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18 Best Resource Management Software of 2025 (Free & Paid)

Brenna Schwartz — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:11:01 +0000

Resource management is all about getting the materials, supplies, equipment and people you need to execute a project. It involves how you plan, schedule, allocate and manage those resources to best serve the project. But what exactly is resource management software?

What Is Resource Management Software?

Resource management software helps project managers keep track of the human resources, raw materials and equipment needed to complete a project. Before we look at a number of tools that claim to be the best resource management software, let’s define the key features a resource management software should provide. Then we’ll get to the best resource management software rankings of 2025.

Best Resource Management Software Features

Resource management is all about obtaining the materials, supplies, equipment, and people needed to execute a project. It involves planning, scheduling, allocating, and managing those resources to best serve the project.

Resource management software should include resource planning, resource forecasting and resource allocation features to ensure teams have what they need when needed. Through resource management tools, projects keep to their budgets and stay on schedule.

Resource forecasting tools: Using too many resources can be costly and using too few will affect your project schedule and budget. Fortunately, resource forecasting tools can help you gauge your resource requirements so you can determine which resources are truly needed.
Resource planning tools: Resource planning tools help you ensure your resources are used effectively. That means working with vendors, subcontractors and your own teams, coordinating their work and making sure that your resource utilization aligns with your project plan.
Resource scheduling tools: Once you know what resources are needed for each task, you’ll need resource scheduling tools to create a resource schedule and a timeline for the procurement and allocation of resources.
Resource allocation tools: Resource allocation tools help project managers assign specific resources to project tasks, such as assigning tasks to a team member or indicating the equipment that will be needed for a particular project activity.
Workload management tools: Workload management tools help project managers measure the amount of work that’s assigned to their team members so they can better reallocate project resources.

2025 Best Resource Management Software Rankings

The following are a handful of the best resource management software currently available. One of them should meet your resource management needs.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is a comprehensive project and portfolio management software that tops our list of best resource management software. No other software seamlessly integrates real-time resource management with detailed planning and scheduling. Incorporate planned hours, resource costs and dependencies into your project plans.

Use Gantt charts, kanban boards, dashboards, workload calendars and a comprehensive Team page to manage everything on one platform. Live data gives users greater visibility into their resource schedule, tracking labor costs, workload and task progress in real time. ProjectManager offers a free 30-day trial so you can try it out for yourself.

Schedule & Track Resources with Gantt Charts

Resource planning is one of the more challenging aspects of managing a project. Fortunately, ProjectManager makes it easy to identify and categorize teams, supplies, equipment and other resources for easy planning and scheduling on the Gantt chart. More than that, the Gantt chart schedules resources based on their availability and skillset. As the project progresses, you can monitor costs and workload in real time to keep to your budget and avoid burning out your team.

Set Availability and Balance Workload

Teams are your most valuable resource and you need a resource management tool that knows how busy they are without getting in their way. A color-coded workload chart gives managers transparency into how many or how few tasks are assigned to their team. You can then balance the workload right from that page. When you reallocate resources, though, you need to know your team’s availability, especially if they’re hybrid or remote.

ProjectManager is the best resource scheduling software because it lets you define working days, holidays and planned hours, blocking days and setting parameters to help with task management and project scheduling. You can even filter by project, team or month if you’re using the tool for project portfolio management or program management.

Manage Team Workload and Track Progress

When you’re done with your resource planning and scheduling, switch over the Team page to see specific tasks your team is working on on a daily or weekly basis. This intuitive view sets ProjectManager apart from other resource management software beacuse it allows you to reallocate tasks with a simple drag-and-drop and click into tasks for quick updates. It’s never been easier to manage your team alongside your project plan.

Resource management isn’t just about planning and scheduling; it’s also about tracking resource utilization. ProjectManager has live dashboards (unlike other tools that require time-consuming setup) and one-click reporting for in-depth tracking of workload, availability, timesheets and tasks. Secure timesheets track how long your team is spending on tasks. Plus, when teams update their status, that resource utilization data is shared across the software instantly—even when data is entered via the mobile app.

With these features and others like a sheet view, kanban and more, no software does resource management better than ProjectManager. The best part? You can get started for free right away. Start your free trial of ProjectManager by clicking here.

Verdict: Best Project Resource Management Software for Project Management

ProjectManager Pros & Key Features

Built-in time tracking that’s easy to use
Multiple resource allocation views
Workload management charts
Cost tracking dashboards
Excels at real-time collaboration
Offers a 30-day free trial
Has a mobile app for Android and iOS

ProjectManager Cons & Limitations

Limited customization
Few native integrations
No free plan

ProjectManager Pricing

Team: $13 user/month
Business: $24 user/month

ProjectManager Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.1/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“ProjectManager works very well with both large and small-scale projects. Being able to use this with anything from a project involving only two members of staff, to hundreds, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
“We used to manage our projects, resources, and reporting in different systems. Enter ProjectManager. We have consolidated systems and work more efficiently.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
“Having the full scope of activities and who is responsible to do it, plus the time tracking is excellent.” Flavio M – from G2
“It has an excellent accounting system capable of calculating the time that a person has used to develop a task that was assigned to him, I like being able to collaborate with all my colleagues in the Finance sector through ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
“The UI of the application is user-friendly, and it helps to identify what we are looking for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2

2. Float

Float is a resource management software that’s used by agencies, studios and firms for tracking who is working on what and when.

It can manage more than one project at a time, so you can see all your projects and their competing milestones in a single view, which helps with planning and scheduling. You can monitor your budgets in real time and forecast hours, which helps prevent overspending. The resource management software integrates with Slack, Google Calendar and other apps, which fills in some holes. It excels at capacity management, demand forecasting and skills tracking—making it one of the best resource management software around.

A problem with this resource management software is that if more than one person is using it, things like task names and job descriptions aren’t centrally controlled and can vary as people edit them. While it can help organize resources, it’s missing some vital resource planning features, such as a decent search and a well-designed dashboard. Resource utilization reports are complicated and not visual, which would make them easier to digest at a glance. However, the fact that it can work with multiple projects makes it a good bet for project portfolio or program management.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Portfolio Management

Float Pros & Key Features

Strong capacity management and demand forecasting
Offers many integrations
30-day free trial
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Float Cons & Limitations

Decent resource management tool but not a project management solution
Missing important project management features such as Gantt charts, dashboards and reports
Limited feature set

Float Pricing

Starter: $6 user/month
Pro: $10 user/month

Float Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Very adaptable for different project types and team working styles. Visual reporting is easy to digest.” Nancy D – from G2
“The planning, time tracking and reporting features seem to work in a stable manner.” Alain S – from Capterra

3. Resource Guru

Resource Guru is designed for resource managers and project managers. It’s primarily a project scheduling and resource management software.

With Resource Guru, adding, editing, moving or deleting items in your schedule is fast and simple. You get visibility into resource utilization on its calendar view and a staff time tracker helps you stay updated on vacations, sick days, maternity leave, etc. The calendar syncs to a resource planning dashboard so everyone in the project is on the same page, and visual reports give you data on resource allocation.

Beyond that, this resource management software has limited features. For example, there aren’t alerts or appointment scheduling. There’s also little automation, which would help streamline the process greatly. The reporting feature could be better, and while there are integration workarounds, it’d be nice to have everything working under one roof. But the fact that it keeps your teams on schedule is a resource management win.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Team Resource Visibility

Resource Guru Pros & Key Features

Good for keeping your team on schedule
Strong visual reports
Offers a 30-day free trial
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

Resource Guru Cons & Limitations

Has only one calendar-like view for resource planning, project scheduling and workload management
Lack of project planning and scheduling tools such as Gantt charts or kanban boards
Limited reporting, only offers reports on resource allocation

Resource Guru Pricing

Grasshopper: $4.16 user/month
Blackbelt: $6.65 user/month
Master: $10 user/month

Resource Guru Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“We schedule our own crews and subcontractor crews with this tool and it works extremely well.” Tonya D – from G2
“We use Resource Guru to manage the utilization/booking of our research facilities. This works well for us as we have a small number of facilities we manage.” Steve B – from Capterra

4. Kantata

Kantata is the merger of Mavenlink and Kimble Applications. It aims to help users staff teams, respond to changes in their projects and deliver better operational performance.

Kantata offers project management and resource management features for small, medium and large businesses in IT services, engineering and other industries. It’s an easy-to-use, intuitive tool with good reporting features.

However, it can be complicated when trying to navigate integrations. The integration tool is poorly designed. While Kantata does have resource management tools that are fairly good at what they do, the price tag isn’t cheap. If your business is operating on a tight budget, then you might want to look elsewhere. On top of that, setup is a problem and will likely send users to customer support for assistance.

Verdict: Best Resource Planning Software for Reporting

Kantata Pros & Key Features

Multiple task management Tools
Intuitive and easy to use
Resource utilization dashboards

Kantata Cons & Limitations

User experience could be improved by making the software more intuitive
Lacks basic project management features like Gantt charts, kanban boards or project dashboards
Not ideal for task or project management due to limited functionality
Doesn’t have a mobile project management app

Kantata Pricing

Custom pricing depends on company information

Kantata Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.2/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“The best thing about Kantata is that I can see budgets and time entries in real-time.” Rachel S – from G2
“The time tracking and resource allocation features are very well integrated into the system.” Hussain A – from Capterra

5. Monday.com

Monday.com is known more as a task management app but has a resource management template that helps you plan your asset allocation.

There are many workflow views and you can use Gantt charts and kanban boards to import the template. A map view allows you to locate assets and displays the status of your resources in a dashboard-like setting, including financial data.

But, as noted, Monday.com is primarily used for task management and that’s where it excels—not as resource management software. There’s also the pricing structure, which keeps the resource management features you want behind a higher subscription rate. Tracking time and expenses aren’t easy and the mobile app is limited in terms of what it can do. Add integration problems and suddenly Monday.com looks like the worst day of the week.

Verdict: Best Resource Planning Software for Task Management

Monday.com Pros & Key Features

Multiple workflow views
Excels at tracking financial data
Offers a 14-day free trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Monday.com Cons & Limitations

Better suited for task and workflow management than for resource management
Very limited resource reporting features, dashboards lack detail
Cost and budget tracking features aren’t automated and require manual editing

Monday.com Pricing

Basic: $8 user/month
Standard: $10 user/month
Pro: $16 user/month

Monday.com Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“We used to have a mess of excel sheets and emails but now everything’s in one place.” Laura A – from G2
“It is overall a great product but it requires a lot of setup initially to take advantage of all its functions and features.” Ana D – from Capterra

6. Runn

Runn is resource management software that helps with forecasting and assigning human resources. It’s a flexible and intuitive app that helps users integrate project information from your CRM and financial systems. You get an overview of what people are doing and their capacity, the projects they’re working on and their availability. You can reallocate overtasked resources and see the financial impact of that action.

However, this is strictly a resource management software. If you’re looking for task management or other project management features, then you’re going to have to use Runn in conjunction with other project management tools. In terms of resource management, it can be frustrating, especially if you’re not estimating for projects beforehand. Also, because of the extensive modeling and planning features, setup is time-consuming.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Forecasting

Runn Pros & Key Features

Strong capacity planning features
Flexible and intuitive
Offers a 14-day free trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Runn Cons & Limitations

Missing many project management features such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists or project dashboards
Limited resource management features
Overly simplistic reports that lack detail

Runn Pricing

Pro: $10 user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales for customized pricing

Runn Reviews

G2 review: Not enough reviews, fewer than 50
Capterra review: Not enough reviews, fewer than 50

Highlighted User Reviews

“Runn works well for our organization because it’s inexpensive, cloudbased, and meets our scheduling needs as project managers.” David B – from G2
“This tool was so simple to implement, and it’s easy to use to track what projects our resources are working on now and in the future.” Joyce K – from Capterra

7. Wrike

Wrike combines project management with a real-time workspace. It’s a popular software option but only the most expensive plans include resource management features.

This software lets you create and customize multiple dashboards that can then be shared with teams. There are nice risk features that help you predict and manage them if they show up in a project. Also, the tool has a lot of collaborative features, allowing teams to stay in contact with automated responses.

Of course, a lot of these advantages aren’t related to resource management, which as we wrote, can only be accessed for a substantial investment in the resource management software. This can be a no-sale for mid-sized companies, especially as there are less expensive alternatives available. Also, integrations were slow to deliver alerts, such as Outlook, which is a problem.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Risk Management

Wrike Pros & Key Features

Customizable dashboards
Strong collaboration features
Offers a 14-day free trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Wrike Cons & Limitations

The Gantt chart functionality is very limited and the user interface is outdated
Lack of project and resource management reports
Limited cost and budget tracking features

Wrike Pricing

Team: $10.00 user/month
Business: $24.80 user/month

Wrike Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Wrike has become essential in my day and keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.” Paige T – from G2
“Productivity has been enhanced by removing essential but repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2

8. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is software that takes the spreadsheet and supersizes it. The software is relatively inexpensive and there’s a free forever plan. The tool is also highly customizable, with powerful analytics and reporting tools. There are a lot of templates to get you started, including ones for human resources. It features collaborative tools, automation and real-time reporting.

What it doesn’t have, unless you pay for add-ons, is time tracking and resource management software. Maybe you’d be willing to pay extra, but the software even at its simplest is hard to use. There’s a steep learning curve to clear just to get any advantage out of it. Plus, pages don’t update in real time, which can mean you’re working on outdated data.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Spreadsheet Users

Smartsheet Pros & Key Features

Analytics and reporting
Highly customizable
Offers a free 30-day trial
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS

Smartsheet Cons & Limitations

Relies too heavily on spreadsheets
Limited resource management functionality
It requires the use of formulas which is not ideal for most users

Smartsheet Pricing

Pro plan: $7 user/month
Business plan: $25 user/month

Smartsheet Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Smartsheet has allowed me to take my to-do list and run with it in a way that I didn’t think would be possible.” Victoria W – from G2
“I like that Smartsheet has a lot of different functions. It can be used for project management, inventory or event planning.” Lauren M – from Capterra

9. Silverbucket

Silverbucket is a resource planning tool for projects that is user-friendly and helps to plan and allocate resources.

It allows you to avoid conflicts and manage loads and capacity. Projects, people and capacity planning all are monitored within a single view, so resource scheduling decisions are based on hard data, which leads to greater profitability. There’s a filtered search, which is helpful, and skill tracking for team members. Plus, it integrates with many other project management apps.

Some issues include that the resource management software doesn’t have drag-and-drop functionality, which can make it a bit clunky to use. The resource planning dashboard is less than ideal, and you have to click to get data on team members’ allocation. Resource allocation reporting is problematic, too, and leaves a big hole in the software that hopefully will get filled in one day. For all its shortcomings, we did appreciate the ease with which it integrated with other project management apps.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Capacity Planning

Silverbucket Pros & Key Features

Integrates with many project management apps
User-friendly interface
Offers a free 30-day trial

Silverbucket Cons & Limitations

Outdated user interface
Cost tracking reports are not robust enough for project management
Overall limited resource management functionality
Not a good resource management software for small teams
Doesn’t have a mobile app

Silverbucket Pricing

Resource Planning: 11.10€ user/month, only available for 30 users or more

Silverbucket Reviews

G2 review: Not enough reviews, fewer than 50
Capterra review: Not enough reviews, fewer than 50

Highlighted User Reviews

“Silverbucket user interface is intuitive and straightforward.” Pirkka L – from G2
“It has given us more reliable data to be able to manage our business and enable global resource planning possibilities in the future.” Kate P – from Capterra

10. Birdview

Birdview PSA is a resource management software for midsize to enterprise-level teams. It’s used in projects ranging from marketing, IT, operations and software development to professional services.

This software automates your workflows, which saves time. Teams can automatically create template-driven projects or tasks based on available resources and incoming requests. Birdview PSA by Easy Projects offers a more visual resource planning and project reporting user interface. It has team collaboration tools, Gantt charts and kanban boards, making it more of a full project planning solution.

However, Birdview PSA might not be the best project management software for team communication or collaboration. For example, if two people are working on a task and one finishes because they still receive notifications until the other completes the assignment. There have been issues with resource allocation reporting, as well, as project stakeholders don’t get the full Gantt chart view unless they have a license. While there were some dings, the overall visual style was very appealing and made using this project resource management software fun and functional.

Verdict: Best Resource Management for Service Delivery Teams

Birdview Pros & Key Features

Workload balancing and automation
Ideal for visual resource planning
Has a 30-day free trial
Has a mobile project management for Android and iOS

Birdview Cons & Limitations

Outdated, non-intuitive user interface
Gantt chart lacks resource allocation and scheduling features
Project management tools like Gantt charts and kanban boards don’t allow tracking costs at the task level

Birdview Pricing

Lite: $9 user/month
Team: $24 user/month

Birdview PSA Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Birdview is an easy tool to use to manage projects with multiple users.” Cassie H – from G2
“Birdview has changed my working experience. It helps me stay on top of tasks in a timely manner and keeps everything in one place.” Paige A – from Capterra

11. Paymo

Paymo is a resource management app that helps to align teams and keep them engaged. Its resource scheduling works with features on project planning, time tracking and invoicing.

There are task management tools for managing team capacity, workload and availability and automatic ghost bookings based on task dates that were already added to the project plan. Other key features include Gantt charts and timesheets that track planned vs. actual work time.

Users have complained about the steep learning curve of using this resource management app. But even if you take the time and put in the effort to learn how to use it, there are limits that might have you seeking more robust resource management tools. For example, the dashboard is more geared for invoicing than resource management. There’s a web task timer, which is great for managing remote workers, only it doesn’t detect idle time or automatically shut off when left running, which can cause some discrepancies with your team.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Payment and Invoicing

Paymo Pros & Key Features

Modern, visually appealing user interface
Track planned vs. actual data
Offers a 15-day free trial
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

Paymo Cons & Limitations

Limited resource management reporting features
It’s hard to export data to other software, files can only be exported as PDF or PNG
Steep learning curve, requires onboarding and training

Paymo Pricing

Free: limited features for a maximum of 10 users
Starter: $3.90 user/month
Small Office: $6.90 user/month
Business: $10.90 user/month

Paymo Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Paymo has all the capabilities that allows me to save time by automating project and task management procedures.” Larry K – from G2
“I like the way Paymo has been designed. With its straightforward menu sidebar, it’s easy to access everything your business needs quickly and easily.” Jamie Lee J – from G2

12. Forecast

Forecast is a resource management software used throughout the world mostly in the professional services, agency, consulting and software sectors.

Some of its benefits include the fact that it offers real-time data that can help companies with enterprise resource planning and improve KPIs. It’s one of the new crops of tools that applies AI to help with resource scheduling and selecting team members who are most suited to working on a particular task or project.

As with many of the options on our 2025 best resource management software list, Forecast can be difficult to use. One of the major deficits is the lack of reporting tools, which means poor tracking and difficulty learning from the lessons of past projects. Some users praise it as a forecasting tool but criticize the project visualization that gets confusing when dealing with larger teams in bigger organizations. Finally, the software is suited for more traditional ways of working with resource management and those creative industries or teams who work in an agile project management methodology tend to be frustrated by the tool.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for AI Automation

Forecast Pros & Key Features

Ideal for enterprise teams
Resource scheduling through AI
Offers a 14-day free trial
Project management app for Android and iOS

Forecast Cons & Limitations

High-priced alternative with a minimum of 20 users
The software is more focused on automating features through AI than optimizing the user experience
Limited resource allocation and cost management functionality

Forecast Pricing

Contact sales for customized pricing

Forecast Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Multiple ways to record time and view tasks without overcomplicating the process.” Kieran S – from G2
“It is an affordable tool that centralizes management making boosting productivity easy.” Marjo M – from G2

13. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a resource management software designed for agile project management. In fact, the whole tool is based on an agile methodology to foster team collaboration and communication.

Its visual user interface is certainly going to attract the agile crowd, and kanban features will keep them happy. It’s easy to use and has multiple task management features, including Gantt charts, for resource planning. Customizable workflows help teams know that all their tasks are being worked on.

The problem with this resource management app that targets agile users is that its kanban boards have no work-in-progress (WIP) limits, swimlanes, custom fields or image previews in the board view. This is sure to turn off agile enthusiasts. Another fault of the software is its lack of integrations. Most organizations want their resource management tool to seamlessly integrate with other project management apps that they use. Not having this function or a very limited one might be a deal-breaker.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Agile Teams

Hubstaff Pros & Key Features

Easy to use
Customizable workflows
Offers a 14-day free trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Hubstaff Cons & Limitations

Missing key project management features such as Gantt charts or kanban boards
Not a good alternative for project management, geared towards time tracking and employee payroll management
Limited work management functionality

Hubstaff Pricing

Starter: $4.99 user/month
Grow: $7.50 user/month
Team: $10.00 user/month
Enterprise: $25.00 user/month

Hubstaff Reviews

G2 review: 4.5/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Hubstaff is highly user-friendly and straightforward, making time tracking a natural part of my daily routine.” Janna A – from G2
“Hubstaff is a fantastic tool for time tracking, payroll, and productivity monitoring.” George S – from G2

14. Ganttic

Ganttic is an online resource management software that is ideal for portfolio management.

Ganttic Key Features

Ganttic visualizes tasks in a matrix, which gives users a fully customized view of the project. Not only can you brainstorm, plan and allocate tasks to your team, but also track resource utilization on your dashboard. While excelling at workload and resource management, it also has portfolio optimization and can help you pick the right resources for the job along with the right projects for your organization.

That’s a lot of resource management features, but it takes a lot of time to get there. Setup is long due to all the personalizing of unique client data required. It’s also not the easiest resource management software to use. For example, there’s no click-and-drag punctuality to move an allocated block of time around the timeline. It can also be problematic on some web browsers, such as Chrome. You can’t create a draft that is private until published, which might turn off some potential users. Some users complained about the complexity of its time-tracking and task-management tools. There are still some bugs in the user interface, but that’s par for the course and shouldn’t deter those who like the portfolio features.

Verdict: Best Resource Planning Software for Gantt Charts

Ganttic Pros & Key Features

Visualizes tasks
Strong project portfolio management tools
Offers a free 10-day trial

Ganttic Cons & Limitations

Mobile app is only available for premium users
It’s a very limited tool that relies on a Gantt diagram view for most actions
Poor project and resource management reporting features

Ganttic Pricing

Resource-based monthly pricing plans range from $25/20 resources to 2000+ resources. All plans allow for unlimited free users. Annual plans receive 2 months free.

Ganttic Reviews

G2 review: 4/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Ease of use, once you learn the Ganntic way of doing things.” Nathan R – from G2
“Our planning and resource management is made easy with the adoption of Ganttic.” Thomas K – from Capterra

15. eResource Scheduler

eResource Scheduler is an enterprise resource management software that’s designed for managing resource utilization, scheduling and tracking across departments and business units within an organization.

This software helps you allocate resources and manage your team’s workload with simple tools such as workload charts, project calendars, timesheets and cost-tracking reports. It allows for effective resource mapping and has a skill matrix to pair the right team members with the right resources and projects.

However, the simplicity of this software is a drawback when it comes to meeting the needs of a project management team. It lacks many project management tools such as kanban boards, status reports or project dashboards. In addition, its existing project management tools such Gantt charts lack some of the more advanced features such as identifying task dependencies, managing the critical path or tracking costs at the task level. In general terms, it’s a tool that’ll help you with some aspects of resource management, such as tracking resource utilization or capacity reporting, but it’s not a fully featured resource management software for professional project management.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Beginner Project Managers

eResource Scheduler Pros & Key Features

Ideal for project managers and team leaders who need basic resource management tools
Easy-to-understand features and simple user interface
Allows team leaders to assign hourly rates to each employee
Has timesheets to keep track of labor costs

eResource Scheduler Cons & Limitations

Its feature set might not be a good fit for many organizations
Not designed for project management
Confusing pricing structure

eResource Scheduler Pricing

Scheduling Module: $6.25 resource/month
Scheduling Plus: $3 resource/month
Timesheets Module: $5 resource/month
Financial Module: $4 resource/month
Authentication Plus: $2 resource/month

eResource Scheduler Reviews

G2 review: Not enough reviews, less than 50
Capterra review: Not enough reviews, less than 50

Highlighted User Reviews

“This software captures all the possible information about all resources in a central database which makes the identification of the resources easy.” Nikita S – from G2
“The visual display is very helpful. Clear and easy to see gaps. The ability to export data allows us to present information in ways that suit our needs.” Brooke F – from Capterra

16. Saviom

Saviom is an enterprise resource management software that helps with workforce planning, project management and workflow automation. It serves companies across industries such as construction, IT and engineering.

Saviom has features such as resource utilization charts, workload dashboards and resource scheduling calendars. These and other tools make Saviom a decent resource management tool for assessing your team’s workload, scheduling work or allocating resources for a project.

However, Saviom falls short as a project portfolio management tool as it lacks many of the features that project managers or project management offices (PMOs) need, such as project portfolio management roadmaps, dashboards and status reports. On top of this, Saviom has an outdated user interface, which offers a subpar user experience when compared with most of the resource management software alternatives in this list. In summary, Saviom helps with resource planning, allocation and tracking at the team level, but has significant drawbacks when evaluated as a project portfolio management software for project managers and PMOs.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Workforce Planning

Saviom Pros & Key Features

Good for managing organizational resources and workflows for every day operations management
Resource estimation, planning and scheduling tools
Capacity planning and resource utilization reports

Saviom Cons & Limitations

Outdated user interface which results in a poor user experience
Project dashboards and reports are resource-centric, missing other aspects of project management
Lack of project planning, scheduling, tracking and reporting features

Saviom Pricing

Contact sales for customized pricing

Saviom Reviews

G2 review: Not enough reviews, less than 50
Capterra review: Not enough reviews, less than 50

Highlighted User Reviews

“Overall, it has robust forecasting capabilities that help anticipate future resource needs.” Puja K – from G2
“It makes it easy for us to manage resources and utilization across multiple discipline teams over three offices.” Tony L – from Capterra

17. Celoxis

Celoxis is project management and resource management software that is designed to help organizations plan, track and manage resources, projects and workflows. It effectively allocates and tracks resources, allowing users to manage both human and nonhuman resources. Users can create detailed schedules, allocate resources to specific tasks and adjust workloads based on availability and skill set. There are real-time insights into resource utilization to help project managers use those resources efficiently and effectively. Robust reporting and analytics, including customizable dashboards, track resource performance, workload and allocation.

With all those features, it will come as no surprise that the tool has a complex user interface. That means users will have to set aside time for training, even more so if they’re beginners without familiarity with project management software. There’s also a high initial setup cost. This resource management software can be expensive for small businesses and startups. The upfront cost, especially for on-premise deployment, can be a barrier for some organizations. While there is a mobile app, it’s not as comprehensive as the desktop version. The lack of features will limit flexibility for managing resources on the go. The reporting features are robots, but can be challenging to create custom reports or dashboards without significant setup or experience with the system.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Advanced Scheduling

Celoxis Pros & Key Features

Allocates and tracks all resources
Adjust workloads based on availability and skill set
Real-time resource utilization and availability tracking
Customizable dashboards and reports

Celoxis Cons & Limitations

Complex user interface
High initial setup cost
Limited mobile functionality
Complex reporting features

Celoxis Pricing

Essential: $25 user/month (billed annually)
Professional: $35 user/month (billed annually)
Business: $45 user/month (billed annually)
Enterprise: contact sales

Celoxis Reviews

G2 review: 4.5/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“It offers a wide range of features, including task management, resource allocation, time tracking, and reporting.” Rajkumar M – from G2
“I use it everyday to log my time and view project progress.” Kay M – from Capterra

Planview

Planview is resource management software designed for project portfolio management. It has advanced resource management capabilities to allocate, track and optimize the use of human and nonhuman resources across multiple projects and teams. It helps ensure that resources are available when needed and that workloads are balanced. Users get real-time visibility into resource utilization, helping to prevent overloading or underutilization of resources. There’s also advanced forecast and capacity planning to predict future resource needs.

Users complain that the user interface is complex and sometimes overwhelming. Its wide range of features can make it difficult to navigate and fully understand. Users, especially beginners, should seek out training. Onboarding can be time consuming. Clearing those hurdles might be easier than the price tag. This is expensive software, particularly for small-to-mid sized businesses. The licensing and subscription fees can be a significant financial burden. There’s no free plan or free trial to test out the software, either, which might be a hard no for potential customers.

Verdict: Best Resource Management Software for Portfolio Analysis

Planview Pros & Key Features

Resource management for portfolios
Balances workloads
Real-time resource tracking and utilization
Resource forecasting and capacity planning tools

Planview Cons & Limitations

Complex user interface
Steep learning curve
Costly, especially for small organizations
No free plan
No free trial

Planview Pricing

Contact sales for pricing information

Planview Reviews

G2 review: 3.6 / 5
Capterra review: 3.9 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Planview provides my team with a platform that is intuitive to manage and organize tasks and projects effectively.” Tetiana B – from G2
“When Planview finances are working properly I really enjoy the options for financial analysis across different projects.” Kelly C – from Capterra

What’s the Best Resource Management Software for You?

There are many resource management software choices. The right one for you depends on what you’re looking for in a resource management tool. Some projects aren’t going to be as resource-rich, but most projects require a lot of resources and that means a lot of management.

Getting a resource management tool that helps you plan, schedule and allocate resources is crucial. Having one that’s online and provides you with real-time data to track your resources is even more important, especially in the 2025 working environment. Still, these are just some of the basic aspects you should consider when choosing a resource management tool for managing projects and teams.

Besides the feature set, don’t forget to factor in other attributes of resource management software such as the user experience, learning curve, pricing and customer service, as these things might make a difference as you implement the software in your organization.

20 Best Microsoft Project Alternatives: Free & Paid Options

William Malsam — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 21:18:03 +0000

Microsoft Project is a project management software that’s commonly used by 35,000+ companies around the globe, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best tool. This forces some to seek a Microsoft Project alternative for effective collaboration and lower prices.

As projects grow in complexity and workforces expand globally, the need for online project management tools is no luxury. There is no lack of MS Project alternatives to choose from, with varying degrees of usefulness and project management features. Microsoft has thrown its considerable weight into the ring with Microsoft Project. While MS Project has become an industry standard in project management, it comes with problems, leaving people to search for the best Microsoft Project alternative.

Why People Seek a Microsoft Project Alternative

Microsoft Project can do much of what you need when planning and managing a project, but it’s not a perfect tool. There are many reasons why people who use it are searching for Microsoft Project alternatives. Thankfully, many other project management solutions on the market offer users a great alternative to Microsoft Project. We’ll get to those in a moment, but first, let’s outline the reasons people are dissatisfied with MS Project.

Steep Learning Curve for Users: Microsoft Project is not for beginners. The software is very technical and not user-friendly. That might be fine if you have an advanced degree in project management, but for the rest of us, it’s going to require a lot of work, time and training to get a handle on how to use the tool. Why do that when you can simply use one of the best MS Project alternatives?
No Microsoft Project Mobile App on Android or iOS: It’s hard to imagine a project management software in 2025 without a mobile app, but somehow Microsoft Project still doesn’t have one. This is going to severely limit your team’s ability to update tasks from the field. This may be reason enough to find an MS Project alternative for some.
Poor Team Communication, Even on Microsoft 365: Microsoft Project falls short in this category. You can’t easily message your team in the app, which means you’re going to have to jump onto one of the messaging tools that Microsoft offers, such as Teams, Outlook or Skype. Why do you want an add-on when it’s so much more efficient to choose a Microsoft Project alternative?
Microsoft Project Doesn’t Integrate Outside MS Tools: While MS Project works okay with other Microsoft products, that’s not the case if you want to use a tool outside of the Microsoft family of apps. So, if you’re looking to integrate with Salesforce, Slack or other tools, you’re probably going to find yourself frustrated and looking for MS Project alternatives.
Microsoft Project Pricing is Confusing and Expensive: If money is your bottom line, then Microsoft Project’s price tag will be a tough pill to swallow. What makes matters worse is that you have to pay for each license. You may have to selectively license MS Project to your team. Luckily there are low-cost and even free Microsoft Project alternatives in the market.
It’s Hard to Share Data with Other Project Management Software: It’s almost as if Microsoft Project doesn’t want your team to work together. If anyone on your team works on an Apple product, they’re out of luck. It’s such a problem that a cottage industry of online tools has emerged that offer ways to take MPP files, convert them into friendlier formats to edit and share and then convert them back to MS Project files. That’s not very efficient!

20 Best Microsoft Project Alternatives of 2025

There are many Microsoft Project alternatives in the market, each of which has key features and characteristics that make them unique. The following list includes free, freemium, cloud-based or open-source options. Look through them and decide the best Microsoft Project alternative for you.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is online project and portfoilo management software that tops our list for its incredibly rich project data, competitive pricing and compatibility with Mac. This MS Project alternative helps you plan and schedule projects while delivering real-time updates with live dashboards and powerful reporting tools to continuously improve analysis and performance. And there’s a free 30-day trial so you can try it out, risk-free.

Award-winning Gantt Charts for Precise Project Schedules

ProjectManager’s Gantt chart software is unmatched: no other Microsoft Project alternative offers four types of dependencies, baseline tracking, real-time workload data, critical path filtering and more. Of course, not everyone works the same, which is why you get access to five different project views including Gantt, kanban, task list, spreadsheet and calendar. As teams execute tasks, even on the mobile app, data is updated instantly across the software offering reliable dashboards and reporting.

Get All the Robust Features, Plus Mac Compatibility

ProjectManager not only works on all Mac products but it does nearly everything that MS Project does, faster, easier and at a lower price point, which puts it at the top of the best Microsoft Project alternatives list. You can collaborate without jumping through hoops and manage schedules, resources, workload and much more. Plus, ProjectManager has real-time dashboards that compile data instantly, streamlining analysis and reporting tasks.

Intuitive Resource Management

In addition to best-in-class project planning features, ProjectManager also offers a painless resource management experience. When scheduling tasks, real-time resource availability appears, so the workload is always balanced. When the project gets underway, you can use the team page to see all the tasks your team is working on in one place. Filter by team type, project and date range to stay on top of your team’s progress. Click on a task to make updates, or reallocate work instantly. You can’t get that level of team management and collaboration in Microsoft Project.

As a bonus, ProjectManager offers a seamless import and export of MPP files. If some team members still use Microsoft Project, it’s never been easier to collaborate on MPP files and project plans. It’s so simple that you might just convince them to make the switch to this Microsoft Project alternative, too. There isn’t a more powerful, yet easy-to-use software in this Microsoft Project alternatives list. See for yourself with a free 30-day trial.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Project Management

ProjectManager Pros & Key Features

Multiple project management views
Robust project planning, scheduling, tracking and resource management features
Mac-friendly, cloud-based project management software with unlimited file storage
Can be used to view and edit Microsoft Project files (MPP files)
Great alternative for project, program and portfolio management offices (PMOs)
Free trial
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

ProjectManager Cons & Limitations

Limited customization features
Fewer integrations than other Microsoft Project alternatives in this list
No free plan

Pricing

Team: $13.00 user/month
Business: $24.00 user/month
Enterprise: contact sales for a custom quote

ProjectManager Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.1/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“ProjectManager works very well with both large and small-scale projects. Being able to use this with anything from a project involving only two members of staff, to hundreds, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
“We used to manage our projects, resources, and reporting in different systems. Enter ProjectManager. We have consolidated systems and work more efficiently.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
“Having the full scope of activities and who is responsible to do it, plus the time tracking is excellent.” Flavio M – from G2
“It has an excellent accounting system capable of calculating the time that a person has used to develop a task that was assigned to him, I like being able to collaborate with all my colleagues in the Finance sector through ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
“The UI of the application is user-friendly, and it helps to identify what we are looking for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2

2. Wrike

Wrike is an MS Project alternative that makes our list because it’s easier to use than Microsoft when planning, tracking and analyzing projects. It’s far more collaborative than MS Project, but then almost all the Microsoft Project alternatives on this list are too. You can easily invite freelancers, contractors, clients and teams from other departments into the tool for free, which is a nice touch.

Those planning and collaborative features are great, but you’ll need a good deal of time to get comfortable using them. Don’t forget to add training time to your projects to get everyone up to speed with using Wrike. That doesn’t mean it’s hard to use, just difficult to know which is the right plan for you to move forward with. There are the pricing tiers we outline below, but then they have industry-specific versions of the software that add to the confusion. It’s an expensive project management tool, with user minimums, which might stop users from even exploring it as an option.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Project Planning

Wrike Pros & Key features

Allows non-Wrike users to visualize projects, which helps share projects with users without a Wrike license
Gantt charts, calendars and task management boards
Free trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Wrike Cons & Limitations

Its feature set focuses more heavily on work management than project management
Gantt charts lack important project management features such as cost and resource tracking
Limited project tracking and reporting features compared to Microsoft Project
High user minimums

Pricing

Professional plan: $10.00 user/month
Business plan: $24.80 user/month

Wrike Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Wrike has become essential in my day and keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.” Paige T – from G2
“Productivity has been enhanced by removing essential but repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2

3. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is an online MS Project alternative that functions like a spreadsheet but adds collaborative features that connect teams. Its focus on collaboration means that the scheduling and task management features are lighter than some might want, but they’re not absent from the tool. It’s powerful like MS Project but more customizable, supporting automation.

However, because of its limited reach in terms of managing projects, users will have to spend extra to get such tools as time tracking, budgeting and resource management. There are no real-time updates, and autosave can be a little slow, which is frustrating if you lose data before it has been saved. If you need advanced project management features, you’ll need to look for other MS Project alternatives.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Spreadsheets and Templates

Smartsheet Pros & Key Features

Ideal for switching from Excel spreadsheets to project management software
Files can be exported to Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project
Mac-friendly
Free trial
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

Smartsheet Cons & Limitations

Simple project management tools lack the functionality Microsoft Project offers
Some features require spreadsheet formulas which add a steep learning curve to implementation
Lack of resource management tools are a disadvantage when compared to other Microsoft Project alternatives
Dashboards and reports aren’t detailed enough for project, program or portfolio management
No free plan

Smartsheet Pricing

Pro plan: $9 user/month
Business plan: $19 user/month

Smartsheet Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Smartsheet has allowed me to take my to-do list and run with it in a way that I didn’t think would be possible.” Victoria W – from G2
“I like that Smartsheet has a lot of different functions. It can be used for project management, inventory or event planning.” Lauren M – from Capterra

4. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is project management software developed by Oracle and used for enterprise portfolio management. It’s a Microsoft Project alternative that is best suited for large-scale and complex projects, often found in construction, engineering and manufacturing. It’s useful for projects that require extensive scheduling, resource management and detailed reporting. In terms of scheduling, there are Gantt charts, critical path analysis and more. For resource management, the software offers resource leveling, allocation and cost management.

The trouble with this Microsoft Project alternative is that it’s complicated and has a steep learning curve, especially for new users. Be prepared to devote time for significant training before doing any project work. On top of this, the price of entry is high. This Microsoft Project alternative is more expensive than most project management software when extra licenses and implementation are required. It’s also resource-intensive. Expect substantial computing resources and infrastructure to support it, plus maintenance.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Businesses

Primavera Key Features & Benefits:

Offers specialized features for enterprise project portfolio management
On-premise and online project management software solutions
Has an online version, Oracle Primavera Cloud
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Primavera Cons & Limitations:

There’s no customer support from Oracle
User interface feels outdated compared to most project management software in this list
The software is complex and hard to use
It’s difficult to find product documentation online
Very expensive project management solution for small teams

Primavera Pricing

You may acquire a desktop license or pay a monthly subscription for the online service for any of these and other versions of Primavera.

Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management: $2,750
Primavera P6 Progress Reporter: $950
Primavera P6 Professional Project Management: $2,500

Primavera Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Oracle Primavera Cloud is very user-friendly, has amazing management and scheduling tools which allows good coordination between the team and also saves money and time.” Bruno L. – from Capterra
“Accurate calculation and output data is perfect” Sameh H. – from Capterra

5. Monday.com

Monday is a Microsoft Project alternative that is fun to use, which makes it nearly the polar opposite of Microsoft Project. Monday is a project management software that doesn’t feel like a project management software. It is easy to start customizing workflows, and it has automation to keep users aligned and updated on due dates. Agile users will love the kanban boards for task management and the custom dashboard that tracks progress in real time.

If all this sounds like a good MS Project alternative and you want to check it out, you’ll only have two weeks to play around with the trial version or use the free edition, which is limited to two users. That’s not really enough time to get a handle on an app. More a collection of customized spreadsheets than project management software, Monday might fall short of your management needs. For example, there’s no Gantt chart. The timeline they offer is a lightweight attempt to match the power of the Gantt. There are no dependencies, for one, which is sure to cause headaches as you execute your project. But if you’re looking for simple MS Project alternatives, this could be it.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Ease of Use

Monday.com Pros & Key Features

Ideal for beginner project managers and team leaders across industries
Easy-to-use team collaboration features
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
Free trial

Monday.com Cons & Limitations

Its feature set is not robust enough for project, program or project portfolio management
Project reports and dashboards are limited compared to Microsoft Project
Limited project planning features, more geared towards task and workflow management

Monday.com Pricing

Basic: $9/user/month, billed annually
Standard: $12/user/month, billed annually
Pro: $19/user/month, billed annually
3-seat minimum

Monday.com Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“We used to have a mess of excel sheets and emails but now everything’s in one place.” Laura A – from G2
“It is overall a great product but it requires a lot of setup initially to take advantage of all its functions and features.” Ana D – from Capterra

6. Asana

Asana is a great Microsoft Project alternative that organizes work across all your teams and makes sure everyone is always productive. It’s highly collaborative and tracks tasks and workflows, which makes it an ideal tool for task management. It’s flexible in that regard, and it has some of the best communication tools on this list, including video messaging that can be shared with the team. There are also multiple project views, including kanban boards, lists and calendars.

But, even with all its features and integrations, it still doesn’t mean Asana is a fully equipped Microsoft Project alternative. There are big holes in the platform. For example, there are no resource management tools, no budgeting and expense tracking and other things that project managers have come to expect in project management software. Projects that involve a lot of design work are not going to be happy that you can’t markup or proof visuals. But many will be won over by the design and flexibility when looking for Microsoft Project alternatives.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Task Management

Asana Pros & Key Features

Friendly user interface and easy-to-use tools
Ideal for team collaboration
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
Microsoft project alternative with a free plan
Free trial

Asana Cons & Limitations

Its timeline view mimics a Gantt chart but lacks cost management and resource tracking features
Limited project management tools compared to Microsoft Project
Overly simplistic features fall short of project planning, scheduling and tracking

Asana Pricing

Premium plan: $10.99/user/month, billed annually
Business plan: $24.99/user/month, billed annually

Asana Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Asana is very easy to use, intuitive for my team members who don’t have tech backgrounds but need to start and contribute right away.” Sara G – from G2
“Overall, I had great success staying organized with this project management tool.” Mary B – from Capterra

7. Jira

Jira is a Microsoft Project alternative used for project management and issue tracking. It is mostly used in software development but can fit into other types of projects. It is not an apples-to-apples comparison with MS Project, but has similar capabilities, such as task tracking, workflow management and project planning. It can be customized and integrated with other tools and services. It is especially useful for teams working in an agile environment. It also has robust reporting and dashboards.

This Microsoft Project alternative is not ideal for projects run in a waterfall methodology. That’s because there are no Gantt charts, which are the tool of choice for traditional project management. The interface and many of its features, such as the kanban, are not easy to use. Cost can also be an issue if there are going to be multiple team members licensed to the product. Users have reported some performance issues, as well, when managing large projects. That can negatively impact productivity.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Software Development

Jira Pros & Key Features

Good for tracking issues
Plugins available on marketplace
Mobile app available for Android and iOS
7-day free trial

Jira Cons & Limitations

Doesn’t have Gantt charts which is a big disadvantage compared to other MS Project alternatives
User interface is hard to navigate, kanban boards are not easy to use
The feature set is designed for agile software development teams, so it’s not a great fit for teams using other project management methodologies

Jira Pricing

Standard: $7.53 per user
Premium: $13.53 per user
Enterprise: Contact sales

Jira Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“In my office we use jira for task management and time management, which helps us for team projects with multiple moving parts.” Saili K – from G2
“Once we got past the learning phase, Jira significantly improved our project efficiency and collaboration.” Abu R – from Capterra

8. Microsoft Planner

If you love Microsoft software but feel that Microsoft Project is too much for you, then try Microsoft Planner. Glaringly there are no Gantt charts, but if that’s not an issue, then this might be worth a try. This Microsoft Project alternative is a lightweight task management tool that specializes in kanban boards and task lists. And to help grease the wheels of collaboration, there are email notifications and calendars for those who need a work management solution.

However, it’s a limited tool compared to Microsoft Project, and you’re certainly not going to get the planning and scheduling features of MS Project, much less its resource management and portfolio management features. But, if you just need an online space to manage tasks with your team and you live in the Microsoft universe, try Microsoft Planner instead.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Microsoft Fans

Microsoft Planner Pros & Key Features

Simple team collaboration tools for effective communication
Basic task management features, easy to grasp by most users
Mobile app available for Android and iOS
Free trial

Microsoft Planner Cons & Limitations

Doesn’t offer Gantt charts, only kanban boards and task lists
No workflow automation features
Limited project management feature set

Microsoft Planner Pricing

Planner Plan 1: $10.00 user/month
Planner and Project Plan 3: $30.00 user/month
Planner and Project Plan 5: $55.00 user/month

Microsoft Planner Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Overall, my experience with Microsoft Planner has been very positive, as it has helped my team share tasks and establish procedures to follow.” Alvaro G – from G2
“Microsoft Planner is great because it’s part of the Microsoft 365 family. It works really well with other Microsoft apps like Teams and Outlook, making it easy to use.” Anand G – from Capterra

9. Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is a Microsoft Project alternative with kanban boards that organize tasks, a social feed that captures updates on those tasks and forums for lengthier discussions. It connects teams to foster productivity and even has a timesheet feature for managers to see how much time each team member spends on their tasks. It offers issue tracking and a Gantt project view.

What it lacks as an MS Project alternative are resource management tools and reporting. In a sense, a manager is flying blind if they can’t generate status reports and then reallocate resources to keep their teams working at capacity. There is also no function for managing more than one project at a time, leaving the tool limited in what it can do for users.

Verdict: Best Low-cost Microsoft Project Alternative

Zoho Projects Pros & Key Features

Good fit for basic project management
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
Free trial
Free plan available

Zoho Projects Cons & Limitations

User interface could be improved for better navigability
Gantt chart project tracking features are limited compared to Microsoft Project
Lack of resource management features
Hard to integrate with

Zoho Projects Pricing

Premium: $4/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: $9/user/month, billed annually

Zoho Projects Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“What I like most is how it integrates perfectly with the entire Zoho ecosystem.” Emy L – from G2
“While the UI and the setup were slightly complicated, Zoho Projects helps you track your projects efficiently.” Shria G – from Capterra

10. Airtable

Airtable is a cloud-based Microsoft Project alternative that combines elements of a spreadsheet with the functionality of a database. User-friendly and customizable, users can manage projects across multiple views, such as grid, calendar, kanban and gallery. Those already familiar with spreadsheets will find adapting to this tool easy, there are several pre-built templates for project management, content planning and CRM to help get teams started. It’s also collaborative, has automation for repetitive tasks and a mobile app for iOS and Android.

While there are multiple project views, there is no Gantt chart, which is a foundational project planning and scheduling tool, on any but the top-tier subscription accounts. In fact, its scheduling tools are generally limited. Even though it has some automation, this, too, is limited and might require third-party apps. Even its task management is problematic as setting up tasks and subtasks can be complicated. The Microsoft Project alternative also lacks resource leveling and can link all dependencies, which can create costly delays, and detailed reporting features. This tool simply isn’t suitable for large projects and those who do try it will find the cost prohibitively expensive.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Building Apps

Airtable Pros & Key Features

User-friendly interface
Real-time collaboration
Record linking
Pre-built templates
Multiple views: grid, kanban, calendar, gallery

Airtable Cons & Limitations

Expensive per-user pricing
Data entry limitations
Storage constraints
Limited customization
Lack of scalability

Airtable Pricing

Team: $20 per seat/monthly (billed annually)
Business: $45 per seat/monthly (billed annually)
Enterprise: contact sales

Airtable Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“A lot of templates to start with. Highly customizable.” Jean D. – from Capterra
“When you got a table up and running it was super effective” Matt H. – from Capterra

11. Notion

Notion is a workspace tool that can be a strong Microsoft Project alternative depending on one’s needs. It’s an all-in-one workspace that combines note-taking, task management, database management and collaborative features. It has a more user-friendly interface than Microsoft Project, which is designed to be intuitive and doesn’t require a great deal of training.

Users who are looking for a Microsoft Project alternative with detailed Gantt charts, resource leveling and automated scheduling will be disappointed. Notion has limited advanced project management features. It’s also going to be a better fit for smaller teams or even individual use. Those looking to scale up to larger projects will become frustrated by Notion’s flexibility and look for a more specialized project management tool instead.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Notetaking

Notion Pros & Key Features

All-in-one workspace
Task management
Notetaking
Database creation
Customizable
User-friendly interface

Notion Cons & Limitations

Limited advanced project management features
Limited offline access
No built-in time tracking
Not good for large teams or projects
Expensive to get more advanced features
Customization is complicated

Notion Pricing

Personal Pro Plan: $10/month, billed monthly
Team Plan: $15/month, billed monthly
Enterprise: contact sales

Notion Reviews

G2 review: 4.7 / 5
Capterra review: 4.7 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I usually use it as a note taking, studying board, planner and even to organize my financial life – it is all my life in one place.” Fabiane C. – from G2
“Originally a really good UI, available on multiple platforms, very dynamic and responsive.” Keith P – from Capterra

12. Procore

Procore is a Microsoft Project alternative that is used in larger construction projects. It’s not a direct replacement for MS Project, as it’s focused on construction project management. However, it does have robust tools for managing project timelines, tasks and documentation, including scheduling, budgeting and resource management. Real-time collaboration keeps communication between general contractors, subcontractors and stakeholders, which reduces risks of misunderstandings and delays. There’s also a mobile app and integration with third-party tools.

While the Microsoft Project alternative has Gantt charts and project calendars, these are the only scheduling tools available. Users might expect more views, considering the high cost of the product, which only increases when more users are added. Needless to say, this is not the software one is going to choose to run projects outside of construction. It’s simply designed for construction project management and little else. Like other complicated software products, this has a steep learning curve. Smaller projects, even small construction projects, are not going to be appropriate for this software. It would be overkill. One reason is that the setup and integration of Procore with existing systems is time-consuming and complex.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Large Projects

Procore Pros & Key Features

Best for large projects
Document management features for construction management
Project cost tracking and budgeting tools
Time tracking features for managing the construction site
Compatibility with Microsoft Project and Primavera P6
Mobile app for Android and iOS

Procore Cons & Limitations

Procore only offers two project scheduling views, Gantt charts and project calendars
Complex construction scheduling tool with a steep learning curve
Limited resource planning tools for managing resource allocation
Gantt charts don’t track task costs

Procore Pricing

Procore requires a custom quote

Procore Reviews

G2 review: 4.6 / 5
Capterra review: 4.5 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Procore is a great tool for Construction professionals. The feature set is very tailored to construction related tasks.” Mark T – from Capterra
“If you are willing to read and follow along with everything presented it will be incredibly helpful.” Mathew K – from G2

13. Paymo

Paymo is comprehensive project management software with time tracking and invoicing capabilities so business owners and project managers can track project success. Its automatic time tracker makes Paymo a tough contender in the project management ring.

Task management is straightforward, with multiple assignees, priorities, customizable statuses, and project views including list, table, kanban, calendar and Gantt. There’s also an extra meta-Kanban view for a bird’s-eye view of your team’s tasks. This MS alternative is a great PM tool, but it has its limitations with third-party applications and can be complex and difficult to use.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Project and Time Tracking

Paymo Pros & Key Features

Multiple project management views such as Gantt charts, task lists and kanban boards
Good fit for small businesses thanks to its invoicing and payment processing features
Mobile app for Android and iOS
MS Project alternative with a free plan
Free trial
Mobile project management for Android and iOS

Paymo Cons & Limitations

Limited project tracking and reporting features compared to Microsoft Project
Project files can only be exported as PDF or PNG, which makes it difficult to export them to other platforms
No workflow automation tools

Paymo Pricing

Starter plan: $3.90/user/month paid annually
Small Office plan: $6.90/user/month paid annually
Business plan: $10.90/user/month paid annually

Paymo Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Paymo has all the capabilities that allows me to save time by automating project and task management procedures.” Larry K – from G2
“I like the way Paymo has been designed. With its straightforward menu sidebar, it’s easy to access everything your business needs quickly and easily.” Jamie Lee J – from G2

14. ClickUp

ClickUp is a project management platform for teams across industries such as marketing, product planning and software development. It offers similar features to Microsoft Project, including Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and dashboards. Additionally, ClickUp offers document editing, instant messaging and email management tools. One of the main advantages of this software is the variety of integrations with third-party software, which allows users to customize the software to fit their needs.

However, unlike Microsoft Project, ClickUp wasn’t exclusively designed for project management. As a result, some of its features are limited. For example, ClickUp’s Gantt charts don’t allow you to track project costs or the percentage complete of each task, and they don’t track the four types of dependencies that are used in project management. So while ClickUp it’s a versatile tool that can help you manage tasks, teams and workflows, it might not be the best Microsoft Project alternative.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Team Productivity

ClickUp Pros & Key Features

Multiple team collaboration tools, including a built-in email solution
Flexible for teams across industries
Kanban boards and dashboards are a good fit for scrum and agile teams
Mobile project planning app for Android and iOS

ClickUp Cons & Limitations

Feature variety is often overwhelming for most users, especially when setting up the software and onboarding team members
Project management tools lack important features that Microsoft Project has
Files can be only be exported in PDF format
Missing project reports
No free trial

ClickUp Pricing

Unlimited: $7/user/month, billed annually
Business: $12/user/month, billed annually

ClickUp Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Good for operational tasks and customer support.” Hovhannes G – from G2
“ClickUp sits right in the middle between typical task management tools and business platforms.” Pawel M – from Capterra

15. GanttPRO

If you’re a small team in need of a Microsoft Project alternative with Gantt charts, GanttPRO may be right for you. Like Microsoft Project, its primary feature is the Gantt chart, and you’ll find that it’s fairly robust when it comes to planning and scheduling. And, when compared to Microsoft Project, it’s quite easy to use. Plus, there’s a kanban board feature for those who aren’t comfortable using the Gantt.

However, the Gantt is about all it does well. When it comes to tracking and reporting, it falls behind the pack. Furthermore, if you need to do billing or invoicing, you’ll have to rely on integrations to get it done. Unforutnately, its integrations aren’t very robust either, so you may find yourself using other tools in addition to this Gantt-heavy Microsoft Project alternative.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative with a Gantt for Small Teams

GanttPRO Pros & Key Features

Files can be downloaded in a variety of formats
Easy to view, share and edit files in other software
Cost and budget tracking features
Has a free 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app available on iOS and Android

GanttPRO Cons & Limitations

No timesheets, but there are time tracking features
Limited project reporting features, no project health reports
Few of integrations
No free plan

GanttPRO Pricing

Basic: $7.99/user/month
Pro: $12.99/user/month
Business: $19.99/user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales

GanttPRO Reviews

G2 review: 4.8/5
Capterra review: 4.8/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I especially enjoy the collaboration feature where I can invite colleagues to edit tasks and timelines in the live document. I have moved from using Google Sheets.” Glen K – from G2
“GantPro software offers a seamless project management experience with its intuitive interface and robust features.” Dixie F – from Capterra

16. Trello

Trello is a tool that manages projects and helps teams collaborate. This software uses a kanban board interface that allows users to visualize their workflow. It provides transparency and fosters collaboration. It has real-time updates, which is a plus and has easy onboarding for teams. It’s a fun and easy-to-use MS Project alternative, which is why it made it number five on our list.

But, as a fully-fledged Microsoft Project alternative, Trello falls short. It has a project bar chart instead of a Gantt. While that feature might try to mimic the usefulness of a Gantt it doesn’t set a baseline to track your actual progress against your planned effort, there are no inter-project dependencies and it can’t filter for the critical path in your schedule. Since it’s not the best project management software, Trello is recommended only for basic project management features.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Kanban Boards

Trello Pros & Key Features

Mac-friendly
Works for agile and scrum teams
Wide variety of integrations
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
Microsoft Project alternative with a free plan
Free trial

Trello Cons & Limitations

Limited feature set compared to most Microsoft Project Alternatives
Lack of project management tools, only offers kanban boards and project calendars
Most users need to purchase add-ons and integrations to get project management tools that are included in Microsoft Project
Not suitable for project management offices (PMOs) or project portfolio management

Trello Pricing

Standard: $5/user/month, billed annually
Premium: $10/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: $17.50/user/month, billed annually

Trello Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I use it at work for my daily tasks and I also use it at home for a variety of different things.” Michelle J – from G2
“Aside from the UI being rather outdated, overall, Trello has streamlined our workflow significantly.” Peter Z – from Capterra

17. Basecamp

Basecamp is a Microsoft Project alternative that has team collaboration and is simple to use, two benefits that the notoriously uncollaborative and difficult MS Project can’t touch. Teams looking for a more straightforward and user-friendly solution to Microsoft Project will be attracted to this Microsoft Project alternative. It has task management features and communication tools, such as message boards, team chat and automatic check-ins. It creates a centralized hub for project collaboration.

However, it falls short of being a holistic project management tool. That’s because it lacks Gantt charts and resource management features and can’t handle complex dependencies. This Microsoft Project alternative is not suited for projects with detailed scheduling and resource planning. Reporting is limited, which reduces the analytic capabilities that help guide project managers in their decision-making.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Managing Everyday Work

Basecamp Pros & Key Features

Simple tools for assigning, scheduling and tracking tasks
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS
No user limits for Pro Unlimited
Collaborative

Basecamp Cons & Limitations

Overly basic task management tools and features
Lack of resource planning and management features
No Gantt charts
Limited advanced project management features, such as reporting
No time tracking

Basecamp Pricing

Basecamp: $15 user/month
Pro Unlimited: $299/month, unlimited users

Basecamp Reviews

G2 review: 4.1/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“As a company, it allows us to flawlessly track all of our conversations, planning, tasks, and project progress.” Özgür K – from G2
“The interface transforms complex functionalities into an intuitive experience for all users.” Tom G – from G2

18. Teamwork

Teamwork is an easy-to-use Microsoft Project alternative. It organizes tasks and subtasks, labeling priorities and identifying dependencies to avoid bottlenecks. There are messages at the task level to connect teams as they work on their tasks and time tracking for managers to monitor progress. Like many Microsoft Project alternatives, it also features a Gantt chart view.

There’s a free version that has limited features. Reviewing all these apps shows the shortcomings of MS Project when it comes to teamwork, hence the name of this product. However, the tool isn’t great for every type of collaboration. For example, you can’t mark up files, which is a problem if teams are working on visual materials. But it’s still miles ahead of MS Project and other Microsoft project management software.

Verdict: Best Microsoft Project Alternative for Team Collaboration

Teamwork Pros & Key Features

Great for basic task management
Timesheet and invoicing features
Free trial
Mobile project management app for Android and iOS

Teamwork Cons

Gantt chart features are good for basic task management but not ideal for project management
Limited project reporting tools
Designed for professional service providers, which is a disadvantage when compared to versatile Microsoft Project alternatives
Paid versions have a 3-user minimum

Teamwork Pricing

Deliver $10.99/user/month, billed annually
Grow $19.99/user/month, billed annually
Scale $54.99/user/month, billed annually

Teamwork Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“It’s a great tool for unifying developers, designers and everyone involved in a project, needing little training.” Brett W – from G2
“Can also be used for personal projects, tasks, planning and dreaming/distractions, to get the info out of your head and recorded in a central system.” Jacki B – from G2

19. GanttProject

GanttProject has one giant advantage over MS Project and even most of the Microsoft Project alternatives—it’s free. Gantt charts are the heavy lifters in project management and a free one is sure to be attractive. Especially one that’s easy to use and that can export documents to MS Project. That means this could prove a major asset to MS Project users.

That is also its deterrent. You’re still wedded to MS Project. Though, perhaps you’d use GanttProject all by itself to manage your project. After all, Gantt charts are great tools. The problem is that this Gantt is limited in what it can do. For this free MS Project alternative, you’re going to have to use a suite of other apps to get the project management features that MS Project offers.

Verdict: Best Free Microsoft Project Alternative for Gantt Charts

GanttProject Pros & Key Features

Open source Microsoft Project Alternative
Easy-to-use Gantt chart
Good for project planning
Free plan

GanttProject Cons & Limitations

Has a very limited feature set compared to most Microsoft Project alternatives in this list
Lacks many project management features such as dashboards, kanban boards, workload charts, among others
It’s a desktop-based software
No mobile app

GanttProject Pricing

Free downloadable software

GanttProject Reviews

G2 review: 4.5 / 5
Capterra review: 4.2 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Good ability to insert and manage various resources and control the critical activities for the project.” Gianluca M – from G2
“This software hits what I need which is free and simple to use.” Max P – from Capterra

20. ProjectLibre

ProjectLibre is a free project management software that offers simple project management tools such as task lists, Gantt charts, project dashboards and resource management spreadsheets. Some of its key features include work breakdown structure (WBS) charts, resource histograms and network diagrams. It’s a downloadable open-source software that works on Windows, Mac and Linux computers, and it’s available in over 20 languages. One of its key advantages is that it can be used to view and edit Microsoft Project files without a Microsoft Project license.

However, while ProjectLibre promotes itself as the best Microsoft Project alternative, it lacks many of the tools that Microsoft Project offers such as timesheets, kanban boards or project management reports. On top of that, its project management features are limited and its user interface is outdated compared to the vast majority of Microsoft Project alternatives.

Verdict: Best Open-source Microsoft Project Alternative

ProjectLibre & Key Features

Available in over 20 different languages
Works on Mac computers
Free plan

ProjectLibre Cons & Limitations

Outdated user interface makes it hard to use and navigate the software
Very limited feature set compared to Microsoft Project and most Microsoft Project alternatives in this list
Limited spreadsheet-based resource planning tools
Desktop-based software

ProjectLibre Pricing

Free downloadable software

ProjectLibre Reviews

G2 review: 4.2 / 5
Capterra review: 4.4 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“It’s open-source. It also provides Gantt charts, defining task dependencies, setting milestones and allocating resources.” Tisagh C – from G2
“I was looking for a cheap or free alternative to MS Project to plan and follow my projects.” Nicolas B – from Capterra

Which MS Project Alternative Is Right For You?

Microsoft Project is clunky, expensive and difficult-to-use project management software. Although it’s the default option for many, it doesn’t cater to every team’s needs.

Construction teams, for example, may feel limited by MS Project’s weak scheduling features, leaving them to find a Microsoft Project alternative with dynamic Gantt charts and resource allocation features. Marketing teams may look for an alternative with great integrations that go beyond the Microsoft umbrella, while students may seek a free or open-source Microsoft Project alternative that better fits their budget and workflow.

Risk Matrix Template for Excel

Marshall Simmons — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 16:10:50 +0000

Projects are risky, but risks can be managed. You can identify risk, prioritize it and assign a team member to own that risk and be responsible for resolving it. That’s why you need ProjectManager’s free risk matrix template for Excel. With it, you can take any potential issue and determine how much of a risk it is and what impact it could have on the project. This template can also be referred to as:

Risk matrix template
Risk assessment matrix template
Risk management matrix template
Risk analysis matrix template
5×5 risk matrix template

What Is a Risk Matrix Template?

A risk matrix template is a project management chart that’s used to plot risk against the likelihood of it happening and the severity of the impact on your project.

ProjectManager’s free risk matrix template for Excel.

The risk matrix template is a grid. The left side has a scale representing the likelihood of the risk occurring, from rare to almost certain. The top of the grid addresses the severity of the risk, from insignificant to severe. By plotting the risk on the risk matrix, you get a better idea of how much attention should be paid to it.

Why You Need a Risk Matrix Template for Excel

Risk is inherent in any project. The best thing you can do is develop a risk management process to identify and correct issues before they become problems. That’s why you need this risk matrix template for Excel.

A risk matrix can be a communication tool, too. You can use it to let the project team know the risks that might occur during a project. This way, they can keep their eye out for them and alert others if a risk becomes an issue. This awareness means that risk will undoubtedly have less impact on a project.

Manage risk better than a risk matrix with ProjectManager. Our cloud-based software delivers a real-time risk matrix and lets you view risks in a live project menu. Our powerful, updateable list can sort, drag and drop, filter and more. Create tasks devoted to only risks that can then be assigned to team members, with dates, priority, tags and more. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager allows project teams to easily assess the risks of project tasks Learn more

How to Use ProjectManager’s Risk Matrix Template for Excel

Download the Template: Download ProjectManager’s free risk matrix template for Excel to start safeguarding your project.
Enter General Information About the Project: Fill in general info for the project at the top of the page.
Fill out the date: The date shows when the risk matrix was last revised, so you know you’re working off the most current version.
Assess the risk impact: This grid is laid out with the top row indicating the severity of the risk. The range is from insignificant to severe in terms of how much it could impact important areas of the project plan such as the project budget, resource availability or project schedule. Think about which of these slots best represents the potential impact of the risk.
Assess the risk likelihood: Up the left-hand side is the likelihood that the event will occur in the project. This range is from rare to almost certain. Again, evaluate the probability of the risk occurring and think where to place the risk in this scale.
Place risk in the matrix: Once you’ve assessed the impact and likelihood of the risk, place the risk in one of the risk matrix cells. Green indicates a low priority, yellow is medium priority, orange is high and red is very high.

What Is Included in This Risk Matrix Template for Excel?

Let’s take a closer look at the various sections included in this risk matrix template.

1. Risk Categories

There are various risk categories and not all are the same. Use the template to break down risks into the following categories.

Strategic Risks: Threats or uncertainties that could prevent an organization from achieving its long-term goals.
Operational Risks: The potential for losses that stem from failed internal processes, people, systems or external events.
Financial Risks: The potential for financial loss or uncertainty in project financial outcomes.
Compliance Risks: The possibility of negative consequences and organization will face if it doesn’t adhere to laws, industry standards, regulations or internal policies.
Safety Risks: Potential sources of harm or negative health effects that could result in injury, illness or property damage.

2. Risk Likelihood

This is a qualitative or quantitative assessment of how likely it is for a specific risk event to occur. Use the risk matrix template for Excel to make informed decisions to help reduce the impact of potential risks in your project plan and achieve your objectives.

3. Potential Impact

Consider what the consequences would be if the risk for a specific event came to fruition. For example, would there be a loss of revenue? Would there be a loss of productivity or a safety threat to employees or customers?

4. Risk Priority Score

This is a numerical value that helps determine how risks should be prioritized based on their potential impact and how likely they are to occur. For example, if the severity of the risk is a 5 and the likelihood is a 3, multiply these numbers to get a risk priority score of 15 (high priority).

5. Risk Mitigation Strategies

These are techniques that can help lessen the impact or likelihood of a potential risk from occurring. Common risk management strategies to mitigate risks include risk avoidance, risk reduction, risk transfer and risk acceptance.

6. Risk Timeframe

The risk timeframe refers to the period during which a specific risk could occur and what its impact would be on the project or organization. Common timeframes to include on the risk matrix template include short-term, medium-term and long-term risks.

7. Risk Owner

This is the individual or team member who will oversee and manage specific risks or a set of risks within the organization. This improves risk management as it assigns responsibility to identify, assess, mitigate and monitor risks.

When to Use a Risk Matrix Template for Excel

While there are plenty of use cases, we’ve outlined some specific examples of when to utilize this free template.

Project Risk Management: The best time to utilize this Excel template is during the planning phase of a project. It’s part of a risk management plan of identifying risks and coming up with methods to address and resolve them. However, ProjectManager’s free Excel risk matrix template can be used throughout the life cycle of the project as well. After planning comes execution, and during this phase, new risks might arise. Therefore, the risk anaysis matrix template must be constantly reviewed and revised to keep it up-to-date.
Strategic Planning: During the strategic planning process, project managers can use the Excel risk matrix template to help identify and prioritize risks. For example, is there a systematic review of potential risks in place? It can also benefit strategic planning through improved decision-making as it allows strategic planners to weigh potential outcomes and proactively allocate resources.
Operational Risk Management: During operational risk management, the risk matrix template helps provide a visual representation of risks. This makes it even easier to prioritize what risks are areas of concern. The information in the template is inputted in a streamlined manner that acts as a common language for discussing risks within the organization.

Who Should Update this Risk Matrix Template for Excel?

While the project manager is usually responsible for keeping the template updated, different organizations might rely on different parties for this task.

Project Managers: The risk matrix is usually the responsibility of the project manager. They are the ones making the plan, working closely with stakeholders and conducting research to better understand the details of the work. Once a risk has appeared as an issue, however, the owner of that risk is responsible for leading the effort to resolve it. The project manager or whoever on the project team is responsible for maintaining the risk matrix, will update it as needed. This means reviewing the document and updating it as the time, cost and scope of the project change.
Business Executives: If there are significant changes to the risk matrix template, a business executive may take care of updating it. Some examples of trigger events may include mergers, acquisitions, major product launches or organizational restructuring. They may choose to step in and update it annually, semiannually or quarterly depending on what’s going on in the business.
Risk Managers: Risk managers are specialists in risk management so it’s only natural that they are involved in keeping the template updated. They use it as a collaborative tool to help keep stakeholders from different departments informed about who needs to be involved in the risk management and mitigation process. The risk manager should update the template regularly to ensure it’s accurate.
Operations Managers: Operations managers and teams help oversee the business’s day-to-day operations, so they may also be involved in keeping the risk matrix updated. Part of improving business performance and operations is having a good grasp on risk and identifying areas of improvement. By mapping out risks early, it helps them better prepare for and mitigate them.

ProjectManager Is Better than a Risk Matrix Template for Excel

Now you have your risks identified and plotted on the risk matrix template, but next comes the hard part. How do you manage the risks that appear in the project and address them before they derail all your hard work? ProjectManager is an online tool that helps you do just that.

Make an Online Risk Tracker

Manage risks alongside your project in ProjectManager. Make an online risk tracker with our Risk View, enabling you to log risks, submit a resolution, mark likelihood and impact—even use a dynamic risk matrix. It’s easy to manage risks with your team.

Track Risk on Live Dashboards

There are more features to monitor and track risk. Our live dashboard gives a high-level view of the project that captures real-time data so you can make insightful decisions. It collects data and automatically calculates progress and performance, which is then displayed in easy-to-read graphs and charts.

Create Project Plans from Start to Finish

Start by setting up your plans in our online Gantt chart view, which can organize tasks, link dependencies, set milestones and assign work to the risk owner. Filter the critical path and then set baselines to help track your actual progress against the plan and make sure you’re staying on track.

More Free Excel Risk Management Templates

The free risk matrix template for Excel is only one of the dozens of project management templates you can download. Some templates open up in ProjectManager for a free trial or stay in the always-free version of the tool. For once, there’s no risk with these templates.

IT Risk Assessment Template

While this free template is designed for an IT environment it can be used for managing any project risk. It gives you a place to collect all the risks, name them and the actions necessary to mitigate the risk.

Risk Register Template

Another free template, this one a risk register, which allows you to describe the risk, note the impact it could have on the project as well as detail the response if it does show up. You have a column in which to note the priority of the risk, who owns it and more.

Action Plan Template

ProjectManager’s free action plan template allows you to lay out the response to the risk when and if it shows up in your project. It lists the steps needed to resolve the issue, who owns it, the priority, tasks and more. There’s a timeline and a list of the needed resources, too.

Using a Decision Flowchart in Project & Process Management

Camilo Tristancho — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:00:03 +0000

Whether managing a project or working to understand, analyze and improve the steps involved in a business process to achieve a specific goal, decisions need to be made. Using a decision flowchart is a visual means to evaluate different approaches to understand which is best for the situation.

To understand what a decision flowchart is and how it works, we’ll first define the term and its approach. Then we’ll explain the symbols used in one, when to use it and provide some examples to help see it function in a real-life scenario. To help readers further understand, we’ll provide a free download of a decision flowchart template.

What Is a Decision Flowchart?

A decision flowchart, also known as a decision tree, is a visual tool used to illustrate a decision-making process, where each step involves evaluating different options based on certain conditions or criteria. It guides individuals or teams through a structured way of making decisions by mapping out potential outcomes and the actions that should be taken at each point.

There are different types of decision flowcharts. For example, a binary decision flowchart has only two possible outcomes at each decision point, typically yes or no, which is ideal for simpler decisions. There’s also a multifactor decision flowchart for more complex scenarios, such as ones that involve several conditions at each step and could lead to many different outcomes.

Whatever decision flowchart one uses, it’s only good to point one in the right direction. Once that course of action is clear, then project management software needs to be applied to schedule the tasks that will get one from where they are to where they want to be.

ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with multiple project and scheduling views. There are robust Gantt charts to organize tasks, resources and costs, which also link all four types of task dependencies to avoid costly delays, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track variance in real time. Teams can execute their tasks with kanban boards that visualize workflow or powerful task lists. Stakeholders can monitor progress on calendar views. Get started with ProjectManager for free.

ProjectManager has multiple project views to plan and schedule work. Learn more

How Does a Decision Flowchart Work?

A decision flowchart works by first identifying the decisions. That means, defining the primary decision or problem that needs to be solved. This is the trigger for the decision-making process. Next, break down the options for each possible decision. List the factors that will influence the next step. This could include questions like “Is the budget available?” or “Is the product compatible?”

Then map out the outcomes. For each condition or option, map out the possible next steps and their consequences, breaching out to show the various paths. Then, follow the logic. By following the flowchart, users can logically evaluate decisions step-by-step, ultimately arriving at a final decision or solution.

The flowchart concludes when all possible decisions lead to a final endpoint. This could be a decision, such as to proceed or reject the idea, or a recommendation, like further evaluation is required. For example, the endpoint could be the product launch complete or the project rejected for launch.

Decision Flowchart Symbols

What we left out from the above description of how a decision flowchart works is that throughout this process various symbols are used to represent different steps and actions in the decision-making process. Here’s a breakdown of the most common symbols used in decision flowcharts.

Start/End: Oval or rounded rectangle
Process (Activity/Action): Rectangle
Decision: Diamond
Input/Output (Data): Parallelogram
Document: Rectangle with a wavy bottom edge
Database (Data storage): Cylinder
Connector (On-Page or Off-Page Reference): Circle or labeled connector
Flow Line (Arrow): Arrow
Parallel Mode (Concurrency): Double-line arrow or fork/join nodes
Delay: D shape, half-circle

When to Use a Decision Flowchart

Several scenarios are appropriate for the use of a decision flowchart. It is particularly useful in situations where there are multiple options or factors to consider and the decision process involves a series of steps. The following are just a few examples.

Project Management

In project management, a decision flowchart maps critical decisions at each project stage. This includes resource allocation, timeline adjustments or scope changes. Beginning with the project’s starting point, adding decision nodes for key milestones and connecting actions based on outcomes. It ensures clarity and consistency, enabling teams to follow a structured process and adapt to challenges efficiently.

Business Process Management

A decision flowchart can be used in business process management to visualize workflows and identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Start with the input or task initiation and outline each process step with decision nodes that handle variations. The chart guides users to optimal paths, helping streamline operations, automate decisions and improve process reliability.

Strategic Planning

In strategic planning, a decision flowchart helps explore different strategies and evaluate their outcomes. Begin with the goal or objective, such as entering a new market, and add decision points. The flowchart helps align decisions with organizational goals, ensuring an analytical and consistent approach to strategy formulation.

Risk Management

A decision flowchart for risk management maps out potential risks and the steps to address them. Start with a risk event and add decisions. Each path leads to migration actions or contingency plans, ensuring proactive and systematic risk handling. This visual tool enhances preparedness and reduces response time.

Free Decision Flowchart Template

To try a decision flowchart, download this free decision flowchart template for PowerPoint. It has a key to all the symbols used in the flowchart to help understand their meaning. The two examples we included above can be edited to fit one’s decision-making process.

To employ this free template, use arrows to connect flowchart symbols to represent a decision flowchart. Copy and paste the symbols as needed and add the appropriate process or decision as it relates to what one needs guidance on.

Decision Flowchart Examples

To better understand the visual tool, it makes sense to see it used in a real-life situation. In both examples below, we describe the process and show what the decision flowchart looks like to clarify its value.

Project Planning Decision Flowchart

It begins with the oval start and then the process is defined, which in this case is to define the project scope. The first decision is if the project scope is defined. If not, go back to the initial decision. If yes, move on to making the project schedule.

Next, ask if the project schedule is feasible. Again, if not, remake the project schedule. However, if yes, then create the project budget. The next decision is asking if the project budget has been approved. If yes, make the project plan and you’re done. If not, then revise the budget and try again.

Product Development Decision Flowchart

For this decision flowchart, the initial process is to conduct market research. This leads to whether the market research is completed. If yes, move on. If not, go back and complete that market research.

The next process is to ensure strategic alignment. This leads to the decision of whether the product is aligned with company goals. Again, if not, go back and ensure the strategic alignment. If yes, the next process is to make the budget. The decision after that is to get the budget approved. If it is, prepare the product launch. If not, rework the budget until it’s approved.

Get your free

Decision Flowchart Template

Use this free Decision Flowchart Template to manage your projects better.

Benefits of Using a Decision Flowchart

There are several reasons why a decision flowchart is useful. Here are just a few.

It simplifies complex decisions by visually breaking down all possible options and outcomes
It helps one focus on the important factors that affect the decision, ensuring that critical considerations aren’t overlooked
Ensures that the same steps are followed each time a similar decision needs to be made, promoting consistency in decision-making
Makes complex decisions easier to navigate by turning them into manageable, logical steps

Disadvantages of a Decision Flowchart

While decision flowcharts are valuable tools for visualizing decision-making processes, they come with some disadvantages. These limitations may reduce their effectiveness in certain situations. Here are some.

When the decision process involves a large number of steps, conditions or complex decision points, the flowchart can become hard to follow
Creating a decision flowchart, especially for complex processes, can be time-consuming and require a significant amount of effort to map out all decision points and outcomes
A flowchart enforces a predefined structure that may not always be adaptable to changes in the decision-making process
A decision flowchart typically works well for processes that involve yes/no or clear-cut binary decisions, but they may struggle with more nuanced or subjective decision-making that involves multiple possibilities or judgment calls

Free Related Templates

There are other free templates available from our site that can help with decision-making. We have over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that cover all aspects of managing a project across multiple industries. Below are just a few that relate to the decision flowchart.

Decision Matrix Template

A decision matrix helps evaluate and prioritize a list of options to identify, analyze and rate sets of information. Use this free decision matrix template for Excel to place a series of values on each decision to compare each and weigh variables by importance.

Fishbone Diagram Template

Download this free fishbone diagram template for Word, also called a root cause analysis template, to identify what issue is causing a process not to conform to the planned output. This cause-and-effect diagram finds imperfections, variations, defects or failures in a process or project.

Scenario Planning Matrix Template

Use this free scenario planning matrix template for Excel to look at the big picture. It’s a simple box that’s broken up into four quadrants, each of which holds a different scenario. This allows users to capture the important and uncertain key forces that can impact each of the different scenarios.

ProjectManager Helps Manage Projects, Business Processes and Workflows

All of these free templates are great. They’re tools that every project manager and their team needs to help them make decisions. However, once those decisions have been made, projects, business processes and workflows require project management software to deliver on the promise of the decision-making process. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with various project planning and scheduling tools needed to achieve project and strategic goals, business processes and risk management. Our risk management features identify the likelihood and impact of a risk and track the mitigation factor in the knowledge gleaned from a decision flowchart. It then becomes a practical tool to avoid issues that can delay projects or result in cost overruns.

Real-Time Dashboards and Reports

Ensuring that processes and plans are being followed and teams are keeping to deadlines requires the constant monitoring of progress and performance. Managers can get a high-level overview of cost, time, workload and more on our project and portfolio dashboards, which display these KPIs in easy-to-read graphs and charts. It’s like an instant status report. There are also status and portfolio reports, as well as reports on timesheets, workload, variance and more. These customizable reports can be filtered to display details or a more general overview to share with stakeholders and keep them informed.

Robust Resource Allocation and Cost Tracking Features

Another crucial task for project managers is ensuring the right resources are delivered at the right time. This process begins with scheduling human and nonhuman resources on the Gantt chart. Then managers can view their team’s allocation and more on color-coded workload charts to balance workload and keep everyone working at capacity and avoiding burnout. There’s also the team page, which provides a daily or weekly overview of the team’s assignments color-coded by priority. Managers can filter the page by project, progress, etc., and click on individual team members for more detailed information. Costs can be tracked on dashboards and reports, but also secure timesheets, which provide a window into labor costs and help keep projects on budget.

16 Best Gantt Chart Software of 2025 (Free & Paid)

Peter Landau — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 21:25:46 +0000

We tested the best Gantt chart software options out there to help you make the right selection for your projects. But before we get into our list of the best Gantt chart software, we’ll first explain what Gantt chart software is, what the key features are and why it is so beneficial when managing a project.

What Is Gantt Chart Software?

Gantt chart software is a type of project management software that’s used to schedule projects and track their progress using Gantt charts and other complementary project planning, scheduling, monitoring and reporting features. This software can either be cloud based or stored in your PC.

Gantt chart software is commonly used in the project planning phase of project management to schedule tasks, but it’s actually useful throughout the life cycle of a project. It was designed to automate processes of a static Gantt chart, which previously were made on paper or spreadsheets.

Best Gantt Chart Software Features

Just because it’s called Gantt chart software, it doesn’t mean that it should only be equipped with Gantt charts and nothing else. Here’s a quick overview of some of the project management features you should look out for when choosing a Gantt chart software.

Project Scheduling: At a minimum, Gantt chart software should help you create a project schedule showing the order in which project tasks must be completed and their duration on a visual project timeline.
Project Planning: Besides Gantt charts, you’ll also need project planning tools such as task lists, kanban boards, project calendars and project dashboards.
Project Budgeting: You need to be able to track the costs of your project with tools like timesheets and dashboards so you can monitor your project budget.
Team Management: Gantt chart software should let you assign tasks to your team members, monitor their progress and offer collaboration features such as messaging and file sharing.
Task Management: Any Gantt chart tool should let you add a priority level to your project tasks, create milestones and link task dependencies.
Critical Path Analysis: Gantt chart software should also allow you to identify the critical path, which shows those tasks that are essential to getting the project done on time.
Workload Tracking: Throughout the project, you’ll assign tasks to your team members, so it’s important to have workload management tools to know who’s under or overallocated.
Project Reporting: Project dashboards and status reports are essential to keep your project stakeholders informed.

Using Gantt chart software offers other advantages, but first and foremost it disproves the belief that Gantt charts are hard to use. It’s true that making a Gantt chart on paper or even on an Excel spreadsheet is difficult and editing the Gantt chart is even worse, but those hurdles have been cleared with the advent of Gantt chart software.

2025 Best Gantt Chart Software Rankings

By now, you’re ready to hear about the best Gantt chart software. We’ve narrowed it down to a top 16 in order of preference, with the leader starting things off.

1. ProjectManager

ProjectManager is award-winning Gantt chart software with features that expand upon that tool and offer task management, resource management and risk management. It has multiple project views that share live project data, real-time dashboards, reporting and other essential time-tracking features. It’s powerful and expansive project management software that helps project managers and their teams plan, manage and track projects in real time. And there’s even a free 30-day trial you can take to try out the Gantt features for yourself.

Best Gantt Chart Software

While every product here has a good Gantt chart, ProjectManager leaves the competition in the dust. First off, ProjectManager’s Gantt chart is easy to set up. You can import any kind of spreadsheet, even Microsoft Project files (we’ll explain why you’d want to do that in the next segment). There are even industry-related templates to get you started quickly. Once you add the start dates and end dates, the project timeline automatically populates. You can then add milestones, color-code phases, add resources, costs and more.

But what makes ProjectManager’s Gantt chart software special is that it links all four types of task dependencies, which is a must to avoid costly delays. You can also filter for the critical path. That means no time–consuming calculations. It’s done in an instant. Now you can see the tasks that are critical to delivering your project. Best of all, you can set a baseline once you’ve completed the project plan. This feeds the real-time dashboard, reports and more to allow users to track their actual effort against their planned effort. That’s how you stay on schedule and keep to your budget.

Real-Time Tracking

Let’s take a look at the real-time dashboard. Other Gantt chart software products might have it, but they usually require time-consuming configuration or expensive plugins. ProjectManager’s dashboard is ready when you are, capturing live data and displaying it on easy-to-read graphs and charts. There are also secure timesheets that give project managers a live view of how far their team is in completing their tasks. Plus, customizable reporting tools can be filtered to show the data you want to see for project and portfolio status, workload, timesheets, variance and more. Then shared in a variety of formats with stakeholders.

Robust Resource Management Features

ProjectManager’s Gantt chart software is great for planning and managing resources. From nonhuman costs to easy onboarding of labor, accounting for availability and more. There’s a color-coded workload chart that makes it easy to see who on the team is overallocated. You can then reallocate resources right from that page, balancing your team’s workload to keep them working at capacity and productive, but avoiding burnout.

ProjectManager tops this list because its Gantt chart software is superior to the competition. The fact that it builds on that with multiple project views, such as kanban boards, task lists and calendars, a collaborative platform and the flexibility that makes it ideal for construction, manufacturing, IT, professional service and really any industry only sweetens the deal. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Project Management

ProjectManager Pros & Key Features

Multiple project planning views such as kanban boards, task lists, project calendars and spreadsheets
Real-time project dashboards for cost, progress and workload tracking.
Secure timesheets
Robust project reporting functionality
Has a free 30-day trial
Has a mobile project management app available for Android and iOS

ProjectManager Cons & Limitations

Limited customization
Few native integrations
No free plan

ProjectManager Pricing

Team: $13/user/month
Business: $24/user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales

ProjectManager Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.1/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“ProjectManager works very well with both large and small-scale projects. Being able to use this with anything from a project involving only two members of staff, to hundreds, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
“We used to manage our projects, resources, and reporting in different systems. Enter ProjectManager. We have consolidated systems and work more efficiently.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
“Having the full scope of activities and who is responsible to do it, plus the time tracking is excellent.” Flavio M – from G2
“It has an excellent accounting system capable of calculating the time that a person has used to develop a task that was assigned to him, I like being able to collaborate with all my colleagues in the Finance sector through ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
“The UI of the application is user-friendly, and it helps to identify what we are looking for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2

2. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is the gorilla in the Gantt chart software room so it deserves attention. Many larger organizations use it to manage their projects. It seems designed for complexity, which is both a plus and a minus about this Gantt chart software. However, you can’t deny Microsoft its power, with seamless integrations with Teams, Office and more. Plus, it’s got a full suite of project tools, from Gantt charts to dashboards.

It’s also built to do what’s needed in project management. That is, it’s a planning, tracking and management tool. It has an organized view of your tasks and timelines and can allocate resources and report on the project, but these features aren’t intuitively designed. You’ll need to factor in a lot of time before you can even start working on your Gantt chart to figure out how to use it properly.

Of course, lots of Gantt chart software has some learning curve to deal with, but Microsoft Project adds more roadblocks. It’s expensive. That alone is going to drive away the majority of potential customers. Then there’s the issue of compatibility. If not everyone on the team is using the same software, MS Project doesn’t make it easy to share. Add to the limits in customization and buyer beware.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Microsoft Users

Microsoft Project Pros & Key Features

Offers a variety of project management views to plan, schedule and track projects
Robust enough for project, program and project portfolio management.
Built-in project management reports
Has a free 1-month trial

Microsoft Project Cons & Limitations

Both the desktop and online versions are expensive, especially for larger teams
Steep learning curve and overwhelming user interface for beginners
Microsoft Project files have a unique format which makes them hard to use and share with people that don’t have a Microsoft Project license
Doesn’t have a mobile app

Microsoft Project Pricing

Project Plan 1: $10/user/month
Project Plan 3: $30/user/month
Project Plan 5: $55/user/month

Microsoft Project Reviews

G2 review: 4/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Microsoft project has really helped to improve my productivity and project planning overall.” Jamie G – from Capterra
“I love the automatically generated gantt charts and the timeline feature.” Eric B – from G2

3. ClickUp

ClickUp is Gantt chart software that helps users manage tasks, workflows, collaborate and streamlines processes with automation. There’s a great deal of customization, which is both positive and negative. It gives you more control but it’s also a bit overwhelming. If you want to take advantage of this, you’ll be spending a lot of time setting up instead of working. However, it’s a great collaboration tool. You can send emails on the app, chat and edit Google Docs together.

What’s really going to stop people from adopting this Gantt chart software is its limited project time management features. While there are some rudimentary time-tracking features, such as deadlines and time spent on tasks, it’s a far cry from other Gantt chart software. A Gantt chart needs powerful time tracking to help you keep to your project plan. Then there’s the steep learning curve. We alluded to it above, with all the customization options available, but it goes beyond that. If you don’t have the hours necessary to learn ClickUp, you might want to keep looking.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Collaboration Features

ClickUp Pros & Key Features

Multiple task and work management views
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS

ClickUp Cons & Limitations

User interface is cluttered
Gantt charts can only be exported as PDFs, which makes it hard to export data to other software like Excel or Google Sheets
Gantt charts don’t show the critical path and don’t allow project managers to track costs at the task level
Doesn’t have a free trial

ClickUp Pricing

Unlimited: $7/user/month
Business: $12/user/month

ClickUp Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Good for operational tasks and customer support.” Hovhannes G – from G2
“ClickUp sits right in the middle between typical task management tools and business platforms.” Pawel M – from Capterra

4. Wrike

Wrike is Gantt chart software that’s broad enough to deliver project and product management features, proofing and publishing as well as risk management. It tends to be used by marketers, digital agencies and those working in professional services. They like its simple but effective collaborative features, such as built-in chat. It’s best for monitoring workloads and activities, plus it can track the progress of the project. Agencies like the billing and invoicing capabilities.

It’s lower on our Gantt chart software list primarily because the Gantt chart and other features aren’t intuitive. Even worse, you can’t view projects, only tasks on its kanban board. If you like lists, though, this is for you. Gantt charts, not so much. For example, you can’t track all four task dependencies on its Gantt chart. Also, if you’re managing multiple projects, you’ll not like the lack of portfolio reporting. There’s also no option to pay monthly, the cost is divided into 12 to show how much you’ll pay monthly but you have to sign up for a year.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Workflow Management

Wrike Pros & Key Features

Workflow automation features
Easy to understand project dashboards
Has a 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS

Wrike Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts lack critical path analysis features
The software is hard to navigate
Onboarding employees can be hard due to its non intuitive user interface

Wrike Pricing

Professional plan: $10.00/user/month
Business plan: $24.80/user/month

Wrike Reviews

G2 review: 4.2/5
Capterra review: 4.3/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Wrike has become essential in my day and keeps me organized and on top of my tasks.” Paige T – from G2
“Productivity has been enhanced by removing essential but repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2

5. Monday.com

Monday.com is Gantt chart software that bills itself as a project management, workflow and automation and collaborative tool. It’s made an aggressive push to a general market and appeals to users who like a spreadsheet view. It has integrations you can pick from or build your own. Users like its colorful interface and how the software helps to visualize work. It’s also priced for a general market with very competitive subscription tiers.

However, if you’re a business that needs project management software, Monday.com is going to fall short. Even if you’re using it for less dynamic projects, the onboarding and training are not great and support is hard to reach. In terms of Gantt chart software, its Gantt chart is especially problematic. For example, you have to manually add task dependencies. It’s really a task management, not a project management tool.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Creative Teams

Monday.com Pros & Key Features

Simple, minimalistic user interface
Project portfolio reports and dashboards to track progress, resources and costs across projects
Has a free 14-day trial
Has a mobile app available for Android and iOS

Monday.com Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts are overly simplistic and lack important features such as cost tracking
Limited project reporting capabilities
Customizable views require manual setup

Monday.com Pricing

Basic: $9/user/month
Standard: $12/user/month
Pro: $19/user/month

Monday.com Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“We used to have a mess of excel sheets and emails but now everything’s in one place.” Laura A – from G2
“It is overall a great product but it requires a lot of setup initially to take advantage of all its functions and features.” Ana D – from Capterra

6. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is collaborative software that has some Gantt chart software features but is mostly a super-powered spreadsheet. It emphasizes the sharing of data with teams. It has a lot of templates and forms to help you get started as well as training tools. There are workflow automation tools that create efficiencies. There’s also a high level of customization, which many users will appreciate. If you want a Gantt chart, you’re going to have to create one yourself and it’s not going to satisfy users looking for Gantt chart software.

That should be a clue that this isn’t project management software and is barely Gantt chart software. But it’s popular, which is why it’s included, if at the bottom of our rankings. There’s a lack of project portfolio management features, resource management and capacity planning are expensive add-ons only available for top-tier subscriptions. The dashboard is cumbersome and, if you’re an enterprise customer, you’ll find the tool lacking. It’s not bad as a supplement to other tools, but why pay all that money for only a partial solution?

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Spreadsheets and Pre-built Project Templates

Smartsheet Pros & Key Features

Allows to export Gantt charts as Excel, Google Sheets and other file formats
Offers multiple project management tools such as kanban boards, spreadsheets and Gantt charts
Has a 30-day free trial
Has a mobile project management app available for Android and iOS

Smartsheet Cons & Limitations

The spreadsheet-like Gantt charts aren’t visually appealing and are hard to use
Not ideal for managing multiple projects, as you’ll need a separate spreadsheet for each project
Limited spreadsheet project reports

Smartsheet Pricing

Pro plan: $9/user/month
Business plan: $19/user/month, 3-user limit, making it $75/month

Smartsheet Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Smartsheet has allowed me to take my to-do list and run with it in a way that I didn’t think would be possible.” Victoria W – from G2
“I like that Smartsheet has a lot of different functions. It can be used for project management, inventory or event planning.” Lauren M – from Capterra

7. Ganttic

Ganttic offers a twist on a traditional Gantt. With its resource-centric Gantt charts, users are able to see who or is doing what and when. Offering a high-level overview of their entire resource pool, WBS, and project portfolio, the cloud-based tool is suitable for managers of mid-sized teams or large enterprises. It’s used mostly in industries such as engineering, construction, production, and design – fields where managers need to see the workloads, manage skills, and optimize utilization for equipment, people, and vehicles. Color coding, drag-and-drop scheduling, custom data fields, and automated reports are just a few other features that come standard with the tool.

Ganttic is a comfortable middle ground for those fed up with spreadsheet scheduling and those who don’t need all the bells and whistles of an expensive ERP. And while this makes it a perfect tool for resource management, there are some project management features that some users may find are lacking. Luckily, Ganttic was built with flexibility and modern workflows in mind. Offering native Calendar integrations, as well as robust opportunities for importing your existing spreadsheets or building your own custom workflow with its built-in API or Zapier connections.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Resource Management Features

Ganttic Pros & Key Features

Resource utilization and capacity planning tools
Online Gantt chart software
Has a free 14-day trial
Has a mobile app

Ganttic Cons & Limitations

Limited customization features
Missing project portfolio roadmaps, dashboards and other PPM tools, so it’s not ideal for managing multiple projects, programs or portfolios.
Outdated user interface

Ganttic Pricing

Resource-based monthly pricing plans range from $25/20 resources to 2000+ resources. All plans allow for unlimited free users. Annual plans receive 2 months free.

Ganttic Reviews

G2 review: 4 / 5
Capterra review: 4.3 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Our planning and resource management is made easy with the adoption of Ganttic.” Thomas K – from G2
“Love how quick I can move from project to project.” Nathan R – from Capterra

8. Instagantt

Instagantt bills itself as a simple online Gantt chart software. It’s an affordable option that helps you create projects, manage tasks and set task dependencies. For a little extra money, you can access more features, such as a kanban board view, workload management, dashboards and reporting. In terms of Gantt charts, which is where it puts all its attention, you can schedule milestones, build timelines and create tasks and subtasks. Asana users will like it because it integrates with this project management software.

But when you put all your eggs in one basket, you’re asking for trouble. One thing is that it’s not great for updating stakeholders and you can’t export views to a PDF. While it integrates with Asana, InstaGantt is woefully behind in integrations with the more commonly used third-party tools. Also, the fact that users need to team up with another project management software to get a full suite of features to manage their projects feels like too much effort and cost when there are software solutions that offer it all under one roof.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Beginner Project Managers

Instagantt Pros & Key Features

Visually appealing user interface and simple project management tools
Built-in Gantt chart templates
Has a free 7-day trial

Instagantt Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts fail to show all the information that’s needed to create detailed project schedules
Kanban boards merely show a task status, don’t show task assignees and lack messaging or file sharing features
Project dashboards and reports are not robust enough for project managers or project management offices (PMOs)
Doesn’t have a mobile app, but a mobile-optimized view

Instagantt Pricing

Individual Plan: $12 month
Team Plan: $24/user/month

Instagantt Reviews

G2 review: 4.3 / 5
Capterra review: 4.3 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“It links with Asana, that’s a pretty nice feature.” Alex V – from G2
“Automatic creation of Gantt charts, able to share with multiple users.” Lucia F – from Capterra

9. TeamGantt

TeamGantt is intuitive Gantt chart software for beginners and those who are tasked with the management of small projects or businesses. Gantt charts can be complicated, especially for those who aren’t used to working with them. Here the interactive Gantt charts are easy to use, which is further helped by the fact that the software offers strong tutorial content. They hold your hand but still have features such as automatic dependencies, so it’s not a bare-bones tool.

But beginners quickly become more experts and expect their Gantt chart software to follow suit. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. For example, there are no budgeting or invoicing tools, which are going to send users to other software to fill the holes. While there are reporting features, they’re underwhelming. Compared to other Gantt chart software these reports are basic and not very useful. The Gantt chart is good, but the software rests its reputation on that tool. Users who want project management software will have to look elsewhere.

Verdict: Best Mobile-friendly Gantt Chart Software

TeamGantt Pros & Key Features

Collaboration features such as file sharing and messaging
Lets you compare planned and actual timelines
Has a free 30-day trial
Has a mobile app

TeamGantt Cons & Limitations

Missing project management tools when compared with most Gantt chart software
There are no kanban boards
Limited project reporting features

TeamGantt Pricing

Pro: $59/user/month

TeamGantt Reviews

G2 review: 4.8 / 5
Capterra review: 4.6 / 5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I like the simplicity of the functionality since it allows me to easily and quickly set up new projects thus saving much time.” Sarah D – from G2
“It really does what it says on the tin! It’s quick and easy to create and move tasks around. The interface is intuitive.” Lola R – from Capterra

10. Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is online Gantt chart software for project planning, tracking work and team collaboration. The fact that they offer a free edition, though with limited features and only for three users, is attractive. If you find the software working for you, then the pricing structure is reasonable. It offers the standard features one expects with Gantt chart software. It’s also pretty easy to navigate, which users who have been scratching their heads with complicated software like Microsoft Project will definitely appreciate.

But users might find this Gantt chart software a bit bland. It hits the basics but doesn’t go the extra mile to make the software more competitive. It’s not easy to find tasks and the tool’s search function could use an upgrade. Same with bug reporting. Users have complained about the dashboard functionality, but the biggest complaint is the steep learning curve. Many Gantt chart software products are hard to learn, which is a hurdle users are often not willing to clear.

Verdict: Best Low-cost Gantt Chart Software

Zoho Projects Pros & Key Features

Invoicing and budgeting features
Multiple project dashboards and reports
Has a free 10-day trial
Has a mobile app

Zoho Projects Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts don’t show information such as percent complete, assignee and other information compared with other Gantt chart software in this list
Limited dashboard functionality
There’s no time logging at the task level, which affects how timesheets work

Zoho Projects Pricing

Premium: $4/user/month, billed annually
Enterprise: $9/user/month, billed annually

Zoho Projects Reviews

G2 review: 4.3/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“What I like most is how it integrates perfectly with the entire Zoho ecosystem.” Emy L – from G2
“While the UI and the setup were slightly complicated, Zoho Projects helps you track your projects efficiently.” Shria G – from Capterra

11. GanttPRO

GanttPRO is a simple way to plan with Gantt chart software. It enables users to work alone or create a workspace with Gantt charts that are shared with your team. It’s especially useful for small teams. It’s easy to use and well-designed, with a lot of features that teams will want. It also has kanban boards for those who don’t want to only work on Gantt charts. Add to that a competitive price and you can see why it made it to our list.

However, there’s a reason it lands in the middle of our listing. One is that there are no customizable reporting tools. You can’t even customize its dashboard. If you’re looking to do billing or invoicing, you’re out of luck. There are no such features. You might be able to live with that if you integrate with some of your favorite third-party apps, but that’s not likely. While there’s some integration, it’s very light and is one of the biggest areas that could use improvement on the tool.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Sharing Files

GanttPRO Pros & Key Features

Files can be downloaded in a variety of formats, which makes it easy to view, share and edit them using other software
Cost and budget tracking features
Has a free 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app available on iOS and Android

GanttPRO Cons & Limitations

Time tracking features can be improved, there are no timesheets
Limited project reporting features, no project health reports
Lack of integrations
Doesn’t have a free plan

GanttPRO Pricing

Basic: $7.99/user/month
Pro: $12.99/user/month
Business: $19.99/user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales

GanttPRO Reviews

G2 review: 4.8/5
Capterra review: 4.8/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“I especially enjoy the collaboration feature where I can invite colleagues to edit tasks and timelines in the live document. I have moved from using Google Sheets.” Glen K – from Capterra
“GantPro software offers a seamless project management experience with its intuitive interface and robust features.” Dixie F – from Capterra

12. Proofhub

Proofhub is a Gantt chart software for marketing, sales and creative teams. It caters to these types of teams with tools such as file proofing, file versioning and collaboration. This Gantt chart software offers other tools such as kanban boards and project calendars, which allow teams to switch from the Gantt view to other project planning views. In addition to these, Proofhub offers time tracking tools such as timesheets and timers to monitor costs and team performance. This mix of features make this option not only a Gantt chart software, but a decent project management solution overall.

However, while it does have an interesting feature set, some of its tools need further development to be more competitive in comparison to other Gantt chart software in this list. For example, its workflow feature is merely a flow chart that shows a very basic representation of tasks and processes and its time, task and resource utilization reports lack detail. Its biggest omission is the lack of cost tracking and budgeting tools. All-in-all, Proofhub does a good job at helping marketing, sales and creative teams manage their tasks and workflows, but lacks some features that are needed for managing larger, more complex projects.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Proofing, Approvals and Collaboration

Proofhub Pros & Key Features

Fosters collaboration with messaging and file sharing
Has Gantt charts, kanban boards and project calendars
Has a 14-day free trial
Has a mobile app for Android and iOS

Proofhub Cons & Limitations

Gantt charts have a limited functionality, missing cost tracking and project budgeting features
Missing important project management tools, such as workload management charts or project dashboards
Flat pricing isn’t ideal for most teams

Proofhub Pricing

ProofHub has a flat pricing fee of $89 per month or $45 with limited features, billed annually

ProofHub Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.6/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“The best thing I like about ProofHub is the way it organizes tasks and the detailed information each task captures.” Jagadeep S – from G2
“There are areas that need to be improved and more user customization would benefit this platform greatly.” David F – from Capterra

13. Asana

Asana is a project and work management software that’s mostly used by marketing and IT teams to manage their daily tasks and workflows. Asana offers a variety of project management tools including timelines, kanban boards, task lists and calendars. It pairs these features with reporting dashboards and workflow automation tools, which are focused on streamlining every-day processes and helping teams be more productive. It has recently launched AI tools which help team leaders save time while using the software.

While Asana does a good job in terms of being a task-oriented project management solution, it should work on improving its Gantt charts. Asana’s Gantt charts feel like a lightweight alternative to other Gantt chart software in this list, mainly because they lack the level of detail that project managers need. They merely help project managers create a basic Gantt chart with task dependencies but omit important information such as percent of completion, task costs, planned vs. actual comparisons, among other important details. So, Asana can help you with task and workflow management, but if you’re interested in Gantt charts, it might not be the best choice for you and your team.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Task Management

Asana Pros & Key Features

Workflow automation features
Has a free 14-day free trial
Has a free plan
Has a mobile app available on iOS and Android

Asana Cons & Limitations

Gantt chart lacks features such as critical path analysis and cost tracking
Workload management tools are limited
Timeline and Gantt chart features are not robust enough for project management

Asana Pricing

Starter: $10.99/user/month
Advanced: $24.99/user/month

Asana Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.5/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Asana is very easy to use, intuitive for my team members who don’t have tech backgrounds but need to start and contribute right away.” Sara G – from G2
“Overall, I had great success staying organized with this project management tool.” Mary B – from Capterra

14. Chisel

Chisel emerges as a standout product management tool for creating and managing Gantt charts and for good reasons. Its user-friendly interface simplifies the process, making it accessible to beginners and experienced project managers. What sets Chisel apart is its timeline view, providing a clear overview of tasks and their respective timeframes, ultimately resulting in a well-structured Gantt chart.

It comes at no cost, making it a budget-friendly option for efficient project management. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, Chisel’s simplicity and effectiveness make it a top pick for Gantt chart enthusiasts.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Agile Product Backlog Management

Chisel Pros & Key Features

Lets manage work by user stories and epics
Good for agile teams

Chisel Cons & Limitations

Gantt chart is more of a timeline tool than a traditional Gantt chart for project management
There are no project management reports or dashboards
Doesn’t have a mobile app

Chisel Pricing

Essential Plan: Free
Premium: $49 user/month
Enterprise: Contact sales

Chisel Reviews

G2 review: 4.7/5
Capterra review: Not enough reviews, less than 50

Highlighted User Reviews

“Chisel AI idea summarizations and classification have changed our way of working.” Abdul M – from Capterra
“Chisel has provided us the framework to calculate prioritization score of various features along with giving visibility on team alignment for these scores.” Kapil B – from Capterra

15. Primavera P6

Primavera P6 is a project management tool that is also Gantt chart software. It’s used in large-scale industries like construction, engineering and energy. It has scheduling features, including Gantt charts that can create complex schedules with task dependencies, resource allocation and project timelines. These Gantt charts are highly customizable. Users can adjust its layout, task labels, colors and display options. Gantt charts can also be created for different stakeholders, from a high-level overview to more derailed, task-level views.

On the downside, this Gantt chart software can be difficult to learn, especially for beginners. It will require training and time to fully understand its functionality. The user interface can feel overwhelming and cluttered for users accustomed to simpler project management tools. It’s also costly when compared to other software on this list. This is especially true for small-to-medium sized teams or organizations on tight budgets. The tool requires substantial computer power and storage when handling large-scale projects. This could be an issue for companies without robust IT infrastructure. While it offers some collaboration features, it is not as intuitive in terms of real-time collaboration and team communication compared to newer, cloud-based project management tools.

Verdict: Best Gantt Chart Software for Large-Scale Industries

Primavera P6 Key Features & Benefits

Customizable Gantt charts
Multiple Gantt chart views
Allocates resources
Mobile app for Android and iOS
Free trial

Primavera P6 Cons & Limitations

Steep learning curve
Limited collaboration tools
Cluttered user interface
Heavy system requirements
Expensive, especially for small teams
No free plan

Primavera P6 Pricing

You may acquire a desktop license or pay a monthly subscription for the online service for any of these and other versions of Primavera.
Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management: $2,750
Primavera P6 Progress Reporter: $950
Primavera P6 Professional Project Management: $2,500

Primavera Reviews

G2 review: 4.4/5
Capterra review: 4.4/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“Oracle Primavera Cloud is very user-friendly, has amazing management and scheduling tools which allows good coordination between the team and also saves money and time.” Bruno L. – from Capterra
“Accurate calculation and output data is perfect” Sameh H. – from Capterra

16. Airtable

Airtable is known for its flexibility and being a user-friendly tool that combines spreadsheets with databases. But is it a Gantt chart software? Yes, it has Gantt charts, which are available to Pro and Enterprise users. Those Gantt charts can visualize dependencies, be customized and filter, group and color coordinate information. This is all on a collaborative platform that allows multiple team members to work on the same project simultaneously. Their changes are synced in real time. Gantt charts also have drag-and-drop functionality to adjust timelines, which makes scheduling and rescheduling quick and easy.

However, as a project management software it has limited advanced features. Its Gantt charts are great for smaller-to-medium sized projects, but it lacks the same level of resource management, cost tracking and reporting capabilities as other tools on this list. While the Gantt chart is customizable, it’s only to a degree. There is no critical path analysis, for example. It’s also not the best fit for large projects with many tasks. As projects grow, the interface can become cluttered and performance degrades. The software doesn’t have native time-tracking features, which means teams will need third-party apps, which add to the cost. There’s also a lack of robust resource management, such as workload management, resource leveling and detailed resource allocation.

Verdict: Best User-Friendly Gantt Chart Software for Sales and CRM Teams

Airtable Pros & Key Features

User-friendly interface
Real-time collaboration
Customizable Gantt charts
Drag-and-drop functionality

Airtable Cons & Limitations

Limited advanced project management features
No critical path analysis
Not ideal for large projects
No native time tracking
Lack of resource management features

Airtable Pricing

Team: $20 per seat/monthly (billed annually)
Business: $45 per seat/monthly (billed annually)
Enterprise: contact sales

Airtable Reviews

G2 review: 4.6/5
Capterra review: 4.7/5

Highlighted User Reviews

“A lot of templates to start with. Highly customizable.” Jean D. – from Capterra
“When you got a table up and running it was super effective” Matt H. – from Capterra

You’ve Seen the List of Gantt Chart Software. Which Is the Best of the Best?

It’s important to pick the Gantt chart software that fits your needs. You’ll want one that’s easy to use and doesn’t require a complicated and time-consuming setup. It should easily link all four types of task dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to help you track project variance.

Then that Gantt chart should seamlessly connect with other project views and tools, such as dashboards and reporting. It should be cloud-based to allow teams to collaborate and give you real-time data to make more informed decisions. Look for that Gantt chart software that does all that and you’ll never look for another Gantt chart software again.

ProjectManager is award-winning Gantt chart software that links all four dependencies, filters for the critical path and sets a baseline to track progress in real time. Our Gantt chart is one of the multiple project views that all update together to keep you on the same page. There are also built-in task management, risk management and resource management features. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver success. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

The post 16 Best Gantt Chart Software of 2025 (Free & Paid) appeared first on ProjectManager.

Project Manager Resume: Examples & Template Included

Brenna Schwartz — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:00:15 +0000

Project managers looking for work must start by creating a powerful project manager resume. It’s certainly not the only thing that will get one the job, but it’s the first and best show most have at getting a recruiter’s attention. A strong project manager resume can open the door to a phone or even in-person interview at which point one must have the interpersonal skills to present themselves and why they’re right for the job.

But first comes the project manager resume. Read on to learn what should be included in the resume package (hint: it’s more than just the resume). Then learn the keywords that software uses to thin the herd and select the most appropriate candidates before the resume even reaches the hands of a real, live human being. We’ll also provide a free download to a project manager resume to make it easy and then provide a few examples to show what an entry-level and senior project manager resume looks like and some industry-specific examples.

What Should Be Included In a Project Manager Resume?

The resume is the meat in this meal, to be sure, but other details are important to include in a project manager resume. We’ll get to those in a moment, but first, every project manager should be fluent in project management software. This is the tool everyone uses to plan, manage and track projects to deliver them successfully.

ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software flexible enough to serve the new or seasoned project manager, no matter what industry they might serve. Our software has robust Gantt charts, which are the foundation for managing any project, especially traditional ones that go from one phase to the other. Our Gantt chart organizes tasks, adds milestones and assigns teams, resources and costs. But it also links all four types of task dependencies, filters for the critical path and sets a baseline to track progress in real time. All project managers should be proficient in using Gantt charts so get started with ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager’s Gantt charts help plan, manage and track projects in real time. Learn more

Now, here are the various components of a project manager resume.

Cover Letter

While the details are listed in the project manager resume, the cover letter is a place to touch on personal aspects not covered in the resume. One introduces themself with a brief overview and a bit about their professional background. Then explain why you’re a good fit for the job by highlighting relevant skills, qualifications and experience. Show enthusiasm and interest. Encourage further action by inviting the hiring manager to review the resume and schedule an interview.

Contact Information

In the actual resume, don’t forget to add how they can get in touch with you. That means adding, usually on the top of the project manager resume, one’s full name, phone number, email address and even mailing address. It’s optional, but recommended to add a link to one’s LinkedIn profile and, if appropriate, a personal website or portfolio page with examples of one’s work.

Summary

Under the contact information, open the resume with a professional summary and even highlight one’s objective in applying for the job. The summary should be a brief, impactful statement of a few sentences that highlights one’s years of experience, key skills and expertise in project management. Tailor this to reflect the type of projects one has managed and your leadership style. As for the objective, if one is changing industries or roles, a short objective can explain one’s career goals and why they’re transitioning.

Skills & Qualifications

This section should list one’s top skills relevant to project management, including both technical and soft skills. This can include the project management methodologies one knows as well as project planning, risk management, communication, collaboration, project management tools and software, quality management, change management and so forth. It’s also a good place to add education, though that can be a standalone item.

Work Experience

List the relevant project management roles one has had in reverse chronological order, focusing on the achievements and the impact of the work. For each role, include: the job title, company name and location, employment dates and then in a bulleted list, the key responsibilities and achievements one has accomplished. Focus on measurable results and accomplishments. Use numbers to highlight successes whenever possible, such as cost savings, time saved, improved efficiency, etc.

Certifications

Relevant project management certifications should be listed. They show one’s experience and commitment to project management. Some examples of project management certifications include: project management professional (PMP), PRINCE2 (projects in controlled environments), agile certifications (ScrumMaster, AgilePM), etc.

Project Manager Resume Template

Below there are several examples of what a project manager resume should include. We’ve broken that up into a variety of different job levels and industries. Download our free project manager resume template to get started right away.

This free template is a fully customizable document. We’ve pasted in the information from the entry-level project manager resume, but users can edit that copy to make it fit their work experience, skills, etc.

Project Manager Resume Keywords

Sprinkle in the following keywords as many organizations use AI-driven Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes to select the more qualified applicants. These systems filter applications based on relevant keywords related to the job description. For a project manager resume, it’s essential to include industry-specific keywords to ensure that one’s resume passes through ATS and reaches human recruiters.

Project planning
Project scheduling
Project monitoring
Project control
Risk management
Resource planning
Project budgeting
Cost estimating
Stakeholder management
Change management
Agile or scrum
Project management professional (PMP)
Project management software
Project management methodologies

Project Manager Resume Examples

While the project manager resume template for Word can help guide one through creating a powerful resume, it’s also good to review examples of project manager templates. It gives an idea of what should be included and how to format the resume. Here are a few examples for an entry-level resume, a senior project manager resume and a couple directed towards specific industries, such as IT and construction.

Entry-Level Project Manager Resume

Summary
Enthusiastic and detail-oriented project manager with a solid foundation in project management principles and a passion for delivering results. Recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and hands-on experience in agile project management practices. Skilled in coordinating teams, managing project timelines, and ensuring seamless communication between stakeholders. Eager to contribute organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills to help teams meet project goals on time and within budget.

Skills & Qualifications

Project Management Tools: Familiar with ProjectManager and Microsoft Project
Methodologies: Agile (Scrum & Kanban), Waterfall
Project Planning & Scheduling: Creating timelines, defining milestones and resource allocation
Stakeholder Management: Collaborating with clients and team members to align project goals
Risk & Issue Management: Identifying risks and proposing solutions to minimize delays
Budget & Resource Management: Tracking project budgets and ensuring efficient resource use
Team Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills for working with diverse teams and departments
Time Management & Organization: Prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines consistently
Communication: Clear written and verbal communication skills for reports, meetings and updates

Work Experience

Project Management Intern
XYZ Technologies – New York, NY
June 2024 – August 2024

Assisted the project management team in planning and executing software development projects, ensuring deadlines were met and project scope was adhered to.
Created project timelines, tracked task completion and helped adjust schedules based on project needs.
Coordinated with cross-functional teams, including development, marketing and quality assurance, to ensure smooth communication and progress on deliverables.
Monitored project budgets and expenditures, ensuring alignment with financial goals.
Supported risk assessment efforts by identifying potential issues and working with senior team members to mitigate risks.
Assisted in the preparation of project documentation, including status reports, project charters, and meeting minutes.

Project Coordinator Assistant (Volunteer)
Non-Profit Organization ABC – New York, NY
September 2023 – December 2023

Supported the project coordinator in organizing fundraising events, including timeline management and task assignments.
Communicated with external vendors and internal teams to ensure the timely delivery of materials and services.
Maintained project schedules and updated stakeholders on progress through weekly status reports.
Helped identify and address issues that arose during project execution, ensuring events ran smoothly.
Managed event budgets, helping track expenses and make recommendations to optimize costs.

Certifications

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) – Project Management Institute (PMI)
September 2023
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) – Agile Project Management
July 2023

Get your free

Project Manager Resume Template

Use this free Project Manager Resume Template for Word to manage your projects better.

Senior Project Manager Resume

Summary

Results-driven senior project manager with over 10 years of experience leading large-scale projects across various industries, including IT, construction and healthcare. Proven track record of delivering complex projects on time, within budget and exceeding client expectations. Expert in agile and waterfall project management methodologies, skilled in leading cross-functional teams, managing stakeholder relationships and driving continuous improvements. Adept at risk management, budgeting and providing strategic direction to ensure project success.

Skills & Qualifications

Project Management Methodologies: Agile (scrum, kanban), waterfall, hybrid
Project Lifecycle Management: Planning, execution, monitoring, controlling and closing
Team Leadership: Leading large, diverse teams to meet objectives and exceed client expectations
Risk & Issue Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of project risks and issues
Stakeholder Management: Expertise in managing stakeholder expectations and ensuring clear communication
Budget Management: Experience managing multi-million dollar budgets, tracking costs, and ensuring financial targets are met
Change Management: Leading project changes, scope adjustments and managing organizational transformation
Project Management Tools: Microsoft Project, Jira, ProjectManager
Vendor Management: Experience managing third-party vendors and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards
Reporting & Documentation: Preparing executive-level reports, presentations and project documentation
Strategic Planning: Long-term planning, resource forecasting, and aligning project goals with business objectives

Work Experience

Senior Project Manager
Tech Innovations Inc. – Chicago, IL
March 2018 – Present

Led a portfolio of projects valued at over $20M, including software development, infrastructure upgrades and cloud migration, delivering results on time and within budget.
Spearheaded agile transformation, transitioning the company’s project management processes from Waterfall to Agile, resulting in a 30% reduction in delivery time for key initiatives.
Managed project timelines, budgets and resources, consistently meeting or exceeding client expectations.
Led cross-functional teams of up to 50+ individuals, including developers, designers, QA and external vendors, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely project delivery.
Conducted regular risk assessments and implemented risk mitigation strategies to reduce project delays and potential issues.
Directed all aspects of the project lifecycle, from initiation through closure, ensuring the completion of high-quality deliverables.

Project Manager
Global Construction Solutions – Chicago, IL
June 2014 – February 2018

Managed construction projects with budgets ranging from $5M to $15M, including commercial buildings and infrastructure projects, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.
Coordinated with architects, engineers, contractors, and subcontractors to ensure seamless project execution.
Created and maintained detailed project schedules, tracking progress and identifying potential delays or resource constraints.
Led weekly project meetings, presenting progress updates to clients and senior leadership, ensuring alignment and managing expectations.
Managed and tracked project expenses, working to reduce costs by 10% through vendor negotiations and process improvements.

Assistant Project Manager
HealthTech Solutions – Chicago, IL
January 2012 – May 2014

Assisted in the management of software development projects focused on healthcare technology solutions, ensuring milestones and deadlines were met.
Coordinated team efforts and ensured timely communication with vendors, contractors, and internal teams.
Created detailed project documentation, including project plans, status reports, and risk assessments.
Supported senior project managers in scheduling and resource allocation, contributing to the successful delivery of multiple projects.
Conducted post-project reviews and provided feedback for continuous improvement.

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute (PMI)
April 2014
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
May 2016
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) – Project Management Institute (PMI)
September 2017
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – International Association for Six Sigma Certification
November 2018
PRINCE2 Practitioner – Axelos
January 2020

IT Project Manager Resume

Summary

Experienced IT project manager with over 8 years of proven expertise in leading and delivering large-scale IT projects, including software development, systems integration, cloud migration and infrastructure management. Adept at managing cross-functional teams, optimizing project workflows and ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery. Highly skilled in agile and waterfall methodologies, risk management and stakeholder communication. Passionate about driving technological innovation and ensuring seamless IT solutions that align with business objectives.

Skills & Qualifications

Project Management Methodologies: Agile (scrum, kanban), waterfall, hybrid
Project Planning & Scheduling: Strong skills in defining project scope, timelines and milestones
Budget & Resource Management: Managing IT project budgets and resource allocation efficiently
Stakeholder Management: Expertise in collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Risk Management: Identifying, assessing and mitigating risks throughout the project lifecycle
Cloud Solutions: Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and migrations
IT Infrastructure & Systems Integration: Managing IT systems integration, software deployments, and network infrastructure
Project Management Tools: Proficient in Jira, ServiceNow, Microsoft Project, ProjectManager
Technical Expertise: Familiarity with software development lifecycles (SDLC), DevOps practices and ITIL
Team Leadership: Leading and motivating cross-functional teams to achieve high performance
Change Management: Managing scope changes and ensuring smooth transitions during the project lifecycle
Communication & Reporting: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for reports, presentations and meetings

Work Experience

IT Project Manager
Tech Solutions Inc. – San Francisco, CA
January 2020 – Present

Manage complex IT projects, including system integrations, cloud migrations and enterprise software implementations for clients in finance, healthcare, and retail.
Oversee project timelines, budgets, resources and risk management, ensuring successful project delivery on time and within budget.
Led the migration of on-premise applications to AWS for a Fortune 500 client, reducing costs by 20% and improving system uptime by 30%.
Coordinated with cross-functional teams, including developers, system administrators, business analysts and QA testers, to ensure alignment and smooth project execution.
Regularly report project progress to executive leadership, providing updates on scope, timelines and risks.
Implemented Agile Scrum methodology, improving team collaboration and reducing delivery time by 25% for key projects.
Conducted post-project reviews, capturing lessons learned and implementing process improvements for future projects.

Project Manager, IT
Global IT Services – San Francisco, CA
July 2015 – December 2019

Managed software development and systems integration projects for clients in the tech and telecom sectors, with budgets ranging from $500K to $10M.
Spearheaded a company-wide ERP system implementation, leading the integration of legacy systems with new cloud-based platforms, improving business operations by 40%.
Managed multiple concurrent projects while ensuring timely delivery, resource optimization, and alignment with client expectations.
Collaborated with clients to define project scope, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring project objectives were met and client satisfaction was achieved.
Coordinated with vendors and third-party contractors to ensure service-level agreements (SLAs) were met.
Used Jira, ProjectManager and Confluence for project tracking and documentation, improving visibility across teams and stakeholders.

Junior IT Project Manager
Innovative Technologies LLC – San Francisco, CA
June 2012 – June 2015

Assisted senior project managers in delivering small to mid-size IT projects, including web applications, mobile solutions, and IT infrastructure upgrades.
Coordinated project schedules, resources, and documentation, ensuring smooth project execution.
Maintained project dashboards and provided regular status updates to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and clear communication.
Assisted with risk assessments and helped implement mitigation strategies.
Supported the transition of IT systems during software upgrades and patches, ensuring minimal disruptions to business operations.

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute (PMI)
May 2016
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
March 2017
Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) – Project Management Institute (PMI)
November 2018
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
August 2019
Certified in ITIL Foundation
February 2020

Construction Project Manager Resume

Summary

Experienced construction project manager with over 10 years of expertise in managing large-scale residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. Proven success in overseeing all phases of construction projects, from design and planning to completion. Adept at managing cross-functional teams, controlling project budgets and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Strong problem-solving, leadership and communication skills, with a track record of delivering projects on time and within budget. Seeking to leverage expertise in project management and construction processes to drive excellence in future projects.

Skills & Qualifications

Project Management: Proficient in managing all phases of construction, including budgeting, scheduling and procurement
Construction Methods & Techniques: Deep knowledge of construction processes, materials and methods
Team Leadership: Leading cross-functional teams, including architects, engineers, contractors and subcontractors
Cost Control & Budgeting: Skilled in tracking project expenses, optimizing costs and ensuring financial goals are met
Construction Scheduling: Expertise in Microsoft Project, ProjectManager and Primavera P6 for creating and managing project schedules
Contract & Vendor Management: Negotiating with vendors, managing contracts and ensuring adherence to scope and timelines
Risk & Quality Management: Identifying risks and developing mitigation strategies to maintain project quality and compliance
Safety Regulations: In-depth knowledge of OSHA regulations and ensuring a safe work environment
Construction Documentation: Proficient in generating and maintaining project documentation, including contracts, change orders and progress reports
Stakeholder Management: Communicating with clients, regulatory bodies and project stakeholders to ensure alignment and progress
Problem Solving: Quick decision-making and resolving construction-related issues efficiently
Technical Skills: Proficient in AutoCAD, Procore and ProjectManager

Work Experience

Senior Construction Project Manager
ABC Construction Corp. – Los Angeles, CA
April 2017 – Present

Led the successful completion of over 20 commercial and residential construction projects, ranging in value from $5M to $50M, with a 100% on-time delivery rate.
Managed all aspects of project planning, budgeting, scheduling and procurement, ensuring efficient use of resources and adherence to timelines.
Directed project teams of up to 100 individuals, including subcontractors, engineers, architects and construction workers, ensuring seamless communication and coordination.
Developed and maintained detailed project schedules using ProjectManager, ensuring that critical milestones were achieved on time.
Oversaw the procurement of materials and negotiated with vendors to ensure the best pricing and timely delivery.
Ensured compliance with safety regulations and conducted regular site inspections, leading to a 30% reduction in workplace accidents.
Managed change orders, claims and disputes with clients and subcontractors, ensuring resolutions were in alignment with the project contract.

Construction Project Manager
XYZ Builders Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
July 2012 – March 2017

Led the planning, execution and closeout of multiple construction projects, including office buildings, hospitals and infrastructure developments.
Controlled project budgets, ensuring projects stayed within the approved financial scope, consistently saving clients up to 15% on projected costs through proactive cost management.
Collaborated with architects, engineers and local authorities to ensure compliance with building codes, zoning laws, and environmental regulations.
Managed subcontractors, ensuring quality and timely delivery of services, while monitoring work progress and resolving issues that arose on-site.
Prepared detailed reports, including progress updates, cost analysis, and risk assessments, for clients and stakeholders.

Assistant Project Manager
LMN Construction Services – Los Angeles, CA
June 2009 – June 2012

Assisted in managing the daily operations of several small to mid-size residential and commercial projects.
Coordinated schedules and resources, ensuring subcontractors and vendors adhered to timelines and deliverables.
Performed on-site inspections and reported progress to senior project managers.
Contributed to budget tracking, including managing and reviewing expenses to ensure projects remained within budget.

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute (PMI)
April 2014
LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) – U.S. Green Building Council
June 2016
OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
February 2018
Certified Construction Manager (CCM) – Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
November 2017
First Aid/CPR Certified – American Red Cross
January 2019

ProjectManager Is an Essential Tool for Project Managers

Regardless of whether one lands their first job as a project manager or is working their way up the corporate ladder, no matter if they’re involved in construction, manufacturing, IT, professional services, etc., they need to be proficient in project management software. However, not all project management software is created equal. For those looking to use an affordable, flexible and powerful tool, look no further. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software with robust Gantt charts, kanban boards, task lists and calendars to give the team the tools they need to do their jobs while managers track that work in real time.

Balance Team Workload for Greater Productivity

Project managers have to schedule resources to ensure that what they need for their projects is there when they need it. Gantt charts schedule human and nonhuman resources and their costs to help keep to the budget. When onboarding teams, managers can set their availability, including PTO, vacation and global holidays and even skills. This helps streamline the assigning process. Once teams have tasks, toggle over to the team page or color-coded workload chart to see who is overallocated or underutilized. Then balance the team workload right from those pages to keep everyone working at capacity without threatening burnout.

Monitor Progress, Costs and More in Real Time

Project managers need to deliver projects on time, within budget and keeping quality standards. This is impossible without tools to monitor and track the project in real time. Once a baseline has been set on the Gantt chart, every time a team member logs hours or updates their tasks, it reflects throughout the software in real time. For a high-level overview, the project or portfolio dashboard has easy-to-read graphs and charts collecting key performance indicators (KPIs) such as time, cost, workload and more. Customizable reports go deeper into the data, which can be filtered and shared with stakeholders to keep them informed. Secure timesheets help track labor costs, too, which is necessary to stay on budget.

Project Cycle Management – A Quick Guide

Peter Landau — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:45:12 +0000

Project cycle management (PCM) is a project management approach that addresses the complexities of a project through all of its phases, while maintaining alignment with the strategy and objectives agreed upon by stakeholders at the onset.

PCM helps with structuring and determining the phases of the project and how to approach tasks in those phases. It also assists in planning and review and can be used when managing multiple projects.

Project cycle management is a methodology that’s commonly used for larger projects that involve multiple stakeholders and significant human and material resources, which is why they require a robust project management solution like ProjectManager. ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software that offers a variety of tools to plan, schedule and monitor projects such as online Gantt charts, dashboards, timesheets and advanced resource planning and cost tracking features. Get started today for free.

ProjectManager’s dashboards are ideal for implementing project cycle management Learn more

What Is Project Cycle Management?

Project cycle management is a methodology for managing projects. It provides structure to the process, but also includes consulting stakeholders and providing them with relevant information throughout the life cycle of the project. This helps inform the best possible decisions.

The cycle of management operations within project cycle management is broken up into six phases:

Programming: The programming phase asks what the developmental priorities are and comes to an agreement of a strategy paper and indicative program.
Identification: The identification phase there needs to be the completion of the fiche, or financing proposal, after a delegation makes an initial assessment. The proposal is then accepted, modified or denied, and financing is committed or not.
Formulation or Planning: The formulation phase determines if the project is feasible and if it will deliver on the benefits it proposes by completing the financing proposal, along with technical and administrative provisions.
Implementation: If results are being achieved and resources are being used properly, there is a submission of an annual operating plan, as well as other monitoring reports and reviews to determine if financing needs to continue as planned or change to support new needs.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Evaluation determines if the project achieved its planned goals by completing an evaluation study, which is planned and managed by a task manager.
Closing: During the closing phase, an audit is conducted to determine if the project was completed in compliance with law and rules, and if other criteria have been met. The process is usually managed by an audit task manager.

This cycle highlights decision-making criteria and procedures, which are defined at each specific phase. The phases themselves are progressive (each needing completion before moving on to the next), and new projects are informed by the results of the final phase: evaluation and audit.

The European Union (EU) uses project cycle management to make sure that it funds projects that are aligned with its objectives. The European Commission adopted project cycle management in 1992 as its primary set of project design and management tools.

Who Uses Project Cycle Management?

From government agencies to academic institutions, there are many entities that can benefit from using project cycle management. Below are only some examples.

Government Agencies

Government agencies can use project cycle management in various ways, such as ensuring public resources are used efficiently, aligning projects with policy objectives and maintaining overall accountability. Through data analysis and stakeholder consultations, government agencies are able to identify social needs to ensure their projects align with public priorities. PCM is commonly used in public health initiatives and infrastructure projects.

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)

NGOs can utilize project cycle management to ensure their resources are optimized and that their projects align with both mission and donor requirements. It’s typical for these types of projects to start with a needs assessment that looks at the target communities to help pinpoint the most pressing challenges and develop solutions. PCM is commonly used in NGO projects such as education, healthcare and humanitarian relief.

Donor Organizations

Another entity that may use PCM is donor organizations. They use it to monitor the projects they fund to ensure that projects are executed according to their objectives and are meeting their impact metrics. Donor organizations keep a close eye on the project effectiveness, sustainability and scalability as they need to replicate projects in multiple communities or territories.

Project Cycle Management Phases

We mentioned that project cycle management is made up of five phases, so let’s dig deeper into each phase and cover their actual implementation.

1. Programming

The programming phase is when the negotiations take place, which leads to an agreed process documented in an indicative program. The process is meant to identify the main objective of the project and what its priorities are, which creates a relevant and feasible framework for the project.

Past projects are researched to provide precedent and direction for future ones. This process is usually multi-annual and not directly relevant to an individual project, though it’s important for each project to be aware of high-level strategy.

Key Outcomes from the Programming Phase

The main outcome from the programming phase is an alignment of funding goals and strategic priorities that speak to broader organizational needs. There should also be an initial resource allocation and funding strategy.

Programming Phase Documentation

Documentation may include technical documentation like strategic plans or frameworks. It could also include budget and funding allocation plans or a context analysis and needs assessment reports.

2. Identification

The identification phase analyzes the relevance of the project proposals. This includes the stakeholders and target group of the project. It analyzes potential problems these parties might have and what options there are to address and resolve them.

During this phase many studies are carried out to help identify these ideas and define what actions should take place. All of this will be then collected in a project identification report, which explains the reasons behind the decisions made. This phase is directly relevant to the project, as the project’s structure will be determined at this point.

Key Outcomes from the Identification Phase

These include a clear definition of the problem or need and a prioritization of project ideas that align with strategic objectives.

Identification Phase Documentation

Includes a problem statement or concept notes, needs assessment reports, an initial risk assessment and a stakeholder analysis.

3. Formulation

The formulation phase, with the identification phase, is the financing decision-making part of the project cycle management process. During this phase a quality assessment of the financing proposal is undertaken. Any changes that are recommended to that draft are then applied to the financial proposal, which is either approved or rejected by the competent authority.

If the project is approved, next comes the preparation, negotiation and signing of a financial agreement, which includes the necessary technical and administrative provisions to start the project.

Key Outcomes from the Formulation Phase

Outcomes in this stage include a detailed project design that has activities, objectives, timelines and resource requirements. It should also include a finalized budget and resource plan.

Formulation Phase Documentation

In this stage of project cycle management, documentation includes a detailed project project proposal or design document. It should also include a risk management plan, work breakdown structure and a stakeholder engagement plan.

4. Implementation

Now that the project has been planned and financed, it’s time to implement it. This can be a long process, sometimes years, depending on the project, and includes three periods: the start-up period, the main implementation period and the closure period.

Throughout the implementation there can be re-planning as schedules and budgets are reviewed, refined and updated. Monitoring and reporting also occur during this phase, establishing controls to make sure that the project remains on track. Reports are now generated to provide data on the project’s progress.

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Implementation Plan Template

Use this free Implementation Plan Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

Key Outcomes from the Implementation Phase

Outcomes include achieving the project activities and deliverables.

Implementation Phase Documentation

Documentation for this stage include an implementation plan, financial reports, activity progress reports, stakeholder communication logs and monitoring reports.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

The project has officially kicked off so now is the time to track it systematically. During this stage of project cycle management, the project’s performance will be assessed and any needed changes will be made to ensure that its objectives are met.

Key activities include collecting and analyzing project data, assessing the effectiveness and impact of the project, tracking key performance indicators and maximizing the project’s impact on beneficiaries.

Key Outcomes from the Monitoring and Evaluation Phase

Outcomes include insights into how the project is progressing and performing. Evidence-based adjustments can be made.

Monitoring and Evaluation Phase Documentation

Project management reports and dashboards are helpful during this phase as well as lessons learned documents and stakeholder feedback records.

6. Completion and Closure

Last but not least comes the completion and closure phase. It involves a formal ending to the project to ensure a smooth transition to the next phase, which could be another project or ongoing operations.

Project managers can use this phase to ensure the project meets it objectives and delivers value. If the project has lessons learned, they can be captured during this time to improve future projects.

Key Outcomes from the Completion and Closure Phase

The final project outputs will be delivered and assessed against the project objectives.

Completion and Closure Phase Documentation

Documentation in this project cycle management phase includes a final project evaluation report and handover and acceptance documents.

Why Implement the Project Cycle Management Approach

Project cycle management keeps projects within the policy objectives of the organization that initiated the project. It also helps projects stay relevant to the strategy that had been agreed upon, along with the needs of stakeholders and/or customers.

Project cycle management also ensures that the project itself is feasible. Through cycle management, projects are protected from wasting valuable resources by deciding if they can be realistically achieved and are worthwhile before execution, as well as noting if the benefits of the project are sustainable.

In order to do all this, project cycle management requires that stakeholders participate. It also requires the use of the logical framework approach and other tools to support the process. There is also an incorporation of quality assessment criteria and documentation at each stage of the project.

Benefits of Project Cycle Management

Project cycle management provides many benefits as it provides a structure approach to project planning, execution and evaluation. Here are only some of them.

Ensures Project Strategic Alignment

Because of the robust planning that’s needed for project cycle management, it’s easier to align project objectives with overarching organizational goals. Progress is closely monitored throughout each phase which makes it easier to stay on track and take corrective action as needed.

Focuses on Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder invovlement is integral to every phase of project cycle management. If there are changes to be made, they can be quickly identified and addressed. Active participation from stakeholders helps reduce risk and keeps the project aligned with stakeholder priorities.

Iterative Approach Facilitates Change Management

One of the key strengths of PCM is its ability to respond to risks and changes. It includes continuous monitoring and feedback throughout the project instead of solely at the end. This makes it easier to manage changes as they appear, mitigating risks and addressing performance issues along the way. Once the project is done, any lessons learned can be applied to future projects to improve the change management process.

How ProjectManager Helps With Project Cycle Management

Project cycle management is one more gear moving concurrently within the larger machine of a project. Therefore, it requires similar tools to keep it well-oiled and functioning as planned to deliver information about the project to stakeholders.

ProjectManager is an award-winning software that organizes projects and streamlines communications. Because our software is online, it’s always up-to-date and easy to onboard teams and stakeholders alike. Since stakeholders are the target audience for project cycle management, just add them to your project. You can restrict what they see, so they’re not inundated. They’ll be notified of the pertinent information by email.

Gantt Charts to Stay on Track

You can easily plan your project cycle on our software. Our online Gantt chart places your tasks across a project timeline and allows you to set up a budget and track costs.

Gantt charts make it easy to stay updated on the progress of the project as it happens. When team members update their status, that data is instantly reflected across our software. Most project managers live on their Gantt chart, and ours makes that easy with a status bar that is shaded to indicate the percentage complete for each task.

Keep Stakeholders on the Same Page

Keeping stakeholders abreast of progress is key to a successful project. We have many ways to communicate with your stakeholders, such as the real-time dashboard, which automatically crunches project metrics into colorful graphs and charts that are easy to share. You can also share reports, which go into greater detail. They can also be filtered to show just the information stakeholders ask for.

All in One Place

Why use more than one tool to manage your project and stakeholders? ProjectManager has features that manage your project cycle, help you plan, monitor and report, while also giving teams collaborative tools. We have features for resource management and more. It’s all in one place, so don’t sweat it.

ProjectManager is a cloud-based project management platform with the features that help manage the project cycle. From real-time data to reporting that can be filtered to reflect what you want and shared easily, see how ProjectManager can help your project by taking this free 30-day trial.

The post Project Cycle Management – A Quick Guide appeared first on ProjectManager.

Confluence Gantt Chart: How-to Guide With Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Camilo Tristancho — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:00:27 +0000

There are many software solutions to make a Gantt chart, from simple data visualization tools to specialized Gantt chart software equipped with advanced project planning, scheduling and tracking tools.

Each of these alternatives has unique pros and cons depending on the industry, business size and the level of functionality expected from a Gantt chart tool, which is why it’s important to understand Gantt chart software to know which Gantt chart features are the most useful for the project and its team.

In this blog, we’ll go over the main pros and cons of making a Confluence Gantt chart, as well as some alternatives that can be used. We recently reviewed the best Gantt chart software alternatives and highlighted their key features, pricing and other important details to consider when choosing a tool for a project team.

What Is Confluence?

Confluence is a team collaboration and productivity tool that allows remote team members to work together online. For example, users can make, store and manage documents online in real time, establish a communication channel for sharing announcements and documents at the enterprise and team levels and brainstorm using whiteboards, posts, data visualization tools and messaging features.

Does Confluence Have a Gantt Chart?

Confluence gets teams together so they can work more productively. Does it use a Gantt chart? Gantt charts are essential project management tools that schedule work and share that work with the whole team. Managers can track their progress as well as get an overview of the entire project on a timeline.

That sounds like a good productivity tool. But a Gantt chart is more than that. It’s an advanced scheduling feature that links dependencies that can delay progress and lead to cost overruns that threaten the budget. Many can do more, such as filtering for the critical path, which identifies those tasks that must be completed to deliver a successful project.

A Confluence Gantt chart would do a lot for teams collaborating on project work, assigning them tasks and giving managers transparency into their work. Sounds like an important tool that Confluence should have. But does it?

Short Answer: No, Confluence Doesn’t Have a Gantt Chart

No, Confluence doesn’t have a built-in Gantt chart feature. It has a timeline tool that looks like a Gantt chart at first glance because it uses a bar chart to map tasks on a timeline. However, on closer inspection it’s clear it’s not a Gantt chart. First, it lacks a table, spreadsheet or grid to show project task details as every Gantt chart does. On top of that, it lacks basic Gantt chart functions, such as visualizing task progress, identifying critical path activities or mapping task dependencies.

Long Answer: Confluence’s Gantt Chart Alternatives Lack Key Project Management Features

Confluence has a timeline tool, which is sort of like a workaround for a Gantt chart. It’s a bar chart, but a Gantt chart is not just a simple bar chart. Gantt charts are made up of two distinct halves. We mentioned the visual timeline, but there’s also a spreadsheet where start and end dates, duration and must more are collected. That data automatically populates the timeline. Confluence doesn’t have this table.

It cannot also visualize complex task dependencies, detailed task progress tracking, critical path identification and robust features for managing large project complexities. It’s a timeline, yes, but a far cry from a fully functional Gantt chart. To access more powerful Gantt chart functionality, users need to install third-party plugins or integrate with dedicated project management tools.

ProjectManager, an award-winning project and portfolio management software, has a robust Gantt chart tool for managing projects that makes interactive project schedules, balances team member’s workload, tracks task progress and costs, links four types of task dependencies and identifies the critical path of your projects. These and other features make ProjectManager’s Gantt chart an ideal solution for managing projects across industries. Get started with ProjectManager for free today.

ProjectManager has real Gantt charts that help plan, manage and track projects in real time. Learn more

How to Make a Confluence Gantt Chart Better With ProjectManager

If you’re stuck using Confluence but want to experience the full capabilities of what a Gantt chart can do, there’s a helpful workaround. You can save your Confluence project as an Excel or CSV file. From there, you can import that data into ProjectManager and use the Gantt chart the way it should be used. First, make sure to start a free 30-day trial.

1. Export & Import Your Confluence Project

Choose the Confluence project that you want to export and save it as a CSV or Excel file. From there, it’s ready to import. Once you start your ProjectManager trial, navigate to the Gantt chart view and click the import button. Click “Select File” and find the project you want to import.

2. Select Options

At this point, decide if you want to add the Confluence data to a new or existing project. If you’re adding the data to an existing project, decide whether you want to keep the existing data or delete it.

3. Choose What Data to Import

You can either import all data from your Confluence file or only the task list. Select which data you want to import and click next.

4. Success!

When you see the “Success!” window pop up, you’re finished. The Confluence file has been imported and you’re now ready to use a fully-fledged Gantt chart in ProjectManager.

How to Create a Gantt Chart in Confluence

While Confluence doesn’t have a Gantt chart, there are two alternative solutions or workarounds to make a Gantt chart using Confluence. One is embedding a Gantt chart from Jira. The second is getting a Gantt chart app from the Confluence app marketplace.

Method 1: Jira, a project management tool that’s also made by Atlassian, makes it easy to use with Confluence. Jira has two tools that can make a Gantt chart: timelines and plans.

Import the Jira Gantt chart into Confluence to share it with team members. The main advantage of this method is that Jira timelines can be embedded in a Confluence workspace.

Method 2: There are various free and paid Confluence marketplace apps and integrations to make a basic Gantt chart. Each has its pros and cons, but generally, the main advantage of these apps is that they’re simple to use and are specifically designed for making Gantt charts, unlike Confluence or Jira.

However, none of these methods will make a fully-fledged Gantt chart, which leaves many users looking for an alternative for making a Confluence Gantt chart. Find out why by making a Gantt chart in ProjectManager. Better understand what a real Gantt chart can do when seamlessly integrated with essential project management tools.

How to Make a Gantt Chart With ProjectManager

ProjectManager’s Gantt chart offers advanced project management features, but it’s still an easy-to-use tool thanks to its intuitive user interface. It’s an ideal solution for both beginning and experienced project management software users. That’s because it’s a versatile tool for managing projects: planning, scheduling and tracking tasks, workflows or business processes, all in real time.

Get started by taking ProjectManager’s 30-day free trial. Then follow these steps to make a Gantt chart.

1. Make a New Project

Click the New icon and then select Project. A window will pop up.

Select whether to make a Gantt chart from scratch by listing project tasks and entering their details manually or by importing an Excel, CSV or Microsoft Project file to use its data to populate the Gantt chart.

2. Choose the Gantt Chart View and Enter Project Data

Select the Gantt chart by clicking the icon shown in the image below. On the left side, there’s a grid or spreadsheet with columns to enter details about project tasks, such as task names, estimated duration, due dates, assignee, costs and much more.

The information entered in these columns will automatically populate the visual timeline on the right side. This Gantt chart timeline will show such details as who’s responsible for each task, its percentage of completion, project milestones and task dependencies. In addition, it will highlight the critical path for the project schedule.

3. Assign Tasks to Team Members and Collaborate Online

Once the project tasks have been mapped on the Gantt chart, they can be assigned to team members. In addition, ProjectManager has timesheets, workload management charts and other time management features to help track the work hours of each team member, their labor costs and current availability.

ProjectManager has unlimited file storage to hold all project documentation, which can be shared with the project team. To further collaboration, kanban boards can share messages and files in real time at the task level. Teams are always up to date on changes and updates with email notifications and in-app alerts.

4. Track Project Progress, Schedule, Resources & Costs

Real-time dashboards automatically collect live data from the Gantt chart and display project metrics, such as time, cost, workload and more, in easy-to-read graphs and charts for a high-level overview of progress. Customizable reports get more detailed information on project and portfolio status, workload, timesheets, variance and more.

Resource management tools, such as the color-coded workload chart and team page show resource allocation and can balance workload to keep teams working at capacity and increase productivity.

Top 3 Confluence Gantt Chart Integrations, Key Features, Prices and Ratings

While not as robust as ProjectManager, there are Confluence Gant chart integrations. Here’s a quick overview of the top three Confluence Gantt chart integrations and their current price and ratings in the Confluence apps marketplace.

1. Smartsheet for Confluence

This integration allows users to access some of Smartsheet’s project management tools in the Confluence workspace, such as Gantt charts, worksheets, dashboards and calendars.

Price: $12 per month
Free Trial: 30-day free trial
Rating/User Reviews: 4/4

2. Table Filter, Charts & Spreadsheets for Confluence by Stiltsoft Europe OÜ

This app offers basic data visualization tools that turn Confluence tables into Gantt charts. By listing tasks, their start and finish dates, this Confluence Gantt chart integration will automatically make a Gantt chart based on that information.

Price: $27 per month
Free Trial: 30-day free trial
Rating/User Reviews: 3.9/4

3. Mermaid Charts & Diagrams for Confluence by weweave UG

Mermaid Charts & Diagrams make various diagrams, including Gantt charts, to visualize the data from the Confluence pages.

Price: $9.20 per month
Free Trial: 30-day free trial
Rating/User Reviews: 3.7/4

Free Gantt Chart Template for Excel

This free Gantt chart template for Excel is a great alternative to the Confluence Gantt chart apps described above. It automatically generates a Gantt chart for projects based on a list of tasks, their due dates and estimated duration. Simply fill out the columns and then customize the Gantt chart as needed.

However, for the best Gantt chart experience for project managers and their teams, use ProjectManager.

Why ProjectManager Is the Best Confluence Gantt Chart Alternative

We’ve already mentioned some advantages of using ProjectManager’s Gantt chart. However, ProjectManager offers many other project management tools and features besides Gantt charts. Here are some main reasons that make ProjectManager the best Confluence Gantt chart alternative.

Multiple Project Management Tools

Gantt charts are only one of multiple project views, all updated simultaneously so everyone is always working on the most current project data. There is the visual workflow of kanban boards, project calendars, task lists and a sheet view, which is like a Gantt chart without the timeline. Managers, teams and stakeholders can choose the tool that best serves their needs. For example, kanban boards give a more detailed view of each of the tasks in the Gantt chart. Users can edit task details and collaborate with the team as well. Any changes made in any of the project tools are reflected across all views.

Online Team Collaboration Features

Like Confluence, ProjectManager has team collaboration features; There’s document management with unlimited file storage, which allows team members to access files anywhere and at any time. There are also built-in messaging and file sharing features, email notifications to stay updated on changes and the project team can tag one another. Team management features include dashboards, workload charts and the team page to monitor the activity of all team members and track their progress, workload and labor costs on secure timesheets.

Advanced Gantt Chart Software Features

ProjectManager Gantt charts give users advanced features that most Gantt chart tools lack, such as identifying the critical path, linking all four types of task dependencies to avoid costly delays, work breakdown structure hierarchy levels, comparing cost estimates vs. actual project costs and more.

Disadvantages of Creating a Confluence Gantt Chart Using Jira

As we’ve hinted at, the main disadvantage of using Jira to make a Gantt chart that can be shared in a Confluence workspace is that it simply doesn’t have a Gantt chart tool. Instead, it has a task list and a timeline view, which can be used to make the two main elements of a Gantt chart, a table or grid with project tasks and a stacked bar chart that works as a project timeline.

Additionally, these tools have some Gantt chart features such as basic task dependency mapping and progress tracking. However, these tools are designed to make a product roadmap for software development teams, so they’re not the best alternative for those looking for a Gantt chart tool for task or project management.

On top of these drawbacks, having access to Jira’s timeline and plans requires a monthly fee of $12.50 per user.

Disadvantages of Creating a Gantt Chart Using Confluence Marketplace Apps

While Confluence is a great tool for managing project documents and streamlining your team communication, it’s not Gantt chart software. To make things worse, its integrations are very limited in terms of project management functionality.

Unfortunately, most Confluence Gantt chart integrations only visualize data in a Gantt chart format. They lack advanced features such as resource allocation, cost tracking, schedule baselining, critical path management and many more.

Most of these apps aren’t free. That means paying for multiple Confluence integrations to get the same functionality that a single Gantt chart software like ProjectManager can provide.

But these methods can’t compete with the project management functionality provided by software equipped with fully featured Gantt charts, such as ProjectManager. On top of that, ProjectManager integrates with Jira, which allows data to flow between ProjectManager, Jira and Confluence.

ServiceNow for PPM: Features, Pros, Cons and Pricing

William Malsam — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:00:38 +0000

ServiceNow is a project portfolio management (PPM) tool designed to help organizations manage multiple projects, whether in a program or portfolio. But whether is this the right product for an organization is a question that can only be answered by exploring the software in detail.

That’s exactly what we’ll do; look at what ServiceNow for PPM is, what it does and how much it costs. After a thorough review of what ServiceNow does well and where it can improve, potential users of the tool can make an informed decision on whether it’s for them.

What Is ServiceNow?

ServiceNow is a cloud-based platform that provides a suite of applications and services designed to automate and streamline business processes. It is used primarily for IT service management but also extends to other business functions, such as human resources, customer service, security and more.

It helps teams improve efficiency by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows. But ServiceNow is also a cost-saving tool, again through its automation, which improves service delivery and reduces operational costs. It is also a project management software as it has features for managing and tracking portfolios, resources and financials.

Of course, many project portfolio management software products on the market do what ServiceNow does and more. For example, ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that automates workflows and has task approval settings for quality control. Plus, powerful project portfolio roadmaps collect all projects in a program or portfolio and display them on a Gantt chart that can manage resources, track time and manage tasks. Our roadmaps also can be filtered, view which projects are open and who’s assigned to tasks as well as highlight key metrics for stakeholders. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager offers robust PPM features in modern, easy-to-use software. Learn more

ServiceNow Views

Before deciding on the right project portfolio management software, let’s explore ServiceNow’s different tools.

Project Workspace: This centralized dashboard allows project managers to view and manage all aspects of a project. It includes real-time updates, task progress, milestones and financial data, with drag-and-drop functionality for task updates and resource allocation.
Gantt Chart: Gantt charts are bar charts that provide a visual timeline displaying project tasks, dependencies and milestones. They’re used for scheduling work, identifying bottlenecks and monitoring progress.
PPM Dashboard: This portfolio dashboard monitors project metrics, such as the health and status of multiple projects. It offers insight into budget utilization, resource allocation and alignment with organizational goals.
Kanban Board: Used to visualize workflow and popular in an agile environment, kanban boards track project tasks and workflows in a board layout. The board is ideal for managing workstreams and iterative tasks.
Resource Management View: This interface helps to manage team capacity, allocate resources to tasks and balance workloads. It includes heatmaps (a visual representation of data that uses color gradients to show the level of resource utilization across different projects, teams or individuals) and availability indicators to prevent resource conflicts.

ServiceNow PPM Features

We’ve looked at various tools or views, now let’s zero in on the features included in ServiceNow PPM.

Project Planning and Scheduling: Create and manage project plans with tasks, dependencies and milestones. Timeline and scheduling tools help with on-time delivery.
Resource Management: Assign resources based on skills, availability and project needs. Monitor and adjust resource allocation to optimize productivity.
Portfolio Management: Group projects into portfolios for better tracking and prioritization. Evaluate portfolio health, risk and value delivery.
Time Tracking: Track hours spent on project tasks for accurate reporting and billing. Integrates with financial tools for cost management.
Issue Management: Identify, log and manage project risks and issues. Provides tools for mitigation planning and tracking resolution.
Team Collaboration: Built-in communication tools to facilitate collaboration among team members. Integrates with external tools, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams for seamless communication.

Plans and Pricing

ServiceNow doesn’t list its plans and pricing structure on its website. However, research reveals that its pricing depends on several factors, including the number of licenses, features, industry and location. For example, a subscription may cost less in the United States than in Europe. Manufacturers might need different software than a financial institution.

The cost of ServiceNow can range from $100 per user, per month to over $500,000 annually. There’s also an annual maintenance fee that starts at $200. The company offers different types of licenses, including Fulfiller, Business Stakeholder and Unrestricted User. Each license is designed for a different user role and access level.

To get a more accurate picture of what ServiceNow PPM will cost for a specific user or company, contact sales. They will provide a custom quote.

For those who are concerned when a product hides its costs, check out ProjectManager. Our software plans and pricing are stated on our website, except for enterprise solutions, which are always a more customized fit. As evident from our pricing structure, ProjectManager is a more affordable project portfolio management software with features and tools equal and superior to ServiceNow PPM.

Plan, projects, track progress and manage resources with ProjectManager. Learn more

Pros and Cons of ServiceNow as a PPM Tool

One thing we can be more detailed about is the product itself and where it succeeds and where it fails. To better understand whether ServiceNow is a PPM solution right for an organization, take a look at the following lists of pros and cons.

Pros

Offers tools for demand management, resource management, project planning, financial tracking and portfolio analysis
Dashboards and reports tools provide real-time insights into project and portfolio performance, resource allocation and financial metrics for more informed decision-making
Scalable solution that can work with small teams up to large enterprises
Workflow automation reduces manual effort and streamlines processes
Highly customizable allows users to tailor the platform to fit specific needs

Cons

Expense, with substantial costs for licensing, implementation, customization and ongoing maintenance
Many PPM features aren’t standalone and require integration with other ServiceNow modules, further increasing costs
Overwhelming and complex for new users, who will require extensive training and experience to fully use its PPM features
Customization is time-intensive and requires skilled administrators or consultants
Setup, integration and tailoring for organizational processes take a lot of time and organizations might find themselves paying for features they don’t need, especially if their needs aren’t tied to IT
Highly optimized for IT, which means non-IT teams or industries will find the software less relevant, for example, those in construction, manufacturing or creative services
Non-intuitive interface with day-to-day operations and troubleshooting requiring support from administrators, which slows down responsiveness
Limited pre-built reporting features and dashboards that lack flexibility make it hard to create customized reports without extra configuration or custom development

FAQ

Lastly, there are some frequently asked questions about ServiceNow PPM that are listed below with short answers to help potential customers make informed decisions about the project.

Can ServiceNow PPM Be Customized?

Yes, the software is highly customizable. Organizations can tailor the platform to fit their specific processes by creating custom fields and forms to collect project data, customizing workflows and more.

Does ServiceNow PPM Have a Mobile App?

Yes, there is a mobile app available for Android and iOS devices.

Is There a Free Trial for ServiceNow PPM?

Yes, ServiceNow does offer free trials, but they are typically for specific products or solutions rather than the entire platform. The availability of a free trial depends on the ServiceNow product or module that one is interested in.

ProjectManager Has More PPM Tools Than ServiceNow

ServiceNow for PPM has a lot of problems, and the price is one of many. Why settle for expensive, difficult-to-use software that has limited reporting and dashboard analytics when users can subscribe to a reasonable PPM software that has all the features of ServiceNow and more? Plus, ProjectManager is easier to use with a more modern and intuitive interface with risk management features including likelihood and impact. It’s a collaborative platform with document management, such as version control and global search, mobile apps, works with Mac products and tracks projects in real time. We’ve already illustrated our superior roadmap features, which link all four types of task dependencies, filter for the critical path and set a baseline to track variance, but there’s more.

PPM Reports and Dashboards

While ServiceNow has limited reports and dashboards, ours provides customized portfolio reporting to keep stakeholders, managers and their teams informed with high-level and in-depth data. Portfolio dashboards are like an instant status report, capturing key performance indicators (KPIs) such as time, cost, workload and more. Build portfolio dashboards with filters for specific insights. Easily generated reports on portfolio status, tasks and timelines can be filtered to highlight status, customer, priority and more. They can be shared with stakeholders or even printed out if they prefer.

Robust Resource Management Features

Resources can be scheduled on Gantt charts or the roadmap. Team availability can be set when onboarding by noting their PTO, vacation and global holidays and even skill sets. This makes assigning tasks easier. The Gantt chart and roadmap can also schedule nonhuman resources. Once assignments have been made, managers can toggle to the team page or the color-coded workload chart to get an overview of resource utilization. From there, managers can balance the team’s workload to keep them working at capacity, which avoids burnout and boosts productivity.

6 Top Oracle PPM Software, Apps & Tools

Peter Landau — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:00:27 +0000

Project portfolio management (PPM) software improves project efficiency, leads to better resource utilization, and provides real-time visibility to keep projects aligned with business objectives. Oracle PPM has many apps and tools dedicated to this discipline.

Let’s see what Oracle project portfolio management has to offer by first defining Oracle PPM software and who should use it. Then, we’ll review the top products Oracle offers to help manage a portfolio of projects.

What Is Oracle PPM Software?

Oracle project portfolio management software is a suite of enterprise-level tools designed to help organizations plan, manage and execute projects more efficiently. It provides a comprehensive set of capabilities for project, portfolio, resources, financial, and risk management.

Large enterprises typically use the software to manage complex, multi-project environments and portfolios to ensure that projects are aligned with strategic goals, executed efficiently and delivered on time and within budget. However, the tool has some issues, such as a steep learning curve, high implementation costs, limited customization options, complex integrations with other systems, potential issues with reporting and data visualization and a reputation for being less agile for fast-paced project environments. These hurdles might be too hard to clear, which is why there are other project portfolio management software options.

ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that’s an affordable and powerful alternative to Oracle PPM software. For example, our powerful project portfolio roadmaps collect all projects in a program or portfolio and display them on one Gantt chart, which has resource management, time tracking and task management features. Users can filter by assignee, project manager or customer to make forecasts, view which projects are open and who’s assigned to tasks as well as highlight key metrics for stakeholders. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

ProjectManager’s roadmaps are better than Oracle PPM software. Learn more

Who Should Use Oracle PPM Software?

Oracle project portfolio management software is best suited for large and complex organizations that manage a variety of projects, often across multiple departments, divisions or geographies. The following types of organizations and individuals are likely to benefit the most from using it.

Project Portfolio Managers: These professionals oversee a collection of projects within an organization, ensuring that the right projects are chosen, resources are allocated efficiently and strategic objectives are met.
Project Management Offices: An internal or external project management office (PMO) sets standards, ensures project governance and supports project managers across the organization. They need tools to enforce best practices, ensure consistency and manage projects effectively.
Program Managers: Program managers are responsible for managing a group of related projects that contribute to achieving a larger organizational goal or initiative. Like the others in this list, they need tools that enable them to manage and optimize the program, prioritizing projects based on strategic goals and ensuring resources are allocated effectively across all projects.

6 Top Oracle PPM Software

Oracle offers a suite of project portfolio management software projects that cater to various aspects of project, portfolio and program management. Let’s look at some of the best tools and see what they can do to help manage projects, programs and portfolios.

1. Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

This is one of the most well-known project management tools, especially for large-scale, complex projects in industries such as construction, engineering and energy. It provides powerful scheduling, resource management and portfolio management tools. There are resource management features to allocate, level and optimize resources and integrated risk analysis features to predict and mitigate risks.

While a powerful tool with comprehensive features, this tool can be difficult to learn for new users and may require extensive training. This includes the complex setup, especially for large projects. It can prove time-consuming and difficult to get the software up and running. If those issues weren’t enough, this Oracle PPM software isn’t cheap. No one would expect it to be a steal, with all the features it has, but the tool is extremely expensive, particularly for smaller organizations or projects. On top of that, the user interface is often criticized for being outdated and not as intuitive as some modern software solutions.

2. Oracle Primavera Cloud

Another Oracle PPM software is this cloud-based solution that combines portfolio management, project execution, financials and resource management into one platform. It is particularly suitable for organizations looking for a fully integrated cloud solution. One advantage of this product is that it’s on the cloud, meaning it’s a flexible, easily scalable and accessible product. Also, a plus is its features, ranging from project financial management, resource planning and project execution to portfolio management. It also provides real-time dashboards and reporting for data-driven decisions and is a collaborative platform that helps teams work together.

As with many of the Oracle project portfolio management software products reviewed on this list, this one also involves a complex implementation. Getting the software up and running, not to mention customizing the system for an organization’s specific needs, can be very challenging. In some cases, it might be too challenging and have users looking for a different solution. Again, cost is an issue. This is a premium software and the costs associated with licensing and implementation can be very high and outside of most budgets. This is especially true for smaller teams and projects. The tool is for medium-to-large-sized enterprises and is often too complex for smaller organizations.

3. Oracle Fusion Cloud Project Management

This is another cloud-based Oracle PPM software that has tools for managing projects, portfolios, resources and financials. It integrates with other Oracle Cloud applications, like Oracle ERP and Oracle HCM, to offer a unified platform for project management across various industries. Features include project planning and execution, such as task management, scheduling and milestone tracking. There’s also resource management to allocate, track and collaborate. Risk management tools identify, track and mitigate risks.

No surprise, the cost is high due to licensing and implementation. Additional customization, training and implementation costs will add up. There’s also a complicated pricing structure, depending on the modules and services selected. Then there’s the complex setup and customization. Due to the system’s extensive capabilities and integration with other Oracle Cloud modules, initial setup and customization takes time, which will delay the adoption of the software. When done, put aside a good amount of time for learning and training the team on how to use the tool. This is overkill for smaller organizations and larger ones need to calculate the costs and time involved in using this tool.

4. Oracle Aconex

This cloud-based project management tool is primarily used in the construction, engineering and infrastructure sectors. It focuses on streamlining communication, collaboration and document control throughout the project life cycle. Its document management includes version control, approval workflows and tracking documents across project phases. It has real-time collaboration, workflow automation and security measures to protect sensitive project data. It can integrate with other enterprise systems like Oracle ERP, providing communication between financial, operational and project data.

The problem with this Oracle PPM software is that it lacks advanced project scheduling, resource management and budgeting features that more comprehensive PPM tools offer. Therefore, we can’t recommend it for project management that requires task tracking, resource allocation or financial management. For those who are stuck with it, they’ll need to purchase other tools to fill in those holes. Even on its own, the user interface is complex and there are challenges to its navigation, which will prove frustrating. For all these reasons one would expect at least a fair price, but no, the software is expensive and there are hidden costs related to integrations, training and additional storage.

5. Oracle Hyperion Portfolio Management

Designed for managing and optimizing financial portfolios, particularly in the context of corporate finance, investments and project portfolios. It’s part of the broader Oracle Hyperion suite, which provides a range of financial management and performance management tools. This Oracle PPM software is tailored to help organizations manage their investments, make informed decisions and optimize financial outcomes.

Oracle can’t seem to make simple software. This one has a high learning curve and complex configuration like almost all the rest. Keeping consistent, the high cost of this product and ongoing operational costs are going to make a lot of potential users pass. If they don’t, prepare for a time-consuming setup that requires specialized expertise. Once done, the tool isn’t user-friendly, especially for those non-financial users. Anyone who wants to use it for project management will be disappointed. It doesn’t offer detailed project management features.

6. Oracle Analytics Cloud

This Oracle PPM software is a comprehensive, cloud-based business intelligence (BI) and analytics platform designed to help organizations analyze, visualize and derive insights from their data. It offers a wide range of analytics capabilities including reporting, dashboards, data visualization and advanced analytics, along with integration capabilities for various data sources. It’s collaborative and mobile-friendly to allow users to access dashboards and reports from their devices.

Again, this is complex software, especially for new users. It requires advanced setup and configuration by IT professionals or data analysts, which will slow down initial adaptation. Small-and-mid-sized companies will find the tool prohibitively expensive. Oracle’s pricing model is typically based on user count, storage or compute power, which can make it confusing to navigate. Even for those using it simply for analytics, the software has limited customization for some visualizations and those it has can be difficult for non-technical users to customize.

ProjectManager Is Better Than Oracle Project Portfolio Management Software

It’s clear that users who want to invest in Oracle PPM software better be ready to spend a lot of money for the privilege. At best, users will need to subscribe to a couple if not more of these products to get a full suite of project portfolio management features. Or they can use ProjectManager, award-winning project and portfolio management software that has analytic tools, programs and portfolio management tools all in one place and at a reasonable price. Users get secure data, risk management features to identify and mitigate risks, and document management, including version control and global search. There are automated workflows with task approval settings for quality control and seamless integration with cloud ERP to sync operation and financial data between systems to automate reports, invoices and expenses.

Robust Resource Management Features for PPM

Program and portfolio managers can plan human and non-human resources on robust Gantt charts. Then, when onboarding teams, they can set their availability, including vacation, PTO and global holidays, as well as skills, to streamline assignments. Roadmaps help to allocate resources across projects to make sure they’re available when and where they’re needed. There’s also a team page and color-coded workload chart to view resource utilization and balance workload to ensure everyone is working at capacity without risking burnout.

Real-Time Cost, Time and Cost Data Project Portfolio Dashboards

For a high-level overview of all the projects in a program or portfolio, toggle to the real-time portfolio dashboards. They automatically collect live data and display metrics such as time, cost, workload and more on easy-to-read graphs and charts. This is like getting a portfolio status report whenever one wants it. There are also customizable reports, including a portfolio status report, which can be filtered to highlight status, customer, priority and more. There are also reports on timesheets, variance, workload and more. All reports can be easily shared to keep stakeholders informed.