Unbiased Software Reviews

The Only Deep-Dive Reviews on Functionality

Our Methodology & Category Ranking

Below is a brief description of each category. The number in brackets indicates the maximum category scores out of 300.

Single Source of Truth & Real-Time Data (10/300)

All data is held in a central source. If the same data is held in multiple places the risk is only one value gets updated, which creates uncertainty over whether users are accessing the latest data. Real-time data is standard for software systems: When a value is updated it should be reflected instantly in all related views and reports.

Security, Permissions & Controls (20/300)

Security covers a number of topics ranging from: Encrypting sensitive data, securing software code, as well as firewalls to minimise the chance for anyone without permissions to gain access. For login this often means two-factor authentication but it also includes securing all vulnerable points front and back-end.

Permissions go a step further. A user may be granted system access to some parts of the system but not all. Each user should only be granted access to areas where permission is granted. Controls refer to a number of additional measures to protect who accesses which data, as well as other controls, such as setting admin accounts or any measures to protect the mis-use of data.

Portfolio Management (20/300)

This means the software can set up, monitor and manage portfolios, programs and projects, with or without a formal PMO. Analytics should be linked to ensure reporting and risk are managed at the project, program and portfolio level.

Resource Planning & Scheduling (20/300)

This topic covers planning for staff, materials and equipment required for future projects. It covers internal staff, contractors as well as future hires. Planning for staff can be based on skills as well as domain knowledge. Once staff have been short-listed the next step is ensuring their availability and blocking off/requesting time slots.

Budget Management (20/300)

Expected project costs are estimated at the outset and are monitored throughout the project. Budget over-runs may occur due to expanding scope, delays in materials, issues with a task and so on - any of these can increase costs so budget monitoring is an essential component. The sooner issues are spotted the greater the chance of resolving them.

Analytics (20/300)

There are many kinds of analytics ranging from summary data, through to Earned Value Management, Objectives and Key Results, Key Performance Indicators, What-If/Scenario Analysis, Simulations and Forecasting. We felt prioritisation was important to include, but did not warrant its own category so it is included with analytics.

Board Meetings/Agendas (10/300)

This covers anything from team meetings, through to Board/Committee level Agendas, with meeting packs, motions, voting and board minutes.

UI & Ease of Use (10/300)

A good user interface means it is intuitive for users and functionality can be accessed quickly and easily. It also reduces the time and quantity of training required. Difficult-to-use software, on the other hand, might discourage take-up. Modern interfaces tend to include a range of colours. Most providers have now switched over to modern interfaces.

Visualizations (15/300)

This refers to the graphics provided. Most providers score highly here as it is well-understood that a picture speaks a thousand words.

Search, Tags and Filters (15/300)

This category covers general search across all parts of the system. Search helps users find data more quickly. Tags are another form of search: Users tag items for easy reference later. Filters allow users to slice and dice data.

Standard Project Management (20/300)

This covers the typical functionality that is taken for granted as included. For example, adding staff to projects, adding labor rates, assigning tasks, setting milestones and access to summary data. Most systems also offer WBS and WIP.

Tracking Processes (10/300)

This means tracking the task is within scope, time and budget.

Tracking Time & Billable Hours (10/300)

Time and billing is included by most providers. At the very least most provide a system timer to track how long was spent on each task. After this some offer timesheets where staff enter hours manually, while other systems automate billable hours.

Reminders, Notifications & Communication (20/300)

This category includes anything related to communication and collaboration, whether reminders, alerts, notifications or chat and messaging between internal and external users.

Reporting (15/300)

Reporting is an essential part of all systems. Users must have access to summary and detailed reports relating to all stages and project management processes.

Document Management (20/300)

All projects have documents. Document Management covers the storage, access and sharing of all project files. It includes ease of access, search, filters, tags, ease of access as well as back-up and archiving for files. Files are not typically stored in a database so back-up and archiving are assessed separately to data.

Audit Trails (10/300)

Audit trails provide logs of all project activity.

Risk Management: Portfolios & Projects (15/300)

Project Risks usually require creating and managing risk registers and managing or offsetting these risks throughout the project lifecycle.

Dependencies (20/300)

Software is judged on the type of dependency coverage and allocates higher marks to software covering more dependency types, as well as dependencies between projects, programs and portfolios.

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Top-10 Portfolio, Program & Project Management Software Review

Oct. 2023

Our review of Portfolio, Program & Project Management (PPPM) Software takes a deep dive and offers side-by-side comparisons of 28 providers. The full methodology is disclosed: Overall scores, as well as category scores. The first table shows overall scores, while the second table provides a detailed breakdown, with scores per category.

How should these results be interpreted? The best advice we have is: "It depends on your needs". If you need comprehensive functionality you are probably better off short-listing based on the first table. However, if you only need a small amount of functionality, or if a few categories are absolutely essential, then check the detailed category scores and make sure those you short-list cover and perform well in categories you require. Limited functionality does not equate to poor quality. It simply means less coverage. When functionality is partially provided some positive score is assigned. Therefore a score of zero, in a particular category means the functionality is not offered - it does not imply poor quality.

Overall Ranking

Position	Software	Score/300
1st	AdaptivePPPM2.0	286
2nd	Adobe Workfront	243
3rd	Planview	238
4th	CoraPPM	219
5th	Kantata	217
6th	Asana	213
7th	Sciforma	208
8th	Oracle Primavera	201
9th	Celoxis	199
10th	Planisware	198
11th	Wrike	195
12th	LiquidPlanner	191
13th	Monday.com	190
14th	Planforge	189
15th	KeyedIn	186
16th	Smartsheet	185
17th	Zoho Projects	184
18th	Clickup	181
19th	Odoo	163
19th	Bitrix24	163
21st	Jira	159
22nd	Avaza	145
22nd	Microsoft Project	145
24th	Stackby	133
25th	Activecolab	131
26th	Tempus Resource	118
27th	Trello	116
28th	Wiseteam	89

Category Rankings: Scroll Right Until Total

Position	Software	Single Source Truth/10	Security/20	Portfolio Management/20	Resource Planning/20	Budget Management/20	Analytics/20	Meetings/Agendas/10	UI/Ease of Use/10	Visualizations/15	Standard Project Management/20	Tracking Processes/10	Tracking Time & Billables/10	Alerts, Reminders, Notices, Comms/20	Document Management/20	Audit Trails/10	Risk Management/15	Dependencies/20	Search, Tags & Filters/15	Reporting/15	Total/300
1st	AdaptivePPPM2.0	10	20	20	20	18	15	10	9	14	20	10	10	18	20	10	15	20	15	12	286
2nd	Adobe Workfront	10	20	20	15	15	15	0	9	15	20	8	5	20	7	10	12	12	15	15	243
3rd	Planview	10	20	20	15	12	20	0	8	15	20	9	5	15	12	10	7	12	15	13	238
4th	CoraPPM	10	20	20	16	15	16	0	9	15	16	8	5	12	7	10	15	5	5	15	219
5th	Kantata	10	20	20	15	15	12	0	10	15	18	8	10	15	8	7	0	10	12	12	217
6th	Asana	10	20	20	8	15	5	3	9	15	12	8	10	20	8	3	12	5	15	15	213
7th	Sciforma	10	20	20	16	13	20	0	8	15	20	8	5	15	7	10	2	2	10	7	208
8th	Oracle Primavera	10	12	20	10	15	5	0	6	15	12	8	7	12	8	10	15	6	15	15	201
9th	Celoxis	10	20	15	14	15	10	0	8	13	12	9	10	10	7	0	12	12	10	12	199
10th	Planisware	10	20	20	15	18	20	0	9	15	20	8	7	12	7	0	0	5	0	12	198
11th	Wrike	10	20	15	7	15	5	0	8	14	12	7	10	13	7	5	12	10	10	15	195
12th	LiquidPlanner	10	20	20	12	15	16	0	8	14	10	7	10	5	6	0	3	5	15	15	191
13th	Monday.com	10	20	5	7	5	5	5	9	15	16	7	10	20	7	5	12	5	12	15	190
14th	Planforge	10	20	16	16	15	15	5	9	15	12	8	8	8	0	0	12	5	0	15	189
15th	KeyedIn	10	20	20	15	12	15	0	8	15	12	8	7	8	7	0	0	5	12	12	186
16th	Smartsheet	7	20	12	8	10	0	0	6	12	15	7	10	13	6	10	12	12	12	13	185
17th	Zoho Projects	10	2	0	0	20	10	0	9	15	18	10	10	15	16	9	0	10	15	15	184
18th	Clickup	10	20	5	8	5	5	0	9	15	16	8	10	20	8	0	12	5	15	10	181
19th	Odoo	10	16	0	5	5	0	0	8	15	20	10	10	15	13	10	0	2	12	12	163
19th	Bitrix24	10	20	0	0	0	5	5	9	15	12	8	10	20	7	0	0	12	15	15	163
21st	Jira	10	4	20	8	0	5	0	8	15	12	8	0	18	3	10	0	8	15	15	159
22nd	Avaza	10	20	2	5	12	0	0	8	12	9	8	10	17	8	0	0	0	12	12	145
22nd	Microsoft Project	10	15	5	5	8	0	0	5	12	15	7	0	5	12	10	3	12	12	8	145
24th	Stackby	10	20	0	0	5	0	0	9	15	12	7	5	20	5	0	0	0	15	10	133
25th	Activecolab	10	20	0	5	15	0	0	7	10	14	8	8	16	5	0	0	5	0	8	131
26th	Tempus Resource	10	20	0	15	15	10	0	8	10	10	8	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	118
27th	Trello	10	20	0	0	0	0	0	10	13	12	5	0	10	7	6	0	0	15	8	116
28th	Wiseteam	10	7	8	0	6	0	0	6	6	10	8	7	8	0	0	0	5	0	8	89

Software Vulnerabilities: Walk of Shame

CVE Mitre is a global database of security vulnerabilities, past and present. The more a software is listed, the more security lapses were reported. Below only high numbers of vulnerabilities have been listed.

Vulnerabilities	Software
805	Zoho Projects
663	Jira
72	Oracle Primavera
61	Microsoft Project
52	Odoo

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