13 Best Smartsheet Alternatives for Creative Agencies to Boost Project Management Efficiency

Are you looking for Smartsheet’s alternatives with tailored features for creative workflows? A robust collaboration tool with an all-in-one client portal (with white-labeling options) and better integration with creative tools and automation capabilities? 

If you are, welcome and let's get going. We have quite a lot to cover because I'll be showing you 13 Smartsheet alternatives to pick from. 

Let's jump right in.

13 Best Smartsheet Alternatives

Here are 14 best Smartsheet alternatives.

 1.  ManyRequests 

🚀 An all-in-one solution for creative agencies.

ManyRequests was built specifically for creative agencies and project managers. It has all the bells and whistles you need to run and grow your creative agency. 

Let's take a look at some of its features and see what it's got up its sleeve.

ManyRequests Core Features

Creative Collaboration Feature

ManyRequests optimizes teamwork and makes the exchange of ideas, feedback, and deliverables all in one place easy.

Collaboration is vital for creative agencies where seamless communication and transparency are essential.

Centralized communication hub

ManyRequests offers you a centralized communication system. Rather than juggling emails, messaging apps and other third-party tools, team members communicate directly within the platform.

This ensures that all discussions, updates, and feedback are stored in one place, reducing the risk of miscommunication or lost information.

Real-time feedback and approvals

Users can provide real-time feedback on deliverables such as design drafts.

Clients and team members can review work, leave comments and request changes. All without leaving the platform.

Task assignment and progress tracking

Agency owners or project managers can assign tasks to team members, set deadlines and track progress. Everyone involved in a project can view its status. This promotes accountability and helps teams stay aligned on priorities.

This functionality ensures that projects move forward efficiently, even in complex creative workflows.

File sharing and asset management

Teams can upload and manage project-related assets directly.

Files are stored in a secure and organized manner, making it easy for collaborators to find and reference necessary materials. This eliminates back-and-forth conversations and makes sure everyone has access to the latest versions of assets.

What about the collaboration which happens on the client side? 

ManyRequests makes that easy too... 

Clients have access to relevant projects, tasks and files, and can contribute to the creative process. They can leave feedback, track progress and engage with teams. 

The result is a stronger working relationship and clients who are satisfied with the final deliverables. Through effective creative collaboration, agencies can work more efficiently and transparently.

All-in-One Client Portal

ManyRequests' all-in-one client portal centralizes client interactions, streamlines service delivery and enhances user experiences.

The portal provides a cohesive place where you can manage client requests, billing, communication and project updates.

Centralized client management

ManyRequests’ client portal is where all client-related activities happen. Clients can access their accounts, submit requests, review progress and communicate with your agency — all within the portal.

This centralization eliminates the need for scattered communication across emails, spreadsheets or external tools. 

This improves efficiency and ensures updates aren't missed.

Customizable request forms and tracking

One standout feature of the portal is its request submission and tracking feature.

Let me throw more light on this…

As an agency, you can create request forms specific to your services and use them to capture the exact information needed to complete tasks efficiently.

After clients have filled and submitted the forms, they can track the status of their requests in real-time. Nothing to hide. No one is kept in the dark. Just 100% transparency. 

Clients won't have to bombard you with messages. They'll find the answers they need in the portal while you focus on delivering the creative goods they ordered. 

White-labeling for brand consistency

What if I told you you could customize the portal to reflect your unique brand identity by adding your logo, brand colors, custom domain and messaging? 

Yes, the white-labeling feature is one of the hallmarks of ManyRequests client portal. In effect, clients get to see the portal as an extension of your agency rather than a third-party service. 

What's the payoff? 

Trust, professionalism and strengthened client relationships. 

This is one sure way to distinguish yourself from your competitors, considering the fact that not many companies are offering this service at the moment, 

What about billing and invoicing? 

ManyRequests integrates them directly into—you guessed right—the client portal. Clients can view invoices, make payments and manage subscriptions without leaving the platform.

This reduces administrative workload and ensures payments are made on time so that you get the much-needed cash flow. 

Communication and collaboration tools abound too

Built-in communication tools make possible, seamless interactions between clients and agency teams. Clients can ask questions, provide feedback, and receive updates within the portal, while you (the agency) can respond promptly.

And... 

ManyRequests keeps a history of these conversations, which could prove helpful for resolving disputes or tracking project details.

Task and project progress transparency

Within the client portal, clients can see the progress of their projects and tasks.

You can share milestones, deadlines, and updates directly on the platform, keeping your clients informed without the need for manual updates.

Again, this level of transparency builds trust and opens the door to lasting relationships and even greater collaboration in the future. 

An important question… 

Will your agency ever outgrow ManyRequests’ all inclusive portal? 

Not at all. 

As your agency grows and your client base expands, the all-in-one client portal scales with you. Multiple users and clients? No problems, ManyRequests can handle that too.

Automation and Integration

ManyRequests enhances efficiency for creative agencies through its robust automation features and seamless integrations with popular creative tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma and others. 

This eliminates repetitive tasks and smoothens collaboration. Creative teams can then focus on their core creative work rather than administrative burdens.

By connecting ManyRequests with design tools, agencies can bridge the gap between client management and project execution.

Automation streamlines workflows

Automation in ManyRequests simplifies task management and client interactions. 

For example, agencies can automate the assignment of client requests to specific team members or departments based on predefined rules or triggers.

When a client submits a request for a new design, the system can automatically notify the assigned designer, set deadlines and create a checklist for the task.

Recurring tasks such as monthly reports or subscription-based deliverables can be scheduled automatically. These automations save time, minimize errors and allow team members to focus on delivering high-quality creative work.

Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud

ManyRequests integrates smoothly with Adobe Creative Cloud. This integration allows designers to sync their Adobe projects directly with client tasks in ManyRequests.

For example, files created in Photoshop or Illustrator can be uploaded to the client portal for review without switching between platforms.

Clients can then provide feedback on Adobe project files through ManyRequests, ensuring that all comments and revisions are centralized.

No external file-sharing service is needed and of course, not even a single email is sent. Just two seamlessly paired pieces of software. 

Figma collaboration made easy

If your agency uses Figma instead, ManyRequests also provides a streamlined connection to it.

Your team can link Figma files directly to client requests, making it easier to share prototypes, designs or user interface mockups.

Clients can view these files through the ManyRequests portal and leave feedback. This keeps all design assets and feedback within one ecosystem, thereby improving turnaround times. 

I mentioned automation of recurring tasks above but I didn't show you how. Let me do that now. 

Zapier integration for advanced automation

ManyRequests extends its automation capabilities via its integration with Zapier, a platform that connects thousands of apps.

Through Zapier, your agency can create automated workflows (Zaps) which link ManyRequests with other tools such as Slack, Google Drive, Trello (or many other tools you use at your agency). 

And when a client submits a request in ManyRequests, a zap (automated workflow) automatically notifies the team in Slack, creates a Trello card, or organizes files in Google Drive.

This level of automation ensures that no task is overlooked, and it helps agencies maintain consistent and efficient operations across all tools in their stack.

Real-time collaboration and feedback

ManyRequests' integrations with tools such as Adobe and Figma also enhance real-time collaboration.

Designers can work on projects while clients provide immediate feedback through ManyRequests. 

That way, revisions are understood and implemented without delay. 

For example, a client can leave a comment on a Figma prototype directly linked to their request and the design team can respond promptly within the same platform.

Streamlined Creative Workflows

ManyRequests simplifies and optimizes the often complex and dynamic workflows of creative agencies.

From managing client requests to tracking progress and receiving feedback, the platform integrates all aspects of a creative project into one robust system.

Its tailored features specifically address the unique needs of creative teams — whether those needs involve handling design, content creation, video production or branding projects.

By centralizing communication, project management, and asset sharing, ManyRequests makes it easy for agencies to work more efficiently and deliver better results for their clients.

Let's look at how ManyRequests optimizes creative workflows in a bit more detail. 

Streamlined request management

One of the first hurdles in creative workflows is managing client requests.

ManyRequests addresses this by offering an intuitive request management system that allows clients to submit detailed project requests through customized intake forms.

These forms can be adapted to suit the specifics of different types of creative work.

For example, agencies working in graphic design can create forms that ask for brand guidelines, color preferences, and file formats, while a marketing agency might require details about campaign objectives and target audience.

Once a client submits a request, the project is automatically organized within the platform, ensuring that the task is visible to the relevant team members.

This eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails or separate project management tools, creating a centralized system where the entire team can see what needs to be done.

By organizing requests and making them easily accessible, ManyRequests reduces the risk of missing important details and ensures that creative teams start projects with a clear understanding of client needs.

Task management and assignment

Creative projects often involve multiple steps and require input from different team members — designers, writers, project managers, strategists, etc. 

ManyRequests enables agencies to break down large projects into smaller tasks, assign them to the appropriate team members, and track progress all within the same platform. Tasks can be labeled with specific deadlines and priorities, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.

Team members can view their task list, check off completed items, and mark milestones as they progress through the project.

With real-time updates, everyone involved is kept in the loop, and project managers can track the overall progress of a project. This level of organization helps creative agencies stay on top of their workload, meet deadlines, and avoid bottlenecks in the workflow.

Collaboration and feedback loops

Effective collaboration is at the heart of every successful creative project. ManyRequests makes this happen by integrating tools for communication and feedback directly into the workflow. 

Creative teams can use the platform to share progress with clients and gather feedback, ensuring that revisions are handled efficiently.

Once a creative team completes a task, they can upload files (design mockups, video clips, or written content) directly to the ManyRequests portal.

Clients can then review these deliverables and leave comments, suggestions, or approval within the platform itself.

This feedback is organized and linked to the specific task or request, so no feedback is overlooked or misplaced.

This system helps prevent the common issues that arise when feedback is scattered across emails, text messages, or separate file-sharing platforms.

By centralizing client input, ManyRequests ensures that creative teams always know exactly what changes are needed.

This helps them to deliver high-quality work faster.

Version control and asset management

In creative workflows, managing multiple versions of assets is critical. 

ManyRequests addresses this need with built-in version control and asset management features. As teams work on creative projects, they can upload new versions of files.

The platform keeps track of these versions, so everyone involved knows which file is the latest and which version needs client approval.

This feature is particularly useful for creative teams working on iterative projects where assets undergo frequent revisions.

With version control in place, designers can upload updated files without fear of losing previous versions and clients can easily review changes. This organization streamlines the workflow, ensures that creative teams are working from the most current files, and minimizes confusion over different file versions.

Approval workflows and final deliverables

Creative workflows often require multiple rounds of revisions and approvals before a project is finalized. ManyRequests simplifies this process by offering a structured approval workflow.

Once a creative team has completed a piece of work, clients can review the deliverables and provide feedback or approve the project directly within the platform.

This feedback loop helps ensure that all necessary changes are captured and implemented, and that clients are satisfied with the results before the project is completed.

Once the client approves a deliverable, the project can be marked as finalized, and the team can proceed with the next steps, such as delivering final files or beginning the next phase of the project.

Now that we've looked at ManyRequests’ core features, let's take a peek at its accompanying strengths and weaknesses. No software is without these. 

ManyRequests Pros

Centralized client management

ManyRequests combines all aspects of client interactions (requests, communication, payments, and project updates) into a single platform. This simplifies agency workflows and ensures transparency for both teams and clients.

Customizable white-label client portals

Agencies can treat their clients to professional fully branded client portals that align with their identity. This builds trust. 

Streamlined creative workflows

With tools for request intake, task assignment, collaboration, and feedback, ManyRequests is tailored for creative agencies. Features like version control and integrated approvals make it ideal for handling complex, iterative projects.

Automation and integration

ManyRequests supports integrations with creative tools like Adobe and Figma, and Zapier, and automates repetitive tasks, improving efficiency.

ManyRequests Cons

Lack of Gantt charts

While ManyRequests excels in client management and creative workflows, it lacks features like Gantt charts which some large agencies handling large-scale projects might need. 

ManyRequests Pricing 

ManyRequests has 4 paid plans with a 14-day trial period. 

A Starter plan ($99 per month)

The Core plan (149 per month)  

The Pro plan ($399 per month) 

The Enterprise plan (custom price) 

ManyRequests Use Case

ManyRequests is ideal for agencies that prefer working from a centralized platform where all the action takes place —  communication, collaboration, time-tracking, etc. 

ManyRequests is perfect for small to medium-sized (5-50 team members) design agencies. 

Whether you offer a subscription model or one-offs, you'll be fine. 

ManyRequests Review

Luis Camacho of GetAds says, 

"Before ManyRequests, what I was trying to build out was very complicated. ManyRequests simplified the workflow of our ad design service. Our customers can now easily request various ad creatives. We now have everything in one place: Request forms, communication, and it saves us and our clients a ton of time.

 2.  ClickUp

🚀 A project management software for small teams.

ClickUp offers tracking, collaboration and reporting. Let's jump straight to its main features.

ClickUp Core Features

Workflow Automation Templates

Clickup's over 100 prebuilt templates automate workflows by streamlining repetitive tasks and improving efficiency.

They serve several verticals including marketing, project management, HR, and product development.

Send automated onboarding tasks to new hires with deadlines and instructions. Automatically assign tasks to team members using specific triggers such as due dates and status change. 

And when tasks are nearing their deadlines, you can update their priorities and notify stakeholders of such changes. 

Alert team members of priority changes in real-time. Automatically reschedule overdue tasks so they can be done on a later date. 

Drag-and-Drop Feature

This feature helps you manage your tasks and workflows better. 

For example, task delegation can be made by simply dragging them to team members. To address workload imbalances, a project manager can simply drag tasks from one team member to another. 

You can adjust task start or due dates by simply dragging it around in the timeline view. 

Custom Statuses

This feature makes it possible for teams to create processes specific to their needs and define stages which suit their workflows. 

Statuses tell stakeholders exactly where the project is at currently. You can use custom statuses to highlight milestones. 

In a nutshell, custom statuses provide flexibility for teams to manage tasks the way they like it. 

Task Checklists

This functionality divides tasks into smaller parts that can then be completed relatively easily. This not only increases speed and productivity, it also ensures that no aspect of the project is overlooked. You can go even further, creating multilevel checklists although this may not be necessary. 

Save checklists as templates so you can use them again. 

ClickUp Pros

Many useful features are available

You can manage tasks, track time, collaborate on projects, draft reports and automate in ClickUp. 

Collaboration and communication

Clickup's built-in functionalities such as real-time editing, comments, and mentions combine to ease communication. Sharing of documents and notifications keeps team members up to date. 

Integrations

ClickUp integrates with popular tools such as Slack, Google Drive, Zoom, Trello, and more. 

ClickUp Cons

No white-labeling

ClickUp doesn't offer white-labeling services. This means you can't customize your portal with your brand logo, colors, message, etc. Quite a bummer, huh? 

ClickUp Pricing 

ClickUp offers 4 paid plans along with a free plan. 

Free Forever

Unlimited: $7 per user per month 

Business: $12 per user per month

Enterprise: Custom pricing 

ClickUp Use Case

ClickUp suits agencies handling different kinds of projects, clients, and teams and therefore, requires Clickup's flexibility and comprehensive functionality.

The perfect match? 

That'd be small to medium-sized agencies (5-200 team members) which need a flexible solution to manage different teams, clients and project types. 

ClickUp Review

Nabeel S calls ClickUp a simple and easy project management tool. 

3. Basecamp

🚀 Collaboration tool for medium-sized agencies.

‍

Basecamp is an all-in-one project management software and collaboration tool. But what exactly has it got to offer? 

Let's see its main features.

Basecamp Core Features

Campfires and Pings

Basecamp’s chat platform, Campfire, is a central space for communication which supports real-time collaboration and streamlines team conversations.

Its aim is to eliminate, or at least, become less dependent on traditional chat methods. 

Using campfires, team members get to chat in real-time, brainstorming and solving problems quickly. This may not happen with traditional chat options. 

Each project has its own Campfire, thus keeping conversations organized.

Files, documents, images can be shared in these discussions within the Campfire interface.

Basecamp’s Ping feature makes private and direct messaging possible for team members who prefer one-on-one communication without interrupting group chats.

Team Reports

Basecamp’s team reports feature helps teams to track their activities, project progress, and individual contributions toward the completion of specific projects. This helps teams stay organized and in sync. 

Basecamp automatically summarizes and reports each team member's work daily and weekly. 

This keeps all team members informed across different projects, reducing the need for frequent notifications. 

This can help the team ascertain what’s being achieved and what's still left undone, and potential obstacles standing in the way. 

From these reports, teams will see if there's a need to redistribute workload and reallocate resources. 

Hill Charts

The Hill Charts feature enables teams to see how their projects are coming along in a visual way. 

Work is visualized as a hill — with a climb and a descent. 

This way, teams get to see where the project is at — how much progress they've made and what must be done to to complete the project. This helps teams to focus on priorities. 

To-do Lists

This feature makes it easy to break down and manage tasks inside projects. It helps teams to assign tasks, stay organized and track tasks efficiently. There can be multiple to-do lists in one project. 

Basecamp Pros

Simple interface

Basecamp’s interface is simple to learn and use. 

Drag and drop file sharing

Sharing files is as easy as dragging and dropping them. 

Hourly file backups

Basecamp keeps your files safe by automatically backing them up by the hour

Basecamp Cons

No built-in time-tracking feature 

To get this functionality, you'll have to use a third-party app. 

Lacks advanced budgeting and task management features

Basecamp lacks advanced functionalities to handle budgeting and manage tasks. 

Basecamp Pricing

There's only one price point of $99 per month. 

Basecamp Use Case

Basecamp is good for agencies which need streamlined workflows without any complexity. 

Basecamp is a simple, affordable project management solution which focuses on core basics and nothing advanced. It'll suit small to medium-sized agencies (5-50 employees) whose needs aren't complex. 

Basecamp Review 

Özgür K. calls Basecamp the best project management tool for remote work. 

4. Wrike

🚀 Enterprise-level project management tool

Wrike is powerful with a host of enterprise-grade features.

Let's look at a few.

Wrike Core Features

Enterprise-Level Capabilities

Wrike provides enterprise-grade features that large agencies need. These include advanced security features, custom workflows and granular permission settings for controlling user access.

With Wrike, large teams can manage multiple projects across different departments. With tools such as SSO (Single Sign-On), compliance with industry standards, and dedicated account management, Wrike ensures that enterprises can scale efficiently while maintaining security and governance.

Powerful Analytics to Report on Projects

Wrike offers powerful analytics and reporting tools that team members can use to gain in-depth insights into project progress, team performance and resource allocation.

Through customizable reports and dashboards, you can track key metrics, spot trends and evaluate project timelines. This will come in handy when making decisions.

These analytics features help agency owners and project managers to identify and eliminate bottlenecks and optimize workflows to boost efficiency.

Real-Time Data Collaboration

Wrike supports real-time collaboration.  Team members can access and update tasks, communicate and share files within the platform in real-time.

Team members can see changes as they happen, making it easy for everyone to stay up to date.

This real-time collaboration increases transparency, improves communication, and quickens decision-making across teams irrespective of location.

Unique Three-Pane Dashboard

Wrike’s unique three-pane dashboard combines a project list, task details, and a dynamic calendar or timeline view.

Teams can view and approach projects from different perspectives. This ensures that task progress, deadlines, and dependencies are clearly understood. 

Wrike Pros

A ton of integration

Wrike integrates with a lot of platforms. These integrations ensure that teams can do a lot (share files, collaborate in real-time, communicate, etc.) without leaving Wrike. This all but boosts productivity since teams won't waste precious minutes switching between different tools.

In-built time tracking

With Wrike’s in-built time tracking functionality, team members can log the time they spend on tasks directly within the platform.

This is important for tracking project progress, evaluating productivity, and ensuring accurate billing for time-based projects.

This feature also eliminates the need for third-party tools. 

Good customer support

Wrike offers high-quality customer support through multiple channels — live chat, email, and an extensive knowledge base. They provide quick solutions to issues you may encounter while using the platform — from technical issues to getting the most out of the platform. 

For enterprise agencies, Wrike provides dedicated account management. 

Wrike Cons

Wrike’s user interface isn't the easiest to get used to. There's an obvious learning curve staring you in the face. But if you can take on the challenge and surmount it, you'll get to love Wrike. 

Okay how much? 

Wrike Pricing

Three plans…

Free: Up to five members

Professional: $9.80 per month per user

Business: $24.80 per month per user

There's a free trial for the Professional plan. 

Wrike Use Case

It should be obvious by now. Wrike works best for medium to large agencies (20–500+ and team members) which need robust project management features and scalability.

Its advanced capabilities make it perfect for agencies managing multiple clients, projects and complex workflows.

Creative agencies with complex workflows and multi-stage projects will find Wrike’s advanced features like Gantt charts, custom workflows, and automation very useful. 

Wrike Review

Ephe N. says Wrike is easy to use. 

5. Trello

🚀 Great for simple projects.

‍

Trello is a project management tool which handles simple projects quite well. A Kanban-based collaboration tool, it offers a decent level of automation. Integration with third-party tools and platforms makes it more capable.

But what are its main features?

Trello Core Features

Interactive and Customizable Cards

Trello's interactive cards are the building basis for its boards. Fully customizable, they're used to represent individual tasks.

You can add descriptions, due dates, attachments, and checklists so that team members can see all the necessary details at a glance. 

Team members can drag and drop these cards between columns to update task statuses easily. This is a dynamic and visually appealing approach to status update. 

You can also assign team members and add comments to cards, boosting accountability and collaboration.

Power-Ups 

Trello expands its functionality through what it calls power-ups. 

Basically, it integrates tools (eg. Slack, Google Drive, Calendar), incorporating advanced features such as time tracking, reporting, and automation, tailored to specific team needs. 

With a wide range of power-ups available, creative teams can significantly boost their workflows to handle quite a lot (client relationship management, analytics, budgeting, billing) without switching platforms.

Trello Checklists

Trello’s checklists allow team members to break tasks down into smaller, manageable steps (subtasks) directly within a card.

This makes tracking progress on multi-step tasks or projects easy, ensuring no detail is left unattended.

You can mark each checklist item off as completed when it's executed, making it easier to stay organized and focused.

High-Level Views

Trello offers multiple views (Calendar, Dashboard, and Timeline) for viewing tasks and projects.

With these, teams visualize deadlines and timelines, monitor project progress and track workload distribution from different angles.

Trello promotes more collaboration across teams.

Trello Pros

User-friendly interface

Trello’s intuitive and user-friendly interface makes it easy for newbies to start using it with minimal training. You're essentially dragging and dropping things. 

Even beginners can manage tasks and projects without feeling overwhelmed.

Assigning task is easy

With Trello’s drag-and-drop feature, it's easy to assign tasks. There's no need for complicated, time-consuming task assignment workflows. 

Keyboard shortcuts abound

Trello’s many keyboard shortcuts save time and boost productivity. 

Trello Cons

Not suitable for complex projects

Trello excels at basic project management with simple workflows. The wheels will come off if you push it hard.

Trello Pricing

Three options are available. 

Free

Business: $9.99 per user per month

Enterprise: $17.50 per user per month 

Trello Use Case 

Trello will work well for small to medium-sized agencies (5-50 team members) which need an easy-to-use tool without a steep learning curve. 

Trello Review 

Michelle J. wishes she had found Trello sooner. 

6. Teamwork

🚀 Easy-to-use project management tool for client-facing businesses. 

‍

Teamwork is easy to use with the right mix of simple and functional. 

Teamwork Core Features 

Resource Scheduling and Budgeting Functionality

These features let you visualize team availability and workload so you can allocate resources more efficiently and avoid overloading team members with tasks. 

The budgeting part of the equation will help you plan, track and manage project costs.

Together, these tools will help you complete projects on time and very importantly, without exceeding budget. 

Burndown Reporting

This feature visualizes work completed versus what remains.

Looking at the report, you'll know if you're ahead of time or lagging by a mile. 

Task and Project Templates

Teamwork has customizable task and project templates to save time on those boring recurring workflows.

You don't have to always begin a project from scratch, you know. Especially when you have ready-made templates at your disposal. 

Billing and Invoicing

This feature will help you track billable hours and generate invoices directly within the platform. Calculations are automated. 

No need for external invoicing tools when you have this. 

Teamwork Pros

Many useful integrations

Teamwork integrates seamlessly with a wide range of popular tools — Google Drive, Slack, Chrome, HubSpot, and Microsoft Office to name a few. 

Unlimited clients allowed

Onboard as many clients as you want. Teamwork won't bat an eyelid or cry foul. They're cool with it. This makes it a great choice for agencies who are looking to scale. 

Custom branding

Customize your reports and dashboards with your agency branding, including logos, colors, and other design elements. A sure way to stand out and burn your way into your client's mind. 

Teamwork Cons

Pretty expensive

Do you want Teamwork? You've got to pay top dollar, buddy. 

How much exactly? Let's find out... 

Teamwork Pricing

Four plans are on offer. One free and 3 paid. 

Free Forever

Deliver: $9.99 per user per month

Grow: $17.99 per user per month

Scale: Custom pricing available on request

Teamwork Use Case

Teamwork is built specifically for client-facing businesses such as creative, marketing, and consulting agencies. 

It's got the features they need — collaboration, task tracking, billing, and client management. 

So if you're a small to medium-sized agency (10–200 members) looking for a robust project management tool without the complexity of enterprise-level platforms, Teamwork could work for you. 

Teamwork Review

Jacki B. says Teamwork is cost effective and highly customizable. 

7. Asana

🚀 For smaller and simpler projects.

Asana has gained popularity over the years with its easy-to-use UI. It's also big on integration. 

Let's quickly look at its main features.

Asana Core Features

Kanban Boards

Kanban boards provide teams with a visual and intuitive option to manage workflows and track project progress.

Tasks are arranged into columns that represent different stages of work. This helps teams to keep track of progress — what has been completed and what's to be done.

Title, assignee, due date, priority level, and other key information can be added to task cards. That way, you can see the details at once. 

Task priorities can be changed by moving tasks between columns. 

Tasks can be assigned to specific team members directly from the Kanban board.. And if changes are made to tasks or boards, every team member will see them instantly. 

Team members can comment on tasks, ask questions, or provide updates directly within the task card.

They can also upload files, images, or documents related to a task. 

Creative agencies can manage design workflows by visualizing task stages like "Draft," "Feedback," and "Complete."

Kanban boards give you a clear overview of project progress and task statuses, making it easy for teams to communicate openly and focus on priorities. 

Advanced Task Management

This feature breaks down complex tasks into smaller subtasks so that no aspect is forgotten. 

Each subtask can be given its own assignee, due date, priority level comments and attachments. 

Creating subtasks within tasks makes project management more detailed and makes team members more accountable. 

By breaking down tasks into smaller subtasks, it becomes harder for teams to miss smaller details. It also means teams can track projects at a lower level. 

File Sharing and Task Comments

This promotes seamless team collaboration and ensures that all resources, discussions and updates are centralized and easily accessed by all stakeholders.

Teams get to share files and engage in real-time conversations directly within tasks. 

You can attach files to tasks, projects, or messages so that all resources are stored in the same place. This effectively renders email and the likes redundant. 

Project Overview 

Asana's project overview feature is a starting point for project planning and a reference for tracking key details. 

It serves as a dashboard of some sorts for the entire project, bringing necessary information in one place. Team members won't have to jump through hoops or dig all day like miners to find important resources. 

From the project overview, they can quickly access project goals, status, timelines and other resources. 

Asana Pros 

Fast task delegation

Asana lets you assign tasks to team members in a few clicks, with priorities and due dates. 

Real-time collaboration

Share updates, leave comments and attach files directly within tasks. 

Manage multiple and big projects

Asana is good at handling multiple projects at the same time. 

Asana Cons

No native time tracking feature

Asana lacks a built-in time tracking feature.

Third-party integrations will work but will require additional setup or costs and can be a problem for time-dependent projects.

Tasks can’t be assigned to multiple people. 

Each task can only be assigned to one individual. This limits flexibility for collaborative tasks. 

Asana pricing

Asana offers 4 plans, 3 paid and one free. 

Basic: Free

Premium: $10.99 per user per month

Business: $24.99 per user per month

Enterprise: Custom pricing

Asana Use Case

Asana is ideal for agencies (5–500 employees) managing multiple projects with different degrees of complexity and requiring team collaboration across departments. 

Asana Review

For Amber C., Asana is a game changer. 

8. Workzone

🚀 Flexible project management tool for various industries and teams. 

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Although it doesn't seem that way, the truth is Workzone is an OG. Yes, it's been around since 2000. It likes keeping things simple.

Let's look at what makes it shine.

Workzone Core Features

Simple Process Management Capabilities

Workzone allows teams to create and track workflows without excessive complexity. 

You can assign tasks, set deadlines and monitor progress. You can also automate recurring processes and standardize workflows. This builds consistency and reduces operational errors.

User-Friendly UI

Workzone's user interface is clean and accessible. Doesn't matter your skill level. Even newbies will find their way around. 

Intuitive layout, organized tabs and easy navigation. Users can go about their tasks without being overwhelmed. What does this mean? You can start managing projects effectively from day one even as a greenhorn.

Good Collaboration Features

Workzone offers shared workspaces, file sharing, and task comments — tools for collaboration. 

Team members can communicate directly within tasks, tying conversations to specific projects

There are also real-time updates and notifications which keep everyone on the same page. 

Powerful Reporting

With Workzone's robust reporting tools, you'll gain insights into project progress, resource utilization, and task completion rates.

Customizable dashboards and pre-built reports allow agency owners and project managers to track performance and identify and deal with potential bottlenecks.

Workzone Pros

A ton of customization

You can customize Workzone in more ways than one. Teams can tweak workflows, dashboards, and reporting tools the way they like it.

Doesn't end there... 

They can customize project templates, set personalized task priorities, and add permission levels. This level of flexibility makes Workzone suitable for various industries and teams. 

But is there a con? 

Workzone Cons

Can’t assign comments

For some weird reason, Workzone won't let you assign comments, unlike some other tools. 

Workzone Pricing

Workzone offers 3 paid plans. 

Team plan: $24 per month per user

Professional plan: $34 per month per user

Enterprise plan: $43 per month per user

No freebie here. You either pay up or you go home. There's a free trial though. 14 days. No credit card needed. 

Workzone Use Case

Workzone is for teams which need more structure than basic tools like Trello but fewer complexities than enterprise-level platforms like Wrike — a healthy mix of 

simplicity and advanced functionality. 

It's an excellent fit for medium-sized agencies (10–150 employees) which manage multiple projects simultaneously and require strong collaboration and task tracking features.

Workzone Review

Carlie C. says Workzone is great for team project management. 

9. Microsoft Project

🚀 For large businesses with complex workflows.

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Like Workzone, Microsoft Projects better known as MS Project is a veteran — old, tried and robust. Now, you can use it to manage simple projects but it's in complex matters that it really shines.

Let's check it out.

Microsoft Project Core Features

Time-Tracking

Microsoft Project lets team members log the time they spend on tasks and projects using a timesheet.

This data can then be used to track progress and evaluate productivity. It can also be used for accurate billing involving time-sensitive projects.

These timesheets integrate with resource management and payroll platforms, easing time tracking and financial reporting.

Resource Management

With Microsoft Project’s resource management tools, you can allocate and optimize resources. 

You get to optimize resource usage, assigning tasks based on workloads and prevent overallocation and burnout. 

You'll also gain insights into resource utilization and capacity, ensuring that projects are completed on time without overburdening team members. 

Custom Reports

Microsoft Project has solid reporting capabilities. Teams can generate detailed, high-level reports on complex projects. 

Sounds like it's going to be one hell of a task, right? Wrong. 

MS Project's customizable templates and drag-and-drop tools make it easy. You'll be able to visualize project progress, budgets, and resource allocation.

With these reports furnishing you with  valuable insights, decision making becomes a whole lot easier. 

Advanced Project Budgeting

Microsoft Project’s advanced budgeting features makes tracking project costs in real time less daunting. 

You can set budgets, monitor expenses, and forecast financial outcomes accurately.

This feature integrates with cost and resource data and helps teams stay within budget and achieve profitability. 

Microsoft Project Pros

Supports multiple project management methodologies and workflows

Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches, Microsoft Project supports them all and more. 

It also supports Scrum and Kanban workflows. So your team is free to choose what work best. 

Centralized home screen view

It all starts with Microsoft Project’s centralized home screen. 

From the home screen, team members can easily access all projects, create new ones (if need be), and view deadlines, task progress, and key milestones.

Detailed task descriptions

You can include comprehensive details in task descriptions, making it easier for team members to understand their responsibilities.

Microsoft Project Cons

No Zapier or Salesforce 

In addition to MS Project not being for the faint-hearted (steep learning curve),  it also doesn't support integration with the big boys, Zapier or SalesForce. 

Okay let's look at pricing. 

Microsoft Project Pricing

Things are a little bit different here with Microsoft offering two pathways, each with its own price plans. 

Cloud-based solution

Project Plan 1: $10 per user per month

Project Plan 3: $30 per user per month

Project Plan 5: $55 per user per month

On-premise solution

Project Standard 2021: One-time payment of $679.99

Project Professional 2021: One-time payment of $1,129.99

Project Server: Custom pricing available on request

Microsoft Project Use Case

Microsoft Project is best suited for medium to large agencies (50–500+ members) handling complex projects with multiple stakeholders, large teams, and strict timelines and resource constraints.

It'll also work for agencies which require advanced planning, scheduling, and resource management capabilities.

Microsoft Project Review 

Eric B. says Microsoft Project is good but so User-friendly. 

10. Workfront

🚀 Work management platform for enterprise-level agencies and teams.

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Workfront, like the name implies, is built to manage work in an organization. 

Workfront Core Features

Process Automation

Automate repetitive processes such as task creation, time tracking, and reporting.

Save time and reduce the risk of human errors. Automating certain processes, you can increase workload efficiently without sabotaging project quality.

Streamlined Approval Workflows

Workfronts' approval workflows standardize the review and approval process for tasks, deliverables, and projects.

Team members get to submit work for approval, while decision-makers review them and provide feedback. This is to ensure all work meets set standards before completion.

Automatic Versioning 

Workfronts’ automatic versioning feature tracks changes to files. The most recent versions are made accessible while a record of previous iterations is maintained. 

Resource Management 

Workfront offers robust resource management tools to help teams monitor resources, allocate them effectively, and avoid overloading team members.

This ensures tasks are assigned to the right people and resources aren't wasted while keeping the project on track.  

Workfront Pros

Real-time reports 

Workfront’s real-time reporting feature keeps stakeholders, team members, and managers up to date on project progress.

Advanced role and permission levels for large enterprises

Workfront provides sophisticated role and permission management features to meet the needs of large enterprises.

Great proofing tools

Workfront’s proofing tools streamline the review and approval process for complex projects. Teams can annotate, comment, and approve deliverables directly within the platform, without the need for external tools.

Workfront Cons

Not exactly intuitive

Not the most intuitive tool and also takes some learning before one can start using it properly.

Workfront Pricing

Workfront offers 3 custom plans. 

Enterprise

Business

Pro

Workfront Use Case 

Workfront is best for enterprise-level agencies and teams that need advanced collaboration, complex workflows, cross-functional collaboration, resource management, and reporting tools.

Workfront Review

Manuel G. finds Workfront to be comprehensive, yet complex. 

11. Scoro

🚀 Work management software.

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Not as popular as the others but Scoro deserves its place on this list. Let's quickly checkout its features. 

Scoro Core Features

Collaboration for All

Scoro's versatile platform supports collaboration across a wide range of projects, from creative campaigns to large-scale operational initiatives.

It offers a central place for project management, where teams can share updates, documents, and feedback seamlessly.

It combines communication and task management, ensuring that everyone is carried along, no matter the complexity of the project.

Automation of Routine Tasks

Scoro automates repetitive tasks such as sending notifications, setting reminders, and updating project statuses.

Teams can then focus on high-value activities while the platform handles routine processes in the background.

In-Built CRM

Scoro’s in-built CRM combines client management with project workflows, providing a centralized hub for tracking customer interactions, sales, and project updates.

Teams can manage leads, monitor sales pipelines, and maintain customer relationships without switching between platforms.

This integration helps businesses streamline operations and enhance client satisfaction.

Drag-and-Drop Planner, Kanban Task Boards to Plan Tasks

Scoro’s drag-and-drop planner and Kanban task boards offer a visual and intuitive way to manage tasks and workflows.

Team members can easily adjust task priorities, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines by simply dragging and dropping items.

Scoro Pros

Lots of customization

Scoro offers extensive customization options. You can tailor the platform to match your specific processes, project structures and business goals. 

High-level reports

Scoro generates detailed, insightful reports with just one click. 

Scoro Cons

Steep learning curve

Scoro is feature-rich and requires time and effort to learn how to use it effectively.

Scoro Pricing

Four paid plans are available. 

Essential: $26 per user per month

Standard: $37 per user per month

Pro: $63 per user per month

Ultimate: Custom pricing 

Scoro Use Case

Scoro will work for small to medium-sized agencies (10–200 members) focused on improving profitability and scaling their operations.

Scoro Review

Cheryl H. is happy with Scoro. 

12. Intervals

🚀 Task management tool for small teams.

Intervals caters to small teams.

Intervals Core Features

Time-Tracking

Get team members to log hours spent on specific tasks and projects to ensure accurate billing for clients.

You'll see a clear overview of billable and non-billable hours. It's paired with project budgets which makes tracking time and costs seamless. 

 Task Management

Intervals provides a centralized portal for task management where teams can assign, track and collaborate on tasks efficiently. 

They can add detailed descriptions, set deadlines, and prioritize tasks, so that everyone is in tune on project objectives. 

They get to communicate through real-time updates and notifications. 

Detailed Reports

Intervals provides detailed and customizable reports giving insights into task performance, project timelines and resource utilization.

These reports will help you track progress and identify bottlenecks, from which you can make informed decisions. 

Work Request Queues

 These make task assignments and real-time task updates possible and streamline the process of submitting, prioritizing, and assigning tasks.

When team members submit requests, they're logged into the system.

Agency owners and project managers can track the status of requests and adjust accordingly as priorities change. 

Intervals Pros

Impressive Time-Tracking and Task Management Features

Teams can track time spent on tasks, monitor progress and allocate resources efficiently. 

Quick Estimation of Project Budgets

Easily estimate project budgets by combining historical data, time-tracking insights and resource allocation. 

Intervals Cons 

Unwelcoming interface 

An unwelcoming interface is an interface which belongs in the past. Intervals’ unfriendly interface belongs in the archives. 

Intervals Pricing

Let me just list them here because they're a dime a dozen. 

Lite: $29 per month 

Basic: $49 per month 

Not-so-basic: $69 per month 

Professional: $99 per month

Premium: $159 per month 

Top Shelf: $219 per month

Unlimited: $299 per month

Intervals Use Case 

Intervals will work for agencies with a focus on accurate billing and workflow optimization.

Small to medium-sized agencies (5–50 team members) managing multiple projects and clients which also prioritize accurate time tracking and billing.

Intervals Review

Renee D. says Intervals is good for time and client management. 

13. Nutcache

🚀 Versatile project management and invoicing software.

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Nutcache offers tools for planning, tracking, and managing projects while integrating time tracking, budgeting and invoicing into one platform.

Nutcache Core Features

Timesheets for Efficient Time Tracking 

Nutcache’s timesheets allow users to log work hours for specific tasks and projects. 

This provides a clear picture of time spent versus project milestones. This feature makes it possible for teams to monitor progress and identify potential delays early on.

Integrating time tracking with project planning, Nutcache helps improve resource management and ensures projects are completed on schedule.

Customizable Dashboards

Nutcache's dashboards are highly customizable. 

Users can customize them to their preferences and needs. Tracking project status, monitoring deadlines, or reviewing financial metrics, users can design dashboards to prioritize the most relevant information.

Complete Control Over the Project Flow 

Nutcache gives you comprehensive control over project workflows. You can map out processes, assign responsibilities and adjust plans as needed.

This flexibility enables businesses to optimize project execution and improve the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes.

Integrated Budget Management

Nutcache provides robust budget management tools so users can set financial limits, track expenses and compare actual costs to estimates in real time.

This feature helps teams exert control over project finances, avoiding overspending.

Nutcache Pros

Quick set-up

Nutcache's onboarding process is streamlined. Team members can set up their accounts and configure settings in minutes.

And with its intuitive interface and helpful guides, they can start working on projects Immediately. No delays. Even new hires can start being productive from the get go. 

Track multiple projects with ease

Nutcache provides a centralized platform to monitor and organize all ongoing tasks. Users can switch between projects, view timelines and track progress effortlessly. Teams handling multiple clients and projects will find this feature really helpful, 

Share and collaborate effectively with clients

Nutcache supports seamless collaboration with clients. 

Clients can view project updates, share feedback and approve deliverables directly within the platform.This builds trust and transparency and strengthens the agency-client relationship. 

Nutcache Con

Reports features could use some work

They aren't the most intuitive. 

Nutcache Pricing

Two plans are available. 

Pro plan: $12.49 per user per month

Enterprise plan: $21.49 per user per month

Nutcache Use Case

Nutcache is a great choice for small to medium-sized agencies (5–100 members) seeking an affordable, easy-to-use tool for managing projects, time and finances.

It's also good for agencies working on retainer models or managing multiple small-to-medium projects at the same time. 

Nutcache Review

Olivia A. is satisfied with Nutcache

Here's a summary of all Smartsheet Alternatives:

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Wow, it's been a long long journey. Guess it's time to wrap it up.

Conclusion

First, thank you for staying with me to the end. I really appreciate it. I hope I have been able to answer your questions. Now, you just have to pick a tool from the 13.

Not so easy, huh? 

Well, let me whittle it down to 3, at least from my point of view.

If I were a creative agency owner looking for an all-in-one tool to keep my agency running like a well-oiled machine, ManyRequests would be my go-to tool. 

Built specifically for creative agencies, it offers practically everything in one place. And a 14-day free trial means I can test it out with no commitments. 

Now, if I were a large agency with multiple projects, clients, teams and very complex workflows, I'd consider Wrike. Wrike is built mainly for that. 

What if I were just starting out and can't splash the cash? I'd go with ClickUp and scale up when the time comes. 

Click here to get that 14-day free from ManyRequests. If you'd like to first hear from agency owners like you who have already taken the plunge and are happy, click here. 

All right, that's definitely it. 

Thank you, see you on the next one. 

Bye. 

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