Best 6 Asana alternatives for small business project management Asana is one of the most popular PM tools on the market, but still does have its cons, so here are the best Asana alternatives you should know about. Written by Helena Young Updated on 31 March 2023 Our Research Our expert team of writers and researchers rates project management software against the factors small businesses care about most - value for money (for both small and growing teams); depth of features; ease of use; quality of templates and ability to customise them, plus help and support when problems need resolving. Written and reviewed by: Helena Young Lead Writer Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. Considering Asana, but having your head turned by other project management software rivals (including free project planning tools)? You came to the right place.We’ve pitted the best Asana alternatives head to head to guide you to the the smartest options (including free plans for small teams):An incredibly important aspect of project management is team working – and it’s where monday.com performs better than Asana. In fact, we’d argue that monday blows Asana out of the water in terms of creative collaboration and easy-to-understand visuals.Wrike is also better than Asana for project scheduling. Even at its lowest tier, it gives a generous offering of time management tools, like Gantt charts – something Asana doesn’t provide.ClickUp, like Asana, offers a huge list of features and a generous free plan. Unlike Asana, its paid-for plans don’t jump up to unaffordable prices, making ClickUp much better value for money. We think monday.com is the number one project management software alternative to Asana, thanks to the platform’s impressive team collaboration tools. But we also know there are plenty of different reasons why you might want to invest in a new or different tool.Our experts know PM software back to front. In this article, we’ve identified the top 6 alternatives to Asana to help you find your favourite one. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward monday.com ClickUp Wrike MeisterTask Trello Jira Work Management Best for Team working Best for Affordability Best for Project scheduling Best for Mobile app Best for Simple task management Best for Integrations Price per user: When billed annually From £8 per seat, per month, billed annually Price per user: When billed annually From $7 per member (around £5.49) Price per user: When billed annually From $9.80 per user, billed annually (around £8.14) Price per user: When billed annually £8.25 Price per user: When billed annually £7.24 per month, billed annually Price per user: When billed annually £3.63 Free trial? Free trial? Free trial? Free trial? Free trial? Free trial? Verdict Monday.com is a great collaborative platform, particularly for creative teams that will love the modern interface and its excellent value plans. Verdict For those who like Asana’s freemium plan but not its expensive paid options, ClickUp is an affordable alternative that has its own great free plan. Verdict Wrike’s time management features make it a practical substitute to Asana, best-suited for teams working to tight deadlines, such as marketing. Verdict An intuitive PM tool that boasts an impressive mobile app, MeisterTask is best for freelancers or SMEs working on the go. Verdict Due to its basic, user-friendly interface and quick setup time, Trello is a great choice for small teams that want simple task management. Verdict We’d recommend Jira for SMEs with 10 or fewer employees that want a PM tool with plenty of integrations. Below, we'll cover: Introduction: Is Asana still really the #1 project management software? The 6 best Asana alternatives for small business project management 1. Monday.com (Best for: Creative team working) 2. ClickUp (Best for: Affordability) 3. Wrike (Best for: Project scheduling) 4. MeisterTask (Best for: Mobile app) 5. Trello (Best for: Gentle learning curve) 6. Jira Work Management (Best for: Integrations) How do our 6 PM software options compare to Asana pricing? What are the best freemium or free trial alternatives to Asana? How did we choose the top 6 alternatives to Asana? How we test project management software for small businesses Final review Not sure what you’re looking for? To match with the best PM software provider for your company, simply fill in the 🔍easy online comparison tool at the top of this page and let us do the work for you. Introduction: Is Asana still really the #1 project management software?Asana is one of the most well-known brands available on the project management market. Founded in 2008, it has gained a reputation among small business owners as being excellent for team collaboration.However, fame highlights both the good and the bad. User reviews for Asana have criticised the platform limitations like its poor mobile app and expensive payment plans. These issues are causing many unsatisfied customers to look for an alternative PM tool that might better suit their business needs – such as the more affordable ClickUp or platform with the friendliest mobile app, like MeisterTask.Perhaps you’ve enjoyed using Asana in the past, or are considering purchasing it for the first time, but want to know: is there a better option out there? Can I find cheaper software without compromising on features? They’re fair questions to ask – but in a market as crowded as project management, it’s difficult to know where to turn to find answers.Over the past twenty years, we’ve analysed every tool, system and piece of kit used by startups and SMEs. We’re familiar with Asana’s list of pros and cons and, depending on your specific wants and needs, we can help you find a PM solution that is better suited to your business. 1. Monday.com (Best for: Creative team working) 4.7 out of 5 Ease of use 4.5 Pricing 3.9 Functionality 4.2 Try for free Due to its visual appeal and intuitive interface, Monday.com has become recognised as a top choice for team collaboration. Its dashboard acts as a central space for both teams and guest users to have an overview of their projects, providing space for you to pitch new ideas and for clients to review progress. Like Asana, it has lots of designated tools for real-time collaboration and remote brainstorming – however, unlike Asana, these are designed to prioritise creativity and customisation, including online whiteboards and document editing.How do its features compare to Asana?One of the main ways that Monday.com succeeds over Asana for team collaboration is by allowing multiple assignees on one task. The lack of this feature is probably the most common pain point amongst Asana’s user base, and Monday.com makes things straightforward in comparison.Here’s a full breakdown of how their other features compare:AsanaMonday.comTasks and dashboards✓✓File sharing integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft 365✓✓Calendar, list and board views✓✓Document editingX✓Multiple assigneesX✓Two-factor authentication for added security✓✓Activity logs✓✓Gantt chartsXTime trackingXCustom automationsX✓Custom fields✓✓Offline modeX✓24/7 supportXXMonday.com pricingMonday.com has a distinctive payment structure which is based on a set number of seats. For more information, read our Monday.com pricing guide. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward monday.com Free monday.com Basic monday.com Standard monday.com Pro monday.com Enterprise Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £8 seat/month Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £11 seat/month Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £17 seat/month Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Contact sales Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Free Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £11 seat/month Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £13 seat/month Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £21 seat/month Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Contact sales Users The total number of users for this plan level Max 2 Users The total number of users for this plan level Minimum of 3 Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited VerdictMonday.com is a smart PM software brand for businesses in the creative industry that want an attractive, quick-to-view breakdown of their projects, as well as the tools to work on them as a team. Its improvements upon Asana’s team collaboration tools – for example, allowing multiple assignees – make it a good alternative PM software for your small business. With remote working on the rise, collaboration software is crucial to helping your team work better together online. Find out more about the best collaboration tools for small businesses. 2. ClickUp (Best for: Affordability) 4.7 out of 5 Ease of use 3.9 Pricing 4.4 Functionality 4.6 Try for free Asana’s freemium version is often ranked as one of the best, but from there, it’s a steep and expensive incline. In contrast, ClickUp is famous for its generous payment plans, even amongst its higher tiers, and is a much more affordable option for SMEs.ClickUp’s interface is organised like a company structure. Your business is classed as a workspace, and offers different spaces for different departments. From there, you can find folders, which are used to house lists and tasks. This makes for an intuitive interface which you can dive into quickly, with minimal time spent scrolling through menus.It’s one of the biggest brands on the market, so what do you need to know about ClickUp? Read our expert guide to ClickUp pricing for a full breakdown of the platform, including costs.How do its features compare to Asana?ClickUp’s lowest paid tier is like Asana in that it has a strong list of all the core features necessary for SMEs in project management. It also has 24/7 support available via live chat, and time tracking capabilities – two features Asana lacks.AsanaClickUpTasks and dashboards✓✓File sharing integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft 365✓✓Calendar, list and board views✓✓Document editingX✓Multiple assigneesX✓Two-factor authentication for added security✓✓Activity logs✓✓Gantt chartsXTime trackingXXCustom automationsX✓Custom fields✓✓Offline modeX✓24/7 supportX✓Like Monday.com, ClickUp allows multiple assignees on a project. You can also turn multiple assignees on or off, giving task managers single or shared editing powers depending on their preference.ClickUp’s freemium version does also place a lot of usage restrictions on features – particularly when it comes to automations. These can be used just 100 times per month, which could cause issues if you’re working on projects that require a lot of task management.ClickUp pricingPricing begins at just $9 per user when billed monthly ($5 billed annually) for ClickUp Unlimited, which unlocks unlimited storage and larger monthly allowances. The next tier is ClickUp Business at $19 per user, billed monthly ($12 billed annually), which is designed for greater security with multi-office businesses in mind. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward ClickUp Free ClickUp Unlimited ClickUp Business ClickUp Enterprise Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $7 per member (around £5.49) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $12 per member (around £9.99) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Contact sales Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Free Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $10 per member (around £7.84) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $19 per member (around £15.80) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Contact sales Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited – but only 5 spaces Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited VerdictFor small businesses that want a comprehensive and full-featured tool like Asana at half the price, ClickUp is the ideal solution – although to avoid the tool restrictions, teams with more than 5 users need to purchase ClickUp Unlimited. 3. Wrike (Best for: Project scheduling) 4.5 out of 5 Ease of use 4.1 Pricing 4 Functionality 3.7 Try for free Wrike is rated highly amongst users for its time management tools. Like Asana, the platform provides Kanban views to help users view and track projects. However, Wrike’s lowest-tiered payment plan also gives interactive Gantt charts (unlike Asana) to help you easily visualise your task pipeline using a simple, drag-and-drop interface. Account-wide work schedules are also available to help you structure your team’s week.How do its features compare to Asana?Alongside effective project scheduling and time tracking tools, like Monday.com, Wrike is excellent for team working. Its features include a message board that permits easy communication between team members, and can accommodate multiple assignees.AsanaWrikeTasks and dashboards✓✓File sharing integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft 365✓✓Calendar, list and board views✓✓Document editingX✓Multiple assigneesX✓Two-factor authentication for added security✓XActivity logs✓✓Gantt chartsX✓Time trackingXXCustom automationsXXCustom fields✓XOffline modeX✓24/7 supportXXWrike also has specific payment plans for marketing and professional services – two professions that work to tight deadlines. Additional tools offered in these plans include visual markups and real-time threaded conversations for greater collaboration.Wrike pricingWrike Professional costs around £8 per user, per month when billed annually, an affordable cost for most small businesses.Its higher tier, Wrike Business, provides more advanced, analytical functions like custom fields and report templates. For SMEs, these are more of a bonus than a must-have – although this plan does supply employee time tracking for a lower cost than Asana.The biggest drawback to Wrike is that its paid plans require a minimum of 5 users, making it unsuitable for smaller teams. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Wrike Free Wrike Team Wrike Business Wrike Enterprise Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $9.80 per user (around £8.14) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $24.80 per user (around £20.61) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Contact sales Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level 5 to 200 Users The total number of users for this plan level 5 to 200 Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited On average, UK workers spend 2 hours and 11 minutes procrastinating at work each day. In a team of 10, that means you could be losing over 1,000 hours of work each year. VerdictWrike is a high-performing PM software tool which has an excellent focus on time management. Due to its stronger list of features and more affordable payment plans, we think it is a more generous version of Asana. It is best suited to small businesses that have more than 5 members and work to tight deadlines, such as marketing or accounting teams. 4. MeisterTask (Best for: Mobile app) 4 out of 5 Ease of use 4.5 Features 3 Integrations 4.5 Visit MeisterTask’s intuitive interface accommodates every type of workflow, from simple static project boards to software sprints, and is well-suited for an SME with lots of processes in its project management, such as an estate or lettings agency.MeisterTask is also a wise choice for businesses with lots of freelancers, thanks to its liberal user limits and excellent mobile application. In comparison, Asana works better on a computer screen and its mobile app is tough to use. MeisterTask’s mobile version is more productive, supporting both project notifications and real-time collaboration. It is also compatible across MacBook and Windows PCs, as well as Android and iOS devices. Ben Michaelis is managing director at ThinkEngine, a marketing agency. Michaelis says: “MeisterTask has a great array of organisational benefits. It enables our clients to easily keep track of project progress, and delivers a more seamless and accountable experience. One of our early missions was to bring back transparency and accountability to the world of marketing, and we feel that with great partners like MeisterTask, we’re able to deliver this.” How do its features compare to Asana?MeisterTask is designed for easy use, and therefore lacks some of the tools required for more complex project management – such as document editing and custom fields. However, this simple layout makes it a good work management tool for those who might have found Asana too complex.AsanaMeisterTaskTasks and dashboards✓✓File sharing integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft 365✓✓Calendar, list and board views✓✓Document editingXXMultiple assigneesXXTwo-factor authentication for added security✓XActivity logs✓✓Gantt chartsXXTime trackingXXCustom automationsX✓Custom fields✓XOffline modeX✓24/7 supportXXOne area where MeisterTask performs poorly is project scheduling. Unlike Wrike, there is no Gantt chart feature, so due dates are required in place of a project timeline.MeisterTask pricingMeisterTask places no limitations on its users, making it suitable for any size team – and able to cope with lots of freelancers or third-party contractors. Its Pro plan is the top choice for small businesses at just £8.25 per user. There is a large gap between the Pro and Business plans, and we think the latter isn’t worth the added cost. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward MeisterTask Basic MeisterTask Pro MeisterTask Business MeisterTask Enterprise Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £8.25 per user Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £20.75 per user Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Custom Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited VerdictAn intuitive and easy-to-use PM tool, MeisterTask is best for large teams with more than 10 users, such as those with a lot of freelancers, or SMEs with lots of client/site visits that need to be able to manage their projects on the go. Due to its impressive mobile app, we think it is a more flexible and agile work management tool, and a favourable alternative to Asana. 5. Trello (Best for: Gentle learning curve) 3.8 out of 5 Ease of use 5 Features 3.5 Integrations 3 Compare costs Due to Asana’s many complex functions, it can quickly become overwhelming for new users. Trello is a great choice for managers that want a platform with a gentler learning curve and quicker setup time. Like MeisterTask, Trello has a clean, visual interface using a Kanban board-type ‘cards’ structure. These represent tasks and give you all the information you need to know at a glance. You can drag these along the dashboard when you reach various stages in the project. Liesa Stecher is CGO at Addition, a financial services SME. She says: “I used Trello in previous startups I worked at. At that time, we were using it to coordinate design and content development for our social media channels. Now, we use it for our content calendar, but also for less visual tasks such as our leads funnel (and status) per channel. We are currently using the free version. Our team is still relatively small, that’s why we don’t need an upgrade yet, but we’re definitely considering it for the future.” How do its features compare to Asana?AsanaTrelloTasks and dashboards✓✓File sharing integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft 365✓✓Calendar, list and board views✓✓Document editingXXMultiple assigneesXXTwo-factor authentication for added security✓✓Activity logs✓✓Gantt chartsXXTime trackingXXCustom automationsXXCustom fields✓XOffline modeXX24/7 supportXXThe obvious issue with Trello’s USP is that the platform does not perform well for complex project management needs. Thankfully, Trello also supplies various subscriptions that allow you to customise your dashboard with more complex add-ons known as ‘Trello Power-Ups’. These can give you access to areas that Asana doesn’t offer at the lower tiers, such as time tracking and Gantt charts. Prices start as low as £3.67 for one month of access to Trello Gold.Trello pricingTrello has an impressive freemium option which is excellent for trial periods, but we think small businesses should choose Trello’s Business Class plan to get the most value for money. It costs £8 per user when billed monthly, and £4 when billed annually. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Trello Basic Trello Standard Trello Premium Trello Enterprise Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $5 per user (around £4.15) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $10 per user (around £8.31) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Contact sales Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Free Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $6 per user (around £4.99) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $12.50 per user (around £10.39) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Contact sales Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited VerdictTrello is designed for simple project management, and is well-suited for teams that find Asana’s complex interface hard to grasp. Small teams (<15 employees) that engage in lots of multi-tasking, such as PR agencies or call centres, would benefit the most from this platform. 6. Jira Work Management (Best for: Integrations) 4.5 out of 5 Pricing 4.8 Ease of use 3.1 Functionality 3.2 Visit Part of the suite of Jira software, Jira Work Management is a cloud-based PM tool that provides a powerful and agile overview of your projects, and gives users plenty of reporting and workflow management tools to play with.Jira stands out as a good alternative software system to Asana because of its many integrations. Asana is compatible with 48 communication apps, such as Slack and Google Drive. Jira, in comparison, can integrate with a massive 106 communication systems, as well as 79 customer relationship management (CRM) apps, making it the clear winner in this area. Having a smooth and efficient CRM system is another increasingly important way to drive sales and locate business opportunities. Read our comprehensive guide to the best CRM systems for small businesses to learn more. How do its features compare to Asana?Jira can handle all of the core PM functions, plus a huge range of more advanced capabilities that Asana doesn’t provide, like time tracking.Another area that Jira performs well in is security. This software boasts outstanding bug and issue tracking functions, as well as the best security and compliance features on this list by a considerable margin. Jira Free is also available as an integration with other project management software, including ClickUp Free – something to think about if you want to add an extra layer of security to your small business.AsanaJiraTasks and dashboards✓✓File sharing integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft 365✓✓Calendar, list and board views✓✓Document editingXXMultiple assigneesXXTwo-factor authentication for added security✓✓Activity logs✓✓Gantt chartsXXTime trackingXXCustom automationsX✓Custom fields✓✓Offline modeX✓24/7 supportXXJira PricingJira’s lowest tiered payment plan is Jira Standard, and is easily affordable for SMEs at £3.63 per user. Just note that teams with more than 10 employees won’t qualify for Jira Free. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Jira Work Management Free Jira Work Management Standard Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £363 (flat annual rate for 1-10 users) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Free Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $5 (approx. £4.04) Users The total number of users for this plan level Up to 10 Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited VerdictOur research shows that Asana’s integrations are one of its most popular features with users. But SMEs with a lot of existing business software – such as those in tech-based or digital industries – will find Jira Work Management’s list of third-party integrations to be much more generous in comparison. Teams with fewer than 10 should also look to take advantage of Jira’s impressive freemium platform. How do our 6 PM software options compare to Asana pricing?We compared the lowest-tiered payment plans of each of the top 6 brands featured in this list, to see how they stood up against Asana payment plans (shown above). Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Asana Basic Asana Premium Asana Business Asana Enterprise Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Free Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £9.49 Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £20.99 Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance Contact sales Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Free Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £11.59 Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £25.69 Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Contact sales Users The total number of users for this plan level Max 15 Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited Users The total number of users for this plan level Unlimited As the chart shows, Asana was more expensive than every other brand we compared it to, confirming customer complaints about the platform’s high cost.In terms of value for money, ClickUp costs only £3.62 per month, making it the most affordable choice if you’re looking for similar capabilities to Asana. Monday.com and Wrike also rank highly as inexpensive options. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Asana Premium monday.com Basic ClickUp Unlimited Wrike Team MeisterTask Pro Trello Standard Jira Work Management Standard Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £9.49 Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £8 seat/month Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $7 per member (around £5.49) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $9.80 per user (around £8.14) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £8.25 per user Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance $5 per user (around £4.15) Price Per Month (billed annually) You can typically save by paying for a year or more in advance £363 (flat annual rate for 1-10 users) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £11.59 Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option £11 seat/month Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $10 per member (around £7.84) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option N/A Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $6 per user (around £4.99) Price Per Month (billed monthly) Paying monthly is usually the more expensive option $5 (approx. £4.04) What are the best freemium or free trial alternatives to Asana?We know how expensive purchasing new technology can be as an SME. If you’re a budget-conscious business owner, then don’t panic – there are plenty of low-cost or freemium software solutions to choose from. Here are some we’ve picked out: ClickUp ClickUp's expansive list of features means it has a solution for virtually every area of project management - even at its 'Free Forever' payment tier. Try for free Read our ClickUp pricing guide to learn more Free trial 'Free forever' plan Price from £3.62 per member High-performing freemium plan Generous functionality and feature list Summary Small business owners will get outstanding value for money from ClickUp. The platform is well known for its wealthy list of features, with even its Free tier offering advanced tools like automations, custom fields, and Gantt charts. We’d recommend it for budget-conscious users that want a low-cost solution without skimping on functionality. Show moreless Basecamp Basecamp helps you to manage projects without the fuss. It has fewer options than rivals, but it is incredible simple and quick to use. Free trial 30-day Price from £71.44 (flat rate) Easily-navigable platform Great for basic task management Summary Basecamp's tidy interface means it is very simple to use and well-suited for newcomers to project management software - particularly for team collaboration tools. At £71.44 per month, per business, it’s an expensive first-time investment, so the free version is a smart way to test out its impressive capabilities without overspending. Show moreless How did we choose the top 6 alternatives to Asana?In order to find platforms that might be good substitutes to Asana for small businesses, we decided to pick out Asana’s top three pros and cons. That way, we could better identify alternative platforms that improve upon these functions.For example, we know that the mobile version of Asana performs poorly, so we recommended MeisterTask as a substitute.Here’s what we identified as the best, and worst, features of Asana.ProsConsGreat project scheduling and time management toolsExpensive payment plansGreat team collaboration toolsPoor mobile appGenerous list of third-party integrationsSteep learning curve The PM software market is huge, with plenty of options to buy or try. To find out more about the best project management software for small businesses, read our authoritative guide. How we test project management software for small businessesWe tested 14 project management software to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, customer support, features, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to small UK-based businesses.Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in five main categories of investigation and nine subcategories – in fact, we covered 51 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs of our Startups.co.uk readers.Our main testing categories for project management software are:Customer Score: external customer opinion; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular project management provider. Also, the market position and reputation a project management tool holds.Features: the functionalities and capabilities offered by the project management solution, such as task management and team collaboration.Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the project management solution provider to users, such as phone support and email or chat support.Usability Testing: we get people just like you to test out the products to focus on evaluating the ease of use and user experience of the project management solution.Cost Factors: the financial considerations associated with using a project management solution, including licensing fees, subscription plans, and storage and user limit.The Startups product testing process Final reviewNo matter your reasoning for wanting a project management software that isn’t Asana, we’ve got you covered with this list of the six top alternative PM software choices. They either stand out for their related pros, or lack of similar cons.If you liked Asana for its good team collaboration tools, choose Monday.com as an alternativeTeam working shapes most of Monday.com’s features. The platform focuses on easy-to-understand, visual feedback on project progress. Its customisation capabilities also surpass Asana for creative reporting and planning.If you liked Asana for its good project scheduling tools, choose Wrike Small firms need to practice good time management. If you’re looking for PM software with a focus on project tracking and scheduling, then Wrike is the highest-rated option.If you dislike Asana for its expensive payment plans, we recommend ClickUpClickUp offers the best value-for-money project management software solutions, making it an excellent choice for small business owners who like Asana’s freemium plan, but don’t want to risk their budget.If you want another platform with a lot of integrations, choose Jira Work ManagementWe’d recommend Jira for SMEs with 10 or fewer employees that have lots of business technology, and want a PM tool that will easily integrate with their existing software.If you dislike Asana for its poor mobile app, use MeisterTaskFor teams that want to manage their projects on the go, a mobile app is an important feature. MeisterTask’s mobile platform vastly outperforms Asana when it comes to offline use and integrations.If you dislike Asana’s steep learning curve, we recommend TrelloAsana boasts a lot of functionalities, which can be overwhelming for teams that are new to using project management software. SMEs with basic project needs can’t go wrong with Trello’s simple interface.Our number one recommended software alternative is Monday.com. It covers all of the practical and team-working elements that Asana offers, plus a whole bunch of other customisable and interactive tools – including whiteboards.In terms of the best free alternative to Asana, ClickUp comes out on top for its generous feature list, which surpasses even the former’s paid tiers for commonly requested functions like multiple assignees.Maybe you’re not sure about what you like or dislike about Asana – you just want to try a new PM software tool and see how it performs for your business’s specific needs.Our experts are here to help you match with the best PM software provider for your company. Simply fill in this quick and easy online comparison tool and let us do the work for you. Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Helena Young Lead Writer Helena is Lead Writer at Startups. As resident people and premises expert, she's an authority on topics such as business energy, office and coworking spaces, and project management software. With a background in PR and marketing, Helena also manages the Startups 100 Index and is passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. From interviewing Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin to spotting data-led working from home trends, her insight has been featured by major trade publications including the ICAEW, and news outlets like the BBC, ITV News, Daily Express, and HuffPost UK.