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This tool is a great Microsoft Project alternative in that it functions a lot like a spreadsheet-but one that’s more intuitive to use and modify without having to mess around with formulas. is one of the few tools that prides itself in ‘not being a project management tool’! They’ve done away with a lot of the trimmings of typical tools and focused on simple structures that help clarify the sequence of work that needs to be done. This is on purpose because, if you are at that level, almost any of the tools on this list will out-feature MS Project anyway. Modern tools will have more, such as calendar, table, box, and list views, for example.ĭisclaimer, I left a couple of features that belong to the Enterprise plan out. The minimum required is a Gantt and a Kanban view. Views: The ability to see information in diverse formats.Reporting: The tool must have a reporting module that lets you track progress on your projects, portfolios, programs, and resources.This specific feature might be available only on higher-tier plans. Roadmap: The ability to track multiple projects in one view, display goals, and overall progress.This can be built into the tool itself or handled through an add-on (like an integration). Time tracking: From simple to complex projects, the software needs a time tracking tool so the team can record the time they invest in activities.Resource management: The tool should have a module that handles workload and resource scheduling and supports capacity planning.Then, export PDFs or shareable project plans. mpp files: The tool should be able to open and import MS Project files, either natively or through a. Here’s what to look for in your new software. Pricing: Here, I go into their pricing structure, analyze plans, starting costs, free trials or even a free version that you can use.Ī great alternative to software must at least match the features in the one you are trying to replace.Further, I fetch details on available APIs in case your team wants to jump in and build their own integrations. Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other tools? I look into the available pre-built connections with other tools that extend its functionality.Something that boosts this category is the availability of tutorials, detailed documentation, and training. A pretty tool without a good user experience is equal to having a Ferrari without an engine. Usability: Is it intuitive and user-friendly? Similar to the criterion above, the elements on the screen and their distribution must make sense to the user.Although you might think it’s secondary to functionality, a pretty tool affects our mood and performance if we see it every day. Therefore, every element on the screen is part of the analysis of its visual appeal. User Interface (UI): I look at the tool from a designer’s perspective.The following are the criteria I used to evaluate the alternatives after carefully selecting them from the wide range of options available in the market. While we wait for it to be better, here are a few options to consider and the features that make them a great alternative to MS Project. Having said that, Microsoft has released an online version of its software and is making strides to make it a competitive product. Long gone are the days when we had to wait a year for a product upgrade, plus Microsoft Project alternatives are more robust nowadays. However, loads of companies are moving away from it and onto products that are updated more frequently. Microsoft Project remains one of the most popular project management software.
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