12 Disruptive Alternatives to Popular Project Management Software for Architects

In a typical day for an architect, each day brings a mix of creativity, problem-solving, and coordination. Balancing multiple ongoing projects with a unique team is no small feat. However, coordination is key, as it keeps everything in order, from managing multiple projects to meeting deadlines.

How do you effectively manage and coordinate multiple architectural projects, such as leading a commercial building project and overseeing the renovation of a historic home, all at the same time? Coordinating these distinct projects requires meticulous scheduling, resource allocation, and communication management.

This is precisely where software specialized for architects can come to your aid. It will help you throughout your daily tasks, from designing and collaborating to site visits, CAD work, and research, ensuring your projects run smoothly and efficiently.

In this article, I’ll present how PM software can be valuable to your architectural projects, plus which top 12 project management tools for architects could significantly impact your day-to-day tasks. Read on!

Top 12 Project management software for architects

The main benefits of using PM software for architects

Drawing from experience collaborating with architecture teams, the key advantages of integrating PM software into your workflow are:

• Project Organization: PM software helps you efficiently organize and structure complex architectural projects, making it easier to manage various aspects like design, construction, schedules, and budgets.
• Collaboration: As an architect, you frequently collaborate with diverse teams, including engineers, contractors, clients, and stakeholders. PM software centralizes communication and file-sharing, ensuring everyone is on the same page and reducing miscommunication risks for you.
• Document Management: Architectural projects generate a multitude of critical documents, such as blueprints, permits, and contracts. Project management software for architects offers robust document management features, reducing the risk of document loss and enhancing document tracking and version control, which is essential for you.
• Task and Deadline Tracking: Time-sensitive tasks and milestones are common in architecture. PM software enables you to create task lists, set deadlines, and monitor progress, ensuring your projects stay on schedule.
• Budget Management: Efficient budget and expense management are crucial in architecture. Project management software for architects often includes budgeting tools to help you track costs, allocate resources efficiently, and prevent budget overruns, which is essential for your financial success.

If you wish to learn more about the project management practices and tools, check out our resources page:

Now let’s examine which features should you consider when choosing from the top 12 project management software for architects, with a substantial number available on Teamhood. Let’s get right into it.

1. Teamhood

Capterra score: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Teamhood is a versatile project management and collaboration platform designed to streamline complex projects. It makes it an ideal tool for architects and other teams. Its user-friendliness, flexibility, and visual interface are what you need for efficiently planning and executing detailed projects.

Here are some other benefits of using Teamhood you might want to know:

• Design Collaboration: Effortless design and construction collaboration on a Kanban board.
• Document Management: All project documents are organized and easily accessible.
• Project Scheduling: Precise timeline management with the Gantt chart.
• Budgeting and Cost Tracking: Accurate project expense tracking.
• Client Communication: Seamless sharing of project progress and design updates.
• Integration with Design Software: Smooth integration with your preferred design tools via Zapier.
• Portfolio Management: Clear view of all your projects for better planning and resource allocation.
• Visualization Tools: Kanban boards and Gantt charts for transparent project tracking.
• Customization: Unique project workflows.
• Data Security: Rest assured, your project data is secure and well-protected.

Teamhood is used by a wide range of professionals, including engineering teams, product developers, agile software teams, marketers, and accountants, all seeking to enhance their team’s performance and project outcomes.

We recommend you give it a try; the availability of a free plan makes it particularly straightforward.

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2. Monday.com

Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monday.com is a flexible tool that offers customizable features. It’s widely used by architects to streamline project management, communication, and collaboration. As the icing on the cake, it seamlessly integrates with a multitude of apps, making it a dynamic choice for architects seeking enhanced productivity and efficiency.

What teams like: Architects who used Monday.com value its flexibility and potential for automating architectural workflows. They appreciate the platform’s capacity to empower them as architects to design their unique workflows. Its extensive integrations and features are also very appreciated.

Flaws to improve: Some architects mentioned that Monday.com should prioritize core architectural features over expansion and report occasional glitches. Such issues can disrupt the smooth flow of architectural project management and collaboration, causing frustration and potentially impacting project timelines.

Price: Free. Paid plans start from $8 per user/month.

3. Wrike

Capterra score: 4.3/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wrike is a powerful tool in its own right. With features like task creation and assignment, due date tracking, and project planning, it can streamline your workflow, allowing you to easily manage tasks, prioritize work, and monitor projects through intuitive dashboards. It also offers various project views, collaboration features, document sharing, and AI-based tools for optimizing workflows.

What teams like: Some architects appreciate Wrike’s ability to efficiently keep projects organized and provide a centralized database for past projects, ensuring streamlined communication. Its adaptability to the needs of various teams also promotes effective information sharing. Another aspect that architects find favorable is Wrike’s pleasant user interface and efficiency in note-taking.

Flaws to improve: However, some architects have identified areas for improvement, such as additional features and advanced logic support, mainly when solutions are involved. Others expressed the desire for a feature that allows them to archive timelines before adjusting deadlines, a crucial aspect for architects who often track project timelines meticulously.

Price: Free. Paid plans start from $9.80 per user/month.

4. ClickUp

Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ClickUp is a productivity platform designed to plan, organize, and collaborate on projects. The biggest ClickUp customizable features, like tasks, Docs, Chat, Goals, and Whiteboards, can replace the need for multiple tools freeing up architects’ valuable time for what truly matters: design innovation and project excellence.

What teams like: Users, including architects, praise ClickUp for its versatile list management, simplifying the handling of complex architectural tasks and project organization. Its customization options are a significant advantage, which helps architects to tailor the platform to their unique workflows.

Flaws to improve: However, some users note occasional minor user interface hiccups. Additionally, copying large template lists may be time-consuming and result in item reordering. While powerful, the platform’s extensive features can pose a learning curve, emphasizing the importance of adequate training and support for architectural use cases.

Price: Free. Paid plan starts from $5 per user per month.

5. Monograph

Capterra score: 4.3/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re in architecture, landscape architecture, or engineering, Monograph could be your next preferred project management solution. It’s thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of your industry. It includes budgeting, time tracking, client tracking, and project phase management features.

What teams like: You’ll appreciate how easy it is to set up Monograph, and the user-friendly interface is a real plus. Monograph does an excellent job of presenting data highly effectively for architects, helping you clearly understand critical project paths. This simplicity and clarity are valuable for your project profitability tracking and labor allocation efforts.

Flaws to improve: You may encounter some challenges in the communication between Monograph and Quickbooks, which can be frustrating. Since many architects rely on Quickbooks for financial management, a smoother and more seamless integration between the two platforms would undoubtedly be highly beneficial.

Price: Free. Paid plans start from $45 per user/month.

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6. Basecamp

Capterra score: 4.1/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Basecamp offers architects a robust project management tool that combines essential collaboration features like message boards, schedules, to-do lists, group chat, and document storage in a single organized platform. It’s a valuable resource for architects and their teams to streamline project workflows, regardless of scale, without excessive meetings and emails.

Some other beneficial features include project progress visualization through hill charts, collaboration tools, to-do lists, and file-sharing capabilities.

What teams like: Basecamp has received mixed reviews in the realm of architecture. Architects appreciate its simplicity and user-friendly interface for scheduling, task management, collaboration, and communication, making it ideal for small projects and teams.

Flaws to improve: Some architects need more advanced features and integrations, making them less suitable for larger projects or complex workflows. Integrating Basecamp with other systems can be challenging, limiting its functionality. Nonetheless, it remains an affordable choice for small teams, streamlining architectural collaboration and communication.

Price: Free. Paid plans start from $15 per user/month.

7. Newforma

Capterra score: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As an architect, you will find Newforma to be one of the great choices. It’s a preferred platform, highly appreciated for its document storage, budget tracking, timeline management, and collaboration tools. It makes it a great and indispensable solution for your architectural projects.

What teams like: You’ll appreciate Newforma Project Center for its user-friendliness and easy accessibility. The software can simplify your interactions related to project drawings, submittals, RFI’s, and more. This ease of use and accessibility significantly enhance collaboration among project stakeholders.

Flaws to improve: One potential improvement area you may notice is that Newforma Project Center sometimes doesn’t promptly update reviews and comments made by architects or organizers. You should refresh the page multiple times to have the most up-to-date information. Addressing this issue would ensure a smoother and more efficient workflow for architects and designers, especially when handling submittals, RFIs, project files, addendums, and change bulletins.

Price: Free plan available.

8. Synergy

Capterra score: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synergy, meticulously crafted for architects, offers a potent blend of project management, accounting, and collaboration capabilities. With Synergy, you are able to oversee every project. It’s the key to streamlining your operations and boosting efficiency.

What teams like: Architects appreciate its ease of use. It’s already tailored to their industry practices, making it easy to implement in day-to-day operations and project management. It provides them quick access to project status, completion details, and historical project information, facilitating better client communication. Users also find value in features like time tracking and invoicing, which help them manage project finances efficiently.

Flaws to improve: Other architects would like a mobile app version of Synergy for more convenient access and tasks like timesheet completion and file sharing on the go. Others mention that the initial setup process could be more streamlined to reduce the need for extensive support during onboarding. Additionally, there are suggestions to enhance user security access levels, especially in the business-level subscription, to provide more control over user permissions.

Price: Plans start from $10 per user/month.

9. LeanIX

Capterra score: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

LeanIX Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) is a tool to create and maintain a clear view of your IT landscape, align roadmaps with business goals, and successfully execute transformation initiatives. Tree modules include Application Portfolio Management (APM), Technology Risk Management (TRM), and Business Transformation Management (BTM). Gain real-time insights, risk mitigation, and collaborative modeling capabilities to support your business strategically.

What teams like: Teams who have experienced LeanIX Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) find it a simple yet potent all-in-one solution for effectively handling their application landscape. They appreciate its comprehensive features enabling various tasks, from data entry to diagramming and visualizing data through reports. Architects value its ability to simplify capturing and distributing information about their application landscape across the organization, reducing manual documentation efforts and freeing up time for more value-added tasks.

Flaws to improve: However, architects face the challenge in the change management aspect of implementing LeanIX. While understanding the value it brings as Enterprise Architects or members of strategy teams is clear, educating the broader business can be complex.

Price: Available on Request Only

10. Projectworks

Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Projectworks, designed with architects in mind, unfolds as a comprehensive business management platform. With features like resourcing, forecasting, and project management, you can efficiently manage projects, finances, and your team, ensuring your architectural projects run smoothly.

What teams like: Users of Projectworks in architecture appreciate its scalability, particularly for rapidly growing organizations. The software’s integration with Xero for timesheets and invoicing is lauded for its speed and ease of use. Additionally, the resource management and forecasting capabilities have impressed users, providing valuable insights for architectural projects.

Flaws to improve: Some architects have expressed a desire for expanded capabilities in handling parent-child projects, particularly in tracking resourcing by budget. While there are some requests for improvements, such as interfacing with Microsoft Teams and enhancing reporting functionalities, Projectworks’ responsiveness to user feedback and ongoing development efforts have earned it a favorable reputation among architecture professionals.

Price: Plans start from $37 per user/month.

11. AutoCAD Architecture

Capterra score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

AutoCAD® Architecture is a specialized edition of AutoCAD software tailored specifically to cater to the needs of architects. AutoCAD Architecture offers essential tools, including dynamic updating, rendering capabilities, and collaborative features for efficient project design and management.

What teams like: Users have appreciated AutoCAD Architecture’s ability to seamlessly incorporate 3D elements into their 2D floor plans. This feature benefits architects by allowing them to build and visualize their models more effectively. The program’s capacity to save time in the production of construction documents has also been appreciated, with some software users highlighting the advantage of simultaneously working on a project’s 2D and 3D aspects.

Flaws to improve: On the flip side, some software users have pointed out certain flaws in the software. While AutoCAD Architecture is generally regarded as a valuable tool for architects, it may not be as user-friendly for those outside the field. Some have mentioned that its 3D capabilities can be challenging to master, and working with 3D models may be time-consuming and less effective than other specialized software.

Price: Plans start from $265 per user/month.

12. Programa

Capterra score: 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Programa, the project management tool for architects and interior designers offers real-time cloud schedules to replace spreadsheets. Its interactive pinboards are great for effortless collaboration and sharing among interior designers, decorators, architects, and stylists.

What teams like: Teams using Programa commend the software’s growth and development since its launch, expressing enthusiasm about its direction and responsive customer support. Programa enhances efficiency by securely storing all project data in the cloud. Architects particularly value the program’s flexibility in organizing projects and schedules, underscoring its ability to streamline their work processes.

Flaws to improve: Some software users have noted limited customization options for presentations and schedules, such as the inability to adjust company colors or logo sizes to align with their branding. Additionally, some find the software’s pricing too high and express difficulties reconciling fees through Xero. While users are excited about the software’s potential, they have also pointed out the need for further development, especially in areas like procurement functionality and addressing existing bugs.

Price: Plans start from $39 per user/month.

Best project management software for architects summary

The right PM software aids architects in organizing projects, collaborating effectively, managing critical documents, tracking tasks and deadlines, and overseeing budgets. In this article, we explored the top 12 project management software for architects, each with its unique strengths. But there’s one that stands out in the crowd – Teamhood.

Teamhood, with its high user rating and adaptability, offers an excellent solution. It simplifies complex projects through features like design collaboration, document management, precise project scheduling, budget tracking, and client communication. Its visualization tools and customization options empower architects to tailor workflows to their unique needs. Teamhood offers a free plan, making it accessible to everyone, from small architectural firms to large enterprises.

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Teamhood

• Fully customizable and adaptable
• Swimlanes, WIP Limits, Commitment points, Classes of service
• Best in market visualization of complexity (highest amount of information on one screen)
• Wide adaptivity 
• Rich item details
• Efficient collaboration on items
• Kanban Metrics, customizable dashboards
• Time tracking 
• Custom Kanban templates, including OKR template
• And more! 

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Mindaugas Gluchovskis

2019 - Present Marketing specialist

Innovative content marketeer with MSc in International Communication, Mindaugas brings fresh ideas and inspiration about project management and beyond.