Project management software is not just for managing
software-based projects. It can be used for a variety of other tasks too. The
web-based software must provide tools for planning, organizing and managing
resources to achieve project goals and objectives.
A web-based project management software can be accessed
through an intranet or WAN / LAN using a web browser. You don’t have to install
any other software on the system. Most also have the ability to be used on
tablets or smartphones.
Here are just some things you can expect from a project
management software:
- Track
the progress of your projects - Set
priorities - Assign
tasks to team members, and collaborate on projects with others - Identify
projects at risk - Control
budgets - Track
issues and bugs - View
scheduled tasks in a visual view (Gantt charts, calendars)
Here is a list of top 10 web-based project management apps:
This project management tool is great for issue management. You
can use it to track multiple projects and its flexible role-based access
control make sure only authorized eyes can view the details.
The software is available as a cross-database and cross-platform
app.
You can easily track networking issues, data center issues,
capacity planning, trouble tickets and much more using Redmine.
Key Features
- Gantt
chart and calendar - Supports
multiple projects - Time
tracking - Document
management - Supports
user self-registration - Email
and feeds notifications - Forum
and wiki support - SCM
integration - Multilanguage
support with 34 languages - Ability
to update tickets in batches
The free and open source software system makes project
planning and tracking a breeze. The tool has a set of command line tools and
libraries. TaskJuggler can plan individual tasks automatically as well as
resolve conflicting situations.
Using this tool, you can define a timeline and include
breaks within the Gantt diagram. You can also easily assign your resources
along with their budgets.
Key Features
- To-do
list management - Easy
to install on Windows, Linux, MacOS, Unix, and many other operating
systems - Supports
multiple time zones - Intuitive
task editor - Fully
integrated with the Vim text editor
Freedcamp offers a number of neat features to collaborate
and complete projects – calendar, milestones, discussions, issue tracker, and
even a wiki. Freedcamp is free with vital features for unlimited projects,
users, storage, and tasks.
Key Features
- Responsive
design - Project
picker feature makes it easy to navigate and switch between your projects - Powerful
dashboard - Calendar
sharing - Time
tracking feature - Easy
to sort and organize projects - Create,
visualize, and organize tasks from one location - Team
collaboration - Link
and integrate projects with Zapier - Splitting
bigger tasks into smaller, manageable ones with subtasks
collaborate on projects using global resource pools. In 2017, the CIO Magazine
mentioned ProjectLibre as a scalable project management tool that suits different organizations
from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. ProjectLibre has over 4,000,000
downloads in more than 200 countries.
Key Features
- Compatible
with Microsoft Project - Gantt
charts - Export/import
functionalities - Value
costing - Structure
charts for work breakdown - Structure
charts for resource breakdown - Network
diagrams - Resource
histograms - Reporting
capability - Capability
to set dependencies - Easy
to create your project’s baselines, allot resources, and define work.
This application is more than your regular project manager
software. It has all the vital tools for enterprise resource planning (ERP) and
portfolio management. That means, Project-open has the capabilities for running
a small-scale business, including resource management, human resource planning,
timesheet management and other ERP features.
While most of its competitors focus on project-related tasks
like creating and monitoring tasks, Project-open has a chock-full of features
that you can customize to meet your company’s needs. The software can operate
on many popular platforms, hosting services, or Amazon cloud.
Key Features
- Project
tracking - Portfolio
management - Project
controlling - Risk
management - Change
management - Full-text
search engine - Budget
management - Collab
- Finance
module - Wiki
- Forum
and file storage
Developed back in 2010, the application allows companies to
plan projects, set schedules, create roadmaps and suitable release dates for
their product development. Companies can also collaborate, manage tasks, track
issues, as well as monitor time, cost and quality.
OpenProject exists in two major versions: the community and
the premium version.
This feature allows you to use the same column names and replicate an Excel
spreadsheet. This makes OpenProject a great alternative to Excel Gantt charts.
Key Features
- Task
management and issue tracking - Meetings
- Forums
- Modern
design - Product
roadmap - Repository
- Mobile-friendly
layout - Single-page
application
The small to medium-size open source application is ideal
for project management, CRM, and document sharing. It features an intuitive dashboard
for accessing project summary, client list, tasks, messages, calendar, member
management and more.
Key Features
- Customer
management - Email
reporting - Issues
tracking - Email
support - Automatic
reminders and alerts - Supports
mobile and desktop devices - Forum
and wiki support
MeisterTask is a task management system that promises
simplicity and user-friendliness. MeisterTask allows integration to third-party
tools including Slack, G-Suite, Dropbox, Zen Desk, and GitHub. Some features
and integrations are limited in the free version.
Key Features
- Supports
the integration of multiple third-party tools - Emails
and other collaboration options - Kanban
- iOS or
Android - Cloud
file management - Task
relationships - Scrum
Odoo is an all-in-one project management tool that comes
with a complete suite of corporate management apps. This business software
includes CRM, accounting, e-commerce, project management, warehousing,
inventory and more.
Source:
Odoo’s complete source code can be found on GitHub under
AGPLV3. Besides, Odoo has an application server that uses PostgreSQL as the
backend database and has a Web based client as well. Odoo has robust technical
support and support for new development and bug fixing.
Key Features
- Project
tasks - Project
reporting - Interactive
user interface - Enhanced
communication features - Smart
integration - Customer
services
Wekan is a great free open source project management
software with functionalities for fast and simple workflow. Wekan makes it easy
for project managers to make boards where cards can be dragged between columns.
The app is easy to use and comes with an interactive
interface. Released under MIT’s License, Wekan is open for enhancements and
modifications. It allows users to have full control over their data. Wekan can
be hosted on a server as well. The Wekan community has more than 400,000
members, meaning there’s an active community working to improve this
application.
Key Features
- Enhanced
task management along with easy, customizable, and interactive options - Easy
to install via Cloudron, Docker, Sandstorm, Ubuntu Snap, Debian packages,
and Source - Kanban
boards make a card-based task management possible - Runs
on iPhone and Android
Honorable Mentions
- Bugzilla (only
bug tracking) - OpenProj (desktop app – replacement for MS-project)
- Free Gannt Charts
(spreadsheets)
Conclusion
To meet your strategic goals, invest in game-changing
project management applications that can change the way you market,
collaborate, sell, conduct, and innovate. Such a tool will shorten the
organizational project timelines. Use most of the web-based open source project
management software discussed above to create your project’s visual roadmap.
How do you manage your IT / software and other projects? Are
you using a better option? Let us know in the comments.