Unlocking Collaboration: The Best DeskAway Alternatives for Seamless Project Management
DeskAway has long been a go-to online project collaboration software, lauded for its ease of use and features like automatic email reminders, reporting, and unlimited users across various plans. Positioned as a bridge between simple tools and complex, per-user project management suites, DeskAway caters to virtual, distributed, and global teams. However, as business needs evolve and new technologies emerge, many are seeking a DeskAway alternative that offers different functionalities, pricing models, or a more specialized approach. This article delves into top alternatives that can elevate your team's productivity and collaboration.
Top DeskAway Alternatives
Whether you're looking for advanced features, specific integrations, or a different pricing structure, these alternatives offer compelling solutions for project collaboration and task management.
Wrike
Wrike is an excellent DeskAway alternative, providing an end-to-end solution for project management, from initial request to progress tracking and reporting. Available on Web, Android, iPhone, and iPad as a Freemium SaaS platform, Wrike boasts powerful features like Gantt-charts, team collaboration, custom templates, dependencies, document sharing, real-time tracking, resource scheduling, and comprehensive task management.
Asana
Asana stands out as a robust work management platform that helps teams stay focused on goals, projects, and daily tasks. This Freemium SaaS solution, accessible via Web, Android, iPhone, and iPad, offers recurring tasks, dependency tracking, Kanban boards, team collaboration, calendar view, file sharing, Gmail integration, and a visual timeline, making it a strong contender for those needing flexible task management beyond DeskAway.
Redmine
For those seeking an open-source DeskAway alternative, Redmine is a highly flexible web application for project management. Built with Ruby on Rails, it's cross-platform and cross-database (supporting MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server). Key features include customizable options, a built-in file manager, employee time tracking, extensibility by plugins, Gantt-charts, an included wiki, multi-project management, and VCS integration.
Basecamp
Basecamp is a well-known web-based project collaboration tool that simplifies file sharing, deadline management, task assignment, and feedback centralization. Available as a Freemium SaaS on Mac, Windows, Web, Android, and iPhone, it offers content templates, Gantt-charts, iCal and Google Calendar integration, message boards, real-time collaboration, task management, and visual organization – a solid choice for teams looking for a comprehensive collaboration suite.
Wrike
Wrike, again, is a standout DeskAway alternative for its comprehensive project management capabilities. This Freemium SaaS platform, available on Web, Android, iPhone, and iPad, excels in taking projects from request to reporting. Its features, including Gantt-charts, team collaboration, custom templates, dependencies, document sharing, online and real-time collaboration, resource scheduling, and task management, make it a versatile option for diverse team needs.
Zoho
Zoho offers an all-in-one online office suite geared towards businesses, focusing on productivity and real-time collaboration. As a Commercial SaaS product on the Web, Zoho provides a wide array of features including CRM, encrypted email, an open API, spreadsheets, and wiki capabilities, making it a powerful alternative for businesses seeking an integrated solution beyond basic project management.
GanttProject
For those prioritizing project scheduling and management with Gantt charts, GanttProject is a free, open-source, cross-platform desktop tool. Running on Windows, Linux, and MacOSX, it's an excellent DeskAway alternative focused on core project planning, offering accurate and user-friendly Gantt-charts with custom columns and dependencies.
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a leading commercial project management solution for scheduling, task and budget management, and workload analysis. Available on Windows and Web, it’s a robust DeskAway alternative, providing advanced features like resource monitoring, Gantt-charts, project analysis, dependencies, real-time collaboration, resource scheduling, and strong team collaboration tools.
fluxday
fluxday is a free, open-source task and productivity management tool engineered for startups based on OKR (Objectives and Key Results) concepts. Available on Web and Self-Hosted, it provides focused task management capabilities, making it an ideal DeskAway alternative for teams looking for a lightweight, OKR-driven approach to productivity.
Freedcamp
Freedcamp is a work collaboration platform with a strong emphasis on project management. This Freemium solution, available on Mac, Windows, Web, Android, and iPhone, offers Gantt-charts, Kanban boards, real-time collaboration, remote work support, task management, and to-do lists, positioning it as a versatile DeskAway alternative for various team sizes and needs.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a web-based project management, task management, and work collaboration software that offers the power of a platform within a simple interface. As a Commercial solution on Web, iPhone, and iPad, it provides collaborative project management, export/import from Google Spreadsheets, Gantt-charts, integrated file sharing, real-time collaboration, and robust team collaboration, making it a powerful and flexible DeskAway alternative.
Choosing the best DeskAway alternative depends entirely on your specific project management needs, team size, budget, and desired feature set. Explore these options, considering their platforms, open-source availability, and key features, to find the perfect fit for your collaborative endeavors.