The ProofHub is in the Pudding

The worst meeting I have attended lasted 50 minutes, all of which was spent discussing whether we should keep that recurring "touchpoint". The craziest part? A senior contributor spent the whole week prepping for it, all with PowerPoint slides and dictionary terminology.

Hint: if you question a meeting's relevance, ditch it.

BuT hOw We GoNnA KnOw WhAt'S gOiNg On In OuR tEaMs?

How about ProofHub?

Not to be confused with "Woof-Hub"

Exploring the app

If I were using ProofHub at work, I would make its amazing landing page my default browser homepage in a heartbeat. The customizable dashboard allows easy information gathering and propels preparation. The mobile view keeps the essential elements, meaning managers can get updates on the go (hopefully not between meetings).

ProofHub features the usual list and kanban task views, as shown below. Instead of my usual fake "Website redesign" project, I choose to go all in on using ProofHub to organize the "Learning Hub" I want to launch. I added a fake virtual assistant, Xena Morph, to test messaging and comments. I added a custom workflow to highlight "Parked" or "In Limbo" tasks. The "Reports" feature lets managers assess progress on a per-project and per-resource basis, though it remains simple enough to allow the self-organization of a team.

ProofHub's file-proofing features stood out (last picture). I even researched online whether it evolved from a "proofreading" app. It's a specific feature for a generalist app, though ads and design agencies will enjoy it.

ProofHub's uncluttered interface packs a surprising amount of power. Power users are able to edit every detail, all while leaving a simple hub for the majority. Overall, it's a well-balanced app.

Recommended Use Cases

If I was a consultant, I would always keep ProofHub in my portfolio. It's an easy app that few will hate. Ironically, its extremely low price makes it in a sense less attractive for consultants, who often get referral bonuses.

Small companies in media, education, entertainment and hospitality would benefit from ProofHub's balance of simplicity and power. Self-organizing departments within the enterprise could thrive with it as well.

ProofHub will not work in software development or IT, and neither in fields where services get billed like law or engineering, where better time-tracking systems exist.

Limitations

The gallery below highlights many minor UX-related irritants I encountered that, when combined, make ProofHub clunky.  Milestone and assignment creation require too many clicks, reminiscent of Microsoft products. The description fields bestow an uninspiring edition experience. Comments cannot be customized enough. Messages seem tied to tasks or projects, meaning teams will need a communication app to complement ProofHub. The absence of a Slack connector surprised me in this regard.

The Gantt chart mode disappointed. I could not move start dates and due dates to my liking. The mobile app remains bare bones: it's impossible to swipe on a task to trigger an action and the activity menu feels useless.

Finally, lots of filters felt flat: why can't I look at my tasks based on labels or complexity? Why do project management apps obsess over deadlines? Agility means managing priorities, not capacity.

Pricing

ProofHub follows Basecamp's ultra-friendly pricing model of a flat monthly rate. Most competitors charge per user. ProofHub will therefore come cheap for any team over 10 people.

This is good for "proofits"!

What's the catch? Here it is. Do not show this to your lawyer:

Do you upload intellectual property in ProofHub? Do you share updates on secret projects? Well, even if ProofHub sets its admin password as "admin" and uses Windows XP workstations, you're not getting a penny in damages from a security breach. Since most enterprises deal with a certain amount of confidential information, using ProofHub must be subject to proper risk management and compensatory controls. You get what you pay for.

Verdict

ProofHub's impressive balance of simplicity and power enables easy and scalable collaboration. Minor UX considerations, lack of strong communication and time management features should not be enough to deter you from taking it under consideration!