Asana review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Work management platform with list, board, timeline and Gantt views, where resource management and portfolios start at the Advanced tier.
Our take for buyers
Asana is a work management platform with list, board, timeline and Gantt views. Shortlist it if your cross-functional teams want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier, which is the entry paid plan, or if you need EU, Australia or Japan data hosting through the Enterprise add-on. It is a weaker fit if you need SAML SSO or audit logs below Enterprise.
G2 shows 4.4 from 13,232 reviews, a large base. Its security page lists a broad certification set, including SOC 2 Type 2, SOC 3 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022. The main buying point is that identity and compliance controls cluster on Enterprise, while resource management and portfolios sit on Advanced. Match the plan to the controls you need before you pilot.
- Best for
- Cross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
- Starting price
- $10.99 per user/month billed annually (Starter)
- G2 rating
- 4.4 (13,232 reviews)
What is Asana?
Work management platform with list, board, timeline and Gantt views, where resource management and portfolios start at the Advanced tier. Cross-functional teams wanting timelines and unlimited automations early will find the Starter tier sufficient. Anything involving portfolios, goals or resource management means Advanced, and SAML SSO or audit logs mean Enterprise. EU, Australia or Japan hosting is an Enterprise add-on. Asana is based in San Francisco, US.
Category: Project Management Software
Asana key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Task views and planning | List, board, calendar on Personal; timeline and Gantt from Starter. |
| Workflow automation | Unlimited automations from Starter. |
| Workload and resource management | Resource management within portfolios on Advanced; organization-wide on Enterprise. |
| Time tracking and budgets | Timesheets and Budgets add-on on Starter; time tracking comparing estimated vs actual effort on Advanced. |
| Reporting and dashboards | Portfolios and goals on Advanced. |
| Pricing model and real cost | Per user per month, annual billing cheaper. |
| Target company size | Small teams to enterprise. |
Asana plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | $0 | free, up to 2 users | |
| Starter | $10.99 annual / $13.49 monthly | per user per month | Timeline, Gantt, unlimited automations |
| Advanced | $24.99 annual / $30.49 monthly | per user per month | Portfolios, goals, resource management |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | SAML, SCIM, audit logs |
Pricing page does not mention a free trial. No refunds. AI requests: $0.50 prepaid pack or $0.60 pay-as-you-go. Nonprofit discount on annual Starter/Advanced.
Who should shortlist Asana
A strong fit for
- Cross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
- Companies needing EU, Australia or Japan data hosting (Enterprise add-on)
A weak fit for
- Teams needing SAML SSO or audit logs below Enterprise.
- Very small groups that need more than 2 users free.
Asana alternatives
monday.comSmall and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations.
ClickUpSmall and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps.
WrikeMid-size teams running cross-functional projects with approvals.
SmartsheetTeams used to spreadsheets who want structured project tracking.
TrelloSmall teams that want a visual Kanban board with minimal setup.
JiraSoftware and IT teams running agile sprints and backlogs.
Security, admin and compliance
SAML SSO, SCIM and audit logs are Enterprise only. Lower paid plans can only require Microsoft SSO. Data residency in Europe, Australia or Japan is an opt-in Enterprise add-on with no published price. Listed certifications are SOC 2 Type 2, SOC 3, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, 27017, 27018 and 27701, CSA STAR Level 1, HIPAA and GDPR. A DPA is not published. Contracts can be monthly, cancelled anytime with access to period end, and there are no refunds.
- SAML SSO
- Enterprise (SAML); Microsoft SSO can be required on paid plans.
- SCIM provisioning
- Enterprise.
- Audit logs
- Enterprise.
- Data residency
- Europe, Australia, Japan data centers, opt-in add-on on Enterprise.
- Certifications
- SOC 2 Type 2, SOC 3, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27018, ISO/IEC 27701, CSA STAR Level 1, HIPAA, GDPR.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Monthly plan available; cancel anytime, keep access to period end; no refunds.
- Starting price
- $10.99 per user/month billed annually (Starter)
- Pricing model
- Per user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free plan.
What to test in an Asana demo or trial
Pilot on the tier that contains the features you are buying it for. Timeline, Gantt and unlimited automations are on Starter, but portfolios, goals and resource management need Advanced, and time tracking comparing estimated and actual effort is also on Advanced. Build one real cross-team project with automations, then test portfolio reporting if leadership needs it. Price the Timesheets & Budgets add-on and AI requests, which are $0.50 prepaid or $0.60 pay-as-you-go, because neither is bundled. Check how seat additions step up as your team grows.
Questions to ask Asana before you sign
These are the points Asana's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- SAML SSO, SCIM and audit logs are Enterprise only; paid lower plans only allow requiring Microsoft SSO.
- Data residency (Europe, Australia, Japan) is an opt-in Enterprise add-on.
- No refunds; seat additions come in steps (1 at a time for 2-5 users, 5 up to 30, 10 up to 100)
- Monthly billing costs about 23% more than annual on Starter and Advanced (13.49 vs 10.99; 30.49 vs 24.99)
Head-to-head comparisons
Asana FAQ
What is Asana used for?
Cross-functional teams wanting timelines and unlimited automations early will find the Starter tier sufficient. Anything involving portfolios, goals or resource management means Advanced, and SAML SSO or audit logs mean Enterprise. EU, Australia or Japan hosting is an Enterprise add-on. It suits cross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
Does Asana support SAML SSO?
SAML SSO is Enterprise only, along with SCIM and audit logs. On lower paid plans you can only require Microsoft SSO.
Can I choose where Asana stores data?
Yes, Europe, Australia and Japan data centers are available as an opt-in add-on on Enterprise. The price is not published.
Who is Asana best for?
Cross-functional teams wanting timelines and unlimited automations from Starter, and companies needing regional data hosting. Teams needing SSO or audit logs below Enterprise should look elsewhere.
Vendor profile
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, US.
- Funding or owner
- Publicly listed.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Asana's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.