Enthusiasts know that Apple products are slick, quick, and easy-to-use machines. Apple device users–be it an iPhone, iPad, or iMac–have been described as cool and creative trendsetters.
Businesses aren’t any different. Many high-profile companies, like Facebook, Google, Cisco, and almost half of U.S. enterprise-level corporations have bought into Macs for their business.
So it makes sense that when companies are shopping for project management software, they’re specifically looking for project management software for Mac.
The Best Project Management Software for Mac
We'll also provide a brief overview of some of best project planning software for Macs as well as some of the best cloud-based project planning software that'll run on a Mac. So, whether you need simple project management software for the Mac or something more complex, you're bound to find it on this list. These are 4 best project management software for Mac which helps managers plan, implement and control every phase of the project management process. Numerous businesses rely on the software for managing a project to ascertain that all tasks are accomplished on time and to balance the workload of staff for ideal time management.
Find the best free project management software and save money! Looking for free project management software? Try these simple and easy-to-use tools. Find the best free project management software and save money! We raised $35M in our Series A to make the. What Is Mac Project Management Software? Is a Cloud-Based PM System Right for You? Common Mac PM Software Capabilities Key Considerations. What Is Mac Project Management Software? Native Mac products are designed to run on the Apple operating system, and provide a consistent user experience across Apple devices.
Googling Mac-specific project management software largely leads to lots of cloud-based options. While programs like Wrike, LiquidPlanner, and Teamwork are fantastic tools for Mac, many companies are looking for a locally installed option.
With that in mind, I dove into the top five project management software for Mac to help buyers figure out what options are available.
While evaluating these tools, I looked for traits that Mac users tend to look for–intuitive design, mid-end pricing, and the “coolness” factor found in Mac’s brand in the form of easy functionality.
These Mac project management software options are arranged alphabetically.
Daylite
If your small business is looking to find an all-in-one customer relationship management software and project management tool that’s designed for Apple products, check out Daylite. The software has almost 50 reviews on Capterra with a solid 4.5/5 rating, and users praising its “tight integration with Apple hardware and software.”
The UI should feel familiar to anyone who’s worked within Apple’s ecosystem—Daylite’s look and feel is similar to tools like iCal and Keynote and is similarly intuitive to use. Project managers can use Daylite to link all of their important project pieces together—from notes to tasks to emails to contacts. The result is a light project management software (or heavy task manager) ideal for client-focused small businesses.
Notable features
- All related activities can be grouped together into projects, which Daylite automatically tracks and logs.
- Customizable enough to create your own pipelines and approval processes for new projects.
- Works on iOS, so you’re not tethered to your MacBook or iMac to use the tool effectively.
Price: $29/user/month
(Used Daylite? Share your thoughts with a review!)
FastTrack Schedule 10.2
FastTrack Schedule 10.2 knows its user base. Its whole interface is intuitive–one reviewer from Macworld said it best:
[FastTrack Schedule 10] sports the familiar Mac look and feel with easy-to-identify icons for layouts, filters, sorting, and more— all with a text label that matches what you see in iPhoto, et al.
In other words, if you’re used to working with Mac software like Keynote or Safari, FastTrack Schedule 10 will be easy to pick up.
Notable features:
- New project managers can jump right in with the program’s 30+ templates, which rely on a simple drag-and-drop UI.
- Project managers can see who on their team is working on what part of the project and when they’re doing so. Project managers can use these features to make sure they don’t overload their team members.
- Want to see the big picture? FastTrack Schedule 10 has a “master schedule” where users can see how all projects line up. This feature is great for bigger companies who want to invest in enterprise project management software.
Price: $349
(Used FastTrack Schedule? Share your thoughts with a review!)
iTaskX3
One reviewer notes that iTaskX is ridiculously simple to use, saying that the software is, “easy to learn, has an intuitive interface, and it’s easy to work [sic] even when you have never touched itaskX before.”
iTaskX’s program is nicely laid out and simple to use. Its biggest claim to notoriety is that it fully integrates with Microsoft Project, the most popular project management software by a landslide. iTaskX lets users open Microsoft Project files and easily exchange information using XML and MPX files.
iTask is based around Waterfall project management–it runs off Gantt charts, tasks, and resources, and organizes all of these bits of information into simple graphics.
Notable features:
- iTaskX is robust enough to manage enterprise-level project management as it stays updated with everyone on the system.
- The project management software offers over 60 different calculators based off task fields, including slack time, cost accruals, and effort-driven scheduling.
- iTaskX also offers full customizability for layout and design. Project managers can adjust the aesthetics on all their projects, from custom fonts to custom layouts. And for those of us who are a little less creative, iTask comes with plenty of templates as well.
Price: $140
(Used iTaskX? Share your thoughts with a review!)
Merlin Project 4
I couldn’t write this review without taking note of one of the most popular project management software options for Mac: Merlin Project.
The first thing that jumps out about Merlin is how intuitive it is. Don’t get me wrong, Merlin may have the most features available on this list, but the developers are careful to present the system’s options in an intuitive layout.
Instead of a jumble of menus and folders, Merlin takes all of its features and displays them simply. TechRadar explains,
Everything happens in one big window that’s divided up into a main panel plus one or more smaller ones that change according to the aspect you’re currently working on.
There are four principal views for the main panel…. Gantt chart with critical paths displayed as bold lines, a network diagram using the Activity on Node format, a list of resources involved in the project, and a time-based display of resource utilisation[.]
The smaller panels are where you’d enter detailed information on selected tasks, resources and so on.
All of that is to say that Merlin makes project planning simple, even when the project manager is relying on a ton of tools to do so.
Notable features:
- Merlin can double as a document management system, as users can upload files straight to tasks.
- The system offers instant reporting, including the ability to create entirely custom reports.
- Gorgeous Gantt charts and simple-to-use interface.
Price: $349
(Used Merlin Project? Share your thoughts with a review!)
OmniPlan 3
Now this is a gorgeous project management software option for Mac.
OmniPlan is one of the most visually appealing project management applications out there, regardless of platform.
Simply drag and drop team members into tasks, set the task’s estimated time for completion, and voila! OmniPlan pumps out a beautiful Gantt chart.
Best Project Management Software For Mac
Need to adjust a task because you have team members who have limited availability or because one task took longer than expected? No problem. Again, just drag and drop, and the program will fix estimates for you.
Notable features:
- OmniPlan has incredible filtering options. Project managers can narrow down their task lists by date, resource, effort, priority, dependency claims, and more, so they don’t get overwhelmed by all the information presented in the master Gantt chart.
- OmniPlan also offers Violation Resolution, which means that if something doesn’t look right to the program’s estimates, the software flag the task for the project manager’s review.
- The system is entirely compatible with Microsoft Project.
Price: $149.99
(Used OmniPlan 3? Share your thoughts with a review!)
More?
There are lots of other great project management systems for Mac out there, including xPlan and AltiProject. My bet is that more will emerge as Apple takes over the market for business computers.
I’m interested in your thoughts on these project management software selections. Have you used any of them? Was there a software worth reviewing that I missed (review it on the main Capterra site too!)? Please jot down your thoughts in the comments below–I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Want more software recommendations? You may be interested in these articles:
Looking for Project Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Project Management software solutions.
Do
you need project management for your Mac? Finding the best project management
for your needs can be difficult. Although the most popular project management
software, Microsoft Project, is currently Windows-dependent, there are other
project management tools available that’ll work with your Mac.
In
this article you’ll learn what to look for in Mac project management software.
We’ll also provide a brief overview of some of best project planning software
for Macs as well as some of the best cloud-based project planning software
that’ll run on a Mac. So, whether you need simple project management software
for the Mac or something more complex, you’re bound to find it on this list.
What
to Look for in Mac Project Management Software
There
are lots of options, so choosing the right project management software can be
challenging. It’s important to make sure that it meets your needs. But project
management needs can vary depending on the size of your organization and your
budget as well as your project management methodology.
Below,
I’ve listed ten features many project managers look for. As you decide which
project management tool to use, you may find you need several (or all) of these
features:
- Gantt Chart. A Gantt chart is a bar chart traditionally
used in project management to illustrate and track a project schedule. Some of
the less traditional project management tools (Trello, for example) don’t offer
Gantt charts. - Work Break Down Structure. A work breakdown structure
allows your project into smaller, more manageable tasks. Those tasks can then
be scheduled and tracked separately. - Task Scheduling. Task scheduling lets you schedule the
smaller tasks that make up the project as a whole. Scheduling should include
start and finish dates as well as which resource the task is assigned to. - Task Tracking. Once a task has been assigned, it need to
be tracked. Tracking lets you know whether a task is progressing as planned. - Milestone Reporting. This high-level report shows managers and executives whether milestones are being met. .
- Collaboration Tools. Collaboration tools allow a team to
share efforts or thoughts on all or part of a project. Collaboration should
also foster good communication within the team. - Accounting tie-in. Budget plays an important role in project management, so
having project management software that integrates with your accounting
software can be a huge timesaver. - Notifications. Many project management tools
automatically send notifications to team members and project managers when a
project falls behind planned deadlines. This means the busy project manager
doesn’t have to send out individual reminders. - Ease of Use. By its very nature, project management software can be quite
complex. But if a software is easy to learn to use or if there are plenty of
training resources available, that can be a huge timesaver. - Help and Support. You depend on your project management software to manage your
projects. Project delays can be costly. So, if something goes wrong with your
software, you need to make sure that it’ll be corrected quickly and
efficiently. That’s why software support is especially important when choosing
a project management software tool.
Note: Different project
management tools handle these functions differently. If you’re not sure whether
a tool has one of these functions or how it handles a function, ask a
representative for that software program.
Buying
project management software is usually a significant investment, so it’s a good
idea to try it before you buy it. Many of the software project management tools
listed in this article offer a free trial version so that you can test the tool
to see whether it’ll work for your needs.
Best Project Management Software for Macs
The
project management software packages below meet one or more of the criteria for
a good project management software tool. Each of these tools also has a download designed specifically for the Mac. Here’s the list:
1. Merlin
Project 5
Merlin Project from ProjectWizards is professional project
management software. With it you can build a work breakdown, net plan, reports,
and more. Project Wizards also offer other project management tools such as
Merlin Project Go (an iPhone or iPad app that lets you use Merlin Project on
your iPad or iPhone) and Merlin Express (project management software for the
semi-professional user). Because you can access Merlin Project from the cloud,
collaboration is easy. It integrates with a lot of other popular tools,
including Apple Mail, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Outlook, Dropbox, and more.
2. Basecamp
Basecamp
keeps all project information in a centralized location, but it goes beyond
that. You can also use it to manage your business. If you’ve got a large team,
this is a good option to make sure everyone’s up to date. I’ve personally worked
on a project using Basecamp, so I’ve seen how well this can work. One of the
strengths of Basecamp is the ease of communication from within the tool—no
separate communication apps are needed. It also provides a secure way to
exchange project files.
3. OminiPlan
3
OmniPlan works on the Mac, iPad or iPhone. It includes many
features that you’d expect from a good project management software package.
Features include:
- Gantt chart view
- Real-time
collaborative features - Network
diagrams - Change
tracking - And
more
You
can also easily export files from and import files to Microsoft Project, which
can be a great timesaver if you’re migrating from that environment or if some
of your team works on it. Plus, OmniPlan was designed specifically for the Mac,
so it takes full advantage of Mac features.
4. iTaskX3
iTaskX
3 is compatible with a large number of other project management tools including
the ever-popular Microsoft Project as well as Excel, Word, Numbers, and more.
This software includes many of the same advanced tools as MS Project and other project
management software—tools
such as:
- Gantt
chart - Network
diagram - Task
sheet and task usage - Resource sheet and resource usage
- And More
iTaskX
3 support includes a help database including FAQ questions.
5. FastTrack Schedule 10.2
This
project management software for Macs lets you create a master schedule that
contains all of your projects, which is very helpful if your resources work on
more than one project. Here’s just some of what you can do:
- See
a graph of how each resource is being used. - Filter
for specific reports or change the timeline view. - Collaborate
with other team members (even those who work on a Windows platform). - Use how-to
videos to help you learn quickly.
FastTrack
Schedule also offers a wide variety of free and paid support services.
6. Project
Planning Pro
Best Project Management For Mac
This
project management app is available for the Mac, iOS, and Android platforms. It
lets you focus on managing your resources so your project runs smoothly. You
can also take advantage of the different project views such as the calendar
view, the Gantt view, the critical path view, and more, to see the information
you need quickly. The Project Planning
Pro website includes some instructional videos as well as a PDF version of the
user manual that you can download.
7. QuickPlan for Mac
QuickPlan
project management software for the Mac lets you use many keyboard shortcuts
(gestures for iOS devices) to save you time. The Outline panel shows task
properties in grid format. There’s also a Gantt chart to help you see and
maintain your project. The Today widget lets you quickly view what needs to be
done right away. You can also produce reports in several formats, including PDF
format and Microsoft Excel-compatible CSV format. QuickPlan also integrates with
a many other software tools such as MS Project, WBS, Excel, and more.
8. Daylite
Daylite
was made for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone–but also synchs to the cloud. Use it on
a wide variety of project types. It’s especially good at keeping a history of
project-related communications and tasks. Link resources to your project and
define roles. Not only does it include many project management features, the
additional features mean you can also use it as a CRM and lead management tool.
Daylite offers a large number of
tutorials as well has help through live chat or by email.
Best
Cloud-Based Mac Project Management Software
The
project management tools listed below are cloud-based. While they don’t
necessarily have a Mac version, they can be used on multiple platforms. Here’s
our list of cloud-based project management software for Macs:
1. Wrike
Like
most cloud-based project management tools, Wrike has great collaborative
features. You’ll also find the Gantt charts, workflows, status updates, and many
other project management features you need. Real-time reports let you to build
and instantly share reports. It also includes time-saving features like Dynamic
Request, which automatically assigns a request to the right team. Plus, your data is secure with enterprise
class security. Wrike offers different levels of project management solutions
based on your needs and the type of projects you manage.
2. Jira
This popular project management software tool is ideal for
Agile software development project management projects that require Scrum,
Kanban, and other Agile methods. Quickly get a project overview by viewing the
Scrum or Kanban boards. You can also easily create over a dozen Agile reports,
such as a Burnup chart, a Cumulative flow diagram, a Version report, and more. You
can also add compatible apps that increase Jira’s capabilities—choose
from over 3,000.
3. Trello
Trello is a cloud-based software management tool that lets you
organize your projects on boards. You can see at a glance what tasks are
completed and which remain to be done. You can use Trello to communicate with
team members and share files. I’ve personally used this tool, so I can
confidently say it’s easy to use. Because Trello is always synched no matter
what platform you’re working from, the information you see is always current.
4. Mavenlink
This
cloud-based project management tool lets you build project plans, create
assignments, and schedule resources quickly and efficiently. Its focus is on
the needs of service-based businesses and on meeting project needs at every
phase of a service project’s life cycle—build
a Gantt chart, schedule tasks, and track each project’s critical path. With the
Global Project List that shows all your projects you can even use Mavenlink
your business. Also, Mavenlink integrates with a huge number of other programs
such as SalesForce, Atlassian Jira, Google Drive, Intuit Quickbooks, and more.
5. ProWorkflow
With
ProWorkflow, you’ll find many helpful project management features such as:
- Workflows
with custom categories, views, and grouping - Resource
management so you can assign tasks and change deadlines quickly - Color-coded
Gantt style timeline - Collaboration
tools such as messaging and notifications - And
more
With the dashboard, you can quickly see a summary of your
current status as well as view completed or upcoming work. ProWorkflow also has
built-in messaging and resource management features.
6. Clarizen
Clarizen
is designed for collaboration. The cloud-based tool lets you control import
aspects of your project such as risk and request management, task management,
time tracking, and expense management. Create a schedule that lets you easily
track and update your project’s progress. Because Clarizen is cloud-based, you
benefit from having a centralized document repository where you can store your
files, presentations, and more. Learn how to use the tool quickly with Clarizen
Foundation Training On Demand videos.
7. NutCache
This
project management tool, designed specifically for agile teams, makes the most
of the cloud by providing you with centralized data. It’s great for:
- Project
management - Scrum
project management - Agile project management
- Time
tracking - Expense
management - And
more
Nutcache uses best-in-class security such as 256-bit SSL
encryption and physical security measures as well to prevent account theft and
keep your data secure. Plus, your data is backed up several times each day.
Choose
the Best Mac Project Management Software for Your Needs
Project
management needs vary. What’s right for your business might not be right for
another business. The key to choosing the right Mac project management software
is carefully taking your own needs into consideration.