Limited features on lower-tier plans, expensive for large teams
Yes, unlimited users
$10
Larger teams
Advanced proofing & approval tools for creative assets
Complex setup, steep learning curve
No
$10
Ad & marketing agencies
Built for creative teams, strong time-tracking & budgeting tools
Limited customization & collaboration
Yes, <10 users
$5
Solopreneurs or small creative teams
Affordable, easy to set up & use
Best features available as add-ons only
Yes, <10 users
$5
Simple projects, kanban lovers
Ultimate simplicity, Butler automation
Board view only, no time tracking
Yes, <5 users
$4
Small to mid-sized agencies
Easy to use, works well with Zoho ecosystem
Limited integrations
Yes, <20 users
$15
Growing creative or design teams
Easy to use, useful collaboration features
Lacks advanced features like automations
*Price is per user, per month **Unique Selling Point
Cloudwards Hands-On Testing
I tested essential features across different software to get an accurate sense of how they perform for real-world creative use cases. The tables below summarize my findings.
Feature Comparison Overview
The table below highlights the key features available in the tools I recommend. However, availability varies depending on the plan you opt for, with higher-tier plans being the most feature-rich.
Tool:
View Types
Time Tracking
Custom Fields
Dashboards
Real-Time Collab
6: list, board, timeline, calendar, etc.
Yes: Pro plan
6+: board, timeline, Gantt, map, etc.
Yes: limited on lower tiers
5+: board, list, calendar, etc.
Yes: Advanced plan
6: table, board, list, calendar, chart, Gantt
Yes: Business plan
3+: to-do list, chart, Gantt, etc.
Yes
3+: kanban, chart, Gantt, etc.
Yes: Teams plan
3+: board, timeline, table, etc.
No
3+: list, kanban, Gantt, etc.
Yes: Premium plan
To-do list
No
Platform & Administration
All of these software solutions offer varying storage space, file management options and permissions depending on the plan you choose.
Tool:
Platform Apps
Storage
File Management
Permissions
Web
500MB-1000GB
File column, gallery view, versioning, uploads from cloud drives
Board, dashboard, workspace & account level
Web
60MB-unlimited
Attachments, integrations with cloud drives
Folder, list & space level
Web
Unlimited (100MB max per file)
Attach/upload files to tasks, comments; integrates with cloud drives
User permissions, app controls
Web
2GB-15GB per user
Upload files from local/computer, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc; file versioning
Access roles: full/editor/limited/read-only. Custom roles for Enterprise.
Web
10GB (additional storage available as add-on)
Agency-specific file types; email share with external members
Allows uploads of up to 10GB per attachment, version control, linking to external cloud files, folder structure
Role-based access, with admin/owner able to restrict edits/deletes, limit chat/history, manage clients as guests
Integration & Automations
Most of the software I recommend can connect to other work apps you may be using. The only exception is FunctionFox, which is designed as a standalone tool for creative agencies.
Tool:
Integration Count
Top Integrations
Native vs 3rd-Party
Automation Features
200+
Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Jira, Dropbox
Mostly native
Workflow builder with triggers & actions (e.g., auto-notify, auto-create items)
1,000+
Slack, GitHub, Google Sheets, Zapier
Balanced
Custom integrations/API, drag-&-drop automation of tasks & triggers
200+ native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Figma
Balanced
“Rules” to automate tasks (e.g., when task complete → trigger action)
Thousands through Wrike Integrate
Google Drive, Zoom, GitHub, Jira
Mostly third-party
Powerful workflow automation, AI assistance, status-based triggers & approvals
Very limited native integrations
None
Native only
Agency ops-focused automation (less broad than general PM tools)
15 native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Google Drive, Calendar, Dropbox, QuickBooks
Balanced
Drag-&-drop “recipes” for cross-app automations/triggers
Several native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox
Balanced
Built-in automation (Butler) with triggers/actions, quota limits
50+ Zoho apps & thousands via Zapier
Confluence, Bitbucket, Jenkins
Mostly third-party
Workflow rules, custom triggers/actions, blueprints for complex flows
Several native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Zapier, Google Calendar, Slack, time-tracking add-ons
Mostly third-party
No automation options
Usability & Performance Assessment
I prioritized user-friendliness and focused on software that’s easy for teams to adopt. This ensures that creative professionals can focus on their work and not get caught up in trying to learn complex tools.
Tool:
Learning Curve
Interface Design
Mobile Experience
Customer Support
Easy
Visual, color-coded, intuitive
Very good
24/7 chat, extensive docs
Intermediate
Modern & highly customizable
Good
Chat, email support
Easy-intermediate
Structured & intuitive
Good
Community, paid support
Intermediate-difficult
Flexible but complex
Good
Email, community forum
Intermediate
Straightforward & customizable
Good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Colorful & user-friendly
Good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Minimalist, card-based
Very good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Basic & user-friendly
Good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Simple, but navigation feels clunky
Good
Extensive docs, community
The Best Project Management Software for Creative Agencies
Below are my top nine options for project management tools that creative agencies can use, starting with my top pick, monday.com.
1. monday.com — Best Creative Agency Project Management Software
monday.com is the best software for any creative or marketing agency.
Get started with the Standard plan’s free trial.
Pros:
Intuitive & easy to use
Easily adaptable to different workflows
Strong automation & integration capabilities
Cons:
Very limited free plan
Can be pricey for larger teams
Who is it for: Creative and cross-functional teams of all sizes.
monday.com is a visual project management tool that lets you set up customizable boards for different workflows. It’s easy to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to keep everyone on the same page, track progress and meet deadlines.
What Makes monday.com Special
monday.com tops our list of the best project management software because it combines a clean visual layout with deep customization and automation. This allows teams to quickly build workflows that fit their specific goals and requirements. Read our monday.com review for more.
When to Choose monday.com
I recommend opting for monday.com’s Standard plan if you’re a small or mid-sized creative team looking for a user-friendly but customizable tool. It gives you helpful automations, useful integrations and clear reporting dashboards, and it costs $12 per user per month, annually.
Basic
Minimum users: 3;
All prices per user
Standard
Minimum users: 3;
All prices per user
More plans
Pro
Minimum users: 3;
All prices per user
Enterprise
Enterprise-level features.
2. ClickUp — Customizable Project Management Software With a Generous Free Plan
ClickUp is a highly customizable, all-in-one workspace for creatives.
Try ClickUp’s excellent free plan to see if it’s a fit.
Pros:
Highly customizable workflows
Generous free plan for small teams
All-in-one platform for tasks, chat & docs
Who is it for: Creative or marketing teams that need granular customization.
ClickUp is a great free project management tool, and its paid tiers are competitively priced. Although it can seem a bit overwhelming to new users, it’s a comprehensive solution for any kind of agency work.
What Makes ClickUp Special
ClickUp is an all-in-one system with many features for task management, collaborative docs, team collaboration and time tracking. The platform can be customized to fit different workflows, and it eliminates the need for multiple tools. Read our ClickUp review for more.
When to Choose ClickUp
I recommend choosing ClickUp if you want complete control over granular aspects of your workflow and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve. The Unlimited plan is a great deal, at just $7 per user per month, but even the free plan is a viable choice for small teams.
Free Forever
Basic functionality with some limitations
3. Asana — Intuitive Resource Management Software for Creative Agencies
Asana is a structured and intuitive software solution for agencies.
Try Asana’s basic free plan to get a feel for it.
Pros:
Clean & intuitive interface
Extensive customization options
Strong resource management features
Cons:
Free & lower-tier plans quite limited
Who is it for: Marketing teams seeking a structured way to manage projects and resources.
Asana is an intuitive and straightforward software for real-time visibility into workloads, timelines and responsibilities. It streamlines collaboration and milestone tracking, making it a great choice for marketing campaigns or creative businesses.
What Makes Asana Special
Asana is a team-focused app that makes it easy to manage projects and collaborate. Its built-in resource management and timeline tools help creative agencies balance workloads and deliver projects on time. Learn more about the software in our Asana review.
When to Choose Asana
Pick Asana if you’re a project manager looking for a simple tool to organize projects and resources. The Starter plan is a solid choice for growing teams, though features like approvals and proofing are available only on the Advanced plan.
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
4. Wrike — Advanced Proofing and Workflow Tools for Ad and Design Agencies
Wrike offers advanced options to streamline creative workflows.
Dive into Wrike with its free plan.
Pros:
Robust reporting & resource management
Customizable workflows for large creative teams
Advanced proofing & approval tools for creative assets
Who is it for: Larger creative agencies and design teams.
Wrike provides tools like dynamic request forms, automated workflows, cross-tagging and real-time workload views. This makes it ideal for managing complex workflows and business operations in larger agencies juggling multiple clients. Read our Wrike review for all the details.
What Makes Wrike Special
Wrike is powerful for team productivity, with robust proofing and approval features to streamline feedback on creative assets. Its customizable workflows and advanced reporting enable full visibility and control of complex, multi-client projects.
When to Choose Wrike
I recommend Wrike if you manage multiple clients or large-scale creative projects. The Business plan is customizable for up to 200 team members, and the platform supports guest approvals and proofing for more than 30 file formats.
Free
Unlimited users. Basic features.
Team
Price is per user. Plans for 5, 10 and 15 users.
Business
Price is per user. No monthly option. Plans for 5 to 200 users.
More plans
Enterprise
For large teams; Enterprise-grade security and scalability; Plans for 5 to an unlimited number of users.
Pinnacle
For teams with complex work needs; Advanced tools and analytics for complex work; 5 to unlimited users
5. FunctionFox — Specialized Project Management Software for Marketing Agencies
FunctionFox is built especially for creative agencies.
No free plan, cheapest option is $10 per user per month.
Pros:
Simple & easy to use
Built specifically for creative agencies
Efficient time-tracking & budgeting tools
Cons:
No free plan
Limited collaboration tools
Who is it for: Creative agencies, design studios, freelancers and small marketing teams.
FunctionFox is an agency management software solution with built-in features for tracking time, budgeting and reporting. It’s specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of a creative workflow. Learn more about it in our FunctionFox review.
What Makes FunctionFox Special
This tool has a powerful blend of project-tracking and financial management tools designed for creative professionals. FunctionFox’s simple interface helps agencies stay organized and profitable without getting lost in too many complex features.
When to Choose FunctionFox
FunctionFox is a solid choice for creative or ad agencies that need a simple project planning solution with time-tracking and expense-tracking features. Opt for the Premier plan to gain access to advanced features like Gantt charts and resource forecasting.
Classic
**3 user minimum
**Price is per user
Premier
**3 user minimum
**Price is per user
6. Hive — Collaborative Workspace for Fast-Paced Creative Processes
Hive is a simple and affordable tool for agencies.
In addition to a free plan, the premium plans are very affordable.
Pros:
Easy to use
Cheap pricing & good free plan
Strong automation & approval workflows
Cons:
Some features available only as add-ons
Who is it for:Solopreneurs, creative teams or marketing agencies looking for affordable workflow software.
Hive offers campaign-friendly features like proofing and approval tools, task templates, automated workflows and centralized communication. This provides teams an affordable way to maintain efficient, cross-functional coordination across multiple campaigns. Read our Hive review for more details.
What Makes Hive Special
Luckily Hive is affordably priced, with an entry-level plan that costs only $5 per user month and a more feature-rich Teams plan for just $12 per user per month. It also offers a free plan, which makes it suitable for solopreneurs or small teams on a budget.
When to Choose Hive
Choose Hive if you need affordable and user-friendly software for your agency workflow. It can help you manage multiple campaigns with quick client feedback and communication. However, you need to pay extra for its best features, such as approvals.
Free
Max 2 users;
200MB storage;
Up to 10 users;
Unlimited tasks;
Unlimited collaborative notes;
Gantt, Kanban, calendar & table views;
Email in Hive;
Desktop, iOS and Android apps;
Native chat messaging;
Custom emojis
Starter
Everything in Free plus:
Unlimited storage
Upload files on a task or project.
Up to 10 workspace members
Add up to 10 full access users into your Hive workspace
Up to 10 projects
Create up to 10 projects
Gantt view
View your projects by task timeline and dependency.
Cloud storage integrations
In-app calendar
Zoom and Slack from Hive
AI Assistant
Teams
Price per user;
Everything in “Free”;
Unlimited files & storage;
Unlimited workspace members;
Workspace add-ons;
External guest access;
Shareable forms;
Time tracking;
In-app calendar;
Cloud storage integrations;
Zoom and Slack from Hive
Enterprise
Everything in Teams;
Flexible add-ons included;
Enhanced security and permission controls;
Custom analytics and reporting;
Unlimited onboarding;
Dedicated Customer Success Manager;
Enterprise API;
Access to Professional Services
7. Trello — Kanban Board Software to Streamline Creative or Design Projects
Trello is an easy-to-use platform featuring intuitive kanban boards.
Take advantage of Trello’s excellent free plan to test the service.
Pros:
Intuitive drag-&-drop interface
Generous free plan with plugins
User-friendly, visual kanban boards
Cons:
Limited advanced features
Who is it for: Individuals, freelancers or small creative and design teams.
Trello specializes in kanban boards, and has a highly intuitive and visual approach to project management. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to track different task statuses and processes, though it may become cluttered as your agency grows.
What Makes Trello Special
Trello shines with the simplicity of its kanban boards, which make project management feel effortless and creative. It also has a great free plan that supports up to 10 team members, as well as unlimited plugins to give it an extra boost of functionality. To learn more about it, read our Trello review.
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.
8. Zoho Projects — Budget-Friendly Project Management for Creative Teams
Zoho Projects is affordable and flexible.
Try Zoho Projects for free today.
Pros:
Easy to use
Affordable pricing
Works well with other Zoho apps
Who is it for:Small to mid-sized creative agencies, especially those using other Zoho software.
Zoho Projects is an affordable tool with the necessary features to manage tasks, timelines and client projects. It’s especially useful for teams that need built-in time tracking, collaboration features and easy integration with other Zoho apps for a seamless workflow.
What Makes Zoho Projects Special
Zoho Projects integrates seamlessly with the broader Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Books, WorkDrive, Analytics), meaning agencies can link project work, client data, billing and analytics in one unified platform. Learn more about it in our Zoho Projects review.
9. Basecamp — Efficient Communication Hub for Creative Work
Basecamp is a collaboration-focused project management platform.
Try Basecamp for free
Pros:
Intuitive & user-friendly
Useful collaboration features
Flat‑fee pricing works well as teams scale
Cons:
Lacks advanced features such as automations
Who is it for: Growing creative or design teams
Basecamp serves as a centralized platform to manage projects. It’s especially useful for teams that want clear communication and simple task tracking without the complexity of advanced features.
What Makes Basecamp Special
Basecamp stands out for its unique interface that brings together project tracking and messaging. This handy combination makes it easy to collaborate without juggling multiple apps. Read our Basecamp review for more details.
When to Choose Basecamp
Choose Basecamp if you want a simple project management app that centers on team collaboration. Enjoy a 60-day free trial of Basecamp’s flat-fee Pro Unlimited plan, which is a great deal for large creative teams.
Free
One project
1 GB storage space
Basecamp Plus
Per user. Unlimited projects, Unlimited users, All features. 500GB storage.
Basecamp Pro Unlimited
Unlimited users. 5TB storage. Priority support.
Honorable Mentions
A few other options didn’t make the top tier but are still worthy contenders, offering useful features at competitive prices. Take a look at my selection below.
Provider:
Price
Why It’s Special
Integrations
Best For
Free plan available; Team plan starts at $20 per user per month
Hybrid spreadsheet database platform for custom workflows, asset tracking & creative data management
Google Drive, Box, Jira, GitHub & many more
Creative agencies building custom pipelines, using asset/tracking systems or managing lots of data
Free plan available; Premium plan starts at $3 per user per month
Affordable all-in-one work management with native time-tracking workflows for creative teams
Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Zapier
Smaller creative teams, freelancers and agencies requiring solid project/task management on a limited budget
Free plan available; Solo plan starts at $3.90 per user per month
Designed for creative service workflows, with time tracking, invoicing & proofing features
Slack, Google Calendar, Typeform, Zapier, QuickBooks
Creative agencies that also bill hours, track time, profitability & need budget/invoice integration
To compile this roundup, I tested different software solutions while looking at several key elements. Below is a breakdown of exactly what I focused on and why, which should guide you in choosing the best tool for your needs.
Task Management & Organization
Why this matters: Efficient task tracking and workflow organization are key to project success.
How we test: I created sample projects and tested different features, such as task dependencies, deadline management and workflow automation.
What to look for: Flexible options like Gantt charts, task dependencies, custom fields and automation capabilities.
Team Collaboration & Communication
Why this matters: Seamless teamwork and clear communication between all project stakeholders is important to maintaining clarity.
How we test: I tried out multi-user collaboration, comment systems, file sharing and real-time updates on all the software.
What to look for: Real-time collaboration, threaded comments, @mentions, activity feeds.
Reporting & Analytics
Why this matters: Reporting and analytics features provide key insights about project progress and team performance that can guide decision-making.
How we test: I created custom reports and dashboards where possible, and set up time-tracking and budgeting tools.
What to look for: Custom dashboards, exportable reports, time tracking, progress visualization.
Scalability & Pricing Value
Why this matters: An approachable pricing structure and opportunities to scale ensure the software can continue to support your team as it grows.
How we test: I considered user limits, feature availability and pricing across different plans, as well as upgrade paths.
What to look for: Flexible user scaling, feature-rich free tier, reasonable upgrade costs.
Creative management tools bring structure to the chaos of creative work. They help streamline communication between different stakeholders, including designers, writers and clients. With these tools, everyone can focus on their deliverables and keep projects moving smoothly from concept to completion.
Most tools have the benefit of centralizing all the data related to creative workflows, such as task statuses, deadlines and time entries. They also provide real-time insights into progress and bottlenecks. This makes it easy to stay organized and collaborate all in one place.
Choosing the right tool for your team’s needs will help you attain measurable benefits. However, a few challenges can arise if the software is too complex or a team is resistant to adopting it. Some tools can feel overwhelming to set up or too feature-heavy for smaller teams.
Ensuring that everyone consistently uses the tool can become an ongoing problem as well. After all, even the best software works only when the whole team is on board. At the same time, some tools can become quite pricey for larger teams, which could cancel out the benefits they provide.
Final Thoughts
Specialized Project Management Software for Marketing AgenciesNo matter what projects you’re working on, the right tool can help you achieve your goals. It’s worth taking the time to carefully choose software that fits your unique requirements and priorities. I recommend monday.com as the best option for most teams.
What features are you looking for in project management software? What’s the biggest challenge you’re trying to address in your workflow? Is there any other software you’d like to know more about? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below; I’d be happy to help out. Thank you for reading.
FAQ: Best Creative Project Management Software
Set clear goals, organize your tasks and assign roles to different collaborators. Tools like monday.com and ClickUp help with this and make it easy to track progress, deadlines and feedback.
Facts & Expert Analysis About Creative Agency Project Management Software:
Creative teams are overworked: Over 30% of agencies describe their teams as somewhat overworked, and 13% say they’re frequently overworked.1 The right software can help address this challenge and improve efficiency.
Agencies have unique needs: Most creative agencies need specific features to speed up project delivery, such as asset proofing, client access, automated approvals and workload views.
Time tracking is key: Not having an easy and accurate way to keep time can lead to missed deadlines, over- or underallocation of attention to specific projects, and employee burnout. User-friendly software can address this challenge.
Best Project Management Software for Creative Agencies
Agencies working on ads, design or marketing face the unique challenge of juggling multiple clients and ever-changing creative briefs. This makes it vital to have a reliable system for collaboration, task management, timekeeping and billing. The best creative agency project management software can help streamline these workflows.
In this article, I’ll discuss the top options based on factors like user-friendliness, task tracking and timekeeping. Many of my choices are from our list of the best project management tools, but I’ve focused on the ones that work especially well for creative teams.
Mehak Siddiqui is a Cloudwards expert in project management software.
I think monday.com is the best choice for almost any creative agency. Its visually intuitive interface makes it easy to manage multiple campaigns and stay up to date with deadlines and changes. It also includes advanced features like automations and reporting to keep creative teams in sync. You can try the Standard plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What Is Creative Agency Project Management Software?
Project management software for creative agencies refers to digital tools that can help agencies better plan and deliver their work. They streamline work by bringing together task tracking, creative asset management and team and client collaboration in one place.
The Best Creative Agency Project Management Software Compared
The table below provides an overview and comparison of the top software solutions I recommend:
Discover 10 fundamentals of project management
Understand step-by-step plans for PM execution
Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners
Limited features on lower-tier plans, expensive for large teams
Yes, unlimited users
$10
Larger teams
Advanced proofing & approval tools for creative assets
Complex setup, steep learning curve
No
$10
Ad & marketing agencies
Built for creative teams, strong time-tracking & budgeting tools
Limited customization & collaboration
Yes, <10 users
$5
Solopreneurs or small creative teams
Affordable, easy to set up & use
Best features available as add-ons only
Yes, <10 users
$5
Simple projects, kanban lovers
Ultimate simplicity, Butler automation
Board view only, no time tracking
Yes, <5 users
$4
Small to mid-sized agencies
Easy to use, works well with Zoho ecosystem
Limited integrations
Yes, <20 users
$15
Growing creative or design teams
Easy to use, useful collaboration features
Lacks advanced features like automations
*Price is per user, per month **Unique Selling Point
Cloudwards Hands-On Testing
I tested essential features across different software to get an accurate sense of how they perform for real-world creative use cases. The tables below summarize my findings.
Feature Comparison Overview
The table below highlights the key features available in the tools I recommend. However, availability varies depending on the plan you opt for, with higher-tier plans being the most feature-rich.
Tool:
View Types
Time Tracking
Custom Fields
Dashboards
Real-Time Collab
6: list, board, timeline, calendar, etc.
Yes: Pro plan
6+: board, timeline, Gantt, map, etc.
Yes: limited on lower tiers
5+: board, list, calendar, etc.
Yes: Advanced plan
6: table, board, list, calendar, chart, Gantt
Yes: Business plan
3+: to-do list, chart, Gantt, etc.
Yes
3+: kanban, chart, Gantt, etc.
Yes: Teams plan
3+: board, timeline, table, etc.
No
3+: list, kanban, Gantt, etc.
Yes: Premium plan
To-do list
No
Platform & Administration
All of these software solutions offer varying storage space, file management options and permissions depending on the plan you choose.
Tool:
Platform Apps
Storage
File Management
Permissions
Web
500MB-1000GB
File column, gallery view, versioning, uploads from cloud drives
Board, dashboard, workspace & account level
Web
60MB-unlimited
Attachments, integrations with cloud drives
Folder, list & space level
Web
Unlimited (100MB max per file)
Attach/upload files to tasks, comments; integrates with cloud drives
User permissions, app controls
Web
2GB-15GB per user
Upload files from local/computer, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc; file versioning
Access roles: full/editor/limited/read-only. Custom roles for Enterprise.
Web
10GB (additional storage available as add-on)
Agency-specific file types; email share with external members
Allows uploads of up to 10GB per attachment, version control, linking to external cloud files, folder structure
Role-based access, with admin/owner able to restrict edits/deletes, limit chat/history, manage clients as guests
Integration & Automations
Most of the software I recommend can connect to other work apps you may be using. The only exception is FunctionFox, which is designed as a standalone tool for creative agencies.
Tool:
Integration Count
Top Integrations
Native vs 3rd-Party
Automation Features
200+
Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Jira, Dropbox
Mostly native
Workflow builder with triggers & actions (e.g., auto-notify, auto-create items)
1,000+
Slack, GitHub, Google Sheets, Zapier
Balanced
Custom integrations/API, drag-&-drop automation of tasks & triggers
200+ native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Figma
Balanced
“Rules” to automate tasks (e.g., when task complete → trigger action)
Thousands through Wrike Integrate
Google Drive, Zoom, GitHub, Jira
Mostly third-party
Powerful workflow automation, AI assistance, status-based triggers & approvals
Very limited native integrations
None
Native only
Agency ops-focused automation (less broad than general PM tools)
15 native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Google Drive, Calendar, Dropbox, QuickBooks
Balanced
Drag-&-drop “recipes” for cross-app automations/triggers
Several native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox
Balanced
Built-in automation (Butler) with triggers/actions, quota limits
50+ Zoho apps & thousands via Zapier
Confluence, Bitbucket, Jenkins
Mostly third-party
Workflow rules, custom triggers/actions, blueprints for complex flows
Several native integrations & thousands via Zapier
Zapier, Google Calendar, Slack, time-tracking add-ons
Mostly third-party
No automation options
Usability & Performance Assessment
I prioritized user-friendliness and focused on software that’s easy for teams to adopt. This ensures that creative professionals can focus on their work and not get caught up in trying to learn complex tools.
Tool:
Learning Curve
Interface Design
Mobile Experience
Customer Support
Easy
Visual, color-coded, intuitive
Very good
24/7 chat, extensive docs
Intermediate
Modern & highly customizable
Good
Chat, email support
Easy-intermediate
Structured & intuitive
Good
Community, paid support
Intermediate-difficult
Flexible but complex
Good
Email, community forum
Intermediate
Straightforward & customizable
Good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Colorful & user-friendly
Good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Minimalist, card-based
Very good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Basic & user-friendly
Good
Extensive docs, community
Easy
Simple, but navigation feels clunky
Good
Extensive docs, community
The Best Project Management Software for Creative Agencies
Below are my top nine options for project management tools that creative agencies can use, starting with my top pick, monday.com.
1. monday.com — Best Creative Agency Project Management Software
monday.com is the best software for any creative or marketing agency.
Get started with the Standard plan’s free trial.
Pros:
Intuitive & easy to use
Easily adaptable to different workflows
Strong automation & integration capabilities
Cons:
Very limited free plan
Can be pricey for larger teams
Who is it for: Creative and cross-functional teams of all sizes.
monday.com is a visual project management tool that lets you set up customizable boards for different workflows. It’s easy to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to keep everyone on the same page, track progress and meet deadlines.
What Makes monday.com Special
monday.com tops our list of the best project management software because it combines a clean visual layout with deep customization and automation. This allows teams to quickly build workflows that fit their specific goals and requirements. Read our monday.com review for more.
When to Choose monday.com
I recommend opting for monday.com’s Standard plan if you’re a small or mid-sized creative team looking for a user-friendly but customizable tool. It gives you helpful automations, useful integrations and clear reporting dashboards, and it costs $12 per user per month, annually.
Basic
Minimum users: 3;
All prices per user
Standard
Minimum users: 3;
All prices per user
More plans
Pro
Minimum users: 3;
All prices per user
Enterprise
Enterprise-level features.
2. ClickUp — Customizable Project Management Software With a Generous Free Plan
ClickUp is a highly customizable, all-in-one workspace for creatives.
Try ClickUp’s excellent free plan to see if it’s a fit.
Pros:
Highly customizable workflows
Generous free plan for small teams
All-in-one platform for tasks, chat & docs
Who is it for: Creative or marketing teams that need granular customization.
ClickUp is a great free project management tool, and its paid tiers are competitively priced. Although it can seem a bit overwhelming to new users, it’s a comprehensive solution for any kind of agency work.
What Makes ClickUp Special
ClickUp is an all-in-one system with many features for task management, collaborative docs, team collaboration and time tracking. The platform can be customized to fit different workflows, and it eliminates the need for multiple tools. Read our ClickUp review for more.
When to Choose ClickUp
I recommend choosing ClickUp if you want complete control over granular aspects of your workflow and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve. The Unlimited plan is a great deal, at just $7 per user per month, but even the free plan is a viable choice for small teams.
Free Forever
Basic functionality with some limitations
3. Asana — Intuitive Resource Management Software for Creative Agencies
Asana is a structured and intuitive software solution for agencies.
Try Asana’s basic free plan to get a feel for it.
Pros:
Clean & intuitive interface
Extensive customization options
Strong resource management features
Cons:
Free & lower-tier plans quite limited
Who is it for: Marketing teams seeking a structured way to manage projects and resources.
Asana is an intuitive and straightforward software for real-time visibility into workloads, timelines and responsibilities. It streamlines collaboration and milestone tracking, making it a great choice for marketing campaigns or creative businesses.
What Makes Asana Special
Asana is a team-focused app that makes it easy to manage projects and collaborate. Its built-in resource management and timeline tools help creative agencies balance workloads and deliver projects on time. Learn more about the software in our Asana review.
When to Choose Asana
Pick Asana if you’re a project manager looking for a simple tool to organize projects and resources. The Starter plan is a solid choice for growing teams, though features like approvals and proofing are available only on the Advanced plan.
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
4. Wrike — Advanced Proofing and Workflow Tools for Ad and Design Agencies
Wrike offers advanced options to streamline creative workflows.
Dive into Wrike with its free plan.
Pros:
Robust reporting & resource management
Customizable workflows for large creative teams
Advanced proofing & approval tools for creative assets
Who is it for: Larger creative agencies and design teams.
Wrike provides tools like dynamic request forms, automated workflows, cross-tagging and real-time workload views. This makes it ideal for managing complex workflows and business operations in larger agencies juggling multiple clients. Read our Wrike review for all the details.
What Makes Wrike Special
Wrike is powerful for team productivity, with robust proofing and approval features to streamline feedback on creative assets. Its customizable workflows and advanced reporting enable full visibility and control of complex, multi-client projects.
When to Choose Wrike
I recommend Wrike if you manage multiple clients or large-scale creative projects. The Business plan is customizable for up to 200 team members, and the platform supports guest approvals and proofing for more than 30 file formats.
Free
Unlimited users. Basic features.
Team
Price is per user. Plans for 5, 10 and 15 users.
Business
Price is per user. No monthly option. Plans for 5 to 200 users.
More plans
Enterprise
For large teams; Enterprise-grade security and scalability; Plans for 5 to an unlimited number of users.
Pinnacle
For teams with complex work needs; Advanced tools and analytics for complex work; 5 to unlimited users
5. FunctionFox — Specialized Project Management Software for Marketing Agencies
FunctionFox is built especially for creative agencies.
No free plan, cheapest option is $10 per user per month.
Pros:
Simple & easy to use
Built specifically for creative agencies
Efficient time-tracking & budgeting tools
Cons:
No free plan
Limited collaboration tools
Who is it for: Creative agencies, design studios, freelancers and small marketing teams.
FunctionFox is an agency management software solution with built-in features for tracking time, budgeting and reporting. It’s specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of a creative workflow. Learn more about it in our FunctionFox review.
What Makes FunctionFox Special
This tool has a powerful blend of project-tracking and financial management tools designed for creative professionals. FunctionFox’s simple interface helps agencies stay organized and profitable without getting lost in too many complex features.
When to Choose FunctionFox
FunctionFox is a solid choice for creative or ad agencies that need a simple project planning solution with time-tracking and expense-tracking features. Opt for the Premier plan to gain access to advanced features like Gantt charts and resource forecasting.
Classic
**3 user minimum
**Price is per user
Premier
**3 user minimum
**Price is per user
6. Hive — Collaborative Workspace for Fast-Paced Creative Processes
Hive is a simple and affordable tool for agencies.
In addition to a free plan, the premium plans are very affordable.
Pros:
Easy to use
Cheap pricing & good free plan
Strong automation & approval workflows
Cons:
Some features available only as add-ons
Who is it for:Solopreneurs, creative teams or marketing agencies looking for affordable workflow software.
Hive offers campaign-friendly features like proofing and approval tools, task templates, automated workflows and centralized communication. This provides teams an affordable way to maintain efficient, cross-functional coordination across multiple campaigns. Read our Hive review for more details.
What Makes Hive Special
Luckily Hive is affordably priced, with an entry-level plan that costs only $5 per user month and a more feature-rich Teams plan for just $12 per user per month. It also offers a free plan, which makes it suitable for solopreneurs or small teams on a budget.
When to Choose Hive
Choose Hive if you need affordable and user-friendly software for your agency workflow. It can help you manage multiple campaigns with quick client feedback and communication. However, you need to pay extra for its best features, such as approvals.
Free
Max 2 users;
200MB storage;
Up to 10 users;
Unlimited tasks;
Unlimited collaborative notes;
Gantt, Kanban, calendar & table views;
Email in Hive;
Desktop, iOS and Android apps;
Native chat messaging;
Custom emojis
Starter
Everything in Free plus:
Unlimited storage
Upload files on a task or project.
Up to 10 workspace members
Add up to 10 full access users into your Hive workspace
Up to 10 projects
Create up to 10 projects
Gantt view
View your projects by task timeline and dependency.
Cloud storage integrations
In-app calendar
Zoom and Slack from Hive
AI Assistant
Teams
Price per user;
Everything in “Free”;
Unlimited files & storage;
Unlimited workspace members;
Workspace add-ons;
External guest access;
Shareable forms;
Time tracking;
In-app calendar;
Cloud storage integrations;
Zoom and Slack from Hive
Enterprise
Everything in Teams;
Flexible add-ons included;
Enhanced security and permission controls;
Custom analytics and reporting;
Unlimited onboarding;
Dedicated Customer Success Manager;
Enterprise API;
Access to Professional Services
7. Trello — Kanban Board Software to Streamline Creative or Design Projects
Trello is an easy-to-use platform featuring intuitive kanban boards.
Take advantage of Trello’s excellent free plan to test the service.
Pros:
Intuitive drag-&-drop interface
Generous free plan with plugins
User-friendly, visual kanban boards
Cons:
Limited advanced features
Who is it for: Individuals, freelancers or small creative and design teams.
Trello specializes in kanban boards, and has a highly intuitive and visual approach to project management. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to track different task statuses and processes, though it may become cluttered as your agency grows.
What Makes Trello Special
Trello shines with the simplicity of its kanban boards, which make project management feel effortless and creative. It also has a great free plan that supports up to 10 team members, as well as unlimited plugins to give it an extra boost of functionality. To learn more about it, read our Trello review.
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.
8. Zoho Projects — Budget-Friendly Project Management for Creative Teams
Zoho Projects is affordable and flexible.
Try Zoho Projects for free today.
Pros:
Easy to use
Affordable pricing
Works well with other Zoho apps
Who is it for:Small to mid-sized creative agencies, especially those using other Zoho software.
Zoho Projects is an affordable tool with the necessary features to manage tasks, timelines and client projects. It’s especially useful for teams that need built-in time tracking, collaboration features and easy integration with other Zoho apps for a seamless workflow.
What Makes Zoho Projects Special
Zoho Projects integrates seamlessly with the broader Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Books, WorkDrive, Analytics), meaning agencies can link project work, client data, billing and analytics in one unified platform. Learn more about it in our Zoho Projects review.
9. Basecamp — Efficient Communication Hub for Creative Work
Basecamp is a collaboration-focused project management platform.
Try Basecamp for free
Pros:
Intuitive & user-friendly
Useful collaboration features
Flat‑fee pricing works well as teams scale
Cons:
Lacks advanced features such as automations
Who is it for: Growing creative or design teams
Basecamp serves as a centralized platform to manage projects. It’s especially useful for teams that want clear communication and simple task tracking without the complexity of advanced features.
What Makes Basecamp Special
Basecamp stands out for its unique interface that brings together project tracking and messaging. This handy combination makes it easy to collaborate without juggling multiple apps. Read our Basecamp review for more details.
When to Choose Basecamp
Choose Basecamp if you want a simple project management app that centers on team collaboration. Enjoy a 60-day free trial of Basecamp’s flat-fee Pro Unlimited plan, which is a great deal for large creative teams.
Free
One project
1 GB storage space
Basecamp Plus
Per user. Unlimited projects, Unlimited users, All features. 500GB storage.
Basecamp Pro Unlimited
Unlimited users. 5TB storage. Priority support.
Honorable Mentions
A few other options didn’t make the top tier but are still worthy contenders, offering useful features at competitive prices. Take a look at my selection below.
Provider:
Price
Why It’s Special
Integrations
Best For
Free plan available; Team plan starts at $20 per user per month
Hybrid spreadsheet database platform for custom workflows, asset tracking & creative data management
Google Drive, Box, Jira, GitHub & many more
Creative agencies building custom pipelines, using asset/tracking systems or managing lots of data
Free plan available; Premium plan starts at $3 per user per month
Affordable all-in-one work management with native time-tracking workflows for creative teams
Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Zapier
Smaller creative teams, freelancers and agencies requiring solid project/task management on a limited budget
Free plan available; Solo plan starts at $3.90 per user per month
Designed for creative service workflows, with time tracking, invoicing & proofing features
Slack, Google Calendar, Typeform, Zapier, QuickBooks
Creative agencies that also bill hours, track time, profitability & need budget/invoice integration
To compile this roundup, I tested different software solutions while looking at several key elements. Below is a breakdown of exactly what I focused on and why, which should guide you in choosing the best tool for your needs.
Task Management & Organization
Why this matters: Efficient task tracking and workflow organization are key to project success.
How we test: I created sample projects and tested different features, such as task dependencies, deadline management and workflow automation.
What to look for: Flexible options like Gantt charts, task dependencies, custom fields and automation capabilities.
Team Collaboration & Communication
Why this matters: Seamless teamwork and clear communication between all project stakeholders is important to maintaining clarity.
How we test: I tried out multi-user collaboration, comment systems, file sharing and real-time updates on all the software.
What to look for: Real-time collaboration, threaded comments, @mentions, activity feeds.
Reporting & Analytics
Why this matters: Reporting and analytics features provide key insights about project progress and team performance that can guide decision-making.
How we test: I created custom reports and dashboards where possible, and set up time-tracking and budgeting tools.
What to look for: Custom dashboards, exportable reports, time tracking, progress visualization.
Scalability & Pricing Value
Why this matters: An approachable pricing structure and opportunities to scale ensure the software can continue to support your team as it grows.
How we test: I considered user limits, feature availability and pricing across different plans, as well as upgrade paths.
What to look for: Flexible user scaling, feature-rich free tier, reasonable upgrade costs.
Creative management tools bring structure to the chaos of creative work. They help streamline communication between different stakeholders, including designers, writers and clients. With these tools, everyone can focus on their deliverables and keep projects moving smoothly from concept to completion.
Most tools have the benefit of centralizing all the data related to creative workflows, such as task statuses, deadlines and time entries. They also provide real-time insights into progress and bottlenecks. This makes it easy to stay organized and collaborate all in one place.
Choosing the right tool for your team’s needs will help you attain measurable benefits. However, a few challenges can arise if the software is too complex or a team is resistant to adopting it. Some tools can feel overwhelming to set up or too feature-heavy for smaller teams.
Ensuring that everyone consistently uses the tool can become an ongoing problem as well. After all, even the best software works only when the whole team is on board. At the same time, some tools can become quite pricey for larger teams, which could cancel out the benefits they provide.
Final Thoughts
Specialized Project Management Software for Marketing AgenciesNo matter what projects you’re working on, the right tool can help you achieve your goals. It’s worth taking the time to carefully choose software that fits your unique requirements and priorities. I recommend monday.com as the best option for most teams.
What features are you looking for in project management software? What’s the biggest challenge you’re trying to address in your workflow? Is there any other software you’d like to know more about? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below; I’d be happy to help out. Thank you for reading.
FAQ: Best Creative Project Management Software
Set clear goals, organize your tasks and assign roles to different collaborators. Tools like monday.com and ClickUp help with this and make it easy to track progress, deadlines and feedback.
