7 Top-Rated Affordable Project Management Software

New projects bring a wave of excitement along with the responsibility of managing deadlines, tasks, and budgets. Project management (PM) software can be a lifesaver as it can easily help users plan, organize, and execute projects. But who says it has to break the bank?

To help you make the right decision, we’ve highlighted the seven top-rated affordable project management software for project managers, based on their pricing as found on vendor websites. Based on our research, we've considered products priced less than $22.21 per month as affordable software and have arranged them in ascending order. Read how we selected these products at the bottom of the page.

The products listed in this article are either dedicated project management software or online work management, resource management, timesheet management, and business management tools with project management capabilities. Nonetheless, common features across all these tools include task management, project tracking, and team collaboration.

GoodDay is an online work management platform with features for project planning, task management, and portfolio management. The software offers over 20 work views, including project, task, and management views, to help project managers review work progress, update status, and adjust deadlines on one screen. Users can also create custom views tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

Product features of interest*:

• Task views: Get complete visibility into the ongoing tasks using different task views offered by the tool. These include tasks list, tasks table, board view, and more. Users can switch between lists, tables, and boards to find the most suitable way to visualize tasks. 

• Time tracking: Enhance your team’s productivity and accountability by understanding how they spend their time. The software offers a number of features, such as task time reports and task time that help project managers fine-tune priorities. 

• Projects health dashboard: Obtain a clear overview of your project portfolio’s overall health. The project dashboard in GoodDay displays project status, risks, and progress for informed decision making.

Starting price: $4 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Email, chat, and online help center

Who should consider GoodDay?

Project managers looking for a tool that facilitates increased project comprehension by presenting information in distinct ways can consider GoodDay. With over 20 work views, each serving a different purpose, the software enables project managers to concentrate on critical aspects of their projects. This targeted focus further enables proactive problem-solving and efficient resource allocation. The software also lets project managers switch between views or create custom ones, ensuring adaptability as the project scales.

Analysis performed December 2023**

Resource Guru is a resource management and planning system that helps project managers create project plans based on their team’s actual availability. The software offers a bird's eye view of the team, along with the projects team members are working on and their respective schedules. Project managers can use this information to understand if team members are overloaded or under-utilized. Accordingly, they can adjust schedules and calendar events using a drag-and-drop functionality.

Product features of interest*:

• Resource management: Plan, schedule, and track your team’s work to ensure that everyone is working on the right projects and at the right time. Resource management features in Resource Guru enable users to track individual availability, create approval workflows for high-priority work, and access team members' details within a centralized resource pool. 

• Project forecasting reports: Anticipate your resource needs and avoid bottlenecks using forecast reports offered by the software. These reports offer useful insights into capacity planning, resource utilization, and skill demand for effective resource scheduling.

• Equipment management: Track all equipment related to a project using a single schedule. The feature also enables users to locate a particular equipment within the database using filters, such as resource type and location. 

Starting price: $4.16 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Phone, email, and knowledge base

Who should consider Resource Guru?

Project managers looking to balance workload distribution to avoid burnout and missed deadlines can benefit from this tool. The software facilitates accurate resource scheduling by taking into consideration skills, availability, workload, and task dependency. It also offers features, such as clash management, waiting list, availability bar, and more for effective resource allocation.

Analysis performed December 2023**

FunctionFox is an online timesheet and project management platform with project templates to help users replicate past successful projects. Project managers can simply copy project items, including tasks, estimates, milestones, costs, and actions, from an existing template to a new one. This can help them save time, especially when they are working on similar projects. Users can either mark an existing project as a template for future reference or create separate projects to be specifically used as templates.

Product features of interest*:

• Project costs tracking: Keep track of all fixed costs incurred during the life of a project. These may include travel costs, courier charges, and printing costs. The feature helps project managers gain clear visibility into project finances and identify cost overruns. 

• Project Gantt Charts: Monitor project schedule, including actions, milestones, and project meetings using the interactive Gantt Charts offered by the tool. Users can filter these charts by project managers, project status, and project type to achieve their desired view. 

• To-do lists: Organize and prioritize tasks using to-do lists in Function Fox. The software also allows users to track time against the items in their list and offers customizable email alerts, ensuring they stay on top of their tasks. 

Starting price: $5 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Monthly

Customer support options: Phone, email, and knowledge base

Who should consider FunctionFox?

Project managers looking to save time and effort while setting up new projects can opt for FunctionFox. With project templates in place, the software enables users to ditch the repetitive task of starting each project from scratch. It offers pre-built blueprints for similar projects that can be pre-populated with essential elements such as tasks and milestones, allowing users to jump into project execution quickly.

Analysis performed December 2023**

Kanban Tool is a visual management platform that helps businesses visualize workflow, track project progress, and collaborate on a Kanban board. The software leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to help users create a Kanban board based on their specific needs and preferences. Kanban Tool’s AI assistant suggests checklist items for tasks that users can pick and choose from. These can be helpful to ensure that no important tasks are overlooked or forgotten.

Product features of interest*:

• Process automation: Set up automatic rules that trigger specific actions based on pre-defined conditions within the Kanban board. Process automation rules in Kanban Tool are available with project manager, account administrator, or owner privileges. 

• Board filters: Hide unwanted cards based on priority levels, assignees, due dates, and more to focus on specific workflows. The software also allows users to save a filtered view of their board for instant access later on. 

• Due date reminders: Stay on top of all due tasks across multiple boards with the help of Kanban Tool’s email reminders. The software lets users choose a suitable time for receiving notifications for all due tasks. 

Starting price: $6 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Phone, knowledge base, and online FAQs

Who should consider Kanban Tool?

Project management professionals looking to visualize project progress and updates on a Kanban board can opt for Kanban Tool. The software offers visual boards to display project progress, task ownership, and bottlenecks to facilitate visual workflow management. It can also be an apt choice for project managers who wish to leverage AI to generate project boards. With AI assistance, the software suggests the optimal board layout, card types, and relevant checklists to break tasks into manageable steps.

Analysis performed December 2023**

Agiled is a business management solution that allows project management professionals to discuss projects with teams and clients in one place. Each project within Agiled has a dedicated discussion tab, providing a centralized platform for team members to discuss project-related topics. The software also enables clients to participate in discussions and even start new discussions. Project managers also have the ability to turn off discussions for clients if they want.

Product features of interest*:

• Project categories: Keep projects organized by creating project categories within the app. The feature allows users to group similar projects for easier navigation and access. Users can create as many categories with Agiled as they need. 

• File management: Manage all files in one place, and share them with clients and teammates. The software does not place any restrictions on the file type and file size that you can share.

• Invoice templates: Create professional and detailed invoices using the invoice templates in Agiled. These templates are available for download in Word, Excel, PDF, Google Docs, and Google Sheets formats. 

Starting price: $7.99 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Email, knowledge base, and online inquiry form

Who should consider Agiled?

Project management professionals looking for PM software to foster project collaboration can consider Agiled. The software, with project discussions in place, makes collaboration on projects easy for users. It also allows users to manage discussion permissions by controlling who can start, participate, and view discussions. Additionally, the tool offers a client portal that offers information on all the projects you have with them. This also enhances communication, transparency, and collaboration with clients.

Analysis performed December 2023**

GanttPRO is an online project management software that facilitates project scheduling with the help of Gantt charts. The software enables users to import projects from MS Excel, MS Project, and JIRA Cloud to visualize project timelines, dependencies, and workloads. It offers advanced export capabilities that can be leveraged to export Gantt charts in PNG, PDF, XML, and Excel formats. These charts can also be shared with stakeholders, including clients and team members, via a private link.

Product features of interest*:

• Time management: Use a time tracker or create time log reports to track the time spent on tasks. The software also facilitates automatic calculation of task estimation based on duration and deadlines. 

• Collaboration tools: Keep tasks under control and be aware of progress status with the help of email and push notifications. The software also offers comments and mentions for improved communication and team collaboration.

• Single sign-on and 2FA: Enhance security and convenience with single sign-on and two-factor authentication (2FA) features. While single sign-on enables users to access GanttPRO with their existing credentials, 2FA offers extra protection against unauthorized access.

Starting price: $7.99 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Annual

Customer support options: Phone, email, and knowledge base

Who should consider GanttPRO?

Project management professionals looking to visualize projects using Gantt charts can find GanttPRO helpful. The software offers an intuitive interface and ready-to-use Gantt chart templates to help professionals build charts from scratch. These templates are tailored to different industries and project types, such as construction, marketing, and consulting, to help project managers across different industries create visual roadmaps.

Analysis performed December 2023**

Project.co is a project management platform that brings all tasks, files, notes, payments, and third-party tools into one place. The software offers a file-proofing feature that enables project managers to create and send digital files to clients or stakeholders for review and feedback. Project.co supports over 300 file types, including PDF and MS Excel, making it easier for project managers to give and receive feedback.

Product features of interest*:

• Chart of time: View charts to check the time allotted to a group, person, project, or task. Users can also use this feature to compare the actual time spent on tasks and projects with the allotted time and make adjustments accordingly.

• Online payments: Accept payments from clients as the project progresses. Project managers can connect their Stripe or PayPal accounts to get paid directly into their own accounts. The software supports multiple currencies for quick payments.

• Notes: Collaborate with teammates and clients over notes and view everyone’s work in real time. The software leverages the power of Chat-GPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, to create new content and edit existing content. 

Starting price: $8 per user, per month

Billing cycle: Monthly

Customer support options: Email, chat, and knowledge base

Who should consider Project.co?

Project managers looking to foster clear communication within proofs can go for Project.co. With a built-in proofing feature, the software facilitates real-time discussions between project managers, team members, and clients. The feature enables a project manager to receive detailed feedback on documents, identify errors, and make quick changes to digital files before finalization. With file proofing, project managers can view the entire project status in one place.

Analysis performed December 2023**

A project management tool can cost as low as $4 per user, per month or up to $59+ per user, per month, depending on various factors, including features, deployment model, number of users, customization, and integration options. Most affordable project management software typically includes these pricing plans:

• Free trial: No-cost trial plans of up to 30 days, giving users access to either all or limited features of the software. This is ideal for businesses that want to try a tool before investing.

• Free versions: Free plans offer limited access to basic software features. These are ideal for small business owners on a budget.

• Entry-level plans: Start at $4 per user, per month and offer limited features. These are suitable for businesses that need basic features such as limited member support, time tracking, and basic analytics. 

• Mid-tier plans: Range from $7 to $39 per user, per month and offer advanced features such as custom project templates, resource calendars, multiple project views, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

• High-end plans: Can cost more than $59 per user, per month and offer both entry-level and advanced features with priority support and advanced reporting. These are ideal for large businesses.

Ask these common questions to software vendors when selecting the best project management software.

• Does the tool offer Gantt charts?

Gantt charts provide a visual timeline of project tasks and their dependencies, aiding in project scheduling and resource allocation. These may come in a few variations, including traditional, milestone, and baseline Gantt charts. PM software with a Gantt chart can help users plan, communicate, and track project progress effectively. 

• What are the different project views offered by the tool?

The best project management software provides multiple project views, such as Kanban, calendar, dashboard, and timeline views to accommodate the diverse needs of project managers. It may also include custom views to help users create project views based on their specific needs by defining filters, columns, and other parameters.

• Does the software offer team dashboards?

If possible, select an affordable project management software that offers team dashboards showcasing a snapshot of key metrics, progress, and other various aspects of a project. Users can add graphs, charts, and other visual metrics to these dashboards, illustrating team workload, project progress, task assignments, and more.