When it comes to managing projects, many small businesses start with basic tools like spreadsheets or simple to-do apps. They’re familiar and cheap—but as your team grows, those tools can become messy and hard to keep everyone on the same page. On the other end, high-end project management software can feel overwhelming or too expensive for a startup or small team. Sometimes you need something in between: a tool that’s easy to use, affordable, and helps you keep projects on track without extra complexity.
That’s where these eight project management tools come in. Each one offers a balance of simplicity and useful features tailored for small businesses and startups. Whether you need a visual task board, an all-in-one team workspace, or an app that scales with you, there’s an option here that fits your workflow. Explore this guide to find the best fit for your team’s needs, so you can boost efficiency and focus on delivering results—not wrestling with your project software.
Trello
Best for: Teams that want a simple, visual way to organize tasks (Kanban-style).
Trello uses drag-and-drop boards and cards to make project tracking intuitive. You can create boards for different projects, then add cards for tasks, assign team members, set due dates, and attach files—all in a few clicks. Its interface is extremely beginner-friendly and works in any web browser or on mobile.
Pricing: Trello’s core features are free to use (with unlimited cards and members), and you can upgrade for power-ups and larger team needs.
Asana
Best for: Small teams needing structured task management with flexibility.
Asana offers multiple ways to view and organize work—lists, boards, calendars, even timelines—so each team can plan projects the way that fits them best. It has a clean, user-friendly interface where you can assign tasks, add due dates and comments, and track progress at a glance. Asana strikes a nice balance: simple enough for basic task tracking, but with options to add subtasks, dependencies, and more as your projects grow. It integrates with tools like Gmail and Slack to fit into your workflow.
Pricing: Asana’s basic plan is free for a team of up to 10, with advanced features available in paid plans.
Monday.com
Best for: Teams that want highly customizable workflows and visuals.
Monday.com provides a colorful, customizable workspace where you can track everything from simple tasks to complex projects. Teams can tailor boards with various column types (status, owner, timeline, etc.) to fit any workflow—project plans, sales pipelines, content calendars, you name it. The interface is modern and engaging, using color-coded labels and drag-and-drop simplicity to make project updates clear at a glance. Collaboration is built in with comments, notifications, and file attachments directly on each item. Monday integrates with many other apps (Google Drive, Slack, etc.), which is great for efficiency.
Pricing: A free plan is available (with limited seats and features), and their paid plans unlock more automation and team members as you grow.
Basecamp
Best for: Small teams that want an all-in-one hub for project communication and tasks.
Basecamp combines project management and team collaboration in a straightforward way. Each project in Basecamp includes to-do lists, a message board for discussions, a schedule for deadlines, file storage, and even a group chat—so all your project information stays in one organized place. It’s designed to reduce the need for scattered emails and multiple apps, which can really simplify life for a busy team. The interface is simple and clean, with no steep learning curve: even non-technical team members can jump in and start using it quickly.
Pricing: Basecamp offers a free 30-day trial (and a limited free version for personal use); the business plan has a flat monthly fee with no per-user charges, making it budget-friendly as your team grows.
ClickUp
Best for: Power users and growing teams who want all project features in one app.
ClickUp is a feature-packed platform that aims to replace several other tools by combining them into one. You can manage tasks with traditional lists or Kanban boards, plan timelines on Gantt charts, create docs and wikis, chat with teammates, track goals, and more—all within ClickUp. Despite its vast feature set, you can start simple: for example, use it just for basic task lists and gradually enable more advanced features as needed. It’s highly customizable, letting you add custom fields, choose different views for your work, and automate routine steps.
Pricing: ClickUp’s generous free plan supports unlimited users and projects (with some limitations on storage and advanced features), and affordable paid plans offer extra power for teams that need additional functionality.
Zoho Projects
Best for: Small businesses looking for a full-featured project tool on a small budget.
Zoho Projects offers all the essentials of project management—task lists, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, time tracking, and reporting—within an easy-to-use interface. It’s part of the larger Zoho suite, so it plays nicely if you’re already using tools like Zoho CRM or Zoho Docs, but it works well as a standalone project app too. Setting up projects and tasks is straightforward, and you can quickly see progress with built-in charts and timelines. It also includes handy features like project templates and issue tracking for more advanced needs.
Pricing: Zoho Projects has a free plan for very small teams (so you can try it out with limited users and projects), and its paid plans are among the most affordable in the market, making advanced project management tools accessible even to startups.
Freedcamp
Best for: Budget-conscious teams that need core project features for free.
Freedcamp is a project management solution that provides a solid set of tools without the price tag. Even on its free tier, Freedcamp lets you have unlimited projects, tasks, and team members, which is a huge plus for small companies or nonprofits watching costs. The platform includes task lists and Kanban boards for organizing work, a shared team calendar for deadlines, discussion forums for communication, and basic project milestones—to cover most of what a team needs to stay organized. The interface is clean and simple, making it easy for newcomers to get started.
Pricing: Freedcamp’s free plan covers essential features, and you can always extend functionality with affordable add-ons or upgrades (like Gantt charts, integrations, or advanced reports) as your needs grow.
Wrike
Best for: Teams that want robust features and a spreadsheet-like approach to projects.
Wrike is a powerful project management tool that can scale from small teams to large organizations. It offers a variety of ways to view your work: list views, Kanban boards, and a notable table (spreadsheet-style) view that appeals to those who like Excel for tracking projects. Wrike also includes built-in Gantt charts, detailed analytics, and custom reporting tools, which can be handy as your operations become more complex. Despite the rich features, Wrike allows you to start with the basics—assign tasks, set due dates, and collaborate through comments and file sharing—so you don’t have to use everything at once. It integrates with popular apps like Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, and Slack for a smoother workflow.
Pricing: Wrike’s free plan supports a small team with unlimited users on basic features, and their paid plans unlock the more advanced capabilities (like subtasks, dashboards, and time tracking) when you’re ready for them.
From simple drag-and-drop boards to all-in-one management suites, these project management tools offer a refreshing alternative to juggling spreadsheets or over-engineered enterprise systems. The key is to choose the app that best fits your team’s style and needs. Do you crave visual simplicity, detailed planning features, real-time collaboration, or just a low-cost way to stay organized? There’s an option above that checks those boxes. Pick the tool that aligns with your workflow and budget, and start managing your projects more efficiently—so you can spend less time tracking tasks and more time driving your business forward.