5 Simple Project Management Tools for Freelancers
The best simple project management tools for freelancers make the next step obvious. You need somewhere to track client work, deadlines and personal projects without spending your afternoon maintaining a system.
These five established options suit individual users. Some are full project managers; others are personal task apps that handle small projects well. Our picks focus on ease of use and solo workflows, based on published product information rather than hands-on testing.
Compare five project management tools for solo work
| Tool | Best fit | Free starting point | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trello | Visual client-work boards | Up to 10 boards per Workspace | Advanced project views require an upgrade |
| Todoist | Daily tasks across small projects | 5 personal projects; list and board layouts | Less suited to complex project planning |
| Notion | Project notes and tasks together | Free plan for individuals | More setup than a ready-made task list |
| Asana Personal | Several projects with clear deadlines | Unlimited tasks and projects; up to 2 users | More structure than many solo users need |
| Things | Personal planning on Apple devices | Mac trial; paid apps purchased separately | No Windows, Android or browser app; no shared task lists |
Free plans have limits and can change. Linked vendor pages show current details. “Best fit” and trade-offs are our editorial assessment.
1. Trello: for a simple visual workflow
Choose Trello if you think in stages. Create To do, Doing and Done columns, then move a card for each article, design or client deliverable. It is an approachable way to see what is stuck without building a complicated dashboard.
Launched in 2011, Trello has a long history of board-based planning. Start here if a visual overview matters more than detailed scheduling.
2. Todoist: for daily tasks and small projects
Choose Todoist if your main question is “What should I do today?” Group work by client or project, add recurring tasks, and switch between lists and boards. It is a useful middle ground between a basic checklist and a larger PM system.
Founder Amir Salihefendić created Todoist in 2007. Its appeal for freelancers is keeping personal responsibilities and client tasks in one manageable routine.
3. Notion: for briefs, notes and project tasks
Choose Notion if tasks need context. Keep a client brief, research, meeting notes and a task database in the same workspace. A writer or consultant can keep the project’s background close to the work itself.
Notion 1.0 launched in 2016. Its flexibility is useful, but start with one simple template: designing your workspace can become a project of its own.
4. Asana Personal: for more structured solo projects
Choose Asana Personal if you juggle several multi-step projects. List, board and calendar views help you review deliverables and dates. It offers more project structure than a personal checklist, while its free Personal plan supports solo use.
Asana opened to the public in 2011. It is the more structured choice here; keep your setup small if you do not need its broader workflow.
5. Things: for personal projects on Apple devices
Choose Things if you work alone and use Apple devices. Its personal task-management approach helps you separate projects from today’s actions, without setting up a team workspace.
The iPhone app dates back to 2008. Things 3 uses one-time purchases per platform, but its lack of shared lists makes it a poor choice if clients need to collaborate inside your task manager.
Which one should you choose?
Start with Trello for boards, Todoist for daily execution, Notion for notes plus tasks, Asana for project structure, or Things for personal Apple-based planning. Try one real project before moving everything over.
Where Actor fits
Actor is not a project management tool. It can help you manage tasks, email and calendar—the everyday work surrounding your projects. Use Ask Actor to find an email, prepare a reply, create a task or help schedule a meeting using your connected accounts. Keep project planning in the tool that suits you, and try Actor for help with the work around it.