Top 10 Project Management Tools for Consultants in 2025

Consultants often manage multiple clients and juggle deadlines for dynamic projects. Staying on track can become overwhelming, which is why project management software for consultants plays a vital role. It can streamline workflows, track billable hours, facilitate collaboration and provide clear visibility of project progress.

The right software can be the difference between thriving and getting lost in spreadsheets and endless email threads. I’ve already covered the best project management software, so in this article, I’ll discuss the tools best suited for the consulting world so you can pick one that fits your needs.

Cloudwards’ Choice: monday.com

Cloudwards’ Choice: monday.com

Mehak Siddiqui is a Cloudwards expert in project management services.

I’ve tested dozens of project management services, and monday.com stands out as the best tool for consultants. Its visual dashboards help you effortlessly track multiple clients and projects without feeling overwhelmed. Sign up for monday.com to get a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan.

The right tool helps consultants manage clients, deadlines and deliverables while keeping communication clear and workflows smooth. Below are six key factors to prioritize:

• Core features: Basic functions like task management, workflow tracking, project organization and deadline oversight form the foundation of managing multiple clients.
• Essential extras: Time tracking, billing, reporting dashboards and automated workflows streamline operations and enhance productivity.
• User experience: An intuitive interface makes it easier to adopt the tool, reduces error and ensures team members and clients can navigate without confusion.
• Onboarding and support: Look for software with thorough tutorials and customer support to minimize setup time and resolve issues.
• Integration capabilities: The ability to connect with tools you already use (e.g., email, calendars or cloud storage) keeps workflows seamless and prevents duplication.
• Scalability and accessibility: Make sure the platform can grow with your consulting practice, offers mobile access and can adapt to solo work or larger teams.

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

How to Find the Right Project Management Software for Your Consulting Needs

Not all consultants have the same requirements when it comes to project management software. The ideal tool depends on factors like industry, team size and project scale. Short-term engagements might succeed with simpler tools, while complex, multi-phase projects demand more advanced features.

Similarly, solo consultants may prefer user-friendly and low-cost platforms that minimize overhead. Larger teams require advanced features for resource allocation, workload balancing and in-depth reporting. Ultimately, the best software is one that aligns with a consultant’s specific workflow, client needs and operational scale.

monday.com offers core tools like task and workflow management, project tracking and deadline oversight while also offering standout tools such as automations and customizable dashboards. Time tracking is available on the Pro plan and higher. Its intuitive interface and scalability make it effective for solo consultants and growing teams alike.

monday.com Hands-On Testing

The interface is intuitive, with color-coded boards and drag-and-drop functionality. Multiple views give consultants flexibility to organize projects, and collaboration is simple. The downside is that features like time tracking are available only on higher-tier plans, as explained in our monday.com review.

monday.com Pricing & Value

monday.com has Free, Basic, Standard, Pro and Enterprise tiers. While the Free or Basic plan may be sufficient for smaller teams, the Standard plan offers the best value. Larger consulting firms should opt for the Pro or Enterprise plan for features like time tracking and private boards. All monday.com plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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.

ClickUp offers powerful core features like task and workflow management, project tracking and collaboration. It also includes time tracking, goal setting and document sharing.

ClickUp offers powerful core features like task and workflow management, project tracking and collaboration. It also includes time tracking, goal setting and document sharing. ClickUp’s strongest aspect is its granular customization for personalized workflow organization.

ClickUp Hands-On Testing

ClickUp is incredibly flexible, with options to manage projects and client documentation all in one place. However, the customization options can be overwhelming for new users, who may experience a learning curve. Learn more in our ClickUp review.

ClickUp Pricing & Value

ClickUp offers a generous free plan for basic task management and collaboration for individuals or small teams. The Unlimited plan unlocks time tracking and unlimited integrations, advanced views, goals and portfolios. The Business and Enterprise plans add advanced options like private whiteboards and workload management.

Free Forever

• Basic functionality with some limitations

3. Asana — Project Management Software for Environmental Consultants

Asana’s visual boards and timelines make it easy to track multi-stage projects such as environmental assessments, compliance reporting or field studies. The platform integrates with specialized environmental, social and governance (ESG) tools like Equilibrium, and its ESG Helper simplifies complex data and reporting.

Asana Hands-On Testing

Asana’s streamlined interface is easy to use. Environmental consultants juggling multiple stakeholders will find that Asana makes it easier to keep up with project progress and file version control. However, the platform has some quirks, such as the inability to add multiple assignees to a single task.

Asana Pricing & Value

Asana has a free Personal plan for up to 10 collaborators, with unlimited tasks, projects and messages. The Starter plan adds timeline and Gantt views, custom fields and unlimited automations. The Advanced plan unlocks portfolios, goals, workload tracking and deeper reporting. Learn more in our Asana review.

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. Jira — Project Management Software for IT Consultants

Jira aligns closely with software development and technical projects. It covers core needs like task and workflow management, but standout features include Agile boards, sprint planning and advanced issue tracking. It offers customization options that can be tailored to different IT consulting projects.

Jira Hands-On Testing

Jira is designed for Agile workflows, so creating boards, tracking issues and organizing sprints feels logical and precise. Reporting and dashboards provide insights into progress, velocity and bottlenecks, which is great for client updates. However, the many configuration options can feel overwhelming. Our Jira review has more details.

Jira Pricing & Value

Jira has a free plan for up to 10 users, with unlimited goals, projects and tasks. The Standard plan adds collaboration, including user roles and permissions. The Business plan is best suited for larger organizations with cross-team planning and dependency management, while the Enterprise plan has advanced security.

Free

• Max. 10 users. unlimited boards, reports and insights; backlog; basic roadmaps; 2GB of storage; community support

Standard

• Monthly pricing starts from 11 users, pricing changes based on the number of users. Monthly pricing changes with teams over 110. Annual pricing shown is for 1-10 users

Premium

• Monthly pricing starts from 11 users, pricing changes based on the number of users. Monthly pricing changes with teams over 114. Annual pricing shown is for 1-10 users

Enterprise

• Enterprise plan pricing is available when you enter 801 or more users above; User tier: 801 – 1,000

5. Wrike — Project Management Software for Management Consultants

Features like AI-powered automation and project portfolio management make Wrike effective for consultants handling complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Advanced reporting and dashboards track performance and outcomes. However, time-tracking and resource management features are available only on higher-tier plans.

Wrike Hands-On Testing

Wrike may seem complex to first-time users, but that’s because it’s highly customizable. Consultants can tailor dashboards to specific clients, set up approval workflows and create custom templates. The interface is clean but layered with options. Once you get used to it, Wrike feels efficient and versatile. Learn more in our full Wrike review.

Wrike Pricing & Value

Wrike offers a free entry-level plan with basic task and project management tools, board and table views, and limited storage. The Team plan adds features like unlimited tasks and projects, Gantt charts and custom fields, The Business plan stands out with advanced functionalities like capacity and resource planning.

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

6. Airtable — Project Management Software for Agricultural Consultants

Airtable blends the structure of a database with the flexibility of project-tracking tools. Its customizable tables make it easy for agricultural consultants to log field data like soil quality, crop cycles or resource use. Multiple views — such as calendars and kanban boards — help visualize seasonal tasks and workflows.

Airtable Hands-On Testing

Working with Airtable is like using extra-powerful spreadsheets. The automated interface designer helps you set up the software for your specific needs. However, collaboration features are limited to commenting on records and mentioning team members. Read our Airtable review for more.

Airtable Pricing & Value

Airtable has a free plan with basic database functionality, which is ideal for individuals or very small teams. The Team plan adds features like Gantt and timeline views, while the Business plan expands limits and controls. Both paid plans provide a great balance of features and value for agricultural consultants.

Free

• Up to five users. Unlimited bases. 1,000 records, 1GB of storage per base. Revision and snapshot history for two weeks. Views: grid, calendar, form, Kanban board, gallery and list. 100 automations per month.

Team

• Everything in free, plus unlimited users, 50,000 records and 20GB of storage space per base. Adds Gantt charts and timeline views. 25,000 automations per month.

Business

• Everything in Team, plus 125,000 records, 100GB of storage per base, 100,000 automation per month. Admin controls, single sign-on (SSO) and premium integrations with third-party services.

Enterprise

• Everything in Business, plus 500,000 records, 1TB of storage per base, and 500,000 automation monthly.

7. Zoho Projects — Best for Affordable Task & Time Management

Zoho Projects offers a great balance of affordability, usability and essential project management functionality. It includes time tracking and reporting in its cheapest plan, making it convenient to track billable hours and generate client-ready insights without third-party tools.

Zoho Projects Hands-On Testing

Zoho Projects feels straightforward and approachable, which is ideal for consultants who want core project management features without unnecessary complexity. The interface is clean and intuitive, though the mobile app can feel limited compared with the desktop version. Read our Zoho Projects review for more. 

Zoho Projects Pricing & Value

Zoho Projects has a free plan with basic project management tools for up to five users, making it ideal for solo consultants or small teams. The Premium plan adds features like Gantt charts and time tracking. The Enterprise plan includes enhanced reporting, custom fields and custom roles.

8. Trello — Best for Small Consulting Projects

Trello’s kanban board interface makes it easy to organize tasks, track progress and collaborate with clients. It’s a great choice for consultants who prioritize ease of use and need to manage just a few projects at a time.

Trello Hands-On Testing

Trello is very user-friendly, thanks to its drag-and-drop kanban boards. Creating and managing tasks, checklists and due dates is simple. Useful elements include the flexibility to customize boards with power-ups. However, larger projects may feel cluttered, and there’s a lack of advanced reporting and resource management tools.

Trello Pricing & Value

Trello’s free plan supports up to 10 users and 10 boards per workspace. The affordable Standard and Premium plans unlock more features, as detailed in our Trello review. You can also get a 14-day free trial of Trello Premium. The Enterprise plan offers scalable features for larger firms, with unlimited workspaces and advanced permissions.

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.

9. Basecamp — Best for Easy Client Communication and Collaboration 

Basecamp covers the core features most consultants need, offering task management, file sharing and team collaboration in one platform. Basecamp’s strength lies in its simplicity and communication features such as direct messages and group chats. You can also invite guest users for free. However, it falls short on advanced features like automations.

Basecamp Hands-On Testing

Basecamp feels clear and intuitive, making it easy for consultants and clients to get on board quickly. However, its simplicity can sometimes feel limiting. Consultants managing complex projects may find the lack of advanced reporting, time tracking or customization restrictive. Read our Basecamp review for more details.

Basecamp Pricing & Value

Basecamp has a free plan, but it supports only one project at a time. Paid plans start at $15 per user per month and provide access to all features. Alternatively, you can choose the all-in-one Pro Unlimited plan, which is priced for an entire organization rather than per seat. There’s also a generous 60-day free trial.

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.

10. Notion — Best for Combining Knowledge Management with Project Delivery

Notion excels at knowledge management, letting consultants store research, reports and meeting notes alongside project tasks. While it lacks time-tracking and some advanced reporting features, its integration capabilities and modular structure make it easy to build a tailored system. This flexibility covers most core project management needs.

Notion Hands-On Testing

Notion feels sleek and modern, giving users control over how they structure projects and information. Its drag-and-drop interface makes building pages and databases intuitive, and the flexibility to design workflows from scratch is a major plus. However, this freedom can feel overwhelming for new users.

Notion Pricing & Value

Notion has a limited free plan for individuals. The Plus plan adds unlimited file uploads and advanced sharing controls, while the Business plan includes advanced collaboration features, analytics and security tools. Learn more in our Notion review, or try the Business plan free for 14 days.

Free

• 1 user only, Up to five guests, 5MB file upload limit

Plus

• 1 user only, Unlimited guests, Unlimited file uploads, Version history

Business

• Unlimited users, Unlocks workspace, User permission settings

Enterprise

• Advanced security features

Honorable Mentions

Several other project management services are worth mentioning due to their features and functionality:

• Hive: Flexible project and task management software with collaboration features for mid-sized teams. Read our Hive review for more information.
• nTask: Lightweight, user-friendly tool with task-tracking and risk management capabilities at an affordable price. Our nTask review has all the details. 
• ProofHub: User-friendly platform for project planning, team communication and document management. Learn more in our ProofHub review.
• Scoro: Combines project management with time tracking, billing and reporting for business oversight.
• Accelo: Designed for service-based businesses, integrating project management with client and task tracking.
• Bonsai consulting software: Focuses on freelance and consulting workflows, with contracts, proposals and invoicing.

Consultants’ Guide to Project Management Software Pricing

Choosing a project management service isn’t just about ticking a list of features. You need to strike a balance between cost and value. Every consultancy has different priorities, so overspending on a feature-heavy tool you barely use can be just as costly as underinvesting in a bare-bones solution that doesn’t help much.

The table below is a guide to the most common kinds of pricing structures and what you can expect from each.

When evaluating software solutions, I focused on features that directly impact efficiency, collaboration and client delivery. I tested each platform hands-on, simulating multi-project workflows, team collaboration and client reporting to see how well they support real-world consulting needs. I prioritized the following:

• Task and workflow management: Ease of creating, assigning and tracking tasks across projects.
• Collaboration tools: Effectiveness of communication, file sharing and team coordination.
• Reporting and dashboards: Quality of insights, progress tracking and client-ready reporting.
• Integrations: Compatibility with other apps to maintain seamless workflows.
• User experience and onboarding: Intuitiveness, learning curve and support resources.

Final Thoughts

Project management software helps consultants streamline workflows, track tasks, collaborate with teams and deliver projects effectively. After testing multiple options, I found monday.com to be the best choice thanks to its intuitive interface, customizable workflows, powerful dashboards and seamless integrations.

Which features matter most to you when managing consulting projects? Do you prefer a highly visual tool or one with advanced functionality? Have you tried any of the software mentioned in this article? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and thank you for reading.

• What Software Do Management Consultants Use?

  Management consultants typically use software like monday.com, ClickUp, Asana and Wrike to manage tasks, projects and client workflows efficiently.

• What Project Management Software Does McKinsey Use?

  McKinsey uses a proprietary program management platform called Wave that’s been specifically designed for orchestrating large-scale transformation initiatives.

• What Is the Best Project Management Software for Consulting Freelancers?

  The best project management software for consulting freelancers is monday.com. It’s a flexible, user-friendly and affordable tool for task management, collaboration and project organization.

Sources:

1. Consulting Statistics – WifiTalents
2. Digital Transformation in the Consulting Industry – WifiTalents