Project Management is the ability to oversee and manage a project of whatever magnitude. Small and big projects alike can benefit from an Effective Online Project Management. The variety of Project Management Software can help you to manage your project efficiently. There are a massive number of tools that can help you with your task. Some of them are general purpose applications that are aimed to service more than one kind of industry. Some, on the other hand, are more particular and specialised, and were created to serve a certain kind of business.
Many of these project management apps have some of the following features:
- Code repositories and subversion browsers built in or around them
- Built-in bug and issue tracking
Because the makers of these kinds of software recognise the need to make everything relatively simple, the way around the technology is relatively simple.
Listed below are 15 useful project management applications. Web developers and designers can highly benefit from these tools.
1. Basic Project Management Apps
These applications target project management. There are features added to help the manager with organization and tracking.
Basecamp: considered to be the best project management and collaboration platform. It offers features such as: to-do lists, milestone management, users management, task assigning, time tracking and live chat. Clients can be added as users so they can track progress on the project by themselves as well. The Basic plan is only $24 per month and includes up to 15 active projects, 3 GB of file storage and unlimited clients and users. The Max plan is goes as high as $149 per month, but this includes unlimited projects, 50 GB of file storage, time tracking, SSL security and a free Campfire Premium account.
Lighthouse: this app takes note of timelines and milestones while integrating emails from the entire team. You are also able to manage your beta testing by making tickets and milestones available to the public. Starting a project is uncomplicated and straightforward. All you need to do is fill out a project title and description. You can show tickets based on a variety of criteria such as date, state (open or closed) and person responsible. You can attach files up to 50 MB in size and is much easier than an email.
Moreover, permissions are easy. You can simply invite users via email. The best features of Lighthouse are its Beacon and API integration. With the API, you can customise tickets, projects, change sets, milestones, messages and more. The APIs make everything more useful by enabling you to customize it to fit your current workflow.
Springloops: Counts a unique AJAX code browser and Basecamp integration as one of its varied features. Tabbed navigation provides easy access to the log, source and deployment information. You can add users via email and create usernames and passwords for team members. This can also be integrated with Basecamp. This is also available in freeware and allows you 25 MB of space, 3 projects, 3 deployments per day, roll-back capabilities, subversion, and unlimited number of users. If you decide to get the paid version, you can choose from a range of Flowerpot plan at $9 per month (including 1 GB of space and 10 projects) to the “Forest†plan at $96 per month (including 18 GB of storage, unlimited projects, automatic deployment and secure SSL encryption).
Jumpchart: this is a website planning application that allows you to plan the navigation of your website by creating, dragging and dropping pages into the entire plan. This is especially helpful for web designers because you can add text and formatting to pages and then export your CSS files and site map when you're finished. It has great mockup and planning capabilities, even if hacks are needed to make it more advantageous and favourable to full project management. The free version offers 1 project with 1 MB of storage and a maximum of 10 pages and 2 users. The paid version ranges from the Simple plan at $5 per month (which includes up to 5 projects, with 25 pages and 5 users per project, and 100 MB of storage) to the Deluxe plan at $50 per month (which includes up to 30 projects with unlimited pages and users and 5000 MB of storage).
CreativePro Office: this app comes completely free. It has the usual tabbed navigation, including tabs for clients, projects, time sheets, finances and team members. It comes with a dashboard that presents a calendar with forthcoming proceedings, a list of your projects, outstanding invoices, notes and search functionality. A client name and project name is required as you fill out the URL page. This comes in handy for those who work with lots of different clients because it has features where you can keep track of your multiple clients. It could even serve as a simple CRM program should you need it. Integrated invoices and financial information come in handy with the finances page giving you options for viewing and creating invoices, expenses, and reports.
No Kahuna: this is a simple project management and issue-tracking platform. It's excellent user interface gives you features wherein you can include task and activity tracking and collaboration tools.
No Kahuna is excellent for basic project management and ticket tracking. There aren't a ton of features, which can be a very good thing. It's very quick to get started, also a big plus. If your projects accumulate more than 30 open tasks, you will need to upgrade it to the paid version. They are, however, reasonably priced, ranging from 3 projects for $9 per month up to 100 projects for $99 per month.
2. Wiki-Based Project Management
Wikis are another option. One of the solutions below is geared to complete project management and includes additional features, while the other is just a wiki and is appropriate for project management and other utilization.
Trac Project: This is based on wiki functionality that includes a subversion browser, a timeline, ticket tracking, a road map (showing milestones and the number of current open and closed tickets) and builds status tracking. There are plug-ins for Web administration, authentication, code documentation, file management, ticketing, testing, user management and version control. This comes totally free and licensed under a modified BSD license.
PBwiki: It is one of the easiest free wikis out there to use. You can share files with other users, set access controls for individual pages and folders, add other users to your wiki, monitor and track version changes and more. Setup can be done in less than a minute. Its interface is very intuitive where creating and editing folders and pages is straightforward. You are also able to comment on each page and print it. There are templates for individual page content. The free plan allows from 1 to 3 users. Paid plans range from $4 per month per user (if you have more than 10,000 users) to $8 per month per user (for 4 to 999 users).
3. Bug and Ticket Tracking
This is useful for dealing with bugs and issues that crop up.
JIRA: It has advanced customisable reporting features, workflow mapping, and issue and project organizing. It also offers a number of plug-ins to extend its functionality, including Bamboo integration, charting, time tracking, project management, a calendar and etc. However, doesn't come cheap. Account starts at $299 per month for up to 25 users and goes up from there (250 users costs $599 per month). If you want to download and host it on your own server, price begins at $1200 for a single project team, and goes as high as $4800 for an entire organisation. If you need an academic license, solutions start at only $600.
16bugs: a very simple bug-tracking system. You have a colour-coding system that you can use for different kinds of information. This is relatively quick and easy to use and install. The free version allows 1 project, 1 MB of storage and Basecamp imports. For paid versions, it starts at $8 per month, paid plans include more projects (3 with the Basic plan), 150 MB to 10 GB of storage, RSS and email notifications, Campfire notifications and SSL (starting with the $15-per-month Big plan).
4. Collaboration and Conferencing
If you're working with a team, you will definitely need some online space to collaborate and meet. Here are three apps to help you.
activeCollab: you can set this up on your website. You can organise your projects into groups for management and organisation purposes. Features include file sharing, forum for discussions, assignments, collaborative writing and reminders, printing and exporting, time tracking, calendar and schedule functionality, ticket management, and milestones. You can also extend this to meet your other requirements. There are 2 editions. The Small Business edition includes source-code browsing, plug-in support, themes, discussions, milestones, checklists, files, project templates, a mobile interface and localization support. It’s priced at $199, with support and upgrades being an additional $99 yearly for the first time. The Corporate edition has also includes calendar, tickets, time tracking, pages with collaborative writing, a project explorer, and status updates. You are allowed unlimited projects and users for both editions. For an additional $199, you can have the Copyright removal license at the footer of each page.
DimDim: this is ideal for conference and online meetings. It allows you to share your desktop with those you're meeting with. You are given Whiteboards and a built-in voice-over-IP and teleconferencing capabilities. The free plan offers the complete feature set, with support for meetings of up to 20 people. Its pro version also offers plus custom branding and up to 100 people in a meeting for as low as $99 per year.
Mikogo: For online meetings, you can install it to your computer and get to enjoy the following with the team: screen sharing, switching presenters, pointers, pause transmissions, application selections, file transfers, scheduler, voice conferences, and more. This comes entirely free and is relatively quick to install. Mikogo is also available for Mac users with a Beta version for an upgrade. What sets Mikogo apart is that you can integrate it with your Skype account.
Vyew: you can add life and movement to a presentation with its PowerPoint-like capability. You can include real-time desktop sharing, whiteboarding and drawing tools, embedded comments, built-in voice over IP, free teleconferencing, built-in webcam video support, text chat, dedicated rooms and direct URLs and more. It's complete solution has a number of plans available. The free plan includes unlimited meetings, SSL secure log-in, up to 20 participants and 5 VyewBooks (presentations) with up to 50 pages each. There are two paid plans. The Plus at $6.95 per month also includes up to 25 participants (or 5 with no ads), and up to 25 VyewBooks with up to 100 pages each. The Professional at $13.95 per month enables you to have up to 45 participants (or 15 with no ads), and up to 100 VyewBooks with up to 300 pages each.
5. Invoicing
For billing and account statements to be more professional, here are a few apps to use.
Blinksale: the ultimate choice for online invoicing. Comes with tagging, recurring invoice templates and the ability to integrate with Basecamp. You can style various elements of your invoice customise it with the included templates. The paid version allows you to integrate your customised template.
Simply Invoices: integrates with Basecamp, More Honey, Tick and Harvest to invoice. You base your invoices on time that you track with those programs. Included here are invoice templates, unlimited invoices, the ability to save invoices as PDFs, and invoice tracking. A free plan includes up to five invoice templates and SSL support. Paid plans start at $9 monthly with ten invoice templates, a custom logo, and link-free invoices. The $25 monthly plan adds an unlimited number of templates to its features.
Less Accounting: It simplicity is its best characteristic. It includes proposal creation and tracking, mileage tracking, sales-lead management and expense tracking. You can import your existing Wesabe.com account and invite your CPA to view your books. A weekly email serves as an update on the status of your accounts. The free plan includes up to 5 invoices, expenses, sales notes, deposits, proposals, monthly mileage logs, SSL encryption, reports, and bank-account integration. There are paid plans as well. The Even Less plan at $12 per month includes invoicing, expenses, contacts, SSL encryption, technical support, deposits and reports. The More plan at $24 per month includes sales notes, bank accounts, proposals, mileage logs, bank reconciliation, support for multiple types of sales tax and more. There is a 30-day free trial once you sign up.
6. Time Tracking
For billing purposes, you will need the following.
LiveTimer: it works on both your computer and iPhone. You are supplied with a daily ledger, daily or weekly bulk time entry, customisable classifications, multiple currencies, custom billing rates, intelligent report filters and a developer API. It is priced at only $5 monthly per active user. There is a 50% discount and a 30-day free trial.
fourteenDayz: this is made for teams with a day-by-day time sheets, exportable reports in either PDF and Excel formats, and drag-and-drop categories. There are no limits set for users. There are 6 different plans offered, including a free account which includes up to 4 active projects/clients, 10 project categories, an unlimited number of users and reporting functions. The paid plans range from the Personal at $5 monthly to the Platinum at $99 monthly. With the highest plan, you can enjoy unlimited active projects/clients, unlimited project categories and subcategories, XLS/CSV exportability and SSL connections.
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