Discover the best project management tools for Mac to facilitate efficient task planning, streamline collaboration, and boost productivity.
Mac computers are the standard for some industries, and many professionals prefer using them for work—even when it’s not required. When project management software is optimized for macOS, workflows are smoother, and projects are more likely to stay on track.
Based on my own testing and research, I’ve put together this list of the best project management software for Mac users that highlights features, use cases, and pros and cons. You’ll also find information about my methodology for evaluating the software and tips on choosing the best project management software for Mac.
| Software | Gantt charts | Mobile app | Free version | Our star rating (out of 5) | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClickUp | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 12+), iPhone (iOS 12+), Apple Watch (watchOS 7.5+) | Yes | 5 | $7 per user, per month, billed annually |
| Smartsheet | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 15+), iPhone (iOS 15+) | Yes | 3.8 | $9 per user, per month, billed annually |
| monday.com | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 15+), iPhone (iOS 15+) | Yes | 5 | $9 per seat, per month, billed annually |
| Asana | Yes | iPad, iPhone (iOS 16+) | Yes | 3.9 | $10.99 per user, per month, billed annually |
| Wrike | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 16+), iPhone (iOS 16+) | Yes | 4.6 | $10 per user, per month |
| Jira | No | iPad (iPadOS 16+), iPhone (iOS 16+) | Yes | 4.6 | $7.91 per user, per month |
| Trello | Available through add-on | iPad (iPadOS 16+), iPhone (iOS 16+) | Yes | 4.5 | $5 per user, per month, billed annually |
| Teamwork | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 15+), iPhone (iOS 15+) | Yes | 3.7 | $9.99 per user, per month, billed annually |
| Hive | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 12.4+), iPhone (iOS 12.4+), Apple Watch (watchOS 4+) | Yes | 3.9 | $5 per user, per month, billed annually |
| Basecamp | No | iPad (iPadOS 14.5+), iPhone (iOS 14.5+) | Only for teachers and students | 3.1 | $15 per user, per month |
| Zoho Projects | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 12+), iPhone (iOS 12+) | Yes | 4.2 | $4 per user, per month, billed annually |
| Merlin Project | Yes | iPad (iPadOS 15+), iPhone (iOS 15+) | No | _ | $6.99 per month |
ClickUp is my pick for the best Mac project management software because it balances user-friendliness and functionality. It offers an all-in-one project management solution that includes file sharing, status alerts, task management, and additional functions to support you from project initiation to completion. It is also highly customizable and offers several automation tools for repetitive tasks.
In terms of mobile, ClickUp’s app is available in the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch and iPod touch, making project management accessible across Apple devices. It’s also more compatible than most other tools on this list, supporting devices as far back as iPadOS 12.0 for the iPad, iOS 12.0 for the iPhone and iPod touch, and watchOS 7.5 or later for the Apple Watch.
Visit ClickUp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 24/7 live support. | User reports indicate bugs and glitches. |
| Multiple views. | Learning curve to navigate interface. |
| Highly customizable. | Features can feel overwhelming to project management software newbies. |
With its affordable pricing, multiple project views, and comprehensive set of features, ClickUp was an easy pick for me. Most of its project views are available on its free plan, including Gantt. Since some of these views are typically available only in premium pricing tiers for other tools, it reiterates why ClickUp was worth my consideration.
If you prefer a more focused and less feature-dense environment, you may want to consider Basecamp as an alternative. ClickUp has lots of features and customization options that are undeniably powerful but can sometimes introduce a steep learning curve or potentially overwhelm teams that just need simple project management tools.
For more information, read the full ClickUp review.
Smartsheet is worth considering for data-driven insights that optimize workflows and decision-making processes. Smartsheet offers a variety of reporting features, including row reports, sheet summary reports, and customizable dashboards. Project managers can use these features to aggregate data from multiple projects to monitor key metrics such as budget, timelines, task completion, and resource allocation in real-time.
Smartsheet’s top features include extensive customization options, project visualization tools like Gantt software capabilities, resource management, and workflow automation. Smartsheet is available for iPhone and iPad, but it needs iOS 15.0 or later and iPadOS 15.0 or later.
Visit Smartsheet
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Familiar spreadsheet interface. | Several important tools are only available through add-ons. |
| Variety of project tracking tools. | Dependence on spreadsheets. |
| Highly customizable dashboards. | Limited mobile app. |
Smartsheet’s detailed reporting is what particularly caught my eye. It’s easy to create real-time reports and dashboards, which gives instant visibility into project progress. You can generate and customize reports and then share them across teams, making it easy for project managers to track key metrics such as budget and task completion without the need for manual updates. Additionally, it has a spreadsheet interface that’s great for working with large volumes of tabular data and offers a high level of dashboard customizability.
Smartsheet has vast customization and reporting options, which can easily overwhelm new users. If you prefer a tool that’s more focused on task management without the need for detailed reporting, you’re better off choosing a different tool from this list. Plus, if a spreadsheet-like interface isn’t your style, a different platform might better suit your needs.
For more information, read the full Smartsheet review.
monday.com offers incredible functionality, as it can be used for everything from project management to software development. Users can choose to view a high-level project overview or dig into more granular details of each task throughout the entire lifecycle of a project. In addition, monday.com has a clean and intuitive dashboard, making it easy to learn for beginners.
The monday.com app supports iOS 15.0 or later on iPhone, with version 5.8 being the last one to support monday on iOS 15. It requires iPadOS 15.0 or later for iPad use.
Visit monday.com
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ease of setup and use. | Limited reporting features. |
| Data visualization tools, including timeline view with dependencies. | Lack of advanced features in lower tiers. |
| Free trial that includes advanced features. | Steep learning curve for advanced features. |
monday.com is featured on this list because of its versatility and customization capabilities, making it suitable for users of all technical levels. Both the Free and Basic plans offer enough features to be both useful and affordable for startups and small businesses.
For Mac users who require specialized project management features, such as native budget tracking or advanced risk analysis tools integrated within the platform, you’re likely to be better off exploring alternatives that focus on these areas, such as Teamwork.
For more information, read the full monday.com review.
In addition to making my list of top project management software, Asana also offers a native desktop app for Mac users. With its feature-rich plans and impressive scalability, Asana is suitable for all types of businesses. Mac users can use it to create tasks, track project progress, collaborate with team members and clients and automate workflows.
Unlike the previous tools that required at least iOS 15.0, Asana’s mobile app for iPhone is compatible with iOS 16 or later, offering functionality across various features for both iPhone and iPad users.
Visit Asana
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly scalable. | UI is not as intuitive as other software. |
| Generous list of features. | Occasional lag when moving between data-extensive pages. |
| Powerful reporting and analytics. | Can be expensive for small businesses. |
Asana made it to my list because of how scalable it is. Its interface, features, and pricing make it a convenient choice for businesses of all sizes. I was also impressed with Asana’s reporting and analytics tools.
If you have projects that deal with lots of images and other graphics, Asana might not be the ideal choice, as its capabilities for handling visual content and markup tools are rather limited. Wrike is a better choice for visualizations.
For more information, read the full Asana review.
Wrike is a versatile project management solution that is available as a desktop app for both Mac and Windows. It is a cloud-based application, so it can be used on any device with internet access. One of the top features of Wrike is its visualization tools, including Gantt charts, waterfall schematics, and kanban boards. New users may need to take some time to get familiar with its user interface. Wrike is available for both iPad and iPhone but needs iPadOS 16.0 and iOS 16.0 or later.
Visit Wrike
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plan with unlimited users. | The mobile app needs improvement. |
| Excellent project visibility tools. | Steep learning curve. |
| Offline mode. | Many tools only available as add-on features. |
I shortlisted Wrike as one of the top project management software options for Mac users because of its outstanding team collaboration tools, quick data syncing capabilities, and variety of project views. Additionally, I found Wrike to be an ideal tool for complex projects due to its vast capabilities and extensive customization options.
If you value a minimalist and straightforward interface for quick task management without extensively customizing it, consider an alternative like Asana. Wrike’s extensive feature set and customization options can especially overwhelm users seeking simplicity in a project management tool.
For more information, read our full Wrike review.
Jira is well known for its project management capabilities for development teams, but it offers much more than that. It supports agile project management and has an extensive range of integrations available, including deep integration within the Atlassian ecosystem. You also get impressive workflow customization to match your specific project requirements.
Teams can create and edit issues and requests and manage project boards and backlogs straight from their iPads and iPhones, provided they’re running on iPadOS 16.0 and iOS 16.0 or later.
Visit Jira
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Outstanding issue-tracking capabilities. | Steep learning curve, especially for advanced tools. |
| Fast and responsive. | UI is not as intuitive as other competitors. |
| Deep integration with other Atlassian products. | Can be overkill for small, simple projects. |
Jira impressed me with its powerful issue-tracking capabilities, which software development teams and iterative project management teams are sure to appreciate. I also liked Jira’s agile project management capabilities and integration ecosystem with Atlassian products.
If you’re not involved in software development or prefer not to work within an agile framework, Jira may not be the right fit for you. Consider tools that are more accessible and take a visually straightforward approach to task and project management, minus the complexity of agile methodologies.
For more information, read the full Jira review.
Trello uses management boards, templates, roadmap features, and other tools to simplify project management. The kanban-style design of the main dashboard is visually appealing and easy to use. Users can quickly and simply cross-collaborate, assign tasks, view workflow, and share files.
Additionally, the mobile app and desktop interface offer extra flexibility. This kanban interface extends to mobile as it’s available on iPad and iPhone, though it’s compatible with iPadOS 16.0 and iOS 16.0 or later, respectively.
Visit Trello
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Plenty of functionality in the free version. | Reliance on kanban boards. |
| Drag-and-drop style interface. | No native time-tracking tool. |
| Unrivaled kanban boards. | The free plan only allows the upload of files of 10MB or less. |
The reason I chose Trello is simple—kanban boards. It has some of the best kanban boards, which any team that loves visual project management will relish. This kanban software approach makes Trello really easy to use. It also offers an outstanding and feature-rich free plan.
With its impressive kanban boards, Trello can feel like a bit of a one-trick pony. It doesn’t offer advanced project management features, such as time tracking, detailed reporting, or advanced resource management. For access to those types of features, consider using alternatives like Wrike that offer a broader set of tools for complex project planning and execution.
For more information, read our full Trello review.
Teamwork is often featured on the list of top project management software for Mac users as it offers a full range of project management tools. Some of the best features of Teamwork include workload management and time tracking, which help businesses streamline their project management processes.
Available in both desktop and mobile app versions, Teamwork can be used for collaboration, customer relationship management, knowledge sharing, and more. Its mobile versions need iOS 15.0 and iPadOS 15.0 or later.
Visit Teamwork
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Dedicated tools for workload management and time tracking. | Advanced features require extra training. |
| Variety of visualization tools for project data. | Interface feels a bit outdated. |
| Built-in apps and third-party tools. | Modifications take time to become visible. |
I picked Teamwork not only because of its comprehensive suite of features, including excellent workload management and time tracking but also because of how tailored it is for team communication and client-facing interactions.
If your Mac-based project management relies heavily on kanban methodologies with a need for sophisticated automation within those workflows, it’s unfortunate that Teamwork’s functionality in this area is limited. With such a restriction, you may want to find an alternative that’s better suited.
For more information, read our full Teamwork review.
Hive, launched in 2016, is a more recent entry into the project management software market. However, it offers competitive pricing and features, including data visualization tools, portfolio views, Gantt charts, kanban boards, and to-do lists. It also offers a native messaging app for team collaboration and a compact and simple interface.
With mobile, we’re looking at very compatible apps, as Hive for iPhone needs iOS 12.4 or later, iPad requires iPadOS 12.4 or later, iPod touch needs iOS 12.4 or later, and Apple Watch requires watchOS 4.0 or later.
Visit Hive
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Well-designed layout. | The mobile app version has significantly reduced functionality. |
| Plenty of add-ons and integrations. | Privacy controls need improvement. |
| Powerful analytics tools. | It has no low-tier plans. |
I picked Hive for its in-depth analytics and reporting and its ability to process large volumes of data. It’s also a powerful tool that manages to present a well-designed layout.
Should you need to create and manage dependent tasks within your projects, Hive is rather limited in this area, and it might be a dealbreaker for you. In such cases, you may find an alternative like Asana, with its robust task dependency features and more straightforward task management capabilities, to be more suitable.
For more information, read the full Hive review.
Basecamp is a widely used project management solution that works on both Windows and Mac. Basecamp provides a suite of team communication and collaboration tools, making it ideal for remote teams. These include features such as message boards, pings, automatic check-ins, and group chatting. You also get a variety of project views and client access controls.
The mobile app is available for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, with a requirement of iOS 14.5 or later for the iPad and iOS 14.5 or later for the latter two.
Visit Basecamp
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All-in-one platform for project management, team communication, and productivity. | The free account is only available for students and teachers. |
| Clean and intuitive interface. | An inclusive plan may not be suitable for small teams or freelancers. |
| The Pro Unlimited plan offers all features in one plan. | Not as extensive as some alternatives. |
With its extensive team communication and collaboration features, Basecamp is a top choice for remote Mac users. I particularly liked Basecamp’s unique UI, as I found it to really simplify project management. Plus, it has two straightforward paid pricing plans, which makes pricing very specific and ensures that each plan offers value.
If your project management needs on Mac include detailed time tracking or advanced project analytics, Basecamp’s lack of these features might prompt you to look elsewhere. Jira, known for its comprehensive time tracking and detailed reporting capabilities, could offer the functionality you need for more complex project requirements.
For more information, read the full Basecamp review.
Zoho Projects is an excellent option for small to midsize businesses, with features for task, time, resource, and issue tracking enhancing collaboration and raising productivity at an affordable price. It offers multiple views for projects, like list, Gantt, kanban, and more.
It also offers extensive integrations with other apps and tools in the Zoho ecosystem. Zoho Projects provides a mobile app for both iPhone and iPad, supporting iOS and iPadOS 12 or later.
Visit Zoho Projects
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective for small teams. | Some advanced features require higher-tier plans. |
| Comprehensive project management features. | Initial setup may require time to customize. |
| Compatible with older mobile operating systems. | It’s less advanced than many alternatives. |
For its price, Zoho Projects offered me the best bang for my buck. With its relatively low cost, it gives you channels for team collaboration and communication and unlimited projects. Plus, it’s also simple and straightforward to set up and use.
If you need more advanced features like in-depth resource management or enterprise-grade security, consider more specialized tools.
For more information, read the full Zoho Projects review.
Merlin Project is a project management application specifically crafted for Mac users who manage complex, large-scale projects. It’s highly functional with a user-friendly design that makes Mac users feel right at home, and it has a comprehensive toolset that covers every aspect of project management, from planning to completion.
Merlin Project’s mobile app is available for both iPad and iPhone, requiring iPadOS 15.0 or later and iOS 15.0 or later.
Visit Merlin Project
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-level project planning tools. | Complexity may be overwhelming for new users. |
| Extensive customization capabilities. | Higher price point compared to some alternatives. |
| Exclusive to Mac, iOS, and iPadOS. | Multiple licenses required for Mac and mobile. |
I chose Merlin Project not only because it can manage detailed and complex project structures but also because it’s the only tool on this list that’s truly built for Mac, iPadOS, and iOS. Its integration with workflows on this system feels much more intuitive.
If you prefer a simpler tool, has a lower learning curve, or is better suited for smaller projects, consider alternatives like Basecamp or Trello. Also, if you seek a tool with easier, more cost-effective licensing, consider any other tool on this list, as this tool offers separate subscriptions for the Mac and iPad versions. There are also robust open-source project management tools worth considering, should you prefer not to invest financially in a project management tool.
I evaluated project management software for Mac using a combination of hands-on testing, user ratings, and TechRepublic’s in-depth individual software reviews. During this process, I focused on the factors that most directly affect day-to-day project management, including each platform’s pricing structure, overall functionality, and user interface. I also considered how easy each tool was to navigate and whether its features were practical for teams that need to plan, organize, and monitor projects from a Mac.
In addition to general usability, I assessed each platform’s core project management features, including Gantt charts, time tracking, and kanban boards. These capabilities helped me compare how well each tool supports different project planning styles, from visual task management to timeline-based scheduling and time-based project tracking. The final selections reflect a combination of firsthand evaluation, available user feedback, and TechRepublic’s existing software review insights.
To make sure you get all of the benefits from Mac project management software, you should choose software based on the ideal use case for your business. There are some project management software solutions that won’t work on Mac computers, so you have a smaller pool to choose from.
Here are a few tips for choosing the right project management software for Mac.
Each project management tool has its pros and cons. However, before you dig deeper into the details of the software, you need to identify the challenges or problems you want the software to solve. For example, if you are working on multiple projects and are struggling to manage them, it could result from a lack of team collaboration, scheduling conflicts, going over budget, or other types of problems.
Once you have identified the challenges and criteria, the next step is to prioritize what is important for your needs. For example, data visualization could be more important to you than integration with other software.
Similarly, Mac users would want project management software that is fully compatible with the Apple ecosystem. After you have a list of priorities, you can create a list of the top software options. This will be a short list of the best project management software based on your needs.
To make an informed decision on which project management software is best, you need to do a test run of the software. Sign up for a free trial to get a feel for the software. Ideally, you want to test as many features as possible, so software with a full-feature free trial will have an advantage. In the test run, look at the software in depth, checking everything from the basic features to the extra options.
If you are investing in new project management software, it is worth the extra effort required to gather feedback from your team. After all, you want the software to facilitate your team, not bog them down. So, it is vital to get their feedback on the test run.
People who use Mac computers are often used to simple, streamlined user interfaces, so any software that feels slow or clunky may not be ideal for Mac users.
Microsoft Project is designed and optimized for the Windows operating system, so it cannot be used on macOS. There are a few indirect methods to use Microsoft Project on a Mac, but they require downloading certain files and programs, such as a parallel or virtual desktop application. This might be too technical for some users, so check out these Microsoft Project alternatives.
Most of the top project management software allow you to simultaneously use the software on Mac and Windows. This is generally achieved through the web portal feature, which just needs an internet connection. Even with the Mac desktop app, all the project information should be automatically synced, so you can access and work on a project from a different device that uses the Windows desktop app.
There is a wide range of project management software available for Mac. These include software for task management, agile project management, Gantt chart software, design project management, issue tracking and more. There are several project management software for Mac that offer options for cloud-based or on-premises implementation.
Yes, Mac is highly capable of handling project management tasks. With an intuitive interface paired with powerful performance, it’s well-suited for tools like ClickUp, Smartsheet, and monday.com that are optimized for macOS. Many of these tools have native Mac apps, meaning they offer seamless workflow management and enhanced user experience for Mac users.
The best tool is dependent on your use case as a Mac user, but ClickUp ranks highly as a project management solution for Mac users. It’s Mac-optimized and delivers a native desktop app that offers smooth navigation, multiple project views, and seamless multitasking across Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and Apple watches, allowing for project updates on the go.
Both ClickUp and monday.com are great task managers for Mac users. ClickUp stands out for its robust task management features, automation options, and real-time reporting, all of which work seamlessly within a native macOS app. On the other hand, monday.com offers a visually intuitive interface and is highly customizable. For more advanced reporting and collaboration, Asana is another great option for scalability and real-time task updates.
The most commonly used project management methodology is agile. It is widely adopted across various industries, especially in software development, due to its flexibility and iterative approach. Other popular methodologies include scrum, and waterfall. Scrum is a subset of agile that’s popular for breaking down projects into manageable sprints. Waterfall is often used for projects with more rigid timelines and structures.
However you should learn how to choose the right project management methodology for your use case to get maximum efficiency in your projects.
Professionals tend to favor Macs for their stability, security, and intuitive user experience, especially their seamless integration with devices in the Apple ecosystem. Macs integrate well with leading project management software such as ClickUp and Asana.
Collins Ayuya is pursuing his Master's in Computer Science and is passionate about technology. He loves sharing his experience in Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications, IT, and emerging technologies through his writing. He is passionate about startups, innovation, new technology, and developing new products as he is also a startup founder. Collins enjoys doing pencil and graphite art and is also a sportsman and gamer during his downtime.