# 31 Best Project Management Software for Consultants for 2026

## The Client Portal Built for Consultants
Assembly gives you tasks, files, contracts, and billing in one place. Try it for free!

4.9 rating  
[Try for free](https://dashboard.assembly.com/signup)

## 31 Best Project Management Software for Consultants: At a Glance
Your consulting work determines which features you need. If you bill hourly, time tracking is critical. If you manage long-term clients, portal access helps. And if you juggle many projects, separation matters.

**Here are 31 tools for every purpose, compared side by side:**

| Tool | Best for | Starting price (billed annually) | Key strengths |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Assembly](/content/site-root.html)** | Branded client portals tied to delivery | [$39/month](/content/pricing/index.html) | Branded client portal with project records, internal notes, messaging, contracts, and invoicing, plus an [AI assistant](/content/blog/assembly-assistant-beta/index.html) for meeting prep |
| **[monday.com](https://monday.com/)** | Visual tracking across client projects | [$12/user/month](https://monday.com/pricing), minimum of 3 seats | Board views that show project progress, team workload, and timeline shifts |
| **[ClickUp](https://clickup.com/)** | Detailed project control | [$7/user/month](https://clickup.com/pricing) | Deep task customization with multiple views and custom field options |
| **[Asana](https://asana.com/)** | Structured workflows with templates | [$10.99/user/month](https://asana.com/pricing) | Timeline views that map task relationships and repeatable project flows |
| **[Notion](https://www.notion.com/)** | Flexible client workspaces | [$10/user/month](https://www.notion.com/pricing) | Combined workspace for project docs, databases, and scheduling |
| **[Smartsheet](https://www.smartsheet.com/)** | Spreadsheet-based project management | [$9/user/month](https://www.smartsheet.com/pricing) | Grid interface with timeline charts and project dashboards |
| **[Teamwork.com](https://www.teamwork.com/)** | Multiple simultaneous client projects | [$10.99/user/month](https://www.teamwork.com/pricing/) | Separate project spaces with time logs and client permissions |
| **[Wrike](https://www.wrike.com/)** | Structured intake and approvals | [$10/user/month](https://www.wrike.com/price/) | Request forms that route work and markup tools for reviews |
| **[Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/)** | Simple project communication | [$15/user/month](https://basecamp.com/pricing), billed monthly | Single workspace for tasks, files, and team messages |
| **[Accelo](https://www.accelo.com/)** | CRM connected to project delivery | [Custom pricing](https://www.accelo.com/how-to-buy) | Client lifecycle tracking from first contact through billing |
| **[Trello](https://trello.com/)** | Simple board-based tracking | [$5/user/month](https://trello.com/pricing) | Card-based boards for basic project stages |
| **[Airtable](https://www.airtable.com/)** | Custom project databases | [$20/user/month](https://www.airtable.com/pricing) | Database structure with linked records and filtered views |
| **[Scoro](https://www.scoro.com/)** | Project budgets and revenue tracking | [$19.90/user/month](https://www.scoro.com/pricing/) | Financial reporting tied to project delivery |
| **[Productive](https://productive.io/)** | Profitability and capacity management | [$9/user/month](https://productive.io/pricing/), minimum of 3 users | Reports that show project margins and team utilization |
| **[Forecast](https://www.forecast.app/)** | Resource forecasting and budgets | [Custom pricing](https://www.forecast.app/pricing) | Predictive scheduling and budget tracking |
| **[Kantata](https://www.kantata.com/)** | Enterprise-level PSA needs | [Custom pricing](https://www.kantata.com/pricing) | Advanced resource planning and financial controls |
| **[Zoho Projects](https://www.zoho.com/projects/)** | Low-cost structured planning | [$4/user/month](https://www.zoho.com/projects/zohoprojects-pricing.html) | Task lists with dependencies and hour logging |
| **[Nifty](https://niftypm.com/)** | Remote teams needing one hub | [$7/user/month](https://niftypm.com/pricing) | Tasks, chat, and documents in one interface |
| **[Hive](https://hive.com/)** | Deliverable reviews and time tracking | [$5/user/month](https://hive.com/pricing/) | Markup tools and hour logs in project views |
| **[SmartSuite](https://www.smartsuite.com/)** | Custom workflow design | [$12/user/month](https://www.smartsuite.com/pricing) | Database builder with automation capabilities |
| **[Float](https://www.float.com/)** | Workload planning across projects | [$7/scheduled person/month](https://www.float.com/pricing) | Resource calendar showing team capacity |
| **[Bonsai](https://www.hellobonsai.com/)** | Freelance consultant operations | [$9/user/month](https://www.hellobonsai.com/pricing) | Projects bundled with contracts and invoices |
| **[ProWorkflow](https://www.proworkflow.com/)** | Time and cost tracking | [$18/user/month](https://proworkflow.com/pricing/), billed monthly | Hour logs linked to project budgets |
| **[FunctionFox](https://functionfox.com/)** | Small team time tracking | [$10.50/user/month](https://functionfox.com/pricing/) | Basic time sheets and job costing |
| **[Quickbase](https://www.quickbase.com/)** | Custom workflow building | [$35/user/month](https://www.quickbase.com/plans-and-pricing) | Low-code platform for process automation |
| **[Miro](https://miro.com/)** | Visual project planning | [$8/user/month](https://miro.com/pricing/), billed monthly | Digital whiteboard for mapping workflows |
| **[Kintone](https://www.kintone.com/)** | Custom database creation | [$24/user/month](https://www.kintone.com/en-us/pricing/), minimum of 5 users | Quick database setup with workflow triggers |
| **[Planview AdaptiveWork](https://www.planview.com/products-solutions/products/adaptivework/)** | Enterprise portfolio management | [Custom pricing](https://info.planview.com/Copilot-AdaptiveWork-demo-_demo-on-demand_prm_en_reg.html) | Large-scale resource and portfolio planning |
| **[Adobe Workfront](https://business.adobe.com/products/workfront/main.html)** | Enterprise workflow management | [Custom pricing](https://business.adobe.com/products/workfront/pricing.html) | Complex project workflows with marketing tools |
| **[Deltek](https://www.deltek.com/)** | Professional services firms needing ERP | [Custom pricing](https://www.deltek.com/en/about/contact-us) | Enterprise resource planning (ERP) for project accounting, compliance, and delivery |
| **[BigTime](https://www.bigtime.net/)** | Hourly billing and time tracking | [$20/user/month](https://www.bigtime.net/pricing/), billed monthly | Time capture connected to invoicing |

## Key Features of Assembly
- **Client records:** Store project notes, tasks, files, and payment history in one place.
- **Branded client portal:** Share updates, deliverables, and invoices through a professional client space.
- **Contracts and payments:** Send agreements, collect signatures, and receive payments inside the workspace.
- **AI Assistant:** Get summaries of recent communication and documents for faster meeting prep.
- [**App Store**](/content/apps/index.html) **:** Expand functionality through our apps or commission custom builds for specific consulting workflows.

## Frequently Asked Questions
### Do consultants need different project management software than agencies?
Yes, **consultants need software that handles client relationships and billing alongside task tracking**. Agencies focus on campaign execution, while consultants track billable hours and need clear separation between client engagements. Software built for consulting should support time logging, budget tracking, and client-facing features.

### Can project management software handle consulting contracts and invoicing?
Yes, platforms like **Assembly, Accelo, and Bonsai include contract management and invoicing** features that let you send agreements, collect signatures, and bill clients within the same workspace. Task-focused tools like Asana or Trello require separate billing tools or accounting software integrations to handle invoicing.

### What's the difference between project management software and client portal software?
**Project management software** tracks internal tasks, while **client portal software** creates a branded space where clients view updates, approve deliverables, and handle billing.