Hive
An all in one work platform that folds tasks, chat, email and notes into one app, with views to match how you work.
Hive bundles a lot into one app. Alongside tasks and projects you get native chat, email, collaborative notes and a choice of board, Gantt, calendar and table views, so a team can run most of its day without leaving the tool. The free plan is generous for small groups, and the Teams plan opens up unlimited members, forms, time tracking and portfolios. Two things temper the value: the Starter plan caps you at 10 projects, and several capabilities teams expect, like analytics, timesheets and external users, are paid add ons layered on top of the seat price rather than included.
One app for tasks, chat, email and notes, so the work and the talking live together.
In its favour
Held against it
Breadth and views lead, add on pricing is the trade.
Hive scores well on features and ease, helped by the native chat, email and notes most rivals leave out. Value is the soft spot: the Starter project cap and the menu of paid add ons mean the real bill can climb past the headline seat price.
Scored against the same five weighted criteria we use across project management. See the rubric →
a team that wants tasks, messaging, email and notes in one place and likes switching between board, Gantt and calendar views.
a small team on a tight budget that would end up paying for add ons, or anyone who wants every feature included in the seat price.
What it costs
Per user / month, billed annuallyPricing as of June 2026. Annual billing saves about 33 percent over monthly ($7 Starter, $18 Teams monthly). Analytics, timesheets, external users and added security are paid add ons; Enterprise is quote based. Check the vendor for current pricing.