Project management collaboration tools enable real-time communication between project managers, stakeholders, and clients, ensuring consistent alignment throughout the project lifecycle. These tools include advanced features such as task management, integration capabilities, and real-time communication, improving cross-functional team coordination and enabling teams to achieve positive project outcomes.
This blog explores the eight best collaborative project management software designed to keep your teams in sync and ensure everyone stays on the same page. Compare their diverse features and pricing to select the best tool for your projects.
Here’s a quick list of software that we’ll be discussing in this guide in detail:
- Asana Software — Best for cross-functional teamwork
- Miro Software — Best for visual collaboration through online whiteboards
- Zoho Projects — Best for its automated feeds and notifications
- Teamwork.com Software — Best for diverse project collaboration templates
- Basecamp Software — Best for collaborating with teams remotely
- Slack Software — Best for real-time communication, particularly for bigger teams
- Smartsheet Software — Best for its spreadsheet functionality
- monday.com Software — Best for its customizable workflows
Project collaboration tools are crucial for seamless project communication across teams and to increase organizational productivity. Some key features of these tools include:
- Customizable project workflow
- Instant messaging with teams and clients
- Centralized team folders for efficient document management
- Shared team calendars, allowing everyone to view and manage deadlines
- Scheduling virtual meetings to ensure easy access for everyone regardless of location
Below, we have discussed the best project management collaboration software in detail, each catering to diverse needs, from real-time communication to task management and document sharing.
Asana is a prominent collaboration tool that empowers project managers to oversee project execution while facilitating seamless team collaboration. It provides a range of features that help team members stay organized and manage their work effectively.
Key Features
- Asana’s Workflows and automation streamlines task delegation and communicates complex project information in real-time, ensuring effective team collaboration
- Integration with cloud-based communication platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Chat, Outlook, and Zoho Cliq for seamless team communication
- Customizable internal ‘knowledge base’ allows team members to easily access, update, and share essential project information
Drawbacks
- Cannot assign tasks to multiple teams
- Advanced features like timeline, Gantt view, project dashboards, and workflow builder are only available in the software’s paid versions
Who Its For
Asana is an ideal collaborative project management solution for teams looking to manage multiple, active projects in one place. Collaborative dashboards provide visibility by tracking project progress, as well as individual tasks, subtasks, and their expected dates of completion.
Pricing
Asana's pricing plans are divided into two categories: one for individuals and small teams and other for businesses and enterprises:
- Personal: $0 (Free forever)
- Starter: $13.49/user/month
- Advanced: $30.49/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
- Enterprise+: Custom Pricing
Miro is a visual whiteboard tool that allows project managers to brainstorm ideas, plan projects, and collaborate with teams in real-time. The software allows teams to share their ideas using Miro’s whiteboards and mind maps to enhance the project flow.
Key Features
- ‘Online Whiteboard’ collaboration tool improves teamwork for both onsite and remote teams
- ‘Miro’s AI’ feature empowers project managers to speed up their project planning process while getting insights from AI
- A variety of ‘built-in templates’ are available that allow project managers to choose the one that is tailored to their preferred approaches
Drawbacks
Custom templates can't be saved for reuse, limiting process standardization
Who Its For
Miro is ideal for teams looking for ways to brainstorm project ideas and collaborate visually in real time using pre-designed templates. Its incorporation of diagramming methods like mind maps and customer journey maps, along with its incorporation of scrum templates, facilitate collaboration by suggesting activities and strategies teams can use to collaborate.
Pricing
Miro provides four pricing options:
- Free: $0 (Unlimited team members)
- Starter: $10/member/month
- Business: $20/member/month
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing (From 30 members)
Zoho Projects offers a comprehensive set of collaboration tools designed to bring team members together, allowing them to collaborate efficiently and complete projects on time. Project managers can generate detailed reports that help them analyze each team member's maximum potential.
Key Features
- The ‘Feed’ feature, like an Instagram or Facebook feed, creates a section where users can see real-time project updates without missing any important notifications. This is incredibly helpful for tracking tasks when you’re working in a large team
- The ‘Activity Stream’ feature provides a timeline view that groups notifications per day and per team member, so project managers have a clear picture of what their team has been working on
- ‘Project Pages’ allows your team to collaboratively create a project knowledge base where new ideas, reference materials, specifications, and other relevant information can be stored
Drawbacks
- Templates are only accessible through paid plans
- Free plan is imitated to 5GB of storage space and 2 projects only
Who Its For
Zoho is ideal for small to medium-sized teams seeking integrated communication and collaboration tools in one platform, all at an affordable pricing.
Pricing
Following are the plans that the software offers along with a 10-day free trial:
- Free: $0 (Up to 3 users)
- Premium: $5/user/month
- Enterprise: $10/user/month
Teamwork.com is the best task management and collaboration software for teams that need workflow support, such as assigning tasks, leaving comments on documents, and sharing them with teams. Project managers can categorize their team’s tasks using tags, create sub-tasks, and set task dependencies.
Key Features
- The ‘Workload Planner’ displays a list of users on the site, featuring a scrollable timeline that visualizes their workload in relation to their working hours and unavailable periods
- A variety of ‘project collaboration templates’ are available including task management and client onboarding, making team collaboration easier for project managers
- Gantt charts provide stakeholders with instant project updates, ensuring everyone stays aligned
Drawbacks
The interface can become slow and less responsive as the number of tasks grows
Who Its For
Teamwork.com's emphasis on collaboration and workflow management makes it ideal for teams that need to closely coordinate projects of varying complexity.
Pricing
The software offers the following four pricing plans:
- Deliver: $13.99/user/month (minimum 3 users)
- Grow: $25.99/user/month (include minimum 5 users)
- Scale: $69.99/user/month (include minimum 5 users)
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
Basecamp is designed to help teams stay organized, communicate efficiently, and meet deadlines. It includes one-on-one messaging, group chats, and a centralized file storage and discussion space. Additionally, it offers automatic polls to collect feedback, which can be sent to the entire team or selected members.
Key Features
- ‘Automatic Check-ins' act as FAQs for your team, addressing recurring questions while eliminating the need for lengthy meetings
- The ‘All-access’ feature allows anyone in your Basecamp account to view and join projects using a simple link, ensuring transparency and seamless collaboration
- ‘Hill Charts’ provide a clear, detailed overview of your project’s progress, allowing you to track key moments with history snapshots for better insight
Drawbacks
No native time tracking feature available as the software depends on third-party integration for that
Who Its For
Basecamp is known for its simplicity and user-friendly interface. Though it offers fewer features than competitors, it focuses on core project management features like to-do lists, scheduling, and team communication.
Pricing
Basecamp offers two pricing plans with a 30-day free trial:
- Basecamp: $15/user/month
- Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $349/month (Unlimited users)
Slack is the most well-known choice for teams regarding finding business chat software. The software integrates with Workast, Standup.ly, and many other apps to manage projects and get them done within Slack. It provides a centralized platform to collaborate efficiently with team members through one-on-one messaging, group chat, screen sharing, and calls.
Key Features
- The ‘Channels’ feature allows the team to discuss projects, share files, and automate processes. Project managers can create as many channels as they like
- ‘Workflow Builder’ enables project managers to create automated processes with a simple drag-and-drop
- Slack’s enterprise-grade security and compliance feature keeps the work safe within an organization, reducing spam attacks and email phishing
Drawbacks
- Notification management can be challenging in Slack
- The software doesn’t offer built-in project management features
Who Its For
Slack is a powerful online collaboration tool centralizing business communication, making it especially valuable for larger teams. It organizes conversations through channels and offers huddles for quick video and audio calls.
Pricing
Slack offers four pricing plans listed below:
- Free: $0/month
- Pro: $8.75/month
- Business+: $15/month
- Enterprise Grid: Custom Pricing
Smartsheet is an online work execution platform that empowers project managers and teams to plan, track, automate, and generate reports on projects. It updates information in real-time, allowing stakeholders to stay updated on the project’s progress.
Key Features
- The ‘View’ feature enables efficient project tracking by allowing teams to customize their project information using grid and calendar entries, Gantt charts, and task cards
- With version control and a detailed history of changes and feedback, project managers can ensure transparency and easily track updates for auditing purposes
- The ‘Conversations’ feature keeps stakeholders aligned and informed, supporting efficient workflows and decision-making
Drawbacks
- The simple spreadsheet interface might not appeal to everyone
- Software imposes limitations on exporting reports
Who Its For
It is best for project managers needing detailed project tracking and reporting with customizable spreadsheet views. Smartsheet reports enable project managers to seamlessly interact with real-time data from multiple sheets in one unified view.
Pricing
Smartsheet offers four pricing plans:
- Pro: $12/member/month
- Business: $24/member/month
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
- Advanced Work Management: Custom Pricing
monday.com is an intuitive collaborative platform designed to help managers and teams plan, organize, and track tasks throughout a project. It centralizes communication, reducing the need for external messaging apps. Teams can communicate within tasks or use a dedicated chat for the entire board.
Key Features
- Customizable boards tailored to various workflows and project types. Project managers can customize their boards with columns, colors, and labels to suit their project needs
- The software allows project managers to engage their team in real-time brainstorming sessions with ‘Collaborative Whiteboards’ for seamless coordination
- Workdocs simplify transforming any text into actionable items on your Work OS board. Project managers can embed live dashboards and project plans and collaborate effortlessly in real-time
Drawbacks
- The software’s free plan is limited to two users only
Who Its For
monday.com stands out from its competitors as it offers customizable workflows that help project managers streamline processes, minimize errors, and improve decision-making. Its range of project management features and high customizability make it a go-to platform for a broad range of users across various industries.
Pricing
The software provides five pricing plans:
- Free: $0 (Up to 2 seats)
- Basic: $12/seat/month
- Standard: $14/seat/month
- Pro: $24/seat/month
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
Choosing the ideal collaborative software can significantly influence your project’s success. Without the right project management, coordinating tasks within your team can quickly turn chaotic. These tools have various features that help project managers confidently track task progress and streamline workflows.
Asana is the top choice if you're looking for software that excels in cross-functional teamwork. Miro and monday.com are ideal for those who want visual collaboration through whiteboards. Zoho Projects is perfect due to its automated feeds, while Teamwork.com offers diverse project collaboration templates.
If you're collaborating with teams remotely, Basecamp is your best option, and Slack is an ideal solution for real-time communication with larger teams. Smartsheet is perfect for those who prefer spreadsheet functionality.
With a wide range of software available, there’s a solution for every team’s unique need. Explore our project management resource center to discover a comprehensive selection of top-tier software tailored to your needs.