project management. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, Chisel’s simplicity and effectiveness make it a top pick for Gantt chart enthusiasts.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Agile Product Backlog Management

Chisel Pros & Key Features

Lets manage work by user stories and epics
Good for agile teams

Chisel Cons & Limitations

Gantt chart is more of a timeline tool than a traditional Gantt chart for project management
There are no project management reports or dashboards
Doesn’t have a mobile app

Chisel Pricing

Starter: $7 per maker per month

Chisel Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: Not enough reviews, less than 50

Highlighted User Reviews

“Chisel AI idea summarizations and classification have changed our way of working.” Abdul M – from Capterra
“Chisel has provided us the framework to calculate prioritization score of various features along with giving visibility on team alignment for these scores.” Kapil B – from Capterra

15. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is a project management tool that is also Gantt chart software. It’s used in large-scale industries like construction, engineering and energy. It has scheduling features, including Gantt charts that can create complex schedules with task dependencies, resource allocation and project timelines. These Gantt charts are highly customizable. Users can adjust its layout, task labels, colors and display options. Gantt charts can also be created for different stakeholders, from a high-level overview to more derailed, task-level views.

On the downside, this Gantt chart software can be difficult to learn, especially for beginners. It will require training and time to fully understand its functionality. The user interface can feel overwhelming and cluttered for users accustomed to simpler project management tools. It’s also costly when compared to other software on this list. This is especially true for small-to-medium sized teams or organizations on tight budgets. The tool requires substantial computer power and storage when handling large-scale projects. This could be an issue for companies without robust IT infrastructure. While it offers some collaboration features, it is not as intuitive in terms of real-time collaboration and team communication compared to newer, cloud-based project management tools.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Large-Scale Industries

Primavera P6 Key Features & Benefits

Customizable Gantt charts
Multiple Gantt chart views
Allocates resources
Mobile app for Android and iOS
Free trial

Primavera P6 Cons & Limitations

Steep learning curve
Limited collaboration tools
Cluttered user interface
Heavy system requirements
Expensive, especially for small teams
No free plan

Primavera P6 Pricing

You may acquire a desktop license or pay a monthly subscription for the online service for any of these and other versions of Primavera.
Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management: $2,750
Primavera P6 Progress Reporter: $950
Primavera P6 Professional Project Management: $2,500

Primavera Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Oracle Primavera Cloud is very user-friendly, has amazing management and scheduling tools which allows good coordination between the team and also saves money and time.” Bruno L. – from Capterra
“Accurate calculation and output data is perfect” Sameh H. – from Capterra

16. Airtable

Airtable is known for its flexibility and being a user-friendly tool that combines spreadsheets with databases. But is it a Gantt chart software? Yes, it has Gantt charts, which are available to Pro and Enterprise users. Those Gantt charts can visualize dependencies, be customized and filter, group and color coordinate information. This is all on a collaborative platform that allows multiple team members to work on the same project simultaneously. Their changes are synced in real time. Gantt charts also have drag-and-drop functionality to adjust timelines, which makes scheduling and rescheduling quick and easy.

However, as a project management software it has limited advanced features. Its Gantt charts are great for smaller-to-medium sized projects, but it lacks the same level of resource management, cost tracking and reporting capabilities as other tools on this list. While the Gantt chart is customizable, it’s only to a degree. There is no critical path analysis, for example. It’s also not the best fit for large projects with many tasks. As projects grow, the interface can become cluttered and performance degrades. The software doesn’t have native time-tracking features, which means teams will need third-party apps, which add to the cost. There’s also a lack of robust resource management, such as workload management, resource leveling and detailed resource allocation.

Verdict: Best User-Friendly Gantt Chart Software for Sales and CRM Teams

Airtable Pros & Key Features

User-friendly interface
Real-time collaboration
Customizable Gantt charts
Drag-and-drop functionality
Free plan

Airtable Cons & Limitations

Limited advanced project management features
No critical path analysis
Not ideal for large projects
No native time tracking
Lack of resource management features

Airtable Pricing

Free: $0/user/month
Team: $20 per seat/monthly (billed annually)
Business: $45 per seat/monthly (billed annually)
Enterprise: contact sales

Airtable Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“A lot of templates to start with. Highly customizable.” Jean D. – from Capterra
“When you got a table up and running it was super effective” Matt H. – from Capterra

17. Paymo

Paymo is good Gantt chart software because it combines task management, time tracking and visual project planning into a user-friendly interface that’s especially suited for small to mid-sized teams. Its Gantt chart feature allows users to create project timelines, set task dependencies and manage milestones with drag-and-drop functionality. Integration with timesheets and resource scheduling gives teams a clear view of who’s working on what and when, supporting efficient project execution and better workload balance.

However, Paymo falls short for larger or more complex projects due to its limited scalability and less robust reporting and customization options compared to enterprise-level tools. While it offers a clean and functional Gantt chart, it lacks more advanced features like portfolio Gantt views or real-time data syncing across multiple project layers. Users managing multiple projects or requiring in-depth analytics might find Paymo’s capabilities restrictive, making it better suited for freelancers or smaller teams rather than enterprise project environments.

Verdict: Best Gantt Software for Freelancers

Paymo Pros & Key Features

Combines task, time and visual project planning
Drag and drop functionality
Offers a free plan
Free 15-day trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Paymo Cons & Limitations

Poor choice for larger, more complex projects
Limited reporting and customization
No portfolio Gantt view

Paymo Pricing

Free plan: $0 user/month
Starter plan: $5.90/user/month paid annually
Small Office plan: $10.90/user/month paid annually
Business plan: $16.90/user/month paid annually

Paymo Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.8/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Paymo has all the capabilities that allows me to save time by automating project and task management procedures.” Larry R – from G2
“I like the way Paymo has been designed. With its straightforward menu sidebar, it’s easy to access everything your business needs quickly and easily.” Jamie Lee J – from G2

18. GanttProject

GanttProject’s pros lie in its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. As a free, open-source desktop application, it provides essential Gantt chart features for users who need straightforward project scheduling without the complexity of enterprise software. Users can easily create tasks, define dependencies, set baselines and export to PDF or PNG formats. Its offline functionality is ideal for users in secure or disconnected environments, and it’s cross-platform compatible, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux.

But, GanttProject has significant limitations compared to modern, cloud-based project management tools. It lacks real-time collaboration, integrations with other productivity apps and advanced features like dashboards, resource availability charts or time tracking. Since it’s a standalone program, sharing updates with team members requires manual file distribution, which can hinder team coordination. For larger teams or dynamic project environments, GanttProject’s static, offline model can quickly become a bottleneck.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Open Source

GanttProject Pros & Key Features

Free
Straightforward without complex features
Offline functionality

GanttProject Cons & Limitations

Lacks real-time collaboration
No dashboards, resource availability charts or time tracking
Not ideal for larger teams

GanttProject Pricing

Free

GanttProject Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.2/5

Highlighted Customer Reviews

“Its simplicity to use, makes it easy for me to create a schedule and track it.” – Chidera E., from G2
“It’s a good software for planning and project management. I always use it. It’s simple and works properly.” – Ezechiel D., from Capterra

You’ve Seen the List of Gantt Chart Software. Which Is the Best of the Best?

It’s important to pick the Gantt chart software that fits your needs. You’ll want one that’s easy to use and doesn’t require a complicated and time-consuming setup. It should easily link all four types of task dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to help you track project variance.

Then that Gantt chart should seamlessly connect with other project views and tools, such as dashboards and reporting. It should be cloud-based to allow teams to collaborate and give you real-time data to make more informed decisions. Look for that Gantt chart software that does all that and you’ll never look for another Gantt chart software again.

ProjectManager is award-winning Gantt chart software that links all four dependencies, filters for the critical path and sets a baseline to track progress in real time. Our Gantt chart is one of the multiple project views that all update together to keep you on the same page. There are also built-in task management, risk management and resource management features. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver success. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

The post 18 Best Gantt Chart Software of 2025 (Free & Paid) appeared first on ProjectManager.

What Is Lean Project Management?

Peter Landau — Thu, 29 May 2025 15:00:00 +0000

All businesses must make money in order to remain solvent and stay in business. The need for profitability is clear—how you get there is the tricky part.

One way is to deliver more value to your customers while creating less waste for the business. This is commonly called lean project management.

What Is Lean Project Management?

Lean project management is just like traditional project management in that it follows a structured project life cycle, uses formal project management documentation, and aligns with core principles, procedures standards for project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.

However, what sets it apart is the integration of Lean manufacturing principles and techniques to enhance efficiency and value delivery. Lean project management emphasizes the elimination of waste (muda), the continuous improvement mindset of Kaizen, and the use of tools like value stream mapping to visualize and streamline workflows.

It also adopts pull systems and just-in-time (JIT) practices to reduce excess inventory and unnecessary delays, ensuring work is pulled based on actual demand. By combining the discipline of project management with the agility and efficiency of lean thinking, this approach helps teams deliver projects faster, with fewer resources, and greater alignment to customer needs—all while maintaining full control over project scope, time, cost, and quality.

Lean manufacturing was developed by Toyota, which is why it uses Japanese words to refer to the elimination of waste in a manufacturing system (muda), waste created by overburden (muri) and waste that comes about because of uneven workloads (mura).

The lean manufacturing methodology has five lean principles, value, value stream, pull system, continuous flow and perfection. We’ll learn about those below.

Key Areas of Lean Project Management

Now, let’s define the key concepts and techniques from lean manufacturing that lean project management has adopted and how they can be used throughout the project life cycle.

5 Lean principles
Lean waste types
5S Method
Kaizen
Pull system
Just-in-time production

The 5 Lean Principles

These principles have been around for a while but were codified in 1997 by the Lean Enterprises Institute (LEI). When it comes to project management, the lean principles focus on defining what deliverables or requirements matter most to the project client and prioritizing all efforts and resources into achieving them, while eliminating unnecessary work.

Value: Value is defined by your customer, client or stakeholder. Value can be the quality, timeline or price point of your deliverable—though it’s likely a bit of all three. Know what requirements you need, and what expectations to meet.
Value Stream: You have defined value, now it’s time to map all the steps and processes in your manufacturing cycle. That sequence of steps is known as a value stream in lean project management. Identify every action that must take place in the project, including design, procurement, production, HR, admin and more. It’s helpful to draw this value stream map on one page to illustrate the flow of resources.
Continuous Flow: There shouldn’t be any points that will create bottlenecks or interrupt production. According to LEI, “Make the value stream steps occur in tight sequence so that the product or service will have a continuous flow toward the customer.” It often requires cross-functional teams but results in greater productivity.
Pull System: This is when the customer, client or stakeholder “pulls” the product or service from the project as needed. In other words, the improvements of the prior step lead to faster time-to-market. The advantage of the pull system is no warehousing or stockpiling. That saves money for the business that can then be passed on to their customers.
Perfection: The final step is spreading the philosophy throughout the entirety of your business. Lean is about continuous improvement. Therefore, everyone in the business must always strive to better themselves and the processes they’re involved with. Often it takes several go-throughs to get to the value and really reduce the waste.

Lean Waste Types

Lean waste types refer to the seven categories of non-value-adding activities that hinder efficiency and productivity in a process. These include overproduction, waiting, transportation, overprocessing, inventory, motion and defects—collectively remembered by the acronym TIMWOOD. By identifying and eliminating these wastes, organizations can streamline workflows, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.

5S Method

The 5S method is a workplace organization technique that enhances efficiency and safety through five Japanese principles: seiri (sort), seiton (set in order), seiso (shine), seiketsu (standardize) and shitsuke (sustain). By implementing 5S, teams create clean, well-organized environments that support continuous improvement and make problems easier to detect and correct.

Kaizen (Continuous Improvement)

Kaizen is the lean principle of continuous, incremental improvement involving all employees. It focuses on small, daily changes that collectively lead to significant enhancements over time. Kaizen fosters a culture where feedback and innovation are encouraged, driving long-term growth and quality in processes, products, and services.

Just-in-Time Production

Just-in-Time (JIT) production is a Lean principle aimed at reducing inventory costs by producing only what is needed, when it is needed and in the exact quantity required. This approach minimizes waste, improves cash flow and enhances responsiveness to customer demand, but requires tight coordination with suppliers and accurate demand forecasting.

When to Implement Lean Project Management?

Lean project management is best implemented when organizations aim to improve efficiency, reduce waste and maximize customer value. Whether you’re launching a new product, managing a complex build, or streamlining operations, Lean principles can help drive better results with fewer resources. It’s especially useful in industries where timelines, budgets and quality are tightly interlinked.

Manufacturing

Lean project management originated in manufacturing, making it a natural fit for this industry. By focusing on eliminating waste (like excess inventory or idle time) and optimizing production flow, manufacturers can boost productivity, reduce costs and deliver higher quality products with fewer defects.

Construction

In construction, lean project management helps minimize delays, reduce material waste and improve coordination across teams. Lean methods encourage just-in-time delivery, standardized work processes and continuous feedback, all of which contribute to more predictable project timelines and lower overall costs.

Product and Software Development

Lean is highly effective in product and software development, where agility and responsiveness are key. By applying Lean principles such as continuous improvement and customer-focused design, development teams can reduce cycle times, prioritize high-value features and release better products faster while staying aligned with stakeholder needs.

The Definition of a Lean Project

Lean was developed in manufacturing, but the lean principles have spread to many different industries such as project management and construction. A lean project is simply one in which there is continuous improvement.

That makes it part of the larger agile project management environment, in that it’s flexible and willing to change as needed. It’s all about delivering value to the customers and stakeholders, which is the same whether you’re manufacturing a car or an app.

One of the aspects of lean that makes it unique from traditional project management methodologies is that it applies the five principles of lean project management. That’s the first step in a lean project: identifying the five lean principles, then applying them to your project.

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Use this free Agile Sprint Plan Template to manage your projects better.

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What Are the Benefits of Lean Project Management?

When the Toyota Production System (TPS) was first introduced, it allowed the car company to improve value for its customers. The proof is in the pudding; the (then) small car manufacturer has become one of the largest automakers in the world. While the term lean manufacturing didn’t appear until the 1990s, the benefits of lean project management were evident. Here are some:

Greater visibility into the manufacturing process
More control, better decision-making and empowers teams
Boosts productivity and morale
Provides alternative ways to get deliverables out the door
Faster projects due to having to respond to fewer issues
Boosts profits, as more value is added and waste is reduced
Increased customer satisfaction

As companies reap these benefits, they have more funds to invest in workers, tools and equipment. This creates a snowball effect of creating even more value and reducing even more waste from the production system. It’s a win-win situation in the best business sense.

To reap all these benefits, you need project management software that provides visibility and connection. ProjectManager is cloud-based software that shares data across multiple project views. For example, the list view can tag tasks, add priority and display the current task status. Try ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager gives you transparency into your team’s work with a list view that shows task status. Learn More!

What About Lean Program Management?

Projects don’t occur neatly, one after another. More likely, project managers are responsible for overseeing a number of projects. A portfolio is a lot of projects, but a program is a lot of related projects. These can benefit from a lean approach, too.

You can use the five lean principles when managing a program. By looking at all your projects through the lens of lean program management, you find areas where there is waste among the projects. Then, you can pinpoint the value and share resources to help all the projects flow better together.

While it’s not as well-known as lean project management, lean program management is just another example of the fifth lean principle of perfection. If lean principles help a project, they will help a program. Continuous improvement means expanding the reach of your lean approach and having it inform all aspects of your business.

How ProjectManager Helps With Lean Project Management

Mapping your value stream on paper is a good start, but project management software can help you find and eliminate waste. ProjectManager is cloud-based software that connects teams and delivers real-time data for better decision-making.

Create Start-to-Finish Project Plans

Finding value and removing waste requires that you see the entire project in one place. View all the tasks and determine which are keepers and which are unnecessary. ProjectManager’s online Gantt chart lets you map the project and identify task dependencies that can cause bottlenecks. There’s also a filter to chart the critical path, which allows you to see the most efficient way to execute the project and avoid those steps that aren’t adding value.

ProjectManager organizes your tasks and identifies dependencies on its Gantt view. Try It Free!

Create Flexible Workflows on Kanban Boards

Transparency is key to lean project management. Dynamic kanban boards allow project managers a window into the production cycle without getting in the way of their teams. Meanwhile, teams can manage their backlog of tasks and plan how to execute their work. They can comment on tasks and get notifications by email or in the app when there is a response or update to the work.

Get transparency into production with kanban board views from ProjectManager. Try It Free!

Balance Your Team’s Workload On-the-Fly

Balancing workload is also bedrock to lean project management. Our resource management features let you see your team’s assignments in a color-coded chart that shows who has too many or too few assignments. Then, you can re-allocate right from the workload chart to keep your team working at capacity.

Balance your team’s tasks with ProjectManager’s color-coded workload chart. Try It Free!

Ensure Efficiency is Met with Dashboards

Teams can work how they want with our multiple project views, project managers can get data on their progress with one-click reports and a high-level view from the real-time dashboard. There are even lean program management reports and tools, such as the roadmap, which shows all the projects in your program in one place. You need a flexible tool such as ProjectManager to run a lean project.

Monitor your project in real time with dashboards from ProjectManager. Try It Free!

5 Roadmap Templates

Peter Landau — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:00:33 +0000

Creating and maintaining roadmaps is essential for aligning teams, setting strategic direction and communicating priorities across departments. Whether you’re planning IT initiatives, product development or broader business objectives, having the right roadmap template can save time and ensure clarity.

In this roundup, we’ve gathered a selection of the best roadmap templates designed to support different functions and project types. These free roadmap templates provide structure while remaining flexible enough to adapt to your unique planning needs, so you can focus more on execution and less on formatting.

Why Use a Roadmap Template?

Using a roadmap template streamlines the process of planning and visualizing a project or strategic initiative. Instead of starting from scratch, teams can rely on a structured format that ensures all critical elements—such as goals, milestones, timelines and resource needs—are included. This helps reduce planning errors, saves time and ensures consistency across different projects or departments.

A roadmap template also improves communication and alignment. Whether you’re presenting to executives, stakeholders or team members, a clear and well-organized roadmap makes it easier to convey progress, upcoming initiatives and strategic priorities. It supports transparency and helps manage expectations by showing how short-term tasks tie into long-term goals.

Moreover, roadmap templates can be customized to suit specific methodologies or industries, from IT and product development to marketing and operations. This adaptability makes them a practical tool for guiding teams, tracking execution and adjusting plans based on feedback or changing circumstances—all without losing the strategic big picture.

That doesn’t mean a template is ideal. There are limitations to using a static document to manage something as dynamic as project planning. Templates can’t provide real-time data. Everything must be manually updated, which means the information is always at least a step behind. Templates are also poor collaboration tools. However, there’s a solution: use project management software.

ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with powerful roadmaps with automated updates, drag-and-drop editing and seamless integration with tasks, timeline and resources. Unlike templates, our roadmaps can link all four types of task dependencies to avoid cost overruns, filter for the critical path to identify essential tasks and slack, plus set a baseline to track progress in real time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager’s roadmaps are better than using a template. Learn more

1. Roadmap Template for Excel

Download this free roadmap template for Excel to help teams plan, visualize and communicate project goals, timelines and milestones over a specific period. It includes rows for tasks, start and end dates. This structure allows users to map out project phases and deadlines in a linear, visual format.

Excel’s native features like conditional formatting, color coding and cell merging make it relatively easy to customize a roadmap to reflect priorities, statuses, and team responsibilities. These templates are particularly useful for high-level planning across departments or for presenting strategic overviews to stakeholders.

While Excel roadmap templates are popular for their accessibility and familiarity, they also have limitations. As noted above, they are static by nature and require manual updates, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error, especially as project details evolve.

Collaboration is also limited in Excel unless used in an online platform like OneDrive or Google Sheets, and even then, version control, which is included in ProjectManager, can become a challenge. Despite these drawbacks, Excel roadmap templates remain a widely used solution for teams that need a quick, straightforward way to organize and present project or product plans without specialized software.

2. Product Roadmap Template

This free product roadmap template for Excel is a strategic planning tool used to visually outline the development and evolution of a product over time. It typically includes key elements such as product goals, features, releases, timelines and responsible teams or stakeholders.

By organizing this information in a clear, linear format—often segmented by quarters or development phases—product managers and cross-functional teams can align their efforts around shared objectives. A roadmap template provides a high-level overview that helps prioritize features, communicate progress and coordinate tasks across departments like engineering, marketing, sales and customer support.

Product roadmap templates are valuable for both internal planning and external communication. Internally, they serve as a reference point to keep development teams focused on short-term deliverables while working toward long-term product vision. Externally, they can be shared with leadership, customers or partners to provide visibility into the product’s future direction.

Our free roadmap templates are also highly customizable, allowing teams to tailor them to specific methodologies, such as agile, scrum or waterfall, or to categorize by themes, epics or customer segments. With a well-structured product roadmap template, organizations can ensure alignment between business goals and development priorities, making it easier to deliver a cohesive and value-driven product experience.

3. Strategic Roadmap Template

This free strategic roadmap template for Excel is a planning tool designed to outline an organization’s long-term vision and the key initiatives required to achieve it. Unlike project or product roadmaps that focus on deliverables and timelines, a strategic roadmap provides a high-level overview of business objectives, priorities and the phased actions necessary to meet those goals. It often spans multiple years and is divided into major categories like operations, marketing, technology, finance or customer experience, helping stakeholders see how efforts align across departments.

This roadmap template includes a timeline segmented into quarters, along with strategic goals, key initiatives, responsible teams and performance indicators. A strategic roadmap template helps leadership communicate direction clearly, maintain alignment across the organization and track progress toward long-term objectives. Strategic roadmap templates are especially useful during annual planning, business transformation or when launching new corporate strategies, providing a structured yet flexible format to visualize and adjust strategy execution over time.

4. Program Roadmap Template

Download this free program roadmap template for Excel to outline the strategy, schedule and key deliverables of a program that consists of multiple related projects. It helps program managers coordinate efforts across different teams and initiatives by clearly mapping out timelines, milestones and high-level goals. Unlike a project roadmap that focuses on a single initiative, a program roadmap captures the broader view, aligning several projects under one strategic umbrella to ensure they collectively contribute to organizational objectives.

This template includes time-based sections in months, rows for individual projects or workstreams and visual markers for major milestones and phases. It allows stakeholders to see how various projects interrelate, when critical deliverables are expected and how resources are allocated across the program.

A program roadmap template is particularly useful for long-term initiatives such as digital transformation, product portfolios or cross-functional strategic goals. It facilitates communication, risk identification and alignment across departments, making it easier to adjust plans as priorities evolve.

5. IT Roadmap Template

Use this free IT roadmap template for Excel to visually outline the direction, priorities and development phases of an organization’s information technology initiatives. It helps IT leaders align technology investments and projects with broader business goals by mapping out plans across categories like infrastructure upgrades, system integrations, cybersecurity enhancements, application development and digital transformation.

Organized by a monthly timeline, an IT roadmap template gives stakeholders a clear view of what’s coming, what’s in progress and how technology will support organizational growth.

The IT roadmap template includes key sections for strategic objectives, current and future initiatives, milestones, responsible teams, budgets and resource requirements. It’s especially useful for managing complex IT portfolios where coordination across multiple teams and systems is essential.

By using an IT roadmap template, organizations can ensure better alignment between IT and business units, prioritize critical projects, reduce duplication of efforts and anticipate infrastructure or security needs. Whether you’re planning cloud migrations, enterprise software rollouts or IT governance enhancements, a well-structured IT roadmap template brings clarity and focus to your technology strategy.

ProjectManager Is Better Than a Roadmap Template

We’ve already listed why a roadmap template is a poor tool for planning and visualizing a project or strategic initiative. While anyone can download these free roadmap templates and try them out, they’ll quickly conclude that a more interactive planning tool that goes beyond the basic visualization of a roadmap template is in order.

ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with robust roadmaps that are live and collaborative. There are also other project views, such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, sheet, task and calendar views, all of which track progress, adjust timeline and reallocate resources as priorities shift.

Stay Productive With Resource Management Features

Use our resource planning and tracking tools to keep teams working at capacity, but avoiding burnout. This begins by scheduling resources on the roadmap and then onboarding the team, where their availability can be set to ensure resources are allocated efficiently. Use the color-coded workload chart to track allocation. See who is overallocated or underutilized and balance their workload without leaving the chart.

There’s also a team page that offers a daily or weekly summary of their activities. It can be filtered by progress and priority and users can update tasks from the same page.

Track Progress and More With Real-Time Dashboards and Reports

Resources are only one metric that needs to be monitored. For a high-level overview of key project metrics, toggle to the real-time project or portfolio dashboards. They don’t require any setup and automatically collect live data that’s displayed on easy-to-read graphs and charts showing time, cost, workload and more.

One-click reports go deeper into the data and can be filtered to also provide a more general view of progress that can be shared with stakeholders. Secure timesheets streamline payroll, but also track labor costs to help keep on budget.

How to Use a Decision Log for Optimal Results

Peter Landau — Tue, 27 May 2025 14:00:32 +0000

Projectsl businesses and even life itself are defined by a series of decisions. Each decision should, ideally, be the result of thorough research, counseling from the team and historic data. Managers use a decision log to keep stakeholders updated on who authorized a decision and how it came about.

A decision log is a critical communication tool that all project managers, business managers, team leaders and decision-makers of any kind need to understand. You can use project management software, templates or simply a notepad to track decisions. But before we get into how to make one, let’s better understand the definition of a decision log.

What Is a Decision Log?

A decision log is a record of decisions that lead to a choice you make during a project, business process or any kind of organizational activity. It can be meeting information, a record or a document of the project—it’s all compiled in a decision log and passed on to the project sponsor.

Communication problems are death to any type of team. A decision log serves as a communication tool that delivers supporting information to stakeholders. Decisions don’t just happen in scheduled meetings: they can also be made in casual meetings or at any moment, as businesses and project teams need to quickly respond to risks, changes, industry disruptions or larger economic and political phenomena. A decision log documents all of that information.

A decision log, therefore, is a list of critical decisions that have been agreed upon.

While the project decision log is mostly used by a few key members of a project team or board of executives, it has definitely been gaining traction in the wider organization.

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Decision Log Template

Use this free Decision Log Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

Who Should Use a Decision Log?

A decision log is a valuable tool for any individual, team or organization that needs to track decisions, maintain accountability and ensure clarity across processes. While it’s often associated with project management, its usefulness extends to fields such as operations, product development, event planning, IT, education and even healthcare administration. Anyone responsible for making or implementing decisions—such as team leaders, department heads, consultants or committee members—can benefit from documenting what decisions were made, why they were made, and what outcomes are expected.

In collaborative environments, decision logs help ensure alignment and prevent miscommunication by providing a single source of truth that all stakeholders can reference. For organizations undergoing change, implementing new systems or managing complex initiatives, decision logs serve as a historical record that supports transparency and informed future planning. Whether you’re part of a nonprofit organization, small business, academic institution or enterprise-level corporation, using a decision log can strengthen communication, reduce redundancy, and improve overall decision-making efficiency. Below are a few examples of professionals who use a decision log.

Project Management: tracking decisions across a project lifecycle
Business Strategy: documenting executive decisions and rationale
Product Development: logging product feature or roadmap choices
Change Management: capturing decisions about organizational changes
IT Governance: logging system architecture, vendor, or security decisions
Legal and Compliance: ensuring traceability for audit purposes

Why Do You Need a Decision Log?

Decisions can make or break a project or business. Stakeholders have a vested interest in the decisions that have been made. Just as they are updated regularly with stakeholder presentations and status reports, a decision log explains why decisions were made and who authorized them.

Documentation is key for managing projects and business operations, and while the mainstream project and business management world might not have yet fully embraced the decision log, they have used thorough documentation forever. Documentation offers historic data necessary to plan future projects and also acts as part of a risk management plan when looking at decisions.

A decision log can merely be a reminder of the course of action. There are many decisions made during the life cycle of a project or managing the operations of a business and sometimes people on any team need a reminder to avoid unnecessary conflict. It also explains who made that decision and why, which can help keep the team from disagreeing.

Having a decision log be the one source of truth, accessible to all and easy to share with stakeholders is essential to running a successful project or business. ProjectManager is online software that connects hybrid teams, managers and stakeholders with a real-time work management tool.

Keep your project decision log, change log, issue log, risk log, action log, raid log, risk register or any log you use on the task list view of our software. You can attach files, share them with the team and get notified as new items are added. Join the 35,000-plus users worldwide and get started free with ProjectManager today.

See your decision log on ProjectManager’s task list, with comments and status complete. Learn More!

What Should Be Included in a Decision Log?

A decision log helps with change analysis because it captures key decision-making data. Basically, it’s like a spreadsheet. Each column notes a specific part of the decision. Here are some of the items that should be included in any decision log:

Project name: Keeps all the decisions made in the project together
Project manager: The person in charge
Identification number: Assign one to each decision to make it easier to refer to
Decision Title: Titling a decision differentiates it from others made over the life cycle of the project
Date: When you made the decision and any deadlines related to it
Area: Which aspect of the project you’re discussing
Description: An overview of the decision you’ve made
Rationale: The reason for the decision and any comments or disagreements cited
Alternatives: Other options you discussed but decided against
Expected impact: Briefly outline what you think the decision will change
Contributors: List everyone who contributed to the decision
Approval signature: The sign-off, usually from the project manager

Decision Log Example

Let’s make up a theoretical case to go through the process of making a decision log for a project. For our decision log example, let’s contemplate a construction site that is wondering whether to use steel or wood when framing a smaller backhouse to the larger building.

The decision log would have all the data detailed above, such as the project name, the name of the project manager, an ID and the title could be something like “Backhouse Frame.” The people involved would be the project manager, architect and contractor at a minimum.

The discussion might be about price versus safety. Collect these pros and cons and add them to the project decision log. Explore the impact and alternatives, such as how steel would impact the budget and wood might require extra stabilizing elements. It’s a way to go through the best practices and see which is most suited for the project. In this case, the first entry of the decision log could look like this.

Make a decision, jot it down in the log and have the project manager sign off. Here’s how the decision log would look at the end of the project.

Then, deliver the document to the stakeholders of the project, say the owner of the property who contracted the work. This gives stakeholders context for the discussion and decision, as well as guides the subcontractors when making the structure.

Benefits of Using a Decision Log

A decision log offers a structured way to document critical choices made throughout the life of a project, initiative, or organizational process. By maintaining a centralized record of decisions, the log helps create transparency, consistency and accountability. This tool not only streamlines communication but also provides a historical reference that can guide future actions and prevent repeated mistakes. It’s an essential asset in both day-to-day operations and strategic planning.

Facilitates Communication with Stakeholders

A decision log ensures that stakeholders remain informed about key decisions, including the rationale and implications behind them. This reduces confusion, aligns expectations and supports trust between team members and stakeholders.

Supports Change Management

In change management processes, a decision log tracks when and why changes were approved, making it easier to implement and communicate changes across teams while maintaining control over scope and objectives.

Helps with Future Decision-Making

By serving as a knowledge base of past decisions, a decision log can guide current teams in making informed choices and avoiding previously encountered pitfalls, improving overall decision quality.

Holds Decision-Makers Accountable

Recording decisions with associated dates, reasons, and responsible individuals adds a layer of accountability that encourages thoughtful, transparent decision-making practices.

Can Be Used as Input for Project or Business Audits

Decision logs provide clear documentation that can be invaluable during internal reviews, audits or evaluations, offering traceability and justification for significant actions taken.

Enables Knowledge Transfer for Transition Plans or Project Handovers

When team members leave or projects change hands, a decision log helps new personnel quickly understand the context and reasoning behind previous decisions, ensuring continuity and smoother transitions.

How to Use a Decision Log

Use a log whenever there’s a decision made in the project or when running a business or team of any kind. That doesn’t necessarily mean minor decisions, but the more the better. Include any decision that has an impact on the project. Chances are, stakeholders will get upset at some point and demand to know why this, that or the other thing was done. The decision log is a way to communicate to them and also support the decision.

Therefore, a project decision log is not important as you are writing it, but more so when you are put in a position to defend your decision. If you are challenged or a decision is questioned, the log is there to back you up.

If a decision log is revised, it should be noted in the decision record. You want to document that decision as well. Explain why the decision was made and why it was changed. Then, update the log and create a new one reflecting the change.

Decision Log Template for Excel

Download this free decision log template to record important decisions made during the course of a project, business process or organizational initiative. It includes fields such as the date of the decision, decision description, individuals or teams involved, rationale, impacts and any follow-up actions or notes. The goal is to maintain a clear and accessible record of key choices, helping teams stay aligned and informed throughout a project’s lifecycle.

Using a decision log template is especially valuable in complex projects, collaborative environments, or long-term strategic planning efforts. It promotes transparency, reduces miscommunication and can serve as a reference for future decision-making or audits. By formalizing how decisions are documented, the template helps avoid knowledge loss when team members leave and supports accountability by clearly associating decisions with responsible parties. Overall, a decision log template enhances organizational memory and empowers teams to make better, more informed choices over time.

More Decision Log Templates

You can make a decision log yourself on any spreadsheet or even word processing app, but there are lots of free decision log templates that lay it out for you if that’s easier. Here are a few of the more popular ones we found online.

Decision Tree Template for Excel

Use this free decision tree template to map out decisions and their possible consequences, including risks, rewards and subsequent choices. Shaped like a tree, it starts with a primary decision or problem at the root, branching out into different options and further dividing into outcomes based on each choice. Each node represents a decision point or possible outcome, making it easy to follow a logical path through complex scenarios.

Decision Matrix Template for Excel

This free decision matrix template is used to evaluate and prioritize multiple options based on specific criteria. It helps individuals or teams make objective, data-driven decisions by assigning scores or weights to various choices against a set of relevant factors. The matrix includes rows for each option and columns for each criterion, with a scoring system applied to determine the best overall choice.

SampleTemplates

SampleTemplates has over nine different decision log templates for PDF and Word. They cross a number of different industries, so you should be able to find the template that fits your particular needs.

WordTemplatesOnline

WordTemplatesOnline has free decision log templates for Excel, Word and a PDF. They offer a variety of different log templates for various kinds of business meetings, such as guidelines and principles for retirement plans, one that captures key decisions and risks and others that include priority, status and more.

Of course, templates are static and can’t be used for effective collaboration. Rather than use a decision log template, it’s better to use software to manage your decisions and track your project changes.

How ProjectManager Helps With Decision Logs

ProjectManager is cloud-based work management software that connects hybrid teams and helps them work more productively. With multiple project views to suit everyone’s work style and real-time data to foster collaboration and better monitor projects, ProjectManager is also a great way to track decision-making.

Use Dashboards to Track KPIs

Before you can make a decision, you need data to give you better insight into the problem. ProjectManager’s real-time dashboard and one-click reports collect project metrics automatically. The dashboard tracks time, cost, workload and more, giving you an instant status report.

Create Visual Workflows with Kanban Boards

Instead of using a static template as your decision log, use the kanban board view. A kanban board is a visual tool that shows workflow. You can set up each column as one of the categories on your decision log and the cards can capture the relevant data. Then, you can use the feature to assign and track the progress of that change after it’s been authorized.

Follow Your Plan on Gantt Charts

In fact, you can plan all the changes made to your project with ProjectManager’s Gantt chart. Just toggle from the kanban to the Gantt chart view and you’ll see the work laid out on a project timeline. Now you can add dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track your planned effort against your actual effort.

Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT para Excel (Descarga Gratis)

Peter Landau — Mon, 19 May 2025 22:00:31 +0000

Usa esta plantilla gratuita de diagrama PERT en Excel para mejorar la fase de planificación en la gestión de proyectos. Una plantilla de diagrama PERT es una excelente herramienta para ayudarte a crear un cronograma y hacer seguimiento del progreso, garantizando que todas las actividades se completen a tiempo.

Para descargar esta plantilla gratuita de diagrama de PERT, haz clic en la imagen.

¿Qué es un Diagrama de PERT?

Un diagrama PERT se usa en gestión de proyectos para programar, organizar y coordinar tareas. A menudo se le llama también diagrama PERT, y el término PERT proviene de las siglas en inglés “Program Evaluation Review Technique”. Los gerentes de proyecto usan esta herramienta para representar visualmente el cronograma del proyecto.

La plantilla de diagrama PERT puede usarse para desglosar cada tarea, permitiendo al gerente de proyecto analizarlas. Esto se hace utilizando nodos, representados por rectángulos o círculos, junto con los eventos e hitos que ocurren durante el proyecto. Los nodos están conectados por vectores, es decir, líneas que representan las diversas tareas que deben ejecutarse.

La Marina de los EE. UU. desarrolló esta metodología por primera vez en los años 50 para gestionar el programa de misiles Polaris. Al mismo tiempo, el sector privado desarrolló un método similar llamado método de la ruta crítica de proyecto, también conocido como CPM por sus siglas en inglés “Critical Path Method”. Los diagramas PERT se usan en proyectos con cronogramas más flexibles y con mayor incertidumbre, mientras que la ruta crítica se aplica en proyectos con cronogramas fijos.

¿Por Qué Usar una Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT?

Los gerentes de proyecto usan diagramas PERT para estimar el tiempo mínimo necesario para completar un proyecto. Al analizar la estructura de desglose de trabajo, las conexiones entre tareas y los riesgos asociados, pueden organizar incluso proyectos complejos al visualizar las dependencias entre los pasos.

Usar una plantilla de diagrama PERT simplifica el proceso porque el diagrama ya está creado; los usuarios solo deben rellenar los espacios y seguir las instrucciones para completarlo. Esto aporta continuidad, ya que se puede usar la misma plantilla durante y después del proyecto, archivando la documentación de los proyectos finalizados para referencia futura.

También se usa para ilustrar tareas dependientes, construir un cronograma y calcular la ruta crítica. Es ideal para gestionar proyectos grandes o complejos. Una plantilla de diagrama PERT simplifica la gestión y mejora la eficiencia.

Aunque la plantilla es excelente para planificar el cronograma, se vuelve mucho más potente cuando se combina con software de gestión de proyectos. ProjectManager es un software galardonado de gestión de proyectos y portafolios con diagramas de Gantt robustos que representan el proyecto en una línea de tiempo y ofrecen mucho más que una simple plantilla. Por ejemplo, no necesitas hacer cálculos complejos de rata crítica en el diagrama de Gantt, ya que filtra las tareas de la ruta crítica al instante. Los usuarios también pueden vincular los cuatro tipos de dependencias y establecer una línea base para comparar el progreso planificado con el real en tiempo real. Comienza hoy con ProjectManager de forma gratuita.

ProjectManager es una herramienta mucho más eficaz que una plantilla de diagrama de PERT

¿Cuándo Usar Esta Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT?

Como se mencionó antes, esta plantilla es una herramienta esencial para la fase de planificación. Ayuda a identificar la ruta crítica del proyecto para que se cumplan todos los plazos. También permite conocer las interdependencias entre tareas, lo cual ayuda a evitar retrasos costosos.

De hecho, la plantilla de diagrama PERT puede emplearse incluso antes de la planificación del proyecto. Es útil durante la fase de inicio, ya que permite estimar el tiempo requerido para completar el proyecto, lo cual ayuda a determinar si el proyecto es viable.

También resulta valiosa al prepararse para proyectos complejos y de gran escala. Permite organizar todas las tareas y convertir algo que parece inabarcable en un proyecto controlado y exitoso. Además, sirve para explorar escenarios hipotéticos y elegir los flujos de trabajo adecuados. Finalmente, los gerentes de proyecto pueden usar esta plantilla para comunicar claramente la estrategia del proyecto al equipo.

¿Quién Debería Usar Esta Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT?

Ya debe quedar claro que esta plantilla es una herramienta utilizada por los gerentes de proyecto para fines de programación. Sin embargo, cualquier persona responsable de planificar un proyecto encontrará en esta plantilla un método poderoso que querrá implementar.

¿Qué Incluye Esta Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT para Excel?

Esta plantilla te permite estimar la duración de las tareas para crear un cronograma preciso. Pero antes de comenzar, debes familiarizarte con algunas definiciones importantes.

Fórmula del Diagrama de PERT

Un diagrama PERT tradicional se basa en un promedio ponderado de tres valores: el más pesimista (P), el más optimista (O) y el más probable (M) para la duración de una tarea.

Tiempo Optimista (O): La menor cantidad de tiempo necesaria para ejecutar una tarea o actividad.
Tiempo Pesimista (P): La mayor cantidad de tiempo para completar una tarea. Es el peor escenario posible, suponiendo que todo salga mal.
Tiempo Más Probable (M): La estimación más realista para la duración de la tarea, asumiendo que no haya problemas.
Tiempo Esperado (E): El tiempo resultante al aplicar la fórmula PERT, que pondera los valores optimista, pesimista y más probable para obtener la mejor estimación. La fórmula es:

E=(O + (4*M) + P) / 6

Desviación Estándar del Diagrama de PERT

Usa la siguiente fórmula para calcular la desviación estándar del diagrama PERT. Cuanto mayor sea el resultado, menor será la confianza en tu estimación, y viceversa.

(P-O) / 6

Ahora que comprendes el significado de estos conceptos clave del método PERT, veamos los elementos que componen el diagrama.

Nodos: Son los símbolos utilizados para visualizar los hitos del proyecto, que representan el resultado de cada tarea
Flechas: Representación visual de la secuencia de una tarea; las flechas divergentes indican tareas que pueden completarse simultáneamente
Predecesora: Una actividad que precede a otra y debe finalizar antes de que comience su sucesora
Tiempo de Adelanto: Tiempo necesario para completar una tarea sin afectar la siguiente

¿Cómo Usar la Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT en Excel de ProjectManager?

Ahora que tienes clara la terminología, es momento de aprender a usar esta plantilla gratuita en Excel. Las fórmulas ya están incorporadas. Solo necesitas ingresar la información de tu proyecto y seguir estos tres pasos.

1. Lista las Tareas y sus Estimaciones de Tiempo

Enumera las tareas del proyecto usando la tabla del diagrama PERT en el lado izquierdo, y luego haz una estimación optimista, una pesimista y una más probable para su finalización. Una vez que estas tres estimaciones se ingresan en sus columnas correspondientes, esta plantilla aplicará automáticamente la fórmula del diagrama PERT y completará las columnas de “Tiempo Esperado” y “Varianza”.

2. Usa Flechas y Nodos para Mapear Tareas e Hitos

Un diagrama PERT utiliza flechas para representar tareas y mostrar las dependencias entre ellas. Edita los nombres de las tareas y sus duraciones en el diagrama para reflejar lo que listaste en el paso uno, tal como se muestra en los datos de ejemplo de esta plantilla. Copia y pega los nodos y flechas de ejemplo para crear un diagrama que represente los flujos de trabajo de tu proyecto.

Luego, edita los nombres de los hitos usando los nodos del diagrama, como se muestra en el ejemplo.

3. Identifica las Tareas Predecesoras

Una vez que las tareas del proyecto estén mapeadas en el diagrama PERT, será más fácil visualizarlas, lo que facilita completar la columna de “Tareas Predecesoras”.

ProjectManager Ayuda a Crear y Gestionar Cronogramas de Proyecto

Aunque una plantilla de diagrama PERT es una herramienta valiosa para planificar un proyecto, no te ayudará a implementarlo ni controlarlo durante su ejecución. Las plantillas son documentos estáticos. Mientras que el diagrama puede ayudarte a programar un proyecto, el software de gestión de proyectos está diseñado para administrarlo. ProjectManager es un software galardonado que ofrece las funciones que necesitan los gerentes de proyecto y sus equipos para trabajar de manera más eficiente y eficaz.

Usa Múltiples Vistas de Programación de Proyecto

Los diagramas de Gantt trabajan en conjunto con la plantilla PERT para organizar tareas, identificar dependencias y establecer líneas base que permitan hacer seguimiento en tiempo real del cronograma y las desviaciones presupuestarias. Los gerentes los usan para planificar, gestionar y hacer seguimiento, pero los equipos no necesitan todas esas funciones al ejecutar sus tareas. Por eso, hay múltiples vistas de proyecto que se actualizan simultáneamente para mantener a todos alineados. Los equipos pueden visualizar su flujo de trabajo con tableros kanban o gestionar tareas con la vista de lista. También existe la vista de hoja (sin línea de tiempo) y un calendario mensual para mantener informados a los interesados.

Gestiona Recursos y Haz Seguimiento de Costos

Cumplir con el cronograma requiere monitoreo y control del proyecto mientras se ejecuta. Los gerentes pueden obtener una vista general del tiempo, costo y más con paneles en tiempo real o usar informes personalizables para examinar los datos con mayor detalle. Los costos de mano de obra pueden monitorearse mediante hojas de tiempo seguras que no solo facilitan la nómina, sino que también brindan visibilidad sobre cuánto tiempo y dinero invierte cada miembro del equipo. La página de equipo o el gráfico de carga de trabajo codificado por colores permite ver la asignación general del equipo y equilibrar la carga para mantener su productividad.

Contenido Relacionado con Diagramas de PERT

Hay mucho más que aprender sobre los diagramas PERT además de la plantilla. Para quienes deseen profundizar, aquí hay algunos artículos sobre software de planificación, guías completas y comparaciones con otros diagramas.

ProjectManager es un software online de gestión de proyectos y portafolios que conecta equipos estén donde estén: en la oficina, en terreno o a distancia. Pueden compartir archivos, comentar a nivel de tarea y mantenerse informados con notificaciones por correo o en la aplicación. Únete a equipos como Avis, Nestlé y Siemens que usan nuestro software para entregar proyectos exitosos. Comienza gratis con ProjectManager hoy mismo.

The post Plantilla de Diagrama de PERT para Excel (Descarga Gratis) appeared first on ProjectManager.

Kaizen Method: Definition, Principles and Implementation

Peter Landau — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:30:06 +0000

All businesses want to improve, or at least they should do so constantly to be competitive. Complacency might feel good in the moment, but that moment quickly passes, especially in the business world. Don’t be left behind. The question is how can one improvethe operations of a business to make it more efficient and profitable? There are many answers, from educational and physical fitness to spirituality. But is there a unifying theory of process improvement, and if so, can it be sustained?

Have you heard of the kaizen method? It’s a set of principles and techniques for continuous improvement that helps organizations across industries be more productive. But before we dive into it, let’s begin by defining the Japanese word “Kaizen.”

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What Is Kaizen?

Kaizen means improvement, but more than just that, it means continual improvement for your business operations. Improvement that is not reaching beyond what it can currently do is static.

Kaizen, more precisely, means change for the better (kai is change and zen is for the better). In terms of business, kaizen means that all activities must be continuously improving. That means everything in the organization, from employees to the CEO. But it’s not just applying to personnel, processes are also included.

The idea was codified by Masaaki Imai, an organizational theorist and management consultant, over 30 years ago with the publication of this book, Kaizen: the Key to Japan’s Competitive Success. Since then, the implications have reached beyond industry and the kaizen principles have been used to help in healthcare, psychotherapy, government, banking and even life coaching.

The kaizen methodology works at constant improvements through the elimination of waste. It’s been around in Japan since after World War II, though influenced by quality management ideas from the United States. It’s part of The Toyota Way, which is a set of principles that support the company’s management approach to production.

What Is the Kaizen Method?

Kaizen is a continuous improvement philosophy to increase the efficiency of business operations, rooted in Kaizen principles such as eliminating waste (muda, mura, muri), standardizing business processes through the 5S system, and using the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle to implement operational and organizational planning changes.

Kaizen is a methodology that emphasizes bottom-up management, empowering employees at all levels to identify problems, offer their input and participate in solving them.

Practices like Gemba Walks encourage firsthand observation of employee performance and operations, while focused Kaizen events target rapid process improvements. Together, these tools and mindsets foster a culture of efficiency, teamwork and long-term operational excellence through small, incremental changes that drive meaningful progress and lasting results over time.

Let’s now define each of the elements that make up this continuous improvement method.

Kaizen Principles

A philosophy focused on continuous, incremental improvement in all areas of life, especially in the workplace. It emphasizes small, consistent improvements over time to achieve larger long-term gains.

Kaizen Waste Types (Muda, Mura, Muri)

Muda refers to waste in any form that does not add value, such as excess production or time spent on non-essential tasks. Mura is unevenness or inconsistency in processes, often leading to inefficiency or unnecessary stress. Muri refers to overburdening people, equipment or processes beyond their capacity, which can cause breakdowns or fatigue.

Kaizen Gemba Walk

A practice where managers and team members go to the “Gemba” (the actual place where work is done) to observe processes, understand challenges and gather insights directly from the people involved in the work.

Kaizen 5S System

A methodology for organizing the workplace to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The 5S principles are: Sort (seiri), the removal of unnecessary items; set in order (seiton), organize items for easy access; shine (seiso): clean the work area; standardize (seiketsu): establish consistent processes. sustain (shitsuke), maintain the improvements.

Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)

A continuous improvement cycle used to test and implement changes. It involves planning a change (plan), implementing it (do), checking the results (check), and taking action based on the results (act).

Bottom-Up Management

A management approach where decisions are
made with input from lower-level employees, encouraging their involvement and fostering a sense of ownership in improvement initiatives.

Kaizen Events

Focused, short-term activities where a cross-functional team works intensively to make significant improvements to a specific area, often using the Kaizen principles.

Kaizen Board

A tool for visualizing and tracking the status of improvement
initiatives. It typically displays a list of ongoing, planned and completed projects or ideas, helping teams stay aligned and transparent in their improvement efforts.

Kaizen Principles

The five principles of kaizen are fundamental to any application of kaizen.

Know Your Customer: Knowledge of who your selling a product or service to is how one creates value. It is key that companies identify their customer’s interests to enhance their experience.
Let It Flow: This applies to the target of achieving zero waste. It might be an impossible goal, but that’s kaizen for you: if you could achieve that objective improvement would stop. Therefore, everyone in the organization is working towards removing any waste from their corner of the business while also in the process creating value.
Go to Gemba: The literal translation for gemba is “the real place.” In this context, it’s about leadership and knowing what is happening at every level of the organization. You can think of it as following the action, as value is created where something is actually happening. That’s where you want to be.
Empower People: This one is directed towards teams and having them organized in such a way that it supports the kaizen principles. Therefore, leadership must set goals for their teams that are not contradictory. They should offer a system and tools to help the teams achieve these goals.
Be Transparent: Data is the strongest determining factor. It’s the metric that measures success. Therefore, performance and improvements must be tracked with real data

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Kaizen in Action: Practical Tips

The principles are the guiding lights; the action plan is where kaizen hits the road running. It’s all about organizing, so that the focus is always on improvement and its targets are every part of the organization. Everyone is part of the process. A consistent application of the kaizen action plan leads to continuous improvement.

First, take each corner of your organization and look at ways it can be improved. This will involve team collaboration and total involvement from everyone. Individuals need autonomy to take action on improvements themselves, which builds a culture of engagement. This is done with a continuing flow of suggestions and then implementing them to improve the organization.

Each event is outlined by the acronym PDCA, which stands for plan, do, check, act. Begin by setting goals, with documentation and background. Then review what the current state is with that part of the business and plan towards improving it. Identify what improvements will be implemented and try and fix what isn’t working. Report the results, follow up and repeat.

The idea of always making small improvements is not dissimilar to lean manufacturing, especially with the emphasis of eliminating waste. Kaizen, like a lean or agile approach, works with iterations. It keeps companies flexible.

How Kaizen and ProjectManager Work Together

Ideas are great and methodologies are fundamental to implementing those ideas. But the best plans of mice and men often go astray if they don’t have a project management tool to track their progress. ProjectManager is a dynamic and nimble software that cashes the check that kaizen writes.

ProjectManager has Kanban Boards to Track Progress

What ProjectManager.com provides is a way to monitor that improvement. Kanban is another Japanese work, which translates as signboard or billboard. It also grew from the Toyota Way of manufacturing, offering a visual workflow that increase efficiencies by making sure that the supplies you need now are always on hand, but not more than must be stored.

It’s an elegant system of columns and cards. Each column can have a to do, doing and done heading. Under each of those column headings are cards, which capture the individual task. These cards are then moved from column to column as they’re identified, worked on and completed.

These boards are a great way to track the progress of the improvements. With ProjectManager.com, the kanban boards are even more useful, as they can be assigned to specific team members or a whole group. Then, because the software is online, as teams update their status that information is instantly reflected across the software.

ProjectManager’s Real-time Dashboard Tracks Progress

Kaizen encourages collaboration and ProjectManager supports teamwork by giving teams a platform to communicate at the task level. Documents and images can be attached to the card in the board view of our software, so these important files are easy to access. There is a conversation box to dialogue with other team members. When a comment is added, all those assigned the task are notified. It’s especially helpful if your teams are distributed on different sites.

But teams aren’t the only ones who benefit from ProjectManager. Just as kaizen involves the whole organization in making continuous improvements, ProjectManager also gives managers the tools they need to assign easily and monitor the progress of the improvements as they’re implemented.

While project managers can view the progress of the kaizen implementation on the kanban board, they probably are going to want more detailed information. ProjectManager has a real-time dashboard that collects all the data team members input and then crunches those numbers into a series of project metrics that are displayed all in one place.

The real-time dashboard has colorful and easy to read graphs and charts that track progress, workload, timelines and more. These can be shared or printed out for presentation. But in ProjectManager.com, the graphs and charts can be filtered to show just the amount of data you need. This means when a project manager is discussing items with the team, they can go deep into the data, but if the stakeholders need a more general overview, that can be displayed in a click.

Kaizen and ProjectManager.com are a match made in project management heaven. But ProjectManager can do so much more than help you implement change. Our cloud-based project management software can plan, monitor and report on any kind of project. Online Gantt charts make scheduling collaborative and teams love our easy-to-use task lists and timesheets. See how ProjectManager can improve your project management today by taking this free 30-day trial.

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