Commercial Project Management Software

BQE CORE Software

189 Reviews

What is BQE CORE? Overview BQE CORE is an all-in-one work management software designed to help professional services and project-based firms make better decisions, increase project revenue, and improve project outcomes. It o...Read more

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Aha! Software

89 Reviews

What is Aha! Software? Overview Aha project management software - also known as 'Aha product development software' - is a cutting-edge, cloud-based, load mapping and project management solution that can be easily utilized by...Read more

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monday.com Software

88 Reviews

What is Monday Software? Overview Monday.com is a comprehensive project management software designed to help teams plan, manage, and collaborate on any project or portfolio in just a few clicks. It offers a wide range of fea...Read more

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BigTime Software

79 Reviews

What is BigTime Software? Overview BigTime software is a cloud-based project management platform that caters to the unique needs of professional services companies. It streamlines businesses by making various operations more...Read more

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Wrike Software

74 Reviews

What Is Wrike Software?  Overview  Wrike software is an all-in-one project management solution that simplifies teamwork, streamlines collaboration, and improves efficiency. An intuitive interface and robust features make it ...Read more

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NetSuite OpenAir Software

73 Reviews

What is NetSuite OpenAir Software? Overview NetSuite OpenAir is a cloud-based, comprehensive professional services solution designed to equip users with powerful project management tools that deliver throughout the entire pr...Read more

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FunctionFox

58 Reviews

What Is FunctionFox? Overview FunctionFox is a cloud-based project management and time-tracking software tailored for creative professionals and teams. Its features include task assignment, invoicing, and reporting to enhanc...Read more

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Project Insight

56 Reviews

What Is Project Insight? Overview Project Insight is a cloud-based project management software that assists in organizing and streamlining workflows. The software’s advanced visualization capabilities empower managers to pla...Read more

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Jira Software

54 Reviews

What Is Jira Software? Overview Jira software is a cloud-based project management solution designed to help agile teams collaborate, plan, and track top projects, ensuring smooth software development and high-quality results...Read more

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Rodeo Software

38 Reviews

What Is Rodeo Software? Overview Rodeo software, now known as Rodeo Drive, is a project management and workflow platform that helps project managers track time, manage budgets, collaborate in real time, and invoice clients. ...Read more

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ProWorkflow Software

35 Reviews

What is ProWorkflow? Overview ProWorkflow is a cloud-based project management software that provides comprehensive capabilities for organizations of varying sizes and industries. It features time tracking, task management, c...Read more

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ClickUp Software

33 Reviews

What Is ClickUp Software?  Overview  ClickUp software is a cloud-based project management and productivity solution that offers solutions for task management, team collaboration, time tracking, and reporting. It accommodates...Read more

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Baserow

33 Reviews

Open source and self-hostable Baserow stands out as an open source platform that allows users to host it on their own infrastructure. This provides greater control, customization, and flexibility for businesses with specific se...Read more

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Confluence Software

32 Reviews

What Is Confluence Software? Overview Confluence, developed by Atlassian, is a cloud-based collaboration platform designed to empower teams with efficient knowledge sharing, content creation, and project collaboration. It of...Read more

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Moovila: AI-Supported Project Management Software

25 Reviews

What is Moovila? Overview Moovila is an AI-powered project management tool that enables organizations to work autonomously by creating, tracking, and monitoring tasks and mitigating project risks. The software offers intelli...Read more

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Commercial Project Management Software Buyers Guide

Last updated: December 06, 2023

As we move through 2023, the business landscape is becoming increasingly competitive and complex (difficult to get a handle on). Companies are juggling multiple projects, teams, deadlines, and budgets, all while striving to deliver exceptional results and meet customer needs.

In such a scenario, managing projects manually can be a daunting task and can impede productivity and profitability.

This is where commercial project management (PM) software comes in.

It is a powerful tool that can help organizations plan, organize, and track their projects more efficiently. By using a centralized platform, project managers can collaborate seamlessly with their teams, monitor progress, and make informed decisions based on data insights.

But how do you decide which project management software to pick from the intimidating lot on offer in the online marketplace?

Well, this buyer's guide is geared to help you do just that - covering such concerns as:

Table of Contents

  • What is Commercial Project Management Software?
  • Why do businesses need dedicated project management software?  
  • Common Features of Commercial Project Management Software
  • How do you decide which commercial project management software is right for you?
  • Project Management Software for Businesses: Pricing (What to Expect)
  • Our Top 5 Picks
  • Project Management Software for Commerce: FAQs
  • Our Advice on Getting Started!  

Defining Commercial Project Management Software?

Put in a nutshell, commercial PM tools comprise an all-encompassing category of workflow processing software deployable in pretty much every industry vertical with a profiteering intent (hence the usage of the term ‘commercial’ in the compound).

These end-to-end work automation utilities cover/are suited for the domains of:

Construction project management
Document management
Cost management
Management for general contractors
Capital projects management
Customer satisfaction management
Billing management

and more.

Why do businesses need commercial project management tools?

Businesses everywhere, as mentioned, are engaged in cutthroat competition to sell their services/wares and boost their market impact. To do this, it is obvious that they need to leverage every technological resource at their disposal.

Now, software tools for project planning, execution, and feedback appraisals are many and far between; with the bulk of them geared toward different parts of the workflow. The best opportunities for efficient working – which directly translate into better profits – come from project management interfaces that incorporate all of these elements under one digital hood. 

This latter orientation is what guarantees a business’s commercial competitiveness in the long run.

Common features of commercial project management software

Although there are some prominent distinctions between project management software that ensure their uniqueness from their industry peers, most feature a common core of design/function attributes that allow for their ‘lumping’ under one category head.

These commonalities are summarised as follows:

Key Features of Most Commercial Project Management Software

Task Management Features

  • Track Workflows
  • Manage Task Dependencies/Workload Management for Multiple Projects*
  • Document Management Protocols
  • Time-Tracking Capabilities 
  • Project Planning Tool Integration (for streamlined ideation/project plans)
  • Quick Project Snapshot Dashboard Visualizations (Gantt Charts, Kanban Boards, etc.)
  • Organizational Strategy Templates*
  • Project Demands/To-do Lists
  • Project Template Checklists (Custom/Default)
  • Desktop & Mobile Apps Functionality*
  • Complicated Project Breakdowns (Agile Workflows)*
  • Local Spreadsheets Export* 
  • Project Documentation (for One-Snap Project Histories)*
  • Customizations for Construction Projects*

Resource Management Functions

  • Project Manager Tool (for Real-Time Worker Management/Project Teams Coordination/Private Collaborations between Project Managers)
  • Team Management (Rewards/Concerns Communications)
  • Remote/Multiple-Site Staff Coordination
  • Integrated Modules to Train Employees*
  • Specialized Modules for Construction Management/Construction Industry Workers*
  • ‘Commercial Project Manager’ Monitoring Board*

Financial Management Tools

  • Project Budgets/Financial Planning
  • Money Management Features (inc. not-stepping-out-of-line ‘Budget Guards’)*
  • Project Costs Appraisals
  • Account Manager Module*
  • Funds Disbursements (for individual/separate departmental projects)
  • Future Projects Budgeting
  • Native/Third-Party Accounting Software Integrations*
  • High-level Organizational Oversight for Facility & External Stakeholders/Project Managers*
  • Advanced Finance Reporting Capabilities*

* May be unavailable in some basic-subscription commercial project management software suites.

Please note that the above is not an exhaustive list. Many new tools come accompanied by advanced AI and machine learning capabilities that allow for custom workflow creation.

Picking the right commercial project management software

Searching and shortlisting the right project management tool can be a chore; particularly taxing for busy professionals who crave good advice delivered instantly.

This is where our five-point software evaluation criteria framework comes in – as given here.

To get it working for you, simply analyze each of your software pick against the numbered cues given. The platform with the most feature ‘checks’ wins.

Simple!

If you’re a field newbie, you’re probably not aware of your options at this point; in which case, you can do (really) well by considering our own top-five picks detailed in a follow-up section.

Commercial Project Management Software Evaluation List

  • Does the software work with your business size/user headcount?
  • What is its required level of tech expertise (only built for technical professionals)?
  • Is it easy to integrate/connect with other tools?
  • Does it fit your budget (expensive or cost-effective)?
  • Is it accessible (easy or difficult for non-techies to get started with)?

Once you come up with a final software contender with the most ‘available’ feature, simply use our search bar (on top of this page) to visit its dedicated profile page – which features such information as updated pricing, demo screening instructions, curated user reviews, and more.

You can follow the same step in case there’s a tie in your shortlisted software.

Typical Pricing

When considering workflow software for commercial project managers, it’s always best to take stock of the general price range on offer in the market for proactive budgeting.

If a paid PM tool plan isn’t manageable, you can always opt for the free and/or trial plan versions provided by several vendors (which can be used to streamline basic task management processes).

Typical cost figures for commercial project management platforms proceed in the following range:

$3/month per member to upward of $250/month (for unlimited users)

These are only ballpark figures, however.

To get accurate, custom, plan pricing details and recommendations based on your exact company size and requirements, check out our Project Management Software Pricing Guide for 2023.

Our Top 5 Picks!

If you’d like some expert input on subscribing to the best PM tool for your commercial projects, consider checking out our following picks (which also come backed by our reviewers’ critical intel):

  • Monday
  • BQE Core
  • ClickUp
  • Aha!
  • Wrike

Let’s explore each in some detail.

Monday Software

The project management software from Monday covers almost all aspects of workflow planning and execution for various industries. Its user interface and performance make it a powerful tool for any commercially-geared workspace.

Pricing

  • Free (starter-friendly)
  • Basic: $8*/seat/mo.
  • Standard: $10*/seat/mo.
  • Pro: $16*/seat/mo.
  • Enterprise: Contact Our Helpline to Confirm Pricing (number above)

* Ballpark figures; go to our Monday.com Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your commercial enterprise.

Features

Monday.com project management software for businesses comes with an enviable range of workflow streamlining perks including –

  • Uniform Projects/Tasks Management (enables project managers to oversee workflows from one dashboard view) 
  • Client Collaborations (ensure that team workers and project workflows are all aligned with changing client expectations)
  • Worker/Client Requests Management (allows managers to receive and resolve their teams’/clients’ requisitions in record time!)

Pros/Cons

Pros Cons
Easy, crisp, interface; excellent for non-techies/busy managers to hit the ground running Reports of customer Service Lags
Calendar + construction management software integrations – ensure timely workflow processing
Cost-Competitive; Affordable

BQE Core

BQE Core is a comprehensive project management tool that enables commercial managers to efficiently monitor time, assign tasks, and produce an 'Earned Value Report' for comparing budgeted billable work with completed work. With these features, team leads can enhance their project management strategies and achieve their goals more effectively.

Pricing

  • Starting at $7.95* per user per month

* Ballpark figure; go to our BQE Core Software profile page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your business.

Features

BQE Core is designed to automate every repetitive workflow process – with a view to ensuring higher rates of deliverable turnovers and less time wasted on managing software entries. The platform’s prominent features include –

  • Agile Dashboards (equipped for one-page task/process/workflow appraisals; ideal for labored commercial project managers looking for a quick overview of their ongoing work concerns – particularly suited for construction managers)
  • Project Profitability Checks (train project managers into thinking like business owners with oversight over the task planning phase and approval process; ensuring efficient and timely resource allocations, via an accounting software plug-in, for the best budgetary utilization)
  • Interactive Gantt Chart & Kanban Boards (enable instant course corrections/pivots through real-time monitoring of vital project metrics)

Pros/Cons

Pros Cons
Deemed ‘very user-friendly’ by using managers A bit expensive compared to alternative subscriptions; onboarding difficulties
Real-time, cloud-based, collaborations – glitch-free!
Real-time Data-Tracking

Clickup Software

For commercial project managers who want to efficiently organize document management, time-tracking, and team, resource, and workflow-related tasks in one place, ClickUp is easily one of the best options available on the market.

Pricing

  • Free Plan (for beginners)
  • Unlimited: $5*/mo.
  • Business: $12*/mo.
  • Business Plus: $19*/mo.
  • Enterprise: Contact Our Helpline to Confirm Pricing (number above)

* Ballpark figures; go to our ClickUp Software profile page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your commercial organization.

Features

This web-/cloud-based SaaS powerhouse provides –

  • Customizable templates (with editable fields for budget, dollars spent, remaining budget, and more)
  • State-of-the-art Gantt Charts (allowing the commercial project manager to track time and monitor their project progress with a bird’s eye view of each process)
  • Task management functions (equipped with automatic data population and real-time updates; enable users to create quick to-do lists to ensure they’re on top of the game!)

Pros/Cons

Pros Cons
Highly customizable project management templates (perfect for busy professionals) Limited integration options with third-party services
Intuitive, user-friendly interface (suited for non-techie workers)
One-page, centralized document storage & collaboration (for uniform, concurrent firm workflows; construction-management-friendly)
Exceptional Customer Service

Aha Software

Aha! is a cloud-based project management software that is lightweight and suitable for various commercial setups. It consistently ranks highly in 'best in class' PM tool lists across different review platforms. As such, it is a recommended and valuable addition to the workflow processing toolkit of any startup enterprise.

Pricing

  • Premium: $59*/user/mo.
  • Enterprise: $99*/user/mo.
  • Enterprise+: $149*/user/mo.

* Ballpark figures; go to our Aha! Software Profile Page and click ‘Get Pricing’ to obtain updated, custom pricing figures narrowly suited to your commercial undertaking.

Features

Aha! Project management software features suited for small business settings include –

  • Start-to-Finish Project Tracking (allows senior managers to monitor their complete firm workflows and budget spending; for addressing any weak links and general contractor concerns)
  • Real-Time Team/Stakeholder Collaborations (to address team and client feedback/reviews instantly – proceed accordingly)
  • Powerful Reporting (for constant commercial project manager KPIs/metrics monitoring)

Pros/Cons

Pros Cons
Engaging/Interactive Project Roadmap Views Can be a little expensive
Stellar Customizations
Easy Onboarding

Wrike Software