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ZenTao Alternatives: 6 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

Explore 6 alternatives to ZenTao — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

6 free ZenTao alternatives, ranked at a glance

Quick answer

The most popular free project management software alternatives to ZenTao are Celoxis, Microsoft Project and Taiga. Celoxis tops the ranking with a SpotScore of 8.9 and 4.43★ from users. Compare all 6 on score, rating, and pricing below.

If ZenTao isn't pulling its weight, this list points you to better options. These 6 project management software free alternatives are ranked by SpotScore (verified satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing model, with editorial review on every entry. Compare them in the table, then read the detail for each pick below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
CeloxisStreamline your projects with Celoxis.8.9★★★★☆ 4.43(100)Freefrom $25/moteams of all sizes
Microsoft ProjectEfficient project management, from start to finish.8.8★★★★☆ 4.02(1526)Freefrom $10 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
TaigaStreamline project collaboration and workflow efficiency.8.4★★★★☆ 4.42(54)Freefrom $5 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
PlanITpokerTransform project planning with the poker metaphor.8.4★★★★☆ 3.96(12)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall & mid-size businesses
airfocusStreamline your work with Airfocus.8.4★★★★☆ 4.35(53)Freefrom $19/moteams of all sizes
Resource Management by SmartsheetElevate your team's performance with resource management.8.2★★★★☆ 3.99(118)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes

8.9

SpotScore

Celoxis - Project Management Software

Celoxis

Streamline your projects with Celoxis.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

100 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Celoxis?

Celoxis is a project management software that connects your team and simplifies your day-to-day work on shared projects. Its revolutionary time-tracking system automatically logs start and end times to every task, while useful Gantt charts visualize dependencies, milestones and progress. It ...

Read more about Celoxis
Free TrialTry Free →

8.8

SpotScore

Microsoft Project - Project Management Software

Microsoft Project

Efficient project management, from start to finish.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.0

1526 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is the project management solution that helps teams easily collaborate, communicate and follow their project plan from start to finish. Microsoft Project also helps streamline business processes so that your team can better focus on important project details and more ...

Read more about Microsoft Project
Free TrialTry Free →·

Microsoft Project offers custom pricing plan

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8.4

SpotScore

Taiga - Project Management Software

Taiga

Streamline project collaboration and workflow efficiency.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

54 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Taiga?

Taiga is a group project management software. It is designed to improve communication and transparency on your team between clients and developers. This application gives you a virtual space to discuss and manage a project together. Taiga allows features such as Kanban boards, Scrum boards, ...

Read more about Taiga
Free Trial·

Taiga offers custom pricing plan

8.4

SpotScore

PlanITpoker - Project Management Software

PlanITpoker

Transform project planning with the poker metaphor.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

4.0

12 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is PlanITpoker?

PlanITPoker is a project planning and management solution for tracking project status, managing resources, viewing critical tasks and managing deliverables. It uses the poker metaphor to improve stake holder interest and commitment to the project. A comprehensive feature set allows you to ...

Read more about PlanITpoker
Free Trial

8.4

SpotScore

airfocus - Project Management Software

airfocus

Streamline your work with Airfocus.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.3

53 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is airfocus?

Airfocus is a project management software that helps individuals and teams better manage their work. It is based on the idea that one application should be able to support its users across all phases of their work, in an entirely non disruptive way, providing true Agile project management for ...

Read more about airfocus
Free TrialTry Free →·

airfocus offers custom pricing plan

8.2

SpotScore

Resource Management by Smartsheet - Project Management Software

Resource Management by Smartsheet

Elevate your team's performance with resource management.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.0

118 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Resource Management by Smartsheet?

Resource Management by Smartsheet is the ultimate tool for efficient team and project management. Designed for high-performing teams, this software streamlines the planning process by providing features such as budget forecasting, team hiring, and utilization tracking. It simplifies the process ...

Read more about Resource Management by Smartsheet
Free Trial·

Resource Management by Smartsheet offers custom pricing plan

ZenTao vs its closest competitors

Buyers comparing ZenTao usually weigh it against these 6 project management software competitors, starting with Celoxis, Microsoft Project and Taiga. Each is compared against ZenTao on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Tools similar to ZenTao

Searches for "sites like ZenTao" and "apps like ZenTao" land on the same shortlist as "ZenTao alternatives" — the 6 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each tool is in the running

Celoxis8.9Best for teams of all sizes

Configurable to fit diverse team and project requirements with role-based resource management.

Watch for: Administrator settings are complex, with a steep learning curve due to the volume of advanced features.

Microsoft Project8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Customizable and flexible for various project types, including complex ones.

Watch for: High subscription cost; no longer available for outright purchase.

Taiga8.4Best for teams of all sizes

Provides features for project management, including Kanban and Scrum, that improve organization and team productivity.

Watch for: Interface design needs improvement, with some users finding it outdated or visually unappealing.

PlanITpoker8.4Best for small & mid-size businesses

Engaging poker metaphor

Watch for: Limited customization options

airfocus8.4Best for teams of all sizes

Clear interface that simplifies roadmap creation and product prioritization for teams with varying technical backgrounds.

Watch for: Mobile app has limited functionality compared to the web version.

Resource Management by Smartsheet8.2Best for teams of all sizes

Interface requires minimal training for teams to adopt.

Watch for: Data export issues, with errors such as mismatched fields, limiting reliability for some users.

Why teams look for a ZenTao alternative

Before comparing options, it helps to name why teams leave ZenTao in the first place:

  • Minor bugs and glitches reported occasionally, though issues are generally addressed quickly by support.
  • Labels and some features lack standardization, which can be confusing for users.
  • Some features are not intuitive, requiring additional effort to use fully.
  • System performance slows down with high user volume, impacting usability during peak times.

What to look at before switching from ZenTao

Here's the data-driven picture across all 6 project management software free alternatives: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $5–$25, with Taiga the cheapest entry point; and Celoxis is the highest rated at 4.43★ across 100 reviews.

Behind the order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to ZenTao are Celoxis (4.4★), Taiga (4.4★), airfocus (4.3★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to ZenTao, prioritize: Kanban Board, Time & Expense Tracking, Task Management, Status Tracking, Requirement Management, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

ZenTao starts from $24.90 One-Time Payment. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply ZenTao is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Choosing the best ZenTao alternative for your goals

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Celoxis, Microsoft Project and Taiga let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Celoxis has the strongest star rating (4.43★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Celoxis has the highest Spotsaas Score (8.9) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

The switch from ZenTao

A low-stress switch from ZenTao starts with exporting your data and confirming the new tool imports it. Check feature parity for your real workflows, run a short pilot, and keep ZenTao active until the move is finished. The free tiers above let you trial first.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].