6 Best Project Management Software for Engineering in 2023
This article compares some of the leading and best-known project management software for engineering teams in 2023. To give you a better understanding of how they differ and what to choose, we’ll give a brief introduction to each company’s tool and run through the pros and cons.
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What is engineering project management software?
Engineering is renowned for the complexity of its projects, from the massive infrastructure projects typical of civil engineering to chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Project management is a key skill for leading engineers. Using the right kind of project management software for engineering can be a big help.
Engineering project management software helps to plan, manage, and track engineering projects, spot potential obstacles before they become problems, and keep projects properly resourced. Just as in other fields, project management software helps to determine the scope and path of long-term work projects. It also lets the members of your organization involved in those projects stay connected with one another and keep everyone on the same page.
Project management software for engineers also benefits from having features that are particularly useful for engineering projects.
Why use project management software in engineering?
Is it worth investing in project management software for engineering projects? This is a common question we hear. Manly from people who are new to project management or concerned about their budget. Ironically, project management software can be a great help when it comes to managing costs and keeping projects on time and on budget – as long as you know how to use it.
Other project management software benefits include the ability to:
- Track multiple projects at a time
- Know exactly who is responsible for which part of any given project
- Communicate with one another quickly
- Track timetables and budgets
- Communicate with clients as the project progresses via client portal software
The important thing is that you can do all of this in one place using one software platform, making it much easier and more efficient than using Excel charts, email, and multiple messaging apps where vital data can get lost or misinterpreted. Here, we’ll explore the key features of some of the leading project management software solutions for engineering projects.
1. Teamhood
Capterra score: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Teamhood is a visual project management software for engineering teams. it successfully merges traditional and Agile project management practices by offering Gantt charts, Kanban boards, time tracking, and workload management features. Use it to plan out and track your engineering projects easily.
Pros: Visual, fully featured, easy to use.
Cons: Limited integrations, more available with open API.
Website: https://teamhood.com/
Pricing: Free version available, business plans starting at $9 per user.
2. Accelo
Capterra score: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A cloud-based project management software you can access via any desktop or laptop, it also comes with Android and iPhone apps so you can use it on your smartphone and iPad. Accelo is popular with professional services businesses, but also claims to have been designed specifically for engineers. Accelo users are able to generate tasks from project requirements, trigger automatic communications with clients, and keep records of all communications linked to the relevant client account.
Pros: Designed specifically for engineers and engineering projects. Easy to manage work in real-time.
Cons: Fairly expensive compared with some of the alternatives.
Website: https://www.accelo.com/
Pricing: Product offerings begin at $39 per user per month. A free trial is available, but no perma-free option.
3. Celoxis
Capterra score: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Celoxis promotes itself on the basis of how well its tools facilitate collaboration. There is a large variety of reporting options, both standard and highly customizable. Reports can also be exported easily and quickly in pdf format. Project planning, tracking, and accounting are easy via the range of attractive and easy to read charts. Celoxis’ dynamic real-time dashboards and reports are a major selling point, making the software more intuitive and quick to use than many.
Pros: Very easy to get started. Configurable dashboards make it easy for users to customize to suit their preferences.
Cons: Lacks billing or invoicing tools.
Website: https://www.celoxis.com/
Pricing: Celoxis has two paid options — Cloud at $22.50 per user per month, and On-Premise at $450 per user per year. There are no free options.
4. LiquidPlanner
Capterra score: 4.3/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
LiquidPlanner is rated one of the best resource management systems by G2 users. This is largely due to the software’s extensive functionality, although its Resource Scheduler is particularly highly rated. Key benefits cited by reviewers include increased process flexibility, custom templates, and automation. It is exceedingly feature-rich.
Pros: Highly specialized with a wide range of features, making it good for large organizations with complex engineering projects to manage.
Cons: Because of the complexity, there is a high learning curve and the software takes time to get used to. Training is definitely needed.
Website: https://www.liquidplanner.com/
Pricing: $45 per user per month. A 14-day free trial is also available.
5. Teamwork
Capterra score: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Teamwork has a fairly large global user base, with an estimated 20,000 users. It scores well with reviewers on ease of use, ease of setup, and quality of support, though it does lack live online or in-person training. That said, training is less of an issue due to its ease of use. Available as a cloud-based application to run on desktop, laptop or mobile devises, it is compatible with Mac, Linux, Windows, iPhone and Android iOS. Reviewers feel that some functionality may be missing compared with alternative solutions, but it was rated a top 50 Product Management product at the G2 Best Software Awards, 2022.
Pros: A good option for smaller businesses on a budget looking to try out project management software to manage a small number of projects at a time.
Cons: Less strong when it comes to tracking timelines or employee scheduling.
Website: https://www.teamwork.com/
Pricing: The paid version costs $12.50 per user per month, and a free version is also available.
6. Zoho Projects
Capterra score: 4.2/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A cloud-based project management software with over 200,000 customers worldwide, Zoho Projects pitches itself at multiple sectors, including construction, marketing, software development, education, real estate, and consulting services. It is highly integratable with other third-party software solutions, though reviewers say the user interface could be improved. The software is a little more limited in features compared with other solutions on this list, but that does make it a good potential starting point for those new to project management software – especially those who are more budget conscious.
Pros: A good starting place for smaller teams with low budgets who need a cost-effective solution.
Cons: Lacks some customizability due to being offered as a free tool.
Website: https://www.zoho.com/projects/
Pricing: Basic plans are free. Paid options begin at just $5 per user per month for Premium, or $10 per user per month for Enterprise.
Here’s what you can do next
All the solutions mentioned in this list are great for different users. You can find something for any purpose, company structure, or industry when using Gantt charts for your projects. However, the clear choice for those looking for the most versatile and adaptable solution is…
Teamhood, due to the following functionality:
{Dovile; please add the features here you think are the most important}
2019 - Present Co-founder and CEO @ Teamhood.
2015-2019 Head of software engineering department at Danske Bank.
2017-2018 Partner Associate Professor at Vilnius University. Lecturer of Software Architecture course
2011 - 2015 Managed numerous smaller IT teams at Prewise.
Co-founder of RaveIT, Eylean, No Brakes Games
Certified Agile product owner and practitioner. Managed large scale enterprise projects as well as launch of small startup products.
MSc of Software Engineering at Vilnius University.
Hobbies: Racing, MTB cycling, Windsurfing
