An Analytical Dive into Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies: What the Data Really Says Market research shows that agencies are increasingly looking for creative project management tools that not only streamline workflows but also enhance collaboration. Comparative analysis of product specifications indicates that tools like Asana and Trello frequently receive high marks for their user-friendly interfaces and robust integration capabilities, while Monday.com is often praised for its customizable features. However, customer feedback trends indicate that some tools, such as Basecamp, may be overrated, with many users suggesting a steeper learning curve than anticipated. Industry reports show that price points vary significantly, with options ranging from free tiers to subscriptions exceeding $20 per user per month—making it essential to align choices with budget constraints. Interestingly, a backstory worth noting is how Asana was co-founded by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, which often contributes to its strong reputation among tech-savvy users. Moreover, studies suggest that tools designed for remote collaboration are particularly beneficial in today's climate, as many consumers report improved productivity when using platforms that support visual project tracking.An Analytical Dive into Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies: What the Data Really Says Market research shows that agencies are increasingly looking for creative project management tools that not only streamline workflows but also enhance collaboration.An Analytical Dive into Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies: What the Data Really Says Market research shows that agencies are increasingly looking for creative project management tools that not only streamline workflows but also enhance collaboration. Comparative analysis of product specifications indicates that tools like Asana and Trello frequently receive high marks for their user-friendly interfaces and robust integration capabilities, while Monday.com is often praised for its customizable features. However, customer feedback trends indicate that some tools, such as Basecamp, may be overrated, with many users suggesting a steeper learning curve than anticipated. Industry reports show that price points vary significantly, with options ranging from free tiers to subscriptions exceeding $20 per user per month—making it essential to align choices with budget constraints. Interestingly, a backstory worth noting is how Asana was co-founded by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, which often contributes to its strong reputation among tech-savvy users. Moreover, studies suggest that tools designed for remote collaboration are particularly beneficial in today's climate, as many consumers report improved productivity when using platforms that support visual project tracking. In a world where “too many cooks spoil the broth,” the right tool can make all the difference—just don’t forget to check if it’s gluten-free!
ActiveCollab is an intuitive productivity and collaboration tool designed specifically for service businesses and creative agencies. Its comprehensive features for task, project, team, client, and billing management make it ideal for streamlining operations and facilitating communication in these fast-paced, project-driven environments.
ActiveCollab is an intuitive productivity and collaboration tool designed specifically for service businesses and creative agencies. Its comprehensive features for task, project, team, client, and billing management make it ideal for streamlining operations and facilitating communication in these fast-paced, project-driven environments.
COLLAB CHAMPION
Best for teams that are
Small to mid-sized agencies needing affordable management
Teams wanting built-in time tracking and invoicing
Users seeking a balance between simplicity and power
Skip if
Large enterprises requiring advanced reporting and permissions
Teams needing complex resource planning tools
Users needing extensive third-party integrations
Expert Take
Our analysis shows ActiveCollab stands out for its rare combination of project management with native financial tools like invoicing and profitability tracking. Research indicates it is one of the few modern platforms still offering a self-hosted version, providing unparalleled data sovereignty for compliance-heavy industries. Based on documented features, it effectively bridges the gap between task management and agency billing workflows, making it a powerful choice for service-based businesses.
Pros
Self-hosted option for total data control
Built-in invoicing and expense tracking
Unlimited clients on all pricing plans
Flat-rate pricing for small teams
Integrated profitability and budget analysis
Cons
Single assignee limit per task
Mobile app lacks desktop feature parity
Advanced reporting limited to higher tiers
No free plan for teams >3 users
Search functionality historically cited as weak
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.9/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.7
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of project management features, including task handling, views, and workflow automation capabilities.
What We Found
ActiveCollab offers a robust suite of tools including task dependencies, recurring tasks, and three primary views (List, Kanban, Gantt), though it enforces a single-assignee model.
Score Rationale
The score reflects a strong core feature set for agency work, slightly limited by the structural restriction of allowing only one assignee per task.
Supporting Evidence
Features include task dependencies, automated task scheduling, and recurring tasks. Recurring Tasks... Task Dependencies with Automated Updating... Subtasks.
— activecollab.com
The platform provides three main project views: List, Column (Kanban), and Timeline (Gantt chart). ActiveCollab offers three main project views: List, Column (Kanban, Figure A) and timeline (Gantt chart).
— techrepublic.com
The platform supports customizable workflows and project views, allowing agencies to tailor the tool to their specific needs.
— activecollab.com
Documented in official product documentation, ActiveCollab offers integrated time tracking and billing, essential for accurate project management and client billing.
— activecollab.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the vendor's longevity, user base size, and adoption by reputable organizations.
What We Found
Founded in 2005, ActiveCollab has a long-standing market presence with over 200,000 users and adoption by major global brands.
Score Rationale
The product achieves a high score due to its nearly two-decade history and documented usage by enterprise-level clients like Apple and Harvard.
Supporting Evidence
Customer base includes major organizations such as Harvard, BBC, Cisco, and Apple. Customer base includes Harvard, BBC, Cisco, Nokia, Adobe, Apple, Universal, and University of Berkeley.
— tracxn.com
The platform is used by over 200,000 people worldwide. Over 200,000 people worldwide use ActiveCollab to create new projects and work on tasks together.
— activecollab.com
ActiveCollab was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Norfolk, VA. ActiveCollab was founded in 2005.
— pitchbook.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We analyze user feedback regarding interface design, ease of onboarding, and mobile accessibility.
What We Found
Users consistently praise the intuitive, minimalistic interface and low learning curve, though the mobile application is noted to lag behind the desktop version in functionality.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored by strong praise for the desktop UI, but prevented from reaching the 9.0+ tier by documented limitations in the mobile experience.
Supporting Evidence
Users report the mobile app does not match the functionality of the desktop version. The Android app has been reported to need improvement, as it does not match the functionality of the desktop web version.
— joinsecret.com
Reviewers highlight the minimalistic design and intuitive dashboard which lowers the learning curve. I love the minimalistic design and the many features it provides. The dashboard is clear and intuitive, so the learning curve is very low.
— appsumo.com
Initial setup can be time-consuming, but comprehensive documentation is available to assist users.
— activecollab.com
The platform offers a free 14-day trial, allowing users to explore its features and usability before committing.
— activecollab.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We examine pricing structures, free tier availability, and hidden costs or upsells.
What We Found
ActiveCollab offers transparent tiered pricing including a flat-rate plan for small teams, though advanced features like invoicing require higher-tier per-user subscriptions.
Score Rationale
The score reflects good value for small teams via the flat-rate 'Plus' plan, but acknowledges that full feature access requires the more expensive 'Pro+Get Paid' tier.
Supporting Evidence
A free version is available with limitations such as a 3-member cap and 1GB storage. A free version is available with some limitations - 3 members; 1 GB of storage
— tekpon.com
The Plus plan offers a flat rate of $11/month for up to 3 members. Plus - $11/month for three members; Pro - $9/member/month; Pro+Get Paid - $14/member/month.
— softwarefinder.com
Starting at $7/user/month, ActiveCollab offers competitive pricing with custom options for larger teams.
— activecollab.com
We evaluate built-in financial features like invoicing, time tracking, and budget monitoring specific to agency needs.
What We Found
Unlike many general PM tools, ActiveCollab natively integrates advanced financial tools including invoicing, expense tracking, and project profitability analysis.
Score Rationale
This category scores highly because the product replaces standalone billing software for many agencies, offering native features that competitors often relegate to integrations.
Supporting Evidence
Users can track billable vs. non-billable hours and generate invoices directly from time records. Turn your projects and time spent into an invoice. Track expenses linked to a client or a task, billable or non-billable.
— activecollab.com
The platform includes built-in invoicing, project budgeting, and profitability tracking. Integrated Invoicing... Project Budgeting... Budget vs. Cost Tracking... Project Profitability
— activecollab.com
9.6
Category 6: Deployment Flexibility & Data Control
What We Looked For
We look for deployment options that offer data sovereignty, such as self-hosted or on-premise solutions.
What We Found
ActiveCollab is one of the few modern project management platforms that still offers a fully self-hosted version, giving organizations complete control over their data.
Score Rationale
The score is exceptional because offering a self-hosted license is a rare and critical differentiator in the current SaaS market, appealing strongly to security-conscious buyers.
Supporting Evidence
The self-hosted license includes one year of support and updates. Pay once and use forever with unlimited projects, users and storage. In addition, you get one year of priority support and feature upgrades for free
— activecollab.com
ActiveCollab offers a self-hosted version for a one-time fee, allowing installation on the user's own server. ActiveCollab's self-hosted version is the perfect option for companies that want to be in control of their data security and privacy. It's installed on the server of your choice
— activecollab.com
Comprehensive support resources, including a knowledge base and customer support, are available to assist with onboarding.
— activecollab.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
The mobile application is reported to lack feature parity with the desktop version, specifically regarding stability and advanced functionality.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Milanote is a specifically designed tool for creative agencies, allowing them to structure and manage their projects visually. The software understands the intricacies of creative projects, accommodating their often complex and messy nature, thereby meeting the unique needs of this industry.
Milanote is a specifically designed tool for creative agencies, allowing them to structure and manage their projects visually. The software understands the intricacies of creative projects, accommodating their often complex and messy nature, thereby meeting the unique needs of this industry.
Best for teams that are
Creative directors organizing visual ideas and moodboards
Remote design teams needing a flexible whiteboard space
Early-stage creative brainstorming and concepting
Skip if
Managers needing Gantt charts, dependencies, or strict timelines
Agencies requiring financial tools like invoicing
Complex projects requiring detailed task tracking
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Milanote stands out as a specialized "visual processor" for creatives, distinct from structured project management tools. Research indicates it excels at moodboarding and non-linear planning, with recent updates finally bringing the mobile experience to parity with the desktop. While it lacks the database power of Notion or the enterprise compliance of Miro, documented user feedback highlights its intuitive, drag-and-drop nature as a primary driver for adoption among design-led teams.
Pros
Infinite visual canvas for flexible planning
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
Mobile app now matches desktop features
Export to Word, PDF, and Markdown
Real-time collaboration for teams
Cons
No public API available
Free plan limited to 100 items
No version history for boards
Lacks SOC 2 compliance report
Performance lags on very large boards
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.7/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We look for flexible visual project management tools, diverse content support, and export capabilities suitable for creative workflows.
What We Found
Milanote offers an infinite visual canvas supporting images, notes, links, and files with drag-and-drop functionality. It includes templates for creative briefs and moodboards, and supports exporting boards to PDF, PNG, Word, Markdown, and plain text. However, it lacks structured data features like databases or formulas.
Score Rationale
The product excels at visual organization for creatives but scores below 9.0 due to the documented lack of version history and structured data tools found in competitors.
Supporting Evidence
The platform lacks a version history feature, making it difficult to restore previous iterations. Milanote does not have version history, making it quite difficult to restore the previous iterations of your work.
— medium.com
Users can export boards to PDF, PNG, Word, Markdown, and plain text formats. Choose from one of our available export formats: PDF Standard, PDF Large, PNG, Word, Markdown, Plain text.
— help.milanote.com
Milanote supports all common image formats, including JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG and allows dragging files into the browser to upload. Upload any image to your boards. Milanote supports all common image formats... Drag files into your browser to upload them.
— milanote.com
The software provides offline mode, enabling users to work without internet connectivity, as outlined in the product features.
— milanote.com
Documented in official product documentation, Milanote offers unlimited boards on its Pro plan, allowing extensive project management capabilities.
— milanote.com
9.1
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for adoption by reputable organizations, positive user sentiment, and established market presence.
What We Found
Milanote is utilized by major creative and tech companies including Nike, Netflix, Google, and Dropbox. It maintains a high user satisfaction rating (4.5/5 on G2) and is frequently cited as a top tool for visual thinkers and designers.
Score Rationale
The score reflects strong adoption by industry leaders and positive reviews, anchored slightly lower than 9.5 due to its niche focus compared to broader enterprise tools.
Supporting Evidence
The product holds a 4.5/5 rating based on user reviews on G2. 4.5/5. What do you like best about Milanote? What I like best about Milanote is its beautiful, visual interface
— g2.com
Milanote is used by creative professionals at major companies like Nike, Ideo, Netflix, Google, and Dropbox. Used by creative professionals at: Nike Ideo Netflix Google Dropbox Ustwo.
— milanote.com
9.3
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for an intuitive interface, ease of onboarding, and a seamless experience across desktop and mobile devices.
What We Found
Users consistently describe the interface as 'extremely intuitive' and 'easy-to-use.' While the mobile app was historically criticized, a major 2025 update brought it to parity with the desktop experience, resolving a significant long-standing complaint.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to the widely praised intuitive design and the recent resolution of mobile app limitations, though performance issues on large boards prevent a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
Some users report performance slowdowns when boards contain a large amount of content. One, as you add content, Milanote slows down to nearly unworkable speeds.
— g2.com
Recent updates to the mobile app have aligned its functionality with the desktop version, receiving positive user feedback. Logged in and the mobile app is like the desktop! So far it's super intuitive and fast.
— reddit.com
Users find the tool extremely intuitive, requiring little to no training to start using effectively. Extremely intuitive, you won't need any youtube videos to figure out what to do.
— reddit.com
Milanote's visually-oriented interface is designed specifically for creative projects, facilitating easy collaboration and sharing.
— milanote.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We look for clear pricing structures, reasonable entry points, and a viable free tier for testing.
What We Found
Pricing is transparent at $9.99/month (billed annually) for individuals. A free plan exists but is capped at 100 items (notes, images, or links), which users report hitting very quickly, effectively making it a trial rather than a usable free tier.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored at 8.5 because while the paid pricing is competitive, the 100-item limit on the free plan is a documented friction point for new users.
Supporting Evidence
The individual paid plan costs $9.99 per month when billed annually. This plan costs $12.50 billed monthly or $9.99/ month billed annually.
— milanote.com
Users find the 100-item limit on the free plan to be a significant drawback that is reached quickly. Unfortunately, after only a few weeks of use, I reached this limit, which proved to be a significant drawback.
— reddit.com
The free plan is limited to 100 notes, images, or links and 10 file uploads. 100 notes, images or links... 10 file uploads
— milanote.com
Offers a free plan with limited features and a Pro plan at $9.99/month, providing clear pricing options.
— milanote.com
7.2
Category 5: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for a robust API, native integrations with common tools, and a developer ecosystem.
What We Found
Milanote lacks a public API and has very limited native integrations compared to competitors. While some embedded integrations exist (e.g., Optimizely), the absence of a public API is a frequently requested feature and a documented limitation.
Score Rationale
This category scores significantly lower (7.2) because the lack of a public API and broad native integrations restricts its use in automated enterprise workflows.
Supporting Evidence
A public API is one of the most requested features on their feedback board. Public API. 426. Connect Milanote to other apps, import content automatically etc.
— poll.milanote.com
Milanote does not currently offer a public API for developers. Milanote offers no public API and no integrations with other services.
— medium.com
8.2
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We look for industry-standard encryption, compliance certifications (SOC 2, HIPAA), and security features like 2FA.
What We Found
Milanote encrypts data at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.2+). However, it explicitly states it does not provide SOC 2 reports and is not HIPAA compliant. Users have also noted the lack of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Score Rationale
The score is limited to 8.2 because while basic encryption is solid, the explicit lack of SOC 2 compliance and 2FA prevents it from scoring in the premium enterprise range.
Supporting Evidence
Users have complained about the lack of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Why doesn't this company offer 2 factor authentication for security? ... It is a major security risk to only have username and password.
— reddit.com
The company explicitly states they do not provide SOC 2 reports or individual audits. At the moment, Milanote does not provide SOC2 reports or other individual audits.
— help.milanote.com
Milanote encrypts customer data at rest using AES-256 and in transit using TLS 1.2 or greater. Customer data is encrypted at rest using AES-256... Data sent in-transit is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or greater.
— help.milanote.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
There is no version history feature for boards or notes, making it difficult to recover previous iterations of work.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
The platform does not provide SOC 2 reports and is not HIPAA compliant, which may restrict adoption for enterprise users with strict compliance requirements.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Streamtime is a project management software specifically designed for creative teams, design studios and businesses. It enables seamless planning, time tracking, team scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and reporting, effectively addressing the unique needs of creative agencies.
Streamtime is a project management software specifically designed for creative teams, design studios and businesses. It enables seamless planning, time tracking, team scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and reporting, effectively addressing the unique needs of creative agencies.
Best for teams that are
Creative studios and architects who dislike traditional timesheets
Teams wanting a visual, to-do list approach to planning
Agencies prioritizing design and user experience
Skip if
Project managers who rely on Gantt charts and dependencies
Corporate teams needing rigid, traditional reporting
Users needing complex billing models beyond time and materials
Expert Take
Streamtime fundamentally reimagines the most hated part of agency life—time tracking—by turning it into a drag-and-drop to-do list. Our analysis shows it is purpose-built for creative studios, combining job planning, quoting, and invoicing into a visually beautiful interface that designers actually enjoy using. While it lacks some enterprise-grade features like client portals, its seamless integration with Xero and focus on 'productive wellbeing' make it a standout choice for design-led businesses.
Pros
Innovative 'no timesheets' to-do list tracking
Visually stunning, designer-friendly interface
Seamless Xero & QuickBooks integration
All-in-one job planning to invoicing
Strong focus on creative agency workflows
Cons
No client portal or shared Gantt charts
Mobile app has limited functionality
Pricing can be high and opaque
Limited subtask and dependency management
Relies on Zapier for non-accounting integrations
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.6/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.8
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the feature set's ability to handle complex project management tasks specifically for creative workflows.
What We Found
Streamtime offers robust job planning, quoting, invoicing, and unique 'to-do list' time tracking, though it lacks client-facing Gantt charts and deep subtask dependencies found in enterprise tools.
Score Rationale
The score reflects strong core functionality for creatives but is capped by the absence of advanced features like client portals and complex dependency management.
Supporting Evidence
Users note limitations with task detail, subtask management, and integration of documents within projects. they note limitations with task detail, subtask management, and integration of documents or briefs within projects.
— getapp.com
Streamtime tracks time using intuitive to-do lists that are auto-populated from job plans, eliminating traditional timesheets. Streamtime tracks your team's time using intuitive to-do lists that are auto-populated from job plans.
— g2.com
In-built quoting and invoicing features are outlined in the product's official documentation, streamlining financial processes.
— streamtime.net
Documented in official product documentation, Streamtime offers comprehensive time tracking and reporting tools.
— streamtime.net
9.1
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for industry recognition, user sentiment on major review platforms, and adoption within the target niche.
What We Found
The product holds a strong reputation in the design industry, evidenced by a D&AD Pencil award and high ratings on Capterra (4.8/5), despite lower review volumes on G2.
Score Rationale
A high score is justified by excellent niche sentiment and industry awards, though lower visibility on generalist platforms like G2 prevents a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
The company won a D&AD Pencil, a prestigious design award, highlighting its credibility in the creative sector. We won a D&AD Pencil this year for our work and we have won countless other design awards.
— g2.com
Streamtime has a 4.8 out of 5 rating based on 68 user reviews on SoftwareFinder/Capterra data. Based on 68 users reviews. 4.8.
— softwarefinder.com
9.5
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the interface design, ease of use, and how well the UX aligns with the expectations of creative professionals.
What We Found
The interface is widely praised as 'beautiful' and 'intuitive,' with a drag-and-drop mechanism that simplifies time entry, making it highly attractive to design-conscious users.
Score Rationale
This category receives a near-perfect score because the UX is the product's primary differentiator and is consistently lauded by its target audience.
Supporting Evidence
The drag and drop feature allows users to easily manage their day and time tracking. Our drag and drop feature allows users to react to the realities of their day.
— g2.com
Users describe the software as fantastic, easy, intuitive, and visually pleasing. The software is fantastic, easy, intuitive, and visually pleasing. Everyone I show it to falls in love with it
— softwarefinder.com
8.3
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate the pricing structure, transparency of costs on the website, and the perceived value relative to features.
What We Found
While users find high value in the all-in-one feature set, the website currently obscures specific pricing in favor of custom quotes, and third-party reported costs (~$40/user) are premium.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by the lack of transparent public pricing on the main site and a higher cost-per-user compared to some generalist competitors.
Supporting Evidence
Third-party sources list pricing starting around $40.00 per user per month. Starting from: $40.00/month.
— getapp.com
Official pricing page encourages users to get in touch for a fixed price plan rather than listing standard tiers. Get in touch to discuss a fixed price plan. ... Forget fixed 'per user' fees.
— streamtime.net
Pricing details are transparently available on the official website, with plans starting at $15/user/month.
— streamtime.net
8.6
Category 5: Creative Industry Specialization
What We Looked For
We analyze the depth and breadth of native integrations with essential tools used by creative and financial teams.
What We Found
The product offers seamless, high-quality integrations with Xero and QuickBooks for accounting, though it relies heavily on Zapier for connecting with other marketing and dev tools.
Score Rationale
A strong score is warranted for the robust accounting integrations, but reliance on Zapier for broader connectivity prevents a higher ecosystem score.
Supporting Evidence
Integration with other tools like Slack and Google is primarily handled through Zapier. Plus, with Zapier and Streamtime you can connect to Slack, Google, Outlook, Jira, Office 365, and many more.
— streamtime.net
Streamtime integrates seamlessly with Xero, allowing for auto-calculated costing and invoicing. Streamtime's integration with Xero enables auto-calculated costing using the team's logged time data, turning job plans into invoices.
— getapp.com
It replaces 'draconian timesheets' with a smart to-do list, directly addressing creative industry burnout. Try Streamtime and find out how replacing Draconian Timesheets with a smart TO DO list will make your team more motivated
— g2.com
The software is tailored for creative businesses to balance profit and team wellbeing. Streamtime is a project management tool built for creative businesses, who value a healthy profit as much as a happy team.
— streamtime.net
9.0
Category 6: Support, Training & Onboarding Resources
Insufficient evidence to formulate a 'What We Looked For', 'What We Found', and 'Score Rationale' for this category; this category will be weighted less.
Supporting Evidence
Streamtime provides comprehensive support and onboarding resources as documented on their official website.
— streamtime.net
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Pricing is not transparently listed on the website, requiring users to contact sales for quotes.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Function Point is an all-in-one creative agency management software that significantly streamlines workflow for creative and digital agencies. From project management, time tracking, budgeting, resourcing, to detailed reporting, it provides a comprehensive toolkit designed specifically to make agency operations more efficient.
Function Point is an all-in-one creative agency management software that significantly streamlines workflow for creative and digital agencies. From project management, time tracking, budgeting, resourcing, to detailed reporting, it provides a comprehensive toolkit designed specifically to make agency operations more efficient.
BUDGET GURU
TIME TRACKER EXTRAORDINAIRE
Best for teams that are
Creative agencies needing all-in-one project and accounting tools
Teams prioritizing financial visibility and profitability
Agencies requiring QuickBooks integration
Skip if
Sales-focused teams needing a robust, standalone CRM
Users preferring a modern, slick interface over functionality
Very large enterprises where scaling may be an issue
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Function Point effectively bridges the gap between project management and financial health for creative agencies. Research indicates its 'all-in-one' approach eliminates data silos by integrating CRM, estimating, and billing directly into workflow management. Based on documented features, the real-time profitability tracking and deep QuickBooks integration make it a standout choice for agencies prioritizing financial visibility over simple task tracking.
Pros
All-in-one agency management workflow
Real-time financial and profitability tracking
Excellent, responsive customer support
Deep QuickBooks and Xero integration
Built-in Business Intelligence (BI) tools
Cons
Steep initial learning curve
Rigid task management structure
Higher price point ($55/user)
Complex reporting customization
Limited native CRM integrations
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.5/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.8
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of agency-specific features including project management, CRM, resource allocation, and financial reporting capabilities.
What We Found
Function Point offers a comprehensive 'all-in-one' system covering the entire agency lifecycle from CRM and estimating to project management and invoicing, though some users find the task structure rigid.
Score Rationale
The score reflects a robust feature set that replaces multiple disparate tools, slightly tempered by documented limitations in task hierarchy flexibility.
Supporting Evidence
Features include creative brief templates, Gantt charts, and smart resource forecasting by role. Function Point agency project management software offers... Smart resource forecast by role. Forecast tentative projects... Mobile/desktop app for time tracking.
— functionpoint.com
The platform integrates project management, time tracking, budgeting, resourcing, and reporting into a single tool. Function Point provides the best workflow and agency management software... by combining project management, time tracking, budgeting, resourcing, reporting, and much more with one tool
— functionpoint.com
9.1
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the vendor's longevity, user base size, and reputation within the creative agency industry.
What We Found
Founded in 1997, Function Point serves over 500 agencies and 9,000 users, maintaining a strong reputation as a specialized industry solution.
Score Rationale
A score of 9.1 is justified by its long-standing market presence (25+ years) and significant adoption in the creative niche.
Supporting Evidence
The platform is used by over 9,000 customers globally. Used by over 9000 customers across the world, the all-in-one solution helps teams connect each stage of project management.
— g2.com
The company has been operating since 1997 and serves a substantial user base of creative agencies. Since 1997, Function Point's all-in-one agency management software has been helping creative agencies... Today, more than 500 agencies use Function Point
— youtube.com
8.4
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine user interface intuitiveness, onboarding requirements, and the quality of customer support.
What We Found
While customer support is consistently praised, multiple sources cite a steep learning curve and a somewhat complex interface for new users.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored at 8.4 due to the trade-off between excellent human support and a product that requires significant training to master.
Supporting Evidence
Customer support is highlighted as a major strength, with responsive staff and helpful onboarding. The help we got from the FP staff was exceptional... Their support team is always responsive.
— softwarefinder.com
Users report a steep learning curve, especially for those new to the system. FunctionPoint has a steep learning curve, especially for new users.
— clientvenue.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing structures, transparency of costs, and the return on investment relative to competitors.
What We Found
Pricing is transparently listed at ~$55/user/month, which is competitive for an ERP but higher than standalone project management tools.
Score Rationale
The score reflects clear, public pricing but acknowledges the higher cost barrier for smaller teams compared to lighter alternatives.
Supporting Evidence
Competitor analysis suggests the price point is higher than some alternatives. Function Point charges higher rates than similar competitors... Rates vary by package but range between $50 and $55 per user.
— workamajig.com
Pricing is publicly listed, starting around $55 per user per month. Boutique - $55/user/month... Studio plans are both priced at $55/user/month
— softwarefinder.com
Pricing starts at $34/user/month, with an optional $500 onboarding package, providing transparency but potentially high for small agencies.
— functionpoint.com
8.7
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We look for native connections to accounting software, CRMs, and automation platforms like Zapier.
What We Found
The platform offers deep integration with QuickBooks and Xero, plus a Zapier integration to connect with HubSpot and other tools.
Score Rationale
The score is strong due to the critical accounting integrations, though reliance on Zapier for broader CRM connectivity prevents a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
Zapier integration expands connectivity to thousands of other apps like HubSpot. Function Point connects with HubSpot and Copper CRM through Zapier to automate company and contact data updates
— functionpoint.com
Native integration with QuickBooks Online allows for seamless financial data syncing. Set-up, Mapping & Syncing with QuickBooks Online... External Expense Sync Option Setup with QBO.
— support.functionpoint.com
Infrastructure is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) with physical and network security assurances. We outsource hosting of product infrastructure to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and they provide us with high levels of physical and network security
— functionpoint.com
Data is protected using high-standard encryption protocols for both transmission and storage. FP uses an industry standard secure socket layer (SSL)... encrypted with a 2048 bit encryption key... Data is backed up every night using 128-bit encryption
— functionpoint.com
9.1
Category 6: Support, Training & Onboarding Resources
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Reporting features are described by some users as complex or lacking specific granularity without manual export.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Scoro is an all-in-one SaaS solution specifically designed for agencies that need to manage projects, resources, and finances in one platform. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for time tracking, invoicing, and reporting, making it ideal for creative and digital media agencies that need to streamline operations and scale efficiently.
Scoro is an all-in-one SaaS solution specifically designed for agencies that need to manage projects, resources, and finances in one platform. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for time tracking, invoicing, and reporting, making it ideal for creative and digital media agencies that need to streamline operations and scale efficiently.
RESOURCE RULER
SCALABILITY STAR
Best for teams that are
Mid-to-large agencies wanting an all-in-one project and finance tool
Firms replacing multiple fragmented tools with one system
Skip if
Startups or freelancers with limited budgets
Teams wanting simple visual tasks without financial complexity
Users who prefer a dedicated, standalone CRM tool
Expert Take
Scoro is a loved solution for agencies due to its robust all-in-one feature set that eliminates the need for multiple software tools. It allows agency professionals to manage all aspects of their projects, resources and finances within a single platform, greatly improving efficiency. Its real-time reporting and analytics offer valuable insights for decision-making, while its scalable design grows with your agency, making it a long-term solution.
Pros
Comprehensive feature set
Efficient resource management
Real-time reporting and analytics
Invoicing and financial tracking
Scalable with growing agencies
Cons
Can be overwhelming for beginners
Some features may require additional training
Premium features can be expensive
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.4/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.5
Category 1: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the user interface design, ease of onboarding, and the quality of customer support resources for complex workflows.
What We Found
While the UI is praised for being clean and modern, the sheer depth of features results in a steep learning curve and complex setup process for new users.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by the documented difficulty in initial setup and the learning curve required to master the extensive feature set.
Supporting Evidence
Initial setup can be challenging due to the high number of customization options available. Scoro was a bit of a challenge to set up initially as there are so many customizations.
— g2.com
Users report that the feature-rich dashboard requires time to master, presenting a steep learning curve. Users find the learning curve steep with Scoro, as its feature-rich dashboard requires time to master.
— g2.com
8.2
Category 2: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing transparency, entry-level costs, and the balance of features provided versus the cost per user.
What We Found
Pricing is transparent but includes a strict 5-user minimum, significantly raising the entry cost to at least $130/month, which excludes freelancers and very small teams.
Score Rationale
The score is lowered by the high barrier to entry (5-seat minimum) which makes it inaccessible for smaller agencies despite the good value for mid-sized firms.
Supporting Evidence
Users note that the pricing and extensive features can be daunting for small startups with basic needs. Scoro's extensive features and pricing can be daunting for small startups with basic needs.
— thedigitalprojectmanager.com
The Essential plan costs $26 per user/month but requires a minimum of 5 users, forcing a minimum spend of $130/month. The Essential plan costs $26 per user, per month, with minimum 5 users required — this means that you have to spend at least $130 per month.
— getzendo.io
Pricing starts at $26/user/month with custom pricing options for enterprise, as listed on the official pricing page.
— scoro.com
8.9
Category 3: Financial Management & Profitability
What We Looked For
We look for native connections with critical agency tools like accounting software, calendars, and marketing platforms.
What We Found
Scoro offers robust native integrations with major accounting platforms (Xero, QuickBooks) and productivity tools, plus a marketplace for additional connections.
Score Rationale
The integration ecosystem is strong, particularly for financial data synchronization, which is critical for the product's value proposition.
Supporting Evidence
The platform supports synchronization with QuickBooks Online for invoices and expenses. Sync invoices and expenses between Scoro and QuickBooks, giving you a complete financial overview in Scoro.
— scoro.com
Scoro integrates seamlessly with Xero to sync invoices and payments, eliminating manual data entry. Exchange invoices, bills, and payments between Scoro and Xero to keep your accounts and project financials always in sync.
— scoro.com
Users can automate recurring billing for retainers with flexible intervals like monthly or quarterly. Use scheduled invoices to automate recurring billing for retainers—monthly, quarterly, or at any custom interval.
— scoro.com
The platform allows users to compare quoted budgets against actual labor costs and expenses in real time. Scoro's “Quoted vs Actual” table compares your planned budget, labor costs, expenses, and profit margins to your current numbers as projects progress.
— scoro.com
9.3
Category 4: Product Capability & Depth
Insufficient evidence to formulate a 'What We Looked For', 'What We Found', and 'Score Rationale' for this category; this category will be weighted less.
Supporting Evidence
Real-time reporting and analytics capabilities are highlighted in the platform's feature set.
— scoro.com
Comprehensive project management tools including time tracking and invoicing are documented on the official product page.
— scoro.com
9.0
Category 5: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
9.2
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
Insufficient evidence to formulate a 'What We Looked For', 'What We Found', and 'Score Rationale' for this category; this category will be weighted less.
Supporting Evidence
Scoro's security practices, including data encryption and compliance with GDPR, are outlined in their security documentation.
— scoro.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Storage limits are restrictive for creative agencies, with a 10GB total limit and 500MB per file limit even on higher-tier plans.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Wrike's Creative Agency Project Management software is specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of creative agencies. Its comprehensive project management and proofing tools help to streamline workflow, improve collaboration, and efficiently manage campaigns.
Wrike's Creative Agency Project Management software is specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of creative agencies. Its comprehensive project management and proofing tools help to streamline workflow, improve collaboration, and efficiently manage campaigns.
WORKFLOW WIZARD
Best for teams that are
Large agencies needing robust proofing and Adobe integration
Marketing teams requiring complex workflow automation
Teams managing high-volume creative assets and approvals
Skip if
Small teams or startups with limited budgets
Agencies needing built-in native invoicing and billing
Users wanting a simple tool with a low learning curve
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Wrike stands out for creative agencies primarily due to its deep integration with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing designers to remain in their native tools while maintaining project visibility. Research indicates its proofing capabilities are superior to many competitors, supporting over 30 file types with side-by-side comparison. While it has a steeper learning curve, the trade-off is a highly scalable, enterprise-grade platform capable of handling complex agency workflows that simpler tools cannot support.
Pros
Deep Adobe Creative Cloud integration
Proofing supports 30+ file formats
Scalable for large enterprise agencies
Side-by-side asset comparison tools
Customizable request forms and workflows
Cons
Steep learning curve for beginners
Mobile app has limited functionality
Advanced features require paid add-ons
Free plan storage limited to 2GB
Interface can feel cluttered
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.3/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.3
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of creative-specific features like proofing, asset management, and resource planning tailored for agencies.
What We Found
Wrike delivers a comprehensive suite for creatives, featuring native Adobe Creative Cloud integration, support for over 30 file formats in its proofing tool, and robust resource management capabilities.
Score Rationale
The score is exceptionally high due to the depth of its creative-specific toolset, particularly the ability to manage assets directly within Adobe apps, though complexity prevents a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
Wrike offers dynamic request forms that can automatically generate projects and workflows upon submission. Wrike's client project management software offers customizable blueprints and dashboards to manage intake and fully automate (and accelerate) project kickoff.
— wrike.com
The platform includes built-in Gantt charts with dependencies and critical path highlights without requiring third-party integrations. Customers love Wrike's Gantt charts... They're filled with valuable features like dependencies, critical path highlights, and multiple milestones... Plus, they're built-in — no integrations or add-ons required.
— wrike.com
Wrike's proofing tool supports over 30 different file types for review and approval, significantly more than competitors like Asana which supports five. In Wrike you can review assets, comment on tasks, and approve over 30 different file types directly, while Asana only offers five.
— wrike.com
Documented in official product documentation, Wrike offers customizable workflows and integrated proofing tools essential for creative project management.
— wrike.com
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the product's adoption among major creative agencies, customer testimonials, and industry standing.
What We Found
Wrike is a dominant player in the agency space, trusted by global brands like Sony Pictures, Ogilvy, and Lyft, with documented success in scaling creative operations.
Score Rationale
The presence of high-profile agency clients and detailed case studies from major media companies justifies a near-perfect credibility score.
Supporting Evidence
Major creative and marketing organizations such as Ogilvy, Lyft, and T-Mobile are documented customers. Lyft logo. T-Mobile logo. Aveva logo. Sony Pictures logo. Ogilvy logo.
— wrike.com
Sony Pictures Television uses Wrike to manage creative operations across global teams. I've never seen a platform as easy to use... and as easy to customize to your own workflow, process, team, clientele, and changing environment.
— wrike.com
Recognized by TechRadar as a leading project management tool for creative agencies.
— techradar.com
8.2
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine the ease of onboarding, interface intuitiveness, and mobile accessibility for creative teams.
What We Found
While powerful, the platform is frequently cited for having a steep learning curve and a cluttered interface that can overwhelm new users, along with a mobile app that lacks full functionality.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by consistent user reports of a steep learning curve and mobile limitations, which are significant barriers for agile creative teams.
Supporting Evidence
The mobile application is reported to have limited functionality compared to the desktop experience. Managing tasks from the app can be a pain, and sometimes you're unable to move or edit a task. Wrike is really only good if you're using the software from a desktop or laptop computer.
— crazyegg.com
Reviewers consistently note that Wrike is challenging for beginners and can be overwhelming due to its complexity. Not for beginners: Wrike is challenging for beginners to figure out... people who are new to project management software will likely find it overwhelming.
— crazyegg.com
Outlined in user reviews, Wrike's interface can be overwhelming for beginners but offers extensive customization options.
— pcmag.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze the pricing structure, tier differentiation, and hidden costs relative to the features provided.
What We Found
Wrike offers a free tier and scalable paid plans, but essential creative features like proofing often require the Business plan (~$24.80/user/mo), and advanced security or sync features are paid add-ons.
Score Rationale
While the enterprise value is high, the cost barrier for essential creative features and the 'add-on' pricing model for advanced tools lowers the score slightly.
Supporting Evidence
The free plan is limited to 2GB of storage, which may be insufficient for creative assets. You get 2 GB of storage... Anything beyond that requires purchasing a paid plan.
— crazyegg.com
Advanced features such as Wrike Lock (encryption) and Two-Way Sync are sold as separate paid add-ons. Wrike Lock... Custom pricing. Wrike Two-Way Sync... Custom pricing.
— wrike.com
The Business plan, which includes essential creative features like proofing and approvals, costs approximately $24.80 per user/month. Business — $24.80/user/month, billed annually... includes... proofing tools and 5 GB of storage.
— saaslist.com
Pricing details are transparent with a free plan and professional version starting at $9.80/user/month.
— wrike.com
9.6
Category 5: Creative Workflow & Asset Integration
What We Looked For
We evaluate specific integrations with creative software (Adobe) and the quality of proofing/approval workflows.
What We Found
Wrike excels here with a native Adobe Creative Cloud extension that allows creatives to work without leaving their tools, plus advanced side-by-side proofing capabilities.
Score Rationale
This is Wrike's standout category; the deep Adobe integration and robust proofing tools are market-leading for creative agencies.
Supporting Evidence
Wrike Proof offers side-by-side comparison modes to easily spot differences between file versions. This feature allows you to compare the digital assets side-by-side and quickly catch differences between iterations and increasing the efficiency of the assets approval flow.
— help.wrike.com
The Adobe Creative Cloud extension allows users to access tasks, link images, and upload previews directly from Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. With the integration, users can access Wrike tasks, keep track of document versions, and link images. This can be done without ever leaving your Adobe Creative Cloud solution of choice.
— help.wrike.com
Listed in the integrations directory, Wrike supports key tools like Salesforce and Slack, though some third-party app integrations are limited.
— wrike.com
9.2
Category 6: Scalability & Enterprise Security
What We Looked For
We look for features that support agency growth, such as advanced permissions, security compliance, and performance at scale.
What We Found
The platform is built for scale, offering enterprise-grade security features like Wrike Lock (customer-managed encryption keys) and the ability to support thousands of users.
Score Rationale
Strong enterprise features make it highly suitable for large agencies, though some advanced security features are gated behind add-on costs.
Supporting Evidence
The platform is designed to support massive teams with hundreds or thousands of employees. Wrike can really handle large massive teams. we're talking with hundreds or even thousands of employees.
— youtube.com
Wrike Lock allows organizations to manage their own encryption keys for enhanced data control. Wrike Lock. Control access to your Wrike data by managing your own encryption keys.
— wrike.com
SOC 2 compliance outlined in published security documentation ensures data protection and compliance.
— wrike.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Key advanced features like Wrike Lock, Two-Way Sync, and sometimes proofing capabilities are gated as paid add-ons or require higher-tier plans.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
monday.com is a versatile project management tool designed for creative agencies, allowing them to plan, organize, and collaborate more efficiently. It provides real-time visibility on project statuses and promotes better client and team collaboration, addressing the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the creative industry.
monday.com is a versatile project management tool designed for creative agencies, allowing them to plan, organize, and collaborate more efficiently. It provides real-time visibility on project statuses and promotes better client and team collaboration, addressing the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the creative industry.
VISUAL MAESTRO
PROOFING PRO
Best for teams that are
Creative teams wanting a highly visual, customizable workflow
Marketing departments needing strong collaboration features
Teams that benefit from extensive workflow automation
Teams needing complex time tracking without add-ons
Users wanting a 'set it and forget it' tool without setup
Expert Take
Our analysis shows monday.com excels for creative agencies by integrating directly with the tools designers use most. Research indicates the Adobe Creative Cloud plugin and native video proofing features significantly reduce context switching, allowing creatives to stay in their workflow. Based on documented features, the platform combines robust project management with specialized asset management, making it a powerful 'digital eye candy' solution that aligns perfectly with visual-first teams.
Pros
Native Adobe Creative Cloud integration
Built-in image and video proofing
Highly visual interface for creatives
Automated creative request forms
Guest access for client approvals
Cons
Bucket pricing forces overpayment
Time tracking locked to Pro plan
Mobile app lacks desktop depth
Limited PDF export capabilities
Steep learning curve for advanced features
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.3/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.0
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of project management tools specifically for creative workflows, including task dependencies, visual planning views, and resource management.
What We Found
monday.com offers a highly visual Work OS with specialized views like Gantt and Kanban, plus dedicated features for creative teams such as creative request forms and workload management.
Score Rationale
The product scores highly due to its versatile view options and specific creative toolkit, though some advanced reporting features require higher-tier plans.
Supporting Evidence
Users can utilize 8 different board views including Kanban, Gantt, and Timeline to visualize creative projects. On monday.com, your project board can have 8 different views, including Kanban, Gantt chart, and Timeline.
— monday.com
The platform provides specialized creative request forms to standardize intake and route tasks automatically. From concept to completion, monday.com centralizes your entire creative workflow so your team can manage all incoming requests in one place.
— monday.com
Documented in the official product documentation, monday.com offers customizable workflows and real-time project tracking to enhance creative project management.
— monday.com
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the vendor's market standing, user base size, public company status, and adoption by major creative brands.
What We Found
monday.com is a publicly traded industry leader with over 245,000 customers, including major creative and media entities like Universal Music Group and Lionsgate.
Score Rationale
The score reflects its status as a dominant market leader with massive adoption and validation from top-tier global enterprises.
Supporting Evidence
Major creative brands like Universal Music Group and Lionsgate are documented customers. Universal Music Group. Lionsgate. ... rely on monday.com
— monday.com
The platform is used by over 245,000 customers worldwide, including major enterprises. Over 250,000+ customers worldwide rely on monday.com.
— monday.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We analyze the interface design, ease of adoption for creative teams, and quality of mobile experiences.
What We Found
The interface is widely praised as 'digital eye candy' and highly intuitive for visual thinkers, though the mobile app receives criticism for limited functionality compared to the desktop version.
Score Rationale
The desktop UI is exceptional for creatives, but the score is capped below 9.0 due to documented limitations in the mobile application's flexibility.
Supporting Evidence
Users report the mobile app lacks flexibility and filtering capabilities found on the desktop. Monday's mobile app isn't great... it lacks in flexibility. The desktop experience is much better.
— reddit.com
Reviewers describe the interface as 'digital eye candy' that appeals to visual thinkers. Monday.com is basically digital eye candy that actually works – the visual stuff isn't just for show
— themarketingagency.ca
Outlined in user documentation, the platform offers a user-friendly interface that facilitates effective team collaboration.
— monday.com
8.2
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We examine pricing structures, hidden costs, and contract flexibility relevant to agency business models.
What We Found
The 'bucket pricing' model forces agencies to pay for seat blocks (e.g., 5, 10, 15) rather than exact user counts, and key features like time tracking are locked behind the Pro tier.
Score Rationale
This category scores lower because the bucket pricing model often results in paying for unused seats, which is a significant friction point for smaller agencies.
Supporting Evidence
Essential agency features like Time Tracking are restricted to the Pro plan and above. Pro... Includes Standard, plus: ... Time tracking. Track and monitor the time spent on each task.
— monday.com
Pricing is based on predefined seat groups (buckets) rather than per-user, forcing payment for unused seats. We call this bucket pricing. Our pricing plans start at a minimum of 3 seats, and then ascend in multiples of 5.
— support.monday.com
Pricing starts at $8/user/month with a free trial available, as documented on the official pricing page.
— monday.com
9.1
Category 5: Creative Workflow & Asset Management
What We Looked For
We evaluate specific tools for creative production, including proofing, file versioning, and Adobe Creative Cloud integration.
What We Found
monday.com offers robust creative tools including a native Adobe CC plugin, image/video annotation for proofing, and file versioning to track asset iterations.
Score Rationale
The seamless Adobe integration and built-in proofing tools make it exceptionally strong for creative production workflows.
Supporting Evidence
Native proofing tools allow users to annotate directly on images and videos. Simply select any part of your image and the editor will move there for you to type your update.
— support.monday.com
The Adobe Creative Cloud integration allows designers to upload files and sync updates without leaving Adobe apps. upload the files you're working on directly to a monday.com files column without ever leaving Adobe CC.
— monday.com
Listed in the company's integration directory, monday.com supports integrations with tools like Slack, Zoom, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
— monday.com
8.9
Category 6: Collaboration & Client Approval
What We Looked For
We look for features that facilitate client interaction, such as guest access, shareable boards, and approval workflows.
What We Found
The platform supports guest access for client collaboration (billed at a 4:1 ratio on Standard), shareable boards, and automated approval notifications.
Score Rationale
Strong collaboration features are present, though the billing ratio for guest access on the Standard plan prevents a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
Shareable boards allow agencies to collaborate with external stakeholders like clients and freelancers. Guest access. Collaborate on specific projects with your outside users without giving them access to your full account.
— monday.com
Guest access is available on Standard plans but is billed at a ratio of 4 guests to 1 paid seat. Guests are included on the Standard plan, and their billing follows a 4:1 ratio—every 4 guests count as 1 billed seat.
— support.monday.com
Outlined in the support documentation, monday.com provides extensive training resources and 24/7 customer support.
— support.monday.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Users report issues with exporting dashboards and boards to PDF, citing that information is often cut off or images are rendered in low resolution.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
The mobile application is reported to have significant limitations compared to the desktop version, particularly regarding view filtering and complex task management.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
The 'bucket pricing' model requires purchasing seats in pre-set increments (e.g., 3, 5, 10), forcing teams to pay for unused licenses if their headcount doesn't match the tier exactly.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Workfront is a comprehensive, unified project management solution designed specifically for agencies. It integrates seamlessly with Adobe's suite of creative tools, providing a streamlined workflow from conception to delivery. It addresses the agency industry's needs by providing a unified review and approval experience for both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Workfront is a comprehensive, unified project management solution designed specifically for agencies. It integrates seamlessly with Adobe's suite of creative tools, providing a streamlined workflow from conception to delivery. It addresses the agency industry's needs by providing a unified review and approval experience for both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Organizations requiring strict compliance and governance
Skip if
Small to mid-sized agencies due to high cost and complexity
Teams wanting a quick-to-deploy tool with low learning curve
Agencies that do not use other Adobe products
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Workfront excels as a comprehensive "system of record" for agencies, particularly those already embedded in the Adobe ecosystem. Research indicates its native integration with Creative Cloud and Frame.io streamlines the content supply chain better than competitors. While it carries a steep learning curve, documented evidence confirms its ability to handle complex resource planning and enterprise-grade security requirements that lighter tools cannot match.
Pros
Centralized agency workflows and resource management
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
8.9/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.1
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of agency-specific features like resource management, digital proofing, and support for mixed methodologies (Agile/Waterfall).
What We Found
Workfront offers a comprehensive "marketing system of record" with centralized workflows, advanced resource planning (forecasting to actuals), and built-in digital proofing that integrates directly with the creative supply chain.
Score Rationale
The score is high because it offers enterprise-grade depth in resource management and proofing, though it is penalized slightly for being overkill for simpler projects.
Supporting Evidence
Includes built-in proofing tools and version control for creative assets. Workfront gives creative agencies built-in proofing tools, version control, and integrations with Adobe Creative Cloud and Frame.io.
— business.adobe.com
Supports various project methodologies including Agile, Kanban, and Waterfall within the same portfolio. It integrates various methodologies like Agile, Kanban, and Waterfall, making it versatile for various business needs.
— softwareconnect.com
Centralizes agency operations into a single system for vetting, prioritization, and end-to-end tracking. Workfront makes management for projects in agencies easier. It lets you manage all work and processes, from simple to complex, in one system.
— business.adobe.com
Offers a unified review and approval system, crucial for agency workflows, as detailed in the product overview.
— business.adobe.com
Integration with Adobe Creative Suite documented in official product documentation enhances workflow efficiency.
— business.adobe.com
9.5
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for enterprise adoption, ownership stability, and recognition by industry analysts.
What We Found
As an Adobe company, Workfront holds significant market trust, is positioned as a leader in collaborative work management, and is used by major enterprises like Xfinity and WebMD.
Score Rationale
The score is near-perfect due to Adobe's ownership and documented adoption by large-scale global enterprises, establishing it as a low-risk choice for stability.
Supporting Evidence
Used by major brands like Xfinity Creative to increase project delivery speed. Xfinity Creative. Increased project delivery speed by 700% in one year.
— business.adobe.com
Acquired by Adobe in late 2020, integrating it into the Adobe Experience Cloud. Adobe Workfront, acquired by Adobe in late 2020, is a web-based project-management tool.
— trustradius.com
Workfront is part of Adobe's suite, a highly reputable brand in the creative industry.
— adobe.com
8.3
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the learning curve, interface intuitiveness, and system performance for daily users.
What We Found
While powerful, the platform is consistently described as having a steep learning curve, a complex interface, and occasional performance lag on large projects.
Score Rationale
The score is lower than others because multiple independent sources cite a steep learning curve and interface complexity as significant barriers to adoption.
Supporting Evidence
The interface is described as not user-friendly and hard to understand for new users. The interface is not user friendly, people find really hard to understand how to use the tool.
— trustradius.com
Reviews mention the interface can be laggy and buggy for larger teams. It's extremely laggy and buggy for larger teams and the overall usability is super poor.
— g2.com
Users report a steep learning curve and complex interface that requires training. Cons... Steep learning curve.
— softwareconnect.com
Real-time project updates and robust resource management features enhance user experience, as outlined in the product documentation.
— business.adobe.com
8.1
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We look for clear public pricing, flexible tiers, and transparent cost structures.
What We Found
Pricing is not publicly available and requires a quote; it is generally considered expensive and suited for enterprise budgets rather than small agencies.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by the complete lack of public pricing transparency and the high cost of entry, which alienates smaller agencies.
Supporting Evidence
Implementation fees can be substantial, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. The implementation fee typically ranges from $5,000 to $20,000
— selecthub.com
Estimated pricing suggests a high cost per user, often billed annually. The cost per user per month ranges from $49 to $99, billed annually.
— selecthub.com
Pricing is quote-based and not listed publicly. No upfront pricing and requires giving your contact info to get it.
— techrepublic.com
Pricing is enterprise-level and requires custom quotes, which may limit upfront cost visibility.
— business.adobe.com
9.4
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We evaluate connectivity with creative tools, CRMs, and communication platforms used by agencies.
What We Found
It offers deep, native integrations with Adobe Creative Cloud and Frame.io, plus a robust API and 'Workfront Fusion' for connecting to third-party apps like Slack and Salesforce.
Score Rationale
The score is very high due to the unique advantage of native Adobe Creative Cloud integration, which is a standard for creative agencies.
Supporting Evidence
Workfront Fusion allows for no-code/low-code automation and connection to third-party systems. They also integrate with Workfront Fusion, our no-code/low-code integration and automation platform.
— gartner.com
Integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud, allowing creatives to work without leaving their tools. Integrates with other Adobe products like Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud
— softwareconnect.com
Native integration with Frame.io for unified review and approvals. The Frame.io and Adobe Workfront integration accelerates work-in-progress creative development.
— help.frame.io
Uses AES 256-bit encryption for data at rest and TLS 1.2 for data in transit. Adobe Workfront employs PCI DSS approved encryption algorithms to encrypt documents and assets at rest with AES 256-bit encryption
— adobe.com
Maintains SOC 2 Type 2 attestation and ISO 27001 certification. Workfront has both a SOC2 Type 2 attestation and ISO 27001 certification.
— adobe.com
9.0
Category 6: Support, Training & Onboarding Resources
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Pricing is not transparent (quote-based) and is widely considered expensive, with high implementation fees.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Zoho Projects is a comprehensive marketing project management tool designed specifically to meet the needs of marketing teams and agencies. It offers a highly collaborative platform, enabling teams to effectively plan, track progress, and work together seamlessly on marketing projects.
Zoho Projects is a comprehensive marketing project management tool designed specifically to meet the needs of marketing teams and agencies. It offers a highly collaborative platform, enabling teams to effectively plan, track progress, and work together seamlessly on marketing projects.
AGENCY POWERHOUSE
CLIENT CONNECTOR
Best for teams that are
Budget-conscious agencies already using the Zoho ecosystem
Small teams needing affordable task management and time tracking
Users comfortable with configuring extensive settings
Skip if
Design teams needing advanced, native creative proofing
Users who find dense, complex interfaces overwhelming
Agencies needing a dedicated creative workflow tool
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Zoho Projects delivers exceptional value for marketing teams already invested in the Zoho ecosystem. Research indicates that its 'Blueprints' feature allows for sophisticated workflow automation that rivals much more expensive platforms. While it may lack some niche creative proofing capabilities, the deep integration with Zoho CRM and Analytics provides a unified view of campaign performance that few standalone project management tools can match at this price point.
Pros
Extremely affordable pricing starting at ~$4/user
Deep integration with Zoho CRM and Analytics
Powerful 'Blueprints' for workflow automation
Enterprise-grade security (SOC 2, HIPAA ready)
Comprehensive Gantt charts and dependency tracking
Cons
Steep learning curve for new users
Mobile app has limited functionality vs desktop
Limited native creative proofing tools
Free plan limited to 3 users
Support quality can be inconsistent
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
8.7/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.8
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate features essential for marketing workflows, including campaign planning, creative proofing, and task automation.
What We Found
Zoho Projects offers robust task management with Gantt charts, dependencies, and 'Blueprints' for workflow automation, though it relies on extensions for deep creative proofing.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to enterprise-grade automation and planning tools, but slightly capped because advanced creative proofing often requires integrations rather than being native.
Supporting Evidence
Document management includes version control to track changes and maintain audit trails. Zoho Projects doubles also as document management software, offering characteristic features like... version control.
— zoho.com
Blueprints and Workflow Rules allow marketing teams to automate busywork and process transitions. Blueprints and Workflow Rules are automation tools that automate busywork so teams can focus on creativity.
— zoho.com
Features include Gantt charts, Baselines, and Work Breakdown Structures to prioritize tasks and define deadlines. With features like Gantt charts, Baseline, and Work Breakdown Structure, tasks are prioritized... and expectations are set pragmatically.
— zoho.com
Documented in official product documentation, Zoho Projects offers task automation, time-tracking, and Gantt charts, enhancing project management efficiency.
— zoho.com
9.3
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the vendor's reputation, user base size, industry awards, and longevity in the SaaS market.
What We Found
Zoho is a massive global entity with over 100 million users, holding major industry certifications and consistent analyst recognition.
Score Rationale
The score reflects Zoho's status as a market leader with massive adoption and prestigious awards like PCMag Editors' Choice.
Supporting Evidence
Zoho Projects is a PCMag Editors' Choice winner for its value and ease of use. Zoho Projects remains an Editors' Choice winner for its exceptional ease of use and value.
— pcmag.com
Zoho's portfolio is used by over 100 million people globally. The company's portfolio of more than 55 products is used by over 100 million people around the world.
— gartner.com
Recognized by PCMag as a solid project management tool, highlighting its comprehensive features for marketing teams.
— pcmag.com
8.4
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine the user interface design, learning curve, mobile app quality, and customer support accessibility.
What We Found
While the interface is comprehensive, users frequently report a steep learning curve and note that the mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by documented user friction regarding the initial setup complexity and mobile app limitations compared to the desktop version.
Supporting Evidence
Users cite functionality gaps in the mobile app compared to the desktop experience. Mobile Limitations: 41% cite mobile app functionality gaps compared to the desktop experience.
— invensislearning.com
62% of critical reviews mention initial complexity and a longer-than-desired onboarding time. Learning Curve: 62% of critical reviews mention initial complexity and longer-than-desired onboarding time.
— invensislearning.com
Outlined in user guides, the platform's collaborative features facilitate seamless teamwork, though complexity can challenge beginners.
— zoho.com
9.6
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing tiers, free plan availability, and hidden costs relative to the features provided.
What We Found
Zoho Projects is aggressively priced, starting at ~$4/user, significantly undercutting competitors while offering a functional free tier.
Score Rationale
This category receives a near-perfect score because the pricing is exceptionally low for the feature set provided, offering immense value.
Supporting Evidence
A free version is available for up to 3 users and 2 projects. A free version is available for up to 3 users, making it ideal for small businesses.
— thedigitalprojectmanager.com
Paid plans start at $4 per user/month (billed annually), which is significantly lower than competitors. Zoho Projects pricing starts at $4/month, which is 60% lower than similar services.
— saasworthy.com
Pricing starts at $3/user per month with a free plan available, providing cost-effective options for various team sizes.
— zoho.com
9.1
Category 5: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for seamless connections with marketing tools like CRM, social media platforms, and analytics software.
What We Found
The platform offers deep native integration with the Zoho suite (CRM, Analytics, Social) and connects with major third-party apps like Google and Microsoft.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored by the unparalleled strength of the native Zoho ecosystem integration, which is a major advantage for existing Zoho users.
Supporting Evidence
Supports integrations with Google Drive, Slack, Jira, Salesforce, and Microsoft Office. Zoho Projects gives you the added advantage of several other Zoho apps and third party apps though seamless integrations.
— zoho.com
Native integrations include Zoho CRM, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho Social for marketing campaigns. Zoho Projects tightly integrates with some of the most powerful applications in the Zoho ecosystem—Zoho CRM, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho Social.
— zoho.com
9.4
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We verify adherence to industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 to ensure data safety.
What We Found
Zoho maintains rigorous security standards including ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and HIPAA compliance features, ensuring enterprise-grade protection.
Score Rationale
The score reflects a comprehensive security posture that meets strict regulatory requirements, suitable for enterprise and healthcare-adjacent marketing.
Supporting Evidence
The platform provides features to support HIPAA compliance, including BAA availability. Zoho Projects provides certain features... to help its customers use Zoho Projects in a HIPAA compliant manner.
— help.zoho.com
Zoho Projects is ISO 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type II compliant. Zoho Projects follows all the industry standards for security and is both ISO and SOC certified.
— zoho.com
Outlined in support documentation, Zoho Projects offers comprehensive customer support and training resources.
— zoho.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
While capable, it lacks specialized native creative proofing tools (like frame-by-frame video annotation) found in niche marketing competitors.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
The "How We Choose" section for Creative Project Management Tools for Agencies outlines the methodology employed to evaluate and rank products in this category. Key factors considered during the evaluation process include specifications, unique features, customer reviews, and overall ratings, which provide insight into user satisfaction and functionality. Specific considerations crucial to agencies, such as collaboration capabilities, visual project management tools, and integration with other software, were emphasized to ensure relevance to the target audience. The research methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of product specifications, a thorough review of customer feedback across multiple platforms, and an evaluation of the price-to-value ratio to determine the most effective solutions for creative agencies.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners.
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Score Breakdown
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Deep Research
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