15 Best Agency Project Management Software for Creative & Marketing Teams
Ryan Tanner
Product Marketing Specialist
Aug 5, 2026
Ryan Tanner
Aug 5, 2026
17 min read
Managing creative, advertising, and digital marketing projects is complex. Agencies handle multiple clients, tight deadlines, shifting priorities, and constant revisions, all while coordinating creative assets across teams. Without the right agency project management software, communication scatters, tasks slip, and production slows down. The right tool brings briefs, timelines, approvals, and collaboration into one streamlined system, helping agencies deliver high-quality work on schedule.​
In this guide, we compare the 15 best agency project management software options, including platforms like Lark, ClickUp, Asana, Monday.com, Wrike, and more, so creative, marketing, and digital teams can find the best fit for their workflow needs.​
1. Lark: Unified workspace for creative, marketing, and digital agency operations​
2. Wrike: Robust workflow management for creative teams​
3. ClickUp: Highly customizable workflows for agencies​
4. Asana: Easy task and timeline management for marketing teams​
5. Monday.com: Visual pipeline planning for campaign-heavy agencies​
6. Teamwork: Built specifically for client service agencies​
7. Trello: Simple Kanban boards for lightweight agency workflows​
8. Basecamp: Central place for discussions, tasks, and files​
9. Smartsheet: Spreadsheet-style management for production-heavy agencies​
10. Notion: Docs + database workspace for content-led agencies​
11. Hive: Collaboration tool designed for creative and production teams​
12. Workamajig: End-to-end management for large creative agencies​
13. Paymo: All-in-one tasks, time tracking, and invoicing​
14. Plutio: Affordable workspace for freelancers and small agencies​
15. FunctionFox: Ideal for time tracking and project budgeting​
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Quick glance table: 15 best agency project management software
​​Here's a snapshot of the 15 best agency project management software options trusted by creative, marketing, and digital teams worldwide. This quick glance table highlights each tool's ideal use case, standout features, and starting price. Whether you're managing campaigns, creative production, or client services, there's a tool that fits your agency's workflow. Use this to compare platforms side-by-side and find the right match for your team's needs.​
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​Information source: Official vendor sites​
Update time: 2025-11-18​
Note: Pricing and plan details reflect publicly available data as of the update date and may vary based on region, billing cycle, and number of agents.​
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Why agencies need specialized project management software
​​Agencies operate very differently from traditional project teams, which is why they need specialized agency project management software rather than generic task tools. Creative, marketing, advertising, design, and digital agencies manage fast-moving workstreams that involve briefs, revisions, asset production, and client approvals happening simultaneously. Unlike standard teams, agencies must coordinate writers, designers, strategists, editors, media buyers, and account managers, often across multiple clients at once.​
Tools built for agencies support workflows like creative requests, campaign planning, content pipelines, and approval cycles. Features such as task dependencies, asset management, time tracking, billable utilization, and client-facing dashboards help teams stay organized and profitable. Whether you're running a creative agency project management software setup or handling campaigns with marketing agency project management software, the right platform ensures clarity, coordination, and accountability. For SEO, digital, design, and advertising teams, choosing the right best agency project management software is essential to scale efficiently and deliver exceptional client results.​
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Full list: Top 15 agency project management software
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1. Lark: Unified workspace for creative, marketing, and digital agency operations
​​Lark is built for fast-moving creative, marketing, and digital agencies that need one place to manage projects, people, and client work. Instead of jumping between disconnected tools, teams can centralize briefs, tasks, assets, chats, and approvals in a single, flexible workspace. It reduces operational clutter, speeds up collaboration, and keeps every project moving with clarity. For agencies looking to simplify delivery without sacrificing creativity, Lark is a powerful all-in-one solution.​
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Lark Base for managing briefs, campaigns, and client deliverables​
Lark Base gives agencies a structured, flexible system for organizing creative briefs, campaign timelines, asset tracking, and client deliverables. Teams can create purpose-built tables for clients, projects, tasks, assets, and review stages, then view them in grid, Kanban, or timeline formats depending on workflow needs. Linked records keep every asset and task tied to its brief, helping creative and client teams maintain context during revisions. Automated workflow rules route tasks, update statuses, and send notifications, reducing manual coordination and keeping projects moving across multiple clients.​
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Lark Tasks for clear ownership and smooth production cycles​
Lark Tasks breaks campaign work into concrete, manageable steps across writing, design, editing, QA, and publishing. Each task can include owners, deadlines, attachments, and checklists, providing agency teams with a shared view of what's in progress and what's blocked. Dependencies indicate which tasks rely on earlier work, helping account managers and PMs identify bottlenecks before they impact timelines. With real-time updates, Lark Tasks keeps production teams, strategists, and client leads aligned on priorities throughout the campaign lifecycle.​
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Lark Docs for collaborative briefs, scripts, and content development​
Lark Docs creates a shared drafting environment where creative briefs, scripts, campaign plans, copy drafts, and design notes can be developed collaboratively. Multiple contributors can edit simultaneously, while comments, suggestions, and @mentions streamline the feedback process. Because Docs supports rich embeds and stays connected to Base and Tasks, teams avoid version chaos and always work with the most current information. This makes Docs ideal for content-heavy agencies managing fast-moving revisions.​
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Lark Messenger for fast creative communication and asset feedback​
Messenger supports the rapid feedback cycles agencies rely on. Designers can share mockups, video cuts, and screenshots directly in chat; writers can drop draft snippets or outlines; and account managers can deliver client notes instantly. Conversations remain tied to tasks or Base records when needed, providing teams with a searchable history of decisions and revisions. Rich previews and quick reactions make reviews faster and more visual, which is essential for design, media, and creative production teams.​
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Lark Calendar for campaign schedules and review milestones​
Lark Calendar offers a shared timeline for internal deadlines, creative reviews, client presentations, shoots, go-live dates, and recurring reporting cycles. Agencies juggling multiple clients get a clear view of workload distribution and upcoming commitments across teams. By mapping key milestones in one shared calendar, creative, strategy, and client teams can plan resourcing more accurately and avoid last-minute rushes or conflicting deadlines.​
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Lark Approval for routing creative work through reviewers and clients​
Approval helps agencies formalize their review and sign-off steps without relying on email threads or scattered comments. You can set up structured approval flows for design drafts, ad copy, scripts, campaign assets, or video edits, sending work to internal stakeholders or clients based on the approval path. Approvers can review, comment, and make decisions in one place, and every action is timestamped for accountability. This creates a clear, trackable record of who signed off on what and ensures creative work moves through the proper review chain without delays.​
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- Starter plan: Free forever plan that includes 11 powerful tools for up to 20 users. It also comes with 100GB of storage, 1000 automation runs, AI translations, and more.​
- Basic plan: $6/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Starter plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 5TB of storage, 1000 automation runs, and more. For more details, please contact sales.​
- Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Basic plus group calling for up to 500 attendees, 15TB of storage, 50,000 automation runs, and more.​
- Enterprise plan: Contact sales for custom pricing. Supports unlimited users and includes even more automation runs and advanced security, compliance, and management features.​
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Starter
Pro
Enterprise
Starter
For small teams with simple communication needs
$0
/ user / month
20 users max
18 months message history
1-on-1 video meetings
100 GB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
1000 Base automation runs/month
2000 rows per table in Base
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
Enterprise
For large companies with advanced security and organizational management needs
Get a personalized demo and pricing
Unlimited users
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage + 30 GB storage/user
Lark Docs & Mail
500k Base automation runs/month
50k Base automation runs/month
Single sign-on (SSO)
Pro
For companies with comprehensive collaboration and management needs
$12
/ user / month
500 users max
Unlimited message history
500-participant video meetings
15 TB storage
Lark Docs & Mail
50k Base automation runs/month
20k rows per table in Base
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2. Wrike: Robust workflow management for creative teams
​​Wrike is designed to help creative and marketing teams turn complex workflows into predictable output. It centralizes intake, work planning, and proofing so agencies can move projects from brief to delivery with fewer handoffs. The platform emphasizes visibility , dashboards, workload views, and custom request forms keep teams and clients aligned. Wrike scales from small creative teams to enterprise agencies with cross-functional needs. It's especially strong where structured approvals and detailed reporting are required.​
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Image source: wrike.com​
Key features:​
- Custom request forms: Standardizes creative intake by collecting all required details and assets right from the start, reducing back-and-forth.​
- Built-in proofing & annotation: Lets teams review images, videos, and PDFs with precise markup tools for faster, clearer feedback cycles.​
- Workload & resource view: Shows real-time team capacity so managers can redistribute tasks and prevent burnout or bottlenecks.​
- Advanced dashboards & reporting: Provides data-driven visibility into deadlines, performance, project health, and client deliverables.​
- Multiple workflow views: Offers Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and table views, helping teams plan and track work the way they prefer.​
Pros:​
- Comprehensive workflow management for agencies​
- Powerful proofing and review tools​
- Resource visibility reduces overload and delays​
- Flexible views for planning and tracking​
Cons:​
- Can be complex for smaller teams​
- Pricing may rise with more users and features​
Pricing:​
- Free plan for small teams​
- Professional: $9.80/user/month​
- Business & Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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3. ClickUp: Highly customizable workflows for agencies
​​ClickUp is an all-in-one platform that helps agencies manage tasks, projects, and approvals in a flexible, centralized workspace. It allows teams to create custom workflows, automate repetitive processes, and track progress across tasks and documents. ClickUp is ideal for marketing, design, and client services teams that need adaptability in approvals, task assignments, and reporting. With its robust integrations and visual boards, teams can ensure clarity, reduce bottlenecks, and maintain accountability across complex projects.​
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Image source: clickup.com​
Key features:​
- Custom workflows: Build sequential or parallel workflows tailored to project needs, allowing multiple approvers and collaborators.​
- Task dependencies: Set dependencies to ensure tasks are completed in order and deadlines are met.​
- Integrated Docs & collaboration: Teams can attach documents, leave comments, and manage reviews without leaving the platform.​
- Automated notifications & reminders: Keeps stakeholders updated on task status and pending approvals.​
- Dashboards & reporting: Provides insights into project progress, workload, and bottlenecks for proactive management.​
Pros:​
- Highly flexible for various project types​
- Combines tasks, approvals, and documents​
- Automation reduces manual follow-ups​
- Visual dashboards improve visibility​
Cons:​
- It can be overwhelming for smaller agencies​
- Some advanced features require higher-tier plans​
Pricing:​
- Free plan with basic features​
- Unlimited: $7/user/month​
- Business: $12/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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4. Asana: Easy task and timeline management for marketing teams
​​Asana is one of visual project management tools built for marketing and creative teams. It simplifies task assignment, timelines, and dependencies for campaign-heavy agencies. Teams can track deliverables, collaborate seamlessly, and ensure deadlines are met. Asana's intuitive interface makes onboarding easy while maintaining project visibility. It's particularly effective for agencies coordinating multiple projects across teams and clients.​
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Image source: asana.com​
Key features:​
- Timeline & Gantt views: Visualize project schedules, dependencies, and milestones to ensure deadlines are met.​
- Task assignment & tracking: Assign tasks, set priorities, and monitor progress to maintain accountability.​
- Project templates: Quickly deploy recurring workflows, campaigns, or client projects without starting from scratch.​
- Collaboration tools: Comment, share files, and mention team members for centralized communication.​
- Dashboards & reporting: Track project health, upcoming deadlines, and task completion metrics for informed decision-making.​
Pros:​
- Intuitive interface for fast team adoption​
- Visual project timelines for easy planning​
- Centralized collaboration reduces email dependency​
- Templates speed up recurring workflows​
Cons:​
- Limited advanced automation compared to competitors​
- Reporting customization is less flexible​
Pricing:​
- Basic: Free for small teams​
- Premium: $10.99/user/month​
- Business: $24.99/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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5. Monday.com: Visual pipeline planning for campaign-heavy agencies
​​Monday.com provides agencies with a visually intuitive platform for project and workflow management. Campaigns, creative projects, and approvals can be tracked using customizable boards and dashboards. Its automation features reduce manual follow-ups and improve efficiency. Teams can collaborate on tasks, timelines, and files in a single workspace. Monday.com is ideal for agencies managing multiple clients or high-volume projects.​
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Image source: monday.com​
Key features:​
- Visual boards: Kanban, table, or timeline views allow teams to plan, track, and manage projects visually.​
- Automations: Automate task assignments, notifications, and status updates to reduce manual follow-ups.​
- Approval columns: Dedicated approval steps ensure tasks or deliverables are reviewed and signed off on efficiently.​
- Document and file integration: Attach briefs, assets, and deliverables directly to tasks for context-rich collaboration.​
- Dashboards & reporting: Gain insights into workload, project progress, and campaign performance to optimize team output.​
Pros:​
- Visual boards simplify project tracking​
- Flexible automations reduce manual work​
- Integrated approvals improve workflow efficiency​
- Dashboards provide actionable insights​
Cons:​
- Some advanced automation features require higher-tier plans​
- It can be overwhelming for teams new to workflow software​
Pricing:​
- Basic: $9/user/month​
- Standard, Pro, Enterprise: Custom pricing depending on team size and features​
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6. Teamwork: Built specifically for client service agencies
​​Teamwork is designed for client service agencies needing end-to-end project oversight. It centralizes tasks, time tracking, and communication to streamline collaboration. Teams can monitor client projects, deadlines, and approvals with clear visibility. Its billing and reporting tools simplify agency operations and client accountability. Teamwork suits agencies of all sizes, managing recurring campaigns and projects.​
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Image source: teamwork.com​
Key features:​
- Client-facing project tracking: Share project progress and updates directly with clients while keeping internal details secure.​
- Task management & milestones: Assign tasks, set deadlines, and define milestones to ensure smooth project delivery.​
- Time tracking: Monitor hours spent on tasks and projects to manage budgets and resource allocation.​
- Automated notifications: Keep teams and clients informed of project updates, approvals, and overdue tasks.​
- Custom dashboards & reporting: Visualize project status, workloads, and timelines to quickly identify bottlenecks.​
Pros:​
- Strong client collaboration and transparency​
- Task and milestone management improve project delivery​
- Built-in time tracking supports billing and efficiency​
- Custom dashboards provide actionable insights​
Cons:​
- May have a learning curve for new users​
- Advanced reporting requires higher-tier plans​
Pricing:​
- Deliver: $5.99/user/month​
- Grow: $18/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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7. Trello: Simple Kanban boards for lightweight agency workflows
​​Trello is a simple, flexible Kanban-style tool for agencies with lightweight workflows. It helps teams organize tasks, track progress, and visualize project pipelines. Cards, lists, and boards enable easy collaboration across creative teams. Trello's simplicity allows agencies to focus on execution without complex setup. It's ideal for small teams or single-project management.​
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Image source: trello.com​
Key features:​
- Kanban boards: Visualize projects, tasks, and priorities in a simple, drag-and-drop interface for clear workflow tracking.​
- Checklists and labels: Break down tasks into sub-tasks and categorize them for better organization and clarity.​
- Card attachments: Attach files, briefs, or assets directly to task cards to centralize project information.​
- Power-Ups & integrations: Extend Trello's functionality with integrations like Slack, Google Drive, or calendar apps.​
- Automations (Butler): Automate repetitive tasks, notifications, and card movements to save time and reduce manual effort.​
Pros:​
- Extremely intuitive and easy to use​
- Quick setup for small teams and projects​
- Flexible integrations with popular tools​
- Lightweight, visual task tracking​
Cons:​
- Limited advanced project management features​
- Can become cluttered for large-scale projects​
Pricing:​
- Free plan: Basic boards and task management​
- Standard: $5/user/month​
- Premium: $10/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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8. Basecamp: Central place for discussions, tasks, and files
​​Basecamp provides agencies with a centralized hub for discussions, tasks, and files. It organizes client projects and internal work in one accessible workspace. Teams can communicate, assign tasks, and share documents without fragmented tools. Its simplicity encourages accountability and reduces email overload. Basecamp is perfect for small to mid-sized creative teams seeking straightforward project management.​
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Image source: basecamp.com​
Key features:​
- Message boards: Organize discussions by topic to reduce email overload and keep conversations centralized.​
- To-do lists: Track tasks, assign responsibilities, and monitor deadlines for better project organization.​
- Schedules & milestones: Visualize key dates and project timelines to ensure timely deliverables.​
- File storage & sharing: Upload and share documents, assets, and resources in a central location accessible to the team.​
- Automatic check-ins: Collect status updates from team members regularly to maintain transparency and accountability.​
Pros:​
- Centralized communication reduces email dependency​
- Easy to use with minimal setup required​
- Organizes tasks, files, and schedules in one place​
- Encourages accountability through check-ins​
Cons:​
- Limited advanced project management features​
- Not ideal for complex workflow automation​
Pricing:​
- Flat rate: $15/month for unlimited users and projects​
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9. Smartsheet: Spreadsheet-style management for production-heavy agencies
​​Smartsheet offers a spreadsheet-style interface tailored for production-heavy agencies. It helps teams plan campaigns, manage resources, and track approvals efficiently. Conditional formatting, Gantt charts, and dashboards improve project visibility. Collaboration features allow real-time updates across departments. Smartsheet is ideal for agencies managing large-scale or data-driven projects.​
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Image source: smartsheet.com​
Key features:​
- Spreadsheet-style task tracking: Offers a familiar grid interface to manage tasks, deadlines, and dependencies effectively.​
- Gantt and card views: Visualize project timelines and progress to better plan resources and workloads.​
- Automation rules: Automatically send reminders, update statuses, and route tasks to reduce manual follow-ups.​
- Resource management: Track team capacity, allocate tasks, and balance workloads for optimized performance.​
- Dashboards & reporting: Gain real-time insights into project status, KPIs, and task completion for better decision-making.​
Pros:​
- Familiar spreadsheet interface for ease of adoption​
- Powerful automation reduces repetitive tasks​
- Multiple views for planning and tracking​
- Advanced dashboards improve visibility​
Cons:​
- It can be complex for small or simple projects​
- Pricing scales with advanced features and users​
Pricing:​
- Pro: $7/user/month​
- Business: $25/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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10. Notion: Docs + database workspace for content-led agencies
​​Notion is a flexible workspace combining docs, databases, and task management for content-led agencies. Teams can centralize creative assets, client briefs, and campaign workflows. Its modular pages allow agencies to customize processes to their unique needs. Collaboration, commenting, and linking enhance project visibility. Notion works well for agencies focused on content creation and knowledge management.​
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Image source: notion.so​
Key features:​
- Customizable databases: Store tasks, assets, and project details in databases that can be filtered, sorted, and linked for better organization.​
- Integrated docs and tasks: Combine project documentation, checklists, and assignments in a single workspace for seamless collaboration.​
- Templates for workflows: Pre-built templates for campaigns, content calendars, and client projects streamline setup.​
- Kanban and table views: Visualize tasks and project pipelines using Kanban boards or tables for clarity.​
- Collaboration tools: Comment, mention team members, and share files directly within tasks and pages to centralize communication.​
Pros:​
- Highly customizable to fit different workflows​
- Combines documents, tasks, and databases in one platform​
- Visual boards improve project clarity​
- Templates accelerate project setup​
Cons:​
- Can be overwhelming for new users​
- Limited advanced automation compared to specialized PM tools​
Pricing:​
- Personal: Free​
- Team: $8/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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11. Hive: Collaboration tool designed for creative and production teams
​​Hive is a collaboration platform built for creative and production teams. It integrates project management, messaging, and time tracking in one workspace. Teams can manage tasks, approvals, and timelines with minimal friction. Automation and reporting help optimize workflows and resource allocation. Hive suits agencies handling fast-paced projects with tight deadlines.​
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Image source: hive.com​
Key features:​
- Task management & dependencies: Assign tasks, set priorities, and manage dependencies to ensure smooth project execution.​
- Collaborative workspaces: Centralized spaces for team communication, files, and discussions reduce email overload.​
- Project timelines & Gantt charts: Visualize project schedules, milestones, and deadlines for better planning and resource allocation.​
- Automation & notifications: Automate routine tasks, notifications, and reminders to keep workflows efficient and reduce manual follow-ups.​
- Analytics & reporting: Track project progress, team productivity, and deadlines to identify bottlenecks and optimize performance.​
Pros:​
- Combines task management, collaboration, and project tracking​
- Automation reduces repetitive manual work​
- Visual timelines and Gantt charts improve planning​
- Analytics provide actionable insights​
Cons:​
- Interface can be overwhelming for new users​
- Some advanced automation features require higher-tier plans​
Pricing:​
- Professional: $12/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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12. Workamajig: End-to-end management for large creative agencies
​​Workamajig is designed for large creative agencies needing end-to-end project management. It combines project planning, budgeting, and resource allocation in one platform. Teams can track approvals, timelines, and client deliverables efficiently. Its robust reporting and analytics support strategic decision-making. Workamajig excels in agencies with complex workflows and multi-department collaboration.​
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Image source: workamajig.com​
Key features:​
- Project and task management: Plan and track projects, assign tasks, and monitor deadlines for seamless workflow execution.​
- Resource and capacity planning: Allocate team members efficiently based on skills, availability, and project priority.​
- Financial management: Track budgets, expenses, and profitability for individual projects and overall agency performance.​
- Client collaboration tools: Share project updates, files, and approvals with clients securely and transparently.​
- Reporting and dashboards: Real-time analytics on project status, resource utilization, and financial metrics to optimize operations.​
Pros:​
- Combines project, resource, and financial management in one platform​
- Ideal for large, complex agency workflows​
- Client collaboration and approval tools improve transparency​
- Comprehensive reporting helps with informed decision-making​
Cons:​
- Can be complex for smaller agencies​
- Higher learning curve for new users​
Pricing:​
- Custom pricing based on agency size and feature requirements​
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13. Paymo: All-in-one tasks, time tracking, and invoicing
​​Paymo is an all-in-one platform for task management, time tracking, and invoicing tailored to agencies. It allows teams to monitor project progress, approvals, and billable hours simultaneously. Collaboration and file-sharing features improve transparency. Automated reporting ensures projects stay on schedule and budget. Paymo is ideal for small to mid-sized agencies balancing creative work with client billing.​
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Image source: paymoapp.com​
Key features:​
- Task management & Kanban boards: Organize tasks visually and track progress across projects to ensure timely delivery.​
- Time tracking & timesheets: Monitor hours spent on tasks and projects for accurate client billing and productivity analysis.​
- Invoicing & billing: Generate invoices directly from tracked time or project milestones to simplify client payments.​
- Collaboration tools: Share files, comment on tasks, and communicate with team members to centralize project discussions.​
- Dashboards & reporting: Track project progress, billable hours, and team productivity with customizable reports.​
Pros:​
- Combines project management and financial tracking​
- Simple visual task boards improve workflow clarity​
- Time tracking ensures accurate billing​
- Reporting provides insights into project and team performance​
Cons:​
- Limited advanced workflow automation​
- May require integration for more complex project needs​
Pricing:​
- Free plan: Basic features for small teams​
- Small Office: $9.90/user/month​
- Business: $15/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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14. Plutio: Affordable workspace for freelancers and small agencies
​​Plutio is an affordable, lightweight workspace for freelancers and small agencies. It centralizes tasks, projects, invoicing, and client communication. Its simple interface allows teams to manage workflows and approvals efficiently. Customizable templates make recurring campaigns easier to handle. Plutio is perfect for boutique agencies or solo creatives looking for an all-in-one solution.​
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Image source: plutio.com​
Key features:​
- Task and project management: Organize projects, set deadlines, and track progress with visual boards and lists.​
- Client management: Keep client contacts, project communications, and documents centralized for easy access.​
- Time tracking & invoicing: Track work hours, create invoices, and manage payments from a single dashboard.​
- Collaboration tools: Comment, share files, and communicate with team members or clients directly within projects.​
- Customizable templates: Quickly set up recurring workflows, proposals, or projects using ready-made templates.​
Pros:​
- Affordable and ideal for small teams or freelancers​
- Combines project management and client management​
- Simplifies invoicing and time tracking​
- Flexible workspace with customizable templates​
Cons:​
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics​
- May not scale well for large enterprise teams​
Pricing:​
- Studio: $19/user/month​
- Agency: $40/user/month​
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15. FunctionFox: Ideal for time tracking and project budgeting
​​FunctionFox specializes in time tracking and project budgeting for creative agencies. It helps teams manage schedules, tasks, and client approvals efficiently. Detailed reporting provides insights into resource allocation and project costs. Its simplicity ensures teams stay organized without complex software. FunctionFox is ideal for agencies where accurate budgeting and tracking are essential.​
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Image source: functionfox.com​
Key features:​
- Time tracking & timesheets: Track hours spent on tasks and projects for accurate reporting and client billing.​
- Project budgeting & cost tracking: Monitor budgets, expenses, and profitability to ensure projects remain on target financially.​
- Task and project management: Assign tasks, set priorities, and manage deadlines across multiple client projects.​
- Resource scheduling: Allocate team members efficiently based on availability and project needs.​
- Reports & analytics: Gain insights into time usage, project costs, and team productivity to optimize operations.​
Pros:​
- Strong focus on time tracking and budget management​
- Ideal for agencies managing multiple clients or campaigns​
- Detailed reporting helps with decision-making​
- Resource scheduling improves efficiency​
Cons:​
- Limited collaboration and communication features​
- Less suitable for agencies seeking full-suite workflow automation​
Pricing:​
- Classic: $5/user/month​
- Premier: $10/user/month​
- Enterprise: Custom pricing​
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Common mistakes agencies make when choosing PM software
​​Agencies often adopt tools that look simple at first but fail when creative production, revisions, and client expectations increase. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you choose the right agency project management software from the start.​
- Selecting tools that don't support creative assets: Many general PM tools aren't built for design files, video drafts, or campaign assets. Without proper previewing or version handling, teams waste time digging through links and attachments. This slows down creative workflows and increases the likelihood of revision errors.​
- Ignoring client approval workflows: Client review cycles are a core part of agency work, and not all tools support them well. Without structured approval paths, teams rely on scattered email feedback. This results in delays, missed comments, and unclear sign-offs.​
- Choosing minimal tools that don't scale: Lightweight task apps may work for small teams, but quickly collapse under complex campaigns. As your agency grows, you need features like automation, capacity planning, and reporting. Picking a too-simple tool early leads to costly migrations later.​
- Overlooking resource management: Without visibility into team capacity, workloads can become unbalanced. Agencies risk overloading designers, writers, or editors without realizing it. Proper resource planning prevents burnout and ensures every project is adequately staffed.​
- Failing to onboard properly: Even the best software won't help if your team doesn't know how to use it. Poor onboarding leads to inconsistent usage and scattered processes. Training, templates, and clear workflows help agencies get full value from the tool.​
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What to look for in agency project management software
​​Modern agencies run on tight timelines, heavy creative workloads, and demanding client expectations, which means generic task tools won't cut it. The best agency project management software supports creative operations end-to-end, from briefs to approvals to delivery.​
- Agency-focused templates: The software should offer ready-made templates for campaigns, creative requests, and client projects, so teams don't waste time building workflows from scratch. These templates help standardize deliverables, timelines, and review cycles. Agencies can duplicate them to streamline recurring retainers or multi-channel campaigns.​
- Support for briefs, tasks, assets, approvals, and revision tracking: Agencies use layered creative processes, so the tool must capture briefs, tasks, assets, and approvals in a single workspace. This prevents version confusion and misplaced feedback. Strong revision tracking ensures every update is documented and easy to reference.​
- Collaboration tools for writers, designers, editors, strategists, and media buyers: Creative teams work cross-functionally, so real-time collaboration tools are essential. Chat, comments, file sharing, and simultaneous editing help reduce bottlenecks. This keeps everyone aligned across content, design, strategy, and media execution.​
- Resource & capacity planning: Agencies need visibility into who's overloaded and who's available. Capacity planning prevents burnout and ensures every project has the right talent assigned. It also helps forecast hiring needs and improve overall delivery efficiency.​
- Time tracking & billable utilization: Accurate time tracking is crucial for profitability and evaluating resource efficiency. The right tool helps teams log work without friction. Billable utilization dashboards help agencies maintain healthy margins and justify client billing.​
- Client-facing workflows: Clients need structured access for approvals, feedback, and deliverable reviews. A good platform provides client-friendly portals or shared spaces that don't overwhelm them with internal details. This reduces email chaos and speeds up sign-offs.​
- Creative asset management: Agencies handle high volumes of design files, videos, and ad assets, so centralized storage is key. The software should support tagging, versioning, and quick retrieval. This keeps creative teams organized and prevents outdated uploads.​
- Reporting dashboards for teams and clients: Dashboards help agencies track progress, deadlines, budgets, and performance metrics. Internal teams get clarity on workloads and risks, while clients get transparent project visibility. This builds trust and simplifies review meetings.​
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Conclusion
​​Choosing the right agency project management software is essential for keeping creative, marketing, digital, SEO, and advertising workflows organized, efficient, and client-ready. The best tools streamline briefs, tasks, assets, approvals, resources, and billable work so teams can deliver high-quality projects on time and at scale. With the right platform, agencies reduce chaos, improve collaboration, strengthen client relationships, and operate with far more predictability. As you evaluate options, focus on features that support real creative workflows, not just generic task tracking. And if you're ready for a unified workspace that brings all of this together, explore how Lark can transform your agency operations.​
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FAQs
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What's the difference between general project management software and agency-specific tools?
​​General tools focus on tasks and timelines, while creative agency project management software and best project management software for creative agency solutions support briefs, approvals, asset management, and multi-client workloads. These platforms are built for creative pipelines, deadlines, and rapid revision cycles that generic project software cannot fully handle.​
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How do agencies manage client feedback and revisions using project management software?
​​With tools like marketing agency project management software and ad agency project management software, agencies centralize feedback through annotations, approval workflows, and file versioning. Clients review deliverables directly in the platform, eliminating scattered communication. Revision history ensures teams always work from the latest approved creative asset.​
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Which features should a creative or design agency prioritize?
​​A design agency project management software and advertising agency project management software setup should prioritize briefs, visual asset management, creative approvals, and structured revision tracking. Features like capacity planning, campaign templates, and client-review dashboards ensure smooth collaboration among designers, writers, editors, and strategists.​
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What's the best way to track billable hours inside agency project management software?
​​Inside digital agency project management software and digital marketing agency project management software, agencies track billable hours using built-in timers or task-linked logs. Utilization dashboards help identify billable vs. non-billable time, prevent undercharging, and keep margins healthy. Linking time logs to invoices simplifies billing cycles.​
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Can agencies manage retainer clients and ongoing campaigns in project management software?
​​Yes, seo agency project management software and the best agency project management software platforms support recurring tasks, rolling timelines, and monthly deliverables. Agencies can track service hours, manage workloads, and maintain predictable delivery. Dashboards provide visibility into campaign progress, client expectations, and upcoming deadlines for long-term engagements.​
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Related reading
​​Table of contents
Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
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Table of contents
Start using Lark today
Manage all your work in one place
Boost team efficiency by 10x
Save up to 70% on software costs
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