Factor A/E Review: Pros, Cons, Features and Pricing Explained
Factor A/E is a project management software for engineers built specifically for architecture and engineering firms. It's worth considering if your firm runs on project-based billing and needs to track time, manage budgets, and invoice clients from a single platform. If you've been comparing it to Deltek Vantagepoint, Factor A/E tends to be the more accessible option for small to mid-sized A/E firms that want purpose-built financial and project controls without the heavy implementation lift that Deltek typically requires.
Factor A/E Evaluation Summary
- From $30/user/month
- Free trial available
Why You Can Trust Us
We’ve been testing and reviewing project management software since 2012. As project managers ourselves, we know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision when selecting software.
We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different project management use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our software review methodology.
Factor A/E Overview
In my view, Factor A/E stands out for its clear interface, built-in project accounting, and strong billing features that are easy to navigate even for new users. While its integrations and customization are less extensive than some peers, I think teams looking for an all-in-one project and resource tracking system with straightforward onboarding will find Factor A/E a smart choice—especially for small to midsize engineering firms that want unified project visibility and invoicing in one place.
pros
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Built-in financial management simplifies project tracking and invoicing
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Real-time dashboards provide clear visibility into resource allocations
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Proposal and contract modules tailored for engineering workflows
cons
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Mobile functionality is limited for fieldwork or onsite access
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Reporting customization options are fewer than industry leaders
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No built-in tools for complex document version control
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Our Review Methodology
How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Project Budgeting and Forecasting
Factor A/E lets you create detailed budgets for each project, tracking actual costs vs. projections. This helps you spot overspending early and adjust resources when needed.
Resource Planning and Scheduling
Allocate team members to projects based on availability and skill sets. The drag-and-drop schedule helps you optimize assignments and avoid overload.
Time Entry and Expense Tracking
Team members can log billable hours and expenses directly into Factor A/E. You get immediate visibility into work completed and expenses incurred against project budgets.
Proposal and Contract Management
Create, send, and manage project proposals and contracts within the platform. Built-in templates and approval workflows save time and help ensure accuracy.
Invoicing and Billing
Generate invoices from project data and track payment status inside Factor A/E. You can customize billing rates and send professional invoices directly to clients.
Real-Time Dashboards and Reporting
Monitor project KPIs, financials, and resource utilization in live dashboards. Prebuilt and customizable reports make project status clear for you and your stakeholders.
Ease of Use
Factor A/E is one of the most user-friendly engineering project management tools I’ve seen, thanks to its clean layout and deeply integrated workflows. The intuitive navigation makes tasks like budgeting, time tracking, and invoice creation quick and straightforward—even teams new to project management can get up to speed fast.
Integrations
Factor A/E integrates with QuickBooks Online and FactorPay.
Factor A/E does not currently offer an API or connect with third-party integration tools.
Factor A/E Specs
- API
- Batch Permissions & Access
- Budgeting
- Calendar Management
- Collaboration Support
- Contact Management
- Contact Sharing
- Customer Management
- Dashboard
- Dashboards
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Data Visualization
- Dependency Tracking
- Document Sharing
- Expense Tracking
- External Integrations
- File Sharing
- Gantt Charts
- Kanban Boards
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Project Management
- Resource Management
- Scheduling
- Task Scheduling/Tracking
- Third-Party Plugins/Add-Ons
- Time Management
- Travel Management
- Workflow Management
