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Not all project management software fits the unique needs of small construction businesses, especially when budgets are tight. Many project management tools either come with high costs or overly complex interfaces that hinder productivity.
That’s why I’ve tested the leading free construction project management software to find the best options that balance functionality and ease of use.
During my tests, monday.com stood out as the top choice. It offers an intuitive interface, supports two users on its free plan, and has hundreds of templates, including templates for construction timelines and roadmaps. It’s ideal for managing tasks, schedules, and documents efficiently.
But that’s not the only option I found. Read on to check out all my top recommendations for the best free construction project management software of 2024 and discover how they can improve your workflows and enhance your project outcomes.
What We Look For in Free Construction Project Management Software
In my testing, I focused on specific features to evaluate the effectiveness of free construction project management software for small- to medium-sized construction firms.
Functional free plans and generous trial periods. We looked for the best free project management plans on the market and tested whether they were viable options to manage a successful construction business. Our top picks also include generous trial periods so you evaluate their premium plans risk-free.
Task management and scheduling. Task management and scheduling are crucial because they help construction companies track progress and ensure timely project completion. We’ve only included software that excel in providing robust task management tools and scheduling capabilities.
Budgeting and cost tracking. Budgeting and cost tracking are essential for managing project expenses and staying within budget. This feature ensures that construction firms can monitor their financial health and make informed decisions.
Collaboration tools. Collaboration tools are important because they facilitate communication among team members, subcontractors, and clients so everyone is on the same page. We selected software that provides effective collaboration functionalities, including comprehensive document management features for easy access and sharing of project-related documents.
Reporting and analytics. Reporting and analytics can provide valuable insights into project performance and areas for improvement. Most of the software providers on this list come with detailed analytics.
Unlock monday.com’s full potential by using premade templatesmonday.com’s free plan allows up to two users and offers most of its project management features, including three boards to keep track of projects and processes, unlimited documents, and access to over 200 templates. This combination of features makes it ideal for a small construction business that needs a reliable, budget-friendly project management solution. It’s also great for solo contractors and consultants.
As someone who has tested various project management tools, I found monday.com to be exceptionally user-friendly, even for those with minimal technical skills. The intuitive interface allows you to easily manage tasks, schedules, and budgets efficiently, which is crucial for the fast-paced construction industry.
But while monday.com’s free plan is great for really small teams, it lacks advanced reporting and analytics, integrations with other software (like Slack, Google Drive, and Excel), and time tracking. If your team is larger, I recommend taking advantage of the 14-day free trial to test out the Standard plan1, which offers 250 monthly integrations/automations, 20 GB of file storage, and supports unlimited users.
Features
Over 20 column types. Customize your project boards with over 20 column types. For example, you can add a “status” column to track task progress, or a “priority” column to sort competing assignments.
Construction templates. You can access over 200 templates to quickly set up your project, including templates specifically for construction projects. These templates range from creating detailed project timelines to tracking construction expenses.
Unlimited messages. All plans, including the free one, have unlimited messaging. You can facilitate continuous communication and real-time collaboration with unlimited messages and updates, keeping your team informed and aligned.
iOS and Android apps. Manage projects on the go with monday.com’s iOS and Android apps, ensuring connectivity and productivity from anywhere.
ClickUp’s construction template allows you to split your project into phasesClickUp supports unlimited users even on its free plan1, making it an excellent choice for contractors and small construction teams managing projects on a budget. You can create five Spaces (dedicated work areas for different projects) with up to 100 lists (organized task groups). You’ll also have access to three collaborative Whiteboards for visual brainstorming.
The free plan provides limited access to valuable reporting views like Gantt charts for project timelines and Workload views to track team members’ task assignments. Additionally, ClickUp’s built-in chat app and time tracking ensures that team members stay connected and productive.
However, you might find 100 MB for file storage and lack of advanced reporting tools quite limiting. Also, the free plan doesn’t let you control the permissions of guest users, meaning clients or collaborators you invite will get full access to your projects. The affordable Unlimited plan starts at $7.00 and includes unlimited storage along with access to integrations such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box.
Features
Document collaboration. ClickUp’s collaborative docs allow you to create and share documents with your team and see coworkers’ edits in real time. ClickUp Docs is included on all plans, including the free one.
Sprint management. This feature allows you to plan, track, and manage your team’s sprints efficiently. It provides tools to set sprint goals, prioritize tasks, and monitor progress with burndown charts.
Two-factor authentication. ClickUp comes with two-factor authentication, which enhances your account’s security and can give clients peace of mind.
Built-in reporting. ClickUp comes with multiple reporting tools that cover a range of functions. For example, you can see which team members are over capacity and get automated reports that break down how time is being used.
Smartsheet’s unique spreadsheet interface makes it easy to sort data-intense projectsSmartsheet offers a free plan that provides a solid set of tools for small teams and contractors to manage projects efficiently. The free plan lets you add two users, aside from yourself, with viewing or editing permissions. You can also generate simple reports that provide insights into project progress and performance.
I found Smartsheet particularly effective at managing complicated projects due to its simple grid-based interface, which resembles familiar spreadsheet tools. This allows you to scan, evaluate, and sort large amounts of data at once. The free plan also lets you create a personalized dashboard. This feature helps you monitor key project metrics in real time. That way, you can visualize data and make quick, informed decisions.
While Smartsheet’s free plan is a good starting point, there’s a limit to storage and advanced features like available widgets and automated workflows. As your needs grow, you may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access advanced tools. If you have more than 10 people on your team, you can try Smartsheet’s Business plan free1 for a month to see if it’s the right fit for your construction team. You’ll also get 1 TB of storage.
Features
Formulas feature. Similar to Excel, this feature enables you to perform complex calculations within your sheets. You can create formulas to automate data analysis, track project metrics, and manage budgets effectively, making it easier to gain insights for your construction project budgets.
Detailed reports. The reporting feature enables you to generate reports that offer insights into project progress. And even on the free plan, you can set viewer permissions for these reports.
Interactive widgets. Customizable widgets let you create a personalized dashboard, giving you a real-time overview of project metrics and statuses. Widgets include charts, reports, and web content.
Unlimited viewers. All paid plans allow an unlimited number of viewers. This is great if you want to keep customers or clients in the loop without giving them editing permissions.
If Jira lacks a specific feature, you can likely find it in their extensive app marketplaceIdeal for small- to medium-sized construction teams, Jira’s free plan supports up to 10 users. It provides detailed reports and dashboards, which help in tracking project progress and making data-driven decisions. But it’s not as user-friendly as monday.com and can be a challenge for beginners unfamiliar with project management software.
Jira offers multiple integrations for free, making it a top choice for construction teams that use a lot of different web-based tools. I found Jira’s extensive integration options particularly beneficial for managing various project aspects, such as communication, documentation, and task management.
Jira does have fewer project template options than some of its competitors, but it still has dozens of options that cover a solid range of tasks, like marketing or budgeting. You likely won’t miss the extra templates or customization unless you’re managing really heavy projects.
Features
Generous storage. Compared to what other competitors offer for free, Jira’s 2 GB of storage is downright bountiful. It’s more than enough to store essential documents for smaller projects, but larger teams will want to upgrade to get more space.
Free automations. With 100 automations per month on the free plan, you can streamline repetitive tasks, ensuring more efficient project management and saving valuable time.
Community support. You can join Atlassian Community events for free, to connect with community members virtually and in-person. Investing a little time could go a long way in helping you make use of Jira’s many features.
Multiple views. Jira offers various views, including Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and timelines, tailored for managing construction projects. These views allow your team to visualize workflows, track progress, and manage resources with little effort.
Plan and organize your team’s work in one place with HubSpot Projects
HubSpot offers a range of free built-in project management tools as part of its different software suites, or “Hubs.” For that reason, HubSpot is best for teams that are already using or plan to use its suite of marketing, sales, or service tools.
If you’re new to project management, HubSpot’s straightforward design and excellent tutorials make it easy to get started, while its responsive customer support ensures that you can resolve your issues quickly. Still, it might not be the best fit for highly complicated construction projects that require advanced automations and extensive templates.
One nice perk is that teams can create custom fields to track onboarding details, like training materials or key stakeholders’ contact information. However, it’s worth noting that HubSpot lacks some features found in dedicated project management tools, such as Gantt charts, forecasting, and project budgeting.
Features
Task management. HubSpot’s task management feature lets you create, assign, and track tasks easily, ensuring that your construction projects stay on schedule. The easy drag-and-drop function gives you the flexibility to reorder subtasks in seconds.
Timeline view. The timeline view provides a clear visual representation of your project’s progress, helping you to monitor milestones and deadlines effectively.
Collaboration tools. With built-in collaboration tools, your team can communicate seamlessly, share updates, and keep everyone aligned on project goals.
HubSpot CRM integration. You can integrate HubSpot’s CRM system to your project management setup to keep track of your customer relationships alongside your construction projects.
Setting up a project on Teamwork is super easyTeamwork’s free plan includes essential features like workload capacity, which allow you to see who’s booked and who’s available at a glance. This is particularly useful for construction teams needing to balance resources and allocate tasks in a timely manner. Its saved filters, task dependencies, and milestones also help keep projects organized and on track.
Additionally, Teamwork’s free plan includes task-level tags, which allow you to categorize and organize tasks by labels – such as priority, phase, or type. This makes it easier to filter and manage tasks based on specific criteria. The plan also supports up to five active proofs per month, which facilitates real-time feedback and approval processes and ensures project elements meet the required standards before moving forward.
The platform also integrates seamlessly with tools like Zapier, Slack, MS Teams, SoftSync, and Harvest, allowing you to connect with the software you already use. Teamwork’s a decent choice for managing construction projects but keep in mind its high-end plans tend to cost more than monday.com and ClickUp – and this is where you’ll truly get the tools you need to manage large-scale projects.
Features
Flexible invoices. Teamwork’s invoicing feature allows you to create invoices based on billable hours logged, fixed prices, or expenses incurred during a project. You can easily update, edit, and export invoices to your preferred accounting software, such as QuickBooks or FreshBooks.
Billable time tracking. Logging billable hours ensures accurate client billing and efficient cost management. You can manually log time or use timers to track work as it happens, which you’ll find helpful for construction projects.
Client company management. Teamwork’s client company management tool allows you to track all client-related information in one place, similar to a CRM. You can manage contact details, track project progress, and see metrics for each client.
Project budgets. You can set and track financial parameters for each project, ensuring you stay within budget. You can also create custom budgets based on time, cost, or fixed fees. The tool offers detailed reporting on budget utilization and helps forecast potential overruns.
Zoho’s dashboard simplifies complex information but isn’t winning awards for being sleek
Zoho Projects is a feature-rich platform ideal for small- to medium-sized construction teams that need detailed project management capabilities. It has standard features like Gantt charts and time tracking, but it also integrates with other Zoho applications, along with third-party tools like Google Drive and Slack. Its free plan allows up to 3 users.
Even so, Zoho Projects has some drawbacks. The platform has a steep learning curve and a somewhat clunky user interface, which can be challenging for new users. Additionally, the search functionality for tasks needs improvement as it’s a bit dated.
Striven offers advanced project management solutions for the construction industryStriven integrates project management with CRM, accounting, and HR tools, making it perfect for construction firms seeking a comprehensive business solution. It stands out for its all-in-one approach, enabling seamless management of various construction business aspects within a single platform.
The built-in time tracking and invoicing features are particularly useful for managing project costs. However, Striven only has a 7-day free trial and doesn’t offer a free plan, which may not be ideal for small-scale contractors. Additionally, the platform can be hard to navigate if you’re not familiar with integrated business management systems. Still, it made our list because it offers a comprehensive management solution for construction projects.
TeamGantt provides advanced scheduling solutions for the construction industryTeamGantt offers intuitive Gantt chart capabilities, making it great for visualizing construction project timelines and dependencies. Its user-friendly interface allows teams to create, assign, and edit project plans. The software also provides features like task-level tags and milestones, which help keep projects organized and on track.
Note that the free plan only allows up to three users and one project, which can restrict its usability beyond your immediate project. Additionally, while TeamGantt integrates with tools like Slack and Trello, its functionality may be too basic for more involved project management needs.
Bonsai has adaptable templates perfect for small construction projectsBonsai provides project management tools tailored for self-employed contractors and small teams, including task management, contract handling, and payment tracking. Its user-friendly interface is a major advantage as it allows users to manage projects, track time, and handle invoicing all in one place.
On the other hand, the limited collaboration features make it less suitable for larger or even mid-sized construction teams that require strong teamwork capabilities. Additionally, while Bonsai excels in handling freelance-specific needs, it may lack some of the advanced project management features found in other tools.
Get Your Project Off the Ground With Free Construction Project Management Software
Finding the best free construction project management software isn’t easy, especially for small businesses and site supervisors with limited budgets. You need a tool that isn’t just free, but also packed with essential features like task management, scheduling, document control, and budgeting capabilities.
The best overall solution is monday.com1. It’s easy to use, allows an unlimited number of boards, and decent customization – all for free. And when you outgrow it, the paid plans are well-priced.
Alternatively, ClickUp is best for collaboration1. It has real-time collaborative document editing built-in, plus an unlimited number of collaborators, even on the free plan.
Or, use Smartsheet if you handle big projects1. It has extensive templates and powerful project tracking. It offers a decent free plan, plus its paid plans have great value for medium-sized construction businesses.
If you’re still deciding on which tool to choose, here’s a quick recap to help guide your decision:
Free Plan
Free Trial
Best Feature
Best For
Starting Price
monday.com
✔
14 days
Intuitive interface with customizable construction templates
Small construction teams and contractors that need an easy-to-use and affordable tool
What software do construction project managers use?
There are several great options depending on need. monday.com excels for its intuitive interface and high-level project overviews, ClickUp is great for its real-time collaboration and document management features, while Smartsheet has an extensive selection of construction-specific templates and integration capabilities.
What is the best software for a small construction business?
For a small construction business, monday.com is a good choice due to its ease of use and customizable templates. It offers a free plan with essential features, making it budget-friendly for small teams. Alternatively, if your team has more than 2 or 3 people, Jira’s free plan can support up to 10 users.
How do you keep track of a construction project?
Tracking a construction project effectively involves using software with robust task management, scheduling, and collaboration tools. ClickUp is ideal for this, offering features like customizable workspaces, real-time document collaboration, time tracking, and critical path analysis to ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.
What is the best construction project scheduling software?
The best options will include features such as Gantt charts and timeline views that allow for detailed planning and visualization of project timelines. monday.com and ClickUp both excel here, but you can check out our list of the best project management software in 2024 for an overview of the best options.
Nathaniel is a freelance writer and tech reviewer at Website Planet, where his expertise in social media automation tools shines through. He has over 5 years of experience reviewing tools focused on helping businesses grow. Nathaniel thoroughly tests every tool he writes about to ensure it delivers on its promises. Apart from his work at Website Planet, he enjoys hiking and traveling.
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