Effective project planning is the foundation of successful client delivery for professional services firms; however, selecting project management software can be challenging. Whether managing engineering projects, consulting timelines, or accounting deliverables, teams need the right platform to visualize progress, assign tasks, and keep everything on schedule. In this guide, we compare the best project planning software of 2025, focusing on tools that streamline workflows, improve collaboration, and ensure resources are aligned with your strategic goals.
What Is Project Planning Software?
Project planning software helps professional services firms structure their workflows, manage project schedules, and monitor milestones in real time. These tools centralize project data, giving project managers and operations leads a single view of task assignments, resource availability, budget forecasts, and team progress.
With the right project management software solution, your team can track projects more effectively, manage tasks across departments, and deliver better outcomes for clients.
Key Features in Leading Project Planning Software
Choosing the right project management platform means knowing which features support your team’s unique needs. Here are the most important project planning features to look for when looking for the best project management tools:
Timeline and Gantt Chart Views for People and Projects
Gantt charts and timeline views help project managers visualize dependencies, track project phases, and adjust schedules as needed. These views offer an at-a-glance look at who’s working on what and when.
Task Assignment and Progress Tracking
Assign tasks to individuals or groups and track progress in real time. This keeps all team members informed and accountable, ensuring projects stay on track.
Resource Availability and Allocation
Smart resource management tools enable firms to assign work based on employee availability, skill sets, and utilization goals, thereby optimizing resource allocation and preventing burnout.
Workflow Automation
Automate repetitive tasks, approvals, and project status updates. Workflow automation ensures consistency, saves time, and lets project managers focus on higher-value strategic planning.
Budget Planning and Forecasting
The best software for project planning includes tools for tracking project costs, forecasting resource usage, and managing budgets. These features are essential for professional services firms managing multiple clients and deadlines.
Real-Time Collaboration Features
Built-in collaboration tools, such as notifications and project updates, help teams stay aligned. Real-time collaboration enhances transparency and facilitates faster decision-making across departments.
Best Project Planning Software for 2025 Reviewed
With countless tools on the market, selecting the right project management software can be overwhelming. We’ve narrowed it down to the most popular project planning platforms used by professional services teams, starting with a solution purpose-built for the unique needs of consulting, accounting, IT, and engineering firms.
BigTime
BigTime is a project management platform designed for professional services firms that need structured planning, accurate resource forecasting, and visibility across multiple projects. It blends dynamic Gantt views, time and expense syncing, and CRM integrations into a single project planning solution. With BigTime, teams can plan projects with precision, adjust workloads on the fly, and keep client delivery on schedule.
Why BigTime Project Planning Software Stands Out
Unlike other popular project management software, BigTime delivers advanced project management features and portfolio management capabilities that are purpose-built to help professional services firms manage complex projects with greater visibility and control.
Plan Project Timelines Using Dynamic Task and Phase Tracking
BigTime enables managers to break down large projects into trackable phases and milestones, complete with customizable project timelines.
Allocate Resources Based on Availability and Utilization Targets
Real-time resource management ensures teams are deployed efficiently and no one is over- or underutilized.
An example of resource planning in BigTime
Use Gantt-Style Views to Monitor Milestones and Dependencies
Visual planning dashboards allow project managers to anticipate roadblocks and proactively manage project risk.
Sync Time and Expense Data for More Accurate Forecasting
BigTime connects time tracking, budgeting, and expenses for a clearer picture of project performance and profitability.
Customize Workflows to Match Team Needs and Client Expectations
Tailor approval flows, notifications, and project dependencies to align with internal and external requirements.
Centralize Planning With Integrations to CRM, Finance, and PM Tools
Built-in integrations streamline operations by connecting BigTime with the rest of your firm’s software ecosystem.
Summary
Unlike many other project management software solutions, BigTime unifies project planning, resource scheduling, and performance tracking in one platform. Its advanced features, including Gantt views, utilization-based resourcing, and CRM integration, make it a top choice for firms managing multiple clients and complex timelines. With BigTime, you don’t just manage projects; you drive outcomes.
Hive
Overview
Hive is a team collaboration and project planning app that emphasizes flexible layouts and real-time messaging. It’s designed for cross-functional teams that need to collaborate in shared workspaces.
Key Features
- Multiple view options such as Kanban, Gantt, and calendar.
- Built-in messaging keeps communication centralized.
- Time tracking and automation features available with add-ons.
Summary
Hive is a suitable project management software for teams that prioritize collaboration and effective communication. However, smaller teams may find the number of features and configuration options overwhelming.
Asana
Overview
Asana is a task management tool that features visual boards and checklist-style workflows, making it suitable for fast-moving teams. It’s known for its user-friendly design and simple setup.
Key Features
- Task creation and assignment enable fast planning.
- Visual boards and timelines help track project progress.
- Limited forecasting tools compared to other project planning software.
Summary
Asana is great for day-to-day task tracking and short-term planning, but it lacks deeper forecasting and budget management capabilities. It’s best for task-focused teams that need quick visibility.
Monday.com
Overview
Monday.com is a visual project management platform that enables easy workflow customization through drag-and-drop boards. It supports multiple views and automation rules.
Key Features
- Customizable boards and templates to match project types.
- Automations to reduce repetitive tasks.
- Can feel overloaded with options for new users.
Summary
Monday.com is one of the most popular project management tools for visual teams, but it may be too feature-rich for small firms seeking simplicity. It’s a good tool for teams that need flexibility over structure.
ClickUp
Overview
ClickUp offers an all-in-one workspace combining project management, time tracking, docs, and collaboration tools. It’s known for its depth and flexibility.
Key Features
- Highly customizable dashboards and fields for managing projects.
- Gantt charts, time tracking, and goal setting are built-in.
- Steep learning curve due to its complexity.
Summary
ClickUp is powerful, especially for software development teams or large firms managing complex projects. However, it requires significant onboarding and configuration.
Smartsheet
Overview
Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-based project management tool that resembles Excel but with added task tracking and automation features. It’s popular among financial and data-driven teams.
Key Features
- Spreadsheet interface with conditional formatting and formulas.
- Gantt charts and templates available for various industries.
- Not always intuitive for creative or non-technical users.
Summary
Smartsheet is suitable for teams that love spreadsheets and need to manage projects in a familiar environment. It’s less suitable for teams seeking highly visual or intuitive project planning software.
Accelo
Overview
Accelo combines client relationship management with project planning and billing, making it good for client-service firms. It’s designed for services like IT, consulting, and accounting.
Key Features
- CRM + project planning in one platform.
- Time tracking and invoicing built in.
- Limited customization in views and workflows.
Summary
Accelo is a solid project planning tool for client-centric firms, especially those needing integrated CRM and billing. However, it may not offer the flexibility or advanced project planning features some firms require.
Scoro
Overview
Scoro is a comprehensive business management platform with modules for project planning, time tracking, billing, and reporting. It targets professional services firms that require end-to-end control.
Key Features
- Planning + billing integration supports seamless workflows.
- Budgeting and project templates simplify setup.
- Higher cost than most tools in this category.
Summary
Scoro offers powerful project and financial management features in a single suite, but it comes at a premium. It’s best suited for larger firms that need an all-in-one project management solution.
Discover How BigTime Can Simplify Your Project Planning
BigTime is more than just a project management app; it’s a strategic planning platform for professional services teams. With Gantt chart views, resource allocation dashboards, and CRM/finance integrations, BigTime helps you streamline project delivery from planning through execution.
Whether you’re managing multiple projects, optimizing resource availability, or forecasting future project costs, choose project management software that does everything you need it to do in one cohesive platform. BigTime gives you all the tools to track progress, reduce risk, and exceed client expectations.
Plan better. Execute smarter. Deliver consistently. Start your free trial today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best project planning software for professional services?
BigTime is considered one of the best project planning software options for professional services firms due to its built-in resource planning, budget forecasting, and advanced task management features.
Can I build Gantt charts in BigTime?
Yes, BigTime includes dynamic Gantt-style views that help visualize project timelines, dependencies, and task progress across multiple projects.
How does BigTime support resource management in project planning?
BigTime offers resource allocation tools based on real-time availability and utilization targets, ensuring efficient use of your team’s capacity across concurrent projects.
What industries benefit most from project planning tools?
Consulting, accounting, IT services, engineering, and architecture firms all benefit from project planning software to manage client work, timelines, and team collaboration effectively.
Can I integrate BigTime with finance and CRM tools?
Yes, BigTime integrates with popular finance and CRM platforms to centralize planning, billing, and communication, reducing duplicate work and improving project visibility.
What types of reports does BigTime offer?
BigTime offers customizable reports on project performance, budget tracking, time entries, resource utilization, and client billing, enabling users to stay informed and data-driven.
How customizable is BigTime’s project planning?
BigTime allows firms to tailor workflows, task stages, approval processes, and views to fit their unique planning and client delivery needs.
Is BigTime good for multi-project firms?
Absolutely. BigTime is built to help teams manage multiple projects simultaneously with clarity on resource use, task dependencies, and project milestones.
What’s the difference between project planning and project tracking?
Project planning involves defining tasks, setting schedules, and allocating resources, while project tracking monitors progress and performance to ensure effective project management. BigTime supports both by unifying planning and tracking in one platform.
How does BigTime compare to other popular project management apps and existing tools?
BigTime stands out from other popular project management apps by offering specialized project management features tailored for professional services firms. Unlike existing tools that may focus solely on collaboration or task tracking, BigTime combines time tracking, project planning, resource allocation, and billing in one unified platform. Its seamless integration capabilities, customizable workflows, and reporting tools make it ideal for firms managing a full project portfolio across departments and clients.
Can BigTime help my team automate routine tasks and manage projects more effectively?
Yes, BigTime includes workflow automation and task management features that simplify project coordination and reduce administrative overhead. As a leading task management software solution, it helps teams manage their own projects while improving visibility across the entire team’s workflow. With support for unlimited users, real-time team collaboration tools, and project tracking dashboards, BigTime helps firms complete projects on time, streamline communication, and improve project outcomes through better task execution and planning.
