Paid vs. Free Project Management Software: Considerations Before Switching
- Adilla
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Utilising free project management software is great and all, but not when you come across a paywall over a tool that you would like to use. So, is it actually worth it to purchase online tools for project management?
Table of Contents
Paid vs. Free Project Management Features
Picture this: you want everything centralised, whether it’s keeping track of your team’s tasks, document storage, feedback space or even a visual of your timeline. There’s only one problem: the software gives you all of this, but there’s a limitation.
Commonly, this is what you usually get from freeware and ‘paidware’.
Free | Paid |
Basic Task Management | Workload Management |
Collaboration Tools | Storage and Resource Limits |
Customisation | Advanced Automation |
Scalability Only for Small Teams | Extra Administrative Functions |
Limited Integrations | UI/UX for Complex Needs |
Reasons to Upgrade to Paid Management Software
What do you actually get for getting these ‘extra’ features in the first place?
Enhanced Security and Regular Updates
When the software is invested in, security and compliance are more likely to be better. Paid versions of certain software receive updates faster, including any bugs that come up. This ensures reliability and stability over time when using the app, like preventing crashes or loss of data from said crashes.
Provide Dedicated Customer Support
Paid users are more likely to receive faster support. This advantage can be quite predictable, yet some companies consider it essential, particularly when dealing with complex software that is central to their operations.
Implemented Bigger Storage and Scalability
To have centralised storage and a space where scalability is possible is good for the long run. Productivity would be better maximised when there’s more space and less time spent on trying to squeeze everyone into limited account software.
Cost vs Value: Is It Worth Upgrading to the Paid Version?
For startup companies, it may seem logical to rely solely on freeware. However, as the team grows, switching accounts and the limited use of free software could negatively impact the team's performance.
When you choose to invest in paid software, your Return on Investment (ROI) comes from how much time is saved and reduced stress among your team. This is possible through features like automation, streamlined workflows and centralised platforms. When everything is utilised through only one software, time and stress are likely reduced from needing to swap platforms or even referring to another software.
How About TESSR Pricing Plan?
While we do provide a forever-free plan, we highly suggest investing in our project management software, especially for creatives out there! Other than the fact that TESSR was made with creatives in mind, here are a few breakdowns of what you will get with us:
Features | Free | Simple | Pro |
Number of Projects | 1 | 15 | 100 |
Number of Teams | 1 | 100 | 100 |
Number of Templates | 1 | 100 | 100 |
Amount of Storage | 400MB | 5GB | 8GB |
Two-factor authentication | No | Yes | Yes |
If you would like to explore further and see how it fits with your projects and your team, reach out, and we’ll demo it for you!
What to Consider Before Choosing a Software
Before choosing and committing to certain project management software, consider these questions:
Are collaboration and communication a main part of your team’s creative process?
Does the software need a more visually based interface, or is that not essential for you?
Is there a long learning process when adopting this new software into your projects and teams?
Is mobile access important for your team?
How much integration would you need in the software?
Does a visualisation of the project timeline make it easier for your projects?
While there are many more questions to consider, these would be the essential points you can start with when choosing software.
Key Takeaways
Utilising project management software to its fullest potential through its paid version would benefit you in the long run.
While it is tempting to only use the free version of the software, consider how efficient and productive your team will be if everything is centralised and streamlined.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the other benefits of paid project management software?
Another benefit of investing in paid software is the feature of generating even more detailed reports and analytics. This can offer insight not only into the progress of the project performance but also identify areas that would need improvement, not just on the overall project but also on your team’s task progression.
Why is centralised project management software better than utilising multiple tools?
With a centralised space for everything, anything related to the project can prevent confusion and miscommunication. When data or information is noted down, you wouldn’t need to update it on other tools or platforms to streamline the information.
Would creatives be able to benefit from project management software?
When it comes to creative team tools, there are a few other features we would have to survey or what we would consider creative project management software. Our TESSR project management tool is created with creatives in mind, so if you’re in the creative industry and would like to utilise PM software but don’t know where to start, try us out!
Author Bio
With a background in Arts English, Adilla has been a casual writer for various hobbies, like parodies of animated shows and plots for board games. She loves to read anything and everything from fantasy stories to articles on tips and tricks. Now an advocate for mental health and effective project management for the creative industry. Currently, Adilla resides in Malaysia and is a creative writer at TESSR. To know more about her, check out her LinkedIn.
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