9 Best Free Project Management Tools for Agencies (2024 Tested)

Asana takes the top spot because it strikes the perfect balance between powerful features and agency-friendly limitations. With 15 free users, most small to medium agencies can operate entirely on the free plan. The platform excels at campaign management with its project templates, timeline view, and robust task dependencies. We tested it with three different agency workflows and found the learning curve manageable for teams already using basic project management.

Trello's card-based system mirrors the creative process perfectly. Design agencies love its visual workflow, and the Butler automation (10 commands free) handles repetitive tasks like moving cards between approval stages. The Power-Ups ecosystem adds functionality without upgrading, though you're limited to one per board on the free plan. We found it particularly effective for social media content calendars and design project workflows.

Monday.com's free tier is restrictive (just 2 users), but the platform itself is built for agencies. The workflow automation and client portal features are superior to most alternatives. If you can work within the 2-user limit or don't mind upgrading quickly, Monday.com offers the most comprehensive agency-focused feature set. We recommend it for agencies ready to invest in paid plans within their first month.

ClickUp offers unlimited free users, making it attractive for larger teams on tight budgets. The feature set rivals paid tools, including time tracking, goals, and multiple project views. However, the interface complexity can overwhelm new users. We spent two weeks testing it and found the initial setup time consuming, but agencies that invest in proper configuration see excellent results.

Notion combines project management with knowledge management, making it ideal for strategy-focused agencies. The database functionality handles client information, campaign briefs, and project tracking in one workspace. While it lacks native time tracking, the flexibility to create custom workflows makes up for traditional PM limitations. Best suited for agencies that value documentation and strategic planning over pure task management.

Airtable bridges the gap between spreadsheets and project management. For agencies managing complex campaigns with multiple data points, budgets, and performance metrics, Airtable's database approach excels. The grid, calendar, and kanban views provide flexibility, while formulas and lookups handle complex calculations. However, the interface can intimidate non-technical team members.

Teamwork was built specifically for agencies and client work, and it shows in the feature set. Client access, project templates, and time tracking come standard even on the free plan. The limitation to 5 users keeps it from ranking higher, but the client-focused features make it worth considering for smaller teams that regularly present work to external stakeholders.

Wrike's enterprise focus shows in its robust feature set, but the free plan feels restrictive. With 5 users and limited functionality, it serves more as a trial than a long-term solution. However, the platform excels at resource management and cross-project reporting, making it worth considering for agencies planning to scale quickly into paid plans.

Basecamp Personal targets individual consultants and very small agencies with its 3-project, 20-user limit. While the feature set is basic compared to other options, the simplicity appeals to teams overwhelmed by complex project management tools. The message boards and automatic check-ins work well for client communication, though you'll quickly outgrow the project limits.