10 alternatives to Oracle Primavera for better project management
Top Oracle Primavera Alternatives: 2024 Edition
For many of us, project management tools have become an increasingly important part of our working lives, and picking the right one can make logging on in the morning a considerably less dread-filled prospect.
For business leaders and project managers, these platforms offer a number of priceless benefits that have a direct effect on both performance and team morale.
The best project management tools are capable of optimising the way in which any team works, from ensuring each member fully understands exactly what is needed and when to keeping tabs on workloads to ensure no one runs the risk of suffering from burnout.
Naturally, this optimisation has a positive knock-on when it comes to your business’s key KPIs, helping leaders make better, more informed decisions, and offering greater clarity of all ongoing projects.
More and more businesses are turning to project management solutions as a way of managing and optimising their processes. This means we’ve seen an influx of new and old platforms vying for the top spot when it comes to offering such solutions, each to varying levels of success.
One of the most recognised names that is currently available in this space is Oracle Primavera. A substantial piece of kit that boasts impressive risk-detection capabilities and numerous features that ensure its ability to handle complex projects.
So, with that being said, why would you be in the market for an alternative to Oracle? Common grumbles about the software include the high price tag and a somewhat outdated user interface that can be a little frustrating when being used on a daily basis.
If you do happen to be on the lookout for an alternative to Oracle Primavera, we’ve picked out a handful of potential candidates along with a few of the pros and cons of each.
Fluid
Fluid makes it radically easy to create, monitor and optimise all projects and programs in your portfolio in a single, easy-to-use dashboard.
By taking the advanced features of the best enterprise-level software and combining them with an intuitive interface that’s as easy to navigate as the best consumer-facing software, project managers can efficiently and effectively manage the most complex workflows without breaking a sweat.
Fluid also comes with a number of priceless integrations including Slack and Outlook, along with staple Microsoft tools like Powerpoint, Word and Excel.
Microsoft Project
Another familiar name, Microsoft Project is something of a veteran when it comes to workflow management solutions, and is unsurprisingly a very reliable all-round offering. It also accommodates a variety of project management methodologies, meaning you and your team are able to work in a way that best suits you.
While there are plenty of useful features for advanced project management the platform can be quite complex, and is difficult to get to grips with for first-time users. The lack of integration features outside of Microsoft products can also be frustrating if you don’t already use these other services.
Monday
Another that’s probably earned the veteran label at this point, Monday.com owes a large portion of its popularity to its consumer-facing approach to workflow management. The intuitive dashboard and user-friendly interface make it a solid first stop on your project management journey.
While Monday is no doubt effective at managing small projects, the lack of advanced features means it can be a little out of its depth when things get more complex. The omission of any comprehensive reporting features can also be annoying.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet’s roots are firmly in spreadsheets and data, and its straightforward interface is favourable for those who need to present this data in an interesting way. The Smartsheet app is an impressive bonus, too.
However, as you’d expect with the spreadsheet setup, sought-after project management tools are few and far between so users are pretty limited when it comes to managing anything more than basic tasks.
Teamwork
Teamwork is a popular choice amongst those working on a tight budget, and at £17.99 for the premium package, it’s easy to see why. For this, you gain access to a range of useful project management tools that you’d expect from the more premium-priced packages of competitor solutions.
It isn’t without its faults though, and the ability to handle simultaneous tasks is an issue that is commonly flagged up, a trait that will be considered a must-have to those managing complex projects with various moving parts.
ProofHub
ProofHub’s in-depth reporting features make it a solid alternative to Oracle, as does its powerful data customisation and custom fields. The learning curve isn’t particularly steep either, which is always welcome.
More budgeting tools would be a useful addition to ProofHub’s offering, as would a wider array of integration options. Pricing may also veer on the higher side depending on the features you require.
Asana
Asana has earned plenty of plaudits for its simple, intuitive dashboard and how efficient it is to pick up for novice users. It also comes with a number of handy integration features and its workload management systems, when used properly, can be effective in avoiding burnout amongst teams.
Not being able to assign multiple people to one task is disappointing for those who rely heavily on collaboration, as is the lack of a native time-tracking feature. There’s also no timeline view in the free version of the software.
Nifty
With its automated progress overviews and customisable user roles and permissions Nifty definitely caters for collaborative teams, and can be integrated with Airtable for things like invoicing.
To take advantage of all the good stuff, Nifty’s paid plans can quickly mount up in terms of price, and the limited free plan means you’ll almost certainly have to shell out.
Zoho Projects
Zoho also prioritises simplicity in its setup, and its user-friendly interface ensures it is accessible for those unfamiliar with such technology. The humble price point is also a big part of the appeal.
A common complaint amongst Zoho users relates to how long finding support can take, which when working to a tight schedule, can be massively inconvenient.
Notion
An all-in-one workspace, Notion is great at turning notes and checklists into clear workflows via its Kanban board interface. It comes with a handful of ready-made templates built in too, which can help save users a tonne of time.
The learning curve can be a tad steep given the slightly overwhelming dashboard. There’s also no dedicated reporting tool, meaning you’ll have to rely on a third party to take care of this side of things.
Which Oracle Primavera alternative is best?
Built with the ultimate goal of ensuring its users maintain a healthy work-life balance, Fluid’s all-in-one PPM solution comes packed with an array of automated task management features that you’ll actually want to use when you log in for the day. More importantly, though, they’re built to be forgotten the moment you log out.
If you want to learn more about how Fluid can make your working life easier, book a demo.