Microsoft Project Server vs Planisware vs Planview Portfolios comparison

Read 19 Planisware reviews

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1,396 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Planview Portfolios

Read 63 Planview Portfolios reviews

2,081 Views
895 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Microsoft Project Server

Planview Portfolios

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Project Server, Planisware, and Planview Portfolios based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Planisware, ServiceNow, Smartsheet and others in Project Portfolio Management.

To learn more, read our detailed Project Portfolio Management Report (Updated: September 2025).

Project Portfolio Management

September 2025

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Helped 867,497 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Project Portfolio Management category, the mindshare of Microsoft Project Server is 5.1%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Planisware is 9.6%, up from 8.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Planview Portfolios is 7.2%, up from 5.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Project Portfolio Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Planisware	9.6%
Microsoft Project Server	5.1%
Planview Portfolios	7.2%
Other	78.1%

Project Portfolio Management

Featured Reviews

Mouloud Fourali

Project Manager at Digital Research Alliance of Canada

Visual project planning enhances collaboration and proactive management

The dependency management in Microsoft Project is highly valuable, as it visually maps dependencies and impacts within a project plan. The online version facilitates easy collaboration without having to share multiple versions of the file. The Gantt chart is also a very powerful tool for a visual presentation of sequences, critical paths, and execution processes, which simplifies comprehension for users.

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Avinash Padmanabhan

Solution Architect | Planisware Consultant at Schlumberger

Efficient project management and resource allocation, but agile capabilities need improvement

One drawback with Planisware is that it doesn't have good features for test management or agile; it lacks many concepts in agile such as retrospective, velocity planning, and backlog view. Some features are still missing because they have introduced these agile modules only in version seven and are still improving that product, so I see a good roadmap on those modules from Planisware's end. I find Planisware's collaboration tools to be good but not great as they still have certain restrictions. It can interact with Jira, it can interact with ADO, and you can have APIs created to interact with your internal HR systems or other systems for data flow. However, the error messages or fail scenarios don't provide good visibility of what is happening, why errors occur, or why something is not working. Regarding scenario planning, I haven't explored much on that side. We have the strategic module, strategic planning module, but we haven't explored much on the other side, so I don't have much experience or exposure to scenario planning.

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EduardoMaya

Project Office Manager at Hoteles City Express

A solution that gives you all the information you need to plan detailed projects

The initial setup was just a little complex. I rate the initial setup a seven out of ten. Deploying the solution took two weeks. While deploying the solution, we had two instances, one for the IT team and one for the business team. And we had to connect the two and explain things to the team. Only two people were needed to deploy the solution, me and another person.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The ability to track a project's progress using Microsoft Project Server is the most valuable aspect. It depends, especially when managing multiple projects."

"One notable positive aspect is its effective project-tracking capabilities."

"A single place for all our organisation's project records."

"Technical support is good."

"Microsoft Project Server is quite a powerful tool and offers a good way of seeing dependencies and interactions, along with baselines."

"We use the tool in our IT-related projects. All IT efforts are managed using the Microsoft Project Server. Every week, we have a project status meeting where we demonstrate the project's status using the tool. We track tasks and progress, assign owners, and monitor milestones and all project-related work using it."

"It can scale well."

"The solution is stable."

More Microsoft Project Server pros

"Planisware offers integration with multiple tools and provides a good level of customization."

"The positive impact I have seen from working with Planisware is due to its efficacy and speed; it has very few updates and is easy to use."

"Planisware is a beautiful tool that is very efficient, clear, well-designed, and more robust than any I have used."

"There are two things in particular that I enjoy. The first is the portfolio planning section. Another advantage is that it is highly customizable."

"We have a variety of different modules, but it is mainly used for costs, risks, and resources."

"The area that could benefit from improvement in this Planisware is the project management tool. I have previously used Project Server, which is a Microsoft solution, and I found it to be more user-friendly as it included a client solution. In contrast, with this solution, the only option available is the online version, making it difficult to create activities, milestones, and other necessary components. This is in comparison to Planisware, which offers a more comprehensive solution."

"I found Planisware really effective, and I appreciate it."

"It has an inbuilt BI tool, which can be compared to Power BI or Tableau."

More Planisware pros

"We do a lot of big projects which are pretty expensive to structure the product development around and see the progress. Every time we start a project, we have to expense the spends for certain amounts. We need some baselines, like predictive versus actual."

"Its view into resource capacity and availability absolutely help us manage work. We can't plan out projects for delivery until we know if we have resources available to deliver them. That's been really critical. We look at our projects and see what availability of resources we have. That helps us to determine when we can start new work."

"I like that everyone is able to see the same data. All of our users who aren't just time reporters have read access to all the data that is out there. So, it is one source of truth where everybody can go in and see the exact same data that everybody else sees. It is transparent."

"In my opinion, the financial planning feature is the most valuable feature of Planview Enterprise One."

"The biggest impact has been getting all these global groups into one space so we can even have intelligent conversations about what are we trying to accomplish. Before, it was just different regions doing whatever. Now, we're all talking the same language, and that's good."

"It has helped improve governance, mostly. People want to know where their money's going. Projects sponsors need to know what we're spending money on and what our burn rate is. Planview can give that to you straightaway."

"We use expenditures quite a bit. We put in forecast expenditures and then we actualize them below the line in the little box in the bottom tray. Being able to track the project with relevant milestones is also valuable. Milestones are valuable because it helps us to keep the project on track. The expenditures are valuable because we need to be able to understand expenses that are beyond the regular resources in the projects."

"The resource capacity planning is the most valuable feature because you can evaluate your team's capacity by team and what projects they're working on and you can forecast easily by team."

More Planview Portfolios pros

Cons

"The product is difficult to use for complex projects."

"The deployment aspect of the product is a bit tedious."

"Microsoft Project Server's user interface is pretty average, and sometimes it can have bugs."

"The product's UI is not very user-friendly."

"There need to be more tutorials available to users."

"It appears that Microsoft's primary goal is to migrate as much functionality as possible from the legacy on-premises Microsoft Project Server to the new cloud-based Power Apps solution."

"It is not updated in real-time. Sometimes it, therefore, is not accurate."

"Collaboration should be better integrated in the desktop version."

More Microsoft Project Server cons

"The learning curve is steep and there could be more avenues for opening up learning materials to a broader audience, enabling individuals to gain practical experience with the tool."

"The solution's user experience and user interface need improvement because they are not that great and intuitive."

"I have experienced some issues, and that’s okay. It tends to be stable when the server's processing power and memory are adequate."

"Its stability should be improved. Its stability is the main issue, but we sometimes also have issues with calculations."

"More integration is needed with other kinds of products for better collaboration."

"The reports should be improved because all companies now need reporting, and with tools such as Grafana or Tableau, Planisware needs to add interfaces for data lakes since all companies require this."

"The biggest con for Planisware is that if you are not a Planisware partner, you don't have access to their functions, making it difficult for beginners and new team members."

More Planisware cons

"We have required more time from our resource managers to spend time in the tool. The adoption has been slower than we would have hoped. So, I would think from a rollout perspective, if Planview could help us with material which gets non-Planview users or previously light Planview users to become more heavy users of the system, then this would help us with the rollout."

"Their off-shore support is something new that they're laying out and the team just needed some development in terms of skill and experience."

"Even though Enterprise One is easy and user-friendly, it could provide better training like a demo. Providing more tutorials or sessions would really help."

"Our version is definitely set up a bit more waterfall world. It would be better if some of the agile features were more in the standard product."

"The scheduling's kind of clunky in terms of its ability for us to see what stage work is at. They could have done better with that. It can be difficult to use."

"When you think of planning at a PI level, roadmap planning, or release planning, I think they should make a little more headway into how agile delivery works, tying it back into the financials and the planning to Planview. I think it would be good."

"The resource area needs improvement. The improvements that have been made recently in the later versions have been good improvements, but I think there are some more improvements needed there."

"The financial piece of the tool could be better. While it may have to do with the complexity of the work that we do, it seems that the tool should be able to drill down a bit deeper into the financial area."

More Planview Portfolios cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Microsoft Project Server is an expensive solution. Small businesses will not be able to afford it."

"I cannot comment on the price as I was not responsible for purchasing the solution."

"A standard license is cheaper, but if you want more features, then there is a premium license or professional license."

"It's not subscription-based, we purchased the on-premises version."

"There is a subscription model for different types of users for different types of roles."

"I rate the pricing a one out of ten because the price is way too high."

"There are some payments related to the licensing cost of Microsoft Project Server."

"The price of the Microsoft Project Server could improve, it is expensive here in Africa. When comparing Microsoft Project Server to Oracle Primavera for us, Microsoft Project Server is quite cost-effective."

More Microsoft Project Server pricing and cost advice

"The solution could be less expensive and the cost of scaling is expensive too."

"There are training and certification costs."

"It comes with a high cost."

"The solution is expensive and support is an extra cost. There are three license types to choose from, and we only pay for support and cloud services depending on our needs."

"We recently did a new bundle for all of Enterprise One. It includes some of the newer pieces, like Projectplace and LeanKit. It bundled our CTM in with it as well. I think the total came out to be about $900,000 a year. This is for unlimited licenses."

"I don't know about the actual pricing. I have not come across any costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"The cost of other pieces and integrating them in needs improvement."

"The licensing part is a bit costly in comparison with the other available PPM tools."

"Our licensing fees are approximately $50,000 USD annually."

"I don't think we have necessarily purchased everything that I would have liked to have seen."

"In the time that I've used it, we've doubled up the amount of dollars on our intended projects."

"Our licensing costs are probably $150,000 to $180,000 a year with 270 licenses total."

More Planview Portfolios pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Project Portfolio Management solutions are best for your needs.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

13%

Government

Energy/Utilities Company

Manufacturing Company

18%

Energy/Utilities Company

14%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	25
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	33

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	2
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	16

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	58

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Project Server?

The ability to track a project's progress using Microsoft Project Server is the most valuable aspect. It depends, esp...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Project Server?

The pricing for Microsoft Project Server is standard, around $200-$250, but I think it's actually $80 to $100 per yea...

What needs improvement with Microsoft Project Server?

In order to improve Microsoft Project Server, collaborative features could be enhanced, as it is possible to improve ...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Planisware?

Planisware is very costly. I can comment that it's expensive, and even the consultants from Planisware charge a very ...

What needs improvement with Planisware?

The tool can be improved with integrations to Agile tools. We used Azure DevOps, which I dislike. Better integrations...

What is your primary use case for Planisware?

My use cases involve building out a template library based on our methodology and continuing to iterate on that. We u...

What do you like most about Planview Portfolios?

Planview Management integrates seamlessly with other tools and systems used within the organization, such as enterpri...

What needs improvement with Planview Portfolios?

Enhancements are needed in: Advanced reporting and analytics: While Planview Management provides robust reporting and...

What is your primary use case for Planview Portfolios?

We use Planview Management to assess the current project portfolio, evaluate resource availability, and prioritize pr...

Microsoft Project vs Microsoft Project Server

Comparisons

Compared 22% of the time

ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 10% of the time

Planview ProjectPlace vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 9% of the time

Oracle Primavera Portfolio Management vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 8% of the time

Jira vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 5% of the time

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Smartsheet vs Planisware

Compared 12% of the time

monday.com for Enterprise vs Planisware

Compared 12% of the time

Jira vs Planisware

Compared 12% of the time

Microsoft Project vs Planisware

Compared 10% of the time

Oracle Primavera Portfolio Management vs Planisware

Compared 3% of the time

More Planisware Competitors

Broadcom Clarity vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 12% of the time

LeanIX vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 7% of the time

SAP Portfolio and Project Management vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 7% of the time

Planview PPM Pro vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 6% of the time

Smartsheet vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 6% of the time

More Planview Portfolios Competitors

Product Reports

Download Microsoft Project Server product report

Microsoft Project Server

August 2025

Download Planisware product report

August 2025

Download Planview Portfolios product report

Planview Portfolios

August 2025

Also Known As

MS Project Server

No data available

Planview Enterprise One, Troux

Overview

Microsoft Project Server facilitates project portfolio management and everyday collaboration, enhancing decision-making processes. Its integration with SharePoint offers a flexible solution for enterprise project management, catering to complex project needs seamlessly.

Microsoft Project Server empowers project teams and managers with enhanced communication and comprehensive project visibility. It supports dynamic resource allocation, financial tracking, and risk assessment. A cloud-ready platform, it simplifies deployment and scalability, suitable for diverse project environments and needs robust integration with leading productivity tools and services.

What are the key features of Microsoft Project Server?

Resource Management: Allocate and track resources efficiently to optimize productivity.
Portfolio Analysis: Assess and prioritize projects based on strategic alignment and constraints.
Time Reporting: Streamline time tracking and reporting for accurate project insights.
Integration with Office: Seamlessly connects with Microsoft Office applications for enhanced productivity.
Security and Compliance: Ensures data security with customizable permissions and compliance standards.

What benefits can users expect from Microsoft Project Server?

Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates communication and collaboration among project teams.
Improved Decision Making: Offers comprehensive data analytics for strategic planning.
Efficiency Gains: Streamlines project management workflows for increased productivity.
Cost Management: Enables effective budget tracking and financial control.

Industries such as construction, IT services, and pharmaceuticals leverage Microsoft Project Server for managing large-scale projects with precision. Its adaptability to different industry standards ensures specific project requirements are met while maintaining operational control and regulatory compliance.

Microsoft

Resource and cost scheduling, time tracking, risk and document management in a collaborative environment. Software solution that supports the end-to-end governance of company portfolios, from finance and resource planning, to the life cycle management of products.

Planview Portfolios offers a comprehensive platform for managing IT, project and resource management, along with strategic planning. The tool focuses on optimizing resource allocation and financial analysis, supporting global operations.

Organizations use Planview Portfolios to streamline project tracking from inception to completion, enhancing strategic alignment with corporate objectives. The tool integrates with platforms like JIRA to provide seamless workflows and supports critical business processes, including budgeting and capacity planning. Teams benefit from customized configurations and robust reporting, further supporting effective decision-making. Despite its strengths, improvements are sought in navigation, documentation, and integration capabilities.

What are the key features?

Customizable interface: Allows personalization to meet specific needs.
Comprehensive resource and financial management: Enables detailed tracking and analysis.
Robust reporting: Provides extensive data insights.
Integration with Power BI: Enhances data access for stakeholders.
Resource and capacity planning: Optimizes workforce allocation.

What benefits should users expect?

Improved strategic alignment: Supports better decision-making.
Increased operational efficiency: Streamlines project management.
Enhanced resource optimization: Ensures optimal use of workforce.
Better financial insights: Allows precise budget tracking.

In industries like IT and project management, Planview Portfolios supports complex portfolio handling, ensuring visibility across global operations. Companies in these sectors leverage its strategic planning tools for strategic alignment and resource management, integrating with existing systems for improved process efficiency.

Planview

Sample Customers

Magnachip, Gwinnett County Schools, CLEAResult, Medbit Oy, Intelbras S.A., ETS, CORE Construction, Keller Foundations

Apotex, Alstom Transport, HP, Stryker, Rexam, Jotun, Gelita, Kraton Performance Polymers, Abbvie, Rio Tinto Alcan, Maruho, Teva, SK Chemicals

UPS, NatWest, Ingram Micro, Canadian Tire, Viessmann, Volvo, NASCO, UNESCO