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If you’re already juggling multiple tasks and have a lot on your plate, using project management software may seem like more work. However, these apps can help you break down your projects into smaller chunks so that you can easily track your actions and complete everything on time.
You need personal project management software that’s affordable and easy to use. However, you’ll also want features like ready-made templates to help you quickly set up projects and reports to monitor your progress. Additionally, having document storage is convenient for keeping all content in one place.
After thoroughly testing dozens of popular options, ClickUp is the winner – it has a diverse selection of personal project templates you can customize to fit your needs. Plus, you get useful features built in, such as time tracking and document creation.
What We Look For in the Best Project Management Software for Personal Use
While testing project management software for this article, I focused on the features you’ll really need to successfully manage your personal projects.
User-friendly interface. You’ll want to focus your time on your work, not on figuring out how to create a task list. All the personal project management software on my list have a beginner-friendly interface with features that are easy to find and use.
Prebuilt project templates. I only included personal project management software that offer ready-made templates to help you get started. You can customize these templates to fit the specific needs of your projects.
Efficient task management. Top choices for managing personal projects should have task management features, such as the ability to set due dates and priorities, add reminders, attach files and notes for additional information, and more.
Cost effective. All the personal project management apps on my list have either free plans that include access to most features or affordable paid plans.
Useful built-in features. With readily available built-in features, you won’t need to integrate third-party services to get the tools you need. The platforms on my list have additional features such as file storage, collaboration tools, and document creation.
ClickUp offers 11 task views and the ability to embed videosClickUp has an amazing selection of project templates for personal use, ranging from mood boards to personal budget plans. It’s also one of the most customizable project management software on the market. Its granular structure allows you to organize your tasks and projects to the tiniest detail. Also, you can change the colors and layouts to personalize the look of your workspace.
One of ClickUp’s highlights is the built-in ClickUp Docs app1, which lets you create and edit content. It’s a great place to take notes or jot down weekly checklists. Also, you can edit documents and communicate in real time with collaborators. Additionally, ClickUp makes it easy to manage your projects on the go. ClickUp’s mobile app also allows you to create tasks and docs, change statuses, and more.
ClickUp has one of the most comprehensive free plans out there, with limitations only in the number of times you can use certain features. That said, ClickUp’s pricing tiers are quite affordable and provide more functionality. Even the cheaper plans include most of the premium features such as automations and guest access.
Features
Flexible task management. ClickUp allows you to set up priorities for tasks and add different types of columns (e.g., for attaching files or additional notes) to provide more information.
Whiteboards. ClickUp’s Whiteboards function like mind maps and allow you to brainstorm ideas and turn them into tasks. You can connect project goals by drawing or inserting lines, as well as add images, sticky notes, and files.
Bulk action toolbar. This time-saving tool lets you edit multiple tasks, subtasks, or documents all at once. You can update statuses, adjust due dates, merge similar tasks to declutter your workspace, and more.
Critical Path & Slack Time. ClickUp’s reporting features include the Critical Path and Slack Time tool, which shows which tasks have a flexible deadline and which tasks must be completed on time.
Smartsheet may not have the most eye-catching design, but it provides stellar efficiency
Smartsheet is a great solution for more complex personal projects, as its grid interface lets you manage big chunks of information quickly. You can add columns for everything, from dates and dropdown lists to contacts and checklists. Also, you can attach documents to individual rows within sheets. Smartsheet’s Project Task List template1 is an excellent way to manage multiple project to-dos and keep all files in one place.
If Excel-type apps aren’t your thing, worry not – Smartsheet lets you visualize your projects in Kanban, Gantt, or Calendar view. To keep track of your work, you can create custom dashboards by adding and rearranging widgets. For example, you can add widgets for charts, images, or rich text formatting to emphasize updates.
Smartsheet offers a 30-day free trial to test all its features. Once your trial is done, you can pick a paid plan or continue to use Smartsheet on a free plan. While the free version gives you access to templates, forms, and automations, you only get 2 sheets in total. Smartsheet’s entry plan will likely be enough to manage any type of personal project. You get unlimited sheets and dashboards, all project views, task alerts and notifications, and more.
Features
Schedule comparison. With Smartsheet’s Baselines feature, you can establish the start, finish, and variance of dates for individual tasks. This helps you compare your planned and actual work schedules.
Proofing. Smartsheet’s Proofs feature lets you edit files such as images and videos and add comments to specific sections, which can be useful if you’re working on mockup designs.
Document builder. Smartsheet’s document builder allows you to create customized documents with imported sheet data. All you need to do is map the fields in your sheet to a fillable PDF form or DocuSign template.
Fully functional mobile app. The mobile app has nearly every functionality of the web version. Dashboards automatically adapt to your screen size, and you can directly import data from your phone’s calendar to your sheets.
Teamwork has a highly customizable, colorful interface
Teamwork’s name suggests that only teams will benefit from this platform, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good fit for personal organization. Teamwork’s interface is easy to navigate even if you’ve never used project management software before, which means you can focus on your work from the start.
Setting up your Teamwork account is very straightforward – and after signing up, you’ll create your first project in the same window. Teamwork guides you through adding tasks, creating task lists, and choosing your preferred task view. In addition to being easy to use, Teamwork is also fun to use1 – you can personalize your dashboard by changing colors and even adding a project logo.
Teamwork’s free plan includes core task management features, such as the ability to add milestones and project-specific subtasks, but you can only have 2 active projects at a time. If you’re managing multiple projects, it’s worth considering upgrading to the Deliver plan. For just $9.99, you can create up to 300 projects, and you’ll have access to features such as 20 project templates and project status reports.
Features
Customizable task management. Teamwork lets you bulk edit tasks, save task lists as templates for future use, and filter data, which is great if you’re working on several projects.
Search for Everything. Teamwork’s Everything tool shows all active and completed tasks, links, milestones, messages, comments, files, and time logs, so that everything is within easy reach.
Free collaborator seats. If you’re working with additional people on a project, you can add free collaborator seats and set user permissions.
Useful product suite. Teamwork’s suite of products includes tools like Teamwork Chat for instant messaging and Teamwork Spaces for content collaboration.
Zoho Projects lets you visualize your projects in Kanban and Gantt chart view
Zoho Projects’ simple but efficient set of features works well for smaller projects. Zoho has a milestone system that lets you break down every project into smaller chunks – milestones, task lists, tasks, and subtasks. You can set priorities, add reminders, and set dependencies between related tasks to ensure you always stay on schedule.
Zoho’s built-in time-tracking tool lets you set work hour limits, track multiple tasks simultaneously, and analyze your efficiency. If you’re a freelancer who bills by the hour, you’ll find the Zoho Invoice integration especially useful. Rather than creating a separate document for billing, you can easily turn your timesheet into a professional invoice with just a few clicks.
Zoho Projects’ free plan includes built-in messaging and 3 project views, but it’s still limited in terms of features. The paid plans are cheaper than almost any other similar software and give you plenty of functionality. For instance, Zoho’s Premium plan includes unlimited projects and features like time tracking and automations.
Features
Blueprints. This tool, as its name suggests, lets you define every step of a particular work process. You only need to create a Blueprint once, and you can reuse it as needed to save time on similar tasks.
Collaboration tools. Zoho Projects has a built-in chat function and a forum feature, which lets you interact via discussion threads. For video meetings, you can integrate the Zoho Meeting app, available in Zoho Projects’ app market.
Create and share content. The Documents feature allows you to either upload files or create them from scratch using Zoho Writer (for text docs), Zoho Sheet (for spreadsheets), or Zoho Show (for slide presentations).
Zoho Encyclopedia. Zoho Projects’ Pages allows you to create your project’s own Wikipedia-like page to keep all information in one place.
You can assign a project manager to each project
Striven is a business management software with extensive tools for managing employees, customers, and finances. However, Striven also has an efficient set of project management features,especially when it comes to creating and tracking tasks.
Striven lets you add multiple assignees to a task, as well as set status and budget hours. You can also add a checklist of steps to complete before marking a task done. Your task dashboard allows you to track work easily, and you can configure it to display your widgets with the most important information. For example, you can see all open or completed tasks and track your efficiency week by week.
Striven makes all its features accessible on every plan. The only difference is the volume – the higher-tiered plans allow you to add more users and clients and use more project templates. However, bear in mind that in addition to your subscription, you’ll have to pay a monthly hosting fee with all plans. You can use Striven’s 7-day free trial to see if it’s a good match for your needs.
Features
500 project templates. Depending on the plan, Striven offers up to 500 templates (aka project types) to help you speed up the process of setting up a project. You can view your projects in Project Board (Kanban), Milestone, and Gantt chart views.
The Hub tool. Striven offers a digital filing cabinet that allows you to store all your content, including documents, links, posts, and folders.
Communication tools. You can create Discussions (threads) to communicate with individual collaborators or entire teams. With the Buzz feature, you can create posts to share news and announcements.
Easy reporting. Striven’s reporting tools make it easy to monitor your progress. You can add columns and filters to narrow down the results of your report and share your reports with collaborators.
TeamGantt has an interactive tutorial template with instructions and support links
TeamGantt lets you create efficient Gantt charts, which displays your project on a timeline. Thanks to its incredibly intuitive editor, you can easily add task dependencies and milestones, change the start and end dates of tasks, and use numerous filters to display or hide information as needed. TeamGantt’s narrow focus works best for simple projects with clearly outlined objectives.
Aside from the Gantt charts view, TeamGantt also lets you visualize your projects in calendar, list, and board (card) views to suit different preferences. You can choose from 30+ versatile project templates, including personal project designs.
TeamGantt has a free plan that includes unlimited storage space, but you can only work on one project at a time, and there’s a limit of 60 tasks. To make the most of TeamGantt, you’ll have to sign up for one of its paid but affordable plans. For instance, the Pro plan comes with 20 projects per manager, unlimited tasks and collaborators, and more advanced features, such as portfolio management and hourly estimating.
Features
My Tasks view. This handy feature lets you access a quick summary of your current and upcoming tasks. You can view your tasks as a checklist or see the percentage of completion.
Portfolio management. TeamGantt lets you organize your work into folders with various parameters, such as team, department, client, and more.
Hourly estimating. You can add hourly estimates to tasks or assign them to users on your team. This can help you manage your team’s workload more efficiently.
Import spreadsheets. If you already use Excel spreadsheets, you can import your existing project timelines into TeamGantt.
Start a Project With One of These Best Personal Project Management Software
Every project management software on this list can help you stay tidy and reach your targets without failing to meet deadlines. Nonetheless, the top personal project management software for you will hinge on your specific needs and likes.
If you’re looking to speed up the process of setting up your personal projects, ClickUp is my top recommendation1. ClickUp has a wide selection of personal project templates and a built-in document builder for taking notes and collaborating with others in real time.
On the other hand, if you want an efficient solution to handle complex tasks, Smartsheet is a great option1. Smartsheet’s grid interface helps you process large chunks of information quickly and, thanks to its excellent mobile app, you can do it on the go.
Or, if you’re new to project management and looking for a quick and easy way to set up your projects, Teamwork is worth a try1. Even if you’re new to project management software, Teamwork has a sleek and colorful interface that’s easy to navigate. Plus, you get free collaborator seats, which is quite handy if you’re working with multiple people on a project.
Check out the comparison table below to quickly compare my most recommended personal project management software.
Free Plan
Best Feature
Best For
Starting Price
ClickUp
✔
Wide selection of customizable personal project templates
What is the best personal project management software?
It depends on your needs. If you’re managing multiple projects, Smartsheet offers advanced functionality to help you sort information. Alternatively, if you want to set up projects quickly, Teamwork is a beginner-friendly option.
Can I use personal project management software for free?
Absolutely! ClickUp, for example, makes most of its features available on the free plan, but it limits the number of times you can use them. If you need more, ClickUp’s paid plans are quite affordable and offer great value.
What are some important features to look for in personal project management software?
A good personal project management software should be flexible enough to handle projects of all sizes. Core task management features are necessary to help you organize your work, while reporting tools are essential to monitor your progress. Additionally, you may want to look for features like document storage to keep all the important information in one place.
How do you organize your personal projects?
Using project management software will give you a high-level overview of your personal projects, making organization easy. Also, most platforms have intuitive interfaces with clearly labeled features, so you won’t have trouble finding your way around even if you’ve never used project management software before.
Take a look at our list of the best project management software in 2024 for feature-rich but user-friendly solutions to help you stay organized and productive.
Ana specializes in writing about web building platforms, project management software, and other digital tools. She has been a freelance writer for 7 years, and has published countless product reviews and comparisons in that time. Ana has a passion for language and all things tech, and she combines the two to provide accessible and insightful resources for anyone interested in building websites or managing projects.
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