Great Startup Tools

Best 7 Simple Project Management Software in 2026: Compare the Options

By Great Startup Tools

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Introduction

Asana is the strongest overall pick for simple project management software, with shared project views and desktop and mobile apps. This roundup compares seven tools for different workflows, from general project tracking to software delivery. “Simple” means different things to different teams, depending on how they plan and track work.

Quick comparison

ToolBest forPlatformPricing
AsanaTeams that want flexible project viewsWeb, iOS, Android, desktopNot specified
BreezeStraightforward planning and work trackingWebNot specified
WorkzTeams that need shared project visibilityWebNot specified
ShortcutSoftware teams prioritizing workWebNot specified
SmartsheetCoordinating tasks, schedules, and processesWebNot specified
ProjectManagerProject and work management with task trackingWebNot specified
Project SimpleProduct planning and software deliveryWebNot specified

1. Asana

Best for: Teams that want flexible views of shared projects and tasks.

Asana keeps team projects and tasks in shared workspaces. List and board views make it easy to scan tasks or move work through stages. Calendar and timeline views show when work is scheduled and how tasks fit together. Gantt views provide another way to track project timing.

One notable advantage is the range of ways to access Asana: it’s available on the web, desktop, and mobile. That may suit teams that need project information across devices. The most useful view will depend on how your team plans and tracks work.

2. Breeze

Best for: Teams looking for straightforward project planning and work tracking.

Breeze is project management software focused on planning projects and tracking work. It may suit teams looking for a tool built around those core activities rather than one positioned as a broader business platform.

Its focus on planning and work tracking is the main draw. Before choosing Breeze, consider whether that scope fits how your team organizes tasks and checks project progress. The supplied information doesn’t specify particular views, integrations, or device apps, so confirm those details with the product if they matter to you.

3. Workz

Best for: Product teams, agencies, startups, and growing companies that need shared project visibility.

Workz brings projects, milestones, tasks, owners, and deadlines together in one workspace. That gives teams a shared place to check what needs to happen, who’s responsible, and when work is due.

The standout is the shared view of milestones, ownership, and deadlines. It may help when several people need to keep track of the same project, particularly across a growing team or client and product work. Workz is described as a tool for product teams, agencies, startups, and growing companies. The supplied details list a web platform, but don’t specify other apps or particular project views.

4. Shortcut

Best for: Software teams that need to prioritize work and collaborate.

Shortcut is a project management platform for software teams. Its focus on prioritization and collaboration makes it more specialized than a general project tracker. The main question is whether your team needs help deciding what to work on and coordinating around those priorities.

Prioritization is Shortcut’s standout capability. Compare that focus with your team’s daily workflow and the project views you need. The supplied information lists a web platform but doesn’t describe specific views, integrations, or device apps. Check those details if they’re important to your choice.

5. Smartsheet

Best for: Teams coordinating tasks, schedules, and processes in one place.

Smartsheet provides a central platform for managing tasks, projects, programs, and processes. That broader scope may suit teams that need to coordinate more than a task list and want project work and process management together.

Project schedules and collaboration tools are among its standout features. They may help teams keep timelines and shared work in view across projects. Smartsheet is listed as a web platform. The supplied details don’t specify mobile or desktop apps, pricing, or particular project views. Make sure its scope fits your team before choosing it over a more task-focused tool.

6. ProjectManager

Best for: Teams that want project and work management with task tracking.

ProjectManager combines project and work management with task tracking. It may fit teams that need to track tasks as part of broader project work, rather than manage tasks on their own.

Integrations are a key feature: the platform connects with business and project management apps. The supplied information doesn’t name specific integrations, so check whether it supports the apps your team uses. ProjectManager is listed as a web platform. No further details are provided here about mobile or desktop apps or project views.

7. Project Simple

Best for: Teams seeking product planning and software delivery in a broader platform.

Project Simple combines product planning, software delivery, analytics, quality management, and AI in one project and product management platform. That range sets it apart from tools focused mainly on general project planning or task tracking.

Its standout is the mix of functions in one platform, which may matter to teams managing product work from planning through delivery. The site offers sign-up and demo options for prospective users who want to explore the product. Project Simple is listed as a web platform. Check whether its broader scope matches your team’s actual workflow.

How we picked these tools

We compared the supplied descriptions with common needs behind searches for simple project management software: planning projects, tracking tasks, coordinating with colleagues, and making work visible. The tools serve different audiences and cover different scopes, from general team projects to software-team prioritization and broader product delivery.

We focused on capabilities that were clearly described rather than assuming a tool is easy to use or better than another. The comparison covers planning, task tracking, collaboration, project visibility, views, apps, and integrations where those details were provided. Pricing information wasn’t supplied, so the table marks it as unspecified rather than guessing. The same goes for ease of use and performance. Teams should assess those based on their own needs.

Frequently asked questions

What does project management software organize?

It typically helps teams organize projects and tasks, assign owners, and keep deadlines or schedules visible. Features vary: some tools focus on task tracking, while others support broader project or product workflows.

How do task-focused tools differ from broader platforms?

A task-focused workflow is about assigning and tracking pieces of work. Broader project and process management platforms may also cover schedules, programs, processes, collaboration, or product delivery. Choose a tool with a scope that matches the work your team needs to manage.

Which project view should my team choose?

Use a list to scan tasks, a calendar to see scheduled work, a timeline or Gantt view to track project timing, and a board to follow work through stages. Before choosing a tool, consider team fit, required views, collaboration needs, and device support. The apps and views a tool offers can affect how well it fits your day-to-day workflow.

The verdict

Asana is the strongest overall pick for simple project management software on merit, with shared workspaces, multiple project views, and desktop and mobile apps. Breeze and Workz are runners-up for teams focused on project planning or clear ownership of milestones, tasks, and deadlines. Match your choice to your workflow, especially if you need software-team prioritization or a broader product management platform.

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