🍂 Harvest big savings - Get up to 60% off on your first year with Paymo!

Check plans and pricesarrow-ribbon
Paymo Logo
Blog Home
header post

Jump to section

10 PM software with client portal
Work Management
Last modified date

Jul 26, 2024

10 Project Management Software With Client Portal

author image

Alexandra Martin

Blog average read time

11 min

Last modified date

July 26, 2024


Choosing the right project management software is essential, especially when managing client projects. A client portal—or customer portal—integrated into the software is a real game-changer.

These portals are designed to streamline communication, enhance transparency, and build trust, allowing clients to stay updated on project progress in real time by giving them access to the software. With a client portal, clients can easily access updates, provide feedback, and stay engaged throughout the project, ensuring they feel involved and informed at every step.

In this article, we’ll explore ten of the best project management software options with client portals. These tools are tested and reviewed to help you find the perfect match for your business needs. From small startups needing cost-effective solutions to large enterprises demanding top-notch security, there’s something here for everyone.

Based on careful hands-on testing, here is my list of the best project management software with client portal for different needs and use cases:

  1. Paymo – best value/money for a client portal with streamlined time tracking and invoicing
  2. Wrike – best if you need custom intake forms in your client portal
  3. Jira – best for software development teams working with multiple clients
  4. Scoro  – best for corporate/enterprise level client portal with advanced security
  5. Kantata – best client portal for professional services-oriented businesses
  6. Teamwork – best for automatically calculated high-level project metrics
  7. Zoho Creator – best for users who already use Zoho CRM and need a client portal
  8. Basecamp – best for working with clients who do not wish to use any client portal 
  9. Podio – best for users who want to create their own custom client portal
  10. Flowlu – best if you want to build a knowledge base for your clients

10 PM software with client portal

1. Paymo

best value/money for a client portal with streamlined time tracking and invoicing

Pricing: Low

90

of 100

Pros
pros-image

simplified client collaboration

pros-image

customizable access levels

pros-image

guest invitations

pros-image

file sharing capabilities

pros-image

integration with time tracking and invoicing

pros-image

advanced PM features

pros-image

affordability

Cons
cons-image

limited mobile app functionality for clients

cons-image

occasional performance issues

cons-image

limited integration options

2. Wrike

best if you need custom intake forms in your client portal

Pricing: High

87

of 100

Pros
pros-image

custom intake forms for client requests

pros-image

efficient request routing

pros-image

integration with Blueprints

pros-image

advanced task management features

pros-image

centralized communication

Cons
cons-image

steep learning curve

cons-image

pricier than other PM software with client portal

cons-image

potential overwhelm from features

cons-image

not ideal for time tracking needs

3. Jira

best for software development teams working with multiple clients

Pricing: Average

85

of 100

Pros
pros-image

customizable client portal

pros-image

efficient request management

pros-image

integration with Confluence

pros-image

strong bug tracking and automation

pros-image

support for agile methodologies

Cons
cons-image

very steep learning curve for client portal setup

cons-image

complex setup process

cons-image

overwhelming features for the lay

cons-image

initial configuration challenged

4. Scoro

best for corporate/enterprise level client portal with advanced security

Pricing: Very High

81

of 100

Pros
pros-image

complex client portal

pros-image

personalization options and customizable menu settings

pros-image

advanced security measures

pros-image

real-time notifications

pros-image

robust project management features with financial tracking

Cons
cons-image

expensive compared to other PM software

cons-image

steep learning curve

cons-image

occasional technical issues

cons-image

English-only UI

5. Kantata

best client portal for professional services-oriented businesses

Pricing: Very High

78

of 100

Pros
pros-image

tailored for enterprise-minded professional services

pros-image

secure and transparent communication

pros-image

customizable permissions

pros-image

compliance tracking and reporting

Cons
cons-image

limited task tracking and reporting

cons-image

steep learning curve

cons-image

very high pricing

6. Teamwork

best for automatically calculated high-level project metrics

Pricing: Average

77

of 100

Pros
pros-image

automatic project metric calculations

pros-image

high-level project management overview

pros-image

enhanced accountability

pros-image

trend spotting and ad-hoc notes

Cons
cons-image

steep learning curve

cons-image

some performance issues

cons-image

overwhelming notifications

7. Zoho Creator

best for users who already use Zoho CRM and need a client portal

Pricing: Low

76

of 100

Pros
pros-image

part of Zoho business suite

pros-image

customizable client portals

pros-image

granular access control

pros-image

integration capabilities

pros-image

affordable pricing

Cons
cons-image

limited customization options

cons-image

reliance on Zoho suite

cons-image

need for additional tools

cons-image

challenges with complex projects

8. Basecamp

best for working with clients who do not wish to use any client portal

Pricing: High

75

of 100

Pros
pros-image

centralized communication

pros-image

real-time updates

pros-image

efficient client interactions

pros-image

user-friendly interface

pros-image

real-time group chat

Cons
cons-image

lack of advanced features

cons-image

not your traditional PM tool

9. Podio

best for users who want to create their own custom client portal

Pricing: Average

71

of 100

Pros
pros-image

customization options

pros-image

simple interface

pros-image

extensive app ecosystem with integrations

Cons
cons-image

frequent performance issues

cons-image

long setup time

cons-image

infrequent updates

10. Flowlu

best if you want to build a knowledge base for your clients

Pricing: Low

70

of 100

Pros
pros-image

white-labelling with custom domains

pros-image

affordable and user friendly

pros-image

granular permissions

pros-image

many customization options

Cons
cons-image

limited functionalities in terms of project management

cons-image

missing features, such as recurring payments

cons-image

few integration options

Final words

Paymo excels in providing exceptional value for money with its streamlined time tracking and invoicing features for small teams and companies up to 20 people. On the other hand, Scoro stands out for corporate and enterprise-level needs, offering advanced security measures that larger organizations require.

Podio allows users to create highly customized client portals tailored to specific workflows, whereas Kantata is specifically designed for professional services-oriented businesses, enhancing client collaboration.

Basecamp, in contrast, is ideal for teams working with clients who prefer not to engage with a separate portal, while Jira is best suited for software development teams managing multiple clients through agile project management.

Zoho Creator integrates seamlessly with existing Zoho CRM systems, providing a familiar environment for users, while Teamwork focuses on delivering automatically calculated high-level project metrics. Finally, Wrike offers customizable intake forms to enhance client interactions, and Flowlu provides a robust platform for building a knowledge base, ensuring clients have access to essential resources.

Wrapping up the list of project management software with client portals, it’s clear that each tool offers unique features tailored to different business needs. Whether you’re a small business owner looking for value, a corporate entity needing advanced security or a professional service provider focusing on client interaction, there’s a solution for you.

Alexandra Martin

Author

Drawing from a background in cognitive linguistics and armed with 10+ years of content writing experience, Alexandra Martin combines her expertise with a newfound interest in productivity and project management. In her spare time, she dabbles in all things creative.

Laurențiu Bancu

Editor

Laurențiu started his marketing journey over 18 years ago and now leads a marketing team. He has extensive experience in work and project management, and content strategy. When not working, he’s probably playing board games or binge-watching mini-series.

Read More

October 30, 2024

Read time clock

7 min

100% Free Time Tracking Apps to Track Time Wherever You Are

Author: Laurențiu Bancu

Laurențiu Bancu

November 6, 2024

Read time clock

13 min

Best 100% FREE Invoicing Software

Author: Andrei Țiț

Andrei Țiț

November 6, 2024

Read time clock

10 min

20+ Best Project Management Software for 2024

Author: Andrei Țiț

Andrei Țiț

Paymo
HomeComplete Feature ListPricingFree AccountAbout Us

‾‾‾‾‾

Contact SalesOnboarding

‾‾‾‾‾

CustomersTestimonialsSpread the WordAffiliates

Paymo Logo

Copyright © 2024 Paymo LLC

By signing up, you're agreeing with the Paymo Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Cookies help us deliver our services. By continuing to use the website, you consent to the use of cookies.

Learn more about the cookies in Our Privacy Policy.