How does your team currently handle project management collaboration? If you’re stuck in a cycle of tracking recurring tasks, following up on missed calls, and enduring endless Zoom meetings, it’s time to elevate your project management approach.

Teams need more efficient ways to communicate and collaborate, while project managers require streamlined workflows to handle extensive to-do lists and deliver successful results. That’s where modern project management collaboration tools come into play.

This post explores the best online tools designed for collaborative project management. These tools offer essential features like real-time collaboration, multi-project tracking, and seamless integrations with platforms for instant messaging, file sharing, and project updates.

What to Look For in Project Management Collaboration Tools

If you’re new to project management software, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. With countless productivity apps claiming to revolutionise your workflow, it’s important to focus on features that truly make a difference:

• Task Management: Opt for tools that enable you to create, assign, track, and manage tasks across your team efficiently.
• Real-Time Communication: Skip the delays of email and callbacks. The best tools include video conferencing, group chats, and discussion boards to keep conversations moving.
• Document Management: Look for platforms that support file sharing and allow team members to collaborate on documents in real time.
• Integration Capabilities: Choose software that integrates with your favourite apps to enhance functionality and simplify your workflows.
• User Experience: Intuitive interfaces and ease of use are essential for quick adoption and immediate impact on productivity.

8 Best Collaborative Project Management Tools

Ready to find the right collaboration tool for tackling complex projects? I’ve reviewed some of the most popular project management solutions available and selected eight top recommendations to help your team stay productive and organised.

1. Height

Height’s project management collaboration tools prioritise simplicity and adaptability. Teams can start by managing tasks in spreadsheet-style lists and seamlessly switch to Kanban boards, Gantt charts, or calendars with a single click. The platform enables project managers to centralise all project details within tasks, ensuring organisation and providing a complete progress history for stakeholders.

Height also boosts team productivity with real-time updates as projects evolve, keeping everyone aligned and focused.

Key Features of Height

• Instant Messaging: Facilitates real-time collaboration with project status updates and inline media for added context.
• User-Friendly Interface: Designed for quick adoption, allowing teams to start using the software effectively from day one.
• Guest Collaboration: Allows clients, contractors, and other stakeholders to provide feedback on tasks and participate in project management while safeguarding sensitive project data.

Limitations of Height

• Limited integration options compared to more established project management tools due to its relatively recent entry into the market.

Height Pricing

• Free Plan
• Team Plan: $6.99 per user/month
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing available upon request

2. Freedcamp

Freedcamp is a versatile project collaboration software designed for teams of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. It covers essential project management needs, such as task creation, deadline setting, and customisable views for managing workflows.

What sets Freedcamp apart is its inclusion of built-in CRM and invoicing tools, making it an excellent option for teams that require both project collaboration and client management functionalities in a single platform.

Key Features of Freedcamp

• Time Tracker: Provides insights into how work hours are allocated, helping teams track billable hours for clients.
• Issue Tracker: Enables project managers to identify challenges and assign them to the most capable team members.
• Wiki Feature: Centralises organisational documentation with search functionality, improving knowledge sharing and management.
• Private Tasks: Allows project managers to mark certain tasks as private, offering more control over visibility.

Limitations of Freedcamp

• The built-in CRM system is less robust compared to dedicated CRM platforms.
• Tasks cannot be assigned to multiple team members, which might limit flexibility in task delegation.

Freedcamp Pricing

• Free Plan
• Pro Plan: $1.49 per user/month (billed annually)
• Business Plan: $7.49 per user/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise Plan: $16.99 per user/month (billed annually)

3. Flock

Flock is a communication and project collaboration platform designed to offer straightforward, budget-friendly tools. It aims to create a team ecosystem that minimises distractions and reduces the need for constant context-switching.

With Flock, teams can communicate in real time through channels and direct messaging, fostering seamless collaboration. The platform also features a shared to-do list, enabling teams to manage tasks effectively and stay aligned. Flock’s integrations help reduce repetitive tasks and enhance productivity by centralising data from other platforms.

Key Features of Flock

• File Sharing: Keeps information secure and organised, making it easy for team members to access what they need.
• Shared To-Do Lists: Enables teams to collaboratively create and manage task lists, keeping everyone on track.
• Integration Options: Connects with popular productivity apps and services, allowing teams to centralise data for improved efficiency.

Limitations of Flock

• While its communication tools are strong, the project management features may feel limited to some users.

Flock Pricing

• Free Plan
• Pro Plan: $4.50 per user/month
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing available upon request

4. Bit.ai

Bit.ai is a cloud-based collaboration platform that brings together documents, projects, tasks, contacts, notes, and more in a centralised workspace. Designed to enhance collaboration for distributed teams, Bit.ai allows users to securely store, share, and organise documents while ensuring easy access to the latest project information.

By creating a single source of truth, Bit.ai helps teams quickly retrieve accurate and relevant data, streamlining workflows and improving productivity.

Key Features of Bit.ai

• Multiple Workspaces: Organise work by function, team, or project to maintain clarity and focus.
• Smart Search: Find documents effortlessly using keywords, titles, descriptions, or sources.
• Integrations: Seamlessly connect with tools like SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Box for enhanced document management.

Limitations of Bit.ai

• Unlimited document storage is only available with paid plans.

Bit.ai Pricing

• Free Plan
• Pro Plan: $8 per user/month
• Business Plan: $15 per user/month

5. Miro

Miro offers a visually driven platform for digital collaboration, making it an ideal virtual whiteboard tool for brainstorming, planning, and real-time teamwork. Particularly popular among creative agencies, Miro combines an intuitive interface with an extensive library of templates to kickstart brainstorming and project ideation.

This tool empowers teams to unleash creativity regardless of their physical location, using virtual sticky notes and interactive diagrams to make online collaboration engaging and productive.

Key Features of Miro

• Real-Time Collaboration: Enables teams, including remote ones, to brainstorm and exchange ideas instantly.
• Extensive Template Library: Offers a variety of ready-to-use templates to simplify and accelerate team collaboration.
• Basic Integrations: Connects with popular tools like Jira, Trello, and Slack to streamline workflows.

Limitations of Miro

• While excellent for collaboration, Miro’s project management capabilities are limited, requiring integration with other tools for more robust functionality.

Miro Pricing

• Free Plan
• Starter Plan: $8 per user/month (billed annually)
• Business Plan: $16 per user/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing available upon request

6. Proofhub

Proofhub is an intuitive project management and team collaboration platform designed to simplify communication and enhance productivity. By centralising tasks, timelines, and discussions, it helps teams stay organised, track progress, and meet deadlines. Proofhub’s Kanban boards and discussion boards allow teams to visualise workflows and collaborate effectively, while its online proofing feature enables real-time feedback on documents, designs, and more, streamlining approvals and reducing revision bottlenecks.

Key Features of Proofhub

• Task Management: Easily create, delegate, and track tasks, with customisable work views tailored to the team’s preferences.
• Built-In Collaboration Tools: Facilitate quick conversations and feedback directly within the platform.
• Board View: Visualise project progress to identify and address potential roadblocks quickly.

Limitations of Proofhub

• Limited integrations may require teams to adjust workflows or replace favourite tools with workarounds inside Proofhub.
• The lack of a free plan could deter budget-conscious users from exploring its features.

Proofhub Pricing

• Essential Plan: $45/month (billed annually)
• Ultimate Control Plan: $89/month (billed annually)

7. ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one project management solution that caters to teams managing both individual projects and large-scale multi-user initiatives. Its user-friendly interface allows teams to break complex tasks into manageable pieces while centralising all project information in one platform.

The platform excels in team collaboration, providing real-time data access to keep everyone aligned as project managers work through to-do lists. ClickUp also offers excellent customisation and integration options, allowing teams to connect it with their existing tech stack and streamline workflows, reducing repetitive tasks and enabling team members to focus on their specialised skills.

Teams can also take advantage of ClickUp’s free project management templates to quickly create new workspaces and hit the ground running.

Key Features of ClickUp

• Customisable Workspaces: Tailor the platform to fit your team’s unique workflows and preferences.
• Detailed Reporting: Provides insights into task times, productivity trends, and project progress to help managers make informed decisions and identify potential roadblocks.
• 1,000+ Integrations: Seamlessly connects with tools like Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Loom, and Microsoft Office to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows.

Limitations of ClickUp

• Some workspace views are not yet available on mobile devices, although updates are planned.

ClickUp Pricing

• Free Forever Plan
• Unlimited Plan: $7 per user/month
• Business Plan: $12 per user/month
• ClickUp Brain: Add-on for $7 per user/month (available with any paid plan)
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing available upon request

8. Slack

Slack is a popular communication and project collaboration tool that integrates with leading project management platforms like Asana and Trello. It enables teams to communicate quickly and efficiently through dedicated project channels and direct messages, improving overall communication and collaboration.

Slack also offers functionality enhancements through bots that can send reminders, help with scheduling, and notify team members when they’ve been tagged. Additionally, file sharing within Slack allows project teams to access important documents whenever needed.

Key Features of Slack

• Powerful Search: Easily find past conversations and important information, ensuring nothing gets lost.
• Organised Communication: Create different channels for teams, departments, or projects to keep communication focused and organised.
• Calendar Integration: Sync with calendar apps to view team members’ schedules and activities directly within Slack.

Limitations of Slack

• While Slack excels in communication, it lacks key project management features that other collaboration tools offer.

Slack Pricing

• Free Plan
• Pro Plan: $7.25 per user/month
• Business+ Plan: $12.50 per user/month
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing available upon request