Software development projects are complex and multi-dimensional, with interrelated and interdependent tasks, technologies and processes. That complexity is exactly what makes project management a critical part of getting software delivered — and project management tools are how a team actually keeps hold of it.
What are project management tools?
Project management tools are software that helps individuals or teams plan, track, and manage projects — designed to help teams complete work within defined timeframes and constraints, with clear ownership at every step.
10 best project management tools for software development
1. Jira
An Atlassian product and the most widely used issue-tracking tool among agile software teams — bug tracking, task tracking, and feature monitoring in one place, with Scrum and Kanban boards, real-time dashboards, and integration with over 3,000 tools. Free for up to 10 users; paid plans start around $77.50/month for the Standard tier.
2. Trello
A simple, card-and-list digital bulletin board that adapts to almost any team size or project type — timeline, map, or dashboard views, drag-and-drop, and easy workflow automation. Free forever plan available; paid tiers run $5–$17.50/user/month.
3. Zoho Projects
Part of the broader Zoho application suite, with native time tracking, bug tracking, and automated reporting. Free for up to 3 users; Premium is roughly A$7.75/month, Enterprise around A$15.40/month.
4. monday.com
A highly visual collaboration platform used by teams at Hulu, Canva, and Coca-Cola, among others — timeline, Kanban, and calendar views with strong communication tooling. Free for up to 2 users; Basic, Standard, and Pro plans run $11–$22/user/month.
5. ClickUp
A cloud-based tool that covers scheduling, collaboration, task management, workflow automation and reporting in one configurable space, with box, list, calendar and board views. Free Forever plan for personal use; team plans from $5–$19/month depending on size.
6. ProWorkFlow
Built for task tracking, time management, invoicing and client quotes, scaling from five-person teams to five-thousand. Professional plan is $20/user/month, Advanced is $30/user/month.
7. Asana
Strong for cross-functional work — breaking complex projects into manageable tasks, assigning responsibility, and tracking progress in real time, with integrations including Jira Cloud, Salesforce and Microsoft 365. Free Basic plan; Premium is A$14.99, Business A$33.99.
8. Basecamp
A straightforward all-in-one — progress board, message board, to-do list, project-specific chat and document management. 30-day free trial; Basecamp starts at $15/user/month, Pro Unlimited is $299/month billed annually.
9. Scoro
A work management platform aimed at creative and professional services, with real-time tracking, task prioritisation, and efficient invoicing built in. Essential is $34/user/month, Standard $50, Pro $85; Enterprise is quoted separately.
10. Paymo
Bundles task management, time tracking and invoicing in one centralised place, so profitability is measurable alongside progress. Free for one user; Starter, Small Office and Business tiers run $4.95–$20.79/user/month.
Choosing between them
The right choice varies project to project — team size, budget, and how much of the toolchain (time tracking, invoicing, client-facing reporting) needs to live in the same place all shift the answer. If you're still narrowing it down, see how to choose project management software for the factors worth weighing before you commit to one.
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