The best project management software for freelancers
A freelancer needs something free or close to it, instant to set up, and simple to share with a client. We ranked six tools on price, ease and how well a free plan really holds up for an audience of one.
Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MARCH 2026·How we vet
Tools compared6
Criteria weighted5
Last reviewedJune 2026
Paid placements0
How we ranked the field
Each tool is scored for what a solo professional pays, how fast it is to run alone, and whether the free plan is enough to skip a subscription. See the full rubric →
Price30%
Ease of use25%
Free plan20%
Client sharing15%
Mobile apps10%
01
RANK
★ Editor’s Choice
Trello
Best free simple boards
For one person tracking a handful of projects, Trello is the easiest free start there is, and the free plan rarely runs out. It stays simple on purpose, so if your work needs timelines or invoices you will reach for something more.
ClickUp gives a freelancer docs, tasks and time tracking on a free plan that punches above its weight. The trade is complexity: it is more tool than a solo worker strictly needs, so ignore the parts you will not use.
Notion is ideal for a freelancer who lives in notes and briefs, combining a wiki and a task database, free for personal use. It is weak on scheduling and dependencies, so deadline heavy work needs a sturdier tool.
Asana on its free plan is a clean, calm way to run personal projects and never miss a step. Paid tiers are priced for teams, so a solo user mostly stays free, and there is no native time tracking for billing.
A technical freelancer building software gets real value from Jira, free for up to ten users, with proper backlogs and sprints. For any other kind of work it is far heavier than a one person operation needs.
monday is a pleasure to look at and use, but its free plan caps at two seats and paid plans bill for three, so a single freelancer pays for chairs that stay empty. Choose it only if the visual style truly wins you over.