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Best Task Management Software

Task management software is for getting the next action done. It becomes project management when those actions have dependencies, several owners and a deadline that slips if the order is wrong. This list starts with the fastest personal list and then the tools that still make sense when the list grows.

We rank on: Speed of capture, Free plan for one person, Sharing with a small team, A path into real project tracking. See our methodology. This page contains affiliate links. Updated .

Our picks at a glance

  1. Todoist: best personal to-do list
  2. ClickUp: best when tasks become projects
  3. Trello: best visual task board
  4. Notion: best tasks next to notes

Comparison at a glance

Best Task Management Software compared
ToolOur pick forFree planPricingScore
Todoist logoTodoistBest personal to-do listYesFree, low-cost Pro and Business plans4.2 / 5
ClickUp logoClickUpEditor's ChoiceBest when tasks become projectsYesfrom $7 per user/month4.5 / 5
Trello logoTrelloBest visual task boardYesfrom $5 per user/month4.0 / 5
Notion logoNotionBest tasks next to notesYesfrom $10 per seat/month4.3 / 5

Detailed picks

Todoist logo

Todoist

Best personal to-do list

Try Todoist Free (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Fast capture, natural language dates, recurring tasks and apps on every major platform. The free Beginner plan includes 5 personal projects. It is not a project management platform. A fast, clean to-do list app for personal tasks and small team task sharing.

Best for
Individuals who want a fast, reliable to-do list across all devices
Pricing
Free, low-cost Pro and Business plans

Pros

  • Extremely fast to capture tasks
  • Clean design on every device
  • Useful free plan

Cons

  • Not built for complex projects
  • No built-in docs or time tracking
Read the full Todoist reviewTodoist profile
ClickUp logo

ClickUp

Best when tasks become projects

Try ClickUp Free (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Personal tasks, recurring tasks, docs and goals in one workspace. The free plan allows unlimited members. Unlimited adds native time tracking at $7 per user/month billed annually. All-in-one work management for tasks, docs, goals and team collaboration, with a generous free plan.

Best for
Teams and freelancers who want one configurable workspace for tasks, docs and reporting
Pricing
Free, paid from $7 per user/month

Pros

  • Very flexible: views, fields and statuses adapt to many workflows
  • Free plan is generous for individuals and small teams
  • Paid plans are priced competitively for the feature set

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve than simpler boards
  • The interface can feel busy until you simplify your setup
Read the full ClickUp reviewClickUp profile
Trello logo

Trello

Best visual task board

Try Trello Free (opens in a new tab)

Cards on a board, due dates and checklists, free for up to 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace. The easiest shared task list for a small group. Simple Kanban boards for organizing tasks and projects with minimal setup.

Best for
Individuals and small teams who want simple, visual Kanban task tracking
Pricing
Free, paid from $5 per user/month

Pros

  • Extremely easy to learn
  • Free plan is useful for personal and small projects
  • Low cost paid plans

Cons

  • Limited for complex projects and dependencies
  • Reporting and workload tools are basic
Read the full Trello reviewTrello profile
Notion logo

Notion

Best tasks next to notes

Try Notion Free (opens in a new tab)

A database can be your task list, sitting beside the notes and docs that explain the work. The free plan fits an individual. Team workspaces hit a limited block trial. Flexible workspace for notes, wikis, databases and lightweight project management.

Best for
Individuals and teams who want notes, docs and databases in one flexible workspace
Pricing
Free, paid from $10 per seat/month

Pros

  • Excellent for docs, wikis and knowledge management
  • Clean, approachable editor
  • Databases make custom trackers easy to build

Cons

  • Project management features are lighter than dedicated tools
  • Large workspaces can become hard to keep organized
Read the full Notion reviewNotion profile

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best task management software?

Todoist is the best personal to-do list. ClickUp is the best step up when tasks belong to projects and teammates. Trello is the best visual board.

What is the difference between task management and project management?

Task management tracks the next action. Project management also tracks owners, dates, dependencies and the plan those actions belong to.

Is there free task management software?

Yes. Todoist, ClickUp, Trello and Notion all have free plans. The limits differ: Todoist caps personal projects, Trello caps boards and collaborators, and Notion's free plan is aimed at individuals.