1. Lark — Best overall Asana alternative for collaboration

Lark is a leading competitor of Asana, offering all-in-one collaboration software for teams of all sizes. It provides all the same features as Asana and more, allowing you to manage chats, meetings, calendars, documents, emails, and projects in one integrated platform. 

Lark's advanced project management feature, Lark Base, lets you automate workflows, track task completion, and gain actionable insights through an attractive dashboard.

Key features

• Lark integration: Base is integrated within the Lark ecosystem, allowing you to send messages, start group calls, and create documents while managing projects. 

• Data visualization: You can transform sales figures, production totals, and supply fluctuations into real-time charts and graphs. Utilize various filters and fields to enhance your data visualization, including progress fields for tracking task progress.

• OpenAI integration: You can generate content at scale with a single AI prompt. In addition, you can automate content updates for your data dashboards. 

• AI Automation tools: Streamline team management and tasks with automated workflows. Configure triggers and actions for automatic task management, including sending alerts, reminders, and creating events, tasks, or groups without manual input.

• Multiple data views: Discover 6 ways to view your data, including grid, kanban, Gantt, gallery, calendar, and form view. 

• Mobile friendly: Base is optimized for iOS and Android, allowing you to manage projects on the go with all features from the desktop version. In contrast, Asana’s mobile app lacks some Asana desktop app features and has reported issues like freezing or crashing.

• Dynamic dashboards: Base features customizable dashboards that provide a clear overview of important metrics and insights. Dashboards update in real time, ideal for monitoring business indicators, project milestones, and more.

Integrations

Lark offers integrations with these apps and services:

• Zapier

• Power BI

• Facebook Pages

• Zeplin

• HubSpot

• GitLab

• Microsoft Teams

Pros

• Unified platform for all your business and team needs

• Access anywhere anytime with the mobile, web, and desktop app

• Extensive integration support for your favorite tools

• Fully customizable project management system, with the ability to tailor permissions for different team members

• Powerful data visualization tools at your fingertips, with multiple views and dashboards available

• Free forever plan and affordable paid plans (starting at $12 per user per month)

• Variety of free templates to kickstart projects.

Cons

• Some time needs to be invested to get familiar with all the product's features.

Pricing

Lark offers several pricing plans, including a free plan. This $0 plan includes a range of features and tools including Lark’s core products.

2. monday.com — Best for building custom workflows

Another great option to consider if you’re looking for an alternative to Asana is monday.com. It is best for building custom workflows, offering flexibility and customization options.

Image source: monday.com

Key features

Here are some features you can enjoy with monday.com

• Extensive customization options for workflow designs: monday.com lets you create your automation flow with a trigger, a condition, and actions and use the drag and drop blocks feature.

• A wide range of templates for different project needs: Some templates on monday.com work for content planning, editorial calendars, and campaign tracking.

• A centralized place for all your tasks, processes, tools, and files: You can access everything you need in one place, helping you get organized and focused on your tasks.

• Assign tasks to team members: By adding the People Column, you can assign team members to specific tasks.

• Track time spent on a task: This feature is available only on Pro and Enterprise plans. It allows you to add a time-tracking column and start the timer activity.

Integrations

Here are some integrations you can use with monday.com:

• Slack

• Gmail

• Mailchimp

• DocuSign

• Microsoft Teams

Pros

• Customizable workflows

• Free forever starter pack

• Offers a wide range of templates for varying project needs

Cons

• Limited integrations

• The mobile version is difficult to use

Pricing

You can get a free starter pack at monday.com to try it out first. It includes over 200 templates, 500 MB of cloud storage, and unlimited messaging and updates. monday.com offers a 14-day free trial for its Basic, Standard, and Pro plans.

3. Trello — Best for simple project management through cards

As a visual collaboration tool, Trello allows you to use cards to represent tasks and boards to represent projects. You can create cards for tasks, assign them to your team members, and even add due dates, files, and comments. Trello is the best tool for simple projects that don’t require complex workflows.

Image source: trello.com

Key features

Trello offers the following features:

• Visual project management tool: You can create cards and boards for tasks, assign them to team members, indicate due dates, and add files and comments on cards.

• Lets you manage projects through a board, list, and card system: With these, you can easily organize your projects.

• Leave feedback on specific tasks: You can use the comment feature to leave feedback on specific tasks.

• Assign tasks to team members and set deadlines: Trello’s advanced checklist allows you to assign tasks and set deadlines, making it easier to see and keeping the team accountable.

Integrations

Here are some integrations that work with Trello:

• Slack

• Time Doctor

• Detectify

• Kanban WIP

• Make

Pros

• Simple and easy-to-use board, list, and card system

• Over 200 integrations

• Unlimited number of team members on the Free plan

Cons

• Limited functionalities and advanced features like reporting

• Not suitable for larger teams

Pricing

Trello has a free plan that allows you to create unlimited cards and custom backgrounds, ideal for those seeking free Asana alternatives. Its paid plans start at $5 per user. 

4. Airtable — Best for tracking and organizing data

Airtable, a cloud-based relational database, is highly customizable and flexible, making it an excellent choice to track and organize data.

Image source: support.airtable.com

Unlike Asana, Airtable is designed to store and manage business data, such as org charts, campaign results, and visual assets.

Key features

Airtable has the following key features:

• Manage a database with the familiarity of a spreadsheet: With this, Airtable makes it easy to store, manage, and retrieve your data.

• Build unique workflows: You can map out your team’s workflows, determine the key information and people involved in the project, and turn these into a solution fitting your team’s needs.

• Use project management templates: Some templates available include project planner and tracker, project budget, and project calendar.

Integrations

Here are some integrations you can use on Airtable.

• Google Drive

• Salesforce

• Zendesk

• Basecamp

• Jira

Pros

• Has built-in automations

• Offers project management templates

• Customizable workflows depending on your needs

Cons

• Limited features before price upgrade is required

• Limited integrations

Pricing

Airtable has a free plan available to individual users and very small teams. Paid plans start at $20 per user/month.

5. Notion — Best for comprehensive project documentation

Notion, a cloud-based productivity tool, is one of the top alternatives to Asana. Its comprehensive project documentation capabilities allow you to create and manage detailed project documentation within a single location.

Image source: notion.com

Key features

• All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, and databases: Keep track of your work in one place, making it easier to stay productive and organized.

• Customizable for various project needs: Choose from pre-designed templates, modify these templates, or create templates from scratch to match your business needs and workflow preferences.

• Collaboration-friendly, with robust sharing and commenting features: Edit the same page simultaneously with your teammates, leave comments, mention your team members, and receive notifications about page updates.

Integrations

Here are some integrations you can use with Notion:

• Gmail

• Slack

• Typeform

• Zapier

• Google Calendar

Pros

• Offer pre-designed templates and lets you create your own template

• Has features to improve team communication and collaboration

• Integrates with popular tools

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for new users

• No goal tracking

Pricing

Notion offers a free tier for personal use but has limited functionalities. If you want to use Notion for free, you can request a trial run on Business and Enterprise plans by contacting their sales team. Paid plans start at $12 per user/month. 

6. ClickUp — Best for team management

A powerful productivity platform, ClickUp offers a complete work management solution for project management, which includes time tracking, team collaboration, and goal and progress tracking.

Image source: clickup.com

Key features

Here are some of its key features:

• Manage tasks, docs, and goals: Manage your tasks, create and edit documents, and track your team’s progress toward your goals.

• Centralized project-related communication: Create a centralized hub for all your project-related communication.

• Brainstorm ideas with whiteboards: Create whiteboards to visualize and analyze ideas, break down complex ideas, and capture new ideas as they happen.

• Real-time collaboration: No more need for needless meetings; team members can communicate, add, and update tasks in real-time

• Automate business processes: Use pre-built workflow automations or create your own to automate repetitive tasks.

Integrations

You can use these apps and services with ClickUp:

• Zoom

• GitHub

• Zendesk

• Intercom

• Harvest Time Tracking

Pros

• Customizable

• Offers real-time collaboration features

• Over 50 pre-built workflow automation commands

Cons

• Steep learning curve

• Pricing can be expensive for small teams

Pricing

ClickUp offers a free forever plan ideal for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small business owners. Paid plans start at $7 per user/month. 

7. Basecamp — Best for team collaboration

Basecamp is a collaboration and project management tool that offers essential features, such as task lists, docs, files, calendars, messages, and auto-check-ins. Its minimalist design lets teams work in a distraction-free environment and easily collaborate.

Image source: basecamp.com

Key features

Check out these key Basecamp features:

• Card Table: Visual, Kanban table to help you organize tasks.

• Organize and share docs and media files: You can store, share, and discuss files in an organized space.

• To-Dos: Organize work by assigning tasks and setting due dates on your To-Dos.

• Leave feedback on tasks: With the commenting feature, you can comment on tasks, messages, and files and even mention your team members to notify them.

• Chat with team members: With Campfire, Basecamp’s chat feature, you can ask questions, share news, mention people to get their attention, and have fun with sounds and emojis with your team members.

Integrations

• Git Helpers

• TaskClone

• Clockify

• Ziflow

• Zapier

Pros

• User-friendly interface

• Free trial for all its paid plans

• Built-in communication and collaboration tools

Cons

• Limited integrations

• Limited project management features

Pricing

Basecamp doesn’t offer a free plan. However, you can try Basecamp’s premium features by signing up for a 30-day free trial on any paid plans. Once the trial is up, prices apply depending on your plan.

8. nTask — Best for risk management

Among the best alternatives to Asana is nTask. Aside from being a project management tool, it also offers features that make it an ideal choice for risk management. These features include custom risk matrices, filters, and custom categorization for risk assessment.

Image source: ntaskmanager.com

Features

Here are some key features nTask offers:

• nTask Boards: This feature follows the Kanban methodology, allowing you to manage tasks and projects in a board view.

• nTask Gantt Chart: You can plan, manage timelines, visualize projects, and get real-time updates.

• Issue tracking: Track bugs and issues, set severity, issue status, and priority, and link to tasks and projects.

• Meetings: Schedule within nTask, integrate with Teams, Google, Skype, etc., create meeting agendas, and take real-time meeting minutes.

• Manage, monitor, and evaluate risks: Create and analyze risk matrix, develop mitigation plans, and get risk updates.

• Visual reporting: Make quick decisions by creating custom reporting with visual-friendly data presentation.

Integrations

Here are some popular tools you can use with nTask:

• Zoom

• Google Calendar

• Outlook Calendar

• Apple Calendar

• Slack

Pros

• Gantt charts and Kanban boards

• Easy-to-use interface

• Visual reporting

Cons

• Limited customizations

• No mobile app

Pricing

Besides its free plan, you can enjoy more features by signing up for nTask’s 7-day free trial on premium and business plans. It also offers up to 50% discount for NGOs, educational institutions, and early-stage startups.

9. Jira — Best for streamlining workflows for software projects

As an alternative to Asana, Jira is designed to help software development teams and engineering and product design teams manage projects. Its advanced features and integrations, such as agile project management solutions, make it a top choice for streamlining workflows for software projects.

Image source: atlassian.com

Features

Jira has the following features for software project management:

• Timeline view: Map work items, dependencies, and releases on a timeline.

• Scrum and Kanban boards: Get a visual representation to track your team’s progress and identify crucial bottlenecks.

• Drag and drop automation: Automate tedious and repetitive tasks by dragging and dropping if-else rules together.

• Check code and deployment status at a glance: Integrate your source code tools and visualize your project progress through your deployment process.

Integrations

Here are some integrations you can use with Jira:

• Bitbucket

• Figma

• GitHub

• Jenkins

• Opsgenie

Pros

• Issue management, bug, and issue tracking

• Instant ticketing features

• Customizable dashboards

Cons

• Can be complex to use for non-software projects

• Higher pricing compared to other project management tools

Pricing

Jira offers a free plan where you can enjoy some of its premium features. Paid plans start at $7.75 per user/month.

10. Microsoft Project — Best for those within the Microsoft ecosystem

Microsoft Project is a robust tool designed to handle complex project management needs, making it a great alternative to tools like Asana for teams managing large-scale projects. It is often used by architects and construction companies needing project management software.

Image source: au.pcmag.com

Features

Microsoft Project offers the following features for project management:

• Gantt chart and timeline view: Visualize tasks, milestones, and project timelines using detailed Gantt charts and timelines.

• Resource management: Allocate resources efficiently while tracking usage and availability.

• Task dependencies: Set up task dependencies to ensure seamless project flow.

• Budget tracking and cost management: Monitor project costs and budgets in real time to avoid overspending.

Integrations

Here are some integration options for Microsoft Project: 

• Microsoft Teams

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft Power BI

• OneDrive

• SharePoint

Pros

• Advanced tools for large-scale project planning

• Seamless integration with other Microsoft Office tools

• Highly customizable

Cons

• Steep learning curve for beginners

• Higher cost compared to simpler project management tools

Pricing

Microsoft Project offers a 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore its features. Paid plans start at $10 per user/month for the cloud-based version and go up depending on the features and deployment options required.