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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Microsoft Project

    Score7.6 out of 10
    N/AMicrosoft 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

    SmartDraw

    Score8.4 out of 10
    N/ASmartDraw is a diagramming and flow chart building tool from SmartDraw Software in San Diego, California.

    $131.40

    per year (for a single user on an individual plan)

    Pricing
    Microsoft ProjectSmartDraw
    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
    Team
    $119.40
    per year per user (3 minimum)
    Individual
    $131.40
    per year single user
    Enterprise
    Contact Sales
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Microsoft ProjectSmartDraw
    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 ProjectSmartDraw
    Considered Both Products
    Microsoft
    No answer on this topic
    SmartDraw Software
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    87%
    Would buy again
    41 Answers
    88%
    Would buy again
    7 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    98%
    Delivers good value for the price
    42 Answers
    86%
    Delivers good value for the price
    6 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    94%
    Happy with the feature set
    44 Answers
    75%
    Happy with the feature set
    6 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    34 Answers
    83%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    89%
    Implementation went as expected
    34 Answers
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
    Features
    Microsoft ProjectSmartDraw
    Project Management
    Comparison of Project Management features of Microsoft Project and SmartDraw
    Feature
    Microsoft Project
    8.0
    111 Ratings
    4% above category average
    SmartDraw
    -
    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 Collaboration7.298 Ratings00 Ratings
    Support for Agile Methodology4.483 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 Management7.364 Ratings00 Ratings
    Budget and Expense Management7.486 Ratings00 Ratings
    Professional Services Automation
    Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Microsoft Project and SmartDraw
    Feature
    Microsoft Project
    8.6
    79 Ratings
    11% above category average
    SmartDraw
    -
    Ratings
    Quotes/estimates7.355 Ratings00 Ratings
    Invoicing10.045 Ratings00 Ratings
    Project & financial reporting7.276 Ratings00 Ratings
    Integration with accounting software10.050 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Microsoft ProjectSmartDraw
    Small Businesses
    Any.do
    Score8 out of 10
    OmniGraffle
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    KanbanFlow
    Score7.3 out of 10
    OmniGraffle
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Microsoft To Do
    Score7.9 out of 10
    OmniGraffle
    Score9.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Microsoft ProjectSmartDraw
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.2
    (111 ratings)
    2.8
    (14 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    8.7
    (9 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.2
    (34 ratings)
    8.4
    (2 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Microsoft ProjectSmartDraw
    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
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    I believe SmartDraw is a great tool for small- to mid-sized organizations for simplifying the production and management of org charts. We've also had the PMO experiment with the use of some of their flow charts as well. If an organization has an HCM with the capability of producing (good!) org charts, that is likely the best option... but many that I have used in my 30-year HR career don't. So there is definitely a need for SmartDraw in the market!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    • Provides examples to work off of--these are helpful when you don't know exactly where to start.
    • Provides a number of stylistic options without making things too complex, so you can be creative without getting overwhelmed.
    • Provides a wide variety of templates, meets a wide variety of needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    • A month-to-month plan would be ideal for users that don't have a need to create many projects
    • The sidebar navigation can be a little confusing with all of the tools listed.
    • Offering customizable plans with only the feature you need would simplify navigation
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Microsoft
    I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    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
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    I rated 8 because its simple to use and easy to create network topologies quickly. I liked the drag and drop option which makes designing the network topology and flow chart easier. In general its does what it needs to.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    They are always very helpful, we get computers every two years and I have to call them to move the license from one computer to another and they do it with a smile in their voice!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Microsoft
    I wasn't part of it so I don't know
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    No answers on this topic
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    We have used Corel Draw and Adobe Acrobat. Both of those tools were good when they came out but the abilities of SmartDraw far outweigh both those tools. Corel Draw was also more complex to operate and do tasks, as was Adobe Acrobat in which some basic tasks took additional steps to complete.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    SmartDraw Software
    • SmartDraw has provided good return for our internal purposes. Using it to understand an organization's structure and inner workings has been valuable. On the client side, creating steps and businesses processes has also been a big plus. It has helped decrease confusing reporting structures and has provided a detailed map for individuals to understand where they fit within their organization.
    • Unfortunately, SmartDraw has been somewhat inefficient with some of the more complex projects on our plate and has really deterred certain employees from even wanting to use it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    SmartDraw Screenshots

    Screenshot of where to create diagrams, including: flowcharts and swimlanes, organizational charts, mind maps, CAD drawings & floor plans, project charts, network diagrams, and wireframes & mockups.Screenshot of a workspace that combines brainstorming with technical diagrams. SmartDraw can be used to visualize processes, organizations, roadmaps, and even generate diagrams from data.Screenshot of SmartDraw's templates and tools used to make flowcharts, swimlanes, and process maps.Screenshot of the org chart tool, used to document organizational structure and work as a team to plan for growth or manage change. Data can be imported to generate a chart automatically.Screenshot of the CAD drawing and floor plan tools, used to design a home or optimize office space to improve traffic flow in a retail space.Screenshot of an example of the built-in templates for landscapes, gardens, backyards used to design outdoor spaces. Users can drag-and-drop flowers, shrubs, and other plants, or add sprinkler systems, lights, and walkways, and apply photo-realistic textures for a professional finish.