Wrike

Wrike positions itself as the project management platform for enterprises and complex organizations, and after putting it through its paces with multi-team workflows, it delivers on that promise. Where tools like Asana and Monday.com optimize for simplicity and quick setup, Wrike leans into the complexity that large organizations actually face: cross-department dependencies, resource contention, approval chains, and portfolio-level visibility.

The Gantt chart implementation is among the best in the PM category. Dependencies, critical paths, and automatic rescheduling when deadlines shift give project managers the planning rigor they need. The resource management module shows workload distribution across team members and projects, preventing the overallocation that plagues organizations where multiple projects compete for the same people. For PMOs managing portfolios of interconnected projects, this visibility is essential.

Custom workflows allow teams to build processes that match how they actually work rather than forcing them into a tool's predefined structure. Request forms create structured intake processes that prevent the chaos of ad hoc project requests. The proofing and approval workflows are particularly valuable for marketing and creative teams, allowing annotated feedback directly on visual assets within the platform.

The integration ecosystem is comprehensive with 400+ connections. The Adobe Creative Cloud integration is noteworthy, letting designers access and update Wrike tasks without leaving Photoshop or Illustrator. Time tracking, budget management, and client billing reports are built in, making Wrike suitable for professional services firms.

Pricing starts with a free plan for unlimited users but with significant feature limitations. The Team plan at $9.80/user/month unlocks Gantt charts, custom fields, and automations. The Business plan at $24.80/user/month adds resource management, proofing, and advanced permissions. Enterprise and Pinnacle plans with advanced features require custom pricing. The per-user costs add up quickly for larger teams, though Wrike typically replaces multiple tools.

The significant downside is complexity. New users face a steep learning curve, and small teams will find Wrike more robust than they need. The mobile app is functional but more limited than the desktop experience, and some features require time to discover in the interface.

The bottom line: Wrike is the right choice for mid-to-large organizations managing complex, cross-functional projects where resource allocation, dependencies, and portfolio visibility are critical requirements. For teams that need enterprise-grade project management with real depth, Wrike delivers outstanding value.