Connect Element with Your Project Management Tools Easily

For work and project management, Paymo offers a solid platform complete with team collabs, file proofing, and resource scheduling capabilities. Users can easily create projects, add tasks, and put multiple users on to the same projects. Better still, we found that templates can be saved for later use which is a handy feature. We also really like the fact that there are four different views – list, table, board, and calendar – through which to manage work.
Pricing starts at $5.95/user/month with access to the complete suite. This includes accessing accounting functionalities, automated client invoices, proposals and more. For freelancers, the ability to turn proposals into projects and receive online payments through the platform is a game-changer and a reason we recommend this more to individuals and smaller businesses.

An open source solution for project management, OpenProject has a free community edition and an Enterprise edition starting at $8.50/month. There are many top features available including document management, issue tracking, and time reporting. All of this helps businesses keep track of all areas of the project, while breaking down deliverables into meaningful tasks for faster implementation and delivery.
OpenProject particularly shines in is dashboard view where we were able to look at multiple projects in a single chart as well as highlight changes to project schedules. Additionally, we liked being able to see all activities in a list view for simpler viewing. Being able to track costs and time spent on projects enables businesses to budget more effectively, which makes this a really great option for smaller or growing businesses that need a strong handle on outgoing costs versus project delivery.

An AI-powered messaging app, Chanty aids in team collaboration and communication. A feature we found useful in Chanty is the ability to connect using unlimited group messaging. Additionally, the integrated video technology helps to push communication to great heights. Chanty isn’t a standalone app either as it integrates with other workflow solutions such as Google Drive, Mail Chimp, and GitLab. Available for businesses of all sizes, we think smaller businesses will benefit more as Chanty has a free version for up to 10 users or is priced at $4/user/month.
Staying connected is key in remote working formats, and Chanty offers real-time connectivity via messages, voice and video. Additionally, users can screen-share for specific task collaboration all in a single hub. We really value the feature allowing users to turn messages into tasks, calling for quick actions. Better still, for busy companies, Chanty’s AI allows users to catch up on hyperactive conversations, respond to requests, and even search for topics within messages for speedier work.

This cloud-based HR management solution provides businesses with the capability to streamline staff onboarding. We’ve found that Flock offers full support from interviews and background checks through to setting up timesheets, appraisals, and training checks. A strong feature for us is the staff module, which helps businesses track their applicants’ profiles, and provide pre-offer requirements, and job letters. HR workers can even check salaries and generate payslips for more effective staff processes.
Pricing for Flock is available on request and can be found by phone, as can extensive support options. We were particularly pleased to see that the platform also has mobile apps available, allowing on-the-go staffing support. Users can get notifications, updated documents, and more, alongside third-party app integration for platforms like Checkr, Paylocity, and WorkforceNow. Ideal for larger companies, Flock is the solution to the entire onboarding lifecycle.

As the name suggests, Todoist is a to-do list and task manager for freelancers and small businesses. It offers a wealth of features including notifications, comments, projects, and attachments. Through these features, Todoist offers teams the ability to streamline their product, thus being more efficient. We liked the fact that the interface is simple to use. The intuitive platform has a low learning curve allowing almost instant usage.
Depending on the team size, Todoist is free or has starting costs of $4/month. Each member of the team can control their own workflow and productivity. Todoist offers clear labeling and filter systems for increased productivity in a configurable dashboard allowing each user full control, a feature we applaud. Another key feature for us is the ability to create specific, user-friendly labels with natural language for improved productivity. With apps for all operating systems, and integration with Google Calendar, Zapier, and Dropbox, small businesses and freelancers can create custom plan management suiting their preferences.

Agile teams can use Jira as a process management tool in their business. Essentially, it’s a track-and-release software supporting Kanban, Scrum, and hybrid model workflows. We’ve found the ability to create project roadmaps in Jira to be especially functional, allowing teams to map every project and its subsequent progress. The interface includes drag-and-drop functionalities for all project details.
With flexible pricing, Jira can be tailored to businesses of any size. Small teams with fewer than 10 users get it free, while growing team plans start at $7/user/month. We were surprised to find that users can access thousands of business tools here, from productivity to source code apps. As such, Jira’s functionality is ideal for businesses looking to create stories, distribute tasks throughout a team, and even plan sprints.

A cloud-based group chat solution, we’ve found Microsoft Teams enables greater team collaboration across a range of documents. It has several key features that really appeal to us, especially messaging and conferencing. These communication tools include online meetings, web conferences, calling, and more. It can also work well in collaboration with Microsoft 365 apps.
Microsoft Teams comes with Microsoft Office 365 subscriptions, though premium plans start at $4/user/month. Our experience with Microsoft Teams demonstrates its efficacy when it comes to maintaining positive and instant communication across all team members. With additional features such as assistant bots, conversation search, and the ability to integrate with a wealth of third-party apps like Trello, GitHub, and Delve, Microsoft Teams proves itself a strong communication platform for businesses of any size.

For task planning using a visual collaboration tool, we think Trello is hard to beat. It can be used by a wide range of departments including sales, support, HR, and marketing. Trello is a web-based solution that allows businesses to create project requirements making sure everything is completed in the correct order. Digital creation boards, to organize and prioritize actions, are key on this platform. Managers can define workflows easily, assigning work to specific users while setting deadlines.
Trello starts at $5/user/month, but can be scaled up for different levels including Premium and Enterprise. Essentially, we’ve found Trello to be a great way to collaborate with team members. The use of Trello cards allows the team to add comments, members, and documents. In short, Trello is a professional package with high levels of security and the ability to integrate well with applications such as JIRA Cloud, Google Drive, and Slack for increased team collaboration and efficiency.