Best Project Management Software for Solopreneurs (2025)
The right PM tool can make or break your solo business. Here's what actually works when you're juggling clients, deadlines, and your own sanity.
⚡ Quick Picks
Don't want to read the whole guide? Here are our top recommendations:
What Solopreneurs Actually Need
Here's the truth: most project management advice comes from people managing teams of 10+. As a solopreneur, your needs are different:
- Low overhead: You don't have time for complex setup or maintenance
- Client visibility: Sometimes you need to share progress without overwhelming clients
- All-in-one: One tool beats five when you're doing everything yourself
- Mobile-friendly: You're working from coffee shops, not just a desk
- Free or cheap: Margins matter when it's just you
We tested the top 5 project management tools with these criteria in mind. Here's what we found.
The Contenders
Notion
Notion isn't just project management—it's a workspace that combines docs, databases, wikis, and PM in one. For solopreneurs who want flexibility without juggling multiple tools, Notion is hard to beat.
Why Solopreneurs Love It:
- One tool for everything: Client notes, project plans, invoicing tracker, content calendar—all in one place
- Free tier is generous: Unlimited pages and blocks for personal use
- Endlessly customizable: Build exactly what you need, nothing you don't
- Beautiful client portals: Share specific pages with clients without overwhelming them
- Templates galore: Start with pre-built systems, customize as you go
The Trade-offs:
- Steeper learning curve than simple tools like Trello
- Can be slow with very large databases
- Mobile app isn't as polished as desktop
ClickUp
ClickUp promises to replace all your productivity apps, and for many solopreneurs, it delivers. Tasks, docs, chat, goals, time tracking—it's ambitious and surprisingly cohesive.
Why Solopreneurs Love It:
- Feature density: Time tracking, docs, email, calendar—it's all there
- Multiple views: List, board, calendar, Gantt—switch based on the project
- Great free plan: 100MB storage, unlimited tasks, unlimited users
- Automations: Set up rules that save you hours (e.g., "when task marked done, notify client")
- Integrations: Connects with 1000+ tools including Slack, Gmail, GitHub
The Trade-offs:
- Can feel overwhelming—lots of features you might not need
- Performance issues reported with very large workspaces
- Steep learning curve to use advanced features effectively
Asana
Asana strikes a balance between power and polish. It's professional enough for client work but doesn't require a certification to use.
Why Solopreneurs Love It:
- Client-friendly sharing: Share projects with clients without exposing your entire workflow
- Polished interface: Looks professional in demos and client meetings
- Great mobile app: Actually usable on your phone
- Timeline view: Visual project planning without complexity
- Form submissions: Clients can submit work requests directly
The Trade-offs:
- Free plan lacks some features you probably want (timeline, custom fields)
- No built-in time tracking (need integration)
- More expensive than competitors at $10.99/month
Trello
Trello popularized the Kanban board and remains the simplest way to visualize work. If complexity kills your productivity, start here.
Why Solopreneurs Love It:
- Instant setup: Create a board and start moving cards in 2 minutes
- Visual and intuitive: No training required, clients understand it immediately
- Power-Ups: Add features (calendar, automation) only when you need them
- Butter smooth mobile app: Best-in-class for on-the-go updates
- Affordable: Standard plan is just $5/month
The Trade-offs:
- Kanban-only (unless you enable Power-Ups)—less flexible than competitors
- No built-in reporting or advanced analytics
- Can get cluttered with complex projects
Monday.com
Monday.com is beautiful and colorful. If you need to impress clients with polished project updates, this is your tool.
Why Solopreneurs Love It:
- Stunning visuals: Dashboards and reports that wow clients
- Flexible columns: Track anything—budget, status, priority, time spent
- Automations: Reduce repetitive tasks without coding
- Templates: Industry-specific starting points
- Integrations: Connects with your existing tools
The Trade-offs:
- No free plan—starts at $8/month for 3 users minimum
- Can feel like overkill for simple solo projects
- Minimum 3 seats means you're paying for seats you don't use
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Free Plan | Ease of Use | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | ✓ Generous | Medium | All-in-one workspace | $10/mo |
| ClickUp | ✓ Forever free | Medium | Growth & scale | $7/mo |
| Asana | ✓ 15 users | Easy | Client work | $10.99/mo |
| Trello | ✓ Forever free | Very Easy | Simple visual PM | $5/mo |
| Monday | ✗ No free plan | Medium | Visual dashboards | $24/mo* |
*Monday.com minimum 3 seats
Our Recommendation
Start with Notion if you want one tool for everything (notes, docs, projects). Switch to ClickUp if you outgrow it and need more structured project management.
For pure simplicity: Trello is unbeatable. You can always migrate later if you need more power.
For client work: Asana's professional polish and sharing features make it worth the premium.
Getting Started Tips
- Start simple: Don't build a complex system on day one. Begin with a basic board or list.
- Use templates: All these tools offer templates—start there and customize.
- One client, one project: Keep client work separate for clarity and easier sharing.
- Weekly review: Spend 15 minutes Friday reviewing/updating your PM tool. Consistency beats complexity.
- Don't over-engineer: If a simple checklist works, use that. The best PM tool is the one you'll actually use.
Avoid this mistake: Don't spend weeks "optimizing your system" instead of doing the work. Pick a tool, set it up in an hour, and start shipping.
Questions?
Choosing the right project management software is personal. The best way to decide is to try 2-3 options for a week each. All the tools above have free plans or trials—take advantage of them.
Next up: Check out our guide on best invoicing software for freelancers to complete your solo business toolkit.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we've tested or extensively researched. Our opinions are independent and not influenced by affiliate relationships.