FreeMind is a Java-based, cross-platform solution which is designed to make the process as intuitive as possible via 'child' and 'sibling' links that hopefully build your map into something meaningful. To get started with FreeMind, you'll need to locate and double-click on the 'freemind.jar' file in the 'lib/' folder of the FreeMind folder.

You start off with a 'Child Node' which is your main subject. You can write this title in a huge number of font sizes and styles and then right-click on it to add Child Nodes, which are subjects that relate to it. You then have a huge number of tools and annotations down the left hand side to add color and notes to your mind map. This toolbar is horribly crushed together and cluttered though, making it very difficult to see them clearly.

The basic adding and removal of items on FreeMind is extremely easy but the interface does suffer from a lack of organization and clarity. The above mentioned toolbar is way too crowded with many annotations that are not particular useful (such as penguins) and overall, the program does feel a bit flimsy.

FreeMind is, however, very quick and free to use - which is more than can be said for many similar Mind Mapping programs.

Download Freemind 0.9.0 RC13 in Softonic

OmniPlan aims to make it easier to break down tasks, optimize resources, and streamline budgets. Among its most useful features are the ability to translate strategy into tactics everyone can understand, create summaries of work broken into lists of activities, distribute workloads fairly and efficiently and manage costs as you go.

One handy feature is that OmniPlan can export projects into file formats that MS Project can read and open. MS Project is considerably cheaper than OmniPlan however and those that are thinking of switching, may take some convincing that OmniPlan can offer them a great deal more. However, the interface is slicker and more suited to OS X than MS Project but it doesn't offer quite the same power and advanced features as the latter.

If you need a change from MS Project, or something slicker, OmniPlan is an interesting simplified option for OS X.

Download OmniPlan 2.0.1 Beta in Softonic

In the same vein as other open source productivity suites like OpenOffice.org, LibreOffice boasts a comprehensive set of office management tools arguably on par with Microsoft Office itself. LibreOffice offers six different office management tools to meet your project management needs: Text Document, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Drawing, Database, and Formula.

Text Document is relatively synonymous with Microsoft Word, where Spreadsheet is like Excel. Presentation mirrors Microsoft's PowerPoint, and Database is similar to Access. Then you also have two additional programs in Drawing and Formula, which are an added bonus to the entire package. LibreOffice is compatible with Microsoft Office's document formats and also supports PDFs natively. It also has its own document format called Open Document.

Unfortunately, if you're unfamiliar with Microsoft Office products, this program might take a little additional time to get used to, particularly if you want to master some of its more advanced features. Regular Microsoft Office users will find LibreOffice's interface quite similar, however, and should pick up on how to use its various programs without too much difficulty.

A great alternative to Microsoft Office, LibreOffice is a must-try for managing your various office projects.

Download LibreOffice 3.4.3 Final in Softonic

So anything that can help my efforts not look like that of a child are welcome which is where SimpleDiagrams comes in. SimpleDiagrams is an easy to use Adobe Air based design application which allows you to draw diagrams far more easily than freehand drawing apps. Note that this is the free version of SimpleDiagrams which has all the functionality of the Full Version but includes a nag screen to upgrade.

Probably one of the most useful aspects of SimpleDiagrams is the ability to draw flow diagrams in order to brainstorm and also plan ideas and projects logically. The interface is ultra slick and clearly laid out allowing you to drag and drop elements into it to assemble ideas quickly. However, to prevent things from looking too clinical, you can also select elements which have a hand-drawn look to give them a more authentic look and feel.

SimpleDiagrams is very easy to use but it's rather limited in formats, saving only to XML and PNG. In addition, there is no way to share ideas and designs quickly by uploading them to a website or sharing server.

If you haven't got the steadiest of hands and you're looking for a free diagram creation tool, you can't go far wrong with SimpleDiagrams.

Download SimpleDiagrams 1.0.19 in Softonic

Don't expect anything too fancy with Timesheet: it works with Java, so you'll get everything except an attractive interface. On the other side this means that the interface is clear and works efficiently.

Nothing too difficult with Timesheet: create a new project, create a new entry, add start and end times and you are ready to go. The left side of the program structures all entries by data and reflects time spent. The center of the interface shows all your entries, and if some of them are still not finished you will be able to see the duration counting down.

Timesheet won't let you reorganize entries by columns, which limits the ways you can see your data. We also found it quite difficult to change time and date as you need to enter them exactly as they are seen in Timesheet.

Timesheet is a good effort at a time tracking solution, however it offers too many limitations to be used intensely. Try TimeLog as a more innovative way of managing your time.

Download TimeSheet 0.8.4.2 in Softonic

There's plenty of software out there to help you do the job and XMind is definitely one of the better ones with the huge added bonus that it's absolutely free. To get started, you'll have to sign up for an XMind account which is quick and painless. Once you've done so, you have an online space where you can easily collaborate on projects and share them with others.

Using XMind is simple. Just add a central topic and then right-click on it to add subtopics, labels, notes, and much more. Editing the boxes is easy and you can select from a number of styles and fonts. You can also change the structure at any time by right-clicking or dragging and dropping different elements. You can even add audio (although not video) and fishbone charts. XMind is much neater and far more logical than trying to draw a mind map on a piece of paper due to the way it adds elements in a structured order.

XMind is an excellent free mind mapping application that may not be the most sophisticated out there but in terms of ease of use, it can't be beat.

Download XMind 3.2.1 in Softonic

GanttPV on the other hand is an extremely simple and slimmed down project manager which can define tasks, task durations, dependencies, start dates, and holidays. It's ideal for managers, project leaders and anyone else with a team of employees to manage. GanttPV takes all of your variables and then converts them into a Gantt chart which you can print out and give to your team.

GanttPV is especially useful at helping you allocate the number of hours a project will probably take and then keep you on top of what needs to be completed and finished to keep the project going. However, bear in mind that this is a very simple project management tool - there aren't half the options you might find in a bigger package such as contact lists, reminder alarms or online sharing features.

GanttPV is a great tool for those managing small projects that don't require too much complicated planning or don't involve a huge number of employees.

Download GanttPV 0.10 in Softonic

Klok utilizes Adobe Air, so can be used on Mac or Windows. This also means Klok is a little heavy on RAM usage, but it's not too bad. To start a project, simply click Add, give it a name, and then drag it into the weekly timetable. From there you can resize it to the correct number of hours, and add more details about the work, including how much you will be paid for doing it.

Klok can color code projects, to make the weekly planner easier to read. When you start a project, click 'start working', and Klok will time your work. Klock also features automatically made weekly and monthly time sheets, that can be dragged into Excel without conversion, which is useful.

Klock is still in a Beta testing phase, so is likely to have some bugs to iron out, but at the moment, it's a useful time keeper. It's hard to say if it could drag people away from Outlook or Google calendars, though.

Download Klok 2.3.2 in Softonic

You can create multiple tabbed workplaces, which is a good way of separating your different projects yet having access to them anytime. Changes made to projects by anyone are immediately visible in the interface, as is the availability of team members.

Collanos Workplace can be used offline and will automatically syn new information as soon as you get back online. Another way to communicate is by using the Team Instant Messenger environment, represented by the discussions pane at the bottom.

However that also means you'll have to put up with all the tools, even if there are some you don't enjoy working with.

However it did feel a little slow at times. Apart from the startup login, I was also a bit surprised not too find more security settings to protect your projects.