Best PM Tools for Software Development
The best project management tools for software development teams. Agile workflows, sprint planning, and code integration.
What We Look For
Our Top 5 Picks
Jira
#1Issue & project tracking for dev teams
Jira is a project management tool designed for agile software development teams to plan, track, and release software.
Pros
- Industry standard for software teams
- Powerful agile features
- Deep customization
- Strong marketplace
- Excellent reporting
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Overkill for non-dev teams
- UI can feel dated
- Complex administration
Linear
#2Streamlined issue tracking for software teams
Linear is a modern issue tracking and project management tool built for high-performance software teams.
Pros
- Blazing fast UI
- Beautiful design
- Keyboard-first workflow
- Great for dev teams
- Excellent GitHub integration
Cons
- Not ideal for non-dev teams
- Limited customization
- No time tracking
- Young product (fewer integrations)
ClickUp
#3One app to replace them all
ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform that combines project management, docs, goals, and chat in a single application.
Pros
- Most features for the price
- Generous free plan
- All-in-one platform
- Highly customizable views
- Built-in docs and whiteboards
Cons
- Can feel overwhelming
- Performance issues with large workspaces
- Frequent UI changes
- Mobile app less polished
Asana
#4Work management platform for teams
Asana is a web and mobile work management platform designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work and projects.
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- Strong automation features
- Excellent integrations
- Good free tier
- Multiple project views
Cons
- Expensive at scale
- No built-in time tracking
- Limited customization on free plan
- Can be overwhelming for simple projects
Notion
#5Connected workspace for docs and projects
Notion is an all-in-one workspace that blends notes, docs, project management, and wikis into a single flexible tool.
Pros
- Extremely flexible
- Beautiful design
- Great for documentation
- Strong template gallery
- AI features built-in
Cons
- Not ideal for complex project management
- Can be slow
- Offline mode limited
- Learning curve for databases
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Tool | Rating | Free Plan | Starting Price | Integrations | Time Tracking | Sprints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jira | ★ 4.1 | ✓ | Free | 3000+ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linear | ★ 4.7 | ✓ | Free | 50+ | — | ✓ |
| ClickUp | ★ 4.2 | ✓ | Free | 1000+ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Asana | ★ 4.3 | ✓ | Free | 200+ | — | — |
| Notion | ★ 4.5 | ✓ | Free | 100+ | — | ✓ |
How We Rank Tools
Our rankings are based on hands-on testing, feature analysis, pricing evaluation, and real user feedback. We re-evaluate tools quarterly to ensure our recommendations stay current. Affiliate partnerships do not influence our rankings or editorial decisions.
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