Top 10 Workfront alternatives for 2024

What is Workfront?

Having all the tools that a business needs to oversee its entire workflow in one place is one of the most valuable assets to have when it comes to maximizing work and productivity. That is what Workfront offers. 

Developed by Adobe Systems, this work management solution puts together team collaboration, reporting functions, digital asset management, and project management under one roof. The app also seamlessly integrates with a variety of popular business tools like collaboration apps, file-sharing services, and enterprise systems. 

Through these features, all team members regardless of their role can stay on the same page reducing miscommunication and enhancing productivity. It also allows decision-makers to manage, prioritize, and report on work progress beyond what traditional methods like spreadsheets and standalone project management software can do. Overall, this platform helps businesses optimise their workflow processes in real-time. 

In their constant quest for improvement, however, businesses are always looking for alternatives and enhancements to their current systems, though. So Workfront may not always be the right solution for a given business at a given time. Fortunately, numerous solutions in the market can fill in this gap. 

What Are The Top Limitations Of Workfront?

For some businesses, Workfront is a great tool but for others, it might not be well-suited. That's because, much like any other tool, it also has limits. These are the following.

• The app doesn't allow for quick task management: The software is primarily made to handle large-scale project management needs meaning managing smaller tasks can be time-consuming and tedious. 
• The tool's interface isn't user-friendly: Workfront has complex features so new users would need to dedicate time and effort to learn how to use it effectively which could lead to reduced short-term productivity. 
• More expensive than other project management tools: Small businesses or startups may find the cost too much.
• Integration with third-party applications can be challenging: This can prevent smooth communication and collaboration within a team.
• Customizing reports in the app has limitations: The tool’s reporting feature doesn’t have enough flexibility which can affect tracking specific project details and milestones accurately.

What Are The Must-Have Features Of A Workfront Alternative?

Workfront’s most appealing feature is that it forsters task efficiency and easy monitoring so a desirable alternative should not only have that but more. For instance, users should be able to easily assign tasks, track progress, and communicate properly with their team members. Here are a few other features that any great alternative to Workfront should have. 

• Comprehensive Project Management System: The alternative should have a great project management system that manages projects efficiently from start to finish. Users should be able to track progress, assign tasks, and create great workflows. 
• Collaboration Features: Team members need to work together in real-time to boost productivity so the app should allow them to share files, communicate clearly, and collaborate effectively.‍
• Customizable Workflow: To cater to different business needs, the alternative to Workfront needs to have a highly customizable workflow that is easy to modify and adapt.

Bonsai: the best workfront alternative

Traditional solutions like Workfront may have dominated the market before but today, companies are looking for more modern solutions. One of the front runners there is Bonsai. Made specifically for service-oriented businesses, this platform offers a full suite of features that helps companies achieve superior results with their workflow and productivity. 

Among the features it offers are scalability, superior customer service, advanced reporting, and a user-friendly interface. With these and more, it has become a stand-out alternative to Workfront. Here are more reasons why Bonsai is becoming a go-to choice for service businesses. 

Comprehensive Project Management

Bonsai is more than just a task manager. It takes care of every inch of the project management process with tools for task allocation, time tracking, budgeting, invoicing, and CRM. In contrast, Workfront only focuses on task management and collaboration, lacking the integrated approach that Bonsai offers. 

User-Friendly Interface 

For beginners, Bonsai is an easy choice to learn to use. It was built with simplicity in mind so users can expect quicker learning and less frustration. It also ensures that teams can immediately get started with it leading to quicker improved productivity and better job satisfaction.

Scalability

It doesn’t matter whetther the app’s users are from a small business or a large company, Bonsai scales with the business. Companies can add more tools, features, and user accounts as needed so they won’t need to change platforms whenever they grow. 

Advanced Reporting and Insights

For businesses looking for detailed insights into project performance, Bonsai has just the tool for that. Unlike other tools, it’s analytics and reporting features are advanced enough to allow teams to track project progress, allocate resources better, and streamline their workflow. 

Outstanding Customer Support 

With Bonsai, businesses get 24/7 customer support so all issues and queries are addressed immediately.

Asana

Asana is one of the best tools for making team collaboration and project tracking so much easier. It has consistely received strong reviews from various platforms. And it also has various pricing options including the free plan, premium plan, and business versions.

Powerful project management tool that facilitates team collaboration and project tracking with ease.

Best Features:

• Task management allows for easy tracking of project progress.
• Document attachment supports collaboration.
• The calendar view provides a visual overview of tasks and deadlines.
• Third-party integration with apps like Slack, Google Drive enhances usability.

Limitations:

• Learning curve for new users can be steep.
• No inbuilt time-tracking feature.
• Limited Gantt chart capabilities compared to other tools like Workfront.

Asana may not suit teams looking for more advanced project management features.

Trello

Trello is helps teams track their work and collaborate effectively through its unique card-based system. Because of its robust features, it has generally received positive reviews. As for pricing, it also has a free version and a paid premium version.

Best Features:

• Intuitive interface with a drag-and-drop functionality.
• Powerful board and card system for organizing tasks.
• Robust integration capabilities with other tools.
• Handy automation features with Butler.

Limitations:

• Lacks in-depth reporting and analytics.
• Suboptimal for large-scale project management.
• Doesn't offer time tracking in-built.

Trello might not be ideal for large companies needing extensive project management or sophisticated analytics.

Wrike

This project management tool assists teams in making collaboration and organization of tasks more efficient. Because of its comprehensive toolset, it has often received great reviews. As for pricing, it has a free basic plan and several paid plans starting at $9.80 per user/ month.

Best Features:

• Syncs team's work on one platform in real time.
• Teams can tailor dashboards to individual needs.
• Interactive Gantt charts for the visualization of project timelines.
• Advanced analytics delivers comprehensive project insights.

Limitations:

• Requires plan upgrade for more storage.
• Steep learning curve for beginners.

Wrike might not be a fit for small teams or companies with a limited budget due to its relatively high pricing.

Basecamp

Basecamp is a great project management tool for teams of all sizes. Because of how easy it is to use, it has often received great reviews but it has a higher price point with a flat fee of $99 per month regardless of the number of users. It does have a 30-day free trial though.

Best Features:

• It allows project management with to-do lists, scheduling, and file sharing.
• Offers cloud-based storage for seamless team collaboration.
• Incorporates a shared calendar for project tracking.
• Features like Hill Charts provide a clear visualization of project progress.

Limitations:

• Functionality can be limited.
• Lack of an integrated time tracking tool.
• Customization options are limited.
• Lacking task management functionality.

This tool might not be great for bigger companies needing more advanced features and advanced reporting capabilities.

Monday

Monday.com is a popular work operating system, known for its intuitive design and broad functionality. Overall, users love using it, however, some have mentioned that it takes time to master it. As for pricing, Monday can be flexible ranging from $8 - $16 per user/ month depending on their needs.

Best Features:

• Customizable workflows and templates.
• Time and team management modules.
• Integration capabilities with popular tools like Slack and Gmail.
• Powerful automation and project management tools.

Limitations:

• Limited monthly views and actions on lower-tier plans.
• Possibility of overwhelming beginners with its wide array of features.

Monday.com might not be a perfect fit for small-scale businesses and beginners due to its advanced functionalities and higher pricing.

Jira

When it comes to the needs of development teams, Jira is the one that has it all. Its feature set is comprehensive enough and it gets high reviews on review platforms. As for pricing, Jira’s pricing structure is based on the number of users. It’s free for up to 10 users and then the paid version starts at $7 per user/ month for advanced features. 

Best Features:

• Powerful tracking system for projects and issues.
• Strong integration capabilities.
• Excellent for agile development.
• In-depth reporting and analytics.

Limitations:

• Non-intuitive interface for beginners.
• Expensive for large teams.
• Customization can be complex.

Jira may not be great for non-technical teams or smaller companies with budget constraints.

Smartsheet

Smartsheet is designed to enhance collaboration and improve work efficiency. And it is among the most well-reviewed project management tools out there. It also comes with a free version and paid premium packages.

Best Features:

• Flexible and intuitive spreadsheets.
• Integration with popular apps like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Salesforce.
• Real-time collaboration and commenting.
• Automated workflows for repetitive tasks.

Limitations:

• Data visualisation options are limited.
• No built-in chat function.

For those who require more complex task management or detailed visual reports, Smartsheet may not be the best choice.

Microsoft-project

Microsoft Project helps teams execute, track, and complete projects effectively with several pricing options available starting at $10 per user/ month.

Best Features:

• World-class scheduling and planning capabilities. 
• Engaging visual aids such as Gantt charts and network diagrams.
• Integration with other Microsoft Office tools.
• Resource management features. 

Limitations:

• Lacks real-time collaboration features. 
• Complex for beginners. 

This tool, while great for some businesses, is not ideal for small businesses because it's more expensive than other tools and has complex features.

Clickup

ClickUp enhances team collaboration and project management and is recognized for its friendly interface and robust features. Its pricing is also on the more affordable side with a free version available and paid plans starting at $5 per user/month.

Best Features:

• Flexible workflows.
• Rich set of collaborative tools.
• Multiple views options (list, board, Gantt, box, map).
• Integrates with over 1000 apps.

Limitations:

• Lacks in-depth reporting.
• The learning curve can be steep.
• Occasional bugs and performance issues.
• Not fully customizable.

ClickUp might not be the best tool for big organizations with complex project structures.