13 Project Management Software & Tools for Creative Agencies [Free & Paid]

Leading an agency comes with its fair share of challenges. Fortunately, there are many agency tools available to help you get the job done more effectively. Yet, deciding on which one will work best for your agency’s needs can be a difficult task.

The best advertising agency project management software can simplify task management, maintain workflow continuity, monitor productivity, and facilitate collaboration among teams. Most of these tools also monitor profitability and provide reports that can help identify obstacles to achieving growth.

By covering various criteria of the top 13 project management software for advertising agencies, you’ll be able to choose a tool that will work best for your organization.

Let’s get started.

1. Simplified

Source: Simplified

Simplified emerges as the best overall advertising agency project management software out there. It helps simplify project management and task workflows. It also helps agencies manage their teams and collaborate with clients more efficiently.

Simplified shines when it comes to AI graphic design, video editing, social media management, and AI copywriting. The all-inclusive software can help your clients increase their visibility and boost their sales in no time. It also helps every team member deliver on the laid down goals.

Key features:

• Easy to navigate.
• An indispensable project management tool for teams’ collaborative efforts.
• Streamlines workflows and boosts productivity.
• Efficient for creating, assigning, and tracking tasks to keep team members on the same page.
• Provides real-time updates, ensuring everyone is using the latest technology.
• Exceptional support team: available 24/7.

Pricing:

• Offers 14 days free trial.
• Pro plan costs $9/month.

2. Trello

Source: Trello

Trello ranks as one of the best project management software for digital agencies. It has an impressive UI that allows teams to manage their projects and workflow with ease, as well as track their tasks from one dashboard. Simply sign up, create boards, and customize them as you want.

Trello’s free version comes with notable limitations, including the inability to use advanced integrations and automation, lack of scalability, and the restriction of file attachment. Upgrading to a premium subscription is somewhat costly.

Key features:

• Easy to use tool with an impressive UI.
• A productivity powerhouse for simplifying tasks and managing projects.
• Practical tool for tracking projects’ progress.
• Provides real-time communication.
• Ability to attach files, set deadlines, and add comments.

Pricing:

• Free for individuals or teams looking to organize their projects.
• Paid plan starts at $5/user/month (billed annually).

Bonus: 9 Best Video Editing Apps For iPhone To Help You Create Professional Videos On The Go

3. Paymo

Paymo emerges as a top contender among project management software for digital marketing and advertising agencies. Paymo simplifies task management with a clean UI, maintains workflow continuity, monitors productivity, and facilitates team collaboration. Multiple project views, a meta Kanban, customizable statuses, and active timers make organizing and monitoring tasks a breeze.

Paymo’s free version appeals to freelancers and small teams with fewer clients (maximum 5) or projects (maximum 10) thanks to unlimited tasks, time entries, and invoices generated.

Key Features

• Tracks project progress with statuses, milestones, and intuitive Kanban
• Gantt charts for project scheduling and resource management
• Automated time tracking for accurate billing and employee performance
• Integrates with popular tools like Google Calendar, Slack, and Zapier

Pricing

• Free plan + 15-day free trial available
• Paid plans start at $5.9/user/month (billed annually)

4. Bonsai

Bonsai project management software streamlines processes and boosts productivity for creative agencies. It offers powerful task management for all creative client work. By breaking down complex projects into manageable tasks, Bonsai reduces schedule and budget risks.

Bonsai offers proactive resource allocation, assigning tasks based on skill, availability, and capacity. Real-time data visualization and reporting provide insights into team utilization and project performance.

With detailed timesheet reports and intuitive dashboards, Bonsai ensures projects stay on track and within budget, making it an ideal choice for creative agencies aiming to optimize project management and enhance efficiency.

Key features

• Offers an all-in-one approach to project, client, and financial management
• Supports various views including list, table, Kanban, and Gantt for versatile project visualization
• Provides integrated financial tracking
• Facilitates collaboration within the team and with clients
• Provides in-depth reporting and analytics

Pricing

• A 7-day free trial is available for all plans.
• Starter: $21 per month + $10 per additional user/month
• Professional: $32 per month + $10 per additional user/month
• Business: $66 per month + $10 per additional user/month
• Scale: Custom

5. Basecamp

Source: Basecamp

When small teams find it difficult to make progress with their projects, Basecamp is the right software to employ. Leveraging the platform helps agencies manage their projects, teams, deadlines, and clients, and meet their expectations.

With the tool’s potency to organize and track every piece of information, users still find a few flaws in it. Basecamp’s integration with other software is limited; its messaging section and chatbox also freeze too often.

Key features:

• Offers customizable templates and collaboration options.
• Kanban-style board for delegating tasks and tracking progress.
• Helps manage budgets effectively.
• Ability to create different workgroups for different teams.

Pricing:

• Offers a 30-day free trial.
• Paid plan starts at $15/user/month.

6. Monday

Source: Monday

Looking for a flexible project management tool with customizable features that fit your agency’s workflow? Look no further than Monday. While the tool’s basic plan lacks unique features, it stands out with its extensive workflow management, reporting abilities, and time tracking in paid plans.

Key features:

• Provides visual project timelines in Kanban and Gantt views.
• Integrates with third-party apps, including Zoho CRM, Slack, Dropbox, Gmail, and Google Drive.
• Available on desktop, Play Store, and Google Play.
• Automates recurring tasks and saves time.

Pricing:

• Free plan + 14-day free trial.
• Paid plan starts at $8/user/month (billed annually).

Bonus: Top 18 Asana Alternatives for Project Management

7. WorkZone

Source: WorkZone

WorkZone is a reliable advertising agency project management software with robust features. The app standardizes workflows using project templates and project request forms. Its centralized conversation area allows team members to stay on the same page while being productive.

Some users, however, dislike the software for not being intuitive. The inability to open tasks in new browser tabs is another drawback for others.

Key features:

• Great platform for organizations of all sizes.
• Web-based software: accessible from anywhere.
• The reminder tells you when a task is assigned and completed.
• Great for managing tasks and importing checklists of project information.

Pricing:

• Paid plan starts at $24/user/month.

8. Wrike

Source: Wrike

Completing more projects in a breeze is now easier than ever with Wrike. The project and workforce management tool provides improved visibility and control to help get agencies’ projects done more effectively.

With tons of optimization tools, custom reminders, and contract management features, your team is empowered to do more in less time. Although beginners may find the interface too complex to use.

Key features:

• Speeds up work processes.
• Easy to track the progress of a project.
• Custom reminders keep team members on track.
• Alerts for contract requests and expiration dates.

Pricing:

• Free for teams getting started.
• Paid plan starts at $9.80/user/month.

Bonus: 23+ Best Social Media Scheduling Tools (Free & Paid)

9. Hub Planner

Source: Hub

Hub Planner is a clever project management solution for capacity planning and team scheduling. Its user-friendly drag-and-drop UI makes it easy to set up projects, assign tasks to team members, and track the progress.

While the desktop version works excellently fine, users look forward to a more robust app with an intuitive design on mobile phones and tablets.

Key features:

• User-friendly drag-and-drop UI.
• Swift response from the support team.
• Integrates through Zapier.
• Great visuals for making decisions on capacity planning.

Pricing:

• Free trial.
• Paid plan starts at $7/resource/month.

10. ClickTime

Source: ClickTime

You can’t go wrong with ClickTime when it comes to choosing an agency management system that ensures accurate records for billing and payroll. ClickTime is a useful software for simplifying employee time recording, overtime, and breaks.

Despite its precise deliverability, the tool does not offer a free trial. Users also wish that the website design be improved.

Key features:

• Well-organized and easy to use.
• Saving data is straightforward.
• Integrates with Google Calendar, Salesforce, Slack, Bamboo HR, Workday, and more.
• Provides functional mobile apps for tracking time and reviewing timesheets.
• Ability to export and share project progress with stakeholders and clients.
• Provides analytics about project performance.

Pricing:

• Starter plan: $10/user/month.

Bonus: How To Arrange Design Projects In Folders

11. Teamwork

Source: Teamwork

Besides task management, Teamwork is proficient at managing multiple clients in one place. Its ability to deliver financial reports makes it a great resource management software for agencies. You can also invite clients to sign up for a free account.

The advertising agency project management software, however, offers add-ons and other advanced features that are available in the paid plan.

Key features:

• Pre-built templates and customizable workflows for onboarding clients with ease.
• Integrates with popular collaboration and marketing software, such as HubSpot, MS Teams, and other CRMs.
• Financial management tools for invoicing, budgeting, and maximizing profitability.
• Ability to customize existing templates or build new ones.

Pricing:

• Free for up to five users.
• Paid plan (with a 30-day free trial) starts at $5.99/user/month (billed annually).

12. HubSpot CRM

Source: HubSpot

Among the project management software for advertising agencies available out there, HubSpot CRM stands out as one of the best. It provides lead generation, contact management, and sales reporting features. The tool allows agencies to develop strong relationships with clients and manage their data more effectively.

Although HubSpot CRM is the go-to for most agencies, it has tags that don’t align with the sales requirements of most businesses.

Key features:

• Provides efficient and seamless collaborative sales process.
• Lead generation and contact management for organizing and tracking interactions.
• Robust automation and workflow management for simplifying tasks.
• Effective and data-driven tool for efficient sales campaigns.

Pricing:

• Free
• Paid plan starts at $18/month (billed annually).

13. Apploye

Apploye is a time-tracking and employee-monitoring software suitable for project management in an advertising agency. You can create projects and tasks inside Apploye and assign them to your employees. It offers important features like screenshots with time tracking, app and URL tracking, productivity tracking, timesheets, billing, payroll, and many more.

You can get a free trial before adding your payment methods, ensuring you only pay after knowing the product.

Key Features:

• Easy to use.
• Accurate time tracking and timesheets.
• Project and budget management with task tracking.
• Provides analytics about project performance.
• Remote employee monitoring with screenshots and activity levels.
• Client invoicing and billing.

Pricing:

Starts at $2.5/user/month

Streamline Work for Maximum Productivity with Simplified

As an advertising agency project management software, Simplified is an integral part of any agency’s growth. Its simple interface doesn’t compromise functionality, as it helps teams get their jobs done without any difficulty.

From making your images stand out and choosing stunning design templates for your client’s marketing needs, to writing compelling copy for your social media sites and blogs, Simplified is the game changer for ensuring your workflows go on smoothly and clients are satisfied.

Beyond the intuitive interface and functionality, the Simplified project management system makes collaboration easy, is time-saving, offers customization options, and provides excellent customer support.

Bonus: How to Learn Copywriting: 12 Tips for Learning from Scratch

Conclusion

Choosing the best advertising agency project management software is essential for optimizing workflows, enhancing collaboration, and driving growth for your agency. With the 11+ project management tools on this list, Simplified is the perfect choice for agencies of any size.

Regardless of your agency’s pain points, the project management software for digital agencies offers the best features for streamlining your team’s collaboration and workflows. Best overall, you can get started for free.