Creative agencies don’t just need to meet deadlines, they need to keep track of budgets, manage talent, handle client feedback, and prove ROI, all at once. Spreadsheets and sticky notes won’t cut it anymore. That’s where agency management software comes in. These platforms bring order to chaos by centralizing your tasks, time tracking, financial data, and collaboration tools in one place.
In this post, we’ve gathered the 7 best agency management tools built for the creative industry, whether you’re a team of five or fifty. These aren’t just task managers; they’re full systems built to help creative agencies deliver better work while staying profitable.
1. Function Point
Function Point leads the list of top agency management tools, and not by accident. Since 1997, it’s supported over 7,000 creative professionals by merging project, client, and financial management into one clean, centralized platform. Designed with creative agencies in mind, Function Point helps simplify the complicated, giving teams the control they need to stay organized, profitable, and efficient.
Function Point Key Features
Most tools either handle projects or budgets, but not both. Function Point combines these crucial pieces into one unified system. It connects timesheets, invoices, project budgets, and task management all under one roof. You don’t have to bounce between apps to understand how your team is performing or whether your agency’s making money.
With built-in CRM, real-time cost tracking, and live resource allocation, Function Point shows what’s happening across your agency every minute of the day. It’s no wonder many agencies report a 20% increase in revenue after implementation.
Additional features include:
- Full CRM Integration: Manage clients, contacts, and opportunities alongside project workflows.
- Live Financial Dashboards: See budget vs. actual spend in real time.
- Time Tracking: Weekly timesheets and timers that link directly to billing.
- QuickBooks Sync: Invoices feed directly into accounting.
- Custom Dashboards: Monitor KPIs, project health, and team workload visually.
- Resource Scheduling: Assign work based on availability and skills.
Function Point Pros and Cons
Pros:
- All-in-one agency management platform
- Built-in CRM and sales tracking
- Advanced time logging for better billing accuracy
- Easy project progress tracking
- 4.3/5 average user rating on Software Advice
Cons:
- Interface takes time to learn
- Can slow down with large datasets
Function Point Best For
Function Point is ideal for creative agencies that manage multiple clients, track profitability, and want real-time control over budgets and teams. Whether you’re an advertising firm or a design studio, if financial clarity matters as much as creative output, this platform will be your best bet.
2. Screendragon
Screendragon delivers specialized workflow management for creative teams. This detailed platform built for marketing departments and SEO agencies simplifies complex operations through smart automation and centralized control.
Screendragon Key Features
Screendragon’s Smart Briefs feature makes work intake better by using logic and automation to guide users through required fields. The platform lets users mark up all media types visually and enables team members to collaborate during review cycles.
The resource management tools give you a 360-degree view of capacity, while heat maps show utilization at both role and individual levels. The budget module tracks costs in real time and compares them against budgets.
The easy-to-use interface stands out because you can style it to match your brand identity and inspire creativity in your team. The platform combines smoothly with over 1,000 apps including Office365, Google Drive, and Slack.
Screendragon Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Detailed reporting for project progress visibility
- Boosted collaboration through integrated feedback tools
- Dynamic forms that automate review workflows
- Customizable workflows adapting to team processes
- Excellent customer support praised for responsiveness
Cons:
- Original setup requires much time investment
- Potentially too complex for smaller teams
- Interface can overwhelm new users
- Pages occasionally load slower than desired
Screendragon Best For
Screendragon excels in larger organizations that manage complex creative processes. Top advertising, marketing, SEO and creative agencies choose it for simplified processes. Global brands like Kellogg’s, The International Olympic Committee, TBWA, and McCann World Group use and recommend this software.
3. Synergist
Synergist is a 20-year-old company that has helped more than 1,000 UK agencies optimize their operations. This detailed agency management system gives creative organizations a full toolkit to control their finances and resources better.
Synergist Key Features
Synergist manages agency operations through modules of all types that work together. The CRM and pipeline features help track opportunities and use percentage weightings to forecast conversion probability. Project planning tools have Gantt timeline views that visualize project schedules effectively.
Resource scheduling excels with capacity forecasting in two ways. Short-term forecasts use calendar bookings, while long-term predictions rely on estimated hours. Teams can predict revenue and avoid resourcing problems easily. The financial tools offer detailed job costing, time tracking, and billing plans to map client invoice schedules.
Live visibility on project progress and profitability comes standard with the reporting capabilities. Advanced analytics provide deeper business intelligence.
Synergist Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Detailed single-system visibility delivers accurate forecasting
- Data validation ensures accurate reporting
- Customer support, rated 4.9/5 by users exceptionally well
- Workflows and reports adapt to your needs
- Financial tracking works at both project and client levels
Cons:
- Extensive features create a steep learning curve
- Some users find the interface outdated
- Implementation takes considerable time
- Error messages need more clarity
- Expert help needed for original setup
Synergist Best For
Creative, marketing, PR, and digital agencies that need better operational efficiency choose Synergist. Medium-sized agencies focused on profitability and resource optimization find it particularly useful. The system’s forecasting and reporting capabilities work best for organizations managing complex client work with multiple stakeholders.
4. Ravetree
Ravetree stands out as an award-winning work management platform for creative agencies. This all-in-one solution helps agencies avoid juggling multiple tools by bringing project management, resource planning, and client relationships together.
Ravetree Key Features
Ravetree’s project management has customizable task phases, Gantt charts that visualize timelines, and detailed templates to simplify common processes. The platform supports both traditional and Agile methodologies through sprint planning, Kanban boards, and user stories.
Resource planning tools display team utilization rates and capacity across individual and organizational levels. Timeline views and unscheduled task management make it easy to spot available team members for new assignments.
The built-in CRM links client information with projects and billing directly. Time tracking options feature one-click logs, timers, and weekly timesheets that connect to project budgets. The client portal lets customers access project updates, file approvals, and communication channels live.
File management has multi-tiered approval workflows, version control, and connects with Google Drive, Dropbox, and other storage services.
Ravetree Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Detailed all-in-one platform that replaces multiple separate apps
- Powerful budget tracking with profitability metrics
- Extensive customization options for workflows and request forms
- Free training, setup, and responsive customer support
- Live analytics dashboards with customizable reports
Cons:
- Learning curve exists for new users
- Starting price might be high for smaller agencies
- Limited integration with Salesforce
- Some users find the interface overwhelming at first
Ravetree Best For
Ravetree excels for project-driven creative agencies looking to combine their tools. Marketing teams that manage complex creative workflows, file approvals, and client communications will find it invaluable. The platform’s resource planning and financial management capabilities benefit agencies handling multiple campaigns simultaneously. Your creative agency can scale operations smoothly with Ravetree’s customizable dashboards that provide essential visibility.
5. Hive
Hive puts all your project tools in one digital home. The platform earned a 4.6 rating on G2.com and saves you from jumping between different apps.
Hive Key Features
The platform stands out with its flexible project views. Teams pick what works best for them – Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendar views, or table layouts to handle their tasks. Task management is complete with subtasks, dependencies, and custom labels.
Built-in time tracking shows exactly how teams spend their hours on projects. This feature is a great way to get accurate client billing for agencies.
Hive’s email inbox integration is a standout feature. Other tools need plugins, but Hive lets you turn emails into tasks while keeping all attachments and chat history.
Team members stay connected through chat, file sharing, and @mentions. The AI assistant makes work easier instead of adding complexity.
Hive Pros and Cons
Pros:
- User-friendly Gantt charts help build projects quickly
- You choose which features to use through Hive Apps
- Resource planning works better with placeholder resources
- Email integration works better than other tools
Cons:
- Finding attachments takes longer without thumbnails in file manager
- You pay extra for two main features
- Table columns cannot use custom fields from action cards
- Desktop version runs smoother than mobile app
Hive Best For
Creative agencies love Hive for managing complex projects that need detailed task tracking. Marketing teams find it perfect for coordinating campaigns across channels while working together in real-time.
The platform works best for agencies that need one place for client approvals and feedback. Teams that handle resources across many projects will get the most value from Hive’s tools.
6. Teamwork
Teamwork distinguishes itself as the only project management platform designed specifically for client work. Over 15,000 agencies rely on this software to manage their client relationships from start to finish.
Teamwork Key Features
The platform brings task planning, resource management, and client communication together in a single hub. Your clients get unlimited free access through a dedicated portal while you retain control of your brand identity. The smart time tracking system separates billable from non-billable hours and connects directly to invoices. This means your tracked time turns into revenue without extra data entry.
Project teams can switch between lists, tables, boards, and Gantt charts effortlessly. The portfolio view, workload planner, and cross-project visualizations help teams manage multiple campaigns and spot capacity issues quickly.
The platform shines with its collaboration tools. Teams can use proofing tools for feedback, create custom dashboards, and access “My Calendar” view that syncs perfectly with Google Calendar events.
Teamwork Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unlimited free client users on all paid plans
- Retainer budget tracking and management
- Up-to-the-minute profitability reporting
- High-rated customer support (5-star)
- Extensive integrations including Quickbooks and HubSpot
Cons:
- New users face a learning curve
- The interface might seem complex at first
- Advanced features require higher tier plans
- Some users mention slow page loading
- Lower tiers offer limited customization
Teamwork Best For
Digital agencies, marketing teams, and professional service firms find great value in Teamwork. Organizations that juggle multiple client projects need the portfolio-wide visibility this platform provides. Creative teams can improve their profit margins through precise time tracking and resource planning. The platform grows with your agency – its flexible design means less administrative work as your project volume increases.
7. ClickUp
ClickUp brings project management, knowledge management, and chat together in one powerful platform. This all-in-one agency management software eliminates the need to juggle multiple tools.
ClickUp Key features
ClickUp has 15+ customizable views such as Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendars, and mind maps. Creative teams can visualize projects their way with this flexibility. The platform’s AI assistant, ClickUp Brain, adapts to your team’s habits and suggests ways to make work easier.
Teams can track hours spent right within tasks, with both automatic and manual tracking options. The workload view shows team capacity each day, which helps creative agencies prevent burnout and assign tasks better.
Your team can edit documents together, brainstorm on whiteboards, and give design feedback through proofing tools. A built-in chat connects conversations directly to tasks.
ClickUp Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Workflows you can customize with 50+ automation options
- A great free plan with unlimited tasks and users
- Built-in time tracking with detailed reports
- A client portal that streamlines collaboration
- AI-powered search and content creation
Cons:
- New users might feel overwhelmed by the many features
- The Unlimited plan limits exports to just 5
- You need higher-tier plans for complete reporting
- Enterprise plan keeps some advanced admin features exclusive
- Complex projects take time to set up
ClickUp Best For
Creative agencies managing multiple clients and projects will find ClickUp particularly useful. Creative directors can allocate team members effectively with its resource planning tools. Marketing teams appreciate the customizable dashboards that show campaign metrics clearly.
Companies can save money by replacing multiple tools, a 500-person company can save up to $354,000 annually. A creative agency operations manager said, “This is a testament to how user-friendly ClickUp is, and how many resources they make available to beginners”.
Conclusion
The best agency management software goes beyond simple task tracking, it blends creativity with clarity, structure with speed. Whether you’re a boutique design studio or a large-scale digital agency, choosing the right platform can streamline your workflow, reduce overhead, and help your team focus on what they do best.
From Function Point’s approach to ClickUp’s all-in-one flexibility, these tools each bring something unique to the table. What matters most is finding the one that fits your agency’s rhythm. The right software won’t just organize your work, it’ll transform how your agency runs.
Also read: 5 Functions without Which a Payroll Management System is Useless
