Have you ever had trouble managing the day-to-day running of your business? If your answer is yes, we are relieved to know that we are not the only ones...

Fortunately, free project management software has appeared to help us in inexplicable ways. 

Can you imagine having an assistant that helps you control your agenda, remind you of the next meeting and keep track of your team's performance without having to pay a single cent? Well, that's what these programs offer you.

As you already know, competition is voracious, so you can't waste your time in endless routines that only lead to inefficiency. 

Below you will see which are the free project management programs that will help you optimize all your company's processes. 

Shall we start now?

What is project management software?

A project management software is a program where you can delegate a large part of your daily work in the company. 

They are platforms that give you the possibility to manage many of the activities you still have to do. Meetings, sending emails, making presentations and scheduling objectives are some of the tasks that this type of software allows you to execute. 

The reality is that in a month we have many activities that sometimes slip through our fingers. We don't always have the possibility of hiring an assistant to remind us of all the pending tasks we have on the agenda and that's when problems appear. 

Therefore, it's time for you to take a look at some of the free project management programs that exist today. With them you will be able to:

• Carry out group documents simultaneously.

• Schedule meetings

• Project goals

• Set reminders 

• Make time tables

The best free project management software

Fortunately, nowadays we have plenty of free project management software that will ease your daily schedule. 

Let's take a look at some of the most outstanding ones below:

1. GanttProject

This is an open source program that offers you a simple interface so you can quickly capture all your activities. 

We love it because it gives you the possibility to plan a project in a few minutes. It divides tasks according to their nature and allows you to involve several people to work simultaneously. 

It's available for Linux, Windows and Mac. 

2. OpenProj

It's another open source desktop software that is part of Sourceforge. Some specialists say that it's a replacement for Microsoft Project, to which new features have been added so that you can work comfortably.

It allows you to configure different types of commercial projects in great detail. You will be able to schedule them by date, type of task, add participants and define the objectives of each activity. 

It's available for every operating system, so there's no excuse not to use it. 

3. DotProjetc

Do you have a large database that you want to export to another site to work with more freedom? Well, we have the solution for you and it is DotProject.

Like the others, it's open source, is programmed in PHP and uses MySQL so you can do what you want with your listing. In addition, it's compatible with systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux.  

This way, you can use it as a backup of your database or to modify some field that you wouldn't dare to modify in the original platform.

4. Projectlibre

It's a program that allows you to work in a similar way to Openproj. If you have a new project that is about to go live, you can use this program to make sure everything goes smoothly. 

We love the fact that it runs on the Java platform, which makes it easy to integrate with other operating systems. 

5. Intervals

Are you just starting out in project management and looking for a simple program that lets you break down each task? Intervals has a free version that gives you the possibility of adding activities in a limited way but with a simple interface that helps you take the first steps. 

It's the most recommended option for freelancers and small businesses. Download it now and discover everything it has to offer you.

6. Open Workbench

We're talking about another platform that allows you to program and manage multiple projects from the comfort of your home or office. 

It's more than interesting because you can assign tasks to different members, carry out interactions, manage delivery times and correct simultaneously.

Of course, to use it you will have to sign up on their website, but the good news is that you will have a forum at your disposal to solve any doubts you may have.

7. Basecamp

This is one of today's most popular programs for online project management. It has features as varied as managing resources, budgets, documents and collaborating with multiple participants.

8. FusionDesk

FusionDesk is another program that gives you the possibility to manage simple projects with Windows, which gives it an added value.

It's perfect if you are an entrepreneur and don't have so many documents to work with. However, if you are a slightly larger organization, the software will fall short. 

7 Reasons to use project management software

Up until many years ago, office activities were done manually. Remember the times when you organized your files on your desk and had thousands of papers on it?

Well, it doesn't mean that you can't do it anymore, but now you have an ally to work with in a more comfortable and faster way and it's called project management software. 

Let's now look at some of the reasons why you should use this type of software today:

1. Time optimization

Of course, we couldn't start any other way. With a project management program you will optimize your time to the maximum, because you won't waste hours calling each member to follow up on their responsibilities. 

Now you will manage everything from a single place thanks to the interface of the programs that give you the ability to coordinate the efforts of all members with just one click. 

What are you waiting for?

2. Team performance tracking

Closely linked to the previous point, with a management software you will be able to make an exhaustive follow-up of all the activities carried out by your team to determine how far or close you are to your objective. 

You can establish a series of indicators to help you evaluate the progress of each team. The good news is that the platforms show you all the tasks they have done in detail, so you will have greater control over everything that happens in the business.

3. Reminders

How many times do you remember that important project two days before its due date? 

Forget about this situation, because management programs remind you every so often of the deadline you have for each assignment. It will be like your private assistant but 100% free.

4. You reduce the margin of error

Mistakes are part of the way, but in the business world the ideal thing is to reduce them as much as possible to maximize the results and profitability of the business. 

Therefore, one reason to use free project management software is that you reduce the possibility of making a mistake because the program shows you the progress of each activity, so you will detect any anomalies. 

5. Exhaustive control of resources

One of the most common problems faced by entrepreneurs is resource allocation. 

Yes, you can come up with a very nice budget, but once you allocate the money everything gets out of control. However, with project management software you can keep an eye on what happens to the capital you allocate.

In the same tables you can put the amount that each team has and the members must notify every time they use it for any activity. This way you will know where every penny of the business is going.

6. Anticipate challenges

One of the great advantages of management software is that it gives you a lot of information about the tasks you perform in your business. With so much data, it's much easier to spot a problem brewing in the organization, allowing you to act before it's too late.

"Leaks are plugged in summer, not in winter," goes a famous saying. Focus on detecting anomalies to secure your company's future.

7. Strong company-customer relationships

One of the reasons we love project management programs is because it improves all company processes. This way, communication between employees is significantly optimized, which contributes to the harmony of the entire organization.

What does this translate into? Better customer relations, and you know what that means. Higher sales, loyalty and market penetration.

Importance of project management

Day-to-day business is often very exhausting. We face more and more challenges when it comes to coordinating our teams, resources and clients, so it's necessary to find an ally to alleviate your daily burden. 

The good news is that there are many alternatives on the market and you won't have to pay a penny to enjoy their benefits.

Project management software gives you the information you need to know the status of each area. You will know its percentage of progress, delivery time and the people involved. 

In addition, if any changes need to be made, you will be able to do it in the same platform and the whole team will be aware of it immediately, so you will not have to communicate it to each one separately. 

Tips for using a project management software

Have you already decided to use a project management app? Come on, it's a very easy decision to make. These programs are becoming increasingly necessary to optimize all your company's processes to the maximum. 

Let's take a look at some tips so that you can take advantage of the benefits offered by free project management software:

1. Choose the best one for your business

In the initial list we gave you up to 8 different alternatives of programs that exist in the market, and the most interesting thing is that there are many more that we did not mention. 

So, the key is to choose the one that best suits your business needs. Note that some are ideal for small businesses and freelancers, while others specialize in database and management of large amounts of information. 

Which one is right for you? This question will be key to make the right decision.

2. Organize the information

Well, once you have chosen your platform, the next step is to organize all the information of the project you are working on. 

The more data you add, the more control you will have over its progress, so don't be afraid to add the information you need. You will thank yourself in the end.

3. Break down the objectives

Adding project objectives will help prioritize each task. 

We recommend that you do it in bullet format so that the whole team can see it more easily. You can even attach the level of importance of each goal to encourage members to work.

4. Train the team

Last but not least, you must inform the entire organization of the new program that will be implemented in the company. You should spend as much time as necessary to explain how to use it and the advantages it represents for everyone. 

At first, some may take it badly, but as the days go by, everyone will see how it will be an ally in their day-to-day work.

The truth is that we have no doubt that a project management software is all you need to optimize the processes in your company. It's time to leave improvisation aside and start working like a professional.

We hope that with this information you will be able to choose the ideal one for you and start enjoying all its benefits. 

Do you already use project management software for your business? We want to know which one is your favorite.