Project management is crucial for any organization. It helps your team complete tasks efficiently and on schedule. These days, there are plenty of excellent tools such as Trello or Asana to help you get the job done. However, if you work with WordPress, it’s not ideal to operate multiple dashboards. That’s where WordPress project management plugins comes in handy.
A strong project management tool should come with user permissions so your team members have access to appropriate tasks. It should also make communication effortless, with threaded comments and email notifications to let you know when the status of your project changes.
Finally, it can help if you’re able to track progress with visual charts or give your clients a front-end view of the project.
In this article, we’ll explore five of the best WordPress project management plugins. Best of all, they’re free. Let’s go!
Best WordPress project management plugins
Now that we’ve talked about why you should consider a WordPress project management plugin, let’s reveal the five plugins we’re showcasing today.
1. UpStream
Our first recommendation is UpStream. This plugin enables you to manage any type of project straight from your dashboard. You can also conveniently track all activity on your website, including any bugs and tasks assigned to your team members.
UpStream comes with a front-end view where your clients can see each project’s progress. You can mark milestones and address important issues in a dedicated discussion thread. Plus, the tool automatically tracks task completion for you, so you can easily plan and manage your project.
On top of all that, this plugin lets you customize almost every aspect of your project. For instance, you can edit templates, create custom fields and statuses, adjust the colors, and add CSS. You can even rename labels if you wish.
⚙️ Features:
- Bug and issue tracker
- File uploading
- Milestone and task linking
- Custom client logo
- Separate customer login page
- Project manager and user roles
- Custom permissions
- Translation ready
- Access to premium extensions (Calendar View, Email Notifications, and more)
💵 Pricing: Free.
Alternatively, you can upgrade for $39 for one website if you’d like to access some of the premium extensions.
2. Zephyr Project Manager
Next up is Zephyr Project Manager, a modern and user-friendly WordPress project management plugin. This feature-rich tool boasts a beautiful interface that helps you effortlessly track all of your tasks and projects.
The plugin enables you to create unlimited projects and monitor their progress using one of many built-in features. For instance, you can access your files from a dedicated file manager page. You can also build charts to track your tasks visually or view them in a calendar instead.
Zephyr Project Manager lets you manage your workload more effectively, enabling you to prioritize specific items, receive email notifications, or convert projects into tasks. You can also use the discussion panel to exchange messages and files with your team.
⚙️ Features:
- Customizable profile
- Ability to assign tasks
- Automatic and printable progress charts
- Unlimited categories
- Full localization
- Task export and import to and from CSV and JSON
- Android app to track projects on the go
- Personal dashboards for each user
💵 Pricing: Free.
You can also purchase the Pro license for $49 to use it on unlimited websites. This gives you access to more advanced features, such as the ability to customize the front end.
3. Kanban for WordPress
If you’re a fan of tools such as Trello, Kanban for WordPress might be the ideal solution for you. This plugin can help you build a robust project management system that you can access directly from your WordPress dashboard. It lets you create tasks and to-do lists that you can move between boards, just as you would in Trello.
Kanban for WordPress is an excellent choice for agile project managers. The plugin adapts well to a variety of scenarios, making online collaboration easy. You can also fully personalize the board to suit your team’s needs and create custom swim lanes.
Furthermore, the Kanban for WordPress plugin helps you build a lightweight customer relationship management (CRM) system. You can use it to analyze client interactions and reach out to your leads. If you manage a busy blog, you can also create an editorial calendar and assign articles to writers. As an eCommerce site owner, you can track sales and ensure that your funnel flows smoothly.
⚙️ Features:
- Task comments
- User and access management
- Files upload
- Customizable fields
- Color coding
- Email notifications
- Multiple boards
- Time estimates for tasks
💵 Pricing: Free.
Or, purchase Kanban Pro, which is suitable for larger businesses. An annual subscription costs $149 per year.
4. WP Project Manager
Next on our list is WP Project Manager. As the name suggests, this plugin helps you run WordPress projects and manage tasks without leaving your dashboard.
The tool comes with advanced features that will satisfy the most demanding power users. For instance, you can create unlimited to-do lists, assign tasks, create due dates, and add attachments to messages.
It also enables you to track progress on each to-do list with a visual status bar, making it easier to handle even complex projects. Plus, you can seamlessly monitor milestones and view them in three categories:
- Upcoming
- Completed
- Late
Although WP Project Manager is suited for advanced users, it’s still simple to use thanks to its intuitive interface. Each user gets their own personalized dashboard, making it easy to collaborate and stay updated about the tasks. The premium version lets you generate a front-end board, invoice your clients, create Gantt charts, use Kanban boards, and more.
⚙️ Features:
- Time tracking
- Advanced performance reports
- Discussion threads
- File sharing
- Email and push notifications
- Permission controls
💵 Pricing: Free.
Alternatively, you can purchase the premium version from $55 per year, which includes advanced features (such as front-end and deadline management).
5. Panorama
Our final recommendation is Panorama, a robust WordPress project management plugin. It’s a powerful solution if you need a customizable tool that helps you create beautiful dashboards with your own branding.
Panorama helps you streamline your projects and visualize the process. For instance, all members and clients can access their custom dashboards with a visual representation of each task’s progress.
The plugin will also automatically calculate the time needed to complete each job and display the relevant due dates. This way, you can minimize email queries and boost your team’s efficiency.
Furthermore, Panorama enables you to create eye-catching progress bars for your clients, where you can indicate critical milestones and achievements. You can also clearly define each task and add further details, to ensure that everyone understands what needs to be done.
⚙️ Features:
- User-friendly interface
- Unlimited project phases, tasks, and users
- Simple communication
- User permissions
- File uploads
- Document status tracking
- Project templates
💵 Pricing: Free.
However, you can upgrade from $69 for use on one site to access various add-ons and email support.
Improve your WordPress project management today
The right project management tool can help you complete tasks and manage your team’s workload more effectively.
However, navigating between multiple platforms can quickly become overwhelming. Fortunately, a WordPress project management plugin can make it easier to stay on track without leaving your dashboard.
In this article, we discussed five free tools to help you manage your projects in WordPress. To recap:
- Our top recommendation is UpStream – thanks to its convenience, intuitiveness, and affordability.
- WP Project Manager, Zephyr Project Manager, and Panorama are also solid options for creating personalized dashboards and visual progress reports.
- Finally, if you like Trello, Kanban for WordPress might be a suitable alternative.
Or, if you’ve decided that the plugin route isn’t right for you and you’d prefer a standalone tool, you can also check out our collection of Trello alternatives to see some good SaaS options.
Do you have any questions about any of these WordPress project management plugins? Let us know in the comments section below!
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