6 Best Cloud-Based Project Management Software (Free & Paid)

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If you were born before the year 2000 you may remember CD-ROMs, or better yet, floppy disks.

In addition to a USB drive, this was the original method used when attempting to share your work with another team member. 

However, in the year 2023, collaboration with colleagues has become incredibly fast, easy, and efficient with cloud-based storage. 

In the simplest sense, cloud-based computing means storing your business’s data and documents over the internet, instead of a hard copy. 

A solid cloud-based project management software should help improve efficiency in planning, coordinating, collaborating, monitoring, and delivery of any given task.

All in all, cloud-based systems are a tool used to make businesses run faster, delivery runs smoother, and employees work together, no matter how remote. 

So, what is the best cloud-based project management software on the market? We’ve compiled a list of the top 6 best cloud-based platforms so you can make a well-rounded decision when it comes to your company. 

Why use Cloud Based Project Management Software?

Cloud-based project management software provides numerous benefits to businesses and organizations.

It enables team members to communicate and view project information from any location with an internet connection.

Cloud-based project management softwart offers scalability, enabling companies to adapt to altering project requirements without having to spend more money.

It saves money by doing away with the requirement for hardware and IT infrastructures and also provides improved security because providers are in charge of putting security policies and safeguards in place and keeping them up to date.

In addition, by offering a central site for project information, communication, and collaboration, it boosts productivity and results in quicker project completion times and better project outcomes.

Tip: monday.com is a cloud-based project management software that provides a collaborative platform for teams to manage and track their projects, tasks, and workflows.

What makes good Cloud Based Project Management Software?

A good cloud-based project management software should offer tools for task management, collaboration, time tracking, reporting and analytics, integration, customizability, and better security.

It should be simple to use, adaptable, and scalable so that teams can manage projects successfully and efficiently.

Each device with an internet connection should be able to access good cloud-based project management software, allowing colleagues to work from anywhere and interact in real-time.

It should also provide excellent customer service, with helpful and qualified people on hand to help with any problems or questions that may emerge.

Tip: monday.com offers various features such as customizable workflows, timelines, dashboards, integrations with other tools, and automation capabilities.

How to choose the right Cloud Based Project Management Software

When choosing the right cloud-based project management software, it’s important to consider factors your organization’s needs and the software’s features such as

• User interface
• Functionality
• Ease of use
• Customizability and flexibility
• Security and reliability
• Customer support and training resources.

Choose software that is easy to use, flexible, have strong security and stability, match the unique needs of your company, have the capabilities you need to manage your projects efficiently, and give extensive customer support and training resources.

Examining the software’s ability to develop with your organization is also important.

Seek for software that can support an increasing number of users, projects, and data.

Tip: monday.com provides analytics and reporting tools that help teams track their progress, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions.

Top 6 Best Cloud Based Project Management Software:

Brand	Starting price	Best for
1. Monday.com	$50 – $1599/month	Cloud-based project management
2. Bonsai	$24/month	For a growing business
3. Smartsheet	$7/month	Speed
4. Asana	$0 – $25/month	Collaboration
5. HubSpot	$50 – $3,200/month	Marketing
6. Wrike	$10 – $25/month	Enabling growth

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1. Monday.com: Best Overall Cloud Based Project Management Software

PRICING:

Monday.com has pricing that depends on the number of users, per tier.

In order to explain this more efficiently, this graph will explain further

Number of Users	Standard	Pro	Enterprise
5	$50 / per month	$79 / per month	N/A
10	$100 / per month	$159 / per month	N/A
15	$150 / per month	$239 / per month	N/A
25	$250 / per month	$399 / per month	N/A
50	$500 / per month	$799 / per month	N/A
100	$1000 / per month	$1599 / per month	N/A
200+	N/A	N/A	N/A

Monday.com is an extremely versatile cloud-based system, catering to the needs of businesses small and large.

With their visually aesthetic, clean, easy-to-use boards, team members can collaborate on projects anywhere across the country.

Even clients can be added as guests to boards, not only creating a feeling of inclusivity among customers but significantly reducing the number of emails and phone calls. 

For larger businesses looking to add more than 200 employees, or looking to purchase their Enterprise tier, it’s required to call for a quote. 

KEY FEATURES:

• Efficient desktop and mobile apps
• Monitoring workloads 
• Managing workloads
• Create timelines for projects 
• Assign tasks to specific team members
• Email integration 
• Budget management tools

REASONS TO BUY:

• Customizable 
• Total control over workflow 
• User friendly 
• Enhances customer communication 
• Increases project visibility and collaboration 

REASONS TO AVOID:

• The pricing tier doesn’t allow for a custom number of employees 
• A limited number of colors to choose from 
• Reporting is limited
• Inability to see everything you’re responsible for at once

2. Bonsai – Best for a growing business

Pricing:

• Starter Plan: $24 per month
• Professional Plan: $39 per month
• Enterprise Plan: $79 per month

Employee morale and productivity can greatly fall down if they have to do repetitive and tedious tasks. Even they need to find meaning in their work, which is why it is important to automate menial tasks so that your employees can focus on what matters. Bonsai is an ideal solution for your growing business so that your employees don’t have to waste their time in meaningless tasks.

That is because Bonsai promises to provide you with automation so that most of your repetitive tasks are handled by the platform. These include billing, invoices, time tracking, and much more. You can think of it as a fantastic cloud-bases project management tool and CRM in one.

So, your employees can finally feel valued when you give them tasks that are meaningful. This will help you grow your business and keep everyone happy while keeping costs low. Go through everything that Bonsai offers and then decide if it is right for you.

Key Features:

• Time tracking
• Sync individual tasks with time tracking
• Simple invoicing
• Task management
• Segment projects
• Track milestones

Reasons To Buy:

• Bonsai will guarantee that you can boost the productivity of your employees by reducing redundant tasks
• You can create branded invoices for a positive user experience
• It is suitable for all types of businesses that require a cloud-based system

Reasons To Avoid:

• The Enterprise Plan can be a little expensive for some businesses

3. Smartsheet: Best Cloud-Based Project Management Software For Getting Work Done Faster

PRICING:

• Pro: $7 / per user / per month (billed annually)
• Business: Contact required (minimum of 3 users)
• Enterprise: Contact required  

Smartsheet has been chosen by teams in every career field to enhance productivity, increase customer communication, and collaborate efficiently.

From construction, healthcare, government, and financial services, businesses across the globe trust Smartsheet to get their work done faster while maintaining integrity. 

KEY FEATURES:

• Workflow automation 
• Tools to organize and manage projects
• Hierarchy of command structure 
• Budget tracking for projects in real-time
• Project summaries 
• Time-wide alerts and notifications 

REASONS TO BUY:

• Ability to connect all team members on one platform
• The easiest tool to see the big-picture of an entire project
• Overall professional appearance for customers

REASONS TO AVOID:

• No time tracking 
• Plans can get expensive 

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4. Asana: Best cloud-based project management software for collaboration 

PRICING:

• Basic: $0
• Premium: $11 / per user / per month (billed annually)
• Business: $25.00 / per user / per month (billed annually)

With their ability to coordinate task teams, Asana has been named one of the best cloud-based project management software for enhancing collaboration.

Asana has the tools and features needed to increase proactivity, and keep all employees on the same page.

In addition, each employee can organize their tasks to keep work running smoother.

KEY FEATURES:

• Team leads can delegate tasks 
• Due date assignments 
• Real-time insights 
• Workflow automation 
• Advanced security controls 
• Mobile and desktop apps 

REASONS TO BUY:

• Creates accountability among team members 
• Enables smooth handoffs and overall better collaboration 
• Allows teams to prioritize work
• Excellent customer support

REASONS TO AVOID:

• No time tracking features 
• Learning curve 
• Too many features 
• Assignments can be limited 

5. HubSpot: Best Cloud-Based Project Management Software For Marketing

PRICING:

• Starter: $50 / month (billed annually at $540 per year)
• Professional: $800 / month (billed annually at $9,600 per year)
• Enterprise: $3,200 / month (billed annually at $38,400 per year)

HubSpot’s marketing service, Marketing Hub, has taken the cloud-based marketing world by storm.

Marketing Hub is incredibly simple to use, despite its claim that they have everything a business could need.

This ranges from financial sheets, communication tools, and employee workflow enhancement. 

KEY FEATURES:

• Ability to store files 
• Ability to organize notes 
• Manage emails 
• Add attachments 
• Allocate resources 
• Ability to create and save project templates 
• To-do lists 
• Marketing automation
• Extensive collaboration tools  

REASONS TO BUY:

• Ensures accountability among team members 
• Ability to put marketing campaigns on autopilot 
• Intelligent algorithm-specific bots guide leads in the right direction to close a deal 
• Set due dates and delegate tasks to specific employees 

REASONS TO AVOID:

• Plans get expensive quickly
• No flexibility within contracts
• Very limited features in their free version 
• If your website is from an outside source ( i.e, WordPress) this can become difficult 

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6. Wrike: Best Cloud-Based Project Management Software To Enable Growth Within Your Company

PRICING:

• Free
• Professional: $10 / per user / per month 
• Business: $25 / per user / per month 
• Enterprise: Contact for a quote

Wrike has been chosen by over 20,000 companies in 140 countries globally.

With Wrike’s easy-to-use platform, users have the ability to create, organize, and delegate all projects and assignments in one central location.

Wrike’s dedication to helping businesses handle complex projects and managerial tasks has given them a reputation for being one of the best cloud-based project management companies to enable growth within your company. 

KEY FEATURES:

• Task management 
• Spreadsheets
• Customized reporting 
• Email integration 
• Customized calendars 
• Google Docs, and Dropbox integration 
• Discussion within tasks 
• Up-to-date news feed 
• Hierarchy levels 
• Workflow management 

REASONS TO BUY:

• Ability to run a Global Report of all your projects in one click 
• Increases engagement among employees 
• The smart system sorts data and files automatically 
• Strong security 

REASONS TO AVOID:

• The interface can be difficult for some 
• Limited mobile app 
• Onboarding can be lengthy
• Limited project tracking features 
• Can get expensive quickly

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Common Examples Of Cloud-Based Management Software?

The most common example of cloud-based management software is Google Docs.

Through Google Docs, team members can access a shared document anywhere, at any time.

There is never any worry about whether it is the most up-to-date version, as Google updates it as changes are made in real-time.

To access your company’s documents with Google Docs, you no longer have to be physically present in the office or handed a flash drive.

You can access Google Docs with no more than a computer in hand. 

How Do I Know If Cloud-Based Software Is Right For My Company?

One of the easiest ways to determine if cloud-based software is right for your company is to ask yourself, “Do IT costs interfere with my ability to grow?”

If the answer is yes, this could mean cloud-based software is in your future.

If your business consistently needs team members to work on projects together, or you want to keep a close eye on project timelines, cloud-based software is in your best interest. 

What Questions Should I Ask A Cloud-Based Provider?

Here are a few questions to keep in mind when choosing which cloud-based system is right for your business:

1. What services are provided?
2. What is your pricing structure like?
3. Where is your data center?
4. How safe is your data center?
5. How secure are your safety features?
6. What happens if my data is lost?
7. Can your cloud service scale if my business grows?
8. What is your cloud customer service like?
9. Do you have a free trial period?