There is not much that gets an R&D engineer’s blood pumping better than talking about the finer details of project management tools {Joke}.

When you follow the Engineering Design Process for a professional or personal project, there are many steps where you document your work (problem statement, brainstorming, planning, testing, etc.). While you could use Word and Excel (or Google Docs and Sheets), there are tools specifically designed to make the Engineering Design Process easier to organize.

The amazing thing is, most of these tools have free versions that are perfect for planning your personal projects! You can use the same tools to handle a home renovation, plan a wedding, or start a side hustle.

1. Miro

Miro is an intuitive online whiteboard tool that professionals use for brainstorming, project planning, and team collaboration. It is easy to start using within a few minutes and allows users to create mind maps, kanban boards, and flowcharts—all visually.

2. GitHub Projects

For your programming projects, you probably already use GitHub for code repositories. But you may not have tried their recently updated GitHub Projects. This project management tool allows you to organize issues, track bugs, and plan future features within the GitHub ecosystem. With kanban-style boards and automated workflows, GitHub Projects is an excellent choice for your Raspberry Pi or Arduino projects, allowing you to plan without switching platforms.

3. Figma

Figma is a professional-level design and prototyping tool, widely used for UI/UX design, wireframing, and brainstorming. If your project involves creating an app, Figma makes it much easier to brainstorm the UI design.

4. Trello

Trello is another option for visual project management that comes from Atlassian (the makers of Jira). The free version is great because it offers unlimited cards and lists. If you’re used to using Jira, you may prefer to stay within their ecosystem.

5. Microsoft To Do

If you’re looking for a simple task management app, Microsoft To Do is very straightforward. It allows you to create simple to-do lists, set reminders, and prioritize tasks. It’s perfect if all you need is a way to keep track of daily tasks and projects.

Conclusion

Using a project management tool like Miro, Trello, or GitHub Projects may seem like overkill, but if you’d like to take your next project to the next level, these tools can be real game changers. The best part? They all have free versions that provide essential features to keep your projects on track without breaking the bank.