Microsoft Project vs. MindManager

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Microsoft Project
Score 7.9 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.
$0
MindManager
Score 7.9 out of 10
N/A
MindManager is a mind mapping and project management tool that aims to boost users’ productivity. It is designed to facilitate a wide range of project types, and includes cross-platform functionality and 3rd party integrations.
$105
per year
Pricing
Microsoft ProjectMindManager
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
MindManager for Microsoft Teams
$105
per year
Annual Subscription
$179
per year
Organizations
Contact sales team
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Microsoft ProjectMindManager
Free Trial
YesYes
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 ProjectMindManager
Considered Both Products
Microsoft Project
Chose Microsoft Project
Jira and Miro are very visual, they provide us a very friendly interface (specially Miro), and in the case of Jira, it give us very customizable workflows that suit team needs.
Chose Microsoft Project
Our company already has our client and tracking database in microsoft 365 so it was the logical step to stay with microsoft although it is a bit lacking compared to other offerings. If our team was on the go one of these other products might work better. We needed something …
Chose Microsoft Project
Honestly, I am not really using those platforms, but I am familiar with them. Thing is, I know that Microsoft platforms is game changer for everyone not just the Microsoft Project, that's why I chose this platform because I have been using it for a longer time even when I still …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project provided more robust, collaborative solution to Turnkey Project Management. With Excel like sheets for Project Task Schedules are used for contractors and users it was well accepted i.e good UI UX. Integration capability of Microsoft Project Online with Power …
Chose Microsoft Project
Dependency tracking and automated task management helped its raking above other competitors in the usage. Microsoft support and updates are also reliable. Security is also good for this tool. UI is also good and task management is very effective. Integrations are also easy.
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project will continue to be my tool of choice for high stakes high complexity projects with over 100 tasks and many requirements to control costs and delivery but the assumption is that a dedicated PM is needed to keep the file updated and manage communication with …
Chose Microsoft Project
Better suited for everyone in the team due to an existing partnership with Microsoft for access to other software suite provided by them.
Chose Microsoft Project
As our IT is based on Microsft Office 365, we have privileged access to MS Project licences, resources, training and support, so we didn't use any other PM software.
Chose Microsoft Project
Initially, I tried using Smartsheet and then Wrike, all for Gantt Chart availability and task management. They don't come close to the flexibility or depth of features that Microsoft Project provides.

Wrike does have better collaboration amongst team members and provides an …
Chose Microsoft Project
Mostly I chose Microsoft Project due to the usage we're using for our clients. The primary reason for using Microsoft Project is because it's working well with our legacy in-house applications/solutions for our project management. We have many users who have multiple different …
Chose Microsoft Project
Because is a powerful tool that include everything that you need to manage your projects also are on-line on cloud. On app very easy to use the other vendor offer minimal support and upgrades for the tool MS project is always improvement, new features a lots of information …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project was the most expensive project management software that we utilized aside from the costs associated with developing and in-house service. Microsoft Project provide a wealth of features for managing a large scale project like planning all of the tasks …
Chose Microsoft Project
We picked Microsoft Project instead of Proofhub due to us already using Office 365. Microsoft Project was the cheaper of the two options and seemed to fit our needs better than Proofhub. It seemed to be easier to use on the front end since some of our less technology-savvy …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a reasonable price and provides all of the functions we need, and even more. The fancier tools will be more expensive but not necessarily be more effective, so sticking with the industry standard seems to be the reasonable choice.
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
ProjectLibre is a free or open source version of MS Project. It’s supported by a community of programmers that maintain its versions. It’s definitely not MS Project but definitely gives you a good idea what to expect from MS Project. I would recommend trying it first to see if …
Chose Microsoft Project
Procore allows Microsoft Project schedules to be uploaded into it. It is not an easy feature to use. The uploading is a piece of cake, but changing anything after that is challenging and never seems to track correctly for me. Maybe I need more practice but it is not a feature I …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project had the strongest integrations and Gantt chart qualities. As a team that uses Outlook, Skype, DevOps and the Office Suite, it became clear that Project suited our needs best. Additionally, testing found that the user interface and security features pleased …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project seems more intuitive and user friendly than Agiliti. It helps with organization and planning.
Chose Microsoft Project
Project is comprehensive and many project professionals are familiar with it, however the other tools are more business user friendly. Little training needed, Airtable and Trello are more intuitive so anyone can make updates and understand progress.
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project needs to do better job on the flexibility and user interface of the software. The colors used by Monday.com and shortcuts they have provided are much smoother. However, Microsoft project is more compatible with other Microsoft products like excel which gives …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is similar in its setup, but as with other Microsoft products there are many features buried in the tabs. You have to know what you are looking for.
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is an excellent tool for most businesses to help visualize company progress. This software compares to many others out there, however it doesn't offer anything extra or "different". Since it is Microsoft brand, I will say it runs extremely smooth and you know …
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project has all the functionalities of the others and Microsoft Project responds to all our needs to control the projects. Additionally, Microsoft Project is part of our licensing of Microsoft products. This advantage is the main key to adopt Microsoft Project against …
MindManager
Chose MindManager
GitMind not only has various templates in its library but also lets users work online.
Chose MindManager
MindManager has helped me structure and visualize complex product development workflows more effectively. I’ve mapped out processes, linked documents and data, and tracked tasks across teams. For example, visualizing feedback loops improved collaboration, while task integration …
Chose MindManager
Previously we used and loved Microsoft Visio, but the product has not improved much. The subscription pricing also increased so Visio is only licensed to users who need it. Everybody else now uses MindManager.
Chose MindManager
They do not belong.

Non pertinent
Chose MindManager
Integrates with Microsoft Office suite, network infrastructure, and web links. Remains efficient even after adding multiple links.

Intégration avec la suite Office de Microsoft et les infrastructures réseaux et lien web. Reste performant même après l'ajout de plusieurs liens.
Chose MindManager
MindManager succeeded in every aspect, there is no real comparison possible. The sum of features that can be used with the MindManager is not available in any other product on the market. Based on that and on the continuous improvement of the MindManager there can not really be …
Chose MindManager
Particularly in the area of development and joint collaboration with other customers, this enables us to show, explain and develop content directly to teams, for example. The advantage over other products. It is simply a great simplification in the context of collaboration with …
Chose MindManager
MindManager stands out for its wide range of export options, customization and how they have enriched the format over time. As a constantly evolving tool, and having tried others, I consider it superior for the abovementioned reasons. Its cross-platform nature has been …
Chose MindManager
I have known and followed MindManager developments since 2000 and maintain my knowledge base. I even used it to create my wheel of life based on the Indian model and would also like to use the MM in a VR version. No tool offers comparable holistic functions - as well as - 25 …
Chose MindManager
I used Freemind before. At home I use SimpleMind Pro. Both are not listed in your drop-down. MindManager is the most sophisticated tool I've been working with so far, but the most expensive one, as well.
Chose MindManager
The primary reason for the switch was that I needed a lighter, no-frills tool. I saved big time on the licensing cost. A major need was the cross-OS platform, and this tool works irrespective of MacOS and Windows. I could not have found a better tool. Lucidchart is the next …
Chose MindManager
The choice missing in the above is Lucidchart and Lucispark.
These are powerful tools to brainstorm and map processes. We consider that MindManager is much better for brainstorming and strategic planning.
Lucidspark would easily get cluttered and disorganized.
Chose MindManager
MindManager covers all our needs (information management, brainstorming and planning, project management, sharing and collaboration) in one tool, and we do not have to jump back and forth between different applications. It's a very flexible tool that can be customized to your …
Chose MindManager
- the feature which are relevant for the majority of users are available in MindManager, and these feature can be learned easily and quickly; the alternative tools are more powerful (but have a lot of feature the standard user does not need) and are more expensive and difficult …
Chose MindManager
integration, drag and drop and many other features are not supported by XMind
Chose MindManager
We opted for MindManager many years ago. The main reasons are the product's stability, continuous development, general range of functions, and export options, especially for Office.
Chose MindManager
The continuity in the product maintenance of MindManager and the options offered by the API for add-ins, direct COM access and the use of macros are decisive for us. This allows us to automate business processes without being bound and limited in a universe of a specific …
Chose MindManager
As starte in 2010 as an "early adopter" a lot of experience with MindManager has been gained over time. MindManager is in use as a "working horse" in my environment. While MindManager has pretty well managed to further develop the technology and to adapt with fast changing IT …
Chose MindManager
I used to use AYOA, and I really like the beauty and uniqueness of the maps. However, it does not have the comprehensiveness of MM.
Chose MindManager
I have used a few others in the past (not listed in your product search, such as Freemind). I don't recall all of the Mind Mapping products I've tried, but MindManager definitely felt the most complete as a product and had a much more professional feel.
Chose MindManager
Much more efficient and professional.
Features
Microsoft ProjectMindManager
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
8.0
Ratings
4% above category average
MindManager
-
Ratings
Task Management8.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Resource Management7.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Gantt Charts9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Scheduling8.40 Ratings00 Ratings
Workflow Automation10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Team Collaboration7.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology4.60 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology7.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Document Management9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Email integration5.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile Access10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Change request and Case Management7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
8.7
Ratings
12% above category average
MindManager
-
Ratings
Quotes/estimates7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Invoicing10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Project & financial reporting7.30 Ratings00 Ratings
Integration with accounting software10.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Mind Mapping
Comparison of Mind Mapping features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
MindManager
7.5
Ratings
0% above category average
Cross-Platform Compatibility00 Ratings7.40 Ratings
Customizable Templates00 Ratings7.80 Ratings
Import and Export Options00 Ratings7.20 Ratings
Real-time Collaboration Tools00 Ratings6.80 Ratings
Drag-and-Drop Capabilities00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Notes and Attachments00 Ratings7.70 Ratings
Color and Style Customization00 Ratings7.90 Ratings
Presentation Mode00 Ratings7.40 Ratings
Integration with Task Management00 Ratings6.80 Ratings
Mind Map Revision History00 Ratings6.90 Ratings
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Microsoft ProjectMindManager
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All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Microsoft ProjectMindManager
Likelihood to Recommend
8.1
(0 ratings)
7.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.7
(0 ratings)
9.9
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
8.7
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.2
(0 ratings)
6.4
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
5.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
8.9
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Microsoft ProjectMindManager
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft Project is the perfect platform for medium and large companies. I do not recommend this software for small businesses, because all its functions in the work plans are high cost and this would cause the small business to not perform well in the use of MS Project in the long term. It is very easy to use software, it allows adding, modifying and eliminating all kinds of assignments and tasks for all employees, it allows monitoring the progress of all projects in real time and it also shows the gaps in the planned project. It has a very good performance, it does not take up many computer resources and all the information is stored in sync with the Office 365 service. It occasionally has crashing problems, but this is something that does not affect users as much.
Read full review
It is well suited for a quick prototype of product/development planning to show relationships amongst the APIs used. This helps developers understand the impact of the product changes and identifies the need to update integration components to avoid erroneous deployments. I have not personally experienced a less appropriate scenario at the moment.
Read full review
Pros
  • It is part of Office365 subscription. The look and feel is similar to other tools like excel. Helps in creating project plans, Gantt charts, work break down structures etc.
  • Helps in resource allocation and tracking the projects. There is an option to use it to capture timesheets too.
  • Helps project managers in producing weekly status reports and integrates well with other collaboration tools like Skype, sharepoint etc.
Read full review
  • Mapping content, user flows and customer journeys.
  • It enables us to rapidly reconfigure maps in MindManager to inform new information architectures, navigational systems, and content strategies.
  • Connect User Research and analytics precisely to screens.
  • Dissect flows and screens into their component parts and research them.
Read full review
Cons
  • Remote work can be challenging - as Project must be downloaded to a specific computer.
  • Upgrading to the top of the line version can feel like a requirement. There is a lot of functionality that is not available unless in the most expensive pay-tiers.
  • Microsoft Project can be extremely expensive on a per user basis. Other tools can be much more cost-effective - especially for more basic project management needs.
Read full review
  • There should be some more functionality in the Notes window, such as a "Paste Special " Icon in the notes area to maintain format control.
  • Although I create many of my own Web export templates, an add-on for web export design would be great, as I regularly create Interactive Electronic Technical Publications (IETP) in HTML export format.
  • The ability to sync Map shortcuts between devices would also be welcome. I use MM on three devices, and I have to add or amend the Map list individually. My maps are on OneDrive, so using them should not be that hard if they are cloud-based.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule
Read full review
I feel the main issues of the old Mindjet seem to be gone with the
Corel purchase. With the huge advance of sharing via browser HTML even 1
user can affect many. And, actually, using MM kind of forced my rigid
brain to rethink how I categorize and classify information/projects.
The
idea of paying $69USD for an annual cost is more than fair and a great
model for Corel/Mindjet to keep rolling out improvements!
Read full review
Usability
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
Read full review
MindManager is very intuitive. The user interface is not cluttered and the ribbon icons are easy to understand. Several excellent "how-to" videos are available on the MindManager site as well as on YouTube. MindManager starts quickly and the user interface is very responsive. Launching other programs from MindManager such as Excel is very fast and issue free. The browsing feature is lightning fast. The drag-and-drop capability is also very fast and reliable.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
We have had no issues with the application's availability
Read full review
Performance
No answers on this topic
The application is quick and responsive. We are able to produce mindmaps and reports with ease. The program is not complicated at all and integrates well with software and programs like Microsoft Outlook and Teams, which we truly appreciate.
Read full review
Support Rating
I’m giving MS Project an 8 because in general this is a solid scheduling program. It’s definitely designed with the professional in mind, and they have done well preparing the program to integrate with their other Microsoft products. The program is a workhorse so if you have serious scheduling needs then I would highly recommend MS Project.
Read full review
I have called technical support a few times. During the COVID Crisis, I called a few times repeatedly due to a rush request. The technical support guy called me back in minutes. He somehow knew that I had called repeatedly and wanted to make sure my issue was resolved immediately
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Online Training
No answers on this topic
There is a wide range of online training through webinars led by expert users. They are particularly useful for explaining how to use new features and using MindManager 'in the real world' for projects, tasks etc.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
I wasn't part of it so I don't know
Read full review
better backup and exporting functions
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Microsoft Project provided more robust, collaborative solution to Turnkey Project Management. With Excel like sheets for Project Task Schedules are used for contractors and users it was well accepted i.e good UI UX. Integration capability of Microsoft Project Online with Power App and Power Automate + Share point made collaboration most useful. Security features of Microsoft Project is managed by Azure Active Directory Settings.
Read full review
MindManager stands out for its wide range of export options, customization and how they have enriched the format over time. As a constantly evolving tool, and having tried others, I consider it superior for the abovementioned reasons. Its cross-platform nature has been decisive, and although there are many alternatives in the form of web applications or the like, MindManager presents itself as a more complete and robust option.
Read full review
Scalability
No answers on this topic
A team can collaborate on the same project but cannot create a shared project file. It would be helpful for that feature to be added.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • Since it is reasonable priced and flexible and fits into our Microsoft products, it meets our objectives
  • It has prevented expensive scope creep, this has saved us money and had solid ROI
  • Project does require light training cost to use it effectively
Read full review
  • MindManager allowed me to impress my audience by presenting complex cyber-security and information security concepts in a different and straightforward way. It meant income as instructor since I got the same diploma engagement three times in a row with the Mexico City government.
  • In March 2021, the CEO of GSB Solutions, a former employer, invited me to design an innovation program for the company. I used MindManager to create the program, explain the concepts, and the implementation plan. All in one mind map. After presenting it to the CEO, I was promoted from Operations Coordinator —a part-time position— to Innovation Manager —a full-time position— earning four times my initial salary. The same mind map served to visually manage the program for 18 months.
Read full review
ScreenShots

MindManager Screenshots

Screenshot of MindmapScreenshot of Reverse BrainstormingScreenshot of MindManager for Microsoft TeamsScreenshot of MindManager SnapScreenshot of MindManager GoScreenshot of Mind Maps in MindManager