1. Bonsai: The best Projectmanager alternative
When we talk about project management in the world of service businesses, one name that stands ahead is Bonsai. It is a robust, all-in-one project management suite packed with an array of features that cater to each step of the project process- making it an excellent alternative to Projectmanager. Bonsai provides an interactive workflow for tracking, managing and automatizing your projects with ease, all while ensuring you stay well within your budget.
So, why exactly should Bonsai be your next project management tool? Here are five compelling reasons:
- Intuitive UX and UI Design: Bonsai offers a clean, intuitive user interface that allows you to easily navigate and efficiently manage all your projects simultaneously, making it a breeze to transition from Projectmanager.
- Comprehensiveness: Unlike other project management tools, Bonsai integrates multiple functions like time tracking, invoicing, contract creation, among others, all under one roof. This comprehensiveness naturally leads to an increase productivity and saves more time for you to focus on business expansion.
- Powerful Automation: Automation has become an essential aspect of modern project management solutions. With Bonsai, you can automate various tasks such as client communication, sending invoices and tracking payments - freeing up even more time for you to dedicate to your business services.
- Third-party Integration: Bonsai supports integration with various third-party applications including Google Apps, ensuring seamless functionality and improved project management procedures. This makes it adaptable to any service business model, and a step above Projectmanager in terms of functionality.
- Excellent Customer Support: Besides the innovative features and integrations, Bonsai also offers outstanding customer service support to help ensure your operations run smoothly. The customer service team is available around the clock to help solve any problems should they arise in your project processes.
In summary, Bonsai offers a formidable, cost-effective solution for project management needs with a blend of natural user interface, project tracking, time tracking, contract creation, and invoice management amongst other features. Its' ease of integration with your business services models coupled with powerful automation tools allows you to manage projects in a much more efficient manner than Projectmanager, making it an ideal alternative for service businesses. With Bonsai, managing your project just got a whole lot easier, efficient, and smarter.
Jira
Jira, developed by Atlassian, is a highly popular project tracking and issue tracking software useful for agile teams.
Best Features:
- Comprehensive scrum and kanban boards to streamline processes
- Advanced reporting tools for insights and analytics
- Fully customizable workflows to fit team's needs
- Integration capabilities with other Atlassian products and many third-party apps
Limitations:
- Limited features in the free plan
- User interface may appear complicated for beginners
- Sometimes slow performance reported by users
Not a fit for:
Jira might not be ideal for smaller teams or startups who require simpler project management tools and have budget constraints.
Pricing:
Jira offers a free plan for small teams along with a range of paid plans depending on team size and requirements.
Reviews and Ratings:
Jira user satisfaction generally averages around 4 out of 5 stars, with users praising its robust features; however, they also express dissatisfaction with its complexity compared to more intuitive platforms like Projectmanager.
Basecamp
Basecamp is a leading project management tool that facilitates communication and collaboration across teams.
Best features:
- Project-specific workspaces allow everyone to stay up-to-date on assignments.
- Provides effective communication tools like message boards and real-time group chats.
- An automated check-in feature asks team members about progress, keeping everyone in the loop.
- Embedded schedule feature keeps everyone abreast of key deadlines and milestones.
Limitations:
While Basecamp has valuable features, it also comes with some limitations.
- Limited task management capabilities: lacks Gantt charts and other visual aids.
- No billing or invoicing features.
Not a fit for:
Organizations that need sophisticated task management or in-app billing may not find Basecamp appropriate.
Pricing:
Basecamp offers a flat monthly rate of $99, regardless of the number of users.
Reviews and ratings:
Basecamp has positive reviews overall with a rating of 4.3/5 on
G2.
If you need more advanced visual project planning features, then you might want to consider Projectmanager as an alternative to Basecamp.
Trello
Trello is an intuitive, easy-to-use productivity tool that assists with organizing collaborative projects. Best features:
Trello excels in various areas.
- Flexible project boards for managing tasks
- User-friendly interface and experience
- Integration with various apps and tools
- Powerful automation using Butler
Limitations:
Trello has a few drawbacks.
- Lacks advanced features for large-scale project management
- No built-in time tracking
Not a fit for:
Trello might not suit everyone.
- Businesses requiring detailed reporting
Pricing:
Trello's pricing varies.
- Free basic version, premium options charge per user
Reviews and ratings:
Overall, Trello receives positive feedback.
It is a great alternative for simplicity compared to more complex tools like Projectmanager.
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a robust project management tool brimming with excellent features that add value to project execution and monitoring.
Best Features:
Microsoft Project is loaded with features that streamline project management.
- Advanced scheduling capabilities
- In-depth analytics with insightful dashboards
- Robust task management
- Effective resource balancing
Limitations:
Despite its strengths, Microsoft Project does have some drawbacks.
- Lacks a friendly user interface
- Expensive for small teams
- Requires a steep learning curve
- Weak mobile support
Not a fit for:
Microsoft Project might not be ideal for:
- Small businesses looking for cost-effective solutions
- Non-technical users
Pricing:
Microsoft Project's pricing can be high, starting from $10/user/month.
Reviews and Ratings:
Users have mixed views about the software, slightly favoring its positive side.
An optimal supplement or alternative to consider would be ProjectManager, offering user-friendly features, affordable plans and strong mobile support.
Asana
Asana is a comprehensive project management tool designed to provide both small businesses and large enterprises a streamlined platform for team collaboration and task coordination.
Best features:
- Flexible task management: You can track work, set priorities and deadlines easily.
- Automated project updates: Allows team members to stay up-to-date with automated updates.
- Visual project plans: Offer timeline views to help map out project schedules.
- Integration: Asana integrates with over 100 other apps for added functionality.
Limitations:
- Learning curve: New users may find Asana somewhat complicated at first.
- Mobile app: Users have reported that the mobile version lacks some desktop features.
Not a fit for:
Businesses seeking a simple, straightforward task management tool, as Asana's extensive functionality can make it seem complex for some.
Pricing:
Asana offers a basic free version, and its Premium, Business, and Enterprise plans range from $10.99 to $24.99 per user per month.
Reviews and ratings:
Asana has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Capterra, where users particularly appreciate its feature-rich nature as compared to alternatives including Projectmanager.
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a resourceful project management platform well-suited for businesses of all sizes with a wide range of available features.
Best features:
- Advanced task management with easy to use Gantt Charts.
- Collaboration tools including team chats and discussion forums.
- Time tracking and invoice generation capabilities.
- In-depth project analytics and report generation.
Limitations:
- Initial setup may be complex for beginners.
- Lack of offline access.
- Document uploading feature can be sluggish.
Not a fit for:
Small organizations with relatively simple projects or firms looking for an exceptionally user-friendly operation may find Zoho Projects somewhat overpowering.
Pricing:
Zoho offers a freemium version and paid plans which start from $3 per user per month.
Reviews and ratings:
It scores a commendable 4.2 out of 5 in user reviews on G2, with praise for its features but some criticism for complexity.
You may also consider Projectmanager, a well-rounded alternative with impressive features.
Wrike
Wrike is an advanced, feature-packed project management tool that removes the complexity from project planning processes and enables teams to get work done faster. Best features:
Wrike offers a host of notable features such as:
- Interactive project timelines (Gantt Charts)
- Customizable, shareable dashboards
- Document collaboration with version control
- Workload view for resource management
Limitations:
Despite its strengths, Wrike has a few limitations:
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- Mobile app lacks some functionality
- Limited integrations with other tools
Not a fit for:
Wrike might not be ideal for:
- Small businesses due to complex features
- Teams seeking minimalistic, simple interfaces
Pricing:
Wrike offers a free basic plan, with premium plans starting from $9.80/user/month.
Reviews and ratings:
With a 4.2 out of 5 stars rating on G2Crowd, users appreciate its robust features but note its steep learning curve when compared to simpler tools, like Projectmanager.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a leading work execution platform that offers comprehensive tools for project management, planning, and collaboration.
Best features:
Smartsheet provides versatile features that simplify work management.
- Offers a familiar spreadsheet-like interface
- Advanced project management features like Gantt charts, reminders, and dependencies
- Robust integration suite including with major tools like Salesforce and Google Suite
- Automated workflows and real-time updates
Limitations:
However, like other tools, Smartsheet also has some limitations.
- Lack of in-built chat feature
- Learning curve for non-tech users
Not a fit for:
Smartsheet is not suited for small teams with simple project management needs or teams seeking an in-built chat feature.
Pricing:
Smartsheet offers various pricing plans including a free trial, Individual ($14/month), and Business ($25 per user/month).
Reviews and ratings:
Smartsheet receives favorable reviews for its feature set and integration, with a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Gartner. However, users seeking a more straightforward, user-friendly interface often opt for alternatives like Projectmanager.
ClickUp
ClickUp is a comprehensive project management tool that excels in customization and integration capabilities.
Best features:
ClickUp offers a multitude of standout features:
- Highly customizable user interface
- Robust task management functionalities
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics
- Seamless integration with popular third-party apps
Limitations:
Despite its strengths, ClickUp has certain limitations:
- Limited file storage in the free version
- Can be time-consuming to set up due to high customizability
Not a fit for:
ClickUp may not be suitable for teams looking for a simple, straightforward project management tool.
Pricing:
ClickUp's pricing ranges from a free basic plan to premium terms at varying costs.
Reviews and ratings:
On average, ClickUp receives high ratings for its flexibility and features. You can find more ratings and reviews here.
In comparison to Projectmanager, ClickUp offers more customization and integration possibilities but could be more complex to navigate for novice users.