Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners
1. ClickUp — Best Personal Project Management Software
ClickUp’s free plan includes Gantt charts.
Get started with ClickUp with its excellent free plan.
Pros:
Great free plan
Advanced options available
Highly customizable & intuitive
Cons:
Steep learning curve
May be too much for simple projects
Who is it for: Detailed individuals managing tasks on a budget
ClickUp is one of the most complete project management options, offering essential features such as customizable workflows, advanced views and integrations. It delivers professional results, even as free project management software.
What Makes ClickUp Special
Few platforms bring together so many tools while still delivering a high-quality product. You can customize task organization and workflows, perform repetitive tasks automatically and integrate AI features. However, the software is so extensive that it can feel overwhelming for inexperienced users who might need a more simple task management app.
2. Trello — Simple Project Management Software for Home Use
Trello’s kanban board design is simple and effective.
Try out Trello’s free plan, or try the Premium plan free for 14 days.
Pros:
Drag & drop interface
Integrations on free plan
Simple kanban board design
Cons:
Poor reporting insights
Lacks advanced features
Who is it for: Anyone carrying out minimalist projects and simple project planning.
Trello excels at simplicity thanks to its straightforward and familiar interface. The layout is clear from the start: You get a complete kanban-based design with a few more advanced tools.
What Makes Trello Special
The fact that Trello is visual and minimalist doesn’t make it less productive. The platform includes key features like automations and AI functionalities to summarize or brainstorm ideas. If that isn’t enough, power-ups are available to upgrade your boards.
When to Choose Trello
Trello’s simplicity is its biggest selling point. It might not be as complete as ClickUp, but it can help with personal or small projects. The Standard plan starts at $5 per user per month, annually. Start using Trello for free, or learn more about it in 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.
3. Notion — Flexible Project Management Software for One Person
I love Notion’s variety of creative templates.
Get started with Notion for free.
Pros:
Versatile use cases
Extra flexible & customizable
Unlimited templates, pages & blocks
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Less impressive mobile experience
Who is it for: Creative minds, artists, creators and students.
Users can shape Notion to fit almost any workflow. I find everyday and professional tasks much easier to manage thanks to simple features like shopping lists, to-do items and other customizable blocks.
What Makes Notion Special
Think of Notion as a malleable do-it-yourself platform. Its templates and functionalities are extremely customizable, and its comprehensive tool set can manage anything from journals to workflows.
When to Choose Notion
Opt for Notion if you need a tool that’s even more flexible than ClickUp. After the free plan, the Plus plan starts at $10 per member per month annually. You can also check out Notion’s paid tiers free for 30 days, or learn more about the platform in our Notion review.
Free
1 user only, Up to five guests, 5MB file upload limit
Plus
1 user only, Unlimited guests, Unlimited file uploads, Version history
Business
Unlimited users, Unlocks workspace, User permission settings
Enterprise
Advanced security features
4. Todoist — Task-Based Project Management Tool for Individuals
You can connect Todoist to your preferred calendar app.
Sign up for Todoist for free if you’re looking for task management software.
Pros:
Clean design
Calendar integrations
Quick task management
Cons:
No advanced features
No built-in automations
Who is it for: Individuals in need of a simple yet comprehensive tool to structure their daily tasks.
Todoist lives up to its name: It’s a focused, highly capable to-do list app with extras like automations for recurring tasks and broad integration support. It’s the ideal middle ground between a simple task manager and a full project management platform.
What Makes Todoist Special
Todoist goes beyond basic task lists by providing structure to manage more involved work. You can group tasks with labels, break them down with subtasks and use filters to find essential tasks, all without the heaviness of a full project management suite.
When to Choose Todoist
If you want a tool that’s more straightforward than Trello, Todoist is a great free option. Plus, its Pro plan starts at just $4 per month. You can also try Todoist’s Business plan free for 14 days, or read more about it in our Todoist review.
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)
5. Asana — Individuals Who Want Free Unlimited Tasks
The “my tasks” view is useful for keeping track of multiple tasks simultaneously.
Try Asana’s free plan to get a feel for the sofware.
Pros:
Built-in time-tracking tool
Communication tools & features
Good task prioritization & hierarchy
Cons:
Restrictive free plan
Limited customization
Who is it for: Solopreneurs, individual professionals and small to mid-sized businesses.
Asana has a clean and intuitive design, including tools like goals, project tracking and automations. It’s an easy-to-use yet robust platform for managing personal tasks and professional projects.
What Makes Asana Special
Asana can be adapted for solopreneurs and teams alike thanks to its structured interface and advanced tools. It’s a useful platform for anyone managing multiple projects that are expected to grow over time, as it allows for upgrades.
When to Choose Asana
Choose Asana if you need a flexible tool that can scale with your projects. After the free plan, the Starter plan starts at $10.99 per user per month annually. Try a premium Asana plan for free for 14 days, or read about the platform in our Asana review.
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
6. monday.com — Visual Project Management Tool for Single Users
monday.com’s kanban boards are customizable and easy to use.
Try monday.com’s paid plans free for 14 days, or get a feel for with free plan.
Pros:
Multiple views
Intuitive & robust interface
Advanced features like automations
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Pricey for larger teams
Who is it for:Side hustlers, small business owners and solopreneurs.
monday.com delivers an impressive project management experience from a functionality and design point of view. It’s easy to use this platform to scale your projects and workflows, making it one of the top choices for small businesses.
What Makes monday.com Special
monday.com’s dashboard and automation tools make this software versatile. It’s a great choice if you’re starting a project that will become more complex over time, as it includes a large set of core features, such as multiple views, integrations and customization options.
When to Choose monday.com
monday.com is not made for simple tasks — it’s not a great option for free project management apps because it’s designed for growing projects or more complex workflows. The Standard plan starts at $12 per user per month. You can try monday.com’s premium plans for free for 14 days, or read more about it in our monday.com review.
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.
Methodology: Our Testing Framework & How to Choose the Best Personal Project Management Software
I manually tested each of these platforms, focusing on key aspects for personal use such as usability, simplicity and performance.
Task Management & Organization
Why this matters: Managing projects is easier with a good hierarchy in place to prioritize tasks.
How we test: I created a mini workflow featuring tasks, dependencies, deadlines and more to test the software’s overall functionality.
What to look for: Task dependencies, organization features, automations, due dates and templates.
Team Collaboration & Communication
Why this matters: You may need to work with clients or colleagues, or assign tasks to outsiders at some point.
How we test: I tested collaboration tools such as file sharing and real-time updates.
What to look for: Real-time collaboration, @mentions, activity feeds and docs.
Reporting & Analytics
Why this matters: You can’t grow your projects without good insights and reporting tools.
How we test: I analyzed each platform’s dashboards and insights to track project progress.
What to look for: Dashboard options, time-tracking tools and workload views.
Scalability & Pricing Value
Why this matters: You need a tool that can grow alongside your personal projects.
How we test: I closely examined each platform’s feature list and free plan.
What to look for: Accessible plans and advanced feature sets.
Final Thoughts
If your personal projects are starting to feel a little messy, you might want to add a project management app to your strategy. ClickUp is the best choice for personal use, as it can adapt to any kind of project and scale as needed. Start testing ClickUp today with the free plan or any paid plan’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which software would you consider using? Have you used any of these tools before? Thanks for reading, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments.
Anyone managing tasks, side hustles or personal projects can use project management software.
No, you don’t need technical skills to use project management software; anyone can get started with easy tools like Trello and Todoist.
Todoist — Ideal task management software for concentration and visual organization. Get started with Todoist for free today.
Asana — A simple tool great for hierarchical task structures and growing projects. Try Asana for free.
monday.com — Robust but user-friendly software with advanced tools like automations and dashboards. Test out monday.com with its free plan.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Benefits of Personal Project Management Tools
Personal project management tools are popular: 78% of individual contributors feel comfortable using project or work management platforms, showing that these tools are not limited to leadership positions.1
Poor personal planning has real costs: About 11% of all project investments are lost due to poor project management performance, stressing the importance of professional planning even for individuals.2
Project management tools improve efficiency: The right tool can significantly enhance your personal projects. In fact, around 60% of project managers say these tools help them estimate project timelines more effectively.3
Best Personal Project Manager
Personal project management software is essential for scaling and organizing any project. Side hustles and personal goals can grow with the help of a structured system. If you’re exploring your options, you can also check out our ranking of the best project management tools for a general overview of what’s available.
Sofia Oliber is a Cloudwards expert in project management software.
ClickUp is my top choice for personal projects thanks to it offering so many important features as a free project management tool; most other project management tools charge for the same usability. Plus, ClickUp can function well as a simple task manager or as a professional tool. You can try ClickUp for free, or test its premium plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Best Personal Project Management Software Compared
If you need an initial general overview of the tools that could best fit your needs, take a look at this comparison chart of my top six tools.
*Starting prices per user **Unique Selling Point
Hands-On Testing
I tested all of the software firsthand, from building boards to running automations and trying out the AI, to see how each option holds up in real workflows.
Feature Comparison Overview
ClickUp and Asana offer a range of views and options, while Todoist remains one of the simplest tools. Note that Notion offers more data views than it claims; they’re just not labeled as “views.”
When it comes to storage space, ClickUp, Notion and Asana offer up to unlimited storage, which is ideal if you’re planning to attach large files to your boards.
Integration & Automations
Except for Todoist, my recommended software solutions have good automation options. Additionally, most offer integrations with key third-party services like Slack or mail providers.
Tool:
Integration Count
Top Integrations
Native vs 3rd-Party
Automation
1,000+
Zoom, GitHub, HubSpot
Hybrid
Advanced automations & apps
200+
Confluence, Clockify, Firefox
Hybrid
Yes, built-in automations
130+
Slack, Google, Figma
Hybrid
Custom automations
80+
Chrome, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar
Mostly third-party integrations
Not included
200+
Dropbox, Google Drive
Mostly third-party integrations
Advanced automations
200+
Slack, Google Sheets, Adobe
Hybrid
Advanced automations
Usability & Performance Assessment
Trello and Todoist are simpler tools, whereas ClickUp delivers much more powerful features.
Best Project Management System Options for Individuals
Now that I’ve compared the five best project management and task management software above, let’s dive into more details for each individual tool to show the pros and cons for individual users.
Discover 10 fundamentals of project management
Understand step-by-step plans for PM execution
Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners
1. ClickUp — Best Personal Project Management Software
ClickUp’s free plan includes Gantt charts.
Get started with ClickUp with its excellent free plan.
Pros:
Great free plan
Advanced options available
Highly customizable & intuitive
Cons:
Steep learning curve
May be too much for simple projects
Who is it for: Detailed individuals managing tasks on a budget
ClickUp is one of the most complete project management options, offering essential features such as customizable workflows, advanced views and integrations. It delivers professional results, even as free project management software.
What Makes ClickUp Special
Few platforms bring together so many tools while still delivering a high-quality product. You can customize task organization and workflows, perform repetitive tasks automatically and integrate AI features. However, the software is so extensive that it can feel overwhelming for inexperienced users who might need a more simple task management app.
2. Trello — Simple Project Management Software for Home Use
Trello’s kanban board design is simple and effective.
Try out Trello’s free plan, or try the Premium plan free for 14 days.
Pros:
Drag & drop interface
Integrations on free plan
Simple kanban board design
Cons:
Poor reporting insights
Lacks advanced features
Who is it for: Anyone carrying out minimalist projects and simple project planning.
Trello excels at simplicity thanks to its straightforward and familiar interface. The layout is clear from the start: You get a complete kanban-based design with a few more advanced tools.
What Makes Trello Special
The fact that Trello is visual and minimalist doesn’t make it less productive. The platform includes key features like automations and AI functionalities to summarize or brainstorm ideas. If that isn’t enough, power-ups are available to upgrade your boards.
When to Choose Trello
Trello’s simplicity is its biggest selling point. It might not be as complete as ClickUp, but it can help with personal or small projects. The Standard plan starts at $5 per user per month, annually. Start using Trello for free, or learn more about it in 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.
3. Notion — Flexible Project Management Software for One Person
I love Notion’s variety of creative templates.
Get started with Notion for free.
Pros:
Versatile use cases
Extra flexible & customizable
Unlimited templates, pages & blocks
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Less impressive mobile experience
Who is it for: Creative minds, artists, creators and students.
Users can shape Notion to fit almost any workflow. I find everyday and professional tasks much easier to manage thanks to simple features like shopping lists, to-do items and other customizable blocks.
What Makes Notion Special
Think of Notion as a malleable do-it-yourself platform. Its templates and functionalities are extremely customizable, and its comprehensive tool set can manage anything from journals to workflows.
When to Choose Notion
Opt for Notion if you need a tool that’s even more flexible than ClickUp. After the free plan, the Plus plan starts at $10 per member per month annually. You can also check out Notion’s paid tiers free for 30 days, or learn more about the platform in our Notion review.
Free
1 user only, Up to five guests, 5MB file upload limit
Plus
1 user only, Unlimited guests, Unlimited file uploads, Version history
Business
Unlimited users, Unlocks workspace, User permission settings
Enterprise
Advanced security features
4. Todoist — Task-Based Project Management Tool for Individuals
You can connect Todoist to your preferred calendar app.
Sign up for Todoist for free if you’re looking for task management software.
Pros:
Clean design
Calendar integrations
Quick task management
Cons:
No advanced features
No built-in automations
Who is it for: Individuals in need of a simple yet comprehensive tool to structure their daily tasks.
Todoist lives up to its name: It’s a focused, highly capable to-do list app with extras like automations for recurring tasks and broad integration support. It’s the ideal middle ground between a simple task manager and a full project management platform.
What Makes Todoist Special
Todoist goes beyond basic task lists by providing structure to manage more involved work. You can group tasks with labels, break them down with subtasks and use filters to find essential tasks, all without the heaviness of a full project management suite.
When to Choose Todoist
If you want a tool that’s more straightforward than Trello, Todoist is a great free option. Plus, its Pro plan starts at just $4 per month. You can also try Todoist’s Business plan free for 14 days, or read more about it in our Todoist review.
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)
5. Asana — Individuals Who Want Free Unlimited Tasks
The “my tasks” view is useful for keeping track of multiple tasks simultaneously.
Try Asana’s free plan to get a feel for the sofware.
Pros:
Built-in time-tracking tool
Communication tools & features
Good task prioritization & hierarchy
Cons:
Restrictive free plan
Limited customization
Who is it for: Solopreneurs, individual professionals and small to mid-sized businesses.
Asana has a clean and intuitive design, including tools like goals, project tracking and automations. It’s an easy-to-use yet robust platform for managing personal tasks and professional projects.
What Makes Asana Special
Asana can be adapted for solopreneurs and teams alike thanks to its structured interface and advanced tools. It’s a useful platform for anyone managing multiple projects that are expected to grow over time, as it allows for upgrades.
When to Choose Asana
Choose Asana if you need a flexible tool that can scale with your projects. After the free plan, the Starter plan starts at $10.99 per user per month annually. Try a premium Asana plan for free for 14 days, or read about the platform in our Asana review.
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
6. monday.com — Visual Project Management Tool for Single Users
monday.com’s kanban boards are customizable and easy to use.
Try monday.com’s paid plans free for 14 days, or get a feel for with free plan.
Pros:
Multiple views
Intuitive & robust interface
Advanced features like automations
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Pricey for larger teams
Who is it for:Side hustlers, small business owners and solopreneurs.
monday.com delivers an impressive project management experience from a functionality and design point of view. It’s easy to use this platform to scale your projects and workflows, making it one of the top choices for small businesses.
What Makes monday.com Special
monday.com’s dashboard and automation tools make this software versatile. It’s a great choice if you’re starting a project that will become more complex over time, as it includes a large set of core features, such as multiple views, integrations and customization options.
When to Choose monday.com
monday.com is not made for simple tasks — it’s not a great option for free project management apps because it’s designed for growing projects or more complex workflows. The Standard plan starts at $12 per user per month. You can try monday.com’s premium plans for free for 14 days, or read more about it in our monday.com review.
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.
Methodology: Our Testing Framework & How to Choose the Best Personal Project Management Software
I manually tested each of these platforms, focusing on key aspects for personal use such as usability, simplicity and performance.
Task Management & Organization
Why this matters: Managing projects is easier with a good hierarchy in place to prioritize tasks.
How we test: I created a mini workflow featuring tasks, dependencies, deadlines and more to test the software’s overall functionality.
What to look for: Task dependencies, organization features, automations, due dates and templates.
Team Collaboration & Communication
Why this matters: You may need to work with clients or colleagues, or assign tasks to outsiders at some point.
How we test: I tested collaboration tools such as file sharing and real-time updates.
What to look for: Real-time collaboration, @mentions, activity feeds and docs.
Reporting & Analytics
Why this matters: You can’t grow your projects without good insights and reporting tools.
How we test: I analyzed each platform’s dashboards and insights to track project progress.
What to look for: Dashboard options, time-tracking tools and workload views.
Scalability & Pricing Value
Why this matters: You need a tool that can grow alongside your personal projects.
How we test: I closely examined each platform’s feature list and free plan.
What to look for: Accessible plans and advanced feature sets.
Final Thoughts
If your personal projects are starting to feel a little messy, you might want to add a project management app to your strategy. ClickUp is the best choice for personal use, as it can adapt to any kind of project and scale as needed. Start testing ClickUp today with the free plan or any paid plan’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which software would you consider using? Have you used any of these tools before? Thanks for reading, and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments.
Anyone managing tasks, side hustles or personal projects can use project management software.
No, you don’t need technical skills to use project management software; anyone can get started with easy tools like Trello and Todoist.
