Asana Review: Pros, Cons, Features

What Is Asana?

This project management software aids in task management, workload views, progress tracking, and custom project reports. Additional functionalities include numerous integrations, communication tools, video messaging, and comments. Asana also features Asana Intelligence, an AI innovation that can auto-generate custom fields and generate compelling drafts.

Our Ratings

Who Is Asana For?

Asana is best for small to medium-sized teams with one to 500 employees but can also support large enterprises with over 10,000 employees. This software is popular for individuals, teams, and companies needing an organizational tool to manage their tasks and projects under one roof. The SaaS system can be utilized among multiple industries but is a top performer in the technology, marketing, and computer software sectors.

Creating A New Task In Asana

Creating a new task in Asana is a quick and simple process.

1. To create a new task, users will need to choose which project their task will go under. Once they’re under the appropriate project, they can create a new task on the board using the (+) near the top of their board.
2. Once a new task pops up onto the project board, users can type in the title, priority, due date, assignee, status, and description of the task.
3. Users can also add subtasks below to help keep your timelines organized and attach files from Google Drive, SharePoint, and Dropbox.

When testing the software, we found the process of creating tasks and projects easy to navigate. We didn’t need to open multiple tabs or wait for the software to catch up, everything was seamless and easy — especially for new users.

We also like that Asana includes numerous details for each task, making it easy for users to see exactly what needs to be complete and what their timeline is. Then, once a task is completed, users can just click the ‘mark complete’ button to remove it from their task view.

What Features Are Missing?

• Multiple users per assignment: Asana only allows users to assign one person per task to avoid confusion over responsibility. This can become hectic and confusing when multiple people need to work on the same project, requiring users to create duplicate tasks.
• Time tracking: Although Asana has many features, time tracking is only available in the Advanced Plan. For smaller companies or individuals using Asana, they’ll need to integrate a third-party app to track time and bill clients.
• Direct export to PDF and Excel. Users can export their project data from Asana in CSV or JSON formats. However, there is no direct option to export data to PDF or Excel formats within Asana.

Asana Pricing Plans

Asana offers a 30-day free trial to all users and a forever-free plan for individuals and small teams looking to manage their tasks. Although the pricing plan below is geared towards small teams and individuals, Asana also offers Enterprise and Enterprise+ for companies that need to automate complex workflows across departments without any limitations. However, businesses must contact Asana’s sales team for pricing details at the enterprise level.

For smaller businesses, the Personal version of Asana is available for teams of up to 10 people. The Asana Starter plan costs $10.99/month, billed annually, or $13.49/month when billed monthly. The minimum requirement for tiered plans for smaller teams is two to five users.

Who uses Asana?

Asana customers come from various industries, such as software development, advertising, publishing, nonprofits, education, and eCommerce. The SaaS system is best suited for small to mid-sized businesses with a total revenue of less than $50 million. Asana is a good tool for in-person and remote teams needing a singular platform to host all their projects and to-do lists.

How do you change the number of people in an Asana team?

You can add or remove team members at any time. Once you update the number of people in your team, you must correct your subscription to match your current usage — or Asana will remind you if you’re over your seat limit.

If you update your monthly subscription, your modifications will be implemented in your next billing cycle. For annual subscriptions, changes made within 30 days of purchasing your plan will immediately take effect, and you’ll receive a prorated charge or credit to your Asana account.

Is Asana free?

Yes, Asana offers a free Personal plan though its features are limited compared to the paid plans. This plan allows up to 10 users and has basic reporting and project management tools, including status updates, comments, an activity log, and storage.

Alternatives

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ClickUp

Price Range

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   $     $     $     $     $   

Starting Price

Free

Client OS

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

What We Like

Several views include Kanban, Gantt, timeline, list, and calendar

Includes advanced features like document storage and dashboards

Highly customizable list functions like custom fields

What We Don’t Like

Hierarchical structure can become confusing with several different lists and spaces

Steep learning curve for new users

Creating spaces from scratch can be time-consuming

Demo Pricing

Monday.com

Price Range

   $     $     $     $     $   

   $     $     $     $     $   

Starting Price

$9/user/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

What We Like

Free for up to 2 seats (Individual)

Integrates with Google Workspace and Slack

Multiple views (Calendar, chart, files, Kanban, map, and timeline)

What We Don’t Like

Pricing based on team size rather than per user

Time tracking only available in Pro plan

Free plan not viable for growing companies

Demo Pricing

Jira

Price Range

   $     $     $     $     $   

   $     $     $     $     $   

Starting Price

$7/user/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

What We Like

Teams can customize workflows, fields, and processes to align with their specific methodologies

Has drag-and-drop functionalities

Provides tools like Scrum and Kanban boards, sprint planning, and backlog management

What We Don’t Like

May involve a steep learning curve

Has no built-in timeline view

Demo Pricing

Summary

After utilizing Asana’s 30-day free trial, we found the project management software suitable for individuals and smaller teams that work in the office or remotely. The platform offers customization and flexibility, allowing users to create their own projects, portfolios, and timelines. Asana also features different views for all users, such as calendars, timelines, lists, and boards. This way, users can visualize and organize their tasks in a way that makes the most sense to them. Although there is a bit of a learning curve when starting out, users can utilize the free videos and live demonstrations to learn how to get the most out of Asana.

In our assessment, we think Asana is a great fit for small to mid-sized teams looking for a way to manage all their tasks and to-do lists in one platform. Its customizable project templates, clean and modern UI, and task management tools make it an asset for streamlining workflows and team collaboration.