10 best project management software with client portal

One of the biggest challenges when managing projects is keeping clients in the loop without overwhelming them–or yourself. You want your clients to feel confident and informed, but constant emails, calls, and meetings can quickly turn into a time-consuming task.

That’s where project management software with a client portal comes in. In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the best project management tools that offer client portals, so you can improve collaboration, save time, and keep everyone on the same page.

What is a client portal?

A client portal is like a dedicated window that gives your clients access to important project information without them needing to wade through countless emails or wait for updates. It‘s a secure, self-service space where clients can view project progress, provide feedback, access files, and even approve tasks–all in one place.

A client portal allows you to:

• Keep clients informed on progress without needing to send constant manual updates.
• Provide access to download, review, and upload important files
• Streamline feedback cycles by letting clients comment directly on tasks or approve deliverables.
• Give clients a clear view of upcoming deadlines, completed tasks, and overall project status.
• Reduce the need for lengthy email threads with a centralized communication hub.
• Share sensitive information securely, with controlled access and permissions.
• Build trust by giving clients a clear view of the project‘s progress, eliminating the guesswork.

Client portal features software of your choice should have

A well-designed project management software with client portal offers a range of features that help solve common challenges in client communication and project management. We‘ll use Birdview as an example to show you the key client features and how they address specific challenges:

Secure file and document sharing

📍 Challenge: Constantly emailing documents back and forth can lead to confusion, lost files, or security risks.

💡 Solution: Birdview allows you to upload and share files securely in one centralized location. Clients can easily access the files they need, download them, and even upload their own, all without worrying about security breaches or losing track of attachments. Birdview also integrates with popular document management systems like OneDrive and SharePoint, making it even easier to sync and manage files seamlessly.

Real-time updates

📍 Challenge: Clients often feel out of the loop and need frequent updates, which can become time-consuming for you.

💡 Solution: With Birdview‘s real-time update feature, your clients can log in to the portal anytime to check the progress of tasks, deadlines, and milestones. This reduces the need for constant manual updates and keeps everyone informed without extra effort on your part.

Feedback and approval system

Challenge: Gathering feedback or approvals via email can lead to delays and miscommunication.

💡 Solution: Birdview simplifies this process with an integrated feedback and approval system. Clients can leave comments directly on tasks, provide feedback, or approve deliverables in a streamlined way. This ensures all feedback is clear, timely, and easy to track within one platform, avoiding endless email chains.

Project and task visibility

📍 Challenge: Clients may feel uncertain about what‘s being worked on or what‘s coming next.

💡 Solution: Birdview offers a clear view of all ongoing and upcoming tasks, so your clients can see exactly what‘s happening with their project. This increases transparency and helps manage expectations on both sides, ensuring your clients always know where things stand.

Collaborative communication

📍 Challenge: Long email threads can become overwhelming and lead to miscommunication.

💡 Solution: Birdview‘s built-in communication tools allow for a centralized place for discussions. Whether it’s quick questions or in-depth conversations, everything stays organized and easily accessible within the platform, making collaboration with clients smoother and more efficient.

Custom permissions

📍 Challenge: You may not want all clients to have access to every document or aspect of the project.

💡 Solution: Birdview gives you control over what each client can see and access with its custom permissions feature. You can limit access to sensitive information while still sharing the right updates with the appropriate stakeholders, ensuring data security and streamlined communication.

Top 10 project management software with a client portal

Birdview

Birdview is a project and portfolio management tool designed to provide a clear, unified view of multiple projects while enhancing team collaboration and resource management. With its intuitive interface, Birdview helps teams plan, execute, and track progress across projects of varying complexity. The platform‘s strong focus on automation and customization allows teams to streamline workflows, allocate resources effectively, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Key features:

👥 Comprehensive resource management

Birdview lets you easily plan, allocate, and track resources across projects. You can quickly see team availability and adjust workloads in real-time to avoid overallocation and keep projects moving efficiently.

⏱ Advanced project scheduling

With Gantt charts and visual timelines, Birdview makes scheduling simple. You can map out tasks, dependencies, and milestones, ensuring projects stay on schedule and deadlines are met.

📊 Customizable dashboards and reports

Birdview offers customizable dashboards to track key metrics like project progress, budget, and resource utilization. Tailored reports help you spot issues, forecast needs, and make informed decisions.

🤝 Client portal integration

The client portal gives clients controlled access to project updates, files, and progress. It streamlines communication by allowing clients to provide feedback and approve tasks, reducing back-and-forth.

 

⚙️ Workflow automation

Birdview automates workflows by handling repetitive processes such as reminders, task assignments, and status updates. This improves efficiency and ensures consistency, letting your team focus on high-value work.

💼 Portfolio management

Birdview‘s portfolio management feature allows you to oversee multiple projects from a single dashboard. You can monitor project performance, allocate resources strategically, and ensure alignment with business goals, all while keeping track of overall progress.

Trial: A free 14-day trial is available, possibly extending the trial period to 28 days. Sign up for a trial today to learn more about Birdview.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Many users highlight Birdview‘s user-friendly interface, making it easy for teams to navigate and adopt the platform quickly, even for those who aren‘t particularly tech-savvy. Its comprehensive resource management capabilities are frequently praised, especially for teams handling multiple projects or managing large groups. Additionally, Birdview‘s strong reporting features stand out, with users appreciating the ability to customize dashboards and reports, offering valuable insights into project performance and progress.

👎 Cons:

While the interface is generally easy to use, there‘s a learning curve for advanced features, with some users finding it takes time to master the more complex functionalities of the platform fully. This can be a hurdle for teams looking to leverage their full potential from the start.

OneDesk

OneDesk is an all-in-one platform that combines project management and help desk functionality. It enables teams to manage both internal tasks and customer support requests in a single tool, improving efficiency and communication. With features for task management, ticketing, and customer communication, it‘s ideal for teams juggling both project tracking and client needs.

Key features: Ticketing system, task management, customer communication, time tracking, project planning, workflow automation, customizable dashboards.

Trial: A free 14-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users appreciate the combination of project management and help desk tools, making it easier to manage both tasks and customer requests without switching platforms. The customizable workflows and dashboards are also praised for adapting to specific team needs.

👎 Cons:

Some find the interface cluttered, especially when dealing with large amounts of data, making it harder to navigate. There‘s also a learning curve for new users, as the platform offers many features that can be overwhelming initially.

Freshdesk

Freshdesk is a cloud-based help desk software designed to help businesses provide exceptional customer support. It offers a simple and intuitive interface that allows support teams to manage tickets, automate workflows, and collaborate efficiently, making it easier to handle customer inquiries across multiple channels.

Key features: Ticketing system, multichannel support, automation tools, SLA management, team collaboration, reporting and analytics.

Trial: A free 21-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users love Freshdesk‘s easy-to-use interface and the ability to handle multichannel support–whether through email, chat, or phone–without complication. The automation features also receive praise for simplifying repetitive tasks like ticket assignments and follow-ups, helping teams stay efficient.

👎 Cons:

However, some users mention that the pricing can increase quickly with added features or additional agents, which can be a drawback for smaller teams. There are also occasional mentions of limited customization options, especially for users looking to tailor workflows extensively.

Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is a project management software with client portal that helps teams plan, track, and collaborate on projects of all sizes. It offers a range of tools for task management, time tracking, and team collaboration, making it a flexible solution for businesses looking to streamline their workflows and improve productivity.

Key features: Task management, time tracking, Gantt charts, workflow automation, collaboration tools, reporting and analytics.

Trial: A free 10-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users appreciate Zoho Projects for its affordability and wide range of features, which make it suitable for teams of various sizes. The Gantt charts and time-tracking functionalities are frequently praised for offering clear visibility into project timelines and workloads. The integration with other Zoho products also enhances its value for users already within the Zoho ecosystem.

👎 Cons:

Some users mention that the interface can feel a bit dated, and navigating through more advanced features can be challenging at first. There are also reports that the mobile app lacks full functionality, limiting usability when managing tasks on the go.

Basecamp

Basecamp is a project management software with client portal designed for teams to organize tasks, collaborate, and stay on top of their work. It emphasizes clear communication and transparency, making it ideal for small to mid-sized teams that want to streamline their workflows without complex setups.

Key features: Task management, team collaboration, file sharing, message boards, real-time chat, project tracking.

Trial: A free 30-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users love Basecamp for its simplicity and ease of use, especially for teams that want a straightforward solution without a steep learning curve. The platform‘s focus on team collaboration and communication is highly praised, making it easy for teams to stay connected and on the same page.

👎 Cons:

On the downside, some users feel that Basecamp lacks advanced project management features like Gantt charts or detailed reporting, which can be limiting for larger or more complex projects. Others mention that the flat pricing model may not be ideal for very small teams that don‘t need access for many users.

Paymo

Paymo is a project management tool designed for small to mid-sized teams, combining task management, time tracking, and invoicing. It helps businesses streamline project workflows, monitor team performance, and handle billing all within a single platform, making it ideal for teams that juggle multiple projects and client work.

Key features: Task management, time tracking, invoicing, project scheduling, team collaboration, reporting.

Trial: A free 15-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users appreciate Paymo‘s integrated time tracking and invoicing features, which make it easy for teams working with clients to track billable hours and generate invoices directly. The platform‘s clean interface and project scheduling tools are often praised for making project timelines clear and easy to manage.

👎 Cons:

Some users mention that Paymo‘s learning curve can be steep for those unfamiliar with project management software, especially when setting up more advanced features. Additionally, a few users find that customization options are somewhat limited, which can make it less flexible for larger teams with specific needs.

Jira

Jira is a project management software with client portal used for software development and agile teams. It excels in issue tracking and workflow management, offering customizable boards and automation features to help teams plan, track, and release projects efficiently.

Key features: Issue tracking, agile boards (Kanban, Scrum), workflow automation, reporting and analytics, customizable workflows, integrations with development tools.

Trial: A free 7-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Jira is praised for its issue-tracking and agile project management capabilities, making it a go-to for development teams. The customizability of workflows and the ability to integrate with other development tools like GitHub and Bitbucket are often highlighted as major strengths. Users also appreciate the detailed reporting and analytics.

👎 Cons:

However, some users note that Jira can be complex and difficult to navigate for new users, especially those unfamiliar with agile methodologies. There are also mentions that setup and configuration can be time-consuming and that it may be overwhelming for smaller teams or simpler projects that don’t require such advanced features.

Podio

Podio is a work and project management software with client portal that allows teams to customize workflows, manage projects, and collaborate efficiently. It offers a wide range of integrations and customization options, making it suitable for teams with unique processes or specific project needs.

Key features: Task management, customizable workflows, file sharing, team collaboration, project templates.

Trial: A free 30-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users appreciate Podio‘s high level of customization, which allows teams to tailor the platform to fit their unique workflows and project needs. The collaborative tools make it easy for teams to share files, assign tasks, and stay connected, while the ability to integrate with third-party apps adds flexibility for managing diverse projects.

👎 Cons:

However, some users mention that Podio‘s interface can feel outdated and not as intuitive as other project management tools, which can slow down adoption. There are also reports that setup can be complicated due to the high degree of customization, which may be overwhelming for smaller teams or those looking for a more straightforward solution.

OneHub

OneHub is a cloud-based file-sharing and collaboration platform designed for businesses to share and manage documents securely. It‘s particularly well-suited for teams that need to collaborate on sensitive documents, offering robust security features alongside easy-to-use file management tools.

Key features: File sharing, permission controls, secure data rooms, document collaboration, activity tracking, branded portals.

Trial: A free 14-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users value OneHub‘s strong security features, particularly its ability to create secure data rooms for confidential document sharing. The platform is also praised for being easy to use, allowing teams to collaborate and manage files without hassle.

👎 Cons:

Some users note that OneHub‘s pricing can get expensive for smaller teams, especially when scaling up with more storage or features. Additionally, it is mentioned that the platform‘s collaboration tools are somewhat limited compared to more comprehensive project management systems, making it less ideal for teams that need advanced collaboration features.

MeisterTask

MeisterTask is a task management tool designed for teams to collaborate, organize, and track their work using customizable Kanban-style boards. It‘s ideal for teams that need a simple, flexible platform to manage tasks and workflows efficiently.

Key features: Kanban boards, task management, workflow automation, time tracking, team collaboration, customizable dashboards.

Trial: A free 30-day trial is available.

What users say

👍 Pros:

Users appreciate MeisterTask‘s clean and intuitive interface, which makes it easy for teams to get started quickly without a steep learning curve. The customizable Kanban boards and workflow automation features are also praised for streamlining task management and improving productivity.

👎 Cons:

However, some users feel that MeisterTask lacks advanced reporting and project management features, which can make it less suitable for more complex projects. There are also mentions that the free version has limited functionality, requiring an upgrade to access more powerful features, which may be a drawback for smaller teams with tight budgets.

Boost transparency and trust with Birdview‘s client portal

A client portal isn‘t just about making things easier for your team–it‘s a powerful tool to build trust with your clients. Birdview‘s project management software comes with a built-in client portal that doesn‘t just simplify collaboration–it enhances trust.

By providing your clients with secure, real-time access to project updates, files, and communication, Birdview ensures full transparency throughout the entire project lifecycle. Clients can see progress at a glance, track milestones, and review important documents whenever they need, reinforcing their confidence in your work.