Managing time can become quite challenging in this digital age with a sea of responsibilities and tasks. Task management planners have emerged as an excellent tool to bring order to our chaotic schedules. These apps have a wide range of features to help us streamline our daily tasks and maintain productivity.
Here, we will discuss eight highly effective task management planners, comparing their features, pricing, and benefits
1. Week Plan
Week Plan is a powerful task management digital planner that is all-in-one, aligning your tasks with your highest priorities. This tool takes your task management to the next level by focusing on efficiency and effectiveness. It combines the features of a regular to-do list with a calendar to give you an all-around planner that can handle your personal and professional tasks.
By following the principles of time management, it provides a wide range of features to help you organize your daily, weekly, and monthly planning. These features allow you to filter tasks for teams, set recurring tasks, and prioritize what’s most important. It’s more than just a simple note-taking app; it’s a tool that empowers you to manage your time effectively and achieve your goals.
Top 3 Features
1. Recurring Tasks
The recurring tasks feature of Week Plan is a cornerstone of its functionality. It allows you to set tasks that repeat daily, weekly, or monthly. This feature makes Week Plan the perfect planner since it saves you the trouble of inputting the same tasks repeatedly and ensures that no task is forgotten.
For instance, if you have a team meeting every Monday, you can set it as a recurring task, and the app will remind you each time. This handy feature is perfect for tasks that you need to be regularly reminded of. Whether it’s a daily task like checking your emails, a weekly chore like doing your laundry, or a monthly responsibility like paying your bills, the recurring tasks feature ensures you’re always on top of your schedule.
2. Task Filter for Teams
In a team environment, keeping track of who’s doing what can be a challenge. That’s where Week Plan’s Task Filter for Teams feature comes in. It allows you to filter tasks based on team members, making tracking individual progress and responsibilities easy. This feature enables you to assign tasks to you team members and monitor their progress.
The Task Filter for Teams promotes transparency within the team and helps identify any bottlenecks in the workflow. By seeing who’s responsible for what, you can ensure that the workload is evenly distributed and that all tasks are progressing as planned.
3. Prioritization
The art of productivity lies in prioritization, and Week Plan provides you with the tools to do just that. It allows you to identify your high-impact tasks and prioritize them. This way, you can focus your energy on the most valuable tasks.
The prioritization feature is not just about ranking tasks based on their importance; it’s about aligning your tasks with your goals. It helps you to stay focused on the bigger picture and ensures that you’re working on tasks that bring you closer to achieving your goals.
Pros
- Advanced task filtering for teams
- Feature for setting recurring tasks
- Prioritization to focus on high-impact tasks
- Customization options to suit your needs
Cons
- It has a steep learning curve.
- New users take time to get used to all the features
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- MacOS
- Android
- iOS
Pricing
- Free version
- Monthly: $10.83 per month
- Yearly: $104 per year
Final Verdict
Given its emphasis on prioritization, advanced task filtering, and recurring tasks, Week Plan stands out as a comprehensive solution for individuals and teams. Its potential to increase efficiency and effectiveness makes it an excellent option for those looking to take their productivity to the next level. Despite a steep learning curve, Week Plan can transform your task management experience once mastered.
2. Asana
Asana is a robust task management planner who excels in team collaboration and project management. Designed with a business planner’s requirements, Asana helps manage complex projects by dividing them into tasks and subtasks. It is an excellent tool for managing teamwork, from small projects to strategic innovations.
With its broad range of features, Asana lets you organize projects, assign tasks, specify deadlines, and communicate about your work, all in one place.
Top 3 Features
1. Tasks and Subtasks
The Tasks and Subtasks feature is a standout feature of Asana, allowing you to break down your projects into smaller, manageable pieces. Each task can have its subtasks, making it quick and convenient to track the progress of a project. It encourages a more systematic approach to accomplishing tasks.
By subdividing a project, you ensure each aspect is handled in detail, leading to better project outcomes.
2. Task Assignees
Asana’s Task Assignees feature is a dream for managers and team leaders. This feature allows you to assign tasks to teams, clearly defining roles and responsibilities within a project. It ensures everyone knows about their lined up tasks and when they need to do it.
This feature does more than just assign tasks. It allows you to follow the task, get updates, and monitor progress. It brings transparency to team operations, making Asana a powerful tool for project task management.
3. Time Tracking
Asana’s Time Tracking feature provides insights into the time spent on tasks. This feature can be an eye-opener, revealing if tasks are taking longer than expected or if too much time is spent on tasks that are not high-priority.
This tool isn’t just about tracking time and refining your productivity. By understanding how you spend your time, you can make informed decisions about redistributing efforts, re-prioritizing tasks, and improving efficiency.
Pros
- Functional features for team collaboration.
- Excellent task and subtask organization.
- Efficient time tracking tool.
- Several customization options
- Seamless integrations with other apps.
Cons
- The features with the highest utilities are under the paid version, limiting functionality.
- The interface can feel overwhelming at first.
- There is a steep learning curve associated with the planner
Supported Platforms
- Android
- iOS
- Windows
- MacOS
Pricing
- Asana offers a basic free plan
- Monthly Plans
- Premium: $13.49 per month
- Business: $30.49 per month
- Yearly Plans
- Premium: $10.99 Per user, per month billed annually
- Business: $24.99 per user per month, billed annually
Final Verdict
Asana is a comprehensive project planner, particularly beneficial for teams. Its task and subtask organization, task assignment, and time-tracking capabilities make it a powerful tool for efficient project management. Despite a slight learning curve, Asana’s potential to streamline project execution makes it a worthwhile investment.
3. Trello
Trello is a visually appealing task management planner that offers simplicity and flexibility in organizing tasks. The app uses a unique card and board system that’s both intuitive and efficient. Trello is ideal for individual users, teams, and businesses looking for an easy-to-use tool to manage tasks and projects.
Trello’s appeal lies in its simplicity and its adaptability. Whether you’re organizing a personal project, managing a team, or planning an event, Trello offers the flexibility to adapt to your needs. It’s not just a productivity tool; it’s a platform that can transform how you manage tasks and projects.
Top 3 Features
1. Task Management
Trello’s core functionality revolves around task management. It uses a system of boards (representing projects), lists (showing stages of a project), and cards (displaying tasks). This visual approach makes it easy to see the big picture while also allowing you to delve into the details of each task.
With its drag-and-drop feature, you can easily move tasks around as they progress through different stages. This feature offers a high degree of customization, allowing you to set up your workflow in a way that suits you best.
2. Workflow Automation
Trello’s Workflow Automation, or Butler, is a powerful feature that automates your Trello boards. It lets you automate standard actions, like moving a task to a different list once completed or assigning specific team members to tasks.
Butler can save you a lot of time by reducing the repetitive, manual tasks that slow you down. By automating your workflow, you can focus more on the work that matters and less on managing your tasks.
3. Integrations
Trello offers a wide range of integrations, known as Power-Ups, that extend its functionality. These integrations allow you to connect with apps like Google Drive, Slack, and more. This facilitates a centralized workflow without switching between different apps.
Whether you need to attach a Google Doc to a task, update your team via Slack, or track your project’s progress with a Gantt chart, Trello’s integrations have covered you.
Pros
- Easy-to-use, intuitive interface.
- Powerful workflow automation with Butler.
- Extensive range of integrations.
- Visual approach to task management.
- Highly customizable.
Cons
- Drag and drop feature is complex since it leads to accidental task deletion
- No option for viewing archived tasks
- Not ideal for complex project management.
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- MacOS
- Android
- iOS
Pricing
- Free version
- Monthly Plans
- Standard: $6 per user/month
- Premium: $12.50 per user/month
- Yearly Plans
- Standard: $5 Per user/month if billed annually
- Premium: $10 Per user/month if billed annually
- Enterprise: $17.50 Per user/month if billed annually. $210.00 annual price per user.
Final Verdict
Trello’s blend of simplicity and power makes it an excellent tool for a broad range of task and project management needs. While it may not be ideal for managing complex projects, its visual approach, workflow automation, and range of integrations make it a versatile tool that can adapt to various needs.
4. Monday.com
Monday.com is a versatile task management planner that thrives on visual project management. It provides extensive tools and features for effective team collaboration, project tracking, and workflow management. This platform is well-suited for businesses of all sizes seeking a flexible solution to their productivity needs.
Monday.com goes beyond being just a task management app. A Work OS powers teams to run projects and workflows confidently. It’s a one-stop solution to create, manage and track all the work in one visual, collaborative space.
Top 3 Features
1. Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives feature of Monday.com provides a clear and visual platform to set, track, and manage team and project objectives. This helps teams stay aligned, focused and understand their roles and responsibilities in achieving the project’s end goal. Its goal-tracking capabilities make establishing and monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) easy, allowing for real-time adjustments as needed.
Additionally, it incorporates a smart notification system that keeps all stakeholders updated about progress toward these objectives.
2. Dashboards
Monday.com’s dashboards offer a clear view of all ongoing tasks and projects. They are highly customizable, allowing users to display data from multiple boards, visualize data in various formats (charts, graphs, etc.), and create reports. Dashboards help managers get a high-level overview of the project’s progress and performance.
With real-time updates, the dashboards ensure everyone on the team can access the latest data, reducing communication silos and promoting transparency.
3. Automation
Monday.com’s Automation feature helps you save time by automating regular repetitive tasks. You can set up automation for various actions, like assigning tasks, sending updates, or changing task statuses.
This feature lets you streamline your workflows and focus on the tasks that demand more attention. Automation with Monday.com is not just about efficiency; it’s about improving the quality of your work. Minimizing manual, repetitive tasks can reduce errors, enhance consistency, and improve your team’s productivity.
Pros
- Visual, intuitive interface for project tracking.
- Robust automation capabilities.
- Scalable for businesses.
- Versatile integrations with other apps.
- The high degree of customization.
Cons
- Limited user interface features
- Inefficient customer service
- It can be overwhelming for beginners.
- Lacks a built-in time-tracking feature.
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- MacOS
- Android
- iOS
Pricing
Monday.com offers a free trial, with paid monthly plans that have different plans based on the number of seats.
Final Verdict
Monday.com is a robust Work OS with extensive team collaboration, project tracking, and workflow automation features. Although it may seem overwhelming initially, its capabilities in enhancing productivity and transparency make it a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.
5. Wrike
Wrike is a powerful task management planner providing a well-rounded project management solution and team collaboration solution. Its blend of flexibility and simplicity stands out, making it a suitable choice for small teams and large organizations.
Wrike aims to make day-to-day work easier and more efficient, allowing teams to focus on what matters most. Its suite of tools helps in planning, scheduling, prioritizing, and evaluating tasks and projects, enabling a seamless workflow across the team.
Top 3 Features
1. Tasks and Subtasks
Wrike excels in its task management capabilities. You can create tasks, assign them to team members, set due dates, and track progress. Tasks can be broken down into smaller, more manageable subtasks, enabling teams to approach complex projects systematically.
Each subtask can have its own set of attributes like assignees, due dates, and dependencies. This hierarchical structure helps maintain organization and clarity in project execution.
2. Reports and Analysis
Wrike provides a powerful reporting and analysis feature that allows users to track project progress, team performance, and productivity. You can generate custom reports based on various parameters and visualize data in bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs.
This feature is particularly useful for managers to make informed decisions, as it provides insights into project bottlenecks, resource allocation, and other critical aspects of project management.
3. Workspace Management
The workspace management feature of Wrike provides a centralized place for all project-related information and communications. It allows teams to work together seamlessly, regardless of their geographical location.
The workspace can be customized to suit a team’s unique requirements, ensuring everyone can access the necessary resources and tools. Workspace management also helps reduce clutter and keep the team focused on their tasks.
Pros
- Comprehensive task and subtask management
- Customizable workspace
- Powerful reporting and analysis features
- Real-time updates and notifications
- Integrates with a variety of third-party applications
Cons
- Steeper learning curve compared to other tools
- It can be overwhelming due to the many features
- The mobile app could use improvement
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- MacOS
- iOS
- Android
Pricing
- Free version
- Team: $9.80 user/ month
- Business: $24.80 user/ month
- Enterprise: contact sales
- Pinnacle: contact sales
Final Verdict
Wrike’s comprehensive task and subtask management capabilities and robust reporting and analysis features stand out. Despite having a bit of a learning curve, it is a powerful tool that can significantly streamline project management and team collaboration. It’s a suitable choice for teams that need a central, customizable workspace to manage complex projects effectively.
6. Basecamp
Basecamp is a straightforward and easy-to-use project management app popular among small to medium-sized businesses. It is designed with simplicity, providing a minimalistic yet efficient interface for managing tasks and collaborating with teams. Basecamp stands out for its focus on communication, making remote work and team collaboration much smoother.
Top 3 Features
1. To-dos
Basecamp’s To-dos feature allows easy task creation, assignment, and management. You can create lists for tasks, assign them to team members, add due dates, and track progress. You can also attach files and comments to tasks, making all relevant information accessible in one place. This straightforward task management tool keeps everyone updated on their responsibilities, promoting accountability and productivity.
2. Task Scheduling
Basecamp’s scheduling feature lets you schedule tasks, set deadlines, and add events. The schedule can be viewed by all team members, ensuring everyone is aware of key dates and milestones.
Tasks and events can be easily added to the schedule and linked to specific projects or individuals. This feature helps keep track of timelines and prevents any overlap of tasks or deadlines.
3. Collaboration
Basecamp’s collaboration feature provides team communication tools, like message boards, real-time chat, and email forwarding. This ensures all team communication is centralized and organized. It also has a check-in feature, where team members can share updates or answer questions regularly. This encourages regular communication and updates, keeping everyone on the same page.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Efficient task scheduling feature
- Excellent collaboration tools
- All-in-one dashboard for an overview of all projects
- Flat pricing structure
Cons
- Limited task management features compared to other tools
- No advanced reporting or analytics features
- Not as customizable as other platforms
Supported Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- MacOS
Pricing
- Basecamp: $15/user/month with a pay-as-you-go model
- Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $349/month or $299 per month if billed annually
Final Verdict
Basecamp is an excellent tool for small to medium-sized teams looking for a straightforward, easy-to-use project management app. Its simplicity is its strength, though it might lack advanced features like detailed reporting or customizable dashboards. If your team values clear communication and efficient task management without the need for advanced analytics, Basecamp could be an ideal fit.
7. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a dynamic workspace that empowers teams to manage projects, automate workflows, and rapidly build new solutions. It’s designed to unleash the benefits of greater work agility and collaboration by providing a powerful platform for organizations to plan, capture, manage, automate, and report on work at scale.
Top 3 Features
1. Team Collaboration
Smartsheet fosters collaboration by providing a shared workspace where teams can work on tasks, share files, and communicate. The shared views promote transparency and make it easy for team members to understand their roles and responsibilities. It also supports real-time collaboration, allowing team members to make updates and changes instantly visible to everyone else.
2. Workflow Automation
Workflow automation in Smartsheet helps to streamline repetitive processes and tasks. Users can automate tasks like status updates, reminders, and approval requests with its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. The automation can be customized to suit specific team requirements, increasing efficiency and reducing the chance of human error. It’s a significant time saver and helps keep work moving without unnecessary delays.
3. Integrations
Smartsheet integrates with various third-party apps such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Suite, and Salesforce. These integrations allow teams to work seamlessly across different platforms, making sharing data, collaborating, and managing tasks easier. The integrations are easy to set up and provide teams with a more flexible and adaptable workspace.
Pros
- Robust workflow automation
- Excellent integration capabilities
- Real-time collaboration feature
- Versatile and can be used for various types of projects
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- It can get expensive as you add more features
- The mobile app has limited functionality
- Reporting features could be more robust
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- MacOS
- iOS
- Android
Pricing
- Free version
- Monthly Plans
- Pro: $9 Per user/month, billed monthly
- Business: $32 Per user/month, billed monthly
- Yearly Plans
- Pro: $7 Per user/month, billed yearly
- Business: $25 Per user/month, billed yearly
- Enterprise: contact sales for a tailored plan
Final Verdict
Smartsheet is a versatile project management tool with robust workflow automation and excellent integration capabilities. Its collaborative features make it a great choice for teams across multiple platforms. While it might be more expensive than other tools, its features and adaptability make it valuable for teams looking to streamline their project management processes.
8. ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based task management planner known for its versatility and robust features. It offers an all-in-one platform where you can manage tasks, docs, goals, and team collaboration, making it a comprehensive productivity tool for teams of all sizes. It combines all the tools you need to get your work done in one place, allowing you to streamline your workflows and improve productivity.
Top 3 Features
1. Tasks and Subtasks
ClickUp’s Tasks and Subtasks feature is a fundamental part of its functionality. You can create tasks and divide them into smaller subtasks, making complex projects more manageable. Each task can have descriptions, comments, attachments, and checklists, providing a comprehensive overview. This feature is crucial in managing your workload effectively. By breaking down tasks, you ensure every aspect is covered.
2. Team Collaboration
ClickUp’s Team Collaboration feature is a game-changer for team productivity. It allows team members to work on tasks and documents and chat within the platform. With Team Collaboration, you can share feedback, assign tasks, and communicate, so everyone stays in the loop and ensures smooth collaboration.
3. Integrations
ClickUp offers a vast array of integrations, allowing you to connect with various apps like Google Drive, Slack, and more. These integrations enable you to centralize your work without having to switch between different apps constantly. Whether you need to attach a document from Google Drive or send a quick update via Slack, ClickUp makes it possible without leaving the platform.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set for task and project management.
- Efficient team collaboration capabilities.
- Extensive integrations with other apps.
- Highly customizable to suit individual needs.
- Free version available with generous limits.
Cons
- It might be overwhelming due to a wide range of features.
- Too complex for individual’s needs
Supported Platforms
- Windows
- MacOS
- Android
- iOS
Pricing
- ClickUp offers a free plan with basic features
- Monthly Plans
- Unlimited: $10/member/month
- Business: $19/member/month
- Business Plus: $29/member/month
- Yearly Plans
- Unlimited: $7/member/month
- Business: $12/member/month
- Business Plus: $19/member/month
- Enterprise: contact Sales
Final Verdict
ClickUp offers a comprehensive productivity platform with impressive task management, team collaboration, and project management features. Although it may have a steep learning curve, its versatility and robustness make it an excellent choice for teams looking for an all-in-one productivity solution.
Best of Best
The top three task management planners in our list are:
- Week Plan - With features like recurring tasks, task filters for teams, and prioritization, Week Plan takes the crown as the best task management planner. It combines efficiency with effectiveness, ensuring not just the completion of tasks but their alignment with your high-priority goals.
- Asana - Asana’s strength lies in its focus on team collaboration. Features like task assignees, tasks and subtasks, and time tracking make it a powerful tool for project management, especially in a team environment.
- ClickUp - ClickUp’s comprehensive feature set, including tasks and subtasks, team collaboration, and extensive integrations, make it an all-in-one productivity platform suitable for teams looking for a versatile solution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while all these task management planners offer robust features and can significantly enhance productivity, our top recommendation is Week Plan. With its focus on prioritization, it goes beyond mere task management. Give it a try, and experience a visible improvement in your productivity!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I need a task management planner?
A task management planner can help you stay organized, manage your time better, and increase productivity. It assists in prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress, ensuring that you stay on top of your work.
2. Can teams use these task management planners?
Yes, all these task management planners provide features that facilitate team collaboration, task delegation, and progress tracking, making them suitable for team use.
3. Are these task management planners suitable for personal use?
Absolutely! While these planners offer extensive features for team collaboration and project management, they can also be used for personal task management.
4. Do these task management planners offer mobile apps?
Yes, all the task management planners we reviewed offer mobile apps for both Android and iOS, allowing you to manage your tasks on the go.
5. How can I choose the perfect task management planner?
When choosing a task management planner, consider your needs, the features offered, the pricing, and the learning curve involved. Different planners excel in different areas, so choose one that best suits your requirements.
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