Hive

Hive positions itself as the antidote to tool sprawl, and for mid-size teams juggling separate apps for project management, chat, and file sharing, it delivers on that promise. After testing it with a marketing team workflow, the combination of tasks, built-in messaging, proofing, and time tracking in one platform meaningfully reduced context switching. You can discuss a task, get approval on a creative asset, and log time without ever leaving Hive. The multiple project views are a standout feature. Having Gantt, Kanban, calendar, table, and portfolio views for the same project data means different team members can work in their preferred style without data fragmentation. The marketing team used Kanban for daily tasks, while the project manager monitored everything through Gantt charts—all synchronized in real time. The built-in chat with channels and direct messages is functional, though not as polished as Slack. For teams wanting to eliminate Slack entirely, Hive's chat is good enough. For teams that love Slack, the integration works well too. The proofing and approval workflows are particularly valuable for creative and marketing teams reviewing designs, copy, and video content. Where Hive struggles is in the crowded project management market. It lacks the brand recognition of Monday.com, the simplicity of Asana, or the power-user appeal of ClickUp. The mobile app is noticeably less capable than the desktop experience, which is frustrating for field teams. Some integrations feel shallow compared to competitors. Pricing is fair at $12/user/month for the Teams plan, with a free plan that supports unlimited users but limits actions. The Enterprise plan with advanced security and SSO requires custom pricing. We recommend Hive for teams of 10-100 people who want to consolidate project management, communication, and proofing into one platform. It is particularly strong for marketing and creative teams with approval workflows. Very small teams should consider simpler alternatives, and large enterprises may need more robust features.