Microsoft Project vs. ProjectManager.com

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.

Incentivized

Because I work with many people for whom Project Management is new, I wanted to use software that was user-friendly, fairly intuitive, and not filled with jargon. I like the fact I can use existing templates that (mostly) work for our needs, and I look forward to more things being added. They say support is 72 hours, but I’ve never waited for more than a few.

Incentivized

• 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.

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• Define the project plan and estimated schedule
• Adding the project milestones and tasks
• Assigning the human resources
• Updating the project status

Incentivized

• 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

Incentivized

• Creating the schedule is probably the most "difficult" function to get used to. Linking each scope to one another and using different dates for each day can get a little confusing as it is relatively easy to break the links if you were to change the dates. If you have a schedule for a job that is 2 months long; if you revise your schedule to include a date change, if the link is broken it will not update the rest of the dates and remaining scopes. So you would have to figure out where the link has been broken within the schedule, or go through and change the remaining dates by hand.

Incentivized

I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule

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ProjectManager.com had the full range of features that I needed to manage my projects effectively, but as a regular line manager (rather than a designated project manager) I personally don't think I actually need so many features. I could manage my own projects with a simpler product, so I would probably opt for a free or cheaper alternative in future. That's not a criticism of the product at all, just that it had more than I needed.

Incentivized

Microsoft Project was for many years the reference tool when you were talking about project management software, even if it has some gaps. However, in the last several years, other tools emerged and covered those gaps and are getting more and more users. Microsoft needs to keep up with the trends as they did with adding Project Server. However, that needs a significant rework.

Incentivized

At first, the range of features can be a little overwhelming, particularly for users with more limited project management experience. However, there is good support information provided on how to use each different feature, so with a bit of care and attention a user should find it easy to learn how to use the software.

Incentivized

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.

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n/a (never contacted support)

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I wasn't part of it so I don't know

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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.

Incentivized

ProjectManager.com is less pricey and has all the features of all the other software, some of which are even better. In general, I like the interface and user experience of the product and it is really appealing to use. Easy to learn, fosters collaboration, and improves team communication.

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized

• It's an extra addition to our workflow so can sometimes reduce efficiency.
• No integration to our CRM.
• People can forget to use it when the same team is in the office, it's sometimes easier just to talk.

Incentivized