There’s more than one way to manage a project. Over time, dozens of project management methodologies have been developed to deliver successful projects. As the industry moved into the digital age, different types of project management software have been created to reflect those project management methodologies.
Before getting into the types of project management software available to run projects more efficiently and effectively, we’ll explain the reason for the variety of project management tools. Then we’ll list the top project management solutions that can help manage projects across these varied ways of working.
Why Are There Different Types of Project Management Software?
Different types of project management software exist because project management itself is a complex and dynamic discipline, and different teams or organizations have unique needs, workflows and goals. These software solutions are designed to cater to specific use cases, industries and team structures.
For example, there are project management tools that are designed to manage simple projects and complex projects. For example, straightforward task management tools or more robust products such as resource and budget management. There’s also software that works best with traditional methodologies, such as waterfall, including Microsoft Project and Gantt chart software, and those focused on working in an agile environment, such as Trello and Jira, that work in a more iterative manner with kanban boards.
Other types of project management software are made for individuals while others are made for teams that need a collaborative platform and cross-functional features, such as task sharing, real-time communication and tracking multiple workflows. Then there are software products that respond to industry-specific requirements, such as construction, manufacturing, IT, professional services, etc.
While many project management tools target one of these disciplines, others are flexible enough to work across multiple methodologies and industries. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that can adapt to any workflow. Robust Gantt charts link all four types of task dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track project variance in real time for waterfall projects, while the visual workflow of kanban boards is ideal for the iterative nature of working in an agile environment, where teams can manage their backlog, collaborate on sprints and managers can identify and resolve bottlenecks before they interfere with progress. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
13 Types of Project Management Software
There are many project management tools on the market. Many work for only one type of project management methodology, others for multiple. The same is true in terms of industries. Finding the type of project management software that is right for one’s organization requires understanding the definition of the different types of software. Below, we explain the top software types and the products that are best suited for this type of project.
1. Gantt Chart Software
Gantt charts are a type of bar chart that is used for project management to represent a project schedule over time. It visually shows the start and finish dates of various elements of a project, such as tasks, milestones and dependencies. Each task is represented as a horizontal bar, with the length of the bar corresponding to the duration of the task. Gantt charts help teams track progress, identify task dependencies and ensure that the project stays on schedule.
Gantt chart software is a type of project management software specifically designed to create, manage and update Gantt charts for project planning and tracking. These tools typically include features like task scheduling, dependency management, resource allocation, timeline visualization and progress tracking. They are widely used in traditional project management methods, such as waterfall, where tasks are planned in sequence with clear dependencies.
Gantt Chart Software Products
2. Task Management Software
Task management software is a type of application designed to help individuals and teams organize, prioritize, track and complete tasks and activities within a project or workflow. The primary goal of task management software is to simplify the process of managing work by providing tools to assign, schedule, track and monitor progress on tasks.
This type of project management software features tools typically focused on increasing efficiency, ensuring deadlines are met and improving team collaboration. They do with features that include task creation, prioritization, task assignment, progress tracking, notifications and reminders, collaboration, reporting and analytics.
Task Management Software Products
3. Project Portfolio Management Software
Project portfolio management (PPM) software is designed to help organizations manage and oversee multiple projects or portfolios of projects simultaneously. It enables project managers and executives to prioritize, select and monitor projects to ensure they align with the organization’s strategic goals, optimize resources and deliver value.
PPM software is a type of project management software that provides a higher-level view of all ongoing projects, helping organizations make informed decisions about resource allocation, budgeting, scheduling and project execution. Its key features include project prioritization, resource management, portfolio visualization, risk and issue management, collaboration, reporting and analytics.
PPM Software Products
4. Risk Management Software
Risk management software is a type of application designed to help organizations identify, assess, mitigate and monitor risk across projects, operations or portfolios. It provides tools to proactively manage potential risks that could impact the success of an organization’s initiatives or strategic goals.
Risk management software is a type of project management software that enables teams to track risks, prioritize them based on their potential impact and likelihood, and implement strategies to reduce or eliminate those risks. Look for features, such as risk identification, risk assessment, risk prioritization, mitigation plans, monitoring and reporting, collaboration, compliance and auditing.
Risk Management Software Products
5. Project Resource Management Software
Project resource management software is a type of project management software designed to help organizations plan, allocate, track, and optimize resources across projects. Resources in this context typically include personnel, equipment, materials and financial assets needed to execute a project successfully.
Effective resource management is crucial for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within scope and on budget while avoiding over- or under-utilization of resources. This is done through features that provide resource allocation, capacity planning, resource scheduling, time tracking, skill management, forecasting, collaboration, reporting and analytics, budgeting, and cost management.
Project Resource Management Software Products
6. Project Time Management Software
Project time management software is designed to help project managers and teams plan, track and optimize the use of time throughout the project’s life cycle. Time management is a crucial aspect of project management, as it ensures that tasks and milestones are completed on schedule and that resources are used efficiently.
The type of project management software typically includes features for scheduling, time tracking, task management, deadlines and reporting. These all share the goal of improving productivity and meeting project timelines. Other features include Gantt charts, resource allocation, time reporting and analytics.
Project Time Management Software Products
7. Kanban Software
Kanban software is a project management tool that applies the kanban method, a visual framework for managing and improving work across human systems. The goal of kanban is to improve efficiency, flexibility and flow by visualizing the flow of work, limiting work in progress (WIP) and ensuring continuous delivery without overloading team members.
Kanban software is a type of project management software designed to help teams visualize their tasks and workflows, manage priorities and track progress in real time with visual workflow boards, task management and collaborative tools and analytics and reporting features.
Kanban Software Products
8. Construction Project Management Software
Construction project management software is a type of project management software specifically designed to help manage construction projects from start to finish. These tools provide specialized features for the unique challenges of the construction industry, such as managing budgets, timelines, resources, permits, safety compliance and communication among multiple stakeholders like contractors, subcontractors and architects.
Construction projects are often complex, involve many parties and have numerous moving parts, including procurement, scheduling, budgeting and reporting. This type of project management software helps construction teams stay organized, improve efficiency, reduce risks and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
Construction Project Management Software Products
9. Project-Based ERP Software
Project-based ERP (enterprise resource planning) software is an integrated suite of applications specifically designed to manage projects within the context of broader enterprise management. Unlike traditional ERP systems that are often focused on manufacturing or inventory management, project-based ERP systems are tailored to industries where projects are the primary mode of business operations, such as construction, engineering, architecture, consulting and professional services.
These types of project management software help organizations manage project life cycles, from planning and budgeting to execution and closure, while also providing insights into overall business operations like finance, HR, procurement and supply chain. The goal is to streamline project management tasks, enhance collaboration, improve decision making and ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget.
Project-Based ERP Software Products
10. Project Accounting Software
Project accounting software is a type of project management software designed to manage the financial aspects of projects. It integrates with broader accounting systems to track costs, revenues, billing and profitability specific to individual projects. This software is particularly useful in industries where projects are central to business operations, such as construction, consulting, engineering and professional services.
It allows businesses to manage project budgets, allocate costs, track time and expenses, process invoices and generate reports to evaluate the financial health of projects. Key features include budgeting and forecasting, cost tracking, revenue recognition, invoicing and billing, job costs and project profitability analysis.
Project Accounting Software Products
11. Waterfall Project Management Software
Waterfall project management software is a type of project management software designed to support the waterfall methodology. That is a traditional, sequential and linear approach to project management. In the waterfall model, a project is divided into distinct phases and each phase must be completed before moving on to the next. This approach is well suited for projects with clear, fixed requirements and where the scope is unlikely to change throughout the process.
Waterfall project management software helps manage each stage of the project life cycle, ensuring that tasks are completed in the right order, timelines are met and progress is measured against predefined milestones. This software will have tools, such as Gantt charts, which can manage task dependencies, track and report progress and have clear documentation for each stage of the project.
Waterfall Project Management Software Products
12. Agile Project Management Software
Agile project management software is a type of project management software that facilitates the management and execution of projects using the agile methodology, which emphasizes flexibility, collaboration and interactive processes. In agile project management, work is broken down into smaller tasks (called user stories) and teams work in short, time-boxed iterations called sprints.
Agile approaches are highly adaptive, allowing teams to respond to changing requirements, customer feedback and evolving priorities. Agile project management software provides tools to plan, track and manage sprints while supporting agile principles like flexibility, continuous improvement and transparency.
Agile Project Management Software Products
13. Open-Source Project Management Software
Open-source is a type of project management software whose source code is publicly available, allowing users to freely access, modify and distribute the software. These tools are often developed and maintained by a community of contributors and can be customized to meet the needs of a project or organization.
Open-source project management software typically offers a variety of features for organizing, planning and tracking projects, and many of these tools are used by small teams, startups or larger enterprises that prefer customizable solutions without the costs associated with proprietary software.
Open-Source Project Management Software Products
ProjectManager Is Versatile Project Management Software
All these types of project management software have their advantages and disadvantages. Many can be used for multiple project methodologies and different industries. But only one is flexible enough to serve almost any project management need and industry. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has risk management tools to identify and track issues until they’re mitigated.
There are automated workflows to streamline processes and take repetitive tasks off the team’s task lists while having task approval settings for quality control. There’s unlimited file storage, global search and version control for document management and so much more.
Cloud-Based Project Management Software
ProjectManager is cloud-based software, which means that teams can access its tools anywhere and any place there’s internet access, or with mobile devices for Android and iOS anywhere with WiFi. Even Mac users have access to our software, which is not possible with tools like Microsoft Project (though our software can import and export MS Project files, if necessary). That means teams can log hours from the job site or when they’re in the field. They can also share files and comment at the task level. Teams stay updated with email or in-app notifications. When there are any changes, everyone is working on the same page.
Multiple Project Management Tools
Many types of project management software listed above focus on one type of project management tool, but our software has multiple project views. Powerful Gantt charts schedule projects and teams can then execute their tasks with task lists or kanban boards. This lets our software seamlessly integrate with any methodology. There’s even a calendar view that helps stakeholders track progress. Other tools include project and portfolio dashboards for a high-level overview of time, cost, workload and more, customizable reports and a workload chart that’s color-coded and can help balance team workload to keep everyone working at capacity without threatening burnout.
Related Project Management Software Content
For those still looking for the right software for their organization and projects, below are links to a handful of recent posts we’ve published on various types of project management software.
- Best Project Management Software Comparison
- Best Work Management Software
- Best Task Management Software
- Best Resource Management Software
- Best Project Planning Software
ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams from Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
