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There are so many things to love about being a freelancer: choosing my own hours, being my own boss, having genuine variety in my day-to-day work…but managing everything myself? Yeah, that’s not one of them.

I’ve tried a lot of tools, websites, and apps over the years to help keep things organised, and am using this post to share the best project management software for freelancers. I’m giving you my personal thoughts on what project management software is ideal for every type of freelancer, particularly the ones (like me) who are looking for free and simple software that just makes sense.

Keep reading to learn:

• What is the Best Project Management Software for Freelancers?
• Notion
• ClickUp
• Trello
• Asana
• Monday.com
• Paymo
• Todoist
• Want More Freelancer Tools?

What is the Best Project Management Software for Freelancers?

Feature	ClickUp	Notion	Trello	Asana	Monday.com	Paymo	Todoist
Free Plan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Free Plan Features	Unlimited tasks, up to 60MB storage	Unlimited for individuals, up to 10 guest seats	Up to 10 boards per workspace	Unlimited tasks, projects, and up to 10 collaborators	Up to 3 boards, unlimited docs	Up to 10 projects and 5 clients	5 personal projects, three filter views
Starting Paid Price	$7/month	$8/month	$5/month	$10.99/month	$9/month	$9.95/month	$4/month
Key Features	All-in-one: tasks, docs, time tracking	Docs, databases, wikis, tasks	Kanban boards, checklists, Power-Ups	Tasks, timelines, dependencies	Dashboards, automation, workflows	Tasks, time tracking, invoicing	Task lists, labels, filters, priorities
Calender View	Free Version	Free Version	Premium $10/month	Free Version	Standard plan $12/month	Starter $5.90/month	Pro $4/month
Offline Mode	Yes (syncs later)	Yes (syncs later)	Yes (desktop/mobile)	No	No	Yes (desktop app)	Yes (syncs later)
Time Tracking	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No

Best Overall Project Management Software for Freelancers: ClickUp
Best for Productivity: Trello
Best for Billing Workflow: Paymo
Best for Freelance Writers: Notion

Notion

I’ve talked about Notion quite a few times on this blog for a reason: it’s my go-to writing platform. Its structure is based on “workspaces” containing pages and flexible content blocks, which helps me to manage the many elements of being a freelance writer.

I personally use Notion to stay organised, manage deadlines, and easily switch between writing content, creating tables, and making outlines. I like its clean, aesthetic interface (especially the dark mode option) over Google Docs, and also enjoy the time-saving shortcuts that make formatting quick and intuitive.

I will say, when it comes to task tracking, Notion isn’t always ideal. Being so personalisable means setting up simple lists takes more time than I’d like, so for team projects or tasks with multiple steps, I usually use another platform in tandem with Notion.

ClickUp

My favourite thing about ClickUp is that the calendar view is included in the free version! No matter how many other fancy features or integrations other free project management software for freelancers might have, if I have to pay for the calendar view, I’m out! I need to visually see my deadlines and progress, and I’m not willing to pay $12/month for that privilege.

Besides the calendar view, ClickUp has unlimited tasks and up to 60MB on the free plan. You can assign tasks to different people, add subtasks, leave comments, and even input detailed information like phone numbers and ratings.

Essentially, ClickUp is my go-to all-in-one freelancer project management software. It even has an app and works in offline mode, so you can update tasks at literally any time.

Trello

Trello is perfect for visual thinkers. It’s entirely built on a drag-and-drop Kanban board system, where you create “cards” for each task and move them across columns like “To Do,” “Doing,” and “Done.” It’s simple, satisfying, and honestly kind of fun to use.

I’ve used Trello when planning content calendars or laying out project timelines visually, but if I’m honest, I mostly use it for personal tasks like prepping for visa applications. You can colour-code cards, add checklists, deadlines, attachments, and even automate recurring tasks with Power-Ups (Trello’s version of add-ons).

Where Trello can fall short is if you need detailed reporting or more advanced task structures. It’s not as flexible when you’re managing projects with lots of moving parts, and time tracking requires integrations. The main reason I don’t use it more for freelancing is simply the paid calendar view. If they included that in the free plan, then I’d probably be all in on Trello.

Asana

Asana was one of the first project management tools I ever tried as a freelancer. It’s super clean, intuitive, and really helpful for breaking down larger projects into manageable chunks. You can create different “projects” with tasks, subtasks, deadlines, and tags, all of which are neatly arranged in list, board, or timeline views.

What I like most about Asana is its simple, no-fluff interface that makes task tracking easy without overwhelming you with features. It’s great for solo freelancers who want a straightforward system, but it also works well for small teams.

That said, the free version has some limitations (no timeline or advanced automation), and there’s no true offline mode – something I really missed when working from a cafe with sketchy Wi-Fi. Still, if you’re looking for a solid, no-nonsense task manager with simple collaboration features, Asana is worth a try.

Monday.com

Monday.com is a super polished and flexible tool with colourful dashboards, customisable boards, and loads of column types to help you track everything from deadlines to budgets. It’s designed for teams and agencies, with lots of built-in automations and templates for almost every use case.

The automations are definitely a highlight – you can automatically move tasks, send reminders, or update statuses without having to touch a thing. It’s powerful if you’re managing a complex pipeline or working with a team.

But here’s the thing: for solo freelancers, it can be a bit too much. The setup process is more involved, the interface feels busier than something like Trello or ClickUp, and most of the best features (like calendar view and the automations) are hidden behind paid tiers. There’s also no offline mode, which isn’t ideal if you work on the go.

Paymo

Paymo is one of those tools that quietly does exactly what freelancers need, especially if you’re juggling time tracking, task management, and invoicing all at once. It doesn’t try to be flashy, but it’s incredibly functional.

I really like that Paymo feels built for freelancers from the ground up and is more of a business tool than just a to-do list. You can track time directly on tasks, generate invoices, manage projects, and even record expenses, all in one place.

The interface is a bit more old-school compared to Notion or ClickUp, and there’s a slight learning curve when you first dive in, but if you want something that handles the full freelance workflow, Paymo is a strong choice. The free version isn’t too bad, and even at $9.95/month, it’s competitively priced compared to other invoicing tools.

Todoist

Todoist keeps things simple. It’s a simple, cross-device task manager that works well for everyday organisation. You can add tasks like “Send invoice tomorrow at 9 am”, group them into projects, and use labels or filters to prioritise. Recurring tasks are easy to set up, and there’s a built-in productivity tracker to show your daily progress.

Todoist doesn’t offer visual layouts like Kanban boards or timeline views, and the time tracking requires integrations, but for freelancers who want a no-clutter task list that’s fast, reliable, and mobile-friendly, Todoist is a great fit.

At the end of the day, Todoist is a perfectly good to-do list tool…that just isn’t for me. I’m more than happy using my iPad notes to-do list (shoutout GoodNotes), but if you want a more elevated to-do list app, then this is worth checking out.

Want More Freelancer Tools?

I’ve been sharing the websites, tools, and offline writing platforms I use daily as a freelance content writer. Check out my top guides below: