Best Project Management Software for Architects: 11 Tools

Architecture practices run on projects that last months or years, with changing scopes, many consultants and tight design deadlines. Generic task tools often can't show what really matters: who's working on what, whether projects are on track and how much time is left.

The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from firm management platforms to focused specialists. Each description comes from the tool's own site, read this week. If you're building your project processes from scratch, my guide to the key project management processes is a useful primer.

Project management software for architects at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes free use or a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many tools for architecture firms start with a demo rather than a free plan.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Asana	General project tool	Studios wanting a general tool	Yes
Bluebeam	Drawing markup	Marking up drawings with the team	Trial only
BQE Core	A&E firm management	Projects, time and billing together	No
Deltek Ajera	Project accounting	Firms that need project accounting	No
Deltek ArchiSnapper	Field reports	Site visits and punch lists	Trial only
Monograph	Firm management	Profitability for small studios	No
Mosaic	Resource planning	Seeing who has capacity	No
Newforma	Project information	Project information in order	No
OpenAsset	DAM and proposals	Project photos for proposals	No
Projectworks	Professional services PM	Resourcing and project finances	Trial only
Unanet AE	A&E ERP	Growing firms needing an ERP	No

Eleven project management tools for architects

Asana

Best for: Small studios that mainly need tasks, deadlines and client deliverables tracked and don't need firm accounting yet.

Bluebeam

Best for: Architects who spend their days marking up drawings and want to collaborate on them with engineers and contractors.

BQE Core

Best for: Architecture and engineering firms that want project planning, time, billing and business intelligence in one system.

Deltek Ajera

Best for: Architecture and engineering practices that want project accounting from a provider built for project-based businesses.

Deltek ArchiSnapper

Best for: Architects doing site visits who want field reports and punch lists done on a phone and sent the same day.

Monograph

Best for: Growing studios that want project planning, staffing, time and invoicing built specifically for architects.

Mosaic

Best for: Firms juggling many projects who want to see staff capacity, plan workload and forecast hiring needs.

Newforma

Best for: Larger practices that want project information organised across every job, with connectors to tools their teams use.

OpenAsset

Best for: Marketing teams at architecture firms who want project photos organised and proposals assembled faster.

Projectworks

Best for: Design and engineering consultancies that want resourcing, time, expenses and project finances in one platform.

Unanet AE

Best for: Growing A&E firms that want ERP, CRM and proposal tools connected as they add offices and staff.

The CDM duties designers carry in the UK

Here's the legal duty UK architects carry into every project. HSE says designers must make sure the client is aware of their duties under CDM 2015 before starting design work, and must eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks where possible.

Project software that keeps design risk registers, client briefings and information handovers in one place makes those duties easier to evidence. Look for document control, task histories and clear records of what was shared and when.

Firm management or project tool?

Firm management platforms combine projects, time tracking, resourcing, invoicing and reporting, built around how architecture and engineering firms work. Project tools focus on tasks and timelines. Specialist tools handle one job, such as resource planning, drawing markup, field reports or project photos for proposals.

Small studios often start with a general project tool and add firm management as they grow. Larger practices usually need a firm management platform at the centre, with specialists connected around it.

Rolling out new software in a practice

1. Agree what success looks like, such as better time tracking or fewer overruns.
2. Set up project stages that match your work stages.
3. Import active projects and team members first.
4. Ask everyone to log time daily for the first month.
5. Review project health weekly in a short team meeting.
6. Add invoicing and reporting once the basics are steady.

Metrics practices watch most

• Time against plan. Hours used versus hours planned per stage.
• Utilisation. How much of each person's time goes on project work.
• Upcoming capacity. Who's free for the next new project.
• Scope changes. Extra work requested and agreed.

Drawings and documents need their own home

Project tools are great for tasks, but drawings, markups and submittals need dedicated document control. Many practices pair a project or firm management platform with a drawing markup tool and a shared document system, linked so the team can jump from a task to the latest drawing.

Site visits and field reports

Site visits create notes, photos and actions that are easy to lose. A field reporting app lets you capture issues on your phone, assign them and send a report the same day. It saves hours of typing up notes back at the studio and gives everyone a clear record.

Do you make project or firm management software for architects? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on project management software for architects

Choose software that shows you project health at a glance. The most useful view in any practice is whether each project is on track for time and scope, and who's overloaded next week. If a tool can't show you that clearly, keep looking.

Then win the team over. Architects want to design, not fill in timesheets, so pick something quick to use and explain how the data helps them, such as fewer late nights before deadlines. My piece on project management as a core business skill makes that case well.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best project management software for architects?

It depends on your practice size. Small studios may use a general tool, while larger firms often need a firm management platform.

What is firm management software?

It combines projects, time tracking, resourcing, invoicing and reporting, built for architecture and engineering firms.

What are a designer's duties under CDM 2015?

HSE says designers must make sure the client is aware of their duties before design work starts and must eliminate foreseeable risks where possible.

Is there free project management software for architects?

General project tools often have free plans, while firm management platforms usually start with a demo. Check the table.

How do architects track time on projects?

Most firm management tools include daily timesheets linked to project stages, which shows where time really goes.

Can software help with resourcing?

Yes. Resource planning tools show who's available and help you forecast staffing for upcoming projects.