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Best Free Project Management Tools in 2026

The 15 best free project management tools we track. No credit card needed to start.

free tools screened
108
free tools screened
100% free
0
100% free
free plan + paid
15
free plan + paid

Ranked by public user ratings (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot), not vendor pitches. Every rating shows its date.

As featured in
  • TechCrunch
  • Forbes
  • Bloomberg
  • The Verge
  • Business Insider
Key Takeaways
  • monday.com is our free pick for project management in 2026. Jira is our overall pick.
  • We evaluated 108 project management tools to create this ranking.
  • 15 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.

Top 5 free project management tools at a glance

Top 5 free project management tools: free plan type, user rating and best use, as of October 2026
ToolTypeRatingBest for
monday.comFree plan4.7 (17,192) as of Sep 2026
Organize work, automate tasks, and connect tools for team clarity
ClickUpFree plan4.3 (19,870) as of Sep 2026
Unify tasks, docs, chat, and goals in one workspace
AsanaFree plan4.4 (27,636) as of Sep 2026
Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation
TrelloFree plan4.1 (37,904) as of Sep 2026
Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards
ClockifyFree plan4.7 (9,468) as of Sep 2026
Free time tracking for teams and freelancers

Ratings from G2, Capterra, and other public review sites. Each cell shows the snapshot date so a cited number is never an undated one.

Toolradar data

The project management tools market in numbers

Toolradar data: Toolradar tracks 352 project management tools (subcategories included) as of October 12, 2026. 45% of the project management tools on Toolradar are free, freemium or open source. The median cheapest paid plan for project management tools is $16.34/mo, across the 138 that publish a price. Toolradar re-checked the pricing of 76% of project management tools in the last 90 days. Toolradar aggregates 301,542 public user reviews (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and other review sites) across 262 rated project management tools. The most cross-shopped project management tool is Asana, listed as an alternative to 134 other tools on Toolradar. The most compared project management tool on Toolradar over the last 90 days is Azure DevOps, with 583 side-by-side comparisons. Computed from the Toolradar catalog and on-site activity.

  • 352 project management tools tracked (subcategories included)
  • 45% are free, freemium or open source
  • $16.34/mo median cheapest paid plan, across the 138 project management tools that publish one
  • 76% of prices re-checked in the last 90 days
  • 301,542 public user reviews aggregated across 262 rated tools
Most cross-shopped project management tools on Toolradar, as of October 2026 Listed as an alternative to the most other tools on Toolradar
Rank Tool Listed as an alternative to
1 Asana 134 tools
2 monday.com 105 tools
3 Odoo 104 tools
Most compared project management tools on Toolradar, last 90 days to October 2026 Side-by-side comparisons by visitors, last 90 days
Rank Tool Comparisons
1 Azure DevOps 583
2 ClickUp 546
3 Jira 544

Source and method: live project management tools statistics · Toolradar Research report

Free tier limits compared

The quotas, length caps and watermark policies vendor pricing pages often hide. 3 of 15 project management tools verified.

Free tier limits of project management tools, from vendor pricing pages
ToolFree usersProjectsStorageFree quota
ClickUpUnlimitedUnlimited100MB totalUnlimited tasks & users
Asana10Unlimitedn/aUp to 10 users, unlimited projects & tasks
TrelloUnlimited10 boards/workspace10MB per file10 boards per workspace, unlimited cards

ClickUp: 100MB storage cap is the hard ceiling - hit fast on any team uploading attachments. Gantt charts, dashboards, custom fields, and goals all paywalled at Unlimited ($7/user/mo).

Asana: Timeline view, custom fields, forms, rules, and reporting dashboards all require Starter ($10.99/user/mo). Free tier excludes admin console (security/billing controls).

Trello: 10-board-per-workspace cap is the most common upgrade trigger. Advanced checklists, custom fields, calendar view, and unlimited Power-Ups all gated to Standard ($5/user/mo).

When you'll outgrow the free tier

The exact ceiling each tool hides on its pricing page. If your usage crosses these lines, plan for an upgrade.

  • ClickUp: 100MB storage cap is the hard ceiling - hit fast on any team uploading attachments. Gantt charts, dashboards, custom fields, and goals all paywalled at Unlimited ($7/user/mo).
  • Asana: Timeline view, custom fields, forms, rules, and reporting dashboards all require Starter ($10.99/user/mo). Free tier excludes admin console (security/billing controls).
  • Trello: 10-board-per-workspace cap is the most common upgrade trigger. Advanced checklists, custom fields, calendar view, and unlimited Power-Ups all gated to Standard ($5/user/mo).
monday.com logo
1.

monday.com

Free plan

Organize work, automate tasks, and connect tools for team clarity

4.7/5 on G2 · 17,192 ratings, Sep 2026

monday.com is a work operating system for managing projects, workflows, and everyday work. Visual boards organize work for any team. Automations eliminate busywork. Integrations connect to the tools you already use. Dashboards show progress across projects. The platform that brings clarity to how teams work together.

ClickUp logo
2.

ClickUp

Free plan

Unify tasks, docs, chat, and goals in one workspace

4.3/5 across Trustpilot, TrustRadius, PeerSpot and more · 19,870 ratings, Sep 2026

ClickUp is an all-in-one project management and productivity platform that consolidates tasks, docs, chat, goals, time tracking, whiteboards, and dashboards into a single workspace. Founded in 2017, it aims to replace fragmented tool stacks with a unified environment where teams plan, track, and collaborate on work. ClickUp supports multiple project views including list, board, Gantt, calendar, timeline, and mind maps. Its AI features include ClickUp Brain for writing assistance, ambient answers from workspace context, and customizable AI Super Agents that automate complex workflows. The platform serves cross-functional teams across engineering, marketing, product, HR, and operations with enterprise-grade security including SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliance.

Asana logo
3.

Asana

Free plan

Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation

4.4/5 across G2 and Capterra · 27,636 ratings, Sep 2026

Asana is a work management platform that helps teams orchestrate work from daily tasks to strategic initiatives with projects, portfolios, and automation.

Trello logo
4.

Trello

Free plan

Organize your projects visually with boards, lists, and cards

4.1/5 across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot · 37,904 ratings, Sep 2026

Trello is a visual project management tool using boards, lists, and cards. Kanban boards show work at a glance. Power-Ups add features like calendars and automation. Templates get teams started quickly. Simple enough for personal use, powerful enough for teams. The visual way to organize work that millions love.

Clockify logo
5.

Clockify

Free plan

Free time tracking for teams and freelancers

4.7/5 across G2 and Capterra · 9,468 ratings, Sep 2026

Clockify is a free time tracking app for teams and freelancers. Track hours across projects with one-click timers or manual entry. Generate detailed reports for billing and productivity analysis. Unlimited users on the free plan. Features include timesheets, scheduling, and expense tracking. Time tracking that actually stays free as your team grows.

Wrike logo
6.

Wrike

Free plan

Enterprise work management platform

4.3/5 across G2 and Capterra · 7,577 ratings, Sep 2026

Wrike manages work for enterprise teams. Project management with enterprise features-work coordination at scale. The features handle enterprise needs. The customization is extensive. The integrations are many. Enterprises needing work management at scale use Wrike for enterprise project coordination.

Todoist logo
7.

Todoist

Free plan

Organize work and life with natural language task capture

4.6/5 across G2 and Capterra · 3,494 ratings, Sep 2026

Todoist is a task management application used by over 50 million people to organize work and personal projects. It supports natural language input for rapid task capture, recurring due dates, priority levels, and multiple project views including list, board, and calendar layouts. Tasks can be organized into projects and sub-projects with labels, filters, and custom views. The platform includes team workspaces with shared projects, task assignment, comments, and activity logs. Todoist integrates with 90+ services including Google Calendar, Slack, Zapier, and IFTTT, and runs natively on web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and as browser extensions. The AI-powered Todoist Assist helps break down tasks and suggests scheduling. SOC2 Type II certified for enterprise security.

Hubstaff logo
8.

Hubstaff

Free plan

Time tracking and workforce management

4.4/5 across G2 and Capterra · 3,920 ratings, Sep 2026

Hubstaff is a workforce management platform that helps teams track time, manage projects, and process payroll. It's designed for remote teams and field service companies who need to track work across locations.

Guru logo
9.

Guru

Free plan

Professional freelancer marketplace

4.2/5 across Trustpilot, TrustRadius, G2 and more · 3,478 ratings, Sep 2026

Guru.com is a global freelance marketplace connecting businesses with 800K+ freelancers across 294 skill categories including programming, design, writing, and marketing. Its SafePay escrow system secures funds before work begins, and WorkRooms provide built-in collaboration spaces for communication and project tracking. The platform offers the industry's lowest freelancer fees (5-9%) with flexible payment structures.

My Hours logo
10.

My Hours

Free plan

Free time tracking for projects and tasks, helping teams manage time, increase profitability, and streamline billing.

4.7/5 across G2 and Capterra · 1,253 ratings, Sep 2026

My Hours is a comprehensive time tracking software designed for teams and businesses to monitor how time is spent on projects and tasks. It helps organizations improve profitability, speed up payroll processes, and simplify client billing. The platform allows users to create clients, projects, and tasks, assign them to team members, and track time using a stopwatch or by manually entering hours. The software offers robust features for organizing work, including setting budgets, defining billing rates, and tracking expenses. Managers can review timesheets, approve entries, and generate detailed reports for analysis, payroll, and client invoicing. My Hours emphasizes data security and privacy, offers world-class support, and integrates with existing systems to avoid double entry, making it suitable for a wide range of businesses from small teams to large enterprises.

MeisterTask logo
11.

MeisterTask

Free plan

Your secure, centralized platform for tasks, docs, and teamwork, digitalizing daily work for efficient project...

4.7/5 across G2 and Capterra · 1,330 ratings, Sep 2026

MeisterTask is a work management software designed to centralize projects, tasks, and discussions for efficient end-to-end project management. It helps teams ditch paperwork and get organized by providing a secure, centralized platform for all their work. The tool utilizes Kanban boards for a visual overview of tasks, allowing teams to track progress transparently and efficiently. Beyond task management, MeisterTask enables teams to create and navigate a knowledge base for documentation, processes, and strategies, ensuring alignment across the organization. It supports teamwork by allowing the addition of team members and external collaborators, assigning responsibilities, and tracking progress. The platform also includes AI features for content creation and information retrieval, project templates, and integrations for syncing tasks from emails and calendars. It's built for various industries, including construction, healthcare, finance, and the public sector, with a strong emphasis on enterprise-grade security and GDPR compliance.

Paymo logo
12.

Paymo

Free plan

Affordable time tracking, project management, and invoicing software for client projects.

4.7/5 across G2 and Capterra · 1,280 ratings, Sep 2026

Paymo is an all-in-one software solution designed for small businesses and teams to manage client projects from start to finish. It integrates time tracking, task management, project management, and invoicing capabilities to streamline workflows and improve productivity. The platform helps users track time across various devices, manage tasks with multiple views (Kanban, list, calendar, Gantt), and collaborate effectively with team members and clients. Paymo is ideal for business owners, project managers, and employees in industries like creative & marketing agencies, software & engineering firms, architecture firms, consulting businesses, and educational institutions. It helps businesses minimize project delays, deliver within budget, ensure accurate and prompt payments, and gain insights into project profitability and employee performance. Key benefits include increased productivity, reduced delayed projects, and a high collection rate for billable hours.

Tick logo
13.

Tick

Free plan

Track time efficiently and stay within budget for all your projects.

4.5/5 across G2 and Capterra · 1,477 ratings, Sep 2026

Tick is a time tracking software designed to help teams and individuals monitor their time against project budgets. It provides a straightforward way to log hours, ensuring that projects remain profitable and on schedule. By integrating time tracking directly with budget management, Tick allows users to see their progress in real-time and receive immediate feedback on whether they are over or under budget. This tool is ideal for agencies, freelancers, and businesses that manage multiple projects with defined budgets. It simplifies the process of understanding project profitability and resource allocation, helping to prevent scope creep and financial overruns. Tick focuses on making time tracking a seamless part of the workflow, rather than a cumbersome task, ultimately leading to better project management and financial health.

Zoho Projects logo
14.

Zoho Projects

Free plan

Online project management software

4.5/5 across G2 and Capterra · 1,438 ratings, Sep 2026

Zoho Projects is an online project management tool that helps teams plan, track, and collaborate on work. It offers Gantt charts, task management, time tracking, issue tracking, and document management. Part of the Zoho ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps and popular third-party tools.

Jira logo
15.

Jira

Free plan

The industry standard for software development tracking and agile workflows

3.6/5 across SourceForge, G2 and Trustpilot · 8,109 ratings, Sep 2026

Jira is the enterprise standard for issue tracking and project management in software teams. It's been around long enough that many developers have opinions about it-not always positive-but it remains dominant because it handles complexity that simpler tools can't. The configuration options are extensive. Workflows define how issues move through states-from backlog to development to review to done, with branches for bugs versus features versus support tickets. Custom fields capture data specific to your organization. Schemes control what appears in which project. This complexity serves a purpose. When you have a hundred developers across multiple teams, with compliance requirements, cross-team dependencies, and detailed reporting needs, you need a system that can model all of it. Jira does. Jira Software includes agile boards-Scrum and Kanban-that visualize work in flight. Sprints plan iterations, backlogs prioritize future work, and velocity charts track team capacity. These tools support standard agile practices without dictating exactly how you work. The integration ecosystem is vast. Atlassian's own products (Confluence, Bitbucket, Trello) integrate deeply, and the Marketplace offers thousands of apps for everything from time tracking to test management. Enterprise IT teams can build sophisticated toolchains around Jira. JQL (Jira Query Language) enables powerful filtering and reporting. Once you learn it, you can find anything-issues assigned to your team due this week, bugs created last month that aren't resolved, or complex queries combining multiple criteria. The criticisms are valid: Jira can feel slow, configuration is overwhelming, and the UI has accumulated cruft. Atlassian has been modernizing, but the legacy shows. For teams that need the capability, these trade-offs are acceptable.

Related

Free Tools in Related Categories

Why choose free project management tools?

Free project management tools are an excellent way to get started without financial commitment. Whether you're a startup, freelancer, or small business, these tools offer essential features at no cost.

What to look for in free project management tools

  • Feature limitations: Understand what's included in the free tier vs paid plans
  • Usage limits: Check for restrictions on users, storage, or API calls
  • Data ownership: Ensure you own your data and can export it
  • Support: Free tiers often have community-only support
  • Upgrade path: Consider future needs if you outgrow the free tier

Free vs Freemium: what's the difference?

100% free 100% free, no payment ever

Completely free with no paid upgrades available. Best for simple, focused workflows that don't require advanced features.

Free plan Free tier + paid upgrades

Generous free tier with optional paid plans that unlock advanced features, higher limits, or team collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free project management tool in 2026?

monday.com is our free project management pick in 2026. On the full category ranking, Jira is our overall project management pick. monday.com offers a free plan alongside paid plans: Organize work, automate tasks, and connect tools for team clarity.

Is monday.com really free forever?

monday.com uses a freemium model: there is a permanent free tier you can use without a credit card, plus optional paid plans that unlock higher usage limits and advanced features. The free tier itself does not expire.

What does the free tier of project management tools typically include?

Free project management tools typically include the core workflow features needed to evaluate the product. Paid plans usually unlock higher usage limits, team collaboration, advanced analytics, integrations, and priority support. The specific cap differs per tool; see the "Free tier limits compared" table above for verified numbers.

When should I upgrade from a free project management tool?

Upgrade when you hit one of the free tier ceilings: usage quota (output count, storage, contacts, projects), team size, or a paid-only feature your workflow depends on. The "When you'll outgrow the free tier" section above lists the verified upgrade triggers per tool.

Are there project management tools that are 100% free, not just freemium?

In this category most options use a freemium model: a permanent free tier with optional paid upgrades. monday.com, ClickUp, Asana all offer generous free plans you can use indefinitely without paying.

Are free project management tools good enough for business use?

Yes, for most startups, freelancers, and small teams. monday.com and ClickUp both offer free tiers robust enough for production workflows. Larger teams typically upgrade when they need SSO, audit logs, advanced permissions, or usage past the free quota.

Last updated: October 10, 2026

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