Asana is a cloud-based project management solution that allows users to break down large projects into small tasks and subtasks with different assignees and due dates. Its features include project planning, project boards, to-do lists, task automation, and project portfolio management. Asana has four pricing plans: basic, premium, business, and enterprise. The basic version is free for individuals and teams with up to 15 users.
Despite these capabilities, Asana may not be suitable for all businesses. Reviews on Software Advice state that the tool’s features can be challenging to learn, especially for users with limited technical knowledge. Several project management solutions offer similar and even additional features and may better suit your business needs. Therefore, it isn’t a bad option to explore other tools before finalizing your purchase decision.
To help companies select project management software that is right for their business, we’ve curated a list of the three best alternatives to Asana. These solutions (listed alphabetically) have been selected from our project management FrontRunners report as per the methodology specified here.
1. Freedcamp
Freedcamp is a cloud-based project management software with features that support project process management. Users can schedule projects, manage documents, collaborate on multiple projects, generate reports, and track the time spent on tasks.
Freedcamp offers four pricing plans: minimalist, business, enterprise, and free. The free plan includes features such as file management, task management, time tracking, and milestone tracking. The software is suitable for all business sizes.
The key features of Freedcamp are as follows:
- Group discussions: Discussion threads allow users to collaborate and coordinate on ongoing and upcoming projects as well as discuss new ideas. They eliminate the need for long email threads, thus reducing the chances of missing out on important information.
- Time tracking and billing: Users can track the number of hours spent on tasks and bill their clients accurately using a built-in invoice application. This feature is especially helpful for service providers, as they are paid by their clients based on the total number of billable hours.
We analyzed user reviews of Freedcamp to understand what buyers liked and what they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
What Users Liked
- Easily create task lists, assign due dates, define item priority levels, and manage related documents
- Issue tracking functionality is helpful in recording, prioritizing, and solving issues that arise during the project lifecycle
What Users Would Like to See
- Bulk management of tasks (e.g., the option to delete all past tasks with a single click)
- A cleaner user interface (UI) that isn’t cluttered with too many items
2. MeisterTask
MeisterTask is a cloud-based project and task management solution that offers file management, time tracking, reporting, task management, and collaboration tools, among other features.
MeisterTask is available in four pricing plans: basic, pro, business, and enterprise. The basic plan is free and offers features such as customizable project boards, file sharing, and storage. The software is suitable for businesses of all sizes.
The top features of MeisterTask are as follows:
- To-do lists: Project members can create multiple to-do checklists to manage, prioritize, and streamline individual tasks. These checklists can also be reused in other tasks to save time.
- Dependency management: Users can visualize task dependencies and receive notifications when related subtasks get completed. This is helpful for interdepartmental or role-specific projects, such as website development projects with interdependent design and development tasks that can go back and forth before the final product is delivered.
We analyzed user reviews of MeisterTask to understand what buyers liked and what they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
What Users Liked
- Easily manage project-related functions such as creating and moving tasks, adding checklists, and organizing workflows
- Intuitive UI with easy navigation between tasks
What Users Would Like to See
- Built-in calendar that displays tasks scheduled for different dates.
- Ability to assign the same task to multiple collaborators and sync task-related details with Microsoft Planner.
Project board in MeisterTask (Source)
3. Quire
Quire is a cloud-based project management solution that helps users manage tasks and collaborate across teams. It offers various features, including document management, real-time editing, and discussion boards.
Quire offers a free version, which can be upgraded (pricing available on request). The free version’s features include task visualization, task management, and reporting. The software is suitable for businesses of all sizes.
The key features of Quire are as follows:
- Task management and visualization: Users can break down big projects into small tasks, assign them to different members, and add tags and collaborators. The software also offers Kanban boards, which can be used to visualize, arrange, and prioritize the project workflow.
- Collaboration tools: The instant messaging feature allows users to coordinate on tasks in real time. They can upload files (Microsoft Word documents, images, etc.) directly from their system or Google Drive. They can also send project collaboration invitations to clients (who aren’t users of the tool) via a web link.
We analyzed user reviews of Quire to understand what buyers liked and what they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
What Users Liked
- Workflow templates can be reused for several projects and tasks
- Kanban boards allow users to visualize and manage tasks using various filters, such as tags, status, due dates, and assignees
What Users Would Like to See
- Option to customize notifications so that they can choose which notifications to receive
- Ability to add or remove members based on their task status within a project
Next steps: How to select the right project management software for your business
Now that you’ve read about the top project management software alternatives to Asana, the next step is to select one that is the perfect fit for your business. We recommend using the following approach:
- Choose the features required for your business: The first and the most important step is to discuss and identify the project management challenges faced by your team. Accordingly, choose a product that offers most (if not all) of the features that can help address challenges that are unique to your team.
- Set a budget: All of the products featured in our alternatives list offer a free plan but with limited features. Therefore, you need to set a budget for your software purchase if you wish to access additional or premium features. It’s crucial to invest in software that offers the features required by your team but is also within your budget.
- Read reviews and opt for demos: For products that match both the above criteria, read reviews on Software Advice to learn what existing users have to say. You should also ask vendors for software demos to get a first-hand feel of the product’s usability.
If you want to check out products not featured in our list, you can visit our project management software catalog. If you wish to receive personalized recommendations, you can reach out to our advisors at (844) 680-2046 for a free phone consultation.
Product selection methodology
- We analyzed project management systems featured on Software Advice’s project management FrontRunners report.
- Then we shortlisted products that offered the following features comparable to Asana: project management, task management, task automation, and collaboration.
- From the shortlisted products, we selected the top three based on monthly Google search volume as of February 14, 2020.
Note: The content in this piece provides the opinions and points of view expressed by users. It doesn’t represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Software Advice or its affiliates.
