Product manager tools play a big role in turning ideas into real products. From planning to launching, they handle everything designing, researching the market, managing teams, tracking progress, and more. Since this job has so many tasks, product management tools have become a must. These tools help manage the workload, improve productivity, support teamwork, and make sure no task gets missed.
In this article, we’ll explore must-have product manager tools that can help you drive project success. We’ll also give tips on how to choose the right tools for your business needs. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced product manager, these product manager tools can make your job easier and more efficient.
Understanding the Role of a Product Manager
Before we jump into the product manager tools, it’s important to understand what a product manager does. A product manager takes care of the entire life cycle of a product. This includes:
- Coming up with product ideas
- Doing market research
- Setting product goals and timelines
- Managing teams and resources
- Communicating with customers and stakeholders
- Tracking progress and performance
- Collecting feedback and improving the product
Because the role includes so many tasks, it becomes hard to manage everything without the right tools. That’s why product manager tools are so important.
Types of Product Management Tools
There are different types of tools for different tasks. You may need more than one to manage your projects well.
1. Project Management Software
These tools help product managers stay organized, assign tasks, check team progress, and complete work on time. Many tools also allow automation of simple tasks.
Some Popular Project Manager Tools:
- Trello: Trello uses a board system to assign and manage tasks. Great for teams that like a visual way of working.
- Asana: Asana helps teams track tasks and deadlines. It has shared to-do lists and workflow automation.
- Jira: Jira is mostly used by software teams. It supports Agile and Scrum methods and helps track project progress in sprints.
2. Communication and Collaboration Tools
Product managers work with different teams, so communication is key. These tools help teams talk, share files, and hold meetings easily.
Some Popular Project Management Tools:
- Google Workspace: Google Workspace include Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, and more. Great for file sharing and teamwork.
- Slack: It allows team messaging, group chats, and video calls. It’s perfect for quick updates and collaboration.
- SurveyMonkey: Helps collect customer feedback through surveys. This is important for improving products.
3. Data Analysis and Visualization Tools
These tools help product managers understand data, track product success, and make smart decisions based on trends.
Some Popular Project Manager Tools:
- Google Analytics: Google Analytics tracks website and app data. Helps managers see how users interact with a product.
- Tableau: It creates charts and graphs to help understand big data.
- Mixpanel: Mixpanel on user behavior and helps managers learn what users like or dislike about a product.
4. Roadmapping Tools
Roadmaps show the plan for the product, including goals, timelines, and who is doing what. These tools help share the vision clearly with everyone on the team.
Some Popular Project Management Tools:
- ProductPlan: Product Plan let you build a visual roadmap and share it with your team.
- Airfocus: It combines roadmapping with collaboration features like feedback collection.
- Aha!: It offers a roadmap creation, idea collection, and feedback management in one tool.
Important Product Manager Tools For Beginners
Let us take you through a small overview of the most important product manager tools you might need in your early days of career.Â
1. JiraÂ
You must have heard about the Jira software which is a powerful product management tool widely used by product managers to plan workflow, track and manage agile software development projects. Jira can fix bugs, organise stories, tasks and much more within a set timelines. Let us talk about the features of this one of the most popular product manager tools.
Feature Highlights of JiraÂ
- Jira can be customised using scrum and kanban boards for agile workflows.
- It contains powerful backlog grooming and sprint planning tools.
- It contains real time progress tracking with better visualisation such as charts and reports.
- It offers easy integration with Slack, Confluence, Bitbucket, and more.Â
- You can provide role based access and issue level permissions.
2. Trello
Trello is a beginner friendly tool which uses lists and cards to manage tasks and projects. It contains a drag and drop interface with a simple interface which makes it ideal for small teams especially for easy collaboration.
Feature Highlights of TrelloÂ
- Trello provides real time updates with faster team collaboration.
- This product manager tool is good in integration with tools like Google Drive, Jira, Slack, and more.
- You will get customisable cards in this tool for checklists, attachments, deadlines, and more.
- It uses kanban style task management which is more effective.
3. Figma
Figma is a design and prototype tool used by product managers to produce and present their ideas and designs visually. You can easily collaborate with design teams and engineering teams based on a browser based interface.
Feature Highlights of FigmaÂ
- Figma offers real time collaboration with cross teams in organisation.
- You also get cloud based version control along with autosave options.
- Get interactive prototyping features with coding.
- Also get options for reusable components in the design systems.
4. Notion
Notion is a complete work management software tool which can be used to manage databases, roadmaps, documents, notes, and more in a completely customised manner.Â
Feature Highlights of Notion
- With notion you can keep track of every plan and collaborate with cross teams in the organisation.
- Notion offers generative AI capabilities which help you become more productive.
- It can easily integrate with a number of tools like Google Drive, GitHub, Jira, SharePoint, Slack, and more.Â
How to Choose the Best Product Manager Tools for Your Needs?
With so many product manager tools available, choosing the right ones can feel confusing. Here are some simple tips to help:
1. Set a Budget
Every tool comes with a different price. Check for monthly or yearly fees and other costs like training or upgrades. Choose tools that fit your budget and needs.
2. Talk to Your Team
Ask your team what they need. What challenges do they face? What tools are they already using? Pick tools that will make their work easier.
3. Check Integration
Make sure new tools work well with your current systems — such as your CRM, email, or project software. Tools that connect easily will save time and avoid confusion.
4. All-in-One Tools
Some product manager tools do many tasks like planning, tracking, and communication. These are easier to manage and may be cheaper in the long run. But only choose them if you really need all the features.
Why Are Product Management Tools Important?
Product management tools can make a big difference in how your team works and how successful your product becomes. These tools are designed to make your job easier by helping you manage time, tasks, people, and progress more effectively. Here’s how the right tools can help you:
1. Save Time and Stay Organized
Product management tools help you organize all your work in one place. You can create to-do lists, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track what’s done all without wasting time. Many tools also let you automate simple, repetitive tasks, like sending reminders or updating task status. This means you spend less time on routine work and more time on important things.
2. Improve Communication
Good communication is the key to any successful project. These tools make it easy for everyone on the team to stay connected. You can chat, share files, leave comments, and give updates all in real time. Whether your team is in the office or working from different locations, everyone stays in the loop.
3. Track Goals and Performance
You can use product management tools to set clear goals for your team and track how your product is performing. Tools can show you important numbers and progress reports, helping you see what’s working and what needs to change. This helps in making better decisions and improving your product.
4. Stay Focused on What Matters
When everything is well-organized and clearly listed in a tool, it becomes easier to focus on your top priorities. You don’t have to worry about forgetting tasks or missing deadlines. You can spend your time and energy on activities that truly help the product grow.
5. Make Teamwork Easier, Even From Different Places
Today, many teams work from home or different locations. Product management tools are built to support remote teams by offering online access to tasks, calendars, files, and messages. This way, your team can work together smoothly, no matter where they are.
6. The Future of Product Management Tools
The use of product management software is growing fast. In fact, it’s expected to grow by over 15% worldwide by the year 2030. This means more and more businesses around the globe are starting to understand the value of these tools and are using them to improve their work and grow faster.
Also Read:
- What Is a Certified Product Manager (and How Do I Become One)
- 5 Principles for Product Managers Fending Off Obsolescence in the AI Era
- Top 21 AI Tools for Product Managers and Product Teams
- 10 Things Every Associate Product Manager Should Do
Master Popular Product Manager Tools WithÂ
Get your hands on some of the most popular product manager tools such as Treelo, Slack, Google Workspace, Figma, Notion, and more with PW Skills Product Management Course suitable for everyone whether you are a beginner or working professional.Â
This course provides you with complete in-depth knowledge of product management along with real world capstone projects, and more. Polish your skills with practice exercises, assessments, and more. Get industry recognised certification and career assistance throughout this course only at pwskills.com
Product Manager Tools FAQs
Q1. Are product manager tools important?
Ans: Yes product manager tools like Jira, Figma, Notion, Slack, Trello are important to increase productivity and deliver optimised results for the product development.
Q2. Give examples of Product management tools?
Ans: Google Workspace, Trello, Slack, Figma, Notion, Jira, and more are some of the product management tools used in the journey of product development and management.
Q3. What are the 5C’s of product management?
Ans: The 5Cs of product management include company, competitors, customers, collaborators and climate which is important for product management roles.
Q4. Do product managers use CRM?
Ans: Product managers can get full information from the CRM where can deeply analyse the customer types and their preferences.
