15+ Amazing Project Management and Collaboration Tools
Siva Kumar
Everyone knows about what is project management. It’s nothing but planning, organizing and managing the resources.But how to do? What is the right way to do it. Are there any tools available for project management and collaboration. How these tools can be useful and what are the features. These are the things we are going to analyze in this article. We will see best project collaboration tools available on web to manage projects easily.
Pros and Cons of Project Collaboration Tools
- Online project management lets you collaborate with project resources, manage project users, analyze risks, assign tasks, coordinate schedules and make your project a success from anywhere in the world.
- These project management apps are here to save you time, but they can also be very time-consuming and not intuitive.
- If you have a team who works with you remotely, then this is the right choice.
Project management process and its approach
Projects were generally managed by creative architects and engineers themselves. Major process steps are initiation, planning or development, production or execution, monitoring and controlling . To handle these process number of approaches are there like:
- Traditional approach
- Critical chain project management
- Extreme project management
- Event chain methodology
- Prince2 (Structured approach)
- Process based management.
1.Teambox
Teambox is listed first because it’s the application we are currently using for 1stwebdesigner, but don’t let that sway you. This is a place for your team in twitter like project collaboration tool. You can share tasks, messages, attach files and Notification by email.And also it’s an open source project.Teambox offers up to three projects free and offers 2000 projects for premium plans.And it’s very easy to use.
Advantages
- Easy to setup in 1 minute.
- Access from anywhere, anytime.
- Secure and backup of your data.
- Updating new features constantly.
- Notified by mails.
2.Basecamp
This is a project management,Collaboration and task web-based tool trusted by millions of users.The features are Share files, Meet deadlines, Assign tasks, Centralize feedback, Basecamp tackles project management from an entirely different angle: A focus on communication and collaboration. They have some extras and addons also.Four price planning is available , Each and every plan has30 days trial period.
Advantages
- Dashboard
- To-do lists
- File sharing
- Message boards
- Milestones
- Time tracking
- Project overview and comments on messages
3.Activecollab
A project management and collaboration tool.It will make your work and cooperation with your team, clients, suppliers and others much easier. Useful to keep projects on track, Email support, Extend and integrate of modules,Collaborate,Save time.And new added features are invoice,subversion integration,Global documents,Drag and drop task management, Improved visual editor and much more…
Advantages
- Dashboard
- Manage projects
- Invoicing
- Track time
- Share files
- Email integration etc…
4.DeskAway
It’s an online project management, project collaboration,Task & issue tracking software.Easy to use for virtual,distributed and global teams.The main reasons why you have to use Deskaway are simple & affordable,Less email clutter,Delegation and tracking, Control is in your hand, Nothing to download and install,Backup of your data in daily basis,No risk and little more.Please read their FAQ’s and it will be very useful before your picking this tool.
Advantages
- Track work
- Delegate
- Share
- Collaborate
5.Teamwork
Web-based project management tool that helps managers,staff and clients work together more productivity online.Stay on track,Share & collaborate,work faster and host it yourself.you get room for 2 projects, free storage space and you can instantly upgrade to a paid plan at any time.
Benefits
- Manage projects
- Manage task lists
- Schedule milestones
- Add messages
- Time tracking
- Upload files
- Manage people
- E-mail integration
- Multi language support
6.5pm
5pm is an intuitive web-based project management tool.It is flexible and easy to use.you can request a custom plan here through mail.Backup your data nightly.256-bit high grade encryption for data security.Desktop tracker widget is available.Filter users in time line and much more features are available with multi language support.
Benefits
- Manage projects and tasks online.
- Share notes and files.
- Track time
- E-mail integration
- Customized reports
- Interactive timeline
7.Wrike
Project planning,management and tracking software.Can easily track your project.It gives you the full insight to your business.Your project plans are always up to date.30 day free trial pack is available for plans.Outlook synchronization,Windows mobile sync, icalendar and rss feeds are available for a reasonable price.
Benefits
- Complete picture for your business.
- Unique control
- More productive
- Very easy to use
- Intelligent email engine, So it works with any email software.
8.Wridea
Free online idea management and collaboration service.It’s a web-based service first to avoid your ideas being forgotten and organize your ideas.It’s already being used by more than 40,000 users.With the help of this tool, you can store your ideas, manage and organize them, collaborate with your friends over your ideas, etc. Wridea provides you all required tools and services for organizing your ideas.
Wridea Features
- Categorize your ideas under different pages.
- Share your ideas.
- Commenting on ideas.
- Customized environment.
9.ZOHO projects
A centralized place where relevant project documents and contents are stored, updates are posted, everyone exchange ideas and get work done.Top reasons to choose ZOHO projects.Beyond your planning …get projects done,Planning,Works smarter,Reporting and value for your money.The updates of ZOHO are project stream, Dedicated wiki, Group chat MS project integration.Free for one project with unlimited users.
Features
- Task dependency
- Milestones for a project
- Meetings
- Document sharing
- Dashboard and time tracking.
10.onstage
Team collaboration,Project management,File sharing and task software.Your business and communication can be more efficient and better organized.Easy file sharing,A free version forever, not just for 30 days. Plus, an unlimited number of users at no extra cost!
Technical features
- Document preview with ipaper from scribd.
- Optimized for PDA’s
- Multi language
- SSL encryption
11.Springloops
Source code management tool for web developers.You can do code in parallel and share it safely.Ultimate work flow,Easy management,Unique code browser and Basecamp integration are the main features in this tool.It’s free for 100MB only.
12.Rememberthemilk
This is an online to do list and task management.You can manage tasks quickly and easily.Get remind anywhere and you can locate your tasks here too.Remembermilk providing more number of services for their users like sync with Blackberry, Gmail, Android, for twitter , Manage your remember through google calendar and third party applitication or services etc…
13.Comindwork
Tools for Collaboration,Communication,Tracking and project management too.Comindwork SaaS improves the knowledge work productivity in projects performed by teams in professional service firms (e.g. software, advertising & marketing, consulting, lawyers, NGO) and by divisions within enterprises (e.g. support, marketing, R&D, upper management).More benefits for project manager, to team and for your clients.Free for 20MB
Customizable features are
- Personal and project dashboards
- Business wiki and files with permissions
- Time tracking
- To-do lists,Milestones and notifications
- Report in Gantt charts.
- Customizable work flow and business rules
- Project level settings and lot more 250+customizable features.
14.Central Desktop
Central desktop “Over 375,000 users around the globe rely on Central Desktop every day to accelerate their business, connect their people, and manage their projects.” Free usage for 25 MB.
- Quick setup
- Enterprise grade search.
- Real-time collaboration
- Centralized communication
- Team accountability
15.Ajaxworkspace
AJAXworkspace offers more than 10 powerful online project management and collaboration features such as project dashboard, tracking software, task management, document management, file sharing, and discussion board.It consists of an integrated suite of simple and easy-to-use collaboration functionality.This is an ideal tool for any type of project management regardless of whether you are working in a company or a freelancer from home.
Other Features
- Bookmark
- Personalization
- Security access control
- Event calendar
- Graphical reporting tool
More tools
Let us know what are your favorite project collaboration tools and tips.
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Mary Miller
Posted 4 days ago 96I’m surprised you didn’t include Centroy. We used Basecamp and Sharepoint for a long time and just couldn’t get the team to fully buy in to using it consistently. Our internal team could be forced to use it, but our clients thought the UI was too confusing. I think Centroy nails it on the ease of use side. It has all the functionality bells & whistles around collaboration use cases. We use it primarily for Task management and bug tracking, but the Wiki has proven to be great for tutorials and training employees, contractors, and new customers. This morning we just sent a 100MB file no problem. I thought it posted faster than any FTP, so they seem to have some good technology there. Like the rest of these guys they put a lot of emphasis around encryption and password protection, which is good piece of mind for us. Anyways, I’m not at all affiliated with Centroy. I just think these guys have taken all the best functionality of the guys on this list and wrapped it up in a nice easy to use package (like easier than facebook easy). I think they have a demo site if want to check them out.
Mike
Posted 13 days ago 95We use Dooster. It’s excellent collaborative software and has improved our performance. I recommend it highly. They have a free trial period as well.
John
Posted 14 days ago 94http://www.arcilook.com this is great project management and co-sketch tool.
Chi
Posted 21 days ago 93Vertabase project management software is another amazing online PM tool.
You get great features with powerful reports in an easy-to-use package. It is also customizable and adaptable to the way you work.
Some Features:
Access from anywhere, anytime with internet connection
Budget Management and Control
Document Management and Approval System
Drag and Drop document upload
Daily to Do by email
Reply to Issue via email
Task Scratch Pad
Chyngys Barynov
Posted 25 days ago 92Nice list. You can also check out Worksection.com
Features: task management,calendar,delimited access control,Gantt charting,activity, custom FTP,tagging,notifications,exportable reports,time tracking,mobile version,customizable interface,dual-language account mode. Also there is friendly prices and free plan.
Jack
Posted 32 days ago 91We tried several of these options including Basecamp for a while. Someone on my staff recommended Projecturf and we use it for task management, sharing files, and design approvals. It makes things a lot easier to keep our data in one place since we have several designers and managers in different offices.
VortTask
Posted 37 days ago 90Thank you for this great review,
All these applications are web-based as I understand… I found this way quite risky yet, because of two major reasons – you can never be completely sure of where your confidential business data is stored (it gets transported to some remote server which is out of your control), while a serious company cannot afford such additional threats, and also Internet connection is vulnerable yet (if your Internet access is down, then your data is unreachable), so we in our company currently prefer using VIP Task Manager ( http://www.taskmanagementsoft.com/ ) as it is LAN-based project collaboration tool, we host its database at our own server, without dealing with the web. Since we decide to have more of distant freelancers, maybe we will try something from these web-based products.
Sara
Posted 46 days ago 89Check out Approval Manager. It’s a great online proofing tool that I’ve been using with my clients for a few years now. Found it to be essential in my creative process.
Catherine Constantinides
Posted 68 days ago 88OneDesk includes a comprehensive project management application that greatly facilitates workflow management, social collaboration between all stakeholders, budgeting and task scheduling, and a simple gantt chart. Try it now for free: http://www.onedesk.com
Thanks for this great list!
Catherine C
OneDesk Inc.
Tracy Cole
Posted 89 days ago 87Recently found one of the easiest and totally free tool http://www.oogwave.com
Sophia
Posted 92 days ago 86I have used so many pm tools in the past and personally i liked http://vkolab.com for my project management needs, it helps me save tons of extra time spending which i used to do in the past and i believe this should be added to your list above.
Thanks.
Mira
Posted 96 days ago 85Hi, I would like to introduce you http://www.projectial.com/ It’s a new project management and collaboration cloud application. It’s free, easy and I hope usefull application.
Nicholas Hughes
Posted 96 days ago 84It’s a good list. And there are so many other project management too. What we need is just the simple but powful tool, and I’d like to recommend TABB, it is new but try its best to be as usful as possible.
Vipin
Posted 98 days ago 83Great post, I guess you should review MangoApps (www.mangospring.com) as well, its a powerful software which works on any mobile platform with options of in-house, on premise or private cloud implementation. MangoApps has all the components of Project, Task, Idea, Events & Performance Management. One of the best enterprise social network allowing both internal & external collaboration which guarantees e-mail reduction upto 80% or more…
Dusan
Posted 101 days ago 82I’ve been using Manitoo from ADIOS Software Cloud. Worth trying.
ADIOS Software Cloud
Manitoo Project Management
Chris
Posted 102 days ago 81We had a look at some of the softwares mentioned on the list. There are so many which is a good thing. We use Dooster which has brought about such an improvement in team collaboration and consequently better team relations including the admin staff. I hope they’re all as good as Dooster and I’m just very glad that we chose it.
Roza
Posted 105 days ago 80Great list. Our tool is worth testing as well! You should try it out to see if you think it deserves to be on your list. It is based on Social Project Management which is a quite new concept. You can read about how it compares to the traditional on our blog: http://blog.projectplace.com/projectblog/2011/10/11/how-is-social-project-management-different-from-agile/
Kind regards,
Roza
Ben Blodgett
Posted 121 days ago 79I think it is important to note that project management software can be highly inefficient if it is not specialized for specific processes. I have personally began building a service specific to managing web design projects. I am in the stage of collecting data from industry related people and would love your feedback – http://sitecollab.com/features.
Sandy
Posted 145 days ago 78It’s a good list. The only one I am not familiar with is the Ajax solution. We looked at a number of them when we were choosing Dooster which has been a success story for us. Granted you all need to be using the same software for collaboration to work.
Smith
Posted 151 days ago 77http://www.oogwave.com is yet another great too which is free. I am using it and it works fine for me.
Andy
Posted 156 days ago 76Workgroups is another great project management solution. It includes tools for workflow management, scheduling, digital asset management, job tracking, online proofing/review and financial management.