Being the project manager of a creative team is all well and good until you’re lost in an endless cycle of long email threads.
You assign tasks via email and repeat the same process whenever you want to update your team members, stakeholders, and clients.
During a short break:
It’s not easy to manage a project this way.
You need a project management tool for creative professionals to help you manage the entire team — clients and stakeholders included — in one location.
In this guide, you’ll find the best creative project management solutions to manage your business effectively.
Let’s get right to it!
Table of contents
- What is creative project management software?
- Creative project management tools use cases
- Monday.com
- Asana
- ClickUp
- Notion
- Teamwork
- Nifty
- Hive
- Basecamp
- Filestage
- Trello
- How to choose the best creative project management software
What is creative project management software?
Creative project management (PM) software is a management tool designed to help creative teams organize, plan, and manage their projects.
Let’s say you oversee different projects from one or multiple clients.
How would you share creative ideas with team members and stakeholders? Or track progress so you can meet deadlines?
Basically, how would you streamline the entire process from ideation to approval without putting a dent in creativity?
Please don’t say emails again. 🤲
Well, if this is how you’ve approached managing creative projects, that’ll be a lot of stress and frustration as you’ll constantly be putting out fires.
By that, we mean metaphorical fires, such as requesting updates from your team and client feedback, to mention a few.
A better approach to completing creative work is to incorporate creative project management software into your workflow.
Now if you’re a senior project manager, you’re probably wondering why you need one or why it even exists.
What happened to Gantt charts and SCRUM methodology?
While those options are really good (and old 🙃), updating Gantt charts can be pretty challenging.
If you also decide to add project details to the chart, there’s a good chance that team members or stakeholders may get confused, which leads to delays and whatnot.
You see, the way creatives execute their tasks is sorta different from how other professionals do it.
They rarely follow a sequential timeline like most white-collar pros. There are a lot of processes to juggle — from brainstorming and internal reviews to iterations and getting client approval.
How do you set time boundaries on that?
So, as a manager in charge of a creative team, you need a system to help get everything under control and help everyone complete the project on time.
Enter creative project management software!
It’s useful for resource management, file sharing, budget management, and team communication. You can also use it to:
- Customize the team’s workflow
- Track project progress
- Assign tasks to team members
- Create timesheets
…and a whole lot more, which we’re gonna unwrap in the next section. So, let’s jump right in.
Creative project management tools use cases
When you’re considering buying a new piece of hardware, one of the first questions you’ll likely ask yourself is if it will do the job you want it to.
The same goes for creative project management software. Most tools typically include these features:
Task assignment
How have you been assigning tasks to the creatives on your team?
Before you answer “email,” consider this point: there is a better way. Let’s eliminate all those annoying back-and-forth emails with your employees by delegating assignments the smart way.
With a project management tool, you can assign tasks and subtasks to everyone on your team.
This allows project managers to keep track of individual and team projects.
With this added transparency, you know what everyone is working on and if the project is on course.
Time tracking
Even though creatives don’t follow a sequential timeline when working on projects, they need a time frame to complete the work.
As their manager, you need to clearly lay out the project’s timeline, which leads us to another use case of creative project management software – time tracking.
PM tools help you keep track of the creative process so you know how long something took and how many resources went into the project.
Status updates
Aside from monitoring the time spent on a project, project managers need status updates from their team to know if they’ll get the task before the due date.
In the past, sending emails back and forth was the only option.
But with a project management solution, everyone on the team can provide updates on the project’s status from their end.
Processes documentation
Creatives need certain documents, such as the creative brief, when working on a project. Instead of sending those documents to everyone individually, you can use a document library on the management software.
This way, everyone who has to work on the project can simply access it when they need it.
***
Alright, let’s get on to the business of the day – the 10 best creative project management software programs of 2023.
We’ll talk about their main attributes, price, and more.
Tool #1: Monday.com
Don’t worry, it’s not the dreaded first day of the week. Monday.com is a project management tool with an engaging interface for teams.
The software has several use cases, including creative and design agencies. Monday.com can help users improve their team’s productivity by customizing their workflow.
Another way to put it is to create a project management workflow that suits your needs.
On Monday.com, users get a centralized location to store their files, tools, and work processes.
Key features
Some relevant Monday.com features include:
- Workdocs for collaborating on ideas and turning them into reality
- Integration with multiple tools such as Zapier, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud
- Kanban boards to manage communications and streamline workflow
- Digital asset management to access files when they’re needed
Pros & cons
Pros
- Customizable automation
- 24/7 live customer support
- Interactive visual interface
- Digital whiteboards
Cons
- A limited number of actions can be performed on integrated apps per month.
Pricing
Monday.com comes with a free plan and four paid packages.
The pricing structure for Monday.com’s paid plans ranges from $8 to $16. You can try them out for free to familiarize yourself with the platform’s functionality. There’s also a custom-priced package available – the Enterprise plan.
Tool #2: Asana
Asana is a cloud-based creative project planning tool that helps managers keep track of a portfolio of projects and people.
The agile task management tool allows users to create projects, tasks, and to-do lists to simplify their organizations’ workflow. They can assign tasks to professionals, monitor their progress, and update the status of projects after completion.
There are multiple ways you can view projects on Asana:
- Lists: teams see what needs to be done according to their tasks’ level of priority
- Boards: help teams focus on the top-priority task
- Timeline: helps prioritize overlapping tasks
Key features
Asana supports features such as:
- Workflow builder: create an automated process for your team
- Workload: see the amount of work your team has for different projects
- Reporting: view real-time insights on everyone’s tasks
- Form creation: manage work-related requests from a single location
Pros & cons
Pros
- Multiple integrations
- Easy navigation
- Seamless communication among team members
Cons
- Limited assignees
- Requires some experience with project management tools
Pricing
Asana’s pricing ranges from $10.99 to $24.99 for their Premium and Business plans.
There’s a free version that offers some of the main features. The customized Asana Enterprise plan caters to more complex ventures.
Tool #3: ClickUp
ClickUp is a project management platform for design and creative agencies that want a centralized location for their work.
It’s also one of the first integrations MarkUp.io has plans to add in 2023. 😉
On ClickUp, users can create and save customized templates for their work processes to avoid constantly repeating them.
The work management tool has an attractive user interface (UI). It offers a variety of options to users who like to work with timelines by providing calendar views, Kanban boards, list views, and Gantt charts.
Key features
ClickUp’s main features include:
- ClickUp Docs for the creation and assigning of projects
- Integration of multiple apps for optimized workflow
- ClickUp Whiteboards for sharing and brainstorming ideas with team members
- Time-tracking to ensure the project is on schedule
Pros & cons
Pros:
- High level of automation
- Multiple ready-to-use project templates
- Task assignment
Cons
- Too many features
- Multiple notifications
Pricing
ClickUp has five plans, three of which are paid, with prices ranging from $5 to $19 per user per month.
The other two include a free plan for personal use and a customizable Enterprise plan for large teams.
Tool #4: Notion
Notion is a creative project management system that helps teams collaborate across different projects and documents.
The MarkUp.io team also uses it to collaborate.
Users can access thousands of templates they can modify to suit their creative workflow.
With Notion, you just drag and drop important elements to create the management system you want.
Key features
Notion’s features include:
- Wikis for creating and storing contracts, policies, and project briefs
- Kanban boards to outline and keep track of tasks and to-dos in an easy card layout
- Roadmaps for conceptualizing a project’s plan alongside stakeholders and resources involved in the project
- Meeting notes to organize meetings and create agendas
Pros & cons
Pros
- Intuitive design interface
- Compatible with multiple designs
- Time-saving features
Cons
- No system to track a project’s progress
- No reporting tool
- Slight difficulties with text formatting
Pricing
Notion has both free and paid versions.
The plans with Notion’s advanced functionalities cost between $8 and $15. You can sample the tool using the free version, and for more customized features, you can ask their team about the Enterprise plan.
Tool #5: Teamwork
Software for effective team collaboration that’s called Teamwork. What are the odds? Anyway…
Teamwork is a management tool that helps project managers keep track of a project’s entire cycle.
The software’s task management feature allows users to simplify creative tasks and collaborate with their in-house team, freelancers, and clients.
Key features
Teamwork supports features such as:
- Time tracking to track time and bill clients for projects
- Resource management for long- and short-term project planning
- Kanban boards for workflow automation and easy project visualization
Pros & cons
Pros
- Creative request forms
- Direct collaboration with clients on projects
- Expense tracking and invoicing
- Reports Configuration
Cons
- Task modifications can be tricky
- Only invited team members can be assigned tasks
Pricing
Teamwork’s pricing structure runs between $5.99 and $17.99 per user per month.
In addition, there’s a custom-priced Scale plan available on demand for teams that want to do more productive work.
A free version of Teamwork is available for smaller teams.
Tool #6: Nifty
“Nifty” is a fun way of saying “effective” or “pleasing.”
Nifty is also a project management tool with a simple interface that can help automate your team’s management process.
The software supports collaboration across different departments within your organization. Additionally, it helps users manage documents, organize tasks, and keep track of time.
Key features
Nifty’s features include:
- Discussions for streamlined collaboration among team members
- Reporting for an overview of different projects and tasks
- Time tracking to know who’s working on what and when it’s due
- Milestones (Gantt chart) to automate the project’s progress
Pros & cons
Pros
- Multiple project views
- Integrations with third-party apps
- Team collaboration
- Effective task management
Cons
- No insightful dashboards
- No customized automation
Pricing
Nifty has five plans, whose pricing ranges from $39 to $399 per month. A free 14-day trial is available for all plans.
A free version with the platform’s core features is also available.
Tool #7: Hive
What’s one of the hallmarks of creative work? Interconnectivity. Like a bee hive!
Hive is a cloud-based management tool designed to assist creatives working in a hybrid team in managing projects and tasks with ease.
With this collaboration tool, users can perform multiple tasks and subtasks with better organization.
Key features
Hive offers features like:
- Reporting and analytics for in-depth insights on projects
- Customization to create a workspace that suits the team’s needs
- Time management to monitor the team’s activities and project’s progress
- Team collaboration to communicate with your remote, in-office, or hybrid team
- Project layouts for different project views
Pros & cons
Pros
- Easy-to-use user interface
- Unlimited tasks, even for the free version
- Integration with third-party applications
Cons
- Restricted functionality on the mobile app
Pricing
Hive’s pricing starts at $12 per user per month and comes with a 14-day free trial.
There’s a free version for small teams with light project management tasks and a custom-priced Enterprise plan for larger teams.
Tool #8: Basecamp
Basecamp is project collaboration software for creative teams that work remotely.
Basecamp prides itself on being a project management tool with fewer complexities and more refined tools and methods.
Aside from creatives, users consist of marketing teams, consultants, nonprofits, and contractors. With Basecamp, you can automate the process of requesting status updates on current projects.
Key features
Key features include:
- Team messaging where everyone can share ideas and discuss urgent matters
- Task lists to manage work effectively
- Docs and files to create, store, and share files
- Integrations with third-party applications
- Reporting to remain up-to-date with a project or task status
Pros & cons
Pros
- Simple UI
- Clear project views
- Responsive website
Cons
- No customized workflow templates
- Wordy interface
Pricing
Basecamp’s pricing plans range between $15 per user per month and $299 per month for unlimited users.
Both plans come with a 30-day free trial.
Tool #9: Filestage
Filestage is management software for creative teams that helps them handle their digital proofing and review process.
With Filestage, users can request and receive feedback on deliverables and store all their digital files in a single location.
Key features
Some of Filestage’s features include
- Annotations for adding comments to edits
- File attachments for adding reference files to comments
- Project dashboard that provides an overview of the project’s workflow
- Ability to compare project versions to keep track of tasks that have been reviewed
- Automated workflow to eliminate repetitive manual tasks
Pros & cons
Pros
- Supports collaboration among creatives and clients
- Single storage for digital files
Cons
- No free plan
Pricing
Filestage only offers paid plans, with the pricing ranging from $19 to $49 per seat per month.
There’s an Enterprise plan for large organizations.
Tool #10: Trello
Last but not least, Trello is a task management tool that helps manage different types of projects.
It’s Kanban-styled software where users can customize workflow boards to suit their teams’ processes.
There are several things users can do on Trello, from creating unlimited projects, lists, and cards, to inviting or assigning teammates to cards.
Key features
Trello’s main features include:
- Task automation to simplify the team’s workflow
- Integration with external tools for improved productivity
- Customizable templates for multiple use cases
- Project views to properly organize the project
Pros & cons
Pros
- Time tracking
- Task planning and organization
- Real-time team management
- Responsive website
Cons
- Limited storage for free and standard versions
- Users are unable to edit comments
Pricing
Trello’s paid plans range from $5 to $17.50 per user per month. It also has a free version
How to choose the best creative project management software
Considering the number of tools we’ve discussed, it might be difficult to know which will match your team’s needs.
Do I have to sign up with all of them to decide? Or do I speak with industry experts?
Talk about a stressful decision!
That’s why we’re sharing a few tips to help you make the right decision.
As you shop for the right creative project management software for you, here’s a checklist of features to look out for:
Usability and scalability: Does the tool support the kind of work your team does? If so, would there be any problems if you decided to scale up?
A good way to determine this is to look at the types of organizations using the management software you’re eying. You can also read reviews from third-party websites to determine if the tool would be easy.
Team capacity planning: If your team needs to increase its output, can the platform support it? To know if it’s the right fit, again, check the size of the organizations already using it.
Integrations: Go through the platform’s website to see if the platform integrates with the external tools you like to use.
User experience: Do you and your team members find the tool easy to use? Are its aesthetics appealing? This is another factor to consider before making a choice.
Resource management: Can you store all of your documentation on the platform? How about keeping track of your team’s availability and tasks?
Budget: Check the pricing page to see if their plans are within your budget. If so, look out for other features we’ve talked about, and if not, look elsewhere.
Team communication: Does it support communication and collaboration among your team members? You want software that supports file sharing, commenting, and task assignments.
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That was our last tip on finding the best creative project management tool for your organization.
Takeaways
Congratulations are for making it to the end of this guide.
That was a lot, but you made it through, and we’re super proud of you!
At the end of the day, the software you opt for should also allow inputs from stakeholders or support tools that make reviewing and approving projects a walk in the park.
You know what? 🤭 MarkUp.io is one such tool.
It’s the missing link in your team’s collaboration and productivity efforts.
With MarkUp.io in the picture, the voice of every team member is heard when working on projects, as the platform helps them request, provide, and collect feedback from stakeholders.
Don’t take our word for it. There’s a free 30-day trial with your name on it – sign up today and see for yourself.
