Microsoft Project Server vs Planview Portfolios comparison

Microsoft and Planview are both solutions in the Project Portfolio Management category. Microsoft is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.0, while Planview is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.5. Microsoft holds a 6.8% mindshare in PPM, compared to Planview’s 7.1% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Planview users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Project Server

Read 60 Microsoft Project Server reviews

1,025 Views
713 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

Planview Portfolios

Read 63 Planview Portfolios reviews

989 Views
577 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Microsoft Project Server

Planview Portfolios

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 2024

Planview Portfolios and Microsoft Project Server both operate in the project management space. Planview Portfolios appears to be favored for its extensive portfolio management capabilities, while Microsoft Project Server stands out for its ease of use and scheduling strength.

Features: Planview Portfolios is recognized for its robust resource planning, project execution, and strategic alignment capabilities, with strong customization and integration with tools like Power BI. It's particularly suitable for large-scale projects requiring detailed resource and financial management. Microsoft Project Server is appreciated for its scheduling capabilities and seamless integration with other Microsoft products, offering a familiar environment for Microsoft ecosystem users. It helps significantly in planning and task management with its straightforward user experience.

Room for Improvement: Planview Portfolios needs better support for visualization enhancements, more straightforward customization options for reporting, and integration with other agile tools. Users also desire enhancement in its support framework. Microsoft Project Server could improve its collaboration features and integration with modern technologies, alongside improvements in the user interface and resource management capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Planview Portfolios offers multiple cloud deployment options, although setup complexity can vary. Some users report inconsistent customer service, experiencing challenges in obtaining immediate assistance. Microsoft Project Server predominantly offers on-premises deployment with limited cloud options, providing robust support documentation but facing some integration issues. Users find contacting customer service straightforward, although resolution speed could be improved.

Pricing and ROI: Planview Portfolios is considered costly but offers substantial ROI through enhanced resource management and strategic alignment, with licensing options like FLEX for adaptable needs. Opinions on its cost-effectiveness are mixed. Microsoft Project Server's pricing is perceived as high for its capabilities, particularly due to its seamless integration with the Microsoft platform. It may be cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses despite its robust features. Planview's pricing aligns with its feature set and ROI, whereas Microsoft’s pricing is competitive, primarily benefiting from integration advantages.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Project Server vs. Planview Portfolios Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Project Server vs. Planview Portfolios

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Project Server

Ranking in Project Portfolio Management

5th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Planview Portfolios

Ranking in Project Portfolio Management

8th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Architecture Management (14th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Project Portfolio Management category, the mindshare of Microsoft Project Server is 6.8%, down from 9.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Planview Portfolios is 7.1%, up from 6.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Project Portfolio Management

Featured Reviews

Sean Achim

Managing Director at Knights Innovation Support Centre

Unlock comprehensive reporting and management with robust data extraction

The major advantage for me in using Microsoft Project Server is the SQL Server component. Using Power BI and SQL Server, I can extract a lot more data. The combination of Microsoft Project with Project Server and SharePoint provides a perfect solution for me. This setup allows for comprehensive reporting and management across multiple projects and portfolios.

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Mark Hillman

Global Head of Portfolio Management at a wholesaler/distributor with 1,001-5,000 employees

User-friendly interface, but the reporting could be improved

The reporting is poor and requires improvement. The tiles and exception-based activities in the application are sufficient to get by. However, when it comes to producing executive reports, MI reports, or any other type of reporting, we must exit Planview and work offline. We have been working with them to improve on that, as well as using some of the Power BI capabilities that have been available for a while, but it's still more difficult than it should be. In the next release, I would like to be able to use the data in the tool to gain insight much more easily.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It is a scalable solution. We have been able to manage larger scale projects easily using this solution."

"It is easily adaptable. In addition, it is easily used on mobile applications."

"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."

"The solution scales well."

"It can scale well."

"The ability to look at the resource loading is most valuable."

"Resource allocation is the most valuable feature of Microsoft Project Server."

"Project schedule management is very good. Basically, it sits on SharePoint. So, every time we create a project, a new project site is created within that SharePoint environment, which is a very good document repository. It allows us to create issues and risks lists and additional functionality to keep track of what's going on with projects."

More Microsoft Project Server pros

"Our reporting is much better. There is much more visibility on projects, schedules, tasks, and in our milestones. Now, we have a consistent way of reporting out to the committees and getting all of our schedules and milestones."

"Enterprise One provides a variety of types of resource assignments for assigning work to people. It's very easy and straightforward to configure these assignments. Planview allows us to see the entire workforce. We can see where our skill sets of people are, what they're working on, and allows us to make informed business decisions based on priority."

"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."

"The most valuable features are the control and visibility that you have for portfolio management in terms of projects and capacity planning for resources along with strategies and outcomes, etc. It's so easy to access information for sharing analytics and reporting."

"With the lifecycles, it helps us step through our processes easier. We'll take a process and create it in Visio, then we'll go and implemented in Planview. Anytime that we have to do a new process, this is what we use. We just step it through the lifecycles and the configure screens are very easy to use. The fields that you need are easy to use."

"We've brought our portfolio altogether. We have had multiple ways of reporting out what our portfolio is, whether it's in Excel, Word, or in different places. We brought all of our projects together in one place. That has worked out well for us. We've been able to manage the work on Gantt charts and our resources better. The big thing for us on research and development is around managing people's time, on which projects they are working on, and how much effort does it take to launch our projects."

"Its ability to create summary reports across multiple projects is one of the best features. They have very good data warehousing. You can put that out. You can tell that data warehousing from Planview Enterprise One is excellent."

"The Kanban board has really helped us be more agile and we can keep track of everything that is ongoing."

More Planview Portfolios pros

Cons

"EPM 2010 UI seems a bit dated now that 2016 is available."

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

"The reporting in the desktop version is not highly customizable or professional compared to other solutions."

"The reporting aspects can be improved, which is one of the reasons why I'm using Qlik Sense. In the older on-prem versions, reporting was lackluster, to say the least. Project Online has a better handle on that. However, we will still be using Qlik Sense. We're also looking at an add-on app from a company called OnePlan that adds some additional functionality where Microsoft is not as clean in its approach for things such as portfolio management and some of the trends analysis."

"We want to expand to the local level where we lack strong IT expertise, we are considering making it more user-friendly."

"The solution could have more compact dashboards, such as one finds with Planview."

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

"Project Server could be improved by simplifying how tasks are assigned and reviewed on a daily basis."

More Microsoft Project Server cons

"It would be great to see Planview incorporate agile interfacing/methods in it. Like CA Clarity and other leading PPM tools – Planview should enhance or develop the interfaces to ingrate with other market leading Agile tools."

"Its ability to create summary reports across multiple projects is very limited. In terms of the out-of-the-box reporting for summary reports, the reporting that we typically leverage is around forecasting for resources, timesheets, and actuals, and just looking at what is the capacity. There is no real summary of what work is being done and how work is being accomplished. So, what we typically do is that we get a copy of the data files from Enterprise One daily, and then we have a team that manages the data mod outside of Enterprise One. They use data from Enterprise One as well as other additional sources to provide the reporting that we share with the management. So, we leverage a lot of Enterprise One data for reporting, but we don't use the reporting capabilities within Enterprise One. So, reporting can be improved, and they could help us make more customized reporting. I know it is very configurable out of the box, but we have to leverage an outside data mod that pulls in a lot of data from Enterprise One. So, the reporting function, and being able to customize reports, is the area that could be very beneficial."

"We don't use the Progression feature. We will use it at some point in time. Until then, we want to have a way to set time to help decide what's in the past, present, and future. It is one of the things we've been discussing with Planview."

"The technical support is a little overworked. At least, they have been in the past year. We need them to focus on somethings from time to time. You can tell that they're really focusing on many things. It has gotten better, but I think they could still use some relief."

"The lack of templates harden the initial learning curve."

"Recently, we have gotten on a newer version. We're currently on version 15. Some of the things that we've been running into roadblocks on, it looks like the solutions will be coming out in versions 17 or 18. So, we have to upgrade before somethings can get completed."

"I think the capabilities are there, but it seems difficult for me to even create a report as I am not a Planview technical expert. It is not particularly intuitive. It slows us down in reporting the big picture to management."

"The reporting capability and access to the fields for our system administrators to have access to the data without having to pay Enterprise One to get the data that's needed to create custom reports for management to create reports need improvement."

More Planview Portfolios cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Microsoft Project Server is more expensive than other solutions on the market. We purchase the license annually."

"There is an annual license required for this solution."

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

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

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

"The product is expensive."

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

"The technical assistance is expensive but the solution is an open source software."

More Microsoft Project Server pricing and cost advice

"I think all in we are at $33,000 a year and that includes Projectplace and Planview. We used to have the integration to JIRA, but we don't pay for that anymore."

"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."

"We have portfolio managers, resource managers, project managers, and time reporting licenses. These are the licenses that we have."

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

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

"Planview is a little pricey. From a licensing perspective, for just a simple timesheet user who does nothing in the system but reports time, the licensing is a little pricey, but you have to look at it from what it is that you get. We have 6,000 users, and I don't manage the system at all. I just have to do add them to the system. The servers, maintenance, OS levels, security patching for the OS, and all other things are not something that we maintain. So, you have to look at it from an operational perspective. It is not just the product itself. A holistic view has to be taken when you look at the product and how you're going to support it. I would have to hire an entire operation staff to bring it in-house, and at the end of the day, that might cost me more."

"Our licensing costs are about a quarter of a million dollars per year."

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

More Planview Portfolios pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Government

12%

Energy/Utilities Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

16%

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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, especially when managing multiple projects.

See all answers

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

The pricing model is currently a challenge since it seems aligned to push users cloud-based. Considering the infrastructure commitments to SharePoint and SQL, the implementation costs are low if al...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Project Server?

I am not convinced that the pricing model is the right one. Microsoft has become increasingly expensive, and there seems to be a push towards cloud solutions which can be challenging for some. Addi...

See all answers

What do you like most about Planview Portfolios?

Planview Management integrates seamlessly with other tools and systems used within the organization, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, customer relationship management (CRM) syst...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Planview Portfolios?

Planview Portfolios is not too expensive. You get what you paid for.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Planview Portfolios?

Enhancements are needed in: Advanced reporting and analytics: While Planview Management provides robust reporting and analytics capabilities, further enhancements could include more advanced data v...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 25% of the time

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Compared 16% of the time

ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 11% of the time

Oracle Primavera Portfolio Management vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 10% of the time

SAP Portfolio and Project Management vs Microsoft Project Server

Compared 6% of the time

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Broadcom Clarity vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 15% of the time

LeanIX vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 11% of the time

SAP Portfolio and Project Management vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 10% of the time

Planview PPM Pro vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 10% of the time

Smartsheet vs Planview Portfolios

Compared 5% of the time

More Planview Portfolios Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Project Server

February 2025

Download Microsoft Project Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Planview Portfolios

February 2025

Download Planview Portfolios product report

Also Known As

MS Project Server

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

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

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

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Project Server vs. Planview Portfolios

March 2025

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