Hive vs. Kantata: Comparison & Expert Reviews For 2025
Hive is an all-in-one work management software that offers a streamlined approach to project management, emphasizing team collaboration through features like real-time messaging, shared notes, and integrated task tracking.
Kantata (formerly Mavenlink) is a cloud-based project management platform tailored for professional services organizations that focuses on optimizing workflow efficiency with advanced resource management, financial oversight, and project delivery tools.
While both Hive and Kantata aim to optimize project execution, they differ in their customization capabilities and user interface designs, which could be pivotal for your team.
In this article, you'll find a detailed comparison of the tools and their features, pros and cons, pricing, and more to help you choose the best project management software for your needs.
Hive vs. Kantata: An Overview
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Hive vs. Kantata Pricing Comparison
| Hive | Kantata | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free plan available | Free demo available |
| Pricing | From $5/user/month (billed annually) | Pricing upon request |
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Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowHive pricing offers a subscription-based pricing model with both monthly and annual billing options. The platform provides a free plan suitable for light project management, while paid plans offer progressively more features. Notably, certain advanced functionalities, such as time tracking, custom reporting, and automation, are available as add-ons.
Kantata pricing also follows a subscription model, with costs varying based on factors like the number of users, selected features, usage, contract length, and required integrations. Advanced functionalities and premium support may incur additional fees.
To select the tool with the right pricing for your needs, analyze your team's specific requirements, prioritize essential features, and consider potential growth to ensure the chosen vendor can scale with your projects.
Hive vs. Kantata Feature Comparison
| Hive | Kantata | |
|---|---|---|
| API | ||
| Billing/Invoicing | ||
| Budgeting | ||
| CRM Integration | ||
| Calendar Management | ||
| Contact Management | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Dependency Tracking | ||
| Document Management | ||
| Document Sharing | ||
| Expense Tracking | ||
| External Integrations | ||
| File Sharing | ||
| Forecasting | ||
| Gantt Charts | ||
| Inventory Tracking | ||
| Kanban Boards | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Resource Management | ||
| Status Notifications | ||
| Task Scheduling/Tracking | ||
| Time Management | ||
| Workflow Management |
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Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowHive’s Gantt chart feature enables efficient planning and management of complex projects by letting users create and visualize task dependencies. The feature is especially useful for organizing large-scale initiatives by providing a clear timeline and structure. Hive also supports agile methodologies with customizable workflows and sprint planning tools, making it versatile for teams using both traditional and agile approaches.
In contrast, Kantata offers strong reporting tools that deliver valuable insights into resource management and project progress. These tools are crucial for teams overseeing multiple projects simultaneously, as they provide real-time data on resource allocation, project health, and performance metrics.
Both tools offer basic key features for project management, including resource planning, Kanban boards for task management, forecasting, budgeting, and invoicing features, portfolio management, milestone tracking, timesheets, real-time notifications, and project management dashboards.
While Hive excels in visual project planning, Kantata stands out with its comprehensive analytics, offering distinct strengths for various project management needs.
Hive vs. Kantata Integrations
| Integration | Hive | Kantata |
| Slack | ✅ | ✅ |
| Trello | ✅ | ❌ |
| Google Drive | ✅ | ✅ |
| Microsoft Teams | ✅ | ✅ |
| Jira | ✅ | ✅ |
| Asana | ✅ | ❌ |
| Quickbooks | ✅ | ✅ |
| Xero | ❌ | ✅ |
| API | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zapier | ✅ | ✅ |
Hive's integration with Trello lets you manage tasks directly from your boards to streamline project tracking. In contrast, Kantata's integration with Microsoft Teams is great for team communication, making it easy to share updates without switching apps. Both integrations support project managers in their daily workflow, but they cater to different preferences for task management and communication tools.
Hive vs. Kantata Security, Compliance & Reliability
| Factor | Hive | Kantata |
| Data Encryption | Utilizes TLS/SSL protocols with 256-bit AES encryption to secure data in transit between users and servers | Employs TLS encryption for data in transit and AES-256 encryption for data at rest, ensuring sensitive information is protected |
| Regulatory Compliance | Complies with GDPR, offering features like data export and deletion to support user privacy rights | Adheres to GDPR and is SOC 2 Type II certified, providing features that support data protection and privacy regulations |
| Uptime Reliability | Guarantees 99.9% uptime with strong cloud infrastructure to ensure high availability for users | Offers 99.8% uptime backed by a strong service-level agreement, aiming for consistent service availability |
| User Authentication | Supports single sign-on (SSO) through SAML and two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced user security | Offers SSO via SAML 2.0 with various identity providers to enhance secure access management, as well highly configurable user permissions settings |
Both Hive and Kantata prioritize security and compliance, offering strong encryption, adherence to GDPR, reliable uptime, and secure user authentication methods. When evaluating these tools, examine the specific compliance needs of your industry and ensure the chosen vendor meets those standards.
Hive vs. Kantata Ease of Use
| Factor | Hive | Kantata |
| User Interface | Offers an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop task management, customizable views (Gantt, Kanban, calendar), and user-friendly navigation | Provides a clean but feature-rich interface, which can feel complex due to the breadth of options and tools for resource and financial management |
| Onboarding Experience | Includes interactive product tours, templates, and guided setup tutorials to help new users get started efficiently | Offers in-depth documentation, onboarding guides, and support resources, though mastering the full platform may take more time due to its advanced capabilities |
| Setup | Features a quick-start experience with customizable templates and pre-built workflows that make setup easy for most team members | Setup typically requires detailed configuration, suited to enterprise and service-based teams managing complex projects |
| Support | Provides responsive customer support with live chat, email, and a comprehensive help center with videos and FAQs | Offers customer support primarily through email, along with a rich knowledge base and community resources for troubleshooting |
Hive is easier to navigate thanks to its intuitive design, strong usability, and faster setup, making it ideal for teams seeking a straightforward project management tool. Conversely, Kantata offers deeper customization and enterprise-grade features, which may require a steeper learning curve but are valuable for teams managing complex, service-based projects.
Hive vs Kantata: Pros & Cons
Hive
- Built-in chat and real-time collaboration keep your team connected.
- Flexible project views let your team choose how to visualize work.
- Gantt chart view helps you build projects quickly and manage dependencies.
- Some essential features require additional costs as add-ons.
- Custom fields only exist within action cards, not as table columns.
- File manager doesn't display thumbnails, making it hard to find attachments.
Kantata
- The platform improves collaboration with real-time updates and visibility across projects.
- Resource planning features help you allocate team members effectively and avoid burnout.
- Kantata's task management is intuitive, making it easy for your team to keep projects on track.
- Reporting capabilities could be more customizable to fit diverse project needs.
- Advanced features might be overwhelming for smaller teams or those new to project management tools.
- Some users find the interface needs time to get used to, which may slow initial productivity.
Best Use Cases for Hive and Kantata
Hive
- Marketing Teams Hive’s project views and collaboration tools help your team manage campaigns and track progress easily.
- Product Development For teams needing to manage complex tasks and dependencies, Hive’s Gantt charts are invaluable.
- Creative Agencies Hive’s flexibility in project visualization suits agencies juggling multiple projects with varying timelines.
- Remote Teams Real-time collaboration and built-in chat keep your remote team connected and productive.
- Event Planning Hive’s task management and scheduling features help your team coordinate and execute events smoothly.
- Small to Medium Enterprises Hive’s comprehensive feature set supports growing businesses looking for a scalable project management solution.
Kantata
- Consulting firms Kantata helps you manage multiple client engagements with its comprehensive project tracking and billing features.
- Marketing agencies It supports you with resource planning and time tracking, which are essential for managing creative projects effectively.
- IT services Kantata's detailed project financials and billing capabilities make it a strong choice for IT project management.
- Finance departments Kantata's billing and financial tracking features help you maintain oversight on project profitability.
- HR departments With its resource planning capabilities, Kantata helps you effectively manage and allocate your team’s workload.
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowWho Should Use Hive, and Who Should Use Kantata?
In my opinion, Hive is best suited for teams looking for a straightforward, user-friendly project management tool that supports fast-paced workflows and real-time collaboration. It's an excellent fit for creative teams or startups that need to launch quickly without dealing with a steep learning curve.
On the other hand, Kantata is better suited for larger enterprises or industries like finance and healthcare that require advanced analytics, resource planning, and deep customization. If your team needs to manage complex project structures and has the budget for a comprehensive, services-oriented solution, Kantata could be the ideal choice.
Differences Between Hive and Kantata
| Hive | Kantata | |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | Supports task and project automation with customizable workflows, triggers, and actions | Offers advanced automation features, particularly in resource allocation, financial tracking, and analytics |
| Customization | Provides customizable templates and workflows that help teams get started quickly | Allows detailed configuration of workflows, financials, and resource structures for organizations with complex project environments |
| Integrations | Integrates with popular tools like Slack, Trello, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace, plus Zapier and API access | Offers deep integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Workspace, and other enterprise systems, often used by service-based teams |
| Pricing | Offers a subscription-based pricing model with monthly and annual plans, plus optional paid add-ons for features like time tracking and analytics | Follows a subscription model; pricing varies by team size and features, and often includes additional fees for advanced capabilities and integrations |
| User Interface | Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop task management and multiple project views (Gantt, Kanban, calendar) | Clean and modern interface, but perceived as more complex due to its extensive features tailored for professional services |
| Visit HiveOpens new window | Visit KantataOpens new window |
Similarities Between Hive and Kantata
| Cloud-Based | Hive and Kantata are cloud-based platforms that enable users to manage projects and collaborate remotely from any location with internet access. |
|---|---|
| Collaboration | Hive and Kantata offer collaboration features through integrations with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, supporting efficient communication across teams. |
| Reporting | Both platforms provide detailed reporting tools that help teams monitor project progress, resource utilization, and financial metrics. |
| Security | Both platforms prioritize security, employing AES-256 encryption, TLS for data in transit, and support for two-factor authentication (2FA) and single sign-on (SSO). |
| Subscription Model | Hive and Kantata both follow a subscription-based pricing model, offering flexibility through monthly or annual billing options. |
| Visit HiveOpens new window Visit KantataOpens new window | |
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