ActiveCollab Reviews

Active Collab provided the opportunity to set up templates and we could copy those templates into our active projects. As a project manager, also found the Activity tab to be super helpful. You could see how things are processing within the project and what team members have been completing. It was a good way to reference back a few days or past weeks if you needed to. It's an overall easy system to dive in and start to use. We found that the system was focused mostly on the projects setup and structure.

We found Active Collab to not be as customizable around the individual team member view. This is an area we'd like to see Active Collab improve upon.

If you are looking for a project management system that provides the work you are doing (aka projects) with a focus of getting the work completed, then this will work out nicely. You can also use the Add-ons such as integrating Slack.

We were looking for a system that had the functionality for not only Projects but also for the team. From pulling various reports, to seeing what was due within your My Work tab on a per project basis. You can also use the Add-ons such as integrating Slack.

It has the sophistication we need and remains very easy to use. I've tried nearly every other project management software out there, and this one makes the most sense to me. It allows us to effectively collaborate with clients, and it gives us complete control over what can be seen and accessed. We use it for time tracking as well. It connects with a number of other services including Quickbooks. They really seem to listen to their users. I've asked for things and have seen them implemented. Overall, it's a great solution for us, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to better manage their projects.

I'd like a little more flexibility in the license levels. It would be nice to pay by the user when we need extra users rather than have to bump up to a level that many more users than we currently need.

More efficient project management. More time spent on work, less time searching for files or waiting on emails.

The simplicity of the UX, it means that even the most technophobic of clients can easily utilize a project management system to closely collaborate with us.

Removal of the ability to change the colors that was present in the previous major version.

Waiting on a native desktop app currently so that we can access information whilst offline on our laptops and tablets, like we can with our smartphones.

Not a fan of Elastic Search as it's another thing to run. Without it, your search functionality doesn't work.

An easy to use yet powerful UX that your team will love using. It will be a good fit for the majority of usage scenarios, though developers may prefer something a little more devops oriented, perhaps even open-source too.

If self-hosting Active Collab sounds too involved for you then they also offer a brilliant software as a service version for a reasonable price.

We needed to manage dozens of projects simultaneously with complex requirements, and many people involved. We now get things done faster and have no communication issues.

I have to say that Active Collab is a great alternative to people who have tried Basecamp in the past. It connects employees with clients and let them easily collaborate on their project. It works out of the box and has great service in case there's a problem.

There's always a downside on a management platform, but with Active Collab I actually haven't found one. The apps are fast and easy to use, the system is easy to operate and the server requirements are pretty standard.

The platform gave us a great summary of bugs, kept track of developments and is easy to communicate with our clients. Active Collab is a no brainer if you want to have a similar experience like Basecamp or Asana on your own server.

Simple and affordable pricing makes Active Collab a must-see tool for any small business owner. With all the strength and functionality of Basecamp for a fraction of the cost, this tool can quickly become the cornerstone of any business.

Active Collab has generally decided that marketing to the possible end-user is more important than providing their paying customers with a service that promotes their business. Active Collab has no customization options for the look and feel of the platform. If you are going to use the platform to communicate with your own customers, be aware that they will be receiving emails from active collab, with active collab branding, with only a slight mention of you and your company.

With Active Collab, my teams have really been able to get on the same page. It is fabulous for back end collaboration.

We migrated to Active Collab abount 2 months ago after attempting to work with Basecamp, Trello, and NutCache.

The combination of project management, team+client collaboration, time tracking, expense tracking, and project templates, API, and accounting add-on integrations made this hard to beat.

The UX is also the best that we've come across.

We haven't found anything significant that we would improve about it so far.

The integration could be tighter more extensive with platforms like Xero, but its more than other providers are doing, and the API makes up for it.

Give it a try. Its worth the time and investigation.

This is allowing us to manage software, mobile, and web application development projects with team of developers which very mixed experience. The ability to create templates has been invaluable. Permission management, and client or client+ users has been really helpful. Tracking time and expenses, project goals, tasks, and deadlines has been invaluable.

The platform is really well thought and UX is WAY better than everything else we've tried.

The mobile app could use some work but its on its way.

ActiveCollab is about the only high quality workflow product that doesn't charge per user. It has a clean no-nonsense UI that is easy to stare at and use. Project, to-do's, and team management are intuitive and flexible enough to mend to all types of products and team organizations. It has customer facing views/logins, a time-tracking app, and an ever increasing amount of other integrations like Slack or Quickbooks. It is the best bang for the buck as far as workflows and project management is concerned and if you're willing to deal with a few of its fundamental quirks, you can shed a number of other apps you may be using.

ActiveCollab seems a little confused as far as being an all inclusive software that fundamentally lacks features other project management (or time management) softwares have. I wish ActiveCollab had a chat feature (although it does interact with Slack) and the time management only allows a user to time track on to-do's that they're assigned (although in the backend in the software, anyone can add a time entry to any task). Likewise there's no simple way to look at all of your projects and see them labeled by client (you have have to click a drop down tab and sort everything you'll ever need to see in a more focussed view). Reporting works similarly- there's not an easy way to create your own report (although you can save certain parameters within pre-determined reports). Some info on the reports are only viewable by downloading .csv, not in the actual app. There seems to be a few easy intuitive features like those that were dropped, or were half thought through when implemented.

Like with any project management tool, really get to know it. It will have plenty of quirks, but we found in our experience that learning how to deal with them outweighed the complexity and cost of using other apps.

We have solved the yearn for an inclusive project management system that stores time entries, allows multiple contractors and clients access, has some sort of customizable reporting, and on top of all of that looks good. It's pretty much in a league and price range of its own, and I think with a few minor additions could be the best project and workflow management software out there. It has allowed us to easily track projects, rates, budgets, and time entries in one place for us and our clients to see. I'm always surprised ActiveCollab isn't much much bigger than it is.

I'm obsessed with ActiveCollab. My company (20+ people) lives on this platform daily. We use it for EVERYTHING. Probably the best part about it is the ability to search through tasks. Current and past. It's really easy to figure out anything at any point.

Sometimes they have bugs, not often, but when they do their support team is quick and fixes it right away.

Just do it. It's way better than everything else out there. I've explored them all.

We are organized. We prioritize things now. A/C is REALLY good at prioritizing with their drag and drop functionality. You just move tasks around, create deadlines, etc.

The ability to manage projects in different formats, as well as make subtasks to zacham, add files, notes. For each task list, you can assign a date or a time interval.

Sorting projects. I would like to put them in a convenient order for me. But unfortunately there is no such possibility or I did not see it.

A variety of different functions allows you to use the service as you like and according to your requirements.

I structured the time that was spent in the course of the day. Scheduling tasks helps you to take projects on time.

This software was surprisingly easy for our small business to adopt given we had little exposure to SCRUM but a need to systematize for our rapid growth.

Had some difficulty with the app, specifically the login when using Google integration.

We needed to start running the business based on PMP standards given our growth patterns - couldn't have decisions and tasks owned by one person. Active collab made it easy to engage employees and get the transparency I needed as CEO.

This software, when fully functional, is awesome for client relations. We are able to upload files, google docs, and more, all into one platform. Additionally, we can send messages, create and complete tasks, and even run time reports for what we need to do. Although it has issues, it is a good software, and there is nothing out there like it.

IT IS NEVER FULLY FUNCTIONAL. There is never a day (use it daily) that Active Collab fully works. The entire thing will be down, we won't be able to upload files, and reports can all be down at different times throughout the week. It sucks because it is so great, and we rely on it to work.

Try and see if there is any other software out there that may be better for your business. Active Collab is really great, but their technical support SUCKS and it is honestly not worth integrating everything over to AC for all of those issues. I wish someone told us before we got up to our shoulders.

Client communications, internal communications, to obtain information about past projects, and more. We have realized that the software is fabulous, but it is SO HARD to rely on it because of the inconsistencies and poor management.

ActiveCollab 5 has improved User interface and looks great and very intuitive. The provides great flexibility to include Project team members from various geo locations as well as providing to 3rd party consultants working on the projects.

ActiveCollab also offers on-premise installation option apart from the hosted SaaS model which makes it very flexible catering to companies with varied data security and clod hosting policies.

Sharing project files and assigning tasks to 3rd party consultants through single point. Overall the collaboration component has become a lot easier. Team task

The system does not have the flexibility to integrate with any thrid-party file storage like a Google Drive, Dropbox or Amazon S3 which makes it cost effective easier to manage, especially when we are using a self-hosted version.

All the files related to a specific project are not presented in a very easy to sort manner where we can navigate through files without having to dig through the tasks related to the files.

Theme/branding customization options are harder

Managing teams of software developers and consultants across multiple geographic locations to deliver support services to customers. The project members are not always full time employees of the same company but would need access to specific projects and files and information. All the project submissions including the code files as well as documentation are submitted, exchanged and collaborated through activecollab.

I like the interface, especially of ActiveCollab 5, which is massive UI/UX improvement over AC 4. The product works and feels like Basecamp, but drastically expands the functions of Basecamp with invoicing, estimates and modules that allow you to increase your collaboration with Slack. It works well out of the box, minus some of the configuration which is really ridiculous in a lot of ways.

I dislike the setup. Setting up cron jobs for the self-hosted option is a bit weird, especially when they won't run due to weird anomalies within AC. In addition, the system also has repeated issues with working well with customization; it's all Active Collab branded with little to no ability to customize colors without completely redoing portions of the system. In addition, we've had issues with the baked-in email system, which we never had an issue with in AC4, but now AC5 is creating way more problems than what its worth.

Make sure that you do the hosted version. I think it probably has to be a lot better than the self-hosted version. You're so on your own with the self-hosted version that you lose the ability to do more with what you've got going on.

We have solved a lot of innermost communications changes and have been more transparent with clients. Clients like the ability to pay online. We've also been able to do more with less and eliminate some roles within the typical agency model especially the traffic coordinator as a lot of it is handled as direct interaction with clients.

- interface is slick and intuitive

- notifications

- organization of tasks it more intuitive than with other software

- They had a software you could install on your own server. We had trouble installing it a couple of times. If you use the cloud version, this should not be an issue

Get on the free trial first. Then make sure you use the cards and the task details.

I have been working with aC for 7 years now and am very satisfied. We feel like it is just a fair deal. They don't lock you into a pricey model and it has all the functionality of a good PM system.

I use it for my next businesses as well

The calendar view and being able to assign tasks and monitor to-dos in a single calendar view is awesome.

The integration with Authorize.net has been terrible. It works, then doesn't work. Support has been very spotty too and it's taken WAY too long to get back to me several times.

For a project management software, it does the job well. If you're relying on it for invoicing, be careful.

It helps us manage projects, timelines, and tasks easily for each project/client.

Ability to customize the interface to adapt to the company needs. We needed the ability to have events with target dates (and assign the targets to specific people) and also be able to associate instructors/presenters with those events.

The workaround for creating an instructor/presenter record is a bit kludgy. We would like an option to be able to create a dedicated section for instructors versus lumping them into notes. it works but we can see where it could work better. Would also like to be able to create an annual calendar of just events.

Keeping track of multiple training events and all of the moving parts associated with the (contracts, schedules, etc).

It's relatively easy to use and has an intuitive interface so even some of our less tech savvy or software oriented team members can use it without an intense amount of training required.

Since it's update I've had some issues with assigning tasks to clients. Typically I assign tasks to both our employees and our clients because we require them to submit a lot of content when working with them. Lately I've had to just include them in subscriptions and it's been a little less convenient.

We have 2 locations (one being overseas) and it can become tricky to effectively manage projects between both teams given the time difference and other normal management struggles. The email alerts and commenting ability are helpful because even if I am not directly involved in a resolution, I can see the trail of conversation on each task specifically. Benefits I've realized mostly is just keeping each task as part of large projects as its own task makes it easy to "cross off" when completed and move on. You can see at a glance what is still pending yet you have an excellent way to dig up old archieved of finished tasks if needed as well.

Very nice to get good team collaboration! Can use billing custumers too and love to know that our custumers can go in that software to give order too with custom pricing.

need more fonction to custumize our report!

better communication and tracking on project. Can track work time on projet too and that's really nice.

In it's old form, Active Collab offered our team the transparency into every project that we desperately needed. It allowed various members of the team to see what was going on at different stages of the project. I loved that it came with a desktop timer that made it really easy to track time to a certain project.

The new update did not have anything that we needed and essentially changed the entire way the system functioned. After the 2015 update, our team had to switch service because Active Collab no longer worked the way we needed it to.

The system they had before 2015 was great. The update they made in 2015 changed how the service functioned.

We wanted to be more open with the creative team and business teams. Active Collab was able to help us do that at one point.

I am able to remember tasks easily thanks to the tagging feature. I get emailed every time someone assigns a task to me.

Sometimes I do not get emails unless I am specifically assigned to the project even though I am a member of the project.

Everyday problems that I face in my advertising career. With ActiveCollab I can easily chat with my team and get updates on where we stand on every task. Everything is very organized.

I love using this project to meet deadlines, see where team members are at in a project, and to communicate with them as well.

I cannot think of anything I dislike about the software.

Get all your team members on board so that there is no failure to communicate!

This software really helps with communication. More often then not, a team cannot run successfully without good communication, and that is where this software comes into play.

Very robust tool with lots of features that are very easy to use, unlike many other PM tools we've previously used. Extremely simple, yet it has lots of great options that streamline our projects perfectly.

Not actually a dislike, but we've heard they're working on custom project templates. Can't wait to see how that's going to look.

Fantastic for controlling the workload on projects, I can see how the tasks are handled, who are my top performers, and where we are every step of the way.

It's easy and helps keep all your projects in one place.

You can't assign dates to sub tasks. Just assign a person responsible.

Task and time management

Active collar is simple enough for start ups with small teams, yet has enough features that can cover all the basics as the company and team grow. It's been a great tool to organize projects and tasks.

Would have love to have more controls in budgeting projects by phases and idle the out on the computer is important so that you don't forget the timer running! Need check in and check out feature.

Task management and time tracking have been simplified where before it was manually done.

I use ActiveCollab as a member of the research group for the management of my ongoing projects. It is a very convenient tool, that allows me showing the other member of the group my progress, intermediate results, final manuscripts.

Overall I am happy with this tool. It could be a bit complicated for the first time, there is why we had an introductory lecture on ActiveCollab.

Good tool for project management

Ongoing research project management, file exchange, and file storage.

I like the ease of use with email response into a thread. I also like how you can set up private threads and public with clients.

When loading files, sometimes it gets hung-up and it takes longer than necessary.

If you hit a snag with utilizing their software, always reach out to customer service. They are quick to help you solve a problem.

I use active collab while managing creative projects between different creative team members and the client.

I like the layout of the service. I think it's straightforward and easy to use.

I would like to have some abilities that at this point in time the service does not offer. For example, where we can add two people to a task.

Test it out and see what it does for you. Each business is different and so our their needs, so it depends on that. Active Collab works for our needs, at the right price.

Active Collab keeps my team organized on projects in an easy and straightforward approach.

Visually it is a great tool to see all of your ongoing project (Projects Tab) at a high level.

If your projects don't follow a repeatable plan, the tasks tab can be tough to manage/interact with.

Use labels to identify an individuals or teams projects. If you're company uses Google Drive for documents, then definitely utilize the integration to add value.

Better organization on our projects. Ability to share status and project notes across multiple teams.

retainer-based clients where they are paying a fixed monthly fee for our services.

when user change devices, or reinstall, recovery password is complicate

I would recommend Active Collab to any agency looking for a good overall project management tool.

I would recommend Active Collab to any agency looking for a good overall project management tool.

Allows a lot of information for everyone

Too disorganized sometimes task can get lost

Allows everyone to collab together in the office, or even out of the office

Customer support has helped me and my team to organise several projects at once. Everybody loves to work with the tool and I am more than happy that I have found it. If I have an issue, the AC team gets back to me immediately. Thank you!

There is nothing I dislike. However, it would be nice if we could like and celebrate comments ;)

Customer service

Ajax driven project management functionality, time logging, task creation, comments etc.

It is not that I do not like the UI, but I feel it can be improved.

Task Management, Project Management, Time Logging & Tracking against projects. I have realised that we save a lot of time by proper management.

Easy to customize for the unique needs of our organization

I'd like to see better integration into Git

Since the product is somewhat open source, a large part of its value depends on how it is managed internally within your organization. Regularly updating and refining the implementation is key to not get left behind.

Internal process and communication, engineer and gatekeeper ticket routing/management