Best Cheap Project Management Software
We have evaluated 45+ providers to summarize the best cheap project management software in the following list.
Pricing
ClickUp
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ClickUp is a versatile platform that blends task management with plenty of other features and automation capabilities, catering to a wide range of industries. Its unique selling point is its highly customizable interface, allowing users to tailor it extensively to their specific workflow needs.
Pros
Large range of project views
Comprehensive set of features
Great administrative controls
Excellent price-performance ratio
Cons
Can feel overwhelming for new users
Advanced security measures are only available for higher plans
Does not provide domain specific access
Nifty
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Nifty stands out with its milestone-driven approach, helping teams manage projects through goal setting and progress tracking. It's particularly known for its sleek interface and integrated document collaboration tools.
In top 3 for
Pros
Extensive range of features
Milestone dependencies available
File proofing
Cons
Limited access to projects and tasks
Limited number of integrations
Zoho Projects
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Part of the Zoho suite, Zoho Projects offers a blend of traditional and agile project management tools, suitable for a diverse range of industries. It is known for its affordability and seamless integration with other Zoho applications.
In top 3 for
Pros
Affordable plans
Extensive features
Cons
No domain specific access and backups available
Trello
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Trello's simplicity lies in its card-based task management system, ideal for visual organizers and smaller teams. Its unique appeal is in its straightforward, drag-and-drop interface, making project tracking accessible to all skill levels.
In top 3 for
Pros
Many native integrations
Cons
Poor administrative controls
Limited features
Poor customer support
Paymo
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Paymo's strength lies in its ability to integrate project management with time tracking and invoicing, ideal for freelancers and small agencies. It's unique for its all-in-one solution, enabling users to manage the entire project lifecycle within one platform.
Pros
Comprehensive project visualization options available
Affordable plans
Unlimited Recurring Invoices
Supports Meta Kanban Board
Proofing & Versioning
Automatic Ghost-Bookings
Leave planner
Cons
Limited security measures
Limited integrations available
Does not support domain specific access
Does not support audit logs
Does not allow create team
Does not support custom reports and custom field
- Our ranking applies to each individual plan that a provider offers. Subsequently, the scores of each plan are merged using a dynamically weighted model.
As a project manager or company owner, getting the best out of your teams is always a primary goal. Additionally, it’s also crucial to handle processes seamlessly and ensure efficient project tracking to satisfy clients and meet demands. But the cost is also very important to keep your business expenses manageable.
It’s expected that you’d want to find the best value software for your money, especially considering your specific needs. In the end, the right project management software should have a mix of great pricing and amazing features that are essential for your company.
Keep a look for those critical features while exploring options for affordable project management applications. If the price is all you care about, then the options at the top will serve you well in the long run. Check our overall best picks if you are more interested in the best value for money.
What Makes the Best Cheap Project Management Software?
Our analysis compares the best software offerings and determines how best to assess project management solutions based on their pricing. Coming from our analyses and estimations of over 53 project management platforms, we determined the following criteria are critical for making a proper assessment.
Entry Price
The entry price of a product is the total minimum amount a business has to pay before they begin using the software. While the exact amount may vary, this price is essential for comparing similar software. The entry price is a function of the price per user and the minimum number of users required to begin using the software. When the components are combined, a top software product may cost multiple times its per-user price.
Understanding how each project management software solution offers its options is important. A great solution will offer a relatively low per-user rate and entry price so you can scale as your team grows. Some providers, however, require you to start with a fixed amount of users that are included in the entry price and then scale from there per additional user.
Price per User
This is the price you’ll pay for each additional user on your team. It usually does not include guests. For example, if you want to add a client to view the progress of a project, then you can usually add a specific amount of guests for free. Some platforms limit guests to read-only access, while others allow guests to play active roles.
Free Plan Availability
A free plan allows you to enjoy a selection of the features offered by a project management solution without making any payment. This attribute is especially useful when you're a small business that’s only running a few projects. And even if you’re a larger enterprise, a free plan allows you to test the waters before upgrading to a paid plan. Products offering a free plan often offer limited storage options or features. You can find the best free project management tools here.
Free Trial
Some software solutions also offer the option of a free trial. With a free trial, you can explore some of the features of a software solution without paying. The only difference between a free trial and a free plan is that a free trial ends at a definite period, so a free trial is more common with some higher-end software solutions. Most solutions offer between 7 days and one month for their free trial packages, although some can offer a free trial for more than a month.
One of the major advantages of a free trial over a free plan is that, while a free plan only offers basic features, a free trial allows you to experience premium features, although for a short period. A free trial allows you to enjoy the product's best features and determine whether you want to spend on it. This is especially useful when you’re going for a more pricey option so you can be sure of getting great value for your money.
Plan Options
Most project management software providers offer their pricing in several tiers with different features in each plan. On top of that, they usually provide monthly and yearly plan options.
Monthly Plans
The monthly plan refers to the price of a software solution per user or package (if a set number of users is included) per month. Like with the entry price, the exact amount you'll have to pay every month will depend on both the stated entry price and how many users it includes, plus the monthly rate for additional team members that you may have.
Yearly Plans
When trying to get the best solution for your money, one way to optimize your payment is to check for a yearly plan. A yearly plan allows you to save on the monthly pricing of a great software service, especially if you plan to use it for the long term. Consider looking for a yearly plan if you have chosen which software to use.
We highly recommend going all in on extensively using free trials and plans so that you can explore the features and usability of a software solution before committing. You can also do so for multiple providers to compare them and then settle on a yearly plan with your preferred software.
10 Best Cheap Project Management Software
How to Choose a Cheap Project Management Software
If you're concerned about picking a project management tool at an affordable price, you'll have to be careful to get a balance between cost and features, usability, and security. Going for the cheapest option may not necessarily be the best solution for you, even though it seems the most obvious.
Ensure to spend time understanding what you need from the software so that you're sure to get a perfect balance. Try our Finder Tool to help find solutions that meet your desired specifications.
In the end, when you compare products, you may find it worthwhile to spend a few extra bucks on a solution that you find meets your needs adequately. Or you may spend less and make sacrifices on a few non-essential features and attributes — it's all up to you. Want to explore the best tools available within other criteria apart from pricing? Check out our overall Best Picks, or use our Comparison Tool to compare software that caught your eye.
Quim Palacios
Quim P.
Updated: May 15, 2025
Project management enthusiast who loves building a good working atmosphere in organizations. Good project management means making team members and clients feel comfortable at every stage of the process. Change my mind.
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FAQ
What is the cheapest project management software for my business?
What is the cheapest project management software for my business?
The cheapest project management software for your business is the one that offers everything that you need at the lowest price compared to other solutions. In other words, the balance of price and specifications. While we have covered the cheapest options on the market, check if they include everything you need for your projects.
How much does project management software cost?
How much does project management software cost?
Although the prices of solutions vary with each provider and each plan, most solutions cost between $2 per user and month for an entry plan to as high as $50 per user for enterprise plans. You can always check for a free or yearly plan to cut down on expenses. Prices will always be relative depending on the size of your business, so get something within your desired range of prices and specs.