Google is well-known for their never-fail programs that have made life a lot easier. We have to give them credit for making our lives and jobs more exciting and efficient. With regards to their tools, Google has done so much that you can do anything in their workspace – especially as a project manager. In this article, we will look into 10 Google tools for project management that you definitely should be using.
10 Google Tools for Project Management
1.    Google Sheets
Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet program that lets you organize and analyze data using (spread)sheets. This Google project management application is identical to Microsoft Excel and even has a more user-friendly and straightforward user interface.
The Google Sheets application can be used for task management, project management, project planning, and precise tracking. It, like the Excel program, includes tabular designs that make it simple to define and execute tasks.
You may quickly generate sheets and project timelines by using this free Google tool for project management.
Pros
- Has user friendly templates
- Easy to use
- Spreadsheets are highly customizable and versatile
Cons
- It is relatively difficult to use on a mobile device
- Reminders are not avalible
2.    Google Docs
Google Docs is a word processing tool that serves as a project management software in alternative to Microsoft Word. However, Docs are more distinctive and were designed expressly for collaboration, making it an excellent project management tool.
With Google Docs, you can intelligently manage changes to your documents while also keeping track of and assigning project statuses.
Pros
- Docs accommodates project roadmaps
- It has basic editing tools
- It is user friendly
Cons
- There is no project tracking functionality
3.    Gmail
Gmail is a low-cost technology that is widely used around the world, with over 1.8 billion daily users. It is used as a project management tool for interacting with teams, clients, project stakeholders, and others.
This Google tool is quite simple to use, allowing you to send attachments such as links, photographs, videos, and much more via email.
Pros
- Great for communication
- It makes information via media successful
- Has helpful AI that provides appropriate autofill suggestions
Cons
- Due to intense security of the receiver, the sent email might end up in a spam folder
- No feedbacks of messages after being sent
4.    Google Calendar
It is no wonder why the Google Calendar is featured here – it functions as a time management tool and that is a crucial part of project management. Google Calendar can assist project managers and stakeholders in scheduling plans and activities.
With Google Calendar, you can also connect to your team’s calendar, allowing you to share events, see when and how to plan tasks, and arrange projects.
Pros
- It is simple to use and universally appealing
- Works great for planning
- Allows syncing across devices
- Promotes team collaboration
- It has good user interface
Cons
- It has limitations with customization options
5.    Google Drive
Google Drive is the storage tool every project manager could use in their arsenal of tools. With the help of the cloud storage system, this Google project management tool can store an indefinite quantity of data. Google Drive provides over 15 GB of free storage to free users and over 100 GB of storage to paid customers.
Drive, as a content management system, supports the storing of several types of data, including photographs, audio, videos, and documents. It also facilitates teamwork by allowing you to easily share documents with your teams and clients. Additionally, Drive works well with other cloud-based software products.
Pros
- Secure and enormous storage space
- Good integration and adaptation
- Easy and user friendly
- Makes collaboration easy
Cons
- Inability to create and view tasks
6. Google Slides
For a project manager who needs to get across project plans to team members and other stakeholders, Google Slides is a very handy presentation tool. This is another one out of the Google tools for project management tool with a Microsoft counterpart; its being PowerPoint. However, Slides appears to have more collaboration abilities.
Slides is useful for idea communication and project planning. It can bring your ideas to life and using it, you can present your reports with maximum visual qualities to your team and cooperation.
Pros
- Maximum collaborative options
- Enough sharing options
- Highly customizable
Cons
- Few themes
- Limitations to diagram features and file formats
7. Google Forms
Google Forms is used to collect data, conduct surveys, and ask questions. You can see the collected data in several ways such as through graphs and charts.
At the end of a project, you can obtain feedback using Forms and analyze it to see what improvements can be made to the previously completed project.
Pros
- Easy to use and create forms/questionnaires
- Multiple question formats
- Flexible sharing options
- Already enabled data summaries
Cons
- Limited customizations
- Difficulties in adding attachments
8. Google Keep
Google Keep lets you put down your ideas and thoughts on the go. With it, project managers can invest and think about fresh ideas. Keep gives you an empty canvas to sketch down plans and rough drafts for your upcoming agenda.
You can also include attachments – audio, image, links, and documents – to your notes on Keep. You may also use these notes to make a task list for your team to see and complete.
Pros
- Simple user interface
- Easy to use and add notes
- Notes can be organized into easy-to-access labels
Cons
- Low quality notifications
- Limited formatting tools
- No Details or Info options for notes
9. Google Meet
Google Meet is a competitor to both the Zoom video conferencing platform and Microsoft Teams. This tool allows project managers to hold meetings, thus managing their projects, from anywhere on the planet.
When a project requires visual dialogues, this project management tool enables that to happen. Google Meet has fluid integrations with other Google tools for project management, making it versatile and efficient to use.
Pros
- Easy video calls
- Quality design
- Secure video meetings
- Easy integration with other Google tools and accounts, so every member of the team is on the same page
Cons
- Low participation unit
- Uninviting user interface
10. Google Chat
As a sister tool to Meet, Google Chat is a free Google project management solution used to solve workplace communication challenges. It focuses on quick and easy chat communication between teams. Project managers and teammates can converse both individually and in groups.
Pros
- Readily available across all devices
- Simple user interface
- Instant messaging
- Fast paced
Cons
- Insufficient features
- Low collaborative effort
Final Thoughts
The Google tools for project management discussed in this article are all free to use and can be accessed anywhere in the world. Of course, there are non-Google tools useful for project managers. However, by using the highlighted tools the right way, project managers can better handle their projects to ensure success.
