I have been working on a new product for VA’s that will help them set up a basic, first stages, baby step VA company on a shoestring budget, so if someone was in 2 minds about going for the plunge, they could dabble in it first and see what gives (more on this later – you heard it here first folks), it’s still in the early days but I had to do quite a bit of research, and in amongst this research I have been looking at online project management spaces.
If you have any sort of online service business, a solid project management space is crucial to keeping organised and staying efficient. Here are a list of 22 project management and collaboration spaces I have found online that make me go “Mmm Nice…” so I thought I would share them with you. It’s also important to note that some of them are free, so it’s well worth exploring the possibility of using online project management software, and getting used to it, even if you are a solo VA or have a consulting business, before upgrading to a paid system (if you felt inclined to do that of course).
Just to let you know folks, I am an activeCollab.com lady through and through, but of course, I still like to window shop and stay up-to-date with the latest systems available. You could say I am a project management and organisation junkie!
So here goes – in no particular order…
#1 activeCollab
My baby! “The project management & collaboration tool that installs on your server or local network. activeCollab gives you full control over your files and communications, with unlimited users, unlimited projects, and unlimited storage space – it grows with your company, with no monthly fees. Work more effectively with your entire team, plus all your clients and contractors in an intuitive, fully customizable space.”
#2 Go Plan
This was what I used before switching to ActiveCollab. “The best way to collaborate with your peers. Companies like Sony Music, Mozilla, Boxee and Digital Kitchen use Goplan to manage their projects.”
#3 Intervals
“Intervals is web-based project management software that marries time tracking and task management in a collaborative online space with powerful reporting.”
#4 Basecamp
By far one of the most popular choices. “Basecamp Brings Project Teams Together. Millions of people use Basecamp, the leading online project collaboration tool. Basecamp is the top choice for entrepreneurs, freelancers, small businesses, and groups inside big organisations.”
#5 Zoho Projects
“Zoho Online project management software for planning, tracking, and collaboration. Easy and professional with the integrated features for scheduling, collaboration, time tracking, and reporting.”
#6 Liquid Planner
“Online project management software for planning, tracking, and collaboration. Easy and professional with the integrated features for scheduling, collaboration, time tracking, and reporting.”
#7 Project Bubble
“Project Bubble is a simple tool for managing your projects and collaborating with your team. It’s so easy you’ll love it!”
#8 Wrike
“Thanks to Wrike’s patent-pending Intelligent Email Engine, thousands of teams have been able to merge their email communications into their planning process. With Wrike’s unique Flexible Structures at their hands, managers can easily coordinate every tiny detail of their projects. Thanks to Wrike’s handy Dynamic Timeline, managers have a real-time, clear picture of multiple projects.”
#9 Teamwork Project Manager
“Teamwork Project Manager is an easy-to-use online teamwork & project management software application that helps managers, staff and clients work together more productively online.”
#10 Central Desktop
“Central Desktop delivers a cloud-based social collaboration platform that revolutionizes how people connect and share information to drive profitable business results. Businesses of all sizes use Central Desktop’s complete online collaboration solution to manage projects and documents in the cloud with colleagues, customers and partners.”
http://www.centraldesktop.com/
#11 ProjectTurf
“Create and assign tasks, share files, collaborate with others, track time and budgets, calendar events, manage tickets, and get things done. It’s easy.”
#12 DeskAway
“DeskAway is your central place to communicate, delegate, follow up, share files & track what everyone is working on.”
#13 ProWorkFlow
“Manage projects online. Easily sort projects, tasks and time online, anywhere, anytime! ProWorkflow helps your company manage projects, tasks, time tracking, staff and contacts anytime from anywhere. All you need is a web browser or smartphone!”
#14 WORKetc
“Does your online project management do CRM? And does your CRM do billing? Introducing WORKetc: the all in one approach to business management. More than just online project management software – WORKetc combines project management, billing and more in the only complete online CRM solution. Manage everything from leads to invoices in one place, without costly integrations.”
http://www.worketc.com/Online_Project_Management
#15 Freedcamp
Apparently according to MakeUseOf.com Freedcamp is “the closest free alternative that you will ever get to Basecamp” – Nuff said?
#16 ClockingIT
“ClockingIT is a free hosted application, keeping track of all your tasks and the time you spend on them.Extensive features, Project Management, Collaboration and Time Tracking …and it’s free!”
#17 Dooster
“Dooster is an online project management and collaboration tool designed to save you from being overwhelmed by your tasks, appointments and emails while keeping important data, like contacts, schedules, emails and documents always close to hand and under one roof.”
#18 Gantter
“Gantter is a FREE web-based project management tool. You can think of it as a web-based Microsoft Project. Gantter features all the power of leading desktop scheduling software products without users having to buy or install anything!”
#19 TeamLab
“TeamLab is a multifunctional web office for business collaboration, document and project management. It has been developed by Ascensio System SIA, a fast-growing company that offers IT-solutions for personal and corporate use. TeamLab was founded on the idea of making social networking and project management efficient. It combines a wide range of features that assist a company team to work as one organism at solving common tasks and achieving results.”
#20 Who Does (it) for free?
“WhoDoes 2.0 is the web-based project management tool that helps team members COLLABORATE with each other, SHARE files, emails and MANAGE milestones and tasks.”
#21 ScadaPlan
“Scadaplan is a project management and collaboration tool for small and middle groups. We know how many similar programs can be found across the internet, which consist of functions like Tasks, Deadlines, Calendars, Comments, etc. We ourselves have tried using dozen of similar programs, working in design and developing industry for 9 years. This is why we have decided to develop something of our own and to let the people use our product.”
#22 ProjectStat.us
“ProjectStat.us is easy to use. We help you track the basics of any project so you only spend time updating the most important information for your customers. Information like “When does my project start?” and “How long will it take?” ProjectStat.us is a simple service that does what it needs to and nothing more. No needless or confusing features here!”
This post just touches on the systems available, and you may have to dig around a bit to find the one that works best for you, but it’s well worth the effort.
What project management or client area system do you use or have considered using? Comments below!
