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If you’re scanning documents on Google Drive, you’ll be seeing a design change very soon.

Metal Eden is Doom meets Ghostrunner with a little bit of Metroid thrown in. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi shooter all about clearing dense combat arenas, wall-running and jumping through parkour challenges, and occasionally turning into a large metal ball and rolling around.

Review information

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S
Release date: September 2, 2025

It’s easy to see the inspiration behind each of its constituent elements, but that doesn’t mean that the resulting formula isn't a lot of fun. It's elevated by a strong art direction, some surprisingly slick shooting that wouldn't feel out of place in some of the best FPS games, and a couple of unique mechanics that help the game form an identity of its own.

Still, there is room for improvement, namely in the narrative department. The dialogue feels strangely written and occasionally hard to follow, almost like it's been poorly translated. It's unfortunate and undermines an enjoyable experience that I would otherwise wholeheartedly recommend.

Back to the future

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Hailing from the developers of the criminally underrated twin-stick shooter Ruiner, Metal Eden takes us to another far-flung future where things have gone seriously wrong. Humanity has developed Cores, little robotic disks that store an uploaded consciousness and can be slotted into artificial bodies, and the technology paved the way for space travel.

You play as Aska, a high-tech android warrior with a special regenerating core that effectively allows her to be repeatedly reprinted after death. Stranded on an abandoned lunar city, it’s your job to mow down legions of rogue security robots on a mission to rescue millions of colonists trapped as cores in storage.

The narrative focus on Aska’s regeneration seems like it would lend itself naturally to a roguelike format, but Metal Eden is actually a wholly linear experience with eight total levels that vary between about twenty to forty minutes in length. I love shorter games, but this brevity was a little disappointing.

I hit the credits in a single sitting and, while there is scope for some repeat playthroughs to chase high scores and find the small number of hidden resources scattered around each map, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect more given the $39.99 / £32.99 asking price.

That brief length does at least lead to a campaign that’s very tightly paced and engaging. The bulk of each mission is a combination of shooting and parkour, both of which are well-implemented.

The shooting is tight with high-quality animations and meaty sound effects across an impressively varied arsenal. This includes a range of projectile weapons such as your basic machine pistol, a shotgun, and an SMG, plus some more futuristic energy launchers.

Getting to the core of it

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Stronger enemies are equipped with powerful armor that absorbs the bulk of projectile damage, forcing you to switch to an energy weapon to break through it, which lends encounters an enjoyable sense of rhythm. Combat arenas are compact, with walls that you can leap off and sometimes vertical layers to keep things interesting, and staying perpetually on the move is essential for survival.

With a foe’s armor out of the way, you can rip out its Core and consume it for a quick health top-up and to charge a powerful armor-destroying punch or throw it to trigger an explosion. You’re soon equipped with a jet-pack and elemental grenades, too, and quickly chaining all of your moves together to survive wave after wave of adversaries is a source of constant satisfaction.

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

It’s all so good that I really wish there was some kind of separate survival mode that challenges you to last as long as possible available after the credits roll. Fingers crossed, we’ll see something like that added in a future update.

Combat success is rewarded with vials of Dust, a currency used to upgrade your gear. Each weapon has two distinct upgrade paths that dramatically alter its abilities.

Your SMG, for example, can be outfitted with a powerful grenade launcher for taking out groups or a set of iron sights that enable a long-range semi-automatic sniper mode. These upgrades can dramatically affect the appearance of each weapon, too, so every choice feels satisfyingly substantial.

Aska has a robust skill tree, too, with plenty of impactful options that do everything from automatically reloading your last weapon when it’s not in use to causing you to regenerate armor on top of health with every core consumed.

Absolutely balling

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

New enemies and environmental hazards are introduced at a steady pace, forcing you to frequently tweak your strategies to maintain an advantage. The larger levels also unlock the imaginatively named Ball Mode, which, as the name would suggest, lets you transform into a fast-moving metal orb whenever you wish.

Rolling into enemies at high speed deals huge amounts of damage, and if that wasn’t enough, you’re armed with an electric blast and homing missiles too. It’s a tad overpowered, but it provides a refreshing break from the more intense encounters of other areas.

Best bit

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Multiple levels feature rail riding mechanics. Whizzing down neon blue ziplines is a blast, especially when you add obstacles that you need to dodge and shooting flying enemies into the mix.

Unfortunately, every mission is filled with jarring, awkward dialogue that lets the overall package down. In early segments, Aska frequently chats with Nexus, an almost comically edgy companion that spouts melodramatic, cringeworthy cliches. His constant wittering is like nails on a chalkboard, and I almost cheered when he was replaced by a substantially less annoying figure later on.

The voice acting is serviceable on the whole, but line deliveries have very strange intonation that I found distracting at times. Conversations are also written in a manner that feels inescapably off. They’re sometimes hard to follow and have this stilted quality to them that’s reminiscent of dodgy machine translation. I can’t quite decide whether this is an intentional stylistic choice; most of the characters are robots after all, but it's disappointing nevertheless.

It's especially noticeable in the cutscenes, which are otherwise extremely high quality and absolutely gorgeous to look at. On that note, the whole game is visually impressive with a minimalist, industrial look, though there are occasional stutters even in console performance mode.

All of this would be a lot easier to forgive at a lower price point, but as it stands, it stops me from making a more wholehearted recommendation.

Should you play Metal Eden?Play it if…

You want fast-paced shooting
The shooting action in Metal Eden is superb. There’s loads of depth thanks to the large variety of weapons and a substantial upgrade system, and learning how to best use all your abilities is a blast.

You loved Ghostrunner
The parkour is also a highlight. If you enjoyed the likes of Ghostrunner, then you’re going to feel right at home here.

Don’t play it if…

You’re interested in the story
The world of Metal Eden certainly looks the part, but it’s undermined by awkward, cringeworthy dialogue.

You crave something more long lasting
There’s no getting around the fact that this is a particularly short game. If you’re after an experience that will last more than a few hours, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Accessibility features

There are a few accessibility options in Metal Eden. This includes a few color blindness filters, the ability to enable subtitles, and adjust their size and background color. The game also features four difficulty levels to choose from.

How I reviewed Metal Eden

I played Metal Eden for more than four hours on PlayStation 5 using the DualSense Wireless Controller and a pair of Final VR500 gaming earbuds.

In that time I reached the end credits on the standard difficulty and experienced the vast majority of what the game has to offer. I fully upgraded each of the weapons in my arsenal and unlocked the bulk of Aska’s upgrade tree, too.

First reviewed August 2025

Metal Eden offers enjoyable shooting and parkour, but its story disappoints.

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Developed by Zoho, a company renowned for its suite of productivity applications, Zoho CRM has been one of the best CRM platforms available since its inception in 2005.

With a user base exceeding 250,000 businesses worldwide, Zoho has established itself as a reliable and feature-rich platform for sales management, marketing, and customer support activities. It's a versatile CRM that can be tailored to meet specific organizational needs. Some key functionalities include lead and deal management, sales automation, and advanced analytics, all powered by an intelligent AI tool called Zia.

Throughout this review, I will share my detailed analysis of Zoho CRM, exploring its key features, functionalities, and how it can benefit businesses in managing customer relationships effectively.

Zoho CRM core capabilities

(Image credit: Zoho)

When reviewing Zoho’s CRM platform, I found a robust set of features that cover the essential needs of most organizations. The platform provides a centralized database for managing contacts and accounts, making it easy to store and access customer information. I was able to quickly import my existing contacts via CSV file and map the fields to match Zoho's system. The interface for viewing and editing contact records is clean and intuitive, with the ability to log activities, tasks, notes and attach files.

Zoho CRM's lead management tools allow you to customize the lead lifecycle stages to match your sales process. You can capture leads from various sources, including web forms, social media, and manual entry. As leads progress, you can convert them into contacts, accounts and opportunities with one click. I appreciate the ability to create multiple sales pipelines for different products or business units. The drag-and-drop deal pipeline view gives a nice visual overview of where each opportunity stands.

Forecasting is another core feature, with the ability to generate revenue projections based on the deals in your pipeline. Being able to create multiple pipelines for different products or services was particularly useful. I could easily track deal progress, set probability percentages, and generate accurate sales forecasts. Zoho uses a weighted probability based on deal stage to predict the chances of closing. This provides more accurate forecasts than relying on gut feel or arbitrary percentages. You can also adjust the forecast categories and timeframes to suit your needs.

While the built-in reports cover most standard KPIs and metrics, I did find the report builder a bit cumbersome to use compared to some other CRMs I've tried. It gets the job done but requires a bit of a learning curve to master. On the plus side, the dashboards are attractive and you can lay them out with a variety of chart types and widgets to visualize your key data points.

Zoho CRM seamlessly connects with other Zoho applications, creating a cohesive ecosystem for business operations. Additionally, it offers integrations with popular third-party tools like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and various marketing automation platforms. You also have access to a custom API to build your own integrations from scratch with code.

Zoho particularly shines when it comes to mobile access. The mobile app is full-featured and works seamlessly to keep data in sync, even when offline. This is a big advantage for sales reps who spend much of their time on the road, which is increasingly common in the age of hybrid work. The app is intuitive and makes it easy to pull up customer information, log calls, and update deals and tasks from your smartphone.

Things get a little more interesting when you factor in Zoho’s newly-introduced AI-powered sales assistant called Zia. Zia offers predictive lead scoring, anomaly detection in sales trends, and even suggests the best times to contact leads based on past interactions. I found these AI-driven insights to be generally accurate and helpful. However, it's worth noting that the full potential of Zia is only unlocked in the higher-tier plans, which can increase costs considerably.

While it may lack some of the advanced features or depth of customization of the market leaders, Zoho CRM meets the needs of most small to mid-sized companies and sales teams. However, it would be interesting to see how well the CRM stacks up once the AI features have had a chance to develop a bit.

How easy is Zoho CRM?

(Image credit: Zoho)

In the last few years, Zoho has made significant progress in improving the user interface and overall usability of its CRM. I found the new interface to be clean and intuitive, with a logical layout that made it easy to access key features and information. The home screen provides a comprehensive overview of important metrics and tasks, allowing me to quickly grasp the status of my sales pipeline and prioritize my activities for the day.

I also appreciated the ability to tailor the interface to my specific needs, from rearranging the menu bar to creating custom fields and layouts. However, it's worth noting that while basic customizations are straightforward, more complex modifications may require a steeper learning curve.

Onboarding is relatively straightforward, thanks to the detailed instructions provided on the website and the inclusion of sample data to help new users get started. I found the step-by-step guide particularly helpful in setting up my account and configuring initial settings. That said, the sheer number of features and options available can be overwhelming at first.

Zoho offers a wealth of training resources to help users become proficient with the system. Its knowledge base is extensive, featuring detailed tutorials, training videos, and live and on-demand webinars. I found these resources to be well-organized and easy to follow, which significantly reduced the time it took me to become comfortable with the platform's core functionalities.

In terms of the learning curve, I found that mastering the basic features of Zoho CRM was relatively quick. Within a few days, I was able to navigate the system confidently, manage contacts, and track deals. However, becoming proficient with more advanced features, such as complex automation workflows or in-depth reporting, required more time and practice.

While the CRM is generally user-friendly, there are still areas where it could improve. For instance, some users have reported that creating multi-module reports can be challenging and may require additional training or support. Also, while the AI features like Zia are powerful, they may take some time to learn and be fully leveraged. Higher-tier plans offer more advanced features and customization options, which can increase the complexity for users. However, these plans also come with additional support options, including onboarding assistance and dedicated account managers.

Zoho CRM integrations

Before we talk about third-party integrations, it’s important to acknowledge the level of functionality that you can extract simply from using Zoho’s own suite of productivity software — all of which integrate seamlessly with its CRM. With more than 40 different applications, including Zoho Webinar, Zoho Social, Zoho Books, and Zoho Surveys, it’s incredibly easy to extend functionality without having to rely on third-party providers.

Apart from that, Zoho also offers 600+ ready-to-use integrations for popular apps like QuickBooks, Google Workspace, Slack, Shopify, RingCentral, and DocuSign, among others. I found the process of setting up these pre-built integrations to be straightforward. Most integrations can be activated with just a few clicks, with clear documentation and setup guides for each integration.

However, for those looking to create custom integrations or connect with less common applications, Zoho CRM offers a robust API. The REST API documentation is comprehensive and well-organized, covering various aspects such as authentication, rate limits, and available endpoints. As I delved into the API documentation, I appreciated the clear examples and explanations provided, which would be helpful for developers of varying skill levels.

Zoho is also uniquely committed to making sure that developers have everything they need to build their own integrations. The Developer Console offers up a lot of different resources, including documentation, courses, ebooks, and webinars — to help developers at every stage of the integration process.

In terms of reliability, the experience is mostly consistent. Data is accurately and efficiently synchronized, minimizing the risk of discrepancies or delays. However, there is mention of users encountering some minor issues with workflow rules and alerts not functioning as expected, if you look at the different reviews available online.

How good is Zoho CRM customer support?

Speaking of customer support, Zoho can be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, Zoho offers a variety of support channels, including phone, email, and live chat, which provide flexibility in how users can reach out for assistance. But the quality of support received can be wildly inconsistent, depending on the agent you’re paired with at the time. Response times can also vary from time to time, leaving users frustrated.

Zoho does provide a robust self-service resource center, which includes a knowledge base, user guides, tutorials, and community forums. I've found these resources to be quite comprehensive and well-organized, making it easier for me to find answers to common questions and troubleshoot issues on my own. The step-by-step tutorials and user guides have been particularly helpful in navigating the various features and functionalities of the platform.

That being said, there have been instances where the self-service resources fell short in addressing more complex or specific issues I encountered. Thankfully, Zoho provides dedicated onboarding specialists who guide new users through the setup process and help customize the platform to their specific needs. Additionally, there are regular webinars and training sessions to help users make the most of the different features and capabilities.

On platforms like G2 and Capterra, Zoho CRM's customer support ratings hover around 4 out of 5 stars, indicating a generally positive sentiment. However, there are also a fair number of reviews that echo uncertainty and frustration given the inconsistent quality and slow response that many users have to deal with from Zoho. It's worth noting that Zoho offers a premium support option for an additional fee, which includes priority response times, dedicated account management, and personalized training sessions.

Zoho CRM pricing and plans

(Image credit: Zoho)

Plan

Free

Standard

Professional

Enterprise

Ultimate

Price

Free for 3 users

$14/user/month

$23/user/month

$40/user/month

$52/user

Best For

Small teams and startups

Small to medium-sized businesses

Medium-sized businesses with advanced needs

Large enterprises with complex sales processes

Large enterprises with extensive customization needs

Features

Lead management; Contact management; Deal management

Sales pipeline management; Email templates; Custom fields

Advanced reporting; Marketing automation; Sales forecasting

AI assistant; Zoho apps integration; Customizable workflows

Customizable dashboards; Advanced security features; Dedicated support

Limitations

Limited to 3 users, basic features

Limited automation and reporting capabilities

Limited customization options for dashboards

Requires a minimum of 25 regular user licenses for Lite users

No significant limitations, but may require additional setup for advanced features

Zoho CRM operates on a per-user pricing structure, which means that the cost is directly tied to the number of users you have. The pricing starts at $14 per user per month for the Standard plan, which includes features like lead and account management, sales pipeline management, and basic reporting — it’s a good starting point and makes Zoho one of the best CRM for small businesses.

This is followed by the Professional plan priced at $35 per user per month, which adds more advanced features like sales signals, forms integration, and inventory management. The Enterprise plan at $50 per user per month includes AI-powered tools like Zia, multi-user portals, and mobile SDKs. Finally, the Ultimate plan at $65 per user per month enhances the package with advanced data visualization and business intelligence.

In addition to these traditional plans, Zoho CRM also offers two bundle options: CRM Flex and CRM Plus. CRM Flex allows you to hand-select additional Zoho apps to add to your CRM suite, with prices adjusting accordingly. CRM Plus, on the other hand, includes a comprehensive suite of eight Zoho apps, including Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, and Zoho Analytics, for $57 per user per month. This bundle offers significant savings compared to purchasing each app separately.

Zoho offers a 15-day free trial for its CRM, which allows you to test the platform and its features before committing to a paid plan. Additionally, Zoho CRM offers a free version for up to three users, which includes basic features like lead and account management, making it one of the best CRM for start ups. You also get a 34% discount if you commit to an annual subscription upfront, which can significantly reduce costs.

While the pricing is generally competitive, it's worth noting that costs can add up quickly when you have a large number of employees who need access to the CRM. It’s also a little unfortunate that the AI sales assistant, Zia, is fully accessible only on the Enterprise and Ultimate plans. Still, the platform offers a generally good value for money for most small and medium-sized businesses.

Zoho CRM FAQWhat are the main features of Zoho CRM?

Zoho CRM has many of the core functionalities that users expect from a leading platform of this type. For example, it includes tools for lead, deal, and contact management, as well as workflow automation to simplify repetitive tasks. What's more, recognizing that today's communication landscape is much more fragmented than it used to be, Zoho CRM lets users connect with customers through various channels, including email, telephone, social media, and live chat.

Of course, any CRM worth its salt doesn't just help businesses achieve sales, but also examines the aftermath. As such, Zoho CRM offers customizable dashboards and real-time reports to track sales performance, forecast revenue, and gain insights into customer behavior.

How easy is it to integrate Zoho CRM with other applications?

This is an area where Zoho CRM really shines, courtesy of the other solutions that come under the Zoho umbrella. Zoho CRM has native integration capabilities with other Zoho products, such as Zoho Books, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Desk, and Zoho SalesIQ, as well as a wide range of third-party tools, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365.

How do I assign leads to different users?

Users can set up Lead Assignment Rules based on specific criteria to automatically distribute new leads to the appropriate sales team members, ensuring a fair and efficient process. In addition, leads can be assigned to multiple different marketing campaigns.

Zoho CRM review: Final verdict

Throughout my experience with Zoho CRM, I have been consistently impressed by its robust set of core features, including lead and opportunity management, sales forecasting, and reporting. That being said, the responsiveness and quality of assistance can be inconsistent at times.

While the plans are generally cost effective and offer good value, certain essential features are restricted to higher tier plans only. For example, Zoho’s new AI sales assistant, Zia, is only available to Enterprise and Ultimate plan users. And while a Free plan does exist, it’s highly limited in functionality and serves only for testing purposes at best.

Still, Zoho CRM is a versatile choice for small businesses looking for a solid hub for their sales and customer facing teams. But, I’d recommend it only if AI features aren’t a priority to your organization, unless you’re willing to spend $50+ per user per month for one of the higher tier plans.

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Monday.com is a project management system designed to give you a flexible and transparent way to organize your work. With a highly visual scheduling interface and customizable workflows, Monday.com adapts to the unique way members of your team approach their projects.

But just how well does this software work? As you’ll discover over the course of this Monday.com review, the platform is leading the industry when it comes to ease of use and security but may be lacking when it comes to advanced functionality.

Monday.com - quick menu

1. Plans and pricing

2. Basic Membership

3. Standard Membership

4. Pro Membership

5. Enterprise Membership

6. Features

7. Interface and In Use

8. Support

9. The Competition

10. Final Verdict

• You can sign up to Monday.com here.

Plans and pricing

There are four different levels of Monday.com membership: Basic, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise. Prices vary depending on the number of user accounts you require, with the cheapest memberships only allowing you to add two users and top-end options supporting more than 200 accounts.

(Image credit: Monday.com)

Whichever membership tier and user capacity you pick, you’ll pay for Monday.com through monthly or annual payments. Opting for yearly billing will save you 18% in membership fees.

Overall, the pricing for Monday.com is competitive but some subscriptions don't represent the best value for money. The Basic plan, for example, doesn't offer many features and would work out pretty expensive for larger teams.

Basic Membership

The Basic subscription is Monday.com’s cheapest plan, costing $49 per month for 10 users. With a Basic membership, you’ll be able to organize your team using Kanban boards, which are simple ways to visualize workflows. Each Basic Monday.com system includes 5GB of cloud storage space, so you’ll probably want to upgrade if you have a large team.

Another major limitation is the fact that Basic Monday.com systems only store user activity logs for one week. If you intend to keep business-critical files on your Monday.com system, this could be a serious problem, as you won’t be able to see who modified them.

Standard Membership

A step up from the Basic membership is the Monday.com Standard plan, which costs $79 per month for a 10-person team. For most Monday.com customers, the extra investment will be worth it as the Standard package comes with a far more comprehensive feature set.

Take visual workflow management, for example. With a Standard account, you gain the ability to display project tasks on a highly visual timeline, a bit like a Gantt chart. You also get 50GB of file storage space and unlimited user activity tracking.

(Image credit: Monday.com)Pro Membership

Next is the Pro membership tier, priced at $119 per month for 10 user accounts. If you want to connect your Monday.com dashboard with other platforms, this is likely to be the right option for you as it supports up to 25,000 integration actions per month.

At this membership level, storage space is unlimited, which is great news if you need to work with a lot of large multimedia files. Pro subscriptions unlock lots of useful project tools too, such as chart views, time tracking, and private task boards.

Enterprise Membership

Enterprise is Monday.com’s flagship package. Unfortunately, no public pricing information is available for this type of membership as Enterprise installations are customized to the unique needs of each customer.

Enterprise accounts come with a 99.9% SLA uptime guarantee, which means you can rely on them for mission-critical tasks and storing important files. They can also be used to create audit logs and set individual account permissions.

(Image credit: Monday.com)Monday.com comparison table

Price (for 10 users)

Key Features

Limitations

Basic

$49 per month

Kanban boards

Limited to 5GB cloud storage, user activity logs stored for only one week

Standard

$79 per month

Timeline views (like Gantt charts), unlimited user activity tracking

Limited to 50GB file storage space

Pro

$119 per month

Chart views, time tracking, private task boards, unlimited storage

Up to 25,000 integration actions per month

Enterprise

Contact for pricing

99.9% SLA uptime guarantee, audit logs, individual account permissions

Pricing is customized and not publicly available

Features

You can think of Monday.com as a comprehensive productivity suite that includes all the features needed to divide up the work of your team, monitor project progress, and ensure individual tasks are completed to schedule.

To help you do that, Monday.com comes with project templates that you can use to build your system on top of when you first set up a Monday.com account. These include options for daily task management, departmental planning, and video production.

Once you’ve picked a workflow design to use, you’ll have plenty of freedom to tailor it to the particular needs of your organization. For example, you can add a star system to show the priority of different tasks. Also, there are numerous display options available, such as maps and calendar views.

One way that Monday.com simplifies project management is by making it easy to assign individual tasks to different members of your team. After you’ve done so, you’ll be able to access a comprehensive “Timeline” view of your various projects. At a glance, this feature will show you who is responsible for each part of a project, and when different tasks will be completed.

(Image credit: Monday.com )

But Monday.com doesn’t just make it easier to organize your work; it actually makes it easier for you to do it too. That’s because this platform features advanced collaboration tools that let your team message each other, share key files, and comment on work progress.

As if that wasn’t enough, Monday.com can integrate with dozens of third-party productivity platforms such as Mailchimp and Shopify. If you’re already invested in other tools, that’s great news, as Monday.com will work with your current tech stack.

(Image credit: Monday.com)Interface and In Use

The Monday.com system looks awesome with colorful designs and big buttons that make it easy to navigate between different screens. Core features such as your message inbox, weekly tasks, and shared project boards can all be quickly accessed via a panel on the left-hand side of the interface.

Things are just as straightforward on the mobile version of the platform, which can be accessed through Android and iOS applications. With the rise of hybrid work, these days, it’s super common to work on the move, so it’s great that Monday.com makes adding new tasks and keeping track of your teammates’ progress easy on your mobile.

(Image credit: Monday.com)Support

Wherever you are in the Monday.com system, you’ll be able to access support through a little “help” icon at the bottom right of the screen. Support is available via live chat, tickets, and pre-arranged webinars.

There's also a community forum and academy to offer additional support, regardless of the plan you opt for. If you do subscribe to the Enterprise plan, however, you also have direct access to the Monday.com support team. They can offer help with onboarding, detailed training and more bespoke support.

Monday.com's AI features

Monday.com has integrated AI into its platform through various tools and features. The first AI tool you are likely to come across is Monday.com's AI Blocks. These are pre-built AI functions that can be added directly to workflows. They can be used to automatically categorize data, extract information from documents, detect sentiment in text, and translate content into multiple languages.

The platform also offers AI assistants that can generate content, such as email drafts and summaries of updates. They can also help with tasks like creating project templates and building formulas based on a natural language description of the objective.

Users of Monday.com will also be able to access AI Agents to help them complete tasks. Monday.com is developing specialized AI agents to handle complex tasks, such as the Project Analyzer, which monitors hundreds of projects in real-time, flags bottlenecks, and provides proactive insights.

The Competition

There’s no question that Monday.com lacks some of the advanced features available with alternative project management platforms like Microsoft Project. However, the design of the Monday.com system is more user-friendly, making it a better choice if you don’t want to spend hours training your team to use it.

Be sure to check out our buying guide looking into the best project management software for a full rundown of how Monday.com compares to some of its rivals. It's also worth having a look at our list of the best CRM software, with many of those platforms also containing project management functionality.

Monday.com FAQWhat is the difference between Monday.com's CRM and its Work Management platform?

Monday.com's Work Management platform is a versatile project management tool for any team to organize tasks and workflows. Monday.com CRM, on the other hand, is a specialized product built on the same core platform but with features specifically for sales and customer-facing teams. It includes tools for managing sales pipelines, tracking leads and contacts, and automating sales-related tasks.

Is there a free version or a free trial for Monday.com?

Yes, Monday.com offers a free plan for up to two users, which provides basic CRM capabilities. The vendor also offers a 14-day free trial for its paid plans, which automatically puts the user on the Pro plan so they can experience all of the platform's features.

What are some of Monday.com's key features?

Monday.com's commonly highlighted features include many of those that users have come to expect from a top-level CRM. They will enjoy centralized communication as a result of two-way email sync with Gmail and Outlook, email tracking, and mass email capabilities.

Pipeline management, as well as lead and contact management, is also available, so users can drag-and-drop functionality, manage contacts, and enjoy different visual views. Users will also find advanced reporting features, including dashboards with widgets like Funnel Charts and Leaderboards for real-time sales analytics and forecasting.

Final Verdict

Monday.com is the ideal project management tool for anyone looking for an accessible system that their team will actually use. Unfortunately, some important features, like calendar views, are only available with its more expensive subscriptions. All the same, Monday.com stands out for its slick design and adaptable third-party integrations.

• You can sign up to Monday.com here.

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