After a ton of research and a handful of free trials I have finally come up with the perfect combination for project management. Basecamp, Busy Cal and Outpost (iPhone) are the apps that have helped me be more efficient and productive while keeping all my project on time and in order.

BASECAMP

Although it can get a bit pricey, Basecamp is far superior to any project management software I tested. From handling To Do’s, Messages, Uploading and downloading files, Milestones (within your Calendar) that sync directly with your iCal or BusyCal Calendar and communicating with clients in one place it does it all. Whether you manage a company that has freelancers or an inside design team this is for you.

BUSY CAL

Before I committed to Basecamp I was looking for an inexpensive alternative that would help keep track of project dates and tasks. I stumbled upon and article in Mac World outlining the pros of BusyCal, which is basically iCal on steroids that provides seamless calendar sharing and enhanced productivity tools for workgroups and individuals. The great thing about BusyCal is that it syncs over wifi with any computer that has enable the share function, and syncs with iPhone through iTunes.

OUTPOST

Finally since we live in a mobile world and the iPhone is king you need an app to keep you on track when you’re on the road. There are quite a few 3rd party apps for basecamp out there and the most reliable one I found was Outpost. From the design, to the Sync features this app has it all and the interface is actually far superior in design then Basecamp itself. Easy to use and update and works great either over 3G/3GS/WiFi.