Best Free Project Management Tools
What you get on each free plan, member limits, key missing features, and when to upgrade.
Updated 27 March 2026
ClickUp Free
Most features on a free plan
Unlimited tasks, unlimited members, 100MB storage
Included free
- ✓Unlimited tasks and projects
- ✓Unlimited members
- ✓Boards, list, calendar views
- ✓Basic time tracking
- ✓100MB file storage
- ✓Integrations with Slack, GitHub, and more
Not on free plan
- −No Gantt (Timeline) view
- −100MB storage limit (low for file-heavy teams)
- −No goals tracking
- −Limited dashboard widgets
Verdict: The most generous free tier in the market. If you need core task management, boards, and basic reporting, ClickUp Free is hard to beat.
Notion Free
Best free option combining docs and tasks
Unlimited pages, 10 guests, 5MB file uploads, 7-day history
Included free
- ✓Unlimited pages and blocks
- ✓Board, list, calendar, and gallery database views
- ✓Docs and wikis in the same space as tasks
- ✓Basic integrations
- ✓10 guest invites
Not on free plan
- −7-day page history (limited for tracking changes)
- −No Gantt view
- −5MB file upload limit
- −No advanced automations
Verdict: Notion Free is exceptional for solo use and small teams who want a flexible workspace. The 5MB upload limit is a pain for teams sharing large files.
Trello Free
Simplest kanban boards, zero learning curve
Unlimited cards, 10 boards per workspace, 10MB file limit per attachment
Included free
- ✓Unlimited cards
- ✓Up to 10 boards per workspace
- ✓Unlimited members
- ✓Basic automation (50 runs/month)
- ✓Mobile apps
Not on free plan
- −10-board limit is restrictive for growing teams
- −No timeline (Gantt) view
- −No dashboard or reporting
- −No integrations beyond 1 Power-Up per board
Verdict: Perfect for simple workflows. The 10-board limit becomes a problem as teams grow. Upgrade to Standard ($5/user/month) unlocks unlimited boards.
Asana Free
Strong free tier for task management with 15 members
Unlimited tasks and projects, limited to 15 members
Included free
- ✓Unlimited tasks and projects
- ✓List, board, and calendar views
- ✓Up to 15 team members
- ✓Basic reporting
- ✓100+ integrations
Not on free plan
- −15-member cap is limiting for mid-size teams
- −No Timeline (Gantt) view
- −No custom fields
- −No goals or portfolios
Verdict: Asana Free is polished and professional. The 15-member limit is the main constraint. Works well for small teams that have outgrown Trello.
Jira Free
Full Jira scrum experience for up to 10 users
10 users, unlimited projects, 2GB storage
Included free
- ✓Unlimited projects and issues
- ✓Scrum and kanban boards
- ✓Backlog and sprint planning
- ✓Basic roadmaps
- ✓2GB file storage
Not on free plan
- −10-user hard limit
- −No advanced roadmaps
- −No automation rules
- −No project archiving
Verdict: Jira Free provides full scrum capability for small teams at zero cost. The 10-user limit is the only real constraint for growing engineering teams.
Linear Free
Best free option for product and engineering teams
250 issues per team, unlimited members
Included free
- ✓Unlimited members
- ✓Up to 250 issues per team
- ✓Cycles (sprints)
- ✓Projects and milestones
- ✓GitHub, GitLab, Figma integrations
Not on free plan
- −250-issue limit per team (can be hit quickly)
- −No advanced reporting
- −No guest access
- −No API access on free plan
Verdict: Linear Free is exceptional for small engineering teams. The 250-issue limit per team is the main constraint. Standard at $8/user/month removes all limits.
When should you upgrade from a free plan?
Upgrade when your team hits the member limit, when you need Gantt/Timeline views for deadline management, when you need automations to reduce manual work, or when you need reporting for stakeholders.
Most teams stay on free plans for 3 to 12 months before outgrowing them. The first paid tier for ClickUp ($7/user), Trello ($5/user), or Linear ($8/user) delivers significant extra value at a modest cost. Annual billing cuts the price by 15 to 30% versus monthly.