Microsoft Project vs. Microsoft Project Server

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Microsoft Project
Score 7.8 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Project is a project management software. It provides core PM functionality, including agile workflow support and resource management. Project can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise.
$120
per year per user
Microsoft Project Server
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Project Server is a project portfolio management option.N/A
Pricing
Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
Editions & Modules
Project Server
$0
Planner Plan 1
$10
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 3
$30
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 5
$55
per month per user
Project Standard 2024
$679.99
one-time fee per installation
Project Professional 2024
$1,129.99
one-time fee per installation
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPlans are billed annually.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
Considered Both Products
Microsoft Project
Chose Microsoft Project
I can't remember because it was many years ago. But Microsoft Project was very affordable and had a much larger set of features. Also the stability of its technology, as well as the number of existing users, the abundant documentation and the possibility of having well-defined …
Chose Microsoft Project
Project is much more robust compared to other products on the market. I haven't evaluated them all, but I'm pretty happy with what project has been able to do for me and a Project manager. There is a lot of functionality if you don't many paying for it. Overall, I think Project …
Microsoft Project Server
Chose Microsoft Project Server

I was not involved in the process of selecting Microsoft Project Server, and this is the only product I have used.

However, the multiplatform integration I think is what makes it so valuable. The access to such a wide variety of products from Microsoft that all work well …

Chose Microsoft Project Server
One of the key advantages of Microsoft Project Server (MSPS) is its ecosystem. It gels very well with SharePoint, Office, Office 365. The support from Microsoft is also a key driver and they are very experienced and many ways to resolve issues. Also, Microsoft has bridged the …
Chose Microsoft Project Server
Project Online seems to be more suited for agile project management as well as easier to customize (Views, Custom Fields, PDPs, Portfolios and reporting)
Features
Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
8.1
111 Ratings
5% above category average
Microsoft Project Server
-
Ratings
Task Management8.2110 Ratings00 Ratings
Resource Management7.7107 Ratings00 Ratings
Gantt Charts9.0107 Ratings00 Ratings
Scheduling8.5109 Ratings00 Ratings
Workflow Automation10.083 Ratings00 Ratings
Team Collaboration7.398 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology5.083 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology7.783 Ratings00 Ratings
Document Management9.077 Ratings00 Ratings
Email integration5.082 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile Access10.067 Ratings00 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking10.073 Ratings00 Ratings
Change request and Case Management7.964 Ratings00 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management7.786 Ratings00 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
8.9
79 Ratings
14% above category average
Microsoft Project Server
-
Ratings
Quotes/estimates7.955 Ratings00 Ratings
Invoicing10.045 Ratings00 Ratings
Project & financial reporting7.676 Ratings00 Ratings
Integration with accounting software10.050 Ratings00 Ratings
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Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
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User Ratings
Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(111 ratings)
8.0
(8 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.7
(9 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
8.2
(34 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
5.0
(1 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Microsoft ProjectMicrosoft Project Server
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft
Microsoft Project Online is suited to Turnkey Projects where more Collaboration is required in Project Progress monitoring, risk assessment and conveying, issue recording and tracking. It is less appropriate when ERP Suites other than MS Dynamics are used, i.e when Enterprises need to integrate Finance / Accounting with It and having straight project management workflow
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Microsoft
Microsoft Project Server I believe is best for any organization from small to large. As I mentioned, it is a little pricey so I would do research into alternative software and depending on your needs maybe look at all options, competing software. This is a tool with a learning curve and some may not be able to easily navigate this software. There isn't really great training, resources available for this tool however there are some free YouTube tutorial videos. This is great for cross company, department project management, sharing, managing of projects and timelines.
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Pros
Microsoft
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data. by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • The alert system for the fulfillment and delay of assignments is perfect. Microsoft Project allows me to configure the task system, I can assign the necessary tasks to fulfill the project, and the software alerts me immediately if the managers are fulfilling the assignments.
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Microsoft
  • Project planning: tasks assignments, resources allocation, progress and cost tracking. The Server version is the natural extension of the Microsoft Project standalone.
  • Provides one place to manage all projects, accessible by everyone in the team. This opens the plan updates to team members as well(on their tasks), as opposed to being done only by the project manager.
  • Reporting and visualization - resources utilization, timeline etc
  • The integration with the Microsoft Project standalone: if you don't like the web version, you can download the latest and work locally. When done just sync it back to the server.
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Cons
Microsoft
  • Seems overly complicated for users sometimes in using Project and its functionalities
  • Hard to share files for those folks who do not have MS Project, and then have to print out for them
  • Can be confusing since it looks and feels like MS Excel
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Microsoft
  • Resource loading and leveling extremely complicated within the tool
  • Software makes incorrect assumptions and changes without user knowledge
  • Inconsistencies within the tool make it hard to predict & troubleshoot
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Likelihood to Renew
Microsoft
I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Usability
Microsoft
Microsoft
Project is easy to operate because data could be inserted, changed and
deleted like you are in an Excel timesheet. Besides, it provides a great
level of automation beween his fields allowing few data changes. Also, its
funcionalities are well defined and grouped in upper menus, so you can find a
funcionality quickly
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Microsoft
We don't have to worry about maintenance, upgrades, or compatibility issues. All the capabilities we need are there, and are easily customizable.
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Support Rating
Microsoft
Microsoft in recent years has transformed itself and gives a positive feeling when one interacts with the company. The company is focusing on its customers and willing to go extra mile to make customers happy.The company continues to invest in its products and bringing new features from time to time. Overall it is a positive feeling to be associated with such an iconic company.
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Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Microsoft
I wasn't part of it so I don't know
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Microsoft
Per Microsoft, Project Online provides more value long-term by reducing infrastructure cost and increase feature release cycle time
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Alternatives Considered
Microsoft
While many of the above tools are extremely well-versed, Microsoft Project's largest advantage comes from it being related to the largest business productivity company in the world. Project does have its sharing limitations - but regardless, offers one of the most robust tools in the market today. Microsoft Project is built with large-scale projects in mind but is more than up to the task for smaller projects as well. However, there are options available (especially cloud-based options) that may be more fitting for higher-level projects that do not require going into the weeds.
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Microsoft
One of the key advantages of Microsoft Project Server (MSPS) is its ecosystem. It gels very well with SharePoint, Office, Office 365. The support from Microsoft is also a key driver and they are very experienced and many ways to resolve issues. Also, Microsoft has bridged the gap of cloud offering from other competitors by providing Project Online. It is an offering through Office 365 which is very lean and low maintenance.
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Return on Investment
Microsoft
  • Project saved me, as the project manager, countless hours of digging through tickets and schedules to plan everything out. It also saved me time in adjusting the project triangle as needed, since it does so much automatically.
  • It is costly, and since it requires extensive training to master, it's not just the high licensing cost that you need to take into account.
  • The reporting features - even just printing out Gantt charts - makes it far easier to communicate with stakeholders. That means less time for PMs doing all of this manually, and it means less follow-up questions and delays moving forward.
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Microsoft
  • We've been able to reduce the number of staff in our PMO by utilising the Project Server data in Power BI, reducing the need for manual reporting.
  • Being able to forecast utilization in the product allows us to accurately estimate resource needs to ensure optimum staff levels.
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ScreenShots