6 Best Visual Project Management Tools

Published

Share this Article:

Our content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click links to our partners. Learn more in our Editorial & Advertising Policy.

Visual project management software enables project managers and teams to plan, track, and collaborate on projects buy providing a visual representation of project tasks, timelines, and dependencies, making it easier to understand and manage a project’s progress. 

We’ve reviewed dozens of options to put together this list of top visual project management software. Read on for all the details.

Our PickBest ForPricing Starts At

clickup logo.
Visit ClickUp
Full-Featured Visual Project Management ToolFree Forever plan available • $7/user/month

Read more details below

wrike logo.
Visit Wrike
Most Intuitive Gantt Chart MakerFree plan available • $9.80/user/month

Read more details below

monday logo.

Visit monday
Most Customizable and Visually Appealing Solution
Free Forever plan available • $9/user/month

Read more details below

asana logo.

Visit Asana
Minimalist Look but Powerful Features
Free plan available • $10.99/user/month

Read more details below
miro logo.
Visit Miro
Best Online Whiteboard
Free plan available • $8/user/month

Read more details below

Trello logo.

Visit Trello
Most Responsive Kanban Boards
Free plan available • $5/user/month

Read more details below

Featured Partners

Our Picks

clickup logo.

ClickUp: Best Full-Featured Visual Project Management Tool

ClickUp is a powerful project management tool that helps teams stay organized and productive. It offers a wide range of features and capabilities to streamline tasks, improve collaboration, and track progress. With ClickUp, users can create and manage tasks, set due dates, assign responsibilities, and track time spent on projects. It also provides customizable views and dashboards, allowing teams to visualize their work in a way that suits their needs.

ClickUp features multiple ways to view your tasks such as lists, boards, boxes, and more.
ClickUp features multiple ways to view your tasks such as lists, boards, boxes, and more.
Source: ClickUp

Pros & Cons

ClickUp ProsClickUp Cons
• 11 views available
• Loads of functionality for the priceHighly flexible, can be used for many industries
• Rich template bank
• Customizable fields
• Integrates with Google Calendar, effective for time blocking
• Free forever plan available
• Tends to be slow when processing large amounts of information
• Interface can be confusing
• Home screen is cluttered and not very customizable
• Mobile app is not intuitive
• Cannot switch between multiple accounts


Read our review of ClickUp


Why We Chose ClickUp

ClickUp has a highly comprehensive feature set, making it a solid investment for its price. The platform offers 11 customizable task views, such as kanban boards, timelines, and Gantt charts, which enable teams to visualize their projects and track progress effectively.  ClickUp also integrates with popular third-party apps, making it easy to streamline workflows and automate processes.

The Wrike logo.

Wrike: Most Intuitive Gantt Chart Maker

Wrike is a project management tool that enables users to plan, organize, and track their projects in real-time. With Wrike, teams can create tasks, set deadlines, assign responsibilities, and monitor progress all in one place

Wrike offers a range of features such as Gantt charts, customizable dashboards, and automated reporting to help teams stay organized and efficient. The software integrates with other popular tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Salesforce, making it a versatile solution for project management across various industries.

Wrike features dashboards that summarize the most important details of your projects.
Wrike features dashboards that summarize the most important details of your projects.
Source: Wrike

Pros & Cons

Wrike ProsWrike Cons
• Interactive and customizable tools for visualization
• Drag-and-drop interface
• Visual proofing available
• Several views such as portfolio management
• Customizable dashboards
• Templates available for personal work, work management, and project portfolios
• Smooth functionality
• Free forever plan available
• UI is not that intuitive
• Steep learning curve

Read our review of Wrike


Why We Chose Wrike

In addition to its powerful project management features, Wrike has the most customizable and intuitive interface for Gantt charts. Furthermore, Wrike offers robust customization options, allowing users to tailor the tool to their specific needs. This flexibility ensures that Wrike can adapt to different project management methodologies, whether it be Agile, Waterfall, or a hybrid approach.

In addition, Wrike offers advanced reporting and analytics capabilities. The platform provides real-time insights into project performance, resource allocation, and team productivity.

monday.com logo.

monday: Most Customizable and Visually Appealing Solution

monday.com is a versatile and intuitive project management software tool that helps teams collaborate and stay organized. It’s a centralized platform where teams can track their tasks, projects, and deadlines in real-time.

monday allows you to create unique workflows that suit your specific needs. Features include task tracking, progress monitoring, file sharing, and team communication. The platform provides visual representations of project statuses through charts and graphs, making it easier for teams to analyze and report on their progress.

monday.com provides many ways to view your tasks.
monday.com provides many ways to view your tasks.
Source: Pros and Cons of Using monday.com

Pros & Cons

monday.com Prosmonday.com Cons
• Flexibility and wide range of integrations
• Ready-to-use automations
• Highly customizable
• Advanced reporting dashboards
• Generally intuitive but some tasks are not very straightforward (e.g. editing and commenting)
• Premium prices require at least three seats
• Limited mobile app usability

Read our review of monday.com


Why We Chose monday.com

monday.com’s user interface is highly intuitive and visually appealing, making it easy for users to navigate and understand. The platform allows users to create and customize visual boards, which serve as a central hub for all project-related information. With the ability to drag and drop tasks, assign deadlines, and track progress visually, teams can easily collaborate and stay organized. Additionally, monday offers a wide range of integrations with other popular tools, such as Slack and Google Drive, further enhancing its functionality and convenience.

asana logo

Asana: Minimalist Look but Powerful Features

Asana enables teams to collaborate efficiently and stay on top of their tasks. It allows you to create projects, assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and track progress in real time.

Asana users can communicate within the platform, share files, and provide feedback on specific tasks. It provides insightful analytics and reporting features that help teams gain valuable insights into their project performance.

Asana has a clean aesthetic and is jam-packed with powerful features.
Asana has a clean aesthetic and powerful features.

Pros & Cons

Asana ProsAsana Cons
• Feature-rich
• Real-time reporting and insights
• Customizable fields
• Highly intuitive interface
• Great design
• Very efficient functionality
• Free plan for up to 15 members
• Priced generally higher than competitors
• Complex advanced features
• Single assignee for tasks
• No time-tracking functionality
• Limited flexibility
• Limited exporting functionality

Read our review of Asana


Why We Chose Asana

Asana has an intuitive and visually appealing interface. Its visual layout helps teams stay organized and on track, as they can easily see the progress of each task and project at a glance.

In Asana, users can create custom fields, tags, and labels to categorize tasks and projects according to their specific needs. Asana also integrates with other popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox, allowing teams to seamlessly connect their workflows and access important files or information within the platform.

miro logo

Miro: Best Online Whiteboard

Miro is a collaborative online whiteboard that allows teams to work together in real time. It’s a virtual canvas where users can create, edit, and share various types of content, such as sticky notes, diagrams, charts, and images. Miro’s extensive range of tools makes it easy for teams to brainstorm ideas, organize information, and plan projects. Video chat and screen sharing are also available in Miro.

Miro’s interface is composed of an infinite whiteboard in the center and a set of productivity tools in the left side panel.
Miro’s interface is composed of an infinite whiteboard in the center and a set of productivity tools in the left side panel.

Pros & Cons

Miro ProsMiro Cons
• Freeform approach is great for brainstorming
• Infinite space to mind map
• Smooth collaboration features, great for remote brainstorming
• Extensive tools for diagramming
• Templates available for different types of meetings
• Easily exportable diagrams
• Free plan available
• Interface is intuitive but usage isn’t as straightforward
• Cannot save custom templates
• No project management features as such, but Miro creates visual timelines that are a crucial part of project management and progress visibility

Read our review of Miro


Why We Chose Miro

Miro stands out as a visual project management tool due to its versatile and intuitive features as an infinite whiteboard. It offers a wide range of visual templates and tools that allow teams to collaborate and brainstorm effectively. Plus, Miro’s real-time collaboration feature allows team members to work together remotely, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

Trello logo.

Trello: Most Responsive Kanban Boards

Trello offers a simple yet powerful free project management platform for managing tasks, creating to-do lists, assigning responsibilities, and tracking progress. 

Users can create boards for different projects or departments, add lists to represent different stages of a project, and create cards to represent individual tasks. Flexibility and ease of use make Trello a popular choice for individuals and teams looking for a simple and efficient way to manage their projects.

Trello features a highly intuitive interface that features cards across a virtual Kanban board.
Trello features a highly intuitive interface that features cards across a virtual Kanban board.
Source: Trello

Pros & Cons

Trello ProsTrello Cons
• Highly intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Very smooth functionality
• Good automation features
• Powerful mobile app
• Team collaboration features
• Free forever plan available
• Not ideal for complex projects
• Additional features come in plug-ins and integrations called Power-Ups

Read our review of Trello


Why We Chose Trello

Trello is a visual project management tool that stands out from its competitors due to its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The drag-and-drop functionality allows users to effortlessly create, update, and prioritize tasks, making it a breeze to keep track of progress. It also offers seamless integration with other popular tools, such as Google Drive and Slack, further enhancing its effectiveness as a project management solution.

Bottom Line: The Best Overall Pick

monday.com is our pick for the best visual project management software due to its advanced reporting features and viewing options. With monday, users can generate detailed reports that provide insights into project progress, resource allocation, and team performance. These reports can be customized to meet specific needs and can be easily exported for further analysis or for sharing with stakeholders. This greatly enhances project transparency and facilitates data-driven decision making.

In addition to its reporting capabilities, monday.com stands out for its aesthetically pleasing interface. The platform offers a clean and modern design that makes it easy to navigate and understand project information at a glance. The intuitive layout allows users to quickly grasp the status of tasks, identify any bottlenecks, and make necessary adjustments. This visual appeal not only enhances user experience, but also contributes to increased productivity and efficiency.

monday’s project management software also offers a wide range of view options, providing users with flexibility in how they want to visualize their projects. From kanban boards to Gantt charts and timelines, there are various views available to cater to different project management methodologies and preferences. This versatility enables teams to adopt the most suitable approach for their specific needs, ensuring effective collaboration and streamlined workflows.

Finally, another key strength of monday.com lies in its intuitive functionality. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with a straightforward interface that requires minimal training or technical expertise to use. This simplicity saves time while also reducing the likelihood of errors or misunderstandings.

FAQs: Features & Benefits of Visual Project Management Software

Multiple Configurable Views

Different projects require different ways of visualizing and organizing information. Therefore, a good project management tool should offer a variety of views to accommodate different project needs. Views you may want to consider are:

  • Kanban boards
  • Project timelines
  • Gantt charts
  • Calendars
  • Roadmaps
  • Charts and graphs for reporting

A Gantt chart view, for example, can be useful for tracking project timelines and dependencies, while a kanban board view can help with visualizing the workflow and task statuses. Additionally, a calendar view can provide a clear overview of project milestones and deadlines. By having access to different views, project teams can effectively manage and communicate project progress.

Ease of Use & Templates

A user-friendly interface and intuitive features can greatly enhance productivity and efficiency. This ensures that team members can quickly and easily navigate the software, without wasting time on complicated processes.

Templates, on the other hand, provide a starting point for project planning and execution. They offer pre-defined structures and workflows that can be customized to fit the specific needs of a project. This saves time and effort, as team members don’t have to start from scratch every time.

Integrations with Your Key Tools

Integrations allow for seamless connectivity between different software and tools, making it easier to manage projects and collaborate with team members. By integrating with other tools such as communication platforms, file-sharing systems, and task management applications, a visual project management platform can streamline workflows and improve productivity.

Customizable Insights & Analytics

Insights allow project managers to gain a deeper understanding of a project’s progress, identify potential bottlenecks or issues, and make necessary adjustments. Analytics, on the other hand, provide quantitative data and metrics that can be used to measure performance, track key milestones, and evaluate the overall success of a project. By incorporating insights and analytics into the project management process, teams can ensure better planning, execution, and delivery of projects.

Shareable, Intuitive Dashboards

Dashboards play a crucial role in providing a visual overview of project progress and performance. They allow project managers and team members to quickly assess the status of various tasks, milestones, and deadlines. 

By presenting key project metrics and data in a clear and concise manner, dashboards enable better decision-making and help in identifying obstacles or areas that require immediate attention.

Granular Sharing & Permissions

The ability to share project files, assign tasks, and set permissions ensures that team members have the right level of access to information and can contribute to the project effectively. This helps to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and prevent any unauthorized access or modifications to project data.

Easy Mobile Accessibility

In today’s fast-paced business environment, professionals need the flexibility to access their project management tools on the go. With the increasing reliance on smartphones and tablets, having a project management tool that is easily accessible and functional on mobile devices is essential. It allows team members to stay connected and collaborate efficiently, regardless of their location.

Ease of Customization

Every organization has its own unique processes and workflows, and a one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable for all teams. Customizability allows users to tailor applications to their specific needs, enabling a more efficient and effective project management experience. Furthermore, customizability ensures that the tool can grow and adapt as the organization evolves, making it a more valuable long-term investment.Mutipl

This type of software typically includes features such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists, and milestone tracking. A visual overview of the project helps improve communication, coordination, and efficiency among team members, ultimately leading to successful project delivery.

Better Communication

Visual project management software offers a range of benefits, one of which is improved communication. By using visual aids such as charts, graphs, and timelines, team members can easily understand a project’s progress, goals, and deadlines. This visual representation helps in conveying complex information in a more straightforward manner, minimizing the potential for misinterpretation or confusion.

Team Alignment

Using visual project management software can greatly enhance the alignment of a team. With visual tools, project progress and status can be easily tracked and communicated to all team members. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. 

Visual project management software allows for clear visibility into each task and its dependencies, making it easier to identify bottlenecks or areas where additional resources may be needed. By providing a visual representation of the project timeline and tasks, team members can better understand their role and how it contributes to the overall project success.

Effective Reporting

Effective reporting is a crucial aspect of project management, as it provides key insights into the progress and performance of a project. Comprehensive and visually appealing reports provide stakeholders with a clear and concise overview of project status, milestones, tasks, and timelines. 

By using visual elements such as charts, graphs, and dashboards, project managers can effectively communicate complex data in a simplified manner. This not only enhances understanding, but also facilitates informed decision-making.

Project Planning and Resource Management

Visual project management software allows project managers to create visual timelines and Gantt charts, making it easier to plan and schedule tasks. This visual representation helps in identifying dependencies, critical paths, and potential obstacles, enabling more effective project planning. 

Visual project management software also provides real-time visibility into resource allocation and availability, so project managers can easily assign resources to tasks, track their progress, and make adjustments as needed.

Progress Tracking

One of the key advantages of using visual project management software is that it allows for real-time tracking of project progress. With visual representations such as Gantt charts and kanban boards, project managers can easily monitor the status of tasks, identify bottlenecks, and ensure that projects stay on track. This level of visibility helps in identifying potential issues early on while ensuring stakeholders have a clear understanding of project progress.


Read our picks for the year’s top project management software: 10 Best Project Management Software Buyers’ Guide


Subscribe to Project Management Insider for best practices, reviews and resources.

Featured Partners

Hannah Donato Avatar

Get the Newsletter

Subscribe to Project Management Insider for best practices, reviews and resources.