Top 10 Accelo Alternatives & Competitors in 2024 (Free/Paid)

Isn’t it frustrating to manage different tabs for your CRM, messaging apps, and project management software to get the work done? Context switching is real and affects team productivity, especially for service businesses.

Accelo offers to combat this problem by providing a bundle with time-tracking features, business intelligence, reporting capabilities, and more.

In addition, Accelo also uses the whole screen to display relevant data and help users make data-driven decisions. This is a godsend design for sales/data-intensive workflows.

However, while the app offers a hefty number of features and functional layouts, this design can steepen the learning curve, especially for non-technical users.

Information overload is also a common issue that users encounter, as the data dump can be too much. It can distract the user and affect the tool’s performance.

Top 10 Accelo Alternatives & Competitors in 2024

If you’re looking for some alternatives to Accelo, you’re in a great place! We’ve created a list of the best Accelo alternatives offer something unique to address a wide range of use cases.

1. Ahsuite

Ahsuite isn’t just an ordinary collaboration tool—it is a cloud-based client work management platform designed to provide resources and support for clients and teams.

As another business tool option, Ahsuite is a breath of fresh air for users who prefer a user-friendly interface and snappy performance.

Users still have access to the tools and information they need to run operations while keeping things organized.

Collaboration tools

Productivity and team collaboration have direct relationships, and its more evident in remote teams and online workplaces. Get these benefits with the Ahsuite task management tool:

Stop every productivity killer and lost work progress with custom labels, dependencies, subtasks, checklists, and calendar views.
With the calendar view, get a bird’ s-eye view of all incoming and outgoing tasks.
Create and automate routine tasks for every project with customizable templates.
Don’t lose a task again; tag and organize tasks and items with searchable labels.
Enjoy hassle-free and secure Smart File Sharing features with unlimited storage.
Receive files, approvals, and feedback all in one place.

White label client portal

Like Accelo, Ahsuite offers a customizable client portal to help business users streamline interactions with teams and clients, all within a seamless setup.

While Accelo already fills up the default rows on its sidebar, Ahsuite lets users remove and add views. For example, if your project doesn’t need a “quotes” section, you can omit it.

This means you can add more third-party embeds via iframes, allowing teams to provide a personalized experience. It also helps agencies and consulting firms fit their operations into the platform (and not vice versa).

Here’s what you can embed with the Ahsuite client portal:

Reports and dashboards
Office documents and PowerPoint
CSV, Tableau, and other data-related files
Video files (local and online)
Calendars and forms
Design drafts (from Figma, Canva, and more)

File organization & minimalistic UI

Sharing information in the modern workforce must strike the perfect balance between security and convenience. With Ahsuite, users can set up sharing permissions, version control, and labels to keep their files secure and up to date.

In addition, Ahsuites supports robust security measures such as 256-AES encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA) to adhere to various industry needs.

Ahsuite’s minimalist and clean design supports various business processes for:

Accountants
Agencies
Freelancers
Financial Advisors
Law Firms
Other Small Businesses

Pros:

With flat monthly pricing, there is no “per-user” structure except for the agency plan.
Reliable features that get the job done without needing an extra subscription.
Has a file and task manager for the in-house organization.
Robust sharing options (team only, all team, or client only).
You can find potential clients or workmates using the Ahsuite network.
Easy to set up and implement. Config is a one-and-done thing.

Cons:

There is no billing, time tracking, or e-sign features, but it’s on the roadmap.
Client approval is there, but it is rudimentary.
Notifications are there, but there are no reminders.
There is a lot of “white space” in some parts of the app.

Pricing:

Starter (Free)
Grow ($8/month)
Professional ($17/month)
Agency ($29/month)

Ratings:

G2: 4.7 out of 5 (82 Reviews)
Capterra: 5 out of 5 (19 Reviews)

2. Scoro

Scoro is a great tool for professional services automation because it focuses on real-time tracking of project progress, income-to-expense metrics, and team utilization.

Dashboards are customizable, but some default settings are made for relevant stakeholders, such as account managers, project managers, and utilization specialists.

This management solution is also known for its “task bundles,” wherein users can group together and manage a collection of tasks for easier tracking and quoting.

Pros:

Using collapsable sections balances the data view and minimalist UI.
Every feature is cohesively connected, which reduces/avoids a lot of redundancies.
Reports and dashboards have very handy templates for common business KPIs.
You can add custom “permission sets” for contacts and users (customer portal).

Cons:

Shifting between pages could be slow, especially if huge data is involved.
You can’t customize the labels and default parameters in some areas.
The Calendar is for team activities only; all individual tasks are on the Planner.
Users who are not familiar with business management software would need training.

Pricing:

Essential ($28/user/mo)
Standard ($42/user/mo)
Pro ($71/user/mo)
Ultimate (Contact Sales)

Ratings:

G2: 4.8 out of 5 (398 reviews)
Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (236 reviews)

3. Avaza

Avaza makes simplicity its strength by prioritizing performance over visual aspects. Although it has outdated UI, it is easy to navigate because all functions are connected.

For example, accurate billing functions are important for tracking billable hours and creating/processing invoices. It also offers tools for basic project/pipeline management.

This makes expense management easy, even for both billable and non-billable hours. Since all functions are interconnected, you must ensure your workflow is properly configured before you can get the best out of this product.

Pros:

You can attach an invoice for inventory items and bookings directly to a task card.
Billing supports various tracking methods (person hourly rate, category rate, etc.)
The report builder is not that visually appealing, but it measures a lot of KPIs.
Messages from individuals, channels, and tasks are centralized in one location.
You can tweak whether you automatically approve timesheets or not.

Cons:

There are graphical glitches (like the glitchy scrolling bar at Team Schedule).
The scheduling function is not the most intuitive UI for users with small screens.
Schedule User Role is only available on premium plans.
The difficult learning curve for people unfamiliar with business management tools.
There are no board options other than a “list” for tasks and projects.

Pricing:

Free
Startup ($11.95/mo)
Basic ($23.95/mo)
Business ($47.95/mo)

Ratings:

G2: 4.6 out of 5 (334 reviews)
Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (420 reviews)

4. Wrike

Wrike is a great Accelo alternative if you manage a group of non-homogenous teams. Users can build custom dashboards that can account for various workflows and datasets.

Managers can assign tasks and track team utilization within the platform. Report templates can be used to quickly generate various reports, including active tasks, project status, weekly time spent, overdue tasks, etc.

The time tracking feature operates on a “per-task” basis to increase data accuracy. Administrative tools such as request forms (internal), Wrike Proof, calendars, and automation features are available out of the box.

Pros:

Easy to the eye, with many UI customization options that make sense.
It includes a mobile app even for the free tiers, which is great for on-the-go users.
Has a simple and sleek yet powerful filter for sorting tasks.
Handy report builder if what you have in mind is already pre-built.
Grouping users based on role is possible and is an easy process.

Cons:

Slowing down internet issues is more notable than other alternatives.
Using the app is easy, but navigating customization settings can be challenging.
Admins need to standardize processes to avoid users utilizing inconsistent workflows.

Pricing:

Free
Team ($9.8/user/month)
Business ($24.80/user/month)
Enterprise (Contact Sales)
Pinnacle (Contact Sales)

Ratings:

G2: 4.2 out of 5 (3,694 reviews)
Capterra: 4.3 out of 5 (2,631 reviews)

Related: 11 Best Wrike Alternatives

5. Float

Float is a great Accelo alternative for agencies needing strong resource management, planning, and scheduling features to manage large teams.

The platform lets users manage group schedules while minimizing process bloat, allowing agencies to streamline their project management and tracking. It can show each member’s availability and tasks and the priority and status of each commitment.

Take note that the platform itself is barebones — it does not have templates, automation, or other bells and whistles that competitors have. But this makes the performance snappier and consistent across all its tools. To get the most out of it, users should invest time in customizing and managing tags (users, projects, roles, and departments).

Pros:

Task, schedule, and work management functions can be done within one screen.
Setting up and using filters is easy. Users can save their views for later.
Great pricing for agencies just starting/need resource planning features.
Natively syncs with popular project management tools like Asana, Jira, and Trello.
Calendar integration supports Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCal.

Cons:

You need to enter the client name in projects manually; there is no CRM.
Lacks some features from Accelo, including a client portal, form builder, and more.
Integrations are needed to provide a better experience in messaging and automation.
There are no file management and sharing tools included out of the box.
Custom contracts and SLAs are only available at the enterprise level.

Pricing

Starter ($7.50/user/month)
Pro ($12.50/user/month)
Enterprise (Contact Sales)

Ratings

G2: 4.2 out of 5 (1,240 reviews)
Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 (1,592 reviews)

6. Teamwork

Teamwork is a traditional project management platform that lets you manage, coordinate, and track projects and tasks. It builds upon its core feature set by adding tools like risk registers, notebooks, budgeting, timesheets, and proofs to differentiate itself.

Another interesting feature is how easily users can change the platform view to see project timelines and schedules from different angles. You can quickly add tasks, timers, logs, and budgets to your dashboard.

Pros:

“Jump to” add lets you make your tool shortcut for easier navigation.
Automation uses templates for commonly used actions.
Projects can be tagged for better visibility/prioritization.
Provides handy tools like forms, proofs, and report builders.
Integration for Slack, Zapier, and MS Teams is offered for free.
Sorting filters are helpful and fast for regular everyday uses.
You can easily import your project from Wrike, Asanam Basecamp, Trello, and more.

Cons:

There is no option to separate internal and external projects/contacts.
Minor graphics glitches can happen occasionally (especially on tools not used often).
If you want to create, update, or use the task cards, you must open them in full screen.
Automation is only available for 5,000 actions per month (for the lowest tier).

Pricing:

Free
Deliver ($13.99/user/month)
Grow ($25.99/user/month)
Scale (Contact Sales)

Ratings:

G2: 4.4 out of 5 (1,122 reviews)
Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 (860 reviews)

Related: 10 Best Teamwork Alternatives

7. Productive.io

Productive.io is a project management solution that lets you manage tasks, resources, budget, and time utilization in a single platform. It also features a CRM that allows you to automate pipeline activities to keep your deals current.

It has core PM features to meet wide-ranging project management needs, but one of its best features is the Gantt Chart, which you can color-code by workflow status. Tasks being searchable in the chart helps pinpoint priorities and drive visual project management.

Pros:

Users can view the last activity per project, which is helpful for time-sensitive tracking.
Offers flexible views and filters for showing data from projects, financials, and more.
Easy tracking for budget/expense, ROI, and metrics per employee hour/project.

Cons:

Performance can be slow in some areas, especially within project management.
You can’t assign multiple users to a single project.
The screen is not optimized for displaying data (lots of unutilized white space).
Navigation isn’t always clear and can be difficult for non-technical users.

Pricing:

Essential ($11/month)
Professional ($28/month)
Ultimate (Contact Sales)
Enterprise (Contact Sales)

Ratings:

G2: 4.7 out of 5 (44 reviews)
Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (84 reviews)

8. Monday.com

At a glance, Monday.com feels like a traditional work management software and project management tool. However, one thing that differentiates it from other products is that it doesn’t have a “siloed” function.

Users are not limited to tabs like “Projects,” “Tasks,” “CRM,” and so on. Instead, they can add and remove tabs based on their workflow requirements. If users want to see time tracking and integrations with popular platforms in their workspace, they can do so with apps and embeds.

Monday.com also provides small features that are missing (or not accessible) to other competitors. Features like conditional filters and a visibility counter on cards are great ways to reduce the number of times you click on the screen to get the needed data.

Pros:

You can customize almost all platform aspects (including custom features).
Quality-of-life improvements (view locking, collapsable tables, and integrations).
Users are not locked on a static content layout and can adapt to their workflows.
Widgets let users mix and match features.
Automation can be universal or board-based.

Cons:

Setting up workspace permission requires the Enterprise plan.
A minimum of 3 seats ($27 per month) are needed to get the Basic plan.
While handy, users must learn the Developer Center to create custom apps.
Basic features (e.g., timeline & Gantt views, guest access) are not on the Basic plan

Pricing:

Basic ($12/user/month)
Standard ($14/user/month)
Pro ($24/user/month)
Enterprise (Contact Sales)

Ratings:

G2: 4.7 out of 5 (11,918 reviews)
Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (4,810)

9. ClickUp

A lot of users may find ClickUp similar to Monday.com — with customizable views, layout, and even design. What sets them apart is ClickUp’s better collaborative work management and data collection features.

While ClickUp can support teams of all sizes, it is a better project management tool for smaller teams with clearly defined roles.

Pros:

Has a free tier for five spaces and 60 custom uses.
Has unique quality-of-life improvements like collapsable empty columns.
Offers a large number of templates with varying complexities and uses.
ClickApps are available even on the free plan.
Users can configure the task types to fit their operations better.
Recording and sharing clips doesn’t require extensions.

Cons:

Some advanced features (e.g., custom exporting and granular time estimates) are only available on higher-tier plans.
When not configured properly, the notifications can be overwhelming (and persistent).
There is no way to chat with your team/client members except with comments.

Pricing:

Free
Unlimited ($10/user/month)
Business ($19/user/month)
Enterprise (Contact Sales)

Ratings:

G2: 4.7 out of 5 (9,538 reviews)
Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 (4,131 reviews)

Related: 10 Best ClickUp Alternatives

10. LiquidPlanner

LiquidPlanner is a project management application recognized for its focus on resource planning, especially for keeping projects on time for a long-term portfolio with well-defined requirements and task dependencies.

Users can use automatic scheduling, portfolio view, availability management, and customizable dashboards to ensure each project comes along as expected.

The integration of time tracking makes it easy to measure forecasted vs. actual schedules rendered easy. A “rush” feature is also added to accommodate shifting priorities.

Pros:

Information density is high, but the screen doesn’t get overcrowded.
Users can group projects (packages) based on priority.
Snappy performance improves task visibility across projects.

Cons:

The only native integration is Slack (no data import/export).
Navigation challenges: you need to click many links to find what you’re looking for.
Timesheet doesn’t include an automatic tracker; you must log your time manually.

Pricing:

Essentials ($15/user/month)
Professional ($28/user/month)
Ultimate ($42/user/month)
All plans are available with annual billing only

Ratings:

G2: 4.2 out of 5 (294 reviews)
Capterra: 4.3 out of 5 (667 reviews)

Summary

And there you have it—we’ve explored the top Accelo alternatives for businesses looking to enhance client relationships and streamline project management and collaboration.

While Accelo is a powerful all-in-one agency management tool, these alternatives offer unique features and other alternatives might be better for certain team sizes and industries.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your client interactions and deliver a personalized experience, the Ahsuite client portal might be a better option.

Sign up for a 30-day trial and try robust features such as task management, iframe embeds, and secure password manager, all in a single platform.