Managing a business and its workflow can be a challenging task. Asana’s 2024 State of the IT leader study revealed that 77% of IT leaders say they’ll be responsible for leading Artificial Intelligence transformation within their organization. This is especially true for someone in a project manager role, and is even more true during this new era of remote work. While staying on top of a lot of moving parts is in the job description, a project manager’s life can be made a lot less stressful when utilizing the best project management tools and creating a powerful productivity tech stack.
Why Choose a Project Management Software?
There are a wide range of software suites out there for you to choose from, and picking the right one can be a daunting task – each company is different and adopting the wrong one can leave you with a whole host of functions you don’t need and several areas you still need to improve.
And while Asana is one of the most popular project management tools on the market, it isn’t a “one size fits all” solution. The company has been in the headlines more for its CEO’s fight with billionaire Elon Musk, rather than its efficiency in helping managers get their jobs done. That’s why we are going to explore some of the best Asana alternatives in this article.
Asana Features & Functionality
First let’s review Asana itself. As one of the original project management tools, the concept came to life while the founders were working at Facebook trying to improve the productivity of employees. The founder’s past at Facebook made Asana a natural choice for other companies to adopt – they trusted these successful entrepreneurs to provide a quality product.
Over the years, Asana has been streamlined and improved upon, but other project management solutions have since been released that have more comprehensive and different features.
Although, users often complain about its lack of functionalities for repetitive tasks. “The main feature I dislike in Asana is its lack of functions for recurrent tasks. My work demands different routines every week and month, so it was a little bit difficult to set those up,” wrote an Asana user on Capterra.
Other users found Asana pricey and confusing, like this one on G2 who wrote Asana is “exorbitant, confusing monthly prices, terrible customer service.” Asana does have a Free Forever plan that can host teams up to 10 members, but you’ll need to do a lot of juggling to keep file storage under 100 MB per file, which is the limit for this plan. If you have a team bigger than 10 members, you would be looking to pay at least $13.49 per user, per month with Asana.
So, if you’re an Asana user and looking to switch up your software, or you’re just in the market for a tool and want to learn more, we’ve rounded up the top Asana options. Let’s dive in.
1. Hive
Hive is a project management tool that works off of “tasks” as a building block, the same way Asana does, which makes it one of the best non-Asana options. Hive’s interface is extremely user-friendly and boasts a first-of-its-kind email integration which sends messages directly from Gmail and Outlook to Hive, which Asana does not have.
Hive is also the first and only productivity platform built for users, by users. This means that customers can submit feature requests and vote on requests that will actually improve their workflow on a daily basis — Hive has all of the functionality you need, plus all of the features you want.
How Hive’s features compare to Asana
The tool also has several features that Asana doesn’t have, including data import, customizable templates, note-taking, and custom forms – which makes it one of our top Asana alternatives. So, if you’re going to be manipulating data or customizing content, Hive is probably your better bet. Hive also offers all of the features teams need to succeed in today’s workplace, including:
- Flexible project layouts including Gantt, Kanban, Calendar, Table and List views
- Time management via time-tracking and timesheets
- Resourcing capabilities
- AI writing tools
- Customizable dashboards via Pages
- Access to The Swarm — a closed community for Hive members to share tips, ask questions, access exclusive resources and connect with industry peers.
Hive Pricing
Hive offers a free 14-day trial. Hive Starter is the lowest paid plan on the market, starting at $5 per user per month. Hive Teams plans offer advanced functionality and start at $12 monthly per user. Hive’s Free plan offers light project management for up to 10 users and a generous 200MB storage.
2. Basecamp
Basecamp is one of the older apps on the list, but it’s on our list of top Asana alts for good reason. The primary draw of Basecamp is that it’s a totally web based solution for managing your projects. This means that so long as your team members have access to a web browser, they can pitch into whatever aspect of the project they are responsible for.
It’s also specifically designed for service businesses, enabling them to give clients access to project information to cut down on unnecessary back-and-forth. This is a good example of an alternative to Asana that would appeal to a niche company, as Asana is generally considered more of a serious team based platform.
Basecamp vs Asana
The drawback of this client focused platform is that it lacks a real depth of features, and you don’t have access to the kind of customization that a more robust platform would offer. Add to that the fixed price tag of $299 a month (up to 5TB of storage) which offers limited flexibility for smaller businesses, and you can start to see some of the drawbacks of the platform. Basecamp does offer a very limited plan for small teams at $15 per month, per user.
To see how Basecamp stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Basecamp alternatives.
3. Monday.com
Monday.com, formerly Dapulse, is a lightweight, visual project management tool that is easy to implement across a team. To get started with the tool, you simply make an account, pick a template, and fill the template in with tasks and projects.
Monday.com vs Asana
While Monday.com has a few features that Asana doesn’t, including data import, event tracking and file transfer, the tool lacks some necessary project management aspects, like the ability to have multiple projects, milestone tracking, or take project notes.
The basic version starts at around $9 a month per user, and provides unlimited board views and unlimited free viewers on your project, which makes it one of our highest recommended Asana alternatives.
To continue your research, check out these great Monday.com alternatives on the market.
4. Trello
Trello is another popular choice for businesses looking for a different perspective on project management. Like Basecamp, Trello is a web based platform that offers users a more flexible and collaborative approach to managing projects. Managers can establish workflows and individual projects in the Kanban style – a task visualization method that involves a three-step workflow. This is one of our most popular Asana alternatives for smaller teams.
Trello vs Asana
The advantage of this is that it’s easy for new members to quickly throw themselves into a Trello project because more of the information is displayed visually, but the tool lacks advanced project view features and functionalities including document management and project reports. So if you wanted to change the format of your project, or customize and display your data meaningfully, that would be tricky.
Ultimately for smaller, creative businesses (or freelancers) looking for an Asana alternative this a solid choice, but we wouldn’t recommend this for large companies.
To see how Trello stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Trello alternatives.
5. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-based project management alternative to Asana used to track, assign and filter tasks in the workplace, and is one of our highly ranked Asana alternatives. The app is cloud-based, and used by teams ranging in size. In addition to the spreadsheet view, Smartsheet also offers Gantt, file sharing, and workplace automation.
Smartsheet vs Asana
Smartsheet offers a few capabilities that Asana does not, including time tracking, resource management and budgeting. Smartsheet does not offer a central communication hub, which could make it harder for larger teams to use or integrate fully into their workflow. While Smartsheet is a great spreadsheet software, it is more limiting for teams who prefer to view projects in other views as well.
Smartsheet also does not offer a free version of their tool — the individual user license starts at $7.
For other similar tools, check out these great Smartsheet alternatives as well.
6. Wrike
Wrike, a project management tool designed to organize and oversee project workflow, is another great option for Asana alternatives. Wrike helps you plan, streamline and track progress as an individual and team, and is free for up to 5 users. After that, the pricing starts at $9.80 per user/month.
Wrike vs Asana
Compared to Asana, Wrike is a very comprehensive tool with tons of helpful functionalities. Wrike has Gantt view, task dependencies and resource management, which Asana does not have. However, Asana’s visually appealing interface and ease of use make it an ideal project management tool for creative teams.
To see how Wrike stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to Wrike alternatives.
7. Airtable
Airtable is another great project management tool and one of our most popular Asana alternatives. As it’s name suggests, Airtable helps you organize and plan tasks in a customizable table format. Tasks can be stacked by priority, deadline, assignee, department, and more.
Airtable Features & Functionality
The tool markets itself as “part spreadsheet, part database,” with its main view formatted as a grid. In addition to this standard grid view, Airtable has a few other options including calendar gallery, form, and and Kanban views. Like Asana, this tool also has integrations with a ton of apps, including Slack, LinkedIn and Gmail.
Airtable vs Asana
One of the biggest areas where Airtable is more limited than Asana is it’s view options. In addition, Airtable does not have a feedback and approvals feature, so if that is something your team is looking for, you may want to stick with Asana or look into another tool like Hive. Also like Asana, Airtable has a free plan option for limited use. After you surpass a certain “row” or task capacity, plans starts at $20 per user/month.
Check out these top Airtable alternatives for other tools that use tables to manage projects.
8. Jira
Jira is another project management tool that is comparable to Asana in many ways, but Jira’s most notable distinction is its emphasis on agile project management. Jira sells itself on being a top tool for agile teams, and specifically software developers, who utilize agile methods in their workflow. To help these teams manage their projects, Jira offers layouts including Scrum boards, Kanban boards, and roadmaps.
Jira vs Asana
Jira’s reporting capabilities are notably better than Asana’s. With that being said, Asana is a better option for non-engineering teams. When it comes to basic project management software functions and an easy-to-use interface, Asana has more layout options and features. It all comes down to what your team is looking for in a tool. Price is also a differentiator between the tools, with Jira’s tiered plans coming in slightly cheaper than Asana’s pricing options.
Want to know more? Learn about these top Jira alternatives to compare additional tools.
9. ClickUp
ClickUp is another great Asana alternative for a few key reasons. Like Asana (and Hive!), ClickUp also gives you the ability to create and customize views, which is super useful for teams with a variety of functions and different roles, as they can all operate with ClickUp in their own unique way. ClickUp also has a free forever plan which is helpful if you’ve got a limited budget, but it does come with limited functionality.
ClickUp vs Asana
ClickUp is very user-friendly and has the bold colors that many Asana users are familiar with. ClickUp is also constantly updating their platform and releasing new and improved features, which is great for agile teams. Additionally, if you’re looking for an Asana alternative that better integrates outside communication, like emails, ClickUp could be a great alternative.
To see how ClickUp stacks up against another tools on the market, check out our full guide to ClickUp alternatives.
10. ProofHub
ProofHub is a comprehensive project management software and one of our most popular Asana alternatives. ProofHub has similar features to Asana, albeit in a more straightforward and less aesthetically pleasing layout. With ProofHub, you can assign and track tasks in the same way you can in Asana, viewing in multiple views including Gantt, Kanban, calendar, and table view.
Proofhub vs Asana
One negative about ProofHub is its price, which is quite a bit more expensive than Asana’s at a starting price of $45 per month. If you’re a smaller organization with limited budget, other options like Hive or Monday could be better non-Asana options.
Here are more great alternatives to Asana:
11. Proprofs Project
ProProfs Project is an excellent Asana alternative if you’re looking for an all-in-one project management tool capable of managing complex projects effortlessly. In comparison to Asana, ProProfs Project is easy to set up. You can choose from its ready-to-use and professionally designed templates. Simply tweak the project name, create tasks, allocate resources, define due dates, and you’re ready to get started with your project within minutes.
In addition, the tool offers time tracking ability to monitor which tasks your team members are engaged in. This facilitates hassle-free invoicing by providing you with accurate billable and non-billable hours for each team member.
ProProfs also allows you to assign multiple users to a task, a feature that Asana lacks. The tool overall offers everything you need to deliver projects successfully.
Pricing differences:
However, one area where Asana trumps ProProfs Project is the pricing plans. Asana offers a free plan that includes unlimited projects, tasks, and messages along with unlimited file storage, while ProProfs’ Business plan starts at $49.97 per user per month.
12. SmartTask
SmartTask is an all-in-one cloud-based work management software that has gained popularity as one of the cost-effective alternatives to Asana in the project management space. Its premium version costs $5 a month per user with many other additional features that Asana doesn’t offer.
SmartTask Features
It helps you automate workflows, streamline your processes, and manage all your work in one place. It comes with project management, task management, team collaboration, time tracking, CRM, custom analytics, and reporting features. SmartTask offers a few features that Asana doesn’t, including CRM, custom charts, custom reminders, task auto-scheduling, project baselines, productivity scoring, time tracking, and automated check-ins.
Apart from that, it offers four different views to manage tasks, including list, kanban board, calendar, and timeline views. You can manage multiple projects with the portfolio view and allocate resources with the workload view. Team collaboration features allow you to chat, comment, trigger video meetings from tasks, invite guest users, and share files.
SmartTask Pricing:
Its premium plan with limited features starts at $7.98 per user, per month, billed annually.
13. Nifty
Nifty’s flexibility, feature richness, and affordability make it a popular Asana alternative. Famously easy to use, Nifty is a powerful project management solution for an entire team. Nifty allows access to projects for guests as well, so clients and freelancers can join specific projects without being a part of the subscription.
Nifty Features
Nifty has a lot of what’s expected from a project management solution and even offers some surprises, such as two-way editable Google docs and a built-in Direct Messaging suite. Asana users typically find transitioning to Nifty is a smooth process with Nifty’s Asana importer and as well as some similarities in the UX.
As for cons, metric-driven reporting is an area where some teams might find Nifty coming up short. If that’s not a dealbreaker and your focus is on a tool that’s simple and flexible right out of the box, Nifty can be a fantastic fit.
Nifty Pricing:
Nifty pro plan starts at $10 per member, per month and only seats 5 team members.
14. Scoro
Another alternative to Asana is the project management software Scoro. The application’s features focus on speeding up performance, with solutions such as agile methodologies, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, issue management, as well as time and expense tracking. Scoro’s KPI dashboard offers a holistic view of each aspect of the business, allowing users to track projects, workflow, and financial KPIs in real-time.
Scoro vs Asana Pricing:
Pricing for Scoro begins with the Essential subscription at $26/user/month and requires a minimum of 5 users. The plan includes projects, calendars, task list & task board, contacts & customers, quotes, invoices & receipts, bills, dashboards and summary of financial reports. One downside is that Scoro doesn’t have a free version, only a free trial, while Asana has a free forever version with limited features.
15. MeisterTask
MeisterTask is an Asana alternative for managing projects. The software has customizable Kanban boards and collaborating features. It lets you assign tasks, upload attachments and leave comments across multiple devices with native desktop and mobile apps.
While MeisterTask doesn’t offer action item tracking or activity news feed or agenda management features, the software has stellar customer service, including by phone, which is something Asana doesn’t have. Other features include time tracking, unlimited automations, WIP limits, recurring tasks, and more.
MeisterTask Pricing Plans:
A free Basic plan allows a single user to work on up to three MeisterTask projects with plenty of tools to get you started with your project management. If you want additional features and the ability to work on unlimited projects, MeisterTask has plans starting at $13 per month.
16. Teamwork
Teamwork is a project management solution that supports various project management methodologies including Waterfall, Agile, and Scrum. Unlike Asana, which leans more towards task management, Teamwork offers a more flexible platform accommodating various workflows. It is especially beneficial for larger teams or complex projects that require a more structured and multi-faceted approach.
Teamwork allows for personalized project dashboards, giving users a tailored view of their projects. On the downside, Teamwork’s user interface might seem less intuitive compared to Asana, and it might take users some time to get accustomed to it.
Teamwork Pricing Plans:
Teamwork offers a free forever plan for up to five users and paid plans start at $9.99/user/month.
17. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a noteworthy alternative to Asana, with a comprehensive set of project management features, as well as being a part of the extended Zoho suite of business apps. It offers useful task management options like task dependencies and subtasks, Gantt chart software for visualizing project timelines, and time tracking for accountability – all features that are comparable to Asana.
Zoho Projects also features issue tracking, which is handy for software development teams, something Asana doesn’t natively include. While Zoho Projects provides a powerful set of features, its user interface may not feel as modern or intuitive as Asana’s. On the other hand, the cost-effectiveness of Zoho Projects could outweigh the steeper learning curve for teams on a tighter budget.
Asana vs Zoho Pricing:
In comparison to Asana, Zoho Projects is slightly more expensive, starting at $20 vs. $10.99 per user per month.
18. LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner is a project management tool known for its fusion of traditional PM and time-tracking. One of its most unique features is that it updates and shifts due dates and projects when resources per project change. This helps you manage expectations around when a project can be completed or when milestones can be hit based on workload.
LiquidPlanner also has a great resourcing feature that clearly shows how many available hours an employee has per week, as well as a helpful budgeting feature for controlling costs and keeping expenses on track.
LiquidPlanner Pricing:
Although you can do a 14-day trial, LiquidPlanner does not have a free plan. While Asana does have a free forever package. If you have a small to mid-side team and decide on LiquidPlanner, you’ll be paying $15 per user per month, billed annually. Their professional package costs $28 per user/month billed annually; and the ultimate plan starts at $42 per user/month billed annually.