8 Best Project Management Software for Startups 2023
Last Updated: By TRUiC Team
No matter how many sticky notes or wall calendars you have, every startup founder can benefit from being a little more organized. After all, organization means efficiency and efficiency means profitability.
To help entrepreneurs achieve this goal, there are a number of project management tools — software either free or available for purchase — that simplify or streamline workplace tasks.
The following project management software for startups have the potential to greatly benefit collaboration and communication within any business, but could be particularly useful for the growing number of entrepreneurs looking to take their companies to the next level in 2023.
Best Project Management Software for Startups
1. Monday
Used by large companies like Uber, Adobe, Shell, and Costco, Monday is an excellent option for companies looking to better organize their workflow. Monday is best suited for teams that work better with visuals, as the platform focuses on creating easily understandable, customizable visual plans.
You can select from a number of different creative templates to form a visual dashboard that suits your company, benefiting from other high-tech features like automation and app integration (including Slack and Trello).
Over 90,000 teams already use Monday, which is extremely easy to transition to due to incredible 24/7 customer support and a simple onboarding process.
To test the product, take advantage of Monday’s free trial, but for full-time usage you’ll need a paid plan ranging from “Basic” to “Enterprise.” Price depends on the size of your team. Like Trello, Monday also offers non-profit, NGO, and educational discounts.
Get started with Monday today!
2. Wrike
Wrike is another secure, easy-to-integrate option for collaborative workflow management. It puts your inbox, projects, and communication all in one place so you can check assignments, create folders, generate reports, and send emails without having to shift away from Wrike’s signature white-and-navy interface.
Ultimately, Wrike’s functionality is similar to many of the other options mentioned on this list, so we would recommend trying a few and seeing which layout fits best with your team.
To try Wrike, you can request a free demo or jump in headfirst with the $9.80 per user per month “Professional” membership for teams with 5, 10, or 15 members; the $24.80 per user per month “Business” membership for 5-200 users; or the unlimited member “Enterprise” option for which you’ll need to contact Wrike directly.
Also, there are unique team packages for Marketers or Professional Services upon request from Wrike’s customer service team.
Get started with Wrike today!
3. Smartsheet
Like the other project management tools on this list, Smartsheet hopes to help its clients focus on the bigger picture by clearing away the weeds.
The differentiator for this cloud-based program is that it offers a number of tailored solutions for specific industries, roles, and departments, which is just one of the many reasons why more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Smartsheet.
Smartsheet solutions can be tested with a 30-day free trial, or purchased for $14 per month for an individual or $25 per user per month for businesses.
For more comprehensive plans including automation, security controls, dashboards, and other features, you can opt for the “Enterprise” plan which requires contacting Smartsheet’s customer service team.
Get started with Smartsheet today!
4. Trello
Designed for personal or professional use for any type of business, Trello helps your team manage its workflow. The platform uses colorful message boards plus lists and cards that break down projects into simple, chronological steps.
You can either complete the tasks yourself or rely on the help of Butler, an AI robot that can be programmed to help you work through the tedious tasks on your to-do list.
The platform is free with unlimited cards, lists, and personal boards. For clients with larger file attachments and priority support, as well as other additional services, companies can purchase the “Business Class” version for $9.99 per user per month.
In addition, the “Enterprise” option, whose monthly cost decreases as you add more users, is also available. It’s worth noting that Trello offers non-profit and educational discounts.
5. Asana
Asana works somewhat similarly to Trello, however, the design is slightly less whimsical. Again, it’s a medium where you can plan and organize your work, collaborate with your coworkers, and easily share information on the status of your ongoing projects.
Like Trello, Asana also has automation to help parse down repetitive, manual tasks. What sets Asana apart is its simple, intuitive design which is easy to learn and navigate, as well as the numerous templates offered by Asana for any corporate need or situation.
Teams of up to 15 people can use Asana for free, but any additional users are required to pay either $10.99 per person per month for a “Premium” membership or $24.99 for “Business.” Larger companies can contact the sales team for “Enterprise” pricing.
When transitioning to Asana’s software, your team is supported throughout each step by an attentive customer success team.
6. Slack
Due to its slick, instinctive design, Slack has become a very popular project management tool used by small-to-medium sized companies around the world, such as Airbnb, Target, Oracle, and EA.
The selling point of Slack is that it brings all corporate communication together into one space. Instead of juggling between emails, texts, phone calls, and Skype messages, employees can message, video chat, and share files on the easy-to-navigate Slack platform.
The tool integrates a general forum for company-wide messaging with direct messages and specialized channels for individual teams (e.g. marketing, advertising).
There is a free version of Slack available, but for more storage and freedom, companies are encouraged to purchase a monthly subscription which ranges from $6.67 to $12.50 per active user (billed annually) depending on the package.
7. Scoro
Scoro was created to decrease the time wasted switching between the dozens of different apps needed to get work done.
The software consolidates everything into a central location, helping with every aspect of business “from the first ‘Hello’ to the final invoice.” This comes in the form of a personalized dashboard which gives an overview of you and your team’s progress: revenue, hours worked, ongoing projects, etc. You can then toggle between specific tasks like quotes, invoices, and contacts.
Unlike Asana and Trello, Scoro isn’t just a workflow tool, it is a hub for all aspects of your business. It’s a transparent tool that prioritizes teamwork; best suited for small-to-medium-sized teams.
For interested workplaces, there is a 14-day free trial or the option to schedule a demo with one of Scoro’s experts. The full product can be purchased at different monthly prices depending on the size of your team, ranging from $26 per user for the “Essential” package to $61 per user for the more automated “Business Hub.”
8. Jira
Jira is specifically for companies that produce and sell software. What the tool offers is a way to plan, track, release, and assess the success — through real-time, visual data — of new software.
You can either use a template or design one to suit the individual needs of your team, seamlessly integrating the tools you already use which makes for a breezy transition.
Jira is appropriate for companies of all sizes as it was designed for scale. However, prices do vary depending on the size of your team. Teams of under 10, for example, can take advantage of a free plan hosted in the cloud.
For a range of 11 to 100 users, there is the “Standard” option for $7 per user per month or “Premium” (better for scaling) for $14 per user per month. If your team has over 101 employees, you can reach out to Jira’s customer service team for more information on discounts for large teams.
