If you’re new to project management in software development and looking for the right tool, you might be wondering what features actually matter. After all, software teams have unique needs compared to other industries.
A possibility to have a high-level roadmap on a Gantt chart of the entire development process and a Kanban board for everyday work is usually what teams look for first. This is followed by tools that allow for sprint planning, bug tracking, and code repository integration.
What else should you consider? Think about the team’s size, development methodology, and workflow in general. The right software should enhance your existing processes rather than create a 180-degree change in the way you work.
Now, let’s explore 8 popular project management tools that your software team can try.
GanttPRO
GanttPRO is an online Gantt chart software, making it an ideal solution for teams that need to visualize project timelines. Software teams appreciate its possibilities for efficient task dependency management and critical path analysis. Teams can instantly see project updates as they happen, attach files and comments to tasks, and share project progress with clients or stakeholders.
PMs can plan and optimize resource usage across projects, control the workload, and use specific tools to track progress and address deviations with anticipation. The interface is flexible and customizable for different needs and mixed project dynamics.
Pricing:
GanttPRO offers a two-week free trial to test its capabilities. With annual billing, you can subscribe to:
- $8/user/month for the Core Plan;
- $12/user/month for the Advanced Plan;
- $19/user/month for the Business Plan;
- or the Enterprise Plan with prices upon request.
Easy Project
Easy Project approaches software development management in a comprehensive way. Teams can plan and execute sprints on agile boards, visualize projects with Gantt chart timelines, and track time spent on different activities. It also includes features that address specific software development processes like bug tracking and helpdesks.
PMs can check team capacity and workload distribution on resource management dashboards. Its customizable workflows can also be adapted to your team’s specific development methodology.
Pricing:
Easy Project offers several tiers:
- $5.90/user months for the Essentials plan;
- $11.90/user months for the Business plan;
- $23.90/user months for the Platform plan;
- or the Enterprise Plan, with prices upon request.
Podio
Within the other project management software, Podio has an unusual app-based structure. Teams can use Podio’s app market to customize the software or create their apps without coding knowledge. This is very convenient if you need to adapt to various software development workflows.
The platform also has task management tools, offers automated workflows, and chat. Software teams often note the possibility to connect with version control systems and other development tools through webhooks and APIs.
Pricing
Podio is free for up to 5 employees with basic needs. For standard project features, there are 2 plans:
- $14/user/month for the Plus Plan;
- $14/user/month for the Premium Plan.
Notion
Notion is popular among software teams for its versatility and elegant interface. It can be a wiki to share knowledge, a platform to manage tasks and databases, and a collaboration hub all at once.
Software teams can build custom dashboards and track development stages and tasks, document APIs, and manage sprints. Notion’s databases will be useful to link entries when projects involve complex information architecture. Those who work with technical documentation have the possibility to add code snippets, images, and files.
Pricing:
Teams can subscribe to:
- The Plus Plan for $9.50/seat/month;
- The Business plan for $14/seat/month; or
- The Enterprise Plan with custom prices.
Nutcache
Nutcache is a platform that integrates project management with time tracking and billing. Software teams will like agile project management tools for Scrum planning and execution.
PMs can monitor project budgets with the platform’s expense tracking features. Nutcache also offers timeline visualization and resource features to manage the allocation. Reporting tools will help analyze performance and profitability.
Pricing
Teams can subscribe to:
- The Pro Plan for $13.95/user/month;
- The Enterprise plan for $23.95/user/month; or
- The Corporate Plan with custom prices.
InLoox
InLoox is a nice option for Microsoft lovers, as it integrates deeply with Outlook and the Office suite, as well as some other Microsoft products. That is why software teams using the Microsoft ecosystem will be able to streamline their workflow.
The tool offers all the traditional project management features for planning and managing tasks, as well as collaborating on them. It also provides document management, resource planning, and budget tracking. PMs will love a comprehensive view of project health.
Pricing
InLoox offers both cloud and on-premises solutions. Their website only provides the prices for the Professional plan, which is 24,95$ user/month. Prices for the Enterprise and On-Prem Plans are available upon request.
DoneTonic
DoneTonic focuses on agile projects that prioritize Scrum techniques. Software teams appreciate its intuitive interface that doesn’t require extensive training. The platform’s distinctive feature is a nice kanban board, but it also offers a list view. Teams can easily manage tasks and monitor time spent on them.
Collaboration won’t be an issue either, as there are comments, @mentions, notifications, and file sharing possibilities that keep teams in the loop. Overall, it has all the tools required for a smooth development process for Scrum-oriented teams.
Pricing
There’s a free plan called “Give me 5!” for starting teams with up to 5 members, and a paid plan called “Get it done!” for €20 with enhanced capabilities.
Freedcamp
Freedcamp opts for intelligent project management, addressing the essential needs of diverse teams. Software teams can use Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and task lists to map out and manage development cycles. Employees can also create their tasks that won’t be visible to anyone else.
The platform includes a wiki for documentation, time management tools for better productivity, and discussion boards for communication. PMs and teams in general will like the issue tracking possibilities that are a must in many software development projects.
Pricing
Freedcamp offers a free forever plan with basic features. For more features, teams can subscribe to:
- The PRO Plan for $1.49/user/month;
- The Business plan for $7.49/user/month; or
- The Enterprise Plan for $16.99/user/month.
Takeaways
Most of the time, as project managers, we try to find a tool that does everything. Keep in mind that this approach can create complexity rather than clarity. For a new or growing team, the smartest move is often to start small. Choose a tool that is more versatile for the essential features and has a particular distinction that addresses the team’s biggest pain point right now. This will be way more efficient than trying to find something that may probably not even exist.
