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BEST-OF · 2026

The Best Project Management Software for Agencies

Project management is where agency delivery either runs smoothly or quietly falls apart. These are the best PM tools for agencies, from clean and reliable to purpose-built for client work.

Reviewed by Marcus Taylor · how we score · Updated June 2026 · affiliate disclosure

1
PICK
ClickUp logo ClickUp 85/100 · EXCELLENT BEST VALUE PM

ClickUp tries to be the one app an agency runs its delivery on, and on value it largely succeeds. Tasks, docs, goals, whiteboards and native time tracking all live in one place, so the path from a brief to tracked, billable work never leaves the tool. For a price-conscious agency, that consolidation is the whole pitch.

✓ PROS
  • Packs projects, docs and time tracking into one app
  • Generous free plan that small teams can live on
  • From about $7/user/mo when you do pay
✕ CONS
  • Feature overload can overwhelm new users
  • Occasional performance lag on big workspaces
Best for: Agencies that want project management, docs and time tracking in one cheap tool
AT A GLANCE
Ease of use7.6/10
PricingGenerous free plan
Agency fitPM + docs + tracking
Free, then $7/user/mo
Try free ↗ Read full review →
2
PICK
Asana logo Asana 84/100 · EXCELLENT

Asana is the project manager you pick when you want it to just work. The interface is clean and quick, the learning curve is gentle enough that a new account manager is productive on day one, and it has the maturity and reliability that come from years in market. For agencies whose priority is dependable delivery rather than maximum configurability, it is the comfortable default.

✓ PROS
  • Clean, fast and genuinely pleasant to use
  • Low learning curve — teams adopt it quickly
  • Reliable, mature and well supported
✕ CONS
  • No native time tracking
  • Pricier than ClickUp at $10.99/user/mo
Best for: Agencies that want clean, reliable project tracking without the clutter
AT A GLANCE
Ease of use8.8/10
PricingFree for small teams
Agency fitClean cross-team PM
Free, then $10.99/user/mo
Try free ↗ Read full review →
3
PICK
Teamwork logo Teamwork 83/100 · EXCELLENT BEST FOR CLIENT WORK

Teamwork is the rare project tool designed around the agency model rather than adapted to it. Billable time, client-facing users, retainers and budget burn are first-class features, not bolt-ons, so the gap between "work done" and "work invoiced" is much smaller than in general-purpose tools. If your business is selling time to clients, that focus pays off quickly.

✓ PROS
  • Built for client work, not retrofitted for it
  • Billable time tracking against tasks and projects
  • Client users you can safely invite in
✕ CONS
  • Busier interface than Asana
  • Smaller integration ecosystem
Best for: Agencies that bill time to clients and need it tracked against projects
AT A GLANCE
Ease of use8.0/10
PricingFree tier + $10.99/user
Agency fitBillable time + clients
Free, then $10.99/user/mo
Try free ↗ Read full review →

At a glance

ToolIndexEaseFromFreeBest for
ClickUp 857.6Free, then $7/user/mo✓Agencies that want project management, docs and time tracking in one cheap tool
Asana 848.8Free, then $10.99/user/mo✓Agencies that want clean, reliable project tracking without the clutter
Teamwork 838.0Free, then $10.99/user/mo✓Agencies that bill time to clients and need it tracked against projects
HOW TO CHOOSE

Choosing the right tool

Decide if you need native time tracking. For agencies that bill hours, a PM tool with a built-in timer — ClickUp or Teamwork — removes a whole separate system. Asana is cleaner but pushes you to an integration for billable time.

Weigh client features against simplicity. Teamwork is built around client users, billable time and retainers; Asana and ClickUp are general-purpose and tidier. If client collaboration is central, the purpose-built tool repays its slightly busier interface.

Adoption depends on the interface. The best process is the one the team follows. A clean, fast tool people enjoy opening (Asana) often beats a more powerful one they resent (a poorly set-up ClickUp). Setup discipline matters as much as the tool.

Budget per seat across the whole team. PM tools charge per user, so cost scales with headcount. ClickUp is the value pick; Asana costs more for its polish. Multiply by your team size before deciding.

FAQ

What is the best project management tool for an agency?

ClickUp for the best value with native time tracking, Asana for a clean and reliable experience, or Teamwork if client work, billable time and retainers are central to how you operate.

Does agency project management software include time tracking?

Some do. ClickUp and Teamwork include native time tracking, which suits agencies billing hours. Asana does not, so it needs a tool like Toggl or Harvest alongside it.