Can Asana be used for free? A Guide to Organizing Your Business on a Budget
When I talk to business owners who are feeling overwhelmed, the first thing we look at is their systems. One question that comes up all the time is about cost. Specifically, they ask me, "Can Asana be used for free?"
The short answer is yes. Asana can certainly be used for free using their basic plan. It is still a very effective tool to have in your business without spending money on a subscription.
Whether you are just looking to use Asana for free to see how it works, or if you plan to use it that way for a long time, it is a powerful option. You might be wondering if it will be effective enough for your growing business or even for your personal life. I am here to tell you that you certainly can get great results without the paid features.
My Personal Experience with Asana
I want to share a little bit about how I got started. My very first virtual assistant client actually introduced me to Asana. That is how they were managing tasks in their business for the contractors they hired.
I essentially immediately fell in love with the system. I have always been somebody who really enjoys writing a to-do list. I love colour-coding and organizing everything. Asana was really just a digital version of what I was already doing on paper. It felt natural to me.
Since discovering Asana, I started to use it for myself in my business. I also used it for some personal tasks, and I did it all on the free plan. As I grew my business and got more ongoing clients for my virtual assistant services, I stuck with the free version.
eventually, I started doing some project-based work. I was setting up the Dubsado CRM and doing Asana setups for other business owners. This was all done on the Asana free plan. My entire process for managing client tasks was done without paying a dime for the software.
It is true that I did not have some of the automation features or the robust organization features that the paid version offers. However, I found some ways to really organize and templatize the repetitive things I was doing.
How to use the Asana free version effectively
You do not need fancy automation to be organized. You can see this in some of the Asana bundles that I offer. A lot of the project board templates included in my mega bundle for service providers are built to be used on the free plan.
The tasks are built out as templates. When you need to use them again, you simply duplicate them manually. It takes a few seconds, but it saves you a monthly subscription fee.
The Asana setups that I did for all of my clients were all on the free plan, too. Some of these people may have upgraded later on as their teams grew. However, the intention and the setup were all done to be used using the free plan of Asana in their business.
When you use the free version, you still have access to the most important views. You can use the list view, the board view, and the calendar view. You can read more about the specific blog calendar view in my other post. These options give you the freedom to structure your task list in a way that best suits your brain.
Can I use Asana for personal use?
This is another common question. You can certainly also use Asana for personal use. It is definitely great on the free plan if you are managing a large household.
You can create a project for home repairs, grocery lists, or vacation planning. If you are managing a very busy family schedule, you might want a paid plan later, but you can certainly use it on a paid plan as well.
However, for most people managing personal tasks, the free version is more than enough. It helps you get all those sticky notes off your desk and into a system you can check from your phone.
Types of business owners who should use Asana
You might be wondering if this tool is right for your specific industry. There are many types of business owners who should use Asana.
If you are a virtual assistant like me, it is essential for tracking client deliverables. If you are a social media manager, the calendar view is perfect for planning content.
Coaches and consultants can use it to track their client sessions and follow-up emails. Even creative entrepreneurs like graphic designers can use the board view to move projects from the "draft" phase to the "final" phase.
If you have been on the fence, I hope this gives you some insight. You do not need a big budget to get organized. You just need a system that works.
Start with the free plan. Play around with the lists and boards. See if it fits your style. You can always upgrade later, but you might find that free is all you ever need.
