Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners
Ease of use: We searched for intuitive designs that could handle everything a solopreneur needs in one place while still being comprehensible.
Task management: Each tool needs to be able to handle at least basic tasks and project management. In the end, the main goal is for solopreneurs to be able to manage their workload easily.
Advanced project management tools: More complex features like effective views, drag-and-drop functionalities, automations and time tracking influenced our choice of services.
Value for money: Many tools offer great free and starter plans. Other plans can be a bit more expensive but include more robust features that may be worth the investment. It depends on each solopreneur’s priorities, but we looked for tools that offer good value for money.
*Price is per user
How to Choose the Best Project Management Tool for Solopreneurs
As much as we may wish for one, there is no perfect all-in-one solution because not all entrepreneurs’ journeys are the same. While some may be able to rely on just one tool, others might need several of them. Solopreneurs must pay attention to the following when choosing a platform:
Flexibility and customization: Solopreneurs are flexible souls by nature. They often play multiple roles, which defines the way they perceive projects. Their chosen project management tool must adapt to their work style.
Price and value: When working solo, budget is a huge priority. Many tools offer basic solutions for a fair price — or even for free, though some are quite restrictive.
Ease of use: Intuitive interfaces can be time savers, and solopreneurs value time above all. Tools with easy learning curves will be their best allies.
Pre-made templates: Nothing compares to finding the right template for your needs. A good master template is one less headache for solopreneurs.
Automations: Recurring tasks can suck the motivation out of everyone; entrepreneurs need to be able to automate tedious parts of their processes.
You can choose dark or light mode on ClickUp.
The free plan could suffice for solopreneurs, though the Unlimited plan offers the best value for features.
Pros:
Customizable task views
All-in-one features for tasks, time tracking & project planning
Great value for money
Cons:
May be too much for simple project management
Steeper learning curve
Mobile app could be better
Who is it for:Freelancers, coaches, teachers, course creators and anyone who might need to expand in the short term.
ClickUp is a good solution for entrepreneurs in search of a complete yet intuitive software solution. Within the ClickUp platform, users can find lists, tables, documents, goals and dashboards. It’s competent enough to help you plan an entire business sales pipeline and expand it later. Plus, the templates, task assignment options and dashboards are ideal for maximizing productivity.
For example, a competitive freelance designer can use ClickUp to manage projects and client requests, set up weekly sprints, track hours spent on each project, and monitor changes and edits.
ClickUp Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Multiple views: Different views are always handy when it comes to project management, as they allow you to visualize your project in different ways for multiple insights. ClickUp includes more than 15 view options.
Goal tracking and dashboards: ClickUp lets you set measurable goals and even connect tasks to them. The dashboard view is one way to ensure goals remain visible.
Good AI assistant: ClickUp’s AI assistant helps with summarizing tasks, writing documents or prompts and even responding to messages.
ClickUp Hands-On Testing
Where ClickUp truly shines is in its flexibility. While it can take some time to master the interface, once you’re there it feels great. Creating dashboards and linking goals to important tasks is a simple and practical way to keep productivity up. Additionally, the fields and columns in your projects are fully personalizable.
You can see your custom fields in the checklist view or in the task description.
ClickUp’s AI assistant, Brain, is also worth mentioning. It can suggest options when creating new tasks, fields, projects and more, and you can ask it questions. The mobile version is more limited than the desktop version, but that’s typical on other platforms as well. The app version doesn’t feel as intuitive and optimized for small screens as it could be, though.
ClickUp Pricing & Value
The free plan is solid for solopreneurs, as it includes unlimited tasks and members. However, the best deal is the Unlimited plan, which starts at $7 per month per user — with no minimum users — and adds features like more integrations with third-party apps and more than 1,000 automations.
The higher tiers are Business and Enterprise, which unlock more advanced reporting and admin tools that solopreneurs probably won’t need unless they’re planning to bring on a team. To learn more about the service, read our ClickUp review or try any of its plans yourself. You can also count on the 30-day money-back guarantee if it’s not the right fit.
Free Forever
Basic functionality with some limitations
Sometimes a simple kanban board is more than enough
Trello’s free version is one of the best around, but if you need more power, you can try the Premium plan free for 14 days.
Pros:
Visual, intuitive interface
Easy learning curve & perfect for one-person workflows
Easily expandable power-ups
Cons:
Not the best for complex tasks or multiple projects
Lacks advanced insights & reports
Boards can get visually crowded with tasks
Who is it for:Solopreneurs who want an easy, visual and quick tool to track uncomplicated processes.
If Trello is anything, it’s “easy” and “visual.” Trello’s kanban board system makes it one of the simplest project management platforms available. You can easily get the hang of it in a matter of minutes or hours, and its drag-and-drop functionalities make it very user-friendly.
Additionally, the platform is highly customizable and scalable thanks to its extensive and free power-up menu. If you feel like you’re missing a feature while using Trello, give the power-up menu a look — you might find the answer you need.
Trello Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Kanban boards: This Agile project management tool is designed to streamline project management. It’s perfect for personal projects and solopreneurs.
Customizable lists and cards: If you are organized and have a clear idea of your project’s goal, Trello’s simplicity is an ally. You can edit and use lists and cards for more than just the “to do” and “done” columns.
Automation tool: Trello allows users to automate repetitive and daily tasks with its automation tool, called Butler.
Trello Hands-On Testing
Creating boards and lists in Trello is fast and fun; you can quickly build your project workflow and add extra features like the calendar power-up, even on the free plan. You can customize colors, change the background and add stickers, which improves the platform’s already visually appealing interface.
Trello power-ups are a great way to enhance boards.
Even Trello’s automations are simple and easy to use, but the options available with the free version are quite limited. The automations are better and more supportive when you upgrade to a paid plan.
Trello Pricing & Value
Unlike other project management tools, Trello offers a solid free plan for beginners, with unlimited cards and power-ups. The Premium plan is the perfect balance of simplicity and functionality for solopreneurs. For $10 per month, you get advanced features such as more views and workspace-level templates. You can learn more in our full Trello review, or try any plan to get started.
Price is per user, Unlimited boards, Custom fields, Invite guests
Premium
Price is per user, Several new views
Enterprise
Price is per user, Advanced admin & security settings. Discounts for larger teams.
Managing structured workflows is easy with Asana’s interface.
Asana has one of the best free plans, and you can try the Starter for free for 30 days.
Pros:
Deep task management tools & project hierarchy
Tools to track project progress
Great mix of views & a comprehensive home menu
Cons:
Best features restricted to paid plans
Reports not extensive enough
Notifications can be overwhelming
Who is it for:Solopreneurs managing projects with complex task prioritization and multiple milestones.
Love for Asana comes from realizing how easy it is to structure projects with this tool. Users can break down their projects into sections, tasks and subtasks while visualizing their workflow with different views. This system is ideal when running multiple projects and subtasks at once — a workflow to which solopreneurs are no strangers.
Pre-built templates and automation features are also handy for saving valuable time. Solo business owners such as designers or developers managing complex clients with big deliverables and multi-step projects can truly benefit from Asana’s interface. Although Asana’s free plan is limited, it still offers amazing value, making it one of the best free project management tools.
Asana Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Task hierarchies: Asana makes managing tasks and subtasks for a simple project foolproof. Additionally, you can group them under your project goals.
Project permissions: Even if you work alone, you might need to share your boards or projects with clients. With Asana, you can set project, task or team permissions.
Integrations: The tool lets you seamlessly integrate third-party apps like Slack, Gmail and Zoom.
Asana Hands-On Testing
The interface is a mix of simplicity and professionalism. Creating projects and tasks and assigning them is intuitive. The option to link subtasks with a general goal is ideal for projects with competitive goals. Almost everything feels neatly organized, and the left-hand sidebar helps you jump between workspaces with zero friction.
Asana’s free version includes a kanban board view.
Asana also lets you quickly switch between views depending on the insights you want to visualize. Plus, Asana’s templates are quite good and usually need only minimal editing. You can also choose between dark and light mode on this platform.
Asana Pricing & Value
Asana offers an excellent free option for individuals and small teams. If you want more advanced features, its best deal is the Starter plan, which costs $10.99 per month per user and adds automations, milestones and timeline views. The Advanced plan has a big jump in price and includes advanced tools like reporting and admin tools that solopreneurs likely won’t need.
Read our Asana review to learn more about specific differences between plan options. You can try any of the paid plans with the generous 30-day free trial.
Starter
Price is per user. unlimited users, expanded features
Advanced
Price is per user. unlimited users, even more features
Enterprise
Custom pricing, advanced security features
Airtable’s spreadsheet hybrid offers the perfect blend of data-driven and visual solutions.
Airtable’s free plan is a solid choice, though the Team plan adds advanced views and automations.
Pros:
Excellent tool for data-heavy projects
Great customizable templates available
Perfect for spreadsheet lovers thanks to its column and row layout
Cons:
Getting the hang of its interface can take time
May be overkill for simple tasks & project tracking
No built-in advanced communication features
Who is it for: Marketing managers, virtual assistants or content creators who manage large loads of data with multiple editing steps and competitive key performance indicators (KPIs).
If a database and a spreadsheet had a baby, it would be Airtable. This software can come in super handy when organizing complex information and projects that change over time.
However, if you are not a fan of spreadsheets, you might find its interface a bit overwhelming.
A marketing manager trying to launch an online course could use Airtable for many purposes. They could track important tasks and monitor progress in the grid view, manage content in the gallery view and oversee the general project in the calendar timeline. Airtable can bring many perspectives to a single project.
Airtable Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Multiple views: You can switch between grid, calendar, gallery, kanban and timeline views. This is ideal for solopreneurs who want to visualize their workflow in a specific style.
Custom fields: Unlike regular sheets, Airtable lets you deeply customize its fields and create attachments, checkboxes and many other fields.
Professional templates: Airtable offers a vast template library with comprehensive and ready-to-go options, such as product trackers and budget management templates.
Airtable Hands-On Testing
While Airtable’s interface is complete and modern, it can also be a bit overwhelming. The learning process can feel like an uphill battle. However, once you’ve conquered it, you can utilize advanced features such as task automation and customization, and invite collaborators to your projects.
Solopreneurs in need of creating a quick and organized content calendar will love the social media calendar template.
Airtable excels at social media management templates to ease marketing professionals’ work. Each social media post is added as a date, with complete descriptions and all the media attached, whether that be a video, an image or another file type. Additionally, each workspace can be changed and personalized depending on the user’s needs.
Airtable Pricing & Value
Airtable’s free option offers unlimited bases and 1,000 records, which are items within a board. The Team plan offers the best value, at $20 per month, and includes a Gantt chart view and 50,000 records per base. The Business and Enterprise plans involve a huge jump in price and may be too much for a solopreneur in need of something simpler.
Up to five users. Unlimited bases. 1,000 records, 1GB of storage per base. Revision and snapshot history for two weeks. Views: grid, calendar, form, Kanban board, gallery and list. 100 automations per month.
Team
Everything in free, plus unlimited users, 50,000 records and 20GB of storage space per base. Adds Gantt charts and timeline views. 25,000 automations per month.
Business
Everything in Team, plus 125,000 records, 100GB of storage per base, 100,000 automation per month. Admin controls, single sign-on (SSO) and premium integrations with third-party services.
Enterprise
Everything in Business, plus 500,000 records, 1TB of storage per base, and 500,000 automation monthly.
The Todoist interface is simple and ideal for focused solo work.
Todoist has one of the hottest deals on the market, with a free plan and a Pro option starting at $4 per month.
Pros:
Clean, minimalist interface
Perfect for generating habits & staying focused
Includes templates
Cons:
Not good for solopreneurs planning to grow a team
Only three views available
Lacks complex project management features
Who is it for: Freelancers, writers and solopreneurs who need a tool to manage their daily tasks and stay focused in the process.
Despite including powerful features like automations and reminders, Todoist is truly more of a task management tool than a project management tool. It’s perfect for solopreneurs who want to get work done without distraction and maintain a minimalist visual approach to their to-dos. The platform allows users to organize tasks with priorities, tags and schedules.
At its core, Todoist is a great tool for managing routines and creating habits. Let’s say you have a newsletter. Todoist makes it easy to break down repetitive tasks like “do the research,” “write the newsletter” and “schedule send,” while automatically assigning them to your weekly or monthly workflow.
Todoist Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Task priorities: You can use colors and tags to prioritize and filter tasks.
Calendar view: Solopreneurs with many due dates will find this view handy, though it’s available only on the Pro and Business plans.
Recurring tasks: You can set due dates and times for tasks to repeat automatically, similar to what you’d do with your usual calendar tool.
Todoist Hands-On Testing
The biggest advantage of Todoist is its distraction-free and minimalist interface. The learning curve is almost nonexistent, and you can quickly learn how to categorize and organize your tasks.
Add custom task reminders with any paid plan.
The mobile app deserves a special mention for its responsive and easy layout. This comes as no surprise, though, given the original app’s minimalism. However, more advanced project managers will feel the lack of advanced features like views, complete reports and complex communication tools, which is the main downside of the platform.
Todoist Pricing & Value
Todoist’s free plan includes five active projects, as well as basic filters and automations. The Pro plan is the best option, as it unlocks custom task reminders, deadlines and an AI assistant for just $4 per month.
Todoist is one of the most affordable tools out there. Check out our full Todoist review to learn more about it.
Free
1 main user
5 active projects
5 collaborators (per project)
5MB file uploads
Pro
1 main user
300 active projects
25 collaborators (per project)
100MB file uploads
Business
Multiple users, (price is per user)
500 active projects (per member)
50 people (per project)
You can assign and add notes, due dates and notifications to your tasks in Basecamp.
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Basecamp offers a Plus plan for $15 per month.
Pros:
Great tool for managing client communication
Flat-rate pricing for unlimited users
Uncomplicated, centralized interface
Cons:
Managing workflows beyond basic tasks can be challenging
Limited views & task dependencies
Free plan allows only one project
Who is it for:Solopreneurs with client-centered businesses who need a great communication tool but have simple project processes.
Basecamp’s interface feels very different from the rest of the project management tools on this list — it acts more like an online workspace where users can handle parts of a project separately. It’s great for entrepreneurs who need a platform to complete client work, share files, track progress and communicate efficiently.
On a paid plan, you can create a separate project for each client and even dedicate a space for elements like messages, documents and task lists. Basecamp also has a group chat option that could work as an alternative to email messaging or Slack, making it perfect for more centralized communication.
Basecamp Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Message options: Some of Basecamp’s most popular features are its robust communication tools, including message boards, real-time chat and private pings.
Simple to-do lists: You can also access kanban-style card boards and simple to-do lists to visually track your project progress.
Document and file hub: Every project has a dedicated space to upload documents and files, which can be sorted by date or folder, or manually reordered.
Basecamp Hands-On Testing
Basecamp’s interface feels fresh and original. Although it includes similar features to other robust project management tools, the layout is different. Creating new projects and workflows takes just a few steps. However, similar to Todoist, Basecamp might feel more like a task management tool, as it lacks built-in complex tools for project management.
All project previews in Basecamp have a similar appearance.
The collaboration tools are very useful, but the rest of the tools are a bit limited for complicated projects. Moreover, these communication tools are useful for solopreneurs only if they maintain constant communication with their collaborators or clients.
Basecamp Pricing & Value
Basecamp’s pricing includes a per-month and a flat-rate option. There’s also a free alternative that supports one project and 1GB of storage. When considering value for money, Basecamp Plus is the best option for individuals, at $15 per month.
Per user. Unlimited projects, Unlimited users, All features. 500GB storage.
Basecamp Pro Unlimited
Unlimited users. 5TB storage. Priority support.
Google Workspace Essentials includes 15GB free, while Starter costs $7 per user per month, annually.
Pros:
Intuitive, fresh interface that almost everyone knows
Integrates with most project management tools
Highly competitive pricing
Cons:
Not really a project management app & lacks complex features
Items can easily become cluttered
Offline options require extra setup
Who is it for:Solopreneurs on a budget who need the simplest of tools to manage multiple files and documents.
Though not strictly a project management tool, Google Workspace can be used to manage simple tasks and projects. The service comes with a host of apps, cloud storage and even web hosting with a domain for your business. It is also great for collaborating, storing all your data and managing documents.
A freelancer could divide clients’ deliverables into different shared folders while managing their personal task flow in another project management software like Trello or Asana.
Because Workspace encompasses many Google services, such as Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar, Workspace can be a useful central hub. Plus, once you feel ready, you can integrate your Google account with most popular project management apps on the market.
Google Workspace Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Real-time collaboration: You can work with your clients or external collaborators on the same document in real time and check the document history if you need to know who made each change.
AI Options: Google Workspace embeds AI across its app via Gemini, allowing users to summarize, draft, create content and more.
Search using optical character recognition (OCR): Searching within Google documents is easy, as you can find them by content, not just by title. It also indexes PDFs and images and is capable of reading them.
Google Workspace Hands-On Testing
Some people might think that Google Workspace only includes Google Drive functionalities for storing photos or creating documents, but it’s actually quite a comprehensive tool. If used smartly, Google Workspace can assist in creating presentations for clients, setting up spreadsheets for budgeting, managing files and advanced options like hosting your brand’s domain.
You can leave as many comments as you want in documents and resolve them once they’ve been addressed.
Google Workspace is naturally not built to track tasks or project goals, but it works perfectly as part of a larger infrastructure. Collaboration is where Google Workspace shines, as options like co-editing documents in real time, assigning action items and receiving notifications make it much more valuable than a simple text or spreadsheet processor.
Some people might think that Google Workspace only includes Google Drive functionalities for storing photos or creating documents, but it’s actually quite a comprehensive tool. If used smartly, Google Workspace can assist in creating presentations for clients, setting up spreadsheets for budgeting, managing files and advanced options like hosting your brand’s domain.
Google Workspace is naturally not built to track tasks or project goals, but it works perfectly as part of a larger infrastructure. Collaboration is where Google Workspace shines, as options like co-editing documents in real time, assigning action items and receiving notifications make it much more valuable than a simple text or spreadsheet processor.
Google Workspace Pricing & Value
Google Workspace Essentials is the 15GB free plan, but if you’re a solopreneur handling many files, you can try its paid options for 14 days with its free trial. Paid plans start at an affordable $7 per user per month with the Starter plan, which includes 30GB of pooled storage, custom business email, Meet, and AI tools.
Solopreneurs need reliable and efficient structures to manage their many responsibilities. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or forget about important tasks when working in chaos. Project management tools can help solo business owners stay organized, focused and productive.
Better time management: The difference between going over a scattered to-do list and having a competent software that can alert you to due dates, time tracking and progress while structuring workflows is like night and day.
Centralized control: Having too many projects in different places is not a good idea and could lead to wasted energy. Having everything in one place means less mental fuzz and better big-picture organization.
Improved goals: Project management tools let users focus more on project management methodologies and measurable tasks. It’s easier to grow when you have a series of small steps to follow instead of just one big goal.
Client communication: Many of these tools have great communication features that can help users avoid back-and-forth emailing. Having shared projects or visible timelines is helpful for both solopreneurs and their clients.
Final Thoughts
The right project management software can not only assist solopreneurs with organization and task management but also make the whole process more efficient by saving time. As a solopreneur, you might find the learning curve tough with new software, but you will gain a lasting advantage if you push through.
There is no such thing as a perfect project management platform. Some have visual interfaces, like Trello, while some are highly customizable and feel like a perfect mix of it all, like ClickUp. Most have free trials and money-back guarantees. Try a few out — you could even end up using more than one.
Which tools resonated with you the most? Have you tried any of them before? Are you considering trying any in particular? Leave your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks for reading.
ClickUp is the best project management tool for solopreneurs, as it includes advanced features and an intuitive interface. Other great tools for solopreneurs are Trello and Asana.
The best project management software for freelancers is Trello due to its simplicity and ease of use. Its user-friendly interface makes it a great tool for individuals and small teams who need quick solutions in just a few clicks.
Yes, Asana is good for solopreneurs thanks to its comprehensive interface, task hierarchy and management features. Other great project management tools for entrepreneurs are Trello, ClickUp and Airtable.
Key Takeaways: The Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs
ClickUp— A highly flexible all-in-one tool that’s perfect for solopreneurs with a lot on their plate. The free plan is solid, but the best value comes with the ClickUp Unlimited plan, costing just $7 per user per month, annually.
Trello— The go-to software for kanban lovers and beginners. The Trello free plan is good for small projects, while the Premium plan is ideal for ambitious solopreneurs.
Asana— Ideal for projects with structured task processes. The Starter plan is the best deal for solo business owners, though the Asana free plan also ranks as one of the best options.
Airtable— Merges the best parts of spreadsheets and databases into a project management tool. The best offer is the Airtable Team plan, but you can also try the free plan.
Todoist— Great option for entrepreneurs who need to focus on productivity and want a minimalist tool. The Todoist free plan is accessible and has enough features to enhance your daily planning.
Basecamp— Built for simple but strong collaboration, making it a great option for solopreneurs managing lots of clients. Try the Basecamp Plus plan free for 30 days.
Google Workspace — The obvious choice for file storage, document editing and sharing. Its seamless integrations across Google apps make it a powerful all-in-one productivity solution. The Essentials plan provides 15GB free.
The goal is to lower stress levels: Although solopreneurs often work fewer hours and can take more time off than businesses with teams, they tend to experience higher levels of stress.1
Efficiency depends on tools: 82% of companies rely on work and project management tools to boost efficiency across their teams.2
AI-powered tools prove their value: Companies using AI in project management reported a 93% positive return on investment.3
The Best Solopreneur Project Management Tool
Solopreneurs understand the hustle of managing many different duties at the same time. They usually perform tasks that go from budgeting to content creation to client management. Over time, this pivoting of work can become exhausting to manage. That’s where the best project management software for solopreneurs can save the day.
Management tools can help any solo business owner stay organized and productive while taking some of the burden off their shoulders. Features like automations, templates and automatic reports can make a significant difference in a solopreneur’s daily routine.
If you want to stop being an octopus worker juggling endless tasks on your own, this guide is for you. Unlike our general roundup of the best project management tools, here we’ve ranked the best options based on what most solopreneurs need. Once you understand how these tools function and get them working for you, it’ll feel like having a personal assistant.
Cloudwards’ Choice: ClickUp
Cloudwards’ Choice: ClickUp
Sofia Oliber is a Cloudwards expert in project management software.
For solopreneurs who need flexibility without sacrificing simplicity and swiftness, I recommend ClickUp. You can set up tasks, create documents and manage due dates all in one place. It also offers automations and more than 1,000 integrations, like Gmail and Slack, to enhance communication with clients.
I’ll admit that learning to master it may take some time, but it’s worth it once you’ve fully integrated it into your routine. You can try ClickUp for free, or give ClickUp’s Unlimited plan a try to see if it’s the right fit for you. If it doesn’t work, you can always appeal to the 100% money-back guarantee policy.
When choosing the right project management tools for solopreneurs, we kept their needs in mind and focused on simplicity, speed, price and overall routine optimization. Solopreneurs might not be managing big teams, but they are dealing with a lot of tasks alone. This is exactly why usability and efficiency mattered the most when making our decisions.
Discover 10 fundamentals of project management
Understand step-by-step plans for PM execution
Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners
Ease of use: We searched for intuitive designs that could handle everything a solopreneur needs in one place while still being comprehensible.
Task management: Each tool needs to be able to handle at least basic tasks and project management. In the end, the main goal is for solopreneurs to be able to manage their workload easily.
Advanced project management tools: More complex features like effective views, drag-and-drop functionalities, automations and time tracking influenced our choice of services.
Value for money: Many tools offer great free and starter plans. Other plans can be a bit more expensive but include more robust features that may be worth the investment. It depends on each solopreneur’s priorities, but we looked for tools that offer good value for money.
*Price is per user
How to Choose the Best Project Management Tool for Solopreneurs
As much as we may wish for one, there is no perfect all-in-one solution because not all entrepreneurs’ journeys are the same. While some may be able to rely on just one tool, others might need several of them. Solopreneurs must pay attention to the following when choosing a platform:
Flexibility and customization: Solopreneurs are flexible souls by nature. They often play multiple roles, which defines the way they perceive projects. Their chosen project management tool must adapt to their work style.
Price and value: When working solo, budget is a huge priority. Many tools offer basic solutions for a fair price — or even for free, though some are quite restrictive.
Ease of use: Intuitive interfaces can be time savers, and solopreneurs value time above all. Tools with easy learning curves will be their best allies.
Pre-made templates: Nothing compares to finding the right template for your needs. A good master template is one less headache for solopreneurs.
Automations: Recurring tasks can suck the motivation out of everyone; entrepreneurs need to be able to automate tedious parts of their processes.
You can choose dark or light mode on ClickUp.
The free plan could suffice for solopreneurs, though the Unlimited plan offers the best value for features.
Pros:
Customizable task views
All-in-one features for tasks, time tracking & project planning
Great value for money
Cons:
May be too much for simple project management
Steeper learning curve
Mobile app could be better
Who is it for:Freelancers, coaches, teachers, course creators and anyone who might need to expand in the short term.
ClickUp is a good solution for entrepreneurs in search of a complete yet intuitive software solution. Within the ClickUp platform, users can find lists, tables, documents, goals and dashboards. It’s competent enough to help you plan an entire business sales pipeline and expand it later. Plus, the templates, task assignment options and dashboards are ideal for maximizing productivity.
For example, a competitive freelance designer can use ClickUp to manage projects and client requests, set up weekly sprints, track hours spent on each project, and monitor changes and edits.
ClickUp Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Multiple views: Different views are always handy when it comes to project management, as they allow you to visualize your project in different ways for multiple insights. ClickUp includes more than 15 view options.
Goal tracking and dashboards: ClickUp lets you set measurable goals and even connect tasks to them. The dashboard view is one way to ensure goals remain visible.
Good AI assistant: ClickUp’s AI assistant helps with summarizing tasks, writing documents or prompts and even responding to messages.
ClickUp Hands-On Testing
Where ClickUp truly shines is in its flexibility. While it can take some time to master the interface, once you’re there it feels great. Creating dashboards and linking goals to important tasks is a simple and practical way to keep productivity up. Additionally, the fields and columns in your projects are fully personalizable.
You can see your custom fields in the checklist view or in the task description.
ClickUp’s AI assistant, Brain, is also worth mentioning. It can suggest options when creating new tasks, fields, projects and more, and you can ask it questions. The mobile version is more limited than the desktop version, but that’s typical on other platforms as well. The app version doesn’t feel as intuitive and optimized for small screens as it could be, though.
ClickUp Pricing & Value
The free plan is solid for solopreneurs, as it includes unlimited tasks and members. However, the best deal is the Unlimited plan, which starts at $7 per month per user — with no minimum users — and adds features like more integrations with third-party apps and more than 1,000 automations.
The higher tiers are Business and Enterprise, which unlock more advanced reporting and admin tools that solopreneurs probably won’t need unless they’re planning to bring on a team. To learn more about the service, read our ClickUp review or try any of its plans yourself. You can also count on the 30-day money-back guarantee if it’s not the right fit.
Free Forever
Basic functionality with some limitations
Sometimes a simple kanban board is more than enough
Trello’s free version is one of the best around, but if you need more power, you can try the Premium plan free for 14 days.
Pros:
Visual, intuitive interface
Easy learning curve & perfect for one-person workflows
Easily expandable power-ups
Cons:
Not the best for complex tasks or multiple projects
Lacks advanced insights & reports
Boards can get visually crowded with tasks
Who is it for:Solopreneurs who want an easy, visual and quick tool to track uncomplicated processes.
If Trello is anything, it’s “easy” and “visual.” Trello’s kanban board system makes it one of the simplest project management platforms available. You can easily get the hang of it in a matter of minutes or hours, and its drag-and-drop functionalities make it very user-friendly.
Additionally, the platform is highly customizable and scalable thanks to its extensive and free power-up menu. If you feel like you’re missing a feature while using Trello, give the power-up menu a look — you might find the answer you need.
Trello Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Kanban boards: This Agile project management tool is designed to streamline project management. It’s perfect for personal projects and solopreneurs.
Customizable lists and cards: If you are organized and have a clear idea of your project’s goal, Trello’s simplicity is an ally. You can edit and use lists and cards for more than just the “to do” and “done” columns.
Automation tool: Trello allows users to automate repetitive and daily tasks with its automation tool, called Butler.
Trello Hands-On Testing
Creating boards and lists in Trello is fast and fun; you can quickly build your project workflow and add extra features like the calendar power-up, even on the free plan. You can customize colors, change the background and add stickers, which improves the platform’s already visually appealing interface.
Trello power-ups are a great way to enhance boards.
Even Trello’s automations are simple and easy to use, but the options available with the free version are quite limited. The automations are better and more supportive when you upgrade to a paid plan.
Trello Pricing & Value
Unlike other project management tools, Trello offers a solid free plan for beginners, with unlimited cards and power-ups. The Premium plan is the perfect balance of simplicity and functionality for solopreneurs. For $10 per month, you get advanced features such as more views and workspace-level templates. You can learn more in our full Trello review, or try any plan to get started.
Price is per user, Unlimited boards, Custom fields, Invite guests
Premium
Price is per user, Several new views
Enterprise
Price is per user, Advanced admin & security settings. Discounts for larger teams.
Managing structured workflows is easy with Asana’s interface.
Asana has one of the best free plans, and you can try the Starter for free for 30 days.
Pros:
Deep task management tools & project hierarchy
Tools to track project progress
Great mix of views & a comprehensive home menu
Cons:
Best features restricted to paid plans
Reports not extensive enough
Notifications can be overwhelming
Who is it for:Solopreneurs managing projects with complex task prioritization and multiple milestones.
Love for Asana comes from realizing how easy it is to structure projects with this tool. Users can break down their projects into sections, tasks and subtasks while visualizing their workflow with different views. This system is ideal when running multiple projects and subtasks at once — a workflow to which solopreneurs are no strangers.
Pre-built templates and automation features are also handy for saving valuable time. Solo business owners such as designers or developers managing complex clients with big deliverables and multi-step projects can truly benefit from Asana’s interface. Although Asana’s free plan is limited, it still offers amazing value, making it one of the best free project management tools.
Asana Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Task hierarchies: Asana makes managing tasks and subtasks for a simple project foolproof. Additionally, you can group them under your project goals.
Project permissions: Even if you work alone, you might need to share your boards or projects with clients. With Asana, you can set project, task or team permissions.
Integrations: The tool lets you seamlessly integrate third-party apps like Slack, Gmail and Zoom.
Asana Hands-On Testing
The interface is a mix of simplicity and professionalism. Creating projects and tasks and assigning them is intuitive. The option to link subtasks with a general goal is ideal for projects with competitive goals. Almost everything feels neatly organized, and the left-hand sidebar helps you jump between workspaces with zero friction.
Asana’s free version includes a kanban board view.
Asana also lets you quickly switch between views depending on the insights you want to visualize. Plus, Asana’s templates are quite good and usually need only minimal editing. You can also choose between dark and light mode on this platform.
Asana Pricing & Value
Asana offers an excellent free option for individuals and small teams. If you want more advanced features, its best deal is the Starter plan, which costs $10.99 per month per user and adds automations, milestones and timeline views. The Advanced plan has a big jump in price and includes advanced tools like reporting and admin tools that solopreneurs likely won’t need.
Read our Asana review to learn more about specific differences between plan options. You can try any of the paid plans with the generous 30-day free trial.
Starter
Price is per user. unlimited users, expanded features
Advanced
Price is per user. unlimited users, even more features
Enterprise
Custom pricing, advanced security features
Airtable’s spreadsheet hybrid offers the perfect blend of data-driven and visual solutions.
Airtable’s free plan is a solid choice, though the Team plan adds advanced views and automations.
Pros:
Excellent tool for data-heavy projects
Great customizable templates available
Perfect for spreadsheet lovers thanks to its column and row layout
Cons:
Getting the hang of its interface can take time
May be overkill for simple tasks & project tracking
No built-in advanced communication features
Who is it for: Marketing managers, virtual assistants or content creators who manage large loads of data with multiple editing steps and competitive key performance indicators (KPIs).
If a database and a spreadsheet had a baby, it would be Airtable. This software can come in super handy when organizing complex information and projects that change over time.
However, if you are not a fan of spreadsheets, you might find its interface a bit overwhelming.
A marketing manager trying to launch an online course could use Airtable for many purposes. They could track important tasks and monitor progress in the grid view, manage content in the gallery view and oversee the general project in the calendar timeline. Airtable can bring many perspectives to a single project.
Airtable Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Multiple views: You can switch between grid, calendar, gallery, kanban and timeline views. This is ideal for solopreneurs who want to visualize their workflow in a specific style.
Custom fields: Unlike regular sheets, Airtable lets you deeply customize its fields and create attachments, checkboxes and many other fields.
Professional templates: Airtable offers a vast template library with comprehensive and ready-to-go options, such as product trackers and budget management templates.
Airtable Hands-On Testing
While Airtable’s interface is complete and modern, it can also be a bit overwhelming. The learning process can feel like an uphill battle. However, once you’ve conquered it, you can utilize advanced features such as task automation and customization, and invite collaborators to your projects.
Solopreneurs in need of creating a quick and organized content calendar will love the social media calendar template.
Airtable excels at social media management templates to ease marketing professionals’ work. Each social media post is added as a date, with complete descriptions and all the media attached, whether that be a video, an image or another file type. Additionally, each workspace can be changed and personalized depending on the user’s needs.
Airtable Pricing & Value
Airtable’s free option offers unlimited bases and 1,000 records, which are items within a board. The Team plan offers the best value, at $20 per month, and includes a Gantt chart view and 50,000 records per base. The Business and Enterprise plans involve a huge jump in price and may be too much for a solopreneur in need of something simpler.
Up to five users. Unlimited bases. 1,000 records, 1GB of storage per base. Revision and snapshot history for two weeks. Views: grid, calendar, form, Kanban board, gallery and list. 100 automations per month.
Team
Everything in free, plus unlimited users, 50,000 records and 20GB of storage space per base. Adds Gantt charts and timeline views. 25,000 automations per month.
Business
Everything in Team, plus 125,000 records, 100GB of storage per base, 100,000 automation per month. Admin controls, single sign-on (SSO) and premium integrations with third-party services.
Enterprise
Everything in Business, plus 500,000 records, 1TB of storage per base, and 500,000 automation monthly.
The Todoist interface is simple and ideal for focused solo work.
Todoist has one of the hottest deals on the market, with a free plan and a Pro option starting at $4 per month.
Pros:
Clean, minimalist interface
Perfect for generating habits & staying focused
Includes templates
Cons:
Not good for solopreneurs planning to grow a team
Only three views available
Lacks complex project management features
Who is it for: Freelancers, writers and solopreneurs who need a tool to manage their daily tasks and stay focused in the process.
Despite including powerful features like automations and reminders, Todoist is truly more of a task management tool than a project management tool. It’s perfect for solopreneurs who want to get work done without distraction and maintain a minimalist visual approach to their to-dos. The platform allows users to organize tasks with priorities, tags and schedules.
At its core, Todoist is a great tool for managing routines and creating habits. Let’s say you have a newsletter. Todoist makes it easy to break down repetitive tasks like “do the research,” “write the newsletter” and “schedule send,” while automatically assigning them to your weekly or monthly workflow.
Todoist Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Task priorities: You can use colors and tags to prioritize and filter tasks.
Calendar view: Solopreneurs with many due dates will find this view handy, though it’s available only on the Pro and Business plans.
Recurring tasks: You can set due dates and times for tasks to repeat automatically, similar to what you’d do with your usual calendar tool.
Todoist Hands-On Testing
The biggest advantage of Todoist is its distraction-free and minimalist interface. The learning curve is almost nonexistent, and you can quickly learn how to categorize and organize your tasks.
Add custom task reminders with any paid plan.
The mobile app deserves a special mention for its responsive and easy layout. This comes as no surprise, though, given the original app’s minimalism. However, more advanced project managers will feel the lack of advanced features like views, complete reports and complex communication tools, which is the main downside of the platform.
Todoist Pricing & Value
Todoist’s free plan includes five active projects, as well as basic filters and automations. The Pro plan is the best option, as it unlocks custom task reminders, deadlines and an AI assistant for just $4 per month.
Todoist is one of the most affordable tools out there. Check out our full Todoist review to learn more about it.
Free
1 main user
5 active projects
5 collaborators (per project)
5MB file uploads
Pro
1 main user
300 active projects
25 collaborators (per project)
100MB file uploads
Business
Multiple users, (price is per user)
500 active projects (per member)
50 people (per project)
You can assign and add notes, due dates and notifications to your tasks in Basecamp.
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Basecamp offers a Plus plan for $15 per month.
Pros:
Great tool for managing client communication
Flat-rate pricing for unlimited users
Uncomplicated, centralized interface
Cons:
Managing workflows beyond basic tasks can be challenging
Limited views & task dependencies
Free plan allows only one project
Who is it for:Solopreneurs with client-centered businesses who need a great communication tool but have simple project processes.
Basecamp’s interface feels very different from the rest of the project management tools on this list — it acts more like an online workspace where users can handle parts of a project separately. It’s great for entrepreneurs who need a platform to complete client work, share files, track progress and communicate efficiently.
On a paid plan, you can create a separate project for each client and even dedicate a space for elements like messages, documents and task lists. Basecamp also has a group chat option that could work as an alternative to email messaging or Slack, making it perfect for more centralized communication.
Basecamp Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Message options: Some of Basecamp’s most popular features are its robust communication tools, including message boards, real-time chat and private pings.
Simple to-do lists: You can also access kanban-style card boards and simple to-do lists to visually track your project progress.
Document and file hub: Every project has a dedicated space to upload documents and files, which can be sorted by date or folder, or manually reordered.
Basecamp Hands-On Testing
Basecamp’s interface feels fresh and original. Although it includes similar features to other robust project management tools, the layout is different. Creating new projects and workflows takes just a few steps. However, similar to Todoist, Basecamp might feel more like a task management tool, as it lacks built-in complex tools for project management.
All project previews in Basecamp have a similar appearance.
The collaboration tools are very useful, but the rest of the tools are a bit limited for complicated projects. Moreover, these communication tools are useful for solopreneurs only if they maintain constant communication with their collaborators or clients.
Basecamp Pricing & Value
Basecamp’s pricing includes a per-month and a flat-rate option. There’s also a free alternative that supports one project and 1GB of storage. When considering value for money, Basecamp Plus is the best option for individuals, at $15 per month.
Per user. Unlimited projects, Unlimited users, All features. 500GB storage.
Basecamp Pro Unlimited
Unlimited users. 5TB storage. Priority support.
Google Workspace Essentials includes 15GB free, while Starter costs $7 per user per month, annually.
Pros:
Intuitive, fresh interface that almost everyone knows
Integrates with most project management tools
Highly competitive pricing
Cons:
Not really a project management app & lacks complex features
Items can easily become cluttered
Offline options require extra setup
Who is it for:Solopreneurs on a budget who need the simplest of tools to manage multiple files and documents.
Though not strictly a project management tool, Google Workspace can be used to manage simple tasks and projects. The service comes with a host of apps, cloud storage and even web hosting with a domain for your business. It is also great for collaborating, storing all your data and managing documents.
A freelancer could divide clients’ deliverables into different shared folders while managing their personal task flow in another project management software like Trello or Asana.
Because Workspace encompasses many Google services, such as Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar, Workspace can be a useful central hub. Plus, once you feel ready, you can integrate your Google account with most popular project management apps on the market.
Google Workspace Key Features for Solopreneurs:
Real-time collaboration: You can work with your clients or external collaborators on the same document in real time and check the document history if you need to know who made each change.
AI Options: Google Workspace embeds AI across its app via Gemini, allowing users to summarize, draft, create content and more.
Search using optical character recognition (OCR): Searching within Google documents is easy, as you can find them by content, not just by title. It also indexes PDFs and images and is capable of reading them.
Google Workspace Hands-On Testing
Some people might think that Google Workspace only includes Google Drive functionalities for storing photos or creating documents, but it’s actually quite a comprehensive tool. If used smartly, Google Workspace can assist in creating presentations for clients, setting up spreadsheets for budgeting, managing files and advanced options like hosting your brand’s domain.
You can leave as many comments as you want in documents and resolve them once they’ve been addressed.
Google Workspace is naturally not built to track tasks or project goals, but it works perfectly as part of a larger infrastructure. Collaboration is where Google Workspace shines, as options like co-editing documents in real time, assigning action items and receiving notifications make it much more valuable than a simple text or spreadsheet processor.
Some people might think that Google Workspace only includes Google Drive functionalities for storing photos or creating documents, but it’s actually quite a comprehensive tool. If used smartly, Google Workspace can assist in creating presentations for clients, setting up spreadsheets for budgeting, managing files and advanced options like hosting your brand’s domain.
Google Workspace is naturally not built to track tasks or project goals, but it works perfectly as part of a larger infrastructure. Collaboration is where Google Workspace shines, as options like co-editing documents in real time, assigning action items and receiving notifications make it much more valuable than a simple text or spreadsheet processor.
Google Workspace Pricing & Value
Google Workspace Essentials is the 15GB free plan, but if you’re a solopreneur handling many files, you can try its paid options for 14 days with its free trial. Paid plans start at an affordable $7 per user per month with the Starter plan, which includes 30GB of pooled storage, custom business email, Meet, and AI tools.
Solopreneurs need reliable and efficient structures to manage their many responsibilities. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or forget about important tasks when working in chaos. Project management tools can help solo business owners stay organized, focused and productive.
Better time management: The difference between going over a scattered to-do list and having a competent software that can alert you to due dates, time tracking and progress while structuring workflows is like night and day.
Centralized control: Having too many projects in different places is not a good idea and could lead to wasted energy. Having everything in one place means less mental fuzz and better big-picture organization.
Improved goals: Project management tools let users focus more on project management methodologies and measurable tasks. It’s easier to grow when you have a series of small steps to follow instead of just one big goal.
Client communication: Many of these tools have great communication features that can help users avoid back-and-forth emailing. Having shared projects or visible timelines is helpful for both solopreneurs and their clients.
Final Thoughts
The right project management software can not only assist solopreneurs with organization and task management but also make the whole process more efficient by saving time. As a solopreneur, you might find the learning curve tough with new software, but you will gain a lasting advantage if you push through.
There is no such thing as a perfect project management platform. Some have visual interfaces, like Trello, while some are highly customizable and feel like a perfect mix of it all, like ClickUp. Most have free trials and money-back guarantees. Try a few out — you could even end up using more than one.
Which tools resonated with you the most? Have you tried any of them before? Are you considering trying any in particular? Leave your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks for reading.
ClickUp is the best project management tool for solopreneurs, as it includes advanced features and an intuitive interface. Other great tools for solopreneurs are Trello and Asana.
The best project management software for freelancers is Trello due to its simplicity and ease of use. Its user-friendly interface makes it a great tool for individuals and small teams who need quick solutions in just a few clicks.
Yes, Asana is good for solopreneurs thanks to its comprehensive interface, task hierarchy and management features. Other great project management tools for entrepreneurs are Trello, ClickUp and Airtable.
