Quick comparison
Shortlist first, details second. Always double-check current pricing and plan limits on the vendor site.
| Tool | Best for | Setup time | Pricing | Why it’s here | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| monday.com Top pick | Creative production visibility | 1–2 hours | Paid | Dashboards + templates for recurring deliverables | Needs board discipline |
| Asana | Structured delivery | 1–2 hours | Paid | Clean tasks and ownership across projects | Less flexible “database” views |
| Trello | Lightweight kanban | 30–60 min | Freemium | Simple boards for small teams | Harder to scale reporting |
How we picked
- Optimized for agency workflows: delivery visibility, client collaboration, and handoffs.
- Prioritized low-friction setup and sane permissions (so you actually adopt it).
- Checked reporting and “share with clients” realism (not just feature checkboxes).
- Included a clear watch-out for each option to avoid bad fits.
Pricing checked: 7 Jan 2026. Evaluated on: setup friction, permissions, reporting, and handoff realism.
monday.com
Best for: creative agencies that want reporting without spreadsheets
Use monday.com if you run repeatable production (design, content, ads) and need easy visibility.
- Great for recurring deliverables and handoffs.
- Dashboards help with weekly client updates.
- Easy to onboard contractors.
Asana
Best for: teams that value clarity and ownership
Asana is strong when you want predictable delivery and fewer custom fields.
- Task ownership stays clean.
- Good for multi-step approvals with clear owners.
- Less time spent “tool managing.”
Trello
Best for: small teams that just need a board
Trello is perfect when the work is simple and you want the lightest possible tool.
- Fast to start and easy to teach.
- Great for simple production pipelines.
- Add structure with templates and checklists.
Bottom line
If you need visibility and reporting, start with monday.com. If you want stricter task hygiene, pick Asana. If you’re a small creative team, Trello is still the fastest to adopt.
FAQ
Do creative agencies need a special PM tool?
Not special—just one that supports approvals, ownership, and predictable handoffs.
What’s the biggest mistake?
Overcomplicating statuses and fields. Keep the workflow simple and consistent.
Should clients be in the PM tool?
Often no. Use weekly reporting and clear deliverables; invite clients only when permissions are sane.