Paying for project management software can feel like a necessary evil, especially when you are trying to stay organized. But what if I told you there is a powerful and completely free alternative that rivals the functionality of Trello and Asana? I’m talking about Plaky, a tool that has completely transformed how I manage my projects without adding another subscription to my credit card bill.

I've finally ditched paid platforms thanks to Plaky's surprisingly complete suite of features, which goes far beyond typical free tier limitations and annoying upgrade demands.

Rich templates collection

Don’t start a board from scratch

Unlike several new-age project management tools, Plaky has a decent template collection. These aren’t just a handful of generic layouts; they have really thought about the diverse needs of different teams and industries.

Instead of a massive, overwhelming list, Plaky neatly categorizes them. For someone like me, who sometimes juggles different types of projects, this was a huge time-saver. Whenever I need to plan a sales or market campaign, there is always a relevant template to get started. Even for more specific areas like HR (think onboarding or recruitment) and software development (sprint planning, bug tracking), they have dedicated templates ready to go.

Multiple view types

With Calendar view in progress

Beyond the fantastic templates, another aspect of Plaky that really clicked with me was its flexibility in how I could visualize my project data. For those times when I need a clear, structured overview of all my tasks and their details at a glance, the table view is perfect. It feels familiar, like a well-organized spreadsheet and lets me easily sort, filter, and compare information across different columns.

Then, there is the Kanban view, which has become the default for managing workflows. If you have used Trello before, you will find yourself right at home with it. The visual drag-and-drop interface makes it incredibly intuitive to track the progress of tasks as they move through different stages. There is also a Gantt view to provide a clear visual representation of the project schedule.

While these views are sufficient for my workflow, I would still like to see a calendar view in future updates.

Excellent project and task organization

Track every aspect of your project

Plaky offers spaces to manage your boards like a pro. You can think of a Space as a dedicated container for a specific area of work and life. For instance, I have a Freelance Client Projects Space, a separate Personal Side Hustle Space, and even a Home Renovation Space. Such an approach prevents projects from getting mixed up.

I can create multiple boards within each space. This is where the real magic happens for keeping things truly separate. So, within my Freelance Client Projects, I might have individual boards for each client – Reliance Project, Adani Website Redesign, Birla Solutions Marketing Strategy, and more. This way, all the tasks, files, and discussions related to a specific client are neatly contained within their own board.

Bunch of fields for your tasks

Fill in task details like a pro

Plaky offers several options for filling in the task card. It's not just a simple to-do item; it's a mini-hub of information and activity. For starters, the ability to add subtasks has been a lifesaver for breaking down larger, more complex tasks into manageable steps. Instead of just seeing Write a blog post, I can create subtasks like Outline topics, Research keywords, Draft introduction, Write body paragraphs, and Proofread.

I can also attach relevant files, insert comments, and even track the task activity.

Flawless collaboration

Invite your team members

Real-time collaboration is a crucial part of any project management software, and I’m glad to report that Plaky doesn’t disappoint here. It lets you create a shared workspace where everyone can stay informed, contribute effectively, and work together smoothly.

You can easily invite team members to specific Spaces and Boards. The process is straightforward, and once invited, everyone has a clear view of the project's progress, tasks, and relevant information.

A robust free plan

Should be good enough for the most

Like Plaky, most project management tools run on a freemium model. They often lock important features behind a paywall. However, that’s not the case with Plaky. The company offers unlimited spaces, boards, items, and views with the free plan. You also get six fields per board and 7-day activity, which is sufficient for my workflow.

Project management on budget

So, there you have it. My experience with Plaky proves that effective project management doesn’t have to break the bank. Offering core project management features for free makes it a compelling alternative to the costly subscriptions of Trello and Asana.

Of course, like any software, Plaky isn’t perfect. I believe Plaky could be even more powerful with the addition of board automation to streamline workflows and a dedicated dashboard offering a centralized view of important tasks. Notion is another capable tool to handle your complex projects. Here are the top reasons to use it over other tools.