20 Tools You Need in Your Tool Box as a Product Manager in 2025 and beyond

What is Product Management?

Product management is the process of building the right product for the right people at the right time.

It’s about solving problems.

You act as the bridge between business, tech, and users.

You don’t code.

You don’t design.

But you lead the people who do.

Your job is to ensure the product delivers value—and meets business goals.

That’s the core of the product manager role.

Whether you’re an aspiring PM or a business leader trying to understand the PM world, this article breaks down the tools that power the day-to-day of a product manager.

Let’s get into it.

The Product Manager’s Tool Box

You won’t survive without tools.

They help you manage:

• Teams

• Roadmaps

• Features

• Users

• Feedback

• Metrics

And they save time.

The best PMs build systems.

And tools are the building blocks.

1. Trello / Jira – Task & Sprint Management

You need a way to manage tasks.

Agile? Go Jira. Simple Kanban? Go Trello.

Use them to:

• Plan sprints

• Track progress

• Assign tasks

• Handle bugs

Know how to create a backlog. Know how to run a sprint.

2. Notion – Documentation & Wikis

Everything must be written down.

Notion lets you:

• Document meeting notes

• Create product specs

• Build team knowledge bases

• Track project timelines

Share it with your team. Always be clear.

3. Figma – UI/UX Collaboration

You won’t design screens.

But you must understand them.

Figma helps you:

• View wireframes

• Drop feedback

• Collaborate with designers

• Run usability reviews

Product managers work closely with design. Figma is your window into their world.

4. Miro – Whiteboarding & User Journey Mapping

Miro is your digital whiteboard.

Use it for:

• Brainstorming

• Mapping user flows

• Defining product journeys

• Running team workshops

It’s useful for remote teams.

5. Google Docs & Sheets – The Basics Still Win

You’ll write a lot.

Use Docs to:

• Draft PRDs (Product Requirement Documents)

• Capture research

• Write product updates

Use Sheets to:

• Track KPIs

• Build lightweight roadmaps

• Analyze feedback trends

They work. Use them well.

6. Slack – Team Communication

Fast, async updates.

Create channels for:

• Features

• Releases

• Bugs

• Users

Good PMs don’t micromanage. They set up the right channels.

7. Zoom / Google Meet – Remote Meetings

You’ll talk to:

• Users

• Engineers

• Designers

• Stakeholders

Get good at running short, clear calls.

Respect people’s time.

8. Loom – Video Updates & Walkthroughs

Don’t repeat yourself.

Record Looms to:

• Explain product flows

• Walk through features

• Share feedback

Use visuals. People remember them.

9. Productboard – Feature Prioritization

Too many ideas?

Productboard helps you:

• Collect feedback

• Score features

• Prioritize what to build next

It aligns product and customer needs.

10. Typeform / Google Forms – User Feedback

Ask users what they think.

Keep it short.

Ask:

• What’s working?

• What’s confusing?

• What’s missing?

Use their answers to shape your roadmap.

11. Intercom – Live User Insights

Real-time chat. User behavior tracking.

Intercom lets you:

• Talk to users

• Send in-app messages

• Collect feedback in context

PMs who listen build better products.

12. Hotjar – User Behavior Analytics

Want to see how users interact?

Use Hotjar to:

• Watch session replays

• Analyze clicks

• Discover drop-off points

No guessing. Watch the real thing.

13. Google Analytics – Traffic & Funnel Data

Track user flows.

Where do users drop off?

What pages convert best?

GA tells you.

You must understand metrics.

14. Mixpanel – Product Analytics

Track what users do inside your product.

Mixpanel shows:

• Feature usage

• Retention cohorts

• Conversion trends

Know what users actually use. Not what they say they use.

15. Aha! – Product Roadmaps

Plan and share roadmaps.

Show:

• What’s coming

• What’s in progress

• What’s done

Stakeholders love visibility. Aha! gives them that.

16. Confluence – Company-wide Wiki

Document everything.

Confluence helps you:

• Create knowledge bases

• Align product and engineering

• Keep everyone informed

PMs should reduce confusion. Not add to it.

17. Calendly – Scheduling Made Easy

You’ll book lots of meetings.

Calendly avoids the back-and-forth.

Sync it with your calendar.

Let people pick a slot.

Done.

18. ChatGPT – Brainstorming & Drafting

Use it to:

• Draft user stories

• Explore edge cases

• Rewrite unclear specs

Don’t rely on it. But use it wisely.

19. GitHub – Engineering Collaboration

You won’t write code. But you’ll review it.

Use GitHub to:

• Track code merges

• Review PRs (pull requests)

• Stay in sync with devs

Speak their language. Respect their process.

20. LinkedIn – Build Your PM Presence

Product management is competitive.

Post what you’re learning.

Share product breakdowns.

Comment on industry trends.

It builds credibility.

What Are the Core Product Manager Responsibilities?

You’ll be responsible for:

• Defining the product vision

• Prioritizing the backlog

• Gathering user feedback

• Collaborating with teams

• Shipping features

• Measuring impact

You’re not the boss. But you’re accountable.

What Does the Day-to-Day of a Product Manager Look Like?

Every day is different.

But expect to:

• Attend standups

• Write specs

• Test new features

• Talk to users

• Meet with devs

• Update stakeholders

• Review data

Stay calm. Be decisive.

PM Skills You Need to Succeed

Learn to:

• Communicate clearly

• Prioritize ruthlessly

• Listen to users

• Understand data

• Align teams

• Make decisions fast

• Say no when needed

You won’t have all the answers. But you must ask the right questions.

How to Become a Product Manager

You don’t need a tech background.

Start by:

• Reading daily about products

• Building side projects

• Talking to users

• Learning the tools above

• Getting a mentor

• Taking a course

• Applying for APM (Associate Product Manager) roles

Focus on impact. Not titles.

Final Thoughts

Product management is a high-leverage role.

You guide what gets built and why.

The right tools give you speed, structure, and clarity.

Start learning them. Practice daily.

If you’re serious about becoming a PM, the time to act is now.

Dr. Oluwaseun Ogunmola

AI Evangelist | Product Manager | Project Manager

www.seunogunmola.com.ng

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seunogunmola

Sources:

• Atlassian: What is Product Management? — https://www.atlassian.com/product-guide/product-management

• Product School: What Does a Product Manager Do? — https://productschool.com/blog/product-management-2/what-does-a-product-manager-do

• Harvard Business Review: The Hardest Role in the C-Suite — https://hbr.org/2021/05/the-hardest-role-in-the-c-suite

• Mind the Product: What is a Product Manager? — https://www.mindtheproduct.com/what-is-a-product-manager/

• Roman Pichler: Product Management Guide — https://www.romanpichler.com/blog/product-management-guide/