Best Management Tools for Creative Agencies in 2026
If you are looking for tools to organize your agency, platforms like Monday.com, Asana, Productive, and Jestor are favorites — the choice depends on whether you just need task management or a system integrating traffic, finance, and client portals.
The chaos of "ASAP"
Agencies live under pressure. Rework, incomplete briefs, and missed deadlines erode profit margins. Without a system, account managers promise what creatives can't deliver.
Agencies seek an "Operating System" to control everything from job entry to invoicing, including client approval.
What agencies are looking for (Pain Points)
- Endless rework: Lack of record of what was requested vs. delivered.
- Invisible profit: Not knowing if a client is profitable (hours spent).
- Lost files: Final art scattered in WeTransfer and Drive.
- Slow approval: Client takes too long to validate, delaying the schedule.
Tool Comparison
- Monday.com: Very visual. Great for seeing campaign schedules and team workload.
- Asana: Excellent for task management and internal collaboration, but weak on the financial/budget side.
- Productive: A niche tool focused on agencies, covering sales, resource planning, and billing.
- Trello: Good for small teams to start, but breaks when the agency grows and needs complex reporting.
Why Jestor stands out in Agencies
Jestor allows building the perfect agency workflow, integrating creative and finance.
- Client Portal: The client logs in, approves art, and comments in one place. No more lost emails.
- Mandatory Briefing: Account managers can only open a job if they fill all form fields.
- Job Costing: The team logs hours on the card. The system calculates project profitability in real-time.
- Asset Bank (DAM): Organize all created assets by client and campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does the client pay to access? No. InJestor, you can create portals for clients without additional license costs.
Does it control Media (Ads)? You can manage the approval flow and media budget, integrating performance data via API.
Does it work for content agencies? Yes, perfect for managing editorial calendars and text review workflows.
Does it replace Timesheets? Yes, it has native functionality for the team to log time spent on each task.
Conclusion
With Jestor, it is possible to automate workflows, connect departments, and create internal systems your way, all code-free and AI-supported.
Discover Jestor and learn how to take your company's management to a new level of efficiency and integration.