Zoho Projects
CE 87 free tierTeams already inside the Zoho suite, or anyone hunting one of the cheapest per-seat ways in.
Entry plan$5 / seat
× 6 seats$30
Against your $60 ceiling−$30
Team cost$30 / mo
Verified
Reviewed by
Oleh Kem
Oleh KemPlans checked80 / 20 vendors
“Contact sales”18/80
Median entry$10/mo
Entry range$5-24
Publish a price19/20
Free tier18/20
Leader91 Todoist
Project management tools compared: pricing, sprints and resourcing
From a free kanban board to a flat fee that covers a whole company, 20 project management tools sit on one price axis, each figure taken straight from the vendor's page. The number most people miss is the free tier. 18 tools run one, and every one of them stops somewhere you grow into.
How much does project management software cost, and where do free plans stop?
18 of these 20 project management tools run a free tier, which makes where free ends the question that matters. Paid seats open at $5 and the median lands at $10, checked August 8, 2026. Smartsheet is the lone holdout that bills from day one.
- Free plans stop for different reasons: Trello caps you at 10 boards, Miro at 3, Jira at 100 automation runs a month, and Todoist withholds reminders until you pay.
- The median paid plan is $10 a seat a month, with entry prices running from $5 up to the flat plans that ignore headcount entirely.
- four of the 20 publish a price for every plan. For the rest, the enterprise tier is where the number goes missing.
- Most tools now run a second meter for AI. Notion, ClickUp, Airtable, Miro and Coda all bill it as separate credits on top of the seat price, not as a plan you can read off the page.
- Per-seat is the default, but the details bite. monday.com sets a 3-seat minimum, Asana adds seats in fixed packs, and Basecamp flips the model with one flat fee that only pays off past roughly twenty people.
Scoring is sixty percent pricing transparency and forty percent verified user rating. Capability stays out of the number: what each tool can do lives in the grid, not the score. See how we score.
01 / 07
PM tools ranked: sprints, dependencies, goals and resourcing
Read left to right: whether a tool has a free tier, whether it prints a price for every plan, then the six capabilities that actually split this market. Sprints, dependencies, goals, time tracking, resourcing and guest access. On the price axis a tick marks a per-seat plan and a diamond marks a flat fee that does not move with headcount.
Sorted by transparency scorePriced tiers 62 / 80Full disclosure 4 / 20
How to read this table
Reading the console
Each row is one tool, sorted by how transparently it prices. The price axis plots each tool's monthly seat price. A tick marks a per-seat plan, where the bill grows with the team. A diamond marks a flat fee that covers a whole account regardless of headcount, the way Basecamp and Nifty's team plans do. A capability cell shows only what the record confirms, so a blank is missing evidence, not a missing feature. Two things the axis leaves out: where a free plan gives way, and the AI credits several vendors charge alongside a seat.
- Price axis
- One shared logarithmic axis, $5 to $399. A tick further right is genuinely dearer. The tall tick is the cheapest paid tier.
- Diamond
- A flat platform fee, billed per month, not per seat.
- Granted
- Listed on the vendor’s own pages on the verify date.
- Conditional
- Present, but some tiers carry no published price.
- Not on the record
- Absent from the recorded feature set. It means unlisted, not incapable.
01TodoistFree tierAll tiers pricedSprints not on the recordDependencies not on the recordGoals not on the recordTime tracking listedResourcing not on the recordGuest access not on the record$7/u91Alternatives to Todoist
02TrelloFree tierAll tiers pricedSprints not on the recordDependencies not on the recordGoals not on the recordTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access listed$6/u89Alternatives to Trello
03Zoho ProjectsFree tierAll tiers pricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking listedResourcing not on the recordGuest access not on the record$5/u87Alternatives to Zoho Projects
04NiftyFree tier1 of 7 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals listedTime tracking listedResourcing not on the recordGuest access listed$7/u85Alternatives to Nifty
05BasecampFree tierAll tiers pricedSprints not on the recordDependencies not on the recordGoals not on the recordTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access listed$15/u84Alternatives to Basecamp
06monday.comFree tier1 of 5 tiers unpricedSprints listedDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access listed$10.98/u81Alternatives to monday.com
07MiroFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies not on the recordGoals listedTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access listed$10/u80
08NotionFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access listed$12/u79Alternatives to Notion
09ClickUpFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints listedDependencies listedGoals listedTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access listed$10/u78Alternatives to ClickUp
10LinearFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints listedDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access not on the record$10/u78Alternatives to Linear
11AirtableFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking not on the recordResourcing listedGuest access listed$24/u78
12CodaFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies not on the recordGoals listedTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access listed$12/u78Alternatives to Coda
13HiveFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals listedTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access listed$7.50/u76Alternatives to Hive
14AsanaFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals listedTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access listed$13.49/u74
15JiraFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints listedDependencies listedGoals listedTime tracking listedResourcing not on the recordGuest access not on the record$7.91/u73Alternatives to Jira
16ShortcutFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints listedDependencies not on the recordGoals listedTime tracking not on the recordResourcing not on the recordGuest access not on the record$10/u73Alternatives to Shortcut
17TeamworkFree tier2 of 5 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access listed$9.99/u65Alternatives to Teamwork
18WrikeFree tier2 of 5 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access not on the record$10/u61Alternatives to Wrike
19SmartsheetNo free tier2 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals listedTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access listed$12/u60Alternatives to Smartsheet
20HeightProduct discontinuedFree tier1 of 4 tiers unpricedSprints not on the recordDependencies listedGoals not on the recordTime tracking listedResourcing listedGuest access not on the recordRetired0Alternatives to Height
GrantedSome tiers sealedNot on the recordCheapest paid seatFlat account fee, not per seatScore ranks pricing transparency and user ratings, not capability. Capability is the grid.
20 vendorsMedian entry $10Coverage span 6 → 1 of sixSealed tiers 18 / 80
Scroll the console sideways to reach the remaining conditions.
02 / 07
Shortlist a PM tool by seat count and what it really costs your team
The shortlist ranks by what the plan actually costs your team, not by list price. Flat plans are folded into a per-team number so they compare like for like. Only vendors rated 85 and up are eligible.
Seats
6
Budget / seat
For 6 seats at $10 per seat, start with these
Ranked by monthly team cost, vendors rated 85 and up · Your ceiling for this team: $60 / mo
Trello
CE 89 free tierSmall teams that want a kanban board and nothing heavier.
Entry plan$6 / seat
× 6 seats$36
Against your $60 ceiling−$24
Team cost$36 / mo
Todoist
CE 91 free tierIndividuals and small teams tracking tasks, not running complex projects.
Entry plan$7 / seat
× 6 seats$42
Against your $60 ceiling−$18
Team cost$42 / mo
Not sure what to weigh? Five questions narrow it faster than the grid.Answer 5 questions
03 / 07
Every tool's plans, verdicts and the date we checked each price
Open a row for a tool's full set of plans, each price stamped with the date we checked it. Ranking follows the transparency score, not price or headcount.
Transparency scorePricing transparency 60%User satisfaction 40%
Individuals and small teams tracking tasks, not running complex projects. Todoist prints a price for every plan with no hidden enterprise step, and its free tier keeps basic task reminders; the custom, unlimited kind arrive with Pro.
Critical gapThe platform misses complex dependency tracking for enterprise workflows.
Plan table and expert take
Todoist: expert take
Solo users and small teams get the cleanest deal: every plan is priced on the page with no hidden enterprise step. Free covers the basics, task reminders included; custom and unlimited reminders wait behind Pro. A to-do app, not team project management.
Where Todoist holds up
- Natural language input for quick task creation (e.g., 'every Friday at 10am')
- Karma system gamifies productivity and tracks progress over time
- Excellent cross-platform sync across 10+ native apps (desktop, mobile, web)
- Powerful filtering and labeling system for customized views (Pro/Business)
- Clean, minimalist UI focuses on tasks without visual clutter
4.6CE scoreG2 4.5 · 826 reviewsCapterra 4.6Founded 2007Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Free | Free |
| Pro | $7 | $5 |
| Business | $10 | $8 |
Small teams that want a kanban board and nothing heavier. Trello's free plan gives 10 boards with Butler automation already switched on, and its Enterprise tier only makes sense at the 50-user floor it prices for.
Critical gapThe interface architecture limits effective project management for teams exceeding 12 concurrent users.
Plan table and expert take
Trello: expert take
Small teams get more free than they expect: 10 boards with Butler automation already on. Past that, Trello stays a kanban board with no native Gantt or dependencies. Enterprise only prices sensibly at 50 users.
Where Trello holds up
- Extremely intuitive Kanban interface with a minimal learning curve.
- Generous free plan with unlimited cards and up to 10 boards.
- Rich automation (Butler) is included even on the free plan.
- Vast ecosystem of Power-Ups for extensive customization.
- Visually appealing and simple for non-technical teams to adopt.
4.5CE scoreG2 4.4 · 13,985 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2011Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| FREE | Free | Free |
| STANDARD | $6 | $5 |
| PREMIUM | $12.50 | $10 |
| ENTERPRISE | Not published | $17.50 |
Teams already inside the Zoho suite, or anyone hunting one of the cheapest per-seat ways in. Zoho Projects opens near the bottom of the range, though its storefront prices in euros with local tax added on top.
Critical gapThe cloud-only architecture requires constant internet connectivity, failing to support offline workflows.
Plan table and expert take
Zoho Projects: expert take
Zoho-native teams get one of the cheapest per-seat entries in the category. The storefront prices in euros, and local tax lands on top of the sticker.
Where Zoho Projects holds up
- Deep integration with the extensive Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Books, Desk)
- Built-in time tracking and invoicing on all paid plans
- Generous free plan supports 3 users and 2 projects with key features
- Highly competitive pricing, especially for larger teams
- Blueprint feature automates complex task workflows and processes
4.4CE scoreG2 4.3 · 524 reviewsCapterra 4.4Founded 1996Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Premium | $5 | $4 |
| Enterprise | $10 | $9 |
| Ultimate | $14 | $14 |
Small teams choosing between paying per seat and paying flat, because Nifty lists both on one page. A $7 Personal seat sits beside a $39 Starter plan that covers a team of ten, so past a few seats the flat route wins.
Critical gapThe interface lacks refined design standards and consistent typography across the task dashboard.
Plan table and expert take
Nifty: expert take
Nifty prices aggressively: annual terms run up to 45 percent below monthly, and the free plan is tight at two active projects and 100 MB. A capable milestones-and-docs tracker for small teams, lighter on reporting.
Where Nifty holds up
- Free plan available
- Affordable starting at $7/mo
- Highly rated (4.7/5 on review platforms)
- 15 key features including Tasks & Kanban and Milestones
- Multiple pricing tiers (4 plans) to match different needs
4.8CE scoreG2 4.7 · 442 reviewsCapterra 4.7Founded 2017Verified July 16, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Personal | $7 | Not published |
| Business (per-seat) | $16 | Not published |
| Starter | $39 | Not published |
| Business (team) | $124 | Not published |
| Unlimited | $399 | Not published |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Whole companies that want calm and one bill instead of per-seat maths. Basecamp bundles messaging, to-dos and client access, and guests never count toward the price.
Critical gapThe platform lacks the workflow customization necessary for agile-focused development.
Plan table and expert take
Basecamp: expert take
Basecamp flips per-seat: its flat $299 Pro Unlimited comes with guests free, so it beats per-seat rivals only once a team passes roughly twenty. Below that it is dearer, not cheaper.
Where Basecamp holds up
- Flat-rate pricing for unlimited users is highly cost-effective for large teams.
- Combines communication and PM tools, reducing the need for separate apps.
- Hill Charts offer a unique, intuitive way to visualize project progress.
- Automatic Check-ins replace tedious status meetings with asynchronous updates.
- Client access portal centralizes feedback and approvals without extra logins.
4.2CE scoreG2 4.1 · 5,466 reviewsCapterra 4.3Founded 2004Verified July 16, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Pro | $15 | Not published |
| Pro Unlimited | $299 | Not published |
Teams after a colourful board they can shape without an admin. monday.com moves a non-technical team fast, but every paid plan carries a 3-seat minimum, so two people still pay for three.
Critical gapThe interface suffers from significant navigation latency when managing high volumes of concurrent boards.
Plan table and expert take
monday.com: expert take
Every paid plan carries a 3-seat minimum, so a duo still pays for three. monday.com sells speed and colour to non-technical teams, but automations and integrations stay off the lower tiers.
Where monday.com holds up
- Highly visual and customizable 'Work OS' interface
- Extensive library of pre-built workflow and project templates
- Robust automation and integration capabilities on higher tiers
- Combines project management, CRM, and dev workflows in one tool
- Powerful dashboarding and reporting for data visualization
4.8CE scoreG2 4.7 · 15,181 reviewsCapterra 4.6Founded 2012Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Basic | $10.98 | $9 |
| Standard | $14.63 | $12 |
| Pro | $23.17 | $19 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Teams that map work on a whiteboard before it reaches a tracker. Miro's free plan gives 3 editable boards, Prototypes stays a paid add-on even on paid plans, and Enterprise starts at 30 members.
Critical gapThe platform lacks the data hierarchy needed for complex roadmapping.
Plan table and expert take
Miro: expert take
The free plan gives just 3 editable boards, and Prototypes stays a paid add-on even on paid tiers. Miro is a whiteboard first; Enterprise starts at 30 members. Large boards can lag.
Where Miro holds up
- Vast template library for specific workflows (retrospectives, roadmaps).
- Deep integrations with Jira, Asana, and other core dev/PM tools.
- Real-time cursor tracking and video chat for live collaboration.
- Infinite canvas supports massive, complex diagrams and mind maps.
- Miro Assist (AI) generates ideas, summarizes content, and creates diagrams.
4.9CE scoreG2 4.8 · 12,949 reviewsCapterra 4.7Founded 2011Verified August 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Starter | $10 | $8 |
| Business | $25 | $20 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Teams that want docs, wikis and tasks in one surface rather than a dedicated tracker. Notion's free plan is unlimited for one person but throttles collaborative blocks once a second editor joins, and its AI runs on a separate credit meter.
Critical gapThe platform requires significant initial configuration time to develop functional database schemas.
Plan table and expert take
Notion: expert take
The free plan looks unlimited until a second editor arrives, then collaborative blocks throttle. Notion also meters its AI on a credit currency separate from the seat price. Powerful as a workspace, slow once databases grow heavy.
Where Notion holds up
- Combines docs, wikis, and project tasks in one unified interface
- Highly customizable databases function like spreadsheets with superpowers
- Flexible block-based editor for creating any type of content layout
- Powerful relational linking between pages, tasks, and database entries
- Generous free plan for individuals and very small teams
4.8CE scoreG2 4.7 · 11,845 reviewsCapterra 4.7Founded 2016Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Plus | $12 | $10 |
| Business | $24 | $20 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Teams that would rather configure one tool to do everything than run three apps. ClickUp carries the widest feature set here, but file storage is the first ceiling on its free plan, and AI is sold as add-on tiers rather than built into the price.
Critical gapThe platform exhibits high latency during complex task rendering and requires significant initial setup.
Plan table and expert take
ClickUp: expert take
Teams chasing one tool for everything get the widest feature set here, but pay twice: the free plan hits a file-storage ceiling early, and AI is sold as add-on tiers, not included.
Where ClickUp holds up
- Unmatched feature breadth: Consolidates tasks, docs, goals, and whiteboards.
- Highly customizable views (List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, Mind Map, etc.).
- Generous free forever plan with 100MB storage and unlimited tasks.
- Powerful nested hierarchy: Spaces > Folders > Lists > Tasks > Subtasks.
- AI assistant integrated directly into workflows for content and summaries.
4.8CE scoreG2 4.7 · 12,357 reviewsCapterra 4.6Founded 2017Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | Free | Free |
| Unlimited | $10 | $7 |
| Business | $19 | $12 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
| Brain AI | $14 | $9 |
| Everything AI | $33 | $28 |
Product and engineering teams that want fast, keyboard-first issue tracking. Linear runs on cycles and lists its paid plans on annual billing, and its coding-agent sessions draw on a separate AI credit pool. Non-engineering teams find it tight.
Critical gapThe platform architecture prevents effective management of multi-client service projects for external software consulting firms.
Plan table and expert take
Linear: expert take
Built for engineers, tight for anyone else. Linear lists paid plans annually and runs its coding-agent sessions on a separate AI credit pool. Product teams get a fast, keyboard-first tracker; marketing and HR find it narrow.
Where Linear holds up
- Blazing-fast UI with keyboard-first navigation
- Opinionated workflow (Cycles, Triage) enforces best practices
- Deep, native integration with GitHub and Figma
- Automated issue management and cycle planning
- Exceptional design and user experience
4.7CE scoreG2 4.6 · 86 reviewsCapterra 4.7Founded 2019Verified July 16, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Basic | $10 | Not published |
| Business | $16 | Not published |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Teams that need a flexible database behind their projects, not just a task board. Airtable's free base stops at 1,000 records, and Portals for guest access is a paid add-on on every plan, including the paid ones.
Critical gapThe platform lacks inter-workspace logic for connecting complex data silos.
Plan table and expert take
Airtable: expert take
Two limits bite quietly: the free base stops at 1,000 records, and Portals for guest access is a paid add-on on every plan. Airtable is a flexible relational database that slows as volume and complexity grow.
Where Airtable holds up
- Hybrid spreadsheet-database interface is uniquely flexible.
- Interface Designer builds custom UIs for specific workflows.
- Extensive API and scripting for deep, custom automation.
- Linked records create powerful relational data structures.
- Airtable Sync integrates data across multiple bases without manual syncing.
4.7CE scoreG2 4.6 · 3,255 reviewsCapterra 4.7Founded 2012Verified August 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Team | $24 | $20 |
| Business | $54 | $45 |
| Enterprise Scale | Contact sales | |
Teams building their own tool out of docs, tables and formulas. Coda bills only Doc Makers, so a 30-person team with five makers pays for five, and editors and viewers stay free.
Plan table and expert take
Coda: expert take
Coda rewards teams that build rather than view. Its AI runs on credits pooled per workspace, sized only as some, more or most, with extra packs sold per maker. Formula depth is real; the learning curve is steep.
Where Coda holds up
- Combines docs, tables, and apps into one surface
- Tables can be viewed as kanbans, calendars, or charts
- Packs: Connect live data from apps like Slack & Jira
- Powerful formulas feel like spreadsheets on steroids
- Automations trigger actions based on doc changes
4.8CE scoreG2 4.7 · 492 reviewsCapterra 4.6Founded 2014Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Pro | $12 | $10 |
| Team | $36 | $30 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Teams that want time tracking, proofing and resourcing at a mid-market price. Hive packs a broad toolset, though its Starter plan caps a workspace at 10 members before you move up a tier.
Critical gapThe mobile application exhibits inconsistent performance and frequent software bugs.
Plan table and expert take
Hive: expert take
The headline hides the stack: Hive layers eight optional add-on modules onto Teams, each an extra per-user charge, so a full set can rival the base plan itself. Starter also caps a workspace at 10 members.
Where Hive holds up
- Native email integration to create tasks directly from your inbox
- Flexible project layouts: switch between Gantt, Kanban, Table, Calendar
- AI-powered assistant (HiveMind) for drafting content and action plans
- Built-in time tracking and resourcing across all projects
- Over 1,000 integrations including Salesforce, Jira, and Slack
4.7CE scoreG2 4.6 · 663 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2015Verified July 16, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Starter | $7.50 | $5 |
| Teams | $18 | $12 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Mid-sized teams past a simple task list that coordinate work across departments. Asana leans on timelines and workflow rules, though Goals and Portfolios are locked to the Advanced tier and seats are added in fixed packs above the minimum.
Critical gapThe interface struggles with high-volume data management.
Plan table and expert take
Asana: expert take
Buried in the seat maths: above the minimum, Asana adds seats in fixed packs, so you pay for empty chairs. Goals and Portfolios stay locked to the Advanced tier. Strong on timelines, thin on native time tracking.
Where Asana holds up
- Visually intuitive Timeline view for project planning and dependencies.
- Portfolios for high-level tracking across multiple projects.
- Powerful custom fields and automation rules to standardize workflows.
- Goals feature connects daily tasks to strategic company objectives.
- Extensive library of 200+ third-party app integrations.
4.5CE scoreG2 4.4 · 13,714 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2008Verified August 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | Free | Free |
| Starter | $13.49 | $10.99 |
| Advanced | $30.49 | $24.99 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Software teams that live in sprints, backlogs and issue tracking. Jira rations automation by tier, 100 runs a month on Free and 1,700 on Standard, and SSO with SCIM is a separate Atlassian Guard subscription on top.
Critical gapThe platform necessitates dedicated administrative resources to manage complex custom workflows and prevent configuration bloat.
Plan table and expert take
Jira: expert take
Automation is rationed by tier, 100 runs a month free and 1,700 on Standard, and SSO with SCIM is a separate Atlassian Guard bill. Jira runs deep for engineers and overwhelms everyone else.
Where Jira holds up
- Deeply customizable workflows and issue types for any process
- Powerful JQL (Jira Query Language) for advanced searching
- Extensive integration with developer tools (GitHub, Bitbucket)
- Robust Scrum and Kanban boards out-of-the-box
- Vast Atlassian Marketplace for apps and integrations
4.4CE scoreG2 4.3 · 963 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2002Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Standard | $7.91 | Not published |
| Premium | $14.54 | Not published |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Software teams that want issue tracking with far less overhead than Jira. Shortcut's free plan runs up to 10 active users; the full integration catalog opens at the Team tier.
Critical gapThe platform experiences functional utility degradation when managing complex dependency mapping at scale.
Plan table and expert take
Shortcut: expert take
Dev and QA teams are the audience: Shortcut tracks work from sub-task to milestone with tight Git integration. The free plan runs up to 10 active users and carries the core integrations, GitHub, Slack and Figma; the full set opens at Team.
Where Shortcut holds up
- Deep, native integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
- Generous free plan for up to 10 users with core features
- Excellent Markdown support and keyboard shortcuts for power users
- Clear hierarchy: Epics > Milestones > Stories for structured planning
- Automated workflow state changes based on Git branch actions
4.4CE scoreG2 4.3 · 350 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2016Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Free | Free |
| Team Plan | $10 | $8.50 |
| Business Plan | $16 | $12 |
| Enterprise Plan | Contact sales | |
Client-services agencies that bill by the hour and need time tracking built in. Teamwork gives every paid plan free, unlimited client users, so bringing clients into a project does not raise the seat count.
Critical gapThe interface design requires significant navigation effort, creating a steep learning curve for new users.
Plan table and expert take
Teamwork: expert take
Agencies that bill by the hour win most here: client users are free and unlimited on every paid plan, so bringing clients in never raises the seat count. The bundled Teamwork AI is an intro that later moves to credits.
Where Teamwork holds up
- Free, unlimited client user access on all paid plans
- Built-in profitability tracking for projects and clients
- Granular, user-based permissions for secure client access
- Native time tracking and invoicing streamlines billing cycles
- Robust project templates designed specifically for agencies
4.5CE scoreG2 4.4 · 1,391 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2007Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Basics | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Accelerate | $24.99 | $24.99 |
| Optimize | Contact sales | |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
Marketing and services teams that need proofing, request forms and resourcing in one place. Wrike publishes its Team and Business plans on annual billing only, so there is no month-to-month way to start.
Critical gapThe platform lacks native logic to automate the conversion of meeting discussions into actionable task tickets.
Plan table and expert take
Wrike: expert take
The catch is billing cadence: Team and Business list on annual terms only, so there is no month-to-month way in. Wrike carries proofing and resourcing for services teams, and its own price list reserves the right to change packaging and pricing at any time.
Where Wrike holds up
- Customizable dashboards and workflows for complex projects
- Advanced reporting with real-time analytics and BI tools
- Enterprise-grade security features (SSO, 2FA, user roles)
- Deep integrations with Salesforce, Adobe Creative Cloud, & more
- Proofing and approval tools built directly into tasks
4.3CE scoreG2 4.2 · 4,527 reviewsCapterra 4.3Founded 2006Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Team | Not published | $10 |
| Business | Not published | $25 |
| Pinnacle | Contact sales | |
| Apex | Contact sales | |
Operations and PMO teams that think in spreadsheets and manage work at scale. Smartsheet is a grid first and a project tool second, and it is the one tool here with no free tier, only a 30-day trial.
Critical gapThe platform requires dedicated administrative oversight to maintain complex permission structures.
Plan table and expert take
Smartsheet: expert take
The spreadsheet crowd is the fit: Smartsheet manages work at scale in a grid, but it is the one tool here that never goes free, only a 30-day trial. Less-active teams pay per seat for capacity they underuse.
Where Smartsheet holds up
- Combines spreadsheet UI with powerful project management automation.
- Extensive reporting and dashboarding capabilities for portfolio views.
- Advanced security and compliance features (HIPAA, FedRAMP).
- Highly scalable for cross-departmental enterprise workflows.
- Flexible grid, card, Gantt, and calendar views for diverse tasks.
4.6CE scoreG2 4.5 · 22,023 reviewsCapterra 4.5Founded 2005Verified July 16, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Pro | $12 | $9 |
| Business | $24 | $19 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
| Advanced Work Management | Contact sales | |
Below the line sits a tool that no longer exists. Height has shut down and scores zero here. Its prices are kept as a record, not as something you can still buy.
A record of a tool that has closed, not a live option. Height has shut down, and the plans shown here are historical, kept for reference rather than as something you can still sign up for.
Critical gapThe platform requires significant manual configuration for complex multi-departmental workflows.
Plan table and expert take
Height: expert take
Height has shut down. The plans recorded here are historical, kept for reference rather than as a live option, and it scores zero on this page. If you are comparing, treat it as closed and choose a supported tracker instead.
Where Height holds up
- AI Copilot automates subtasks, summaries, and action items
- Chat and tasks are unified in one view, reducing context switching
- Spreadsheet-like interface is intuitive for non-technical users
- Powerful task list visualizations (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar, List)
- Real-time sync with GitHub, Figma, Slack, and other dev tools
4.9CE scoreG2 4.8 · 75 reviewsCapterra 4.7Founded 2019Verified July 8, 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free |
| Team | $8.50 | $6.99 |
| Business | $14.99 | $11.99 |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | |
04 / 07
Compare any two PM tools: plans, seat limits, guests and score
vs
What the records say
Trello starts cheaper: $6 / seat against $7 from Todoist, $1 apart at the door.
For 6 seats, Trello bills $36 / mo and Todoist bills $42 / mo, $6 / mo between them.
Both carry 1 of the 6 capability columns on the record.
Users side with Todoist: 4.5 on G2 against 4.4 for Trello.
Both run a free tier, so either can be tried before the bill starts.
Both publish every tier they sell.
Pick Todoist for: Individuals and small teams tracking tasks, not running complex projects.
Pick Trello for: Small teams that want a kanban board and nothing heavier.
Todoist
CE 91 · G2 4.5Published plans, US$/mo
BeginnerFree
Pro$7
Business$10
Team of 6$42 / mo
Verified July 8, 2026
Trello
CE 89 · G2 4.4Published plans, US$/mo
FREEFree
STANDARD$6
ENTERPRISENot published
Team of 6$36 / mo
Verified July 8, 2026
Both price lists on the category axis
Todoist
Trello
Where they differ
Only Todoist has on the record
- Time tracking
Only Trello has on the record
- Guest access
05 / 07
PM questions: monthly cost, cheapest option, where free plans stop
How much does project management software cost per month?
Across these twenty tools the median paid plan is about $10 a seat a month, with entry prices from $5 up. Annual billing usually saves around 20 percent against paying monthly. A small paid team often lands in the low hundreds a month once you clear the seat minimums some vendors set.
What is the cheapest project management software?
For a paid seat, Zoho Projects and Trello open lowest, both a few dollars a seat a month on annual billing. If free is enough, most tools here run a free tier. The catch is where each one stops: boards, seats, storage or a missing feature like reminders. The cheapest option is the one whose limit you never hit.
When does a free project management plan stop being enough?
Sooner than the word free suggests. Trello's free plan holds 10 boards, Miro's holds 3, monday.com caps you at 2 users, and Jira meters you to 100 automation runs a month. Notion keeps collaborative blocks limited the moment a second person joins. The free tier is a real trial, not a permanent home, and every tool draws that line somewhere different.
Which project management tool is cheapest for a small team?
It depends on size. Under about five people, a free tier or a cheap per-seat plan like Trello or Zoho covers it. Past a seat minimum the maths shifts: monday.com bills for a minimum of 3 seats, so two people pay for three. Basecamp's flat plan ignores headcount and wins once a team passes roughly twenty.
How much does project management software cost per user?
Most tools price per seat, so the per-user rate is the figure you multiply. Entry seats run from $5, mid-tier plans sit near $10, and the top published seats reach $24 before you get to custom enterprise quotes. Watch for seat minimums and annual-only plans, which change what a single user actually costs you.
Do project management tools set a minimum number of seats?
Some do, and it catches small teams. monday.com charges for a minimum of 3 seats on every paid plan. Asana adds seats in fixed packs rather than one at a time above its minimum. Miro and Trello set high floors only on their Enterprise tiers, 30 and 50 users. Read the seat minimum before you compare two headline prices.
Is annual billing cheaper for project management software?
Usually, and sometimes it is the only option. Annual plans commonly run around 20 percent below the monthly rate. But Wrike and Linear publish their team plans on annual billing only, so there is no month-to-month way in. Weigh the discount against the commitment, because an annual plan locks the spend a year at a time.
Is free project management software actually free?
Yes, but free means a working trial for a real team, not an unlimited plan. Most tools here run one, bounded by boards, seats, storage, automation runs or a withheld feature. Smartsheet is the exception that asks for payment from the start. Free is where you test, not where a growing team settles.
What runs out first on a free project management plan?
The limit is rarely the headline. ClickUp's Free Forever plan runs into a file-storage cap first. Todoist's free plan leaves out reminders. Airtable's free base stops at 1,000 records. Notion throttles collaborative blocks the moment a second editor joins. Each free tier is generous in one dimension and tight in another, and that trade is deliberate.
Do project management tools charge extra for AI?
Increasingly, yes, as a second meter. Notion, ClickUp, Airtable, Miro and Coda all bill AI as credits on top of the seat price, not as a feature baked into the plan. ClickUp goes furthest, selling AI as its own add-on tiers above the main subscription. If AI is central to your workflow, price that meter separately, because it is easy to miss on the pricing page.
Which project management tools have the best free plan?
Trello and Jira stand out. Trello's free plan gives 10 boards with its Butler automation already switched on. Jira's covers up to 10 users with real backlogs and boards. ClickUp's is broad but storage-limited, and Notion's is generous for one person but tightens the moment you collaborate. The best free plan is the one whose limit you will not hit.
How hard is it to move between project management tools?
Harder than exporting a spreadsheet. Tasks and comments usually export, but boards, custom fields, automations and permissions rarely map cleanly from one tool to the next. Notion, Coda and Airtable lock you in more, because the workspace is bespoke. That is the quiet case for testing on a free tier before your process hardens around one tool.
Where free project management tools stop being free
The word free hides a dozen different ceilings. Trello measures it in boards, Miro in editable canvases, monday.com and Shortcut in users, Jira in monthly automation runs, and Todoist in a withheld feature. Notion is unlimited for one person and tightens the moment a colleague joins. None of these is a trick. A free plan is a working trial for a real team, and the honest question is not whether it is free but which limit you reach first.
The second thing the free tier hides is AI. Notion, ClickUp, Airtable, Miro and Coda now run a separate credit meter for it, billed on top of the seat price and easy to miss on the pricing page. If AI sits in the middle of your workflow, price that meter on its own, because it is the line item most likely to move the total after you have already chosen the tool.
Per-seat project management pricing, and where flat plans win
Per-seat looks simple until the fine print sets in. monday.com will not sell fewer than 3 seats. Asana adds seats in fixed packs, so you buy capacity you may not use. Wrike and Linear list their team plans on annual billing only, which locks the spend a year at a time. Miro and Trello reserve their steepest seat floors, 30 and 50 users, for Enterprise. Each of these turns a tidy headline number into a larger real one.
A few tools break the pattern the other way. Basecamp charges one flat fee that ignores headcount and comes out ahead once a team passes roughly twenty. Nifty prints both a per-seat plan and a flat team plan on the same page. Coda bills only the people who build docs, so a large team with a handful of makers pays for the makers alone. When per-seat maths starts to hurt, a flat model is often the cheaper answer.
The verdict on project management toolsSigned review · Updated
Free tiers built this category, and free tiers end it: the moment you need guests, automations or admin controls, you are on a paid tier. Compare paid seats at your real team size, and read the per-seat fine print for minimums before the trial runs out.
The score follows published prices. Tools that price every rung in the open rank above suites that route growth through a quote.
MethodEvery price on this page is read from the vendor's own pricing page: 80 plans across twenty vendors, last verified .
DisclosureCollection is tool-assisted; every verdict is written and signed by a human analyst.
06 / 07
Not sure which? Answer one, take a shortlist.Pick the line that sounds like your team. Each one opens the vendor built for it.
Individuals and small teams tracking tasks, not running complex projectsTodoistSmall teams that want a kanban board and nothing heavierTrelloTeams already inside the Zoho suite, or anyone hunting one of the cheapest per-seat ways inZoho ProjectsSmall teams choosing between paying per seat and paying flat, because Nifty lists both on one pageNiftyWhole companies that want calm and one bill instead of per-seat mathsBasecampTeams after a colourful board they can shape without an adminmonday.comStill weighing it? Answer 5 questions, take a shortlist.
07 / 07
Read next: cost guides for project management tools, plus related categories
Cost guidesTodoist cost guideTrello cost guideZoho Projects cost guideNifty cost guideBasecamp cost guideRelated categoriesCRMVideo ConferencingCustomer SupportAnalytics & BIAccountingCompare two vendorsTodoist vs TrelloTrello vs Zoho ProjectsZoho Projects vs NiftyNifty vs BasecampBasecamp vs monday.commonday.com vs MiroStill unsureAnswer 5 questions → a shortlistAll categories
How this review is made. Prices are read from vendor pricing pages and re-checked on the dates shown against each product. Condition columns reflect the feature set recorded on the vendor’s own pages on that date. ComparEdge sells no project management tools and takes no vendor payment for placement. Where a vendor publishes nothing, this page says so rather than estimating. Ranking is by transparency score: pricing transparency 60%, user satisfaction 40%. What a product can do is shown in the condition columns and carries no weight in the number.