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8.8

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Microsoft Project - Project Management Software

Microsoft Project

Efficient project management, from start to finish.

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Starts from $10/User/Month

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What is Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is the project management solution that helps teams easily collaborate, communicate and follow their project plan from start to finish. Microsoft Project also helps streamline business processes so that your team can better focus on important project details and more effectively reach project goals.

Pricing

  • Starts from $10/User/Month

  • Free Trial available

Customer Type

  • Freelancers

  • Large Enterprises

  • Medium Business

  • Small Business

Platform Type

  • SaaS/Web/Cloud

  • Installed - Windows

Microsoft Project software demo

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Microsoft Project was reviewed internally using user feedback, in-house testing, and market research to assess its performance, reliability, and user experience. Learn how we review products and our evaluation process.

Microsoft Project is best suited for

  • employee count

    Employee count: 50 to 500 employees

  • industries

    Industries: Construction, Engineering, IT Services, Manufacturing, Consulting

  • Job titles

    Job Titles: Project Managers, Program Managers, Resource Managers, Operations Directors, Portfolio Managers

Benefits of using Microsoft Project

  • Advanced Project Scheduling and Planning: Microsoft Project offers detailed Gantt charts, task dependencies, and critical path analysis, enabling precise project scheduling and planning.

  • Comprehensive Resource Management: The platform provides tools for resource allocation, workload balancing, and cost tracking, ensuring efficient utilization of resources across projects.

  • Robust Reporting and Analytics: Microsoft Project includes built-in reporting features that facilitate data-driven decision-making and project performance analysis.

Explanation of Microsoft Project Key Features

  • Budget Management

    Budget Management in Microsoft Project enables project managers to define, allocate, and track financial resources across tasks and project phases. This feature allows teams to set planned budgets, compare them against actual costs, and calculate cost variances. Microsoft Project offers integrated cost reporting and forecasting tools, helping organizations control spending, ensure profitability, and align financial performance with overall project goals.

  • Issue Management

    Issue Management in Microsoft Project helps teams identify, document, and resolve problems that could impede project success. While not a native standalone feature, issue tracking can be customized using task fields or integrated with platforms like SharePoint. Teams can assign responsibility, set priorities, and monitor resolution status. This structured approach improves project quality by addressing obstacles before they escalate into major setbacks.

  • Kanban Board

    The Kanban Board functionality in Microsoft Project—available through integrations with Microsoft Planner or Project for the web—offers a visual method for organizing tasks using cards and workflow stages. Teams can track progress by moving tasks through columns like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Completed.” This flexible, drag-and-drop interface promotes agile management and provides a real-time snapshot of workload and progress.

  • Milestone Tracking

    Milestone Tracking in Microsoft Project allows users to define key events or deliverables that represent major checkpoints in a project. These milestones are displayed on the Gantt Chart and timeline views, offering quick reference points for project progress. Monitoring milestones helps teams assess whether they are on track and ensures alignment with major deadlines and business objectives throughout the project.

  • Percent-Complete Tracking

    Percent-Complete Tracking in Microsoft Project enables project managers to quantify the progress of tasks and overall projects by assigning a completion percentage. This metric can be manually entered or calculated based on actual work logged. It provides real-time visibility into how much work has been completed versus what remains, supporting better forecasting, reporting, and timely stakeholder communication.

  • Portfolio Management

    Portfolio Management in Microsoft Project allows organizations to manage and analyze multiple projects within a centralized platform. This feature supports strategic alignment by helping decision-makers prioritize initiatives, allocate resources, and balance workloads. Integration with Power BI enhances visibility with customizable dashboards and KPIs. Microsoft Project empowers executives to oversee a broad project portfolio while maintaining control over budget, performance, and outcomes.

  • Project Planning

    Project Planning in Microsoft Project is a comprehensive process that includes task breakdown, scheduling, resource allocation, dependency mapping, and milestone setting. The platform supports advanced planning through templates, critical path analysis, and workload balancing. With these tools, Microsoft Project enables users to build structured, detailed plans that serve as the blueprint for successful execution and delivery of complex initiatives.

  • Resource Management

    Resource Management in Microsoft Project provides tools to assign, monitor, and balance team members and other assets across tasks and projects. Managers can track workloads, availability, and overallocations to optimize efficiency. The platform supports capacity planning and resource leveling, ensuring that no team member is underutilized or overburdened. This ensures smoother execution and better alignment of people and project needs.

  • Status Tracking

    Status Tracking in Microsoft Project offers visibility into the real-time condition of tasks, deliverables, and overall project health. Through status fields, visual indicators, and customizable dashboards, users can identify whether tasks are on schedule, delayed, or completed. This feature improves accountability and allows project managers to communicate accurate updates to stakeholders while making timely adjustments as necessary.

  • Task Management

    Task Management in Microsoft Project provides a structured environment for defining, assigning, and monitoring individual work items within a project. Users can create tasks with specific start and end dates, durations, priorities, dependencies, and resource assignments. The platform allows for detailed task hierarchies, supporting sub-tasks and milestones that align with broader goals. Integrated tracking tools help teams monitor progress, adjust workloads, and address delays in real time. By offering centralized control over task execution, Microsoft Project enhances accountability, improves coordination among team members, and ensures that all project components move forward in sync.

  • Timeline View

    Timeline View in Microsoft Project offers a high-level, visual representation of tasks and milestones plotted across a horizontal time scale. This view allows project managers to quickly assess the overall schedule, identify key deliverables, and communicate progress to stakeholders through an easy-to-read visual summary. Users can customize the timeline by highlighting important activities, grouping tasks, or filtering based on specific criteria. It supports clear project storytelling by presenting a concise overview of work in progress and upcoming deadlines. This visualization tool is particularly valuable during meetings and reporting, helping bridge the gap between detailed planning and strategic communication.

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Why users might consider alternative to Microsoft Project?

  • Teams seeking intuitive and user-friendly interfaces might opt for tools like Trello or Asana, which offer straightforward task management and collaboration features without the complexity of advanced project management functionalities.

  • Organizations practicing Agile methodologies may find tools like Jira or Monday.com more aligned with their workflow, as these platforms offer robust support for sprints, backlogs, and iterative development processes.

  • Teams emphasizing real-time collaboration and communication might prefer platforms like Slack or ClickUp, which integrate messaging, file sharing, and task management in a single interface.

  • Small to medium-sized businesses or startups might consider more affordable project management tools that provide essential features without the higher costs associated with Microsoft Project's licensing.

  • Organizations seeking fully cloud-based solutions with minimal setup and maintenance might opt for platforms like Smartsheet or Wrike, which offer cloud-native project management capabilities.

  • Teams in specialized industries, such as construction or software development, might choose tools tailored to their specific needs, offering features like resource leveling, issue tracking, and version control.

Microsoft Project Reviews & Ratings

4.1

Very Good

Based on 3603 ratings & 1526 reviews

Rating Distribution

Excellent

(660)

Very Good

(622)

Good

(186)

Poor

(40)

Terible

(18)

Expert's Review

Microsoft Project & Portfolio Management is a robust and highly adaptable tool that has earned its place as a staple in the project management landscape. It shines in its versatility, offering seamless integration with Microsoft Office applications like Excel and Word, allowing users to generate detailed reports and synchronize data effortlessly. The software ...Read more

Microsoft Project pros and cons

  • Customizable and flexible, allowing adaptation to various projects and needs, particularly complex ones.

  • Seamless integration with other Microsoft tools like Excel, Word, and PowerBI, improving workflow and reporting.

  • Excellent for task tracking and timeline management, with features like Gantt charts and automated dependency setups.

  • Suitable for large-scale projects, enabling advanced resource allocation, portfolio management, and efficiency in team collaboration.

  • High subscription/license cost, with purchasing restrictions as it is no longer available outright.

  • Steep learning curve for beginners, with a need for extensive training or tutorials to master its features.

User Review

MK

Mike K

09/21/23

5 out of 5

"Reliable and flexible project management software"

What do you like best about Microsoft Project & Portfolio Management? You can tailor Microsoft Project to your needs. Unlike other 'free' software the ...

Read more

AJ

Ashutosh J

06/30/23

5 out of 5

"Microsoft PPM reviews"

What do you like best about Microsoft Project & Portfolio Management? Centralized home screen Multiple project views Time tracking Resource ...

Read more

PB

Pahim B

05/12/23

5 out of 5

"Very good tool for management."

What do you like best about Microsoft Project & Portfolio Management? Built for collaboration. It allows coauthoring. All project teams can work ...

Read more

AU

Anonymous User

05/12/23

5 out of 5

"I will enhance every aspect"

What do you like best about Microsoft Project & Portfolio Management? I mostly liked the tracking ability for some specific projets in my role as an ...

Read more

Microsoft Project Support

Customer Service

24/7 (Live rep)

Business Hours

Online

Location

Redmond, Washington

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

Microsoft Project is a Project Management Software. Microsoft Project offers Timeline View, Project Templates, Idea Management, Kanban Board, Time & Expense Tracking and many more functionalities.

Some top alternatives to Microsoft Project includes Quickbase , Smartsheet, ClickUp, Freshbooks and Resource Management by Smartsheet.

Yes, Microsoft Project provides API.

No, Microsoft Project doesn't provide mobile app.

Microsoft Project is located in Redmond, Washington

Microsoft Project offers Free Trial, One-time license, Subscription, Quotation Based pricing models

We don't have information regarding integrations of the Microsoft Project as of now.

The starting price of Microsoft Project is $10/User/Month

This software is researched and edited by

Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas, where he reviews and compares software tools that help businesses work smarter. Over the past two years, he has analyzed thousands of products across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — combining real-world research with a strong foundation in commerce and the CFA program. He's especially curious about AI, automation, and the future of work tech. Outside of SpotSaaS, you'll find him on a badminton court or tracking the stock market.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].