Top 9 Creative Agency Project Management Software in 2025

Agencies working on ads, design or marketing face the unique challenge of juggling multiple clients and ever-changing creative briefs. This makes it vital to have a reliable system for collaboration, task management, timekeeping and billing. The best creative agency project management software can help streamline these workflows.

In this article, I’ll discuss the top options based on factors like user-friendliness, task tracking and timekeeping. Many of my choices are from our list of the best project management tools, but I’ve focused on the ones that work especially well for creative teams.

Cloudwards’ Choice: monday.com

Cloudwards’ Choice: monday.com

Mehak Siddiqui is a Cloudwards expert in project management software.

I think monday.com is the best choice for almost any creative agency. Its visually intuitive interface makes it easy to manage multiple campaigns and stay up to date with deadlines and changes. It also includes advanced features like automations and reporting to keep creative teams in sync. You can try the Standard plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What Is Creative Agency Project Management Software?

Project management software for creative agencies refers to digital tools that can help agencies better plan and deliver their work. They streamline work by bringing together task tracking, creative asset management and team and client collaboration in one place.

The Best Creative Agency Project Management Software Compared

The table below provides an overview and comparison of the top software solutions I recommend: 

• Discover 10 fundamentals of project management
• Understand step-by-step plans for PM execution
• Learn tips to avoid 5 common mistakes by beginners

PM Tool:	Free Plan	Price*	Best For	USP**	Limitations
	Yes, <2 users	$12	All creative teams & agencies	Intuitive visual interface, versatile, user-friendly	Expensive for large teams
	Yes, unlimited users	$7	All creative teams & agencies	All-in-one workspace, unlimited customization	Complex setup
	Yes, <10 users	$10.99	Small & mid-sized teams	Structured, customizable, strong resource management	Limited features on lower-tier plans, expensive for large teams
	Yes, unlimited users	$10	Larger teams	Advanced proofing & approval tools for creative assets	Complex setup, steep learning curve
	No	$10	Ad & marketing agencies	Built for creative teams, strong time-tracking & budgeting tools	Limited customization & collaboration
	Yes, <10 users	$5	Solopreneurs or small creative teams	Affordable, easy to set up & use	Best features available as add-ons only
	Yes, <10 users	$5	Simple projects, kanban lovers	Ultimate simplicity, Butler automation	Board view only, no time tracking
	Yes, <5 users	$4	Small to mid-sized agencies	Easy to use, works well with Zoho ecosystem	Limited integrations
	Yes, <20 users	$15	Growing creative or design teams	Easy to use, useful collaboration features	Lacks advanced features like automations

Cloudwards Hands-On Testing

I tested essential features across different software to get an accurate sense of how they perform for real-world creative use cases. The tables below summarize my findings.

Feature Comparison Overview

The table below highlights the key features available in the tools I recommend. However, availability varies depending on the plan you opt for, with higher-tier plans being the most feature-rich.

Tool:	View Types	Time Tracking	Custom Fields	Dashboards	Real-Time Collab
	6: list, board, timeline, calendar, etc.	Yes: Pro plan
	6+: board, timeline, Gantt, map, etc.	Yes: limited on lower tiers
	5+: board, list, calendar, etc.	Yes: Advanced plan
	6: table, board, list, calendar, chart, Gantt	Yes: Business plan
	3+: to-do list, chart, Gantt, etc.	Yes
	3+: kanban, chart, Gantt, etc.	Yes: Teams plan
	3+: board, timeline, table, etc.	No
	3+: list, kanban, Gantt, etc.	Yes: Premium plan
	To-do list	No

Platform & Administration

All of these software solutions offer varying storage space, file management options and permissions depending on the plan you choose.

Tool:	Platform Apps	Storage	File Management	Permissions
	Web	500MB-1000GB	File column, gallery view, versioning, uploads from cloud drives	Board, dashboard, workspace & account level
	Web	60MB-unlimited	Attachments, integrations with cloud drives	Folder, list & space level
	Web	Unlimited (100MB max per file)	Attach/upload files to tasks, comments; integrates with cloud drives	User permissions, app controls
	Web	2GB-15GB per user	Upload files from local/computer, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc; file versioning	Access roles: full/editor/limited/read-only. Custom roles for Enterprise.
	Web	10GB (additional storage available as add-on)	Agency-specific file types; email share with external members	Typical user role permissions
	Web	200MB-unlimited	Task/file attachments, kanban/Gantt views, asset upload	Team-level permission controls; details vary by plan
	Web	10MB-250MB per file	Card attachments, links to cloud storage, upload preview	Board-level roles (admin, normal, observer)
	Web	2GB-unlimited	My folders/team folders, upload limits, file sharing, versioning	Role/department-level permissions; configurable folder/share limits
	Web	1GB-5TB	Allows uploads of up to 10GB per attachment, version control, linking to external cloud files, folder structure	Role-based access, with admin/owner able to restrict edits/deletes, limit chat/history, manage clients as guests

Integration & Automations

Most of the software I recommend can connect to other work apps you may be using. The only exception is FunctionFox, which is designed as a standalone tool for creative agencies. 

Tool:	Integration Count	Top Integrations	Native vs 3rd-Party	Automation Features
	200+	Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Jira, Dropbox	Mostly native	Workflow builder with triggers & actions (e.g., auto-notify, auto-create items)
	1,000+	Slack, GitHub, Google Sheets, Zapier	Balanced	Custom integrations/API, drag-&-drop automation of tasks & triggers
	200+ native integrations & thousands via Zapier	Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Figma	Balanced	“Rules” to automate tasks (e.g., when task complete → trigger action)
	Thousands through Wrike Integrate	Google Drive, Zoom, GitHub, Jira	Mostly third-party	Powerful workflow automation, AI assistance, status-based triggers & approvals
	Very limited native integrations	None	Native only	Agency ops-focused automation (less broad than general PM tools)
	15 native integrations & thousands via Zapier	Google Drive, Calendar, Dropbox, QuickBooks	Balanced	Drag-&-drop “recipes” for cross-app automations/triggers
	Several native integrations & thousands via Zapier	Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox	Balanced	Built-in automation (Butler) with triggers/actions, quota limits
	50+ Zoho apps & thousands via Zapier	Confluence, Bitbucket, Jenkins	Mostly third-party	Workflow rules, custom triggers/actions, blueprints for complex flows
	Several native integrations & thousands via Zapier	Zapier, Google Calendar, Slack, time-tracking add-ons	Mostly third-party	No automation options

Usability & Performance Assessment

I prioritized user-friendliness and focused on software that’s easy for teams to adopt. This ensures that creative professionals can focus on their work and not get caught up in trying to learn complex tools.

Tool:	Learning Curve	Interface Design	Mobile Experience	Customer Support
	Easy	Visual, color-coded, intuitive	Very good	24/7 chat, extensive docs
	Intermediate	Modern & highly customizable	Good	Chat, email support
	Easy-intermediate	Structured & intuitive	Good	Community, paid support
	Intermediate-difficult	Flexible but complex	Good	Email, community forum
	Intermediate	Straightforward & customizable	Good	Extensive docs, community
	Easy	Colorful & user-friendly	Good	Extensive docs, community
	Easy	Minimalist, card-based	Very good	Extensive docs, community
	Easy	Basic & user-friendly	Good	Extensive docs, community
	Easy	Simple, but navigation feels clunky	Good	Extensive docs, community

The Best Project Management Software for Creative Agencies

Below are my top nine options for project management tools that creative agencies can use, starting with my top pick, monday.com.

1. monday.com — Best Creative Agency Project Management Software

monday.com is a visual project management tool that lets you set up customizable boards for different workflows. It’s easy to collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders to keep everyone on the same page, track progress and meet deadlines.

What Makes monday.com Special

monday.com tops our list of the best project management software because it combines a clean visual layout with deep customization and automation. This allows teams to quickly build workflows that fit their specific goals and requirements. Read our monday.com review for more.

When to Choose monday.com

I recommend opting for monday.com’s Standard plan if you’re a small or mid-sized creative team looking for a user-friendly but customizable tool. It gives you helpful automations, useful integrations and clear reporting dashboards, and it costs $12 per user per month, annually.

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.

2. ClickUp — Customizable Project Management Software With a Generous Free Plan 

ClickUp is a great free project management tool, and its paid tiers are competitively priced. Although it can seem a bit overwhelming to new users, it’s a comprehensive solution for any kind of agency work. 

What Makes ClickUp Special

ClickUp is an all-in-one system with many features for task management, collaborative docs, team collaboration and time tracking. The platform can be customized to fit different workflows, and it eliminates the need for multiple tools. Read our ClickUp review for more.

When to Choose ClickUp

I recommend choosing ClickUp if you want complete control over granular aspects of your workflow and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve. The Unlimited plan is a great deal, at just $7 per user per month, but even the free plan is a viable choice for small teams.

Free Forever

• Basic functionality with some limitations

3. Asana — Intuitive Resource Management Software for Creative Agencies

Asana is an intuitive and straightforward software for real-time visibility into workloads, timelines and responsibilities. It streamlines collaboration and milestone tracking, making it a great choice for marketing campaigns or creative businesses.

What Makes Asana Special

Asana is a team-focused app that makes it easy to manage projects and collaborate. Its built-in resource management and timeline tools help creative agencies balance workloads and deliver projects on time. Learn more about the software in our Asana review.

When to Choose Asana

Pick Asana if you’re a project manager looking for a simple tool to organize projects and resources. The Starter plan is a solid choice for growing teams, though features like approvals and proofing are available only on the Advanced plan.

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

4. Wrike — Advanced Proofing and Workflow Tools for Ad and Design Agencies 

Wrike provides tools like dynamic request forms, automated workflows, cross-tagging and real-time workload views. This makes it ideal for managing complex workflows and business operations in larger agencies juggling multiple clients. Read our Wrike review for all the details.

What Makes Wrike Special

Wrike is powerful for team productivity, with robust proofing and approval features to streamline feedback on creative assets. Its customizable workflows and advanced reporting enable full visibility and control of complex, multi-client projects.

When to Choose Wrike

I recommend Wrike if you manage multiple clients or large-scale creative projects. The Business plan is customizable for up to 200 team members, and the platform supports guest approvals and proofing for more than 30 file formats.

Free

• Unlimited users. Basic features.

Team

• Price is per user. Plans for 5, 10 and 15 users.

Business

• Price is per user. No monthly option. Plans for 5 to 200 users.

More plans

Enterprise

• For large teams; Enterprise-grade security and scalability; Plans for 5 to an unlimited number of users.

Pinnacle

• For teams with complex work needs; Advanced tools and analytics for complex work; 5 to unlimited users

5. FunctionFox — Specialized Project Management Software for Marketing Agencies

FunctionFox is an agency management software solution with built-in features for tracking time, budgeting and reporting. It’s specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of a creative workflow. Learn more about it in our FunctionFox review.

What Makes FunctionFox Special

This tool has a powerful blend of project-tracking and financial management tools designed for creative professionals. FunctionFox’s simple interface helps agencies stay organized and profitable without getting lost in too many complex features.

When to Choose FunctionFox

FunctionFox is a solid choice for creative or ad agencies that need a simple project planning solution with time-tracking and expense-tracking features. Opt for the Premier plan to gain access to advanced features like Gantt charts and resource forecasting.

Classic

• **3 user minimum **Price is per user

Premier

• **3 user minimum **Price is per user

6. Hive — Collaborative Workspace for Fast-Paced Creative Processes

Hive offers campaign-friendly features like proofing and approval tools, task templates, automated workflows and centralized communication. This provides teams an affordable way to maintain efficient, cross-functional coordination across multiple campaigns. Read our Hive review for more details.

What Makes Hive Special

Luckily Hive is affordably priced, with an entry-level plan that costs only $5 per user month and a more feature-rich Teams plan for just $12 per user per month. It also offers a free plan, which makes it suitable for solopreneurs or small teams on a budget. 

When to Choose Hive

Choose Hive if you need affordable and user-friendly software for your agency workflow. It can help you manage multiple campaigns with quick client feedback and communication. However, you need to pay extra for its best features, such as approvals. 

Free

• Max 2 users; 200MB storage; Up to 10 users; Unlimited tasks; Unlimited collaborative notes; Gantt, Kanban, calendar & table views​; Email in Hive​; Desktop, iOS and Android apps​; Native chat messaging​; Custom emojis​

Starter

• Everything in Free plus: Unlimited storage Upload files on a task or project. Up to 10 workspace members Add up to 10 full access users into your Hive workspace Up to 10 projects Create up to 10 projects Gantt view View your projects by task timeline and dependency. Cloud storage integrations In-app calendar Zoom and Slack from Hive AI Assistant

Teams

• Price per user; Everything in “Free”; Unlimited files & storage; Unlimited workspace members; Workspace add-ons; External guest access; Shareable forms; Time tracking; In-app calendar; Cloud storage integrations; Zoom and Slack from Hive

Enterprise

• Everything in Teams; Flexible add-ons included; Enhanced security and permission controls; Custom analytics and reporting; Unlimited onboarding; Dedicated Customer Success Manager; Enterprise API; Access to Professional Services

7. Trello — Kanban Board Software to Streamline Creative or Design Projects

Trello specializes in kanban boards, and has a highly intuitive and visual approach to project management. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to track different task statuses and processes, though it may become cluttered as your agency grows.

What Makes Trello Special

Trello shines with the simplicity of its kanban boards, which make project management feel effortless and creative. It also has a great free plan that supports up to 10 team members, as well as unlimited plugins to give it an extra boost of functionality. To learn more about it, read our Trello review.

When to Choose Trello

Trello is a solid project management tool for solopreneurs or small teams. You can try Trello’s free plan for an easy-to-use visual workspace.

Free

• Unlimited users, 10 boards, Unlimited power-ups, Unlimited storage

Standard

• 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.

8. Zoho Projects — Budget-Friendly Project Management for Creative Teams

Zoho Projects is an affordable tool with the necessary features to manage tasks, timelines and client projects. It’s especially useful for teams that need built-in time tracking, collaboration features and easy integration with other Zoho apps for a seamless workflow.

What Makes Zoho Projects Special

Zoho Projects integrates seamlessly with the broader Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Books, WorkDrive, Analytics), meaning agencies can link project work, client data, billing and analytics in one unified platform. Learn more about it in our Zoho Projects review.

When to Choose Zoho Projects

Even if you’re not in the Zoho ecosystem, you can opt for Zoho Projects’ Premium plan if you want an affordable platform with built-in time tracking, customization options and powerful collaboration features. It’s a great project management tool for small businesses.

9. Basecamp — Efficient Communication Hub for Creative Work

Basecamp serves as a centralized platform to manage projects. It’s especially useful for teams that want clear communication and simple task tracking without the complexity of advanced features.

What Makes Basecamp Special

Basecamp stands out for its unique interface that brings together project tracking and messaging. This handy combination makes it easy to collaborate without juggling multiple apps. Read our Basecamp review for more details.

When to Choose Basecamp

Choose Basecamp if you want a simple project management app that centers on team collaboration. Enjoy a 60-day free trial of Basecamp’s flat-fee Pro Unlimited plan, which is a great deal for large creative teams.

Free

• One project 1 GB storage space

Basecamp Plus

• Per user. Unlimited projects, Unlimited users, All features. 500GB storage.

Basecamp Pro Unlimited

• Unlimited users. 5TB storage. Priority support.

Honorable Mentions

A few other options didn’t make the top tier but are still worthy contenders, offering useful features at competitive prices. Take a look at my selection below.

Provider:	Price	Why It’s Special	Integrations	Best For
	Free plan available; Team plan starts at $20 per user per month	Hybrid spreadsheet database platform for custom workflows, asset tracking & creative data management	Google Drive, Box, Jira, GitHub & many more	Creative agencies building custom pipelines, using asset/tracking systems or managing lots of data
	Free plan available; Premium plan starts at $3 per user per month	Affordable all-in-one work management with native time-tracking workflows for creative teams	Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Zapier	Smaller creative teams, freelancers and agencies requiring solid project/task management on a limited budget
	Free plan available; Solo plan starts at $3.90 per user per month	Designed for creative service workflows, with time tracking, invoicing & proofing features	Slack, Google Calendar, Typeform, Zapier, QuickBooks	Creative agencies that also bill hours, track time, profitability & need budget/invoice integration

To compile this roundup, I tested different software solutions while looking at several key elements. Below is a breakdown of exactly what I focused on and why, which should guide you in choosing the best tool for your needs.

Creative management tools bring structure to the chaos of creative work. They help streamline communication between different stakeholders, including designers, writers and clients. With these tools, everyone can focus on their deliverables and keep projects moving smoothly from concept to completion.

Most tools have the benefit of centralizing all the data related to creative workflows, such as task statuses, deadlines and time entries. They also provide real-time insights into progress and bottlenecks. This makes it easy to stay organized and collaborate all in one place.

Choosing the right tool for your team’s needs will help you attain measurable benefits. However, a few challenges can arise if the software is too complex or a team is resistant to adopting it. Some tools can feel overwhelming to set up or too feature-heavy for smaller teams.

Ensuring that everyone consistently uses the tool can become an ongoing problem as well. After all, even the best software works only when the whole team is on board. At the same time, some tools can become quite pricey for larger teams, which could cancel out the benefits they provide.

Final Thoughts

Specialized Project Management Software for Marketing AgenciesNo matter what projects you’re working on, the right tool can help you achieve your goals. It’s worth taking the time to carefully choose software that fits your unique requirements and priorities. I recommend monday.com as the best option for most teams.

What features are you looking for in project management software? What’s the biggest challenge you’re trying to address in your workflow? Is there any other software you’d like to know more about? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below; I’d be happy to help out. Thank you for reading.

FAQ: Best Creative Project Management Software

• What Is the Best Creative Project Management Tool?
• How Do You Manage a Creative Project?

  Set clear goals, organize your tasks and assign roles to different collaborators. Tools like monday.com and ClickUp help with this and make it easy to track progress, deadlines and feedback.

Sources:

1. The Truth About Creative Agency Productivity in 2025 – Function Point