Top 10 Project Management Tools for Small Businesses in 2025
Managing projects in a small business is both a challenge and an opportunity. With limited resources and time, efficiency is critical. Luckily, modern project management tools can simplify workflows, encourage collaboration, and keep your team focused from start to finish.
At Pick Wise, we've reviewed and compared the leading platforms to bring you the top 10 project management tools for small businesses in 2025. Whether you need basic task tracking or advanced automation, there's a solution here for you.
1. Trello
Trello continues to dominate as a favourite for teams that love a visually intuitive workflow. Its card-and-board system makes it easy to track progress, assign tasks, and communicate updates all in one place.
Trello’s biggest strength is its flexibility. Small businesses can start with the free version, and expand using "Power-Ups" for calendar views, integrations, automation, and more. If your team values simplicity and visual clarity, Trello should top your list.
2. Asana
If you want a powerhouse tool that keeps everyone accountable, Asana is a safe bet. It’s designed to handle everything from simple task lists to complex project timelines.
Users can create tasks, set deadlines, assign members, and follow projects from start to finish. Its “Timeline” feature (similar to a Gantt chart) helps you see how all your projects fit together. Asana’s easy integrations with tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom also make it an excellent choice for small businesses looking to streamline their tech stack.
3. Monday.com
Monday.com stands out for its colourful, customisable interface and handy templates. It offers a unique blend of project planning, workflow automation, and real-time collaboration.
The platform allows you to drag and drop task statuses, set priorities, and build every workflow imaginable. There’s a steep learning curve, but the investment pays off in efficiency. Monday.com is ideal for teams who want the power of custom projects without the hassle of building everything from scratch.
4. ClickUp
ClickUp brands itself as “one app to replace them all,” and for good reason. With Docs, Goals, Automations, and a highly customisable interface, ClickUp is versatile enough for almost any small business.
You can manage everything from daily to-dos to long-term objectives, automate repetitive tasks, and even chat directly within projects. ClickUp’s free version is generous, but most growing businesses will benefit from its advanced paid features like Gantt charts and time tracking.
5. Notion
Notion blends project management, documentation, and collaboration in one all-in-one workspace. Many small businesses use Notion as their knowledge hub, project tracker, CRM, and more.
Customise pages with tables, kanban boards, calendars, and rich media blocks. Its flexibility lets you build the workspace your team actually needs—not just what a software developer thinks you need. While there’s a learning curve, Notion’s active community and wealth of templates mean you’ll never be short of help or inspiration.
6. Wrike
Wrike is designed for fast-moving teams that want structure without sacrificing speed. Real-time collaboration, robust reporting, and advanced task dependencies make Wrike a standout for creative agencies and service-based small businesses.
Wrike’s dashboards offer an “at-a-glance” look at project statuses, deadlines, and workloads. Automation tools handle repetitive tasks and the approval process, saving you precious time. If your projects tend to get complicated fast, Wrike deserves serious consideration.
7. Basecamp
Basecamp remains a classic for a reason. Its simple interface focuses on communication, to-dos, schedules, and file sharing.
What makes Basecamp unique is its emphasis on reducing email clutter and keeping every conversation around your projects in one easy-to-navigate place. There’s a flat monthly fee regardless of team size, which can save money for growing businesses. It’s especially good for teams that want a straightforward way to organise work without a bunch of bells and whistles.
8. Smartsheet
If your team loves spreadsheets but needs project management power, Smartsheet will feel familiar. It merges spreadsheet-style organisation with robust tracking, automation, and integration options.
Plan projects, allocate resources, and automate reminders without giving up the classic rows and columns spreadsheet lovers adore. Smartsheet is perfect if you’re transitioning from Excel and want more functionality with less manual effort.
9. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects offers professional-grade project management at a small business-friendly price. Its features cover planning, tracking, collaboration, and automation.
Gantt charts, time tracking, and detailed reporting help keep everyone on task and informed. Plus, seamless integration with other Zoho tools (like Zoho CRM and Zoho Books) makes it ideal if you’re already in the Zoho ecosystem. For value for money, Zoho Projects is hard to beat.
10. Teamwork
Teamwork is tailor-made for service-based small businesses, especially agencies and consultancies. It combines project management, time tracking, and billing in one intuitive platform.
The platform makes it easy to handle tasks, milestones, files, and budgeting. Built-in time tracking and automation features streamline client billing and project estimates. If you want to manage your client work efficiently from start to finish, Teamwork might be the right choice.
How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Business
Choosing the right project management tool depends on your team’s workflow, client needs, and preferred interface. Start by identifying your top priorities—do you value ease of use, automation, or deep customisation? Consider starting with free trials to see which tool your team naturally gravitates towards.
You’ll also want to look at integration options. Many of these platforms connect seamlessly with the tools you’re already using, such as cloud storage, accounting software, or chat apps.
Project management tools can be the difference between chaos and clarity for small businesses. With the right system, you’ll stay organised, meet deadlines, and grow your business with confidence.
Certain articles contain affiliate links, allowing us to earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Rest assured, this has no effect on our advice or recommendations.
Pick Wise is committed to providing practical, unbiased, and well-researched advice to support your business growth. For more guides and software comparisons, keep reading our in-depth blogs tailored for small business success or subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.
