The awork Test - What does the tool from Hamburg offer?

The awork test shows that the software offers solid task management as well as time tracking and resource planning. In this review, you can read what else the Hamburg-based company emphasizes and which features are convincing.

Intro

In this awork test and review, features are highlighted and the most important criteria for selecting a project management software are used. This should give you a good overview of the pros and cons. A first overview is provided by the summary of the review of awork “In a nutshell”.

The most important facts in brief:

As task management software, awork offers a good basis for cooperation, especially for agencies
With individual Kanban boards, automation and a solid timeline, the foundations are laid.
Time tracking offers more than many competitors and can also be used via the app, which makes bookings much easier.

The data storage takes place on server locations in Frankfurt and complies with the DSGVO
The pricing system is clearly arranged. There is no freemium version and you get a fully featured software even in the cheap version.
Support is provided via chat and phone
awork is not designed for comprehensive project planning – at least in the classic sense of project management

awork discount code
Simply enter awork discount code PMTOOLS10 to receive an additional 10% off your first year at awork*.

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The company awork

awork is a software that was originally created by HQLabs GmbH from Hamburg in Germany. HQLabs GmbH was founded in 2012 and initially developed the HQ agency software. Following the sale of HQLabs and the focus on awork GmbH in 2019, the 40-strong team is now focusing on supporting productive project work with modern software. This review is based on two extensive tests. In 2020, the focus was on the premium version and in 2024 on the business plan, both in a 14-day trial, i.e. provided free of charge by awork.

What features does awork offer?

Awork proves to be a solid software in the test, which puts a focus on a good and intuitive operation. Compared to pure Kanban-style task management software, awork already offers in-depth functions such as resource planning, time recording and a simple timeline with planning function.

Team planning in awork — *Teamplanning* in awork

At the beginning of the test you create a project and can define first tasks. Brief help guides in the software show new users how to get started. Templates make it easy to get started with projects and tasks. Thanks to the intuitive operation, you don’t need any further support to find your way around the basics in the program.

Sidebar menu in awork — *The sidebar leads to the individual areas*

The program is divided into a sidebar with menu and personal area as well as the main screen. The menu is the main navigation to the individual areas: Dashboard, Calendar, Projects, Planner, Times and time evaluations as well as other settings. On the main screen you can always see the selected menu item and edit content.

The overview in projects is simplified with seven menu items in the main view:

Home – the project profile
Tasks
Board – the Kanban Board
Timeline – Display of tasks on the timeline or in the calendar
Times – Bookings of working times
Files
Settings – All settings for the individual project

In detail, this review goes into all the individual menu items in the following feature overview.

awork project menu — *The menu items in awork projects*

Project planning in awork

Basic equipment for project planning is included in awork. However, you can only expect the basics such as a project profile, task management and a proper timeline. There are even simple dependencies between tasks, so that most projects can be displayed well. What goes beyond this and may be required for more complex projects according to waterfall planning – network plan, critical path, complex dependencies or work breakdown structure – is currently not supported and is not the focus of awork.

General project data

You can enter the most important information on Home as a project profile, such as

Project name
Project status (Planning, Running, Completed..)
Type of project (customer project, internal project)
Assign keywords (tags)
Project description
Tasks and progress
Participants in the project

In addition, you can see an activity stream from the project e.g. with changed deadlines and completed tasks.

The project profile in awork

Task Management

The presentation of each task is similar to that of the project brief. You can enter description, editor, deadline, etc. This lays the groundwork for later timeline and resource planning. Interesting is the multi-assignment of a task to several agents, which reflects the reality especially in teamwork.

The upload of files is supported and you can mention other users via activities.

Via the automation function, a kind of autopilot can simplify your projects and reduce administrative work. awork provides over 400 different automations.

Gantt chart or Gantt plan

With the different views for views, awork limits itself to the most important displays such as task list, Kanban board and timeline/calendar. When working with views, you will quickly notice that awork places great value on simplicity. This benefits the quick familiarization and intuitive editing.

Timeline can be used to keep a good overview of the project and give the team a visualization in time. Es ist zu beachten, dass Aufgaben nicht automatisch in die Zeitleiste übernommen werden. This has the advantage that you only take on the most important tasks and thus maintain an overview. Various options are conceivable: Either only include the milestones and project phases in the timeline and thus maintain an overall overview of the tasks or plan the project down to the hour and assign tasks to individual employees via the calendar view.

As already written, in-depth project planning is not possible. especially for large projects with complex time dependencies, the planning of dependencies and representation of critical paths is missing as in a normal project plan according to classic project management methodology.

By the way
An additional free tool for creating milestone plan and network plan is GanttProject.

Communication and cooperation with awork

As a project management software, awork naturally emphasizes successful collaboration. Visualization of tasks is a part of it. Here again the simplicity of awork becomes apparent. It’s nice that there is no exaggeration here and the focus is on the most used representations. In addition to the temporal representation in the timeline already described above, there is also the list and the Kanban Board.

Thetask lists displays all tasks of the project divided into different lists. This is the perfect representation to create new tasks, add them via the import function and structure the project with lists. What stands out is a limitation to 6 columns shown to simplify visibility. The display of a minimap on the right-hand side is a very positive feature. This allows you to keep track of a larger backlog.

The Kanban Board can be customized to your own needs. Thus, the columns and labels of columns can be changed or deleted completely. This allows any workflow to be mapped. The predefined task lists can also be mapped, so you can also map different project areas or teams.

The personal dashboard is a great way to keep track of current projects, tasks and deadline. Minimal individualization is possible and even times and absences can be displayed. Overall, however, the most common widgets that you need to start your working day remain.

The user can be informed about notifications via email, internal notification in awork or the app. The decisive factor can be various events, from the status change of a task to the mention of one’s own name via @-Mentions in the comments.

The rights and role system enables the assignment to defined roles such as project management, project member or external. But an individual role definition is also possible. Nice to see, awork considers the “Principle of Least Privilege” when creating new individual roles and initially all rights are grayed out.

Roles and rights in awork — *awork rights management*

A chat function is not integrated, but can be extended via external providers Slack or MS Teams.

Requirements management

Requirements management is not directly provided for in awork. However, with practice, you can create a project type that can be used for conceptual projects via reviews and automation.

Resource planning

If you want to plan the team and need a good overview of the workload in the next weeks to months, you can use the team planning. Here you can see a workload at the project level and at the user level. With absences, vacations can be entered and a forecast of the workload is also possible. Even a 10-hour limit for working timeper day can be set if required to meet occupational health and safety requirements. In the awork planner, a forecast for new projects can even be integrated into the workload.

Project controlling

Controlling can easily be done via the time evaluations. With the creation of monthly reports, you can keep track of the project budget. The progress in the project can be linked to the completion of tasks, so that you can also track the achievement of goals. A connection to Google Sheets enables further analysis of the project.

Document Management

In awork there is no possibility for classic document management besides simple upload of documents. The file overview of all files or the connection to external cloud storage such as GoogleDrive or OneDrive makes it possible to keep track of everything.

Multi-project management

All projects can be controlled in list view or on a timeline via the Projects menu item. The planner provides resource planning across several projects and users or teams, so that the workload in the department or company can be estimated well. As far as the evaluation of key figures is concerned, which is important in project portfolio management, you can make settings via the dashboard, but you have to use the external integration with Google Sheets or the awork API for advanced options.

How does awork perform in the most important evaluation criteria?

Features and functionality

Awork offers more than a solid base of features for project management and team collaboration. However, the focus is on collaboration and not on long-term project planning with network and work breakdown structure. The overview of the entire project portfolio and fundamental areas such as risk management are also not taken into account. What is particularly convincing are the areas of resource planning and time recording and evaluation, which you don’t always find in other software or have to pay extra for.

In the settings, you can still make various integrations at the project level. In addition to Slack and MS Teams as chat and various invoicing tools, Zapier and Webhooks are currently of particular interest. Especially with Zapier you can integrate a lot of external tools.

Especially when processes in projects of a company remain the same over a longer period of time, awork facilitates the work with individualization. With the creation of specific project types, you can build your own templates or use existing ones. Whether the automation with certain rules, the columns on the Kanban board or fixed task packages to start – one has the possibility this depending upon project type again to specify

Other evaluation criteria

Single sign-on can be set up via the usual providers, as can SCIM.
Cloud storage and calendar integration are possible for Google and Microsoft.
The only languages currently available are English and German. Thus, the DACH region can be solidly covered and international communication in the western world is also possible.
The premium version can be used free of charge for 14 days for testing purposes.

Use of AI
The project templates offer the option of using artificial intelligence for text recognition. You describe your project plan and AI generates tasks that match the project. This basically worked well in our test. However, two things stood out:

The new tasks were created in English, although the program setting was “German”.
The task list must always be checked by the project creator – blind trust in artificial intelligence is not advisable.

An import function allows easy transition from other project management tools. As examples awork mentions here the well-known representatives monday.com, MeisterTask, Asana and Trello.

User interface and ease of use

The interface is intuitive to use and the start is kept simple. This is where awork continuously develops its software instead of relying on too many functions. Anyone who wants to set up a project as a project manager can do so in just a few steps. Team members will also quickly be onboard and find their way around thanks to the simple menu navigation. The minimap feature also helps here: Use awork on the big screen, so you can better keep track of large amounts of tasks.

The scope of awork is still manageable, and the more complex areas such as resource planning and time evaluations can only be viewed by certain groups of people. It is noticeable in a positive way that awork does not make any annoying internal advertising for the Enterprise version.

There are not many customization options in terms of design, so you will always find your way around. However, this can also be annoying, for example, if you want to display more columns in two places (task lists, project lists) or want to be able to define your own fields on the task. Otherwise, a dark mode and changes to the background logo are planned.

The awork mobile App

With an additional app, you can also edit your projects in awork well on the go.

One of the main advantages, however, is time tracking via the app. This means that you can also enter your times in offline meetings or at the customer’s site easily and directly via the app and do not have to add the 5-10 minutes for time recording at the end of the day. Via the Thumb menu you have alternatively access to

the assigned tasks
the projects in the company
the current notifications

Data protection, hosting and service

Data protection – Where is the data located and where are the servers?

We comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and guarantee server locations in Germany with ISO 27001 certification.
awork website

With a focus on the German and European market, data protection is an important building block for the awork offering. Awork offers further information on data protection here and provides a template for commissioned data processing.

Secure data centers in Germany
Behind awork is a complex technical infrastructure to ensure very high availability (> 99.99%), constantly up-to-date backups and a particularly high level of data security.

System security
We use a variety of security functions in awork. This includes, for example, https encryption of your data, password security and the complete encryption of our databases.
awork Security Factsheet

However, data is also processed for the operation of awork in the USA. However, only data for operation and further development is transferred. Data that is entered into the system, such as project data, files, etc., is not transferred or processed.

Accessibility and stability of the project management software awork

Important to know:
There is no self-hosted server installation but only the cloud version (SaaS).

In the test, awork stands out positively throughout with smooth work. There are no failures and the web application responses are very responsive. If the software ever fails, you can check here for the current status of the software.

Support from the manufacturer (customer service) in case of problems

The Help Centerprovides documentation for the entire platform. Besides a guide for the first steps, all functional areas of the software are described in detail and the most frequently asked questions are answered. You can also use the search to formulate your problem and narrow down possible areas.

awork very regularly offers webinars on specific topics. The recordings can also be viewed afterwards and there is a dedicated YouTube channel for detailed content.

Incidentally, the support goes beyond a standard ticketing system with a chat function and personal telephone support on working days from 09:00 to 18:00.

Test of the chat function
For the awork review, the chat function has already been checked and some information also comes from this source. The response time was only a few minutes and all questions could be clarified. There was feedback even on the public holiday: Once from the AI bot and, for once, also from personal support.

Costs when using awork

There are three price levels at awork: Basic, Business and Enterprise.

The subscription can be monthly, yearly or for two years. Those who commit themselves for two years pay even less than stated here in the review. However, that might not be the standard rate, which is why the figures for an annual contract were chosen.

By the way
awork costs compared with other providers: The costs for project management software at a glance.

The costs for awork — *Costs and tariffs of awork*

Basic

The Basic offer is the basic version. You get a solid task management software that focuses strongly on team collaboration and enables time recording.

awork costs: 8€ /user/month

Business

The business version was tested in the review and is already designed for professional companies with a team structure. In addition to Basic, there is the workload overview, extended rights management and, for some customers, telephone support.

awork costs: 12€ /user/month

Enterprise

The Enterprise version makes more sense for larger companies with their own IT landscape. One still gets the possibility

store your own team URL for awork
make use of the Enterprise Support
pay the upcoming fees via invoice
Restore projects
SSO/SCIM possible

In addition, the manufacturer is available with consulting services for the integration into the own company.

awork costs: 18€ /user/month

Costs of awork in comparison

Attention:
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awork testen *

awork	1 Nutzer	5 Nutzer	25 Nutzer	75 Nutzer
Basic*	96€	480€	2.400€	7.200€
Business*	144€	720€	3.600€	11.800€
Enterprise*	216€	1.080€	5.400€	16.200€

Kosten von awork pro Jahr / Pricing for Projectmanagement Software awork per Year - in Euro (pm-tools.info, March 2024, 2 year contract, * = Affiliate Link)

in pm-tools price comparison

Our evaluation of awork as a project management tool

The advantages

As a task management software, awork offers a good basis of cooperation

Time recording offers significantly more than many competitors and can also be used via the app, which makes bookings much easier.

The workload overview provides a great representation of the current workload with projects, especially in the agency sector.

The data storage takes place on server locations in Frankfurt and complies with the DSGVO

The cons

There is no free basic version like some competitors – the awork review was done with the trial version.

awork is not (yet) designed for comprehensive project planning – at least in the classical sense of project management

An individually customizable overview of the entire project portfolio within large companies is missing or must be carried out via the API.core

For whom is awork worthwhile?

With HQ as agency software, HQLabs had already launched a small ERP system for agencies. With experience in the industry, the founders of awork GmbH and the software of the same name look for the sweet spot between task management and comprehensive project management software with a special focus on workload visualization and intuitive use in testing and review. The target audience are agencies, consulting firms or companies in the IT and software development sector.

If comprehensive planning is necessary and is to be structured precisely in terms of time, awork cannot keep up with alternative project planning tools. This applies to companies in the construction industry or to longer-term projects in general.

Apparently, the review covers the important points for an agency, resource planning, time recording and a rough overview of the timeline. Also, there are templates from awork that are based on mainly agency business usage as an example. Whether design, marketing or web agency, everyone wants to successfully carry out projects, bill hours and plan their own teams with mostly short projects. With the background of HQLabs and the available features, awork can definitely be recommended in service companies of various sizes.

As a self-employed person or freelancer, awork can be a good solution. The existing time recording system already provides a good basis for billing the customer. If you are very frugal, you can also use alternative tools free of charge with small teams, but then you may have to compromise on data protection or usage.

The use in larger companies(enterprise) makes sense especially in the customer and project-oriented area. Especially in modern structures and the mid-enterprise level, this new software brings a good counterpart for the usual non-intuitive tools in project management. In addition, awork can be used in individual teams, such as those with a customer focus (e.g. sales and service), in order to have a good overview of the work involved in projects.