Comparison

Top 12 Flow Task Management Software Alternatives

November 22, 2023

Flow task management software has gained popularity for its seamless user experience and robust features. However, needs and priorities are always evolving, so exploring different options to find the best fit for your needs is always part of the process.

In this article, we present the top 12 best Flow alternatives in the market now worth considering to help you decide. This comprehensive list will help you discover the perfect match to automate workflows, improve processes, collaborate effortlessly, and achieve exceptional project results.

Why should I look for a Flow alternative?

Flow project management software is designed to help teams organize, easily track project progress, and collaborate better on project and individual tasks. The range of features is useful for improving productivity, managing deadlines, and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently.

But Flow is mostly a task management tool, and managing tasks is just one aspect of project management. For teams looking for a solution to support all phases of a project, then Flow isn’t the right fit.

The tool offers you the option to integrate apps to give you the full project management experience though, but that comes with added costs since you’ll be paying a number of different subscriptions.

Let’s look at the top 2 reasons that drove users to search through Flow alternatives.

There is such a thing as too many features

Having too many features for task management can be a double-edged sword. While there may be value in having a wide range of functionalities, some might feel overwhelmed and burdened by the complexity and the multiple steps.

According to this user reviewing the software on Capterra: “The fact that there are so many features and options can be a bit confusing.”

And if you need to integrate with other solutions, that could get even more complex, which leads us to the next reason.

Lacks intuitive UI

Flow can be difficult to navigate which can result in a steep learning curve, costing you more onboarding time while scaling your team.

Some users have reported that Flow's navigation can be confusing, especially for those new to task management software. The placement of certain options or features might not be where users naturally expect them to be, making it difficult for them to find what they need quickly.

According to this G2 review, it can take quite some clicks in the beginning:

“The biggest issue with Flow is that, before you become accustomed to its interface, you may be clicking on various windows and boxes without knowing which part of the application you are interacting with. In addition, the notifications and comment system, while responsive, at times can be tricky to read and understand exactly which tasks are currently needing to be done.”

12 Flow alternatives to consider

After addressing the concerns related to Flow task management, let's venture into the best alternatives available today.

1. Rodeo Drive

Among all alternatives, Rodeo Drive is the top one for those in search of an all-in-one project management solution beyond just task management. The tool presents an extensive array of features, covering the entire lifecycle of projects while empowering teams to manage resources and optimize workflows efficiently.

Compared to other tools, the platform offers a thoughtfully curated set of functionalities that foster collaboration, streamline processes, and promote project profitability.

Let’s zoom in on Rodeo Drive’s features.

Intuitive design

With its intuitive interface and user-friendly design, Rodeo Drive ensures faster onboarding and adoption by all team members without extensive training or technical expertise.

Rodeo Drive projects page overview

^{Rodeo Drive’s projects page with upcoming, current, and past projects}

By consolidating essential project management functionalities — such as budgeting, invoicing, and reporting — Rodeo Drive minimizes the learning curve and empowers teams to concentrate on their core strengths: crafting exceptional work.

Aim for the best profit margin

Because Rodeo Drive was originally developed to meet the demands of creative agencies, the software puts a great emphasis on the financial aspect of projects. This means the first step when creating a project in Rodeo Drive is to create a budget.

Image building a project budget in Rodeo Drive'

^{Building a budget in Rodeo Drive}

The budgeting feature in Rodeo Drive gives you complete control over project finances to better estimate and manage the overall project costs. This functionality enables project managers to set realistic expectations and make necessary adjustments to each project phase, facilitating effective budget management and eliminating unexpected surprises.

Time tracking that’s connected to your budget

Another contributing factor to project profitability is making sure billable hours are accurately accounted for. Rodeo Drive's native time tracking feature caters to your preferred workflow. You can choose between starting the timer before commencing a task or recording your time after its completion.

Rodeo Drive's time page

^{Rodeo Drive’s Time page, which provides an overview of your weekly logged hours}

The convenience doesn't end there — Rodeo Drive takes it a step further by automatically updating your project budget in real time as time is logged.

Stay informed with detailed reporting

Am I charging enough for each project? Are my project management process and workflows helping me stay profitable? These questions can be hard to answer if you don't have the right tool to help you gather feedback and assess the financial health of projects.

Rodeo Drive project reports

^{Rodeo Drive’s productivity report, which shows how your team allocated their hours}

Rodeo Drive's reporting feature facilitates continuous business learning while also offering a convenient overview of your ongoing projects — through historical data and in real time.

Rodeo Drive’s additional features

Create and send client-ready invoices and estimates: Rodeo Drive utilizes logged hours data to generate invoices automatically, eliminating the need for manual calculations.
Quickbooks (US) and Xero (UK) integration: To assist you with your bookkeeping needs.
Contact management: Helps to keep all your client and vendor information in one place.

Rodeo Drive’s weaknesses

Rodeo Drive doesn’t offer a mobile app yet, but this is on our roadmap for the future.

Rodeo Drive pricing

To fit companies of all sizes and budgets, Rodeo Drive's pricing model is very straightforward:

Free: Up to 10 users, 3 active projects, in-app time tracking, project budgeting
Achiever: $14.99 a user/per month for unlimited projects and team size, free guest access, live chat support

Get started for free with Rodeo Drive today. No credit card needed.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork's tasks board

^{Source: Teamwork}

Teamwork offers an abundance of collaboration-enhancing features, time-saving capabilities, and process automation tools. The app seamlessly integrates with popular tools such as Trello and Slack, elevating team performance.

Aside from offering more end-to-end project management, another advantage over Flow is that Teamwork also makes client communication a smooth experience by offering the ability to share documents for proofing.

Teamwork’s popular features

Time tracking
Project budgeting
File sharing

Teamwork's weaknesses

Teamwork often faces criticism for its budget tracking and reporting functionalities, which are considered subpar by some users.
Additionally, the learning curve can be quite steep.

Teamwork pricing

Free forever plan: $0 for up to 5 users
Starter plan: $8.99 per user/month (3 user minimum)
Deliver plan: $13.99 per user/month (3 user minimum)
Grow plan: $25.99 per user/month (5 user minimum)

3. Basecamp

Basecamp's dashboard

^{Source: Basecamp}

Among Flow’s best alternatives is Basecamp, a project management tool that has earned its reputation for fostering efficient team connectivity through its easy document-sharing process for enhanced collaboration. It's also very easy to create a project.

The platform takes the lead as the go-to simplified project management solution. It provides essential features like to-do lists and message boards, with the ability to collaborate and share documents and files with clients through a client portal.

Also read: Top Basecamp Alternatives [Free & Paid]

Basecamp’s popular features

To-do lists
Direct messaging
Docs and files

Basecamp's weaknesses

Small to medium-sized teams might be discouraged by the flat-fee pricing tiers.
The platform's single project view may not be suitable for managing complex or multifaceted projects that demand more comprehensive project management capabilities.

Basecamp pricing

Individual plan: $15 per user/month
Pro unlimited plan: $349 per month for unlimited users

4. Paymo

Paymo's task view

^{Source: Paymo}

Paymo serves as a comprehensive project management platform, with features ample to assist teams from project planning to time tracking and the financial handling of it all.

What sets Paymo apart is its user-friendly interface and well-organized structure, providing an easy-to-navigate platform. Users have praised the highly responsive and helpful customer support provided by the Paymo team compared to other competitors, adding to the platform's appeal and overall user satisfaction.

Paymo’s popular features

Time tracking
Project planning
Analytics

Paymo’s weaknesses

The mobile app version of Paymo has limited functionality compared to the desktop version.

Paymo pricing

Free plan
Starter plan: $9.90 per user/month
Small office plan: $15.90 per user/month
Business plan: $23.90 per user/month

5. Nifty

^{Source: Nifty}

Nifty aims to streamline processes without juggling multiple tools. That's because the tool integrates chat, tasks, goals, documents, and files into one centralized platform.

The integrated project milestones, for example, enable project managers to ensure stakeholders are on the same page while on track with goals.

Also read: Searching for Nifty Alternatives? These Are Worth Trying

Nifty’s popular features

Project portfolios
Task management
Discussions
Roadmaps

Nifty’s weaknesses

Some users might find the interface overwhelming.
Some reviews mention Nifty can experience slow loading times.

Nifty pricing

Free plan
Starter: $9 per user/month
Pro: $16 per user/month
Business: $25 per user/month
Enterprise: contact sales for pricing information

6. Asana

Asana's planning board

^{Source: Asana}

Asana ranks highly on this list of Flow alternatives due to its robust task management capabilities. This includes the ability to set milestones and monitor deadlines via board, list, or calendar views.

You’re also able to create workflows within the software to clearly define how your team will move project activities forward.

Asana’s popular features

Tasks and subtasks
Templates
Custom fields
Attachments

Asana’s weaknesses

Even though Asana is a task management tool, it can be deceivingly difficult to get the hang of for new users. Plus, as a pure task management solution, you’ll need to rely on other software tools for your other project management needs.

Asana pricing

Basic plan: free
Premium plan: $13.49 per user/month
Business plan: $30.49 per user/month
Enterprise plan: Contact sales

7. Streamtime

Streamtime's work in progress

^{Source: Streamtime}

Streamtime stands out as a specialized project management software designed specifically for creative agencies. Its tailored approach caters to the unique needs of creative projects, including marketing teams, offering a wide range of features and tools that automate workflows.

Compared to Flow, Streamtime also offers beyond just task management. It covers all phases of a project’s lifecycle, automating processes without additional apps while giving project managers more power and control over project performance.

Streamtime’s popular features

Project planning
Time tracking
Invoicing
Reports

Streamtime’s weaknesses

Streamtime can be quite buggy and sometimes requires a complete browser restart to fix the issue.

Streamtime pricing

Contact sales for Streamtime’s pricing information.

8. Workamajig

Workamajig dashboard

^{Source: Workamajig}

Workamajig, like Flow, is heavy on features and supports agencies from project initiation all the way to completion. The software enables effortless collaboration among team members to better perform, ensuring deadlines are met while supporting effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.

Workamajig’s popular features

CRM
Project planning
Resource management
Time tracking
Reporting

Workamajig’s weaknesses

Some users find the dashboard of the application quite complicated and not easy to work with.
The multitude of features can be a drawback for teams wishing for a less complex platform.

Workamajig pricing

In-house plan: $41 per user/month for a team of 10+
Agency plan: $41 per user/month for a team of 10+
Enterprise plan: Custom plans for teams of 100 to 10,000+

9. Monday

Monday.com's project planning

^{Source: monday.com}

Monday’s colorful interface has made it a recognizable player within the project management space.

The tool offers many features you’re likely already expecting to find in a work management tool, such as dashboards, automations, and visualization techniques like Gantt charts and Kanban boards.

Also read: Best Alternatives to Monday Out There

Monday’s popular features

Dashboards
Automations
Kanban boards
Forms

Monday’s weaknesses

Many online reviewers report that Monday’s UI/UX posed problems for their team. Because of the tool’s complexity, some organizations find that they need to work with an external third party to help them onboard with the platform — which can get costly.

Monday pricing

Individual plan: free
Basic plan: $10 per user/month
Standard plan: $12 per user/month
Pro plan: $20 per user/month
Enterprise plan: upon request
Note: All paid plans require a minimum of 3 users.

10. Hubstaff

Hubstaff's timesheet

^{Source: Hubstaff}

Hubstaff excels in providing time tracking and productivity management capabilities. However, for a more comprehensive project management system, you may need to integrate with other Hubstaff products.

For example, if you need a system that integrates task management tools (like Flow), then you will need Hubstaff Tasks — which integrates well with their flagship platform, but for an add-on cost.

Also read: Hubstaff Alternatives: Your Guide to the Top Competitors

Hubstaff’s popular features

Time tracking
Activity monitoring
Agile project management

Hubstaff’s weaknesses

Hubstaff's reports and data can be overwhelming and may not be suitable for all teams, as some might not find them useful.
Additionally, the pricing of Hubstaff can be high for small teams with only a few employees.

Hubstaff Task pricing

Free plan
Premium plan: $5 per user/month

11. Wrike

Wrike's dashboard

^{Source: Wrike}

With its extensive list of features, which includes custom forms and proofing, Wrike emerges as a versatile tool capable of meeting diverse needs. Plus, Wrike's scalability and integrations make it an ideal choice for enterprise business.

Compared to Flow and other competitors, Wrike is a very broad tool capable to automate workflows that create a sustainable cross-functional synergy to help projects and teams perform better.

Wrike’s popular features

Dynamic requests forms
Analytics and reports
Kanban boards and Gantt charts

Wrike’s weaknesses

Some find the user experience clunky.
The tool is very flexible which means users need some technical knowledge to understand the full capabilities.

Wrike pricing

Free plan
Team plan: $9.80 per user/month
Business plan: $24.80 per user/month
Enterprise plan: Pricing upon request
Pinnacle plan: Pricing upon request

12. FunctionFox

FunctionFox dashboard

^{Source: FunctionFox}

FunctionFox is another Flow alternative offering tools designed to simplify project workflows, track project expenses, and manage project tasks.

Offering a centralized platform for managing projects effectively while facilitating collaboration, FuctionFox is a popular choice in the creative space.

FunctionFox’s popular features

Internal communication boards
Advanced reports
Timesheets
Estimates and budgets

FunctionFox’s weaknesses

Some find the timesheets insufficient to track projects' profitability.

FunctionFox pricing

Classic plan: $35 for the first user + $5 per user/month
Premier plan: $50 for the first user + $10 per user/month
In-house plan: $150 for the first user + $20 per user/month

Takeaway

Flow provides various features and benefits, but it might not always cater to specific needs for efficient project management like other tools.

If your focus is on optimizing productivity, consider exploring Asana or Teamwork.

However, if you're looking for a software solution that seamlessly scales with your business, Rodeo Drive could be the ideal choice. With its user-friendly interface and dedicated support team, onboarding new team members becomes stress-free.

You have the option to explore Rodeo Drive for free without any obligations, or you can schedule a personalized demo to discover how Rodeo Drive can optimize your project management process.