Project templates let you preconfigure projects in awork.
Key benefits and use cases
Project templates are a good fit when you build similar projects again and again:
Standardize project setup with consistent descriptions, tags, and settings
Start with ready-made task lists and tasks instead of creating them manually
Set project statuses and task statuses upfront
Bring automation into the mix by predefining project automations
What a project template contains
name and optional an image: The image is shown during project creation when you select a template
Description that is added when you create a project
Tags that will be added to projects created with the template
Project Budget
Project settings
Set tracked time to billable by default (including Auto, which depends on whether a client is selected during project creation)
List for tasks created via email: which task list email-created tasks should be added to
Project type
Use template image for project: If the option is disabled, the client’s image is used by default when creating a project with a client.
Project and Task statuses (board columns): Learn more here
Custom fields for tasks: Learn more here
Automations: Learn more here
Task lists and tasks that appear immediately when the project is created
You can reorder statuses, task lists, and tasks by drag & drop.
Task templates can include relative fields (like due dates). Learn more: Task templates.
Important: You need at least one yellow status (running project) and one green status (completed project).
Create a new project template from scratch
Navigate to Settings > Templates
In Templates for Projects, click + Project template
Enter a template name and (optionally) add an image
In the template details, configure the settings, statuses, automations, task lists, and tasks you want
If you have created task templates, you can also import task bundles into your project template.
Create a template from an existing project
Open the project you want to reuse
Click the three-point menu and select Create template
Enter a template name and (optionally) an image
Select which items to copy into the template (all items are selected by default)
Create a project with a template
Start creating a new project and enter your project information
When the template selection window appears, click a template to use it
(To create an empty project, click Skip)
Preview and favorite templates
Not sure a template is the right fit? Click the eye icon during template selection to preview what settings and content will be applied.
To keep a template at the top of the list, pin it as favourite in menu in the top right-hand corner of the template.
Use backward planning for templates
When creating a project from a template, you can use the backward planning option to define the date by which the last task should be completed.
Instead of planning tasks from “today”, tasks are automatically planned backwards from your reference date (for example, the end of the project or a user-defined date).
Manage project templates
Navigate to Settings > Templates
In Project templates, view all templates stored in your awork
Use the action button to duplicate a template, delete it, or change the name and image
Click a template to open the details and edit its content
You don’t need to save the entire template separately. Changes are applied immediately upon confirmation.
Best practices and considerations
Templates and projects are not linked after creation. Using a template copies the data into the project.
Changes made to the project do not affect the template, and changes to a template do not impact projects that have already been created from it.
Exception: For changes to automations, awork asks whether ongoing projects should adopt the changes (you can also skip this step).
Keep automations optional by creating them as disabled in the template.
Want a faster start? The awork team provides pre-built project templates. Learn more: Pre-built project templates by awork.
FAQs
Are project templates linked to projects created from them?
Are project templates linked to projects created from them?
No. When you create a project with a template, the template data is copied into the project. You can edit or delete the project content without affecting the template.
If I change a template later, will existing projects update?
If I change a template later, will existing projects update?
No. Changes in the template do not affect projects that have already been created from it. The exception is automations: if you change an automation in the template, awork asks whether existing projects should adopt the change (you can skip this).
Can I preview a project template before using it?
Can I preview a project template before using it?
Yes. When selecting project templates during project creation, click the eye icon to preview what settings and content the template will apply.
What is backward planning for templates?
What is backward planning for templates?
Backward planning lets you specify the date by which the last task should be completed when creating a project using a template. Tasks are then planned backwards from this reference date.
How is the due date set dynamically for a task when a project template is used?
How is the due date set dynamically for a task when a project template is used?
Dynamic due dates are set based on the project creation date (the day the project template is used). Example: if you load a project template on 03/05/2026 and the task is set to a due date 5 days after creation, the due date will be 03/10/2026.