Parallax Resource Management Software Product Review 2025

In my Parallax in-depth review, I’m sharing the results of my analysis and evaluation from hands-on testing and experimentation. Before we dive in, if you’re just starting your search for the best resource management tools, you should first check out my picks for the best resource management software. Parallax is one of the top-rated resource management tools out there, but to figure out if it's a good match for you, it's important to understand the software’s benefits and drawbacks. 

My in-depth Parallax review will take you through everything you need to know to make a more informed decision—pros and cons, features and functionality, pricing, and more—to help you to better understand its capabilities and suitability for your needs.

Parallax Product Overview

Parallax is a project and resource management tool focused on enhancing forecasting, planning, and profitability for digital agencies. It provides visibility into project timelines and team availability, enabling efficient scheduling and capacity management. Parallax also offers financial insights by tracking project budgets versus actuals, using dashboards and reporting capabilities to provide real-time insights into project health and business performance.

Key features include automated resourcing of projects, expense tracking, and financial forecasting informed by your resources and projects coming down the pipeline. The software integrates with popular tools like Harvest and Jira, making it a robust solution for agencies aiming to optimize operations and financial outcomes.

Pros

• Detailed Reporting: Parallax provides comprehensive reports that help in making informed staffing and financial decisions.
• Intuitive UI: The user interface is easy to navigate, especially when managing over 50 resources.
• Robust Reporting: Reports provide valuable insights from Sales + Operations and let management make informed decisions.

Cons

• Tool Overload: It's not suitable for users looking to minimize the number of tools they use.
• Limited Integrations: Parallax offers fewer integrations with external tools and services, potentially complicating workflows that depend on a variety of specialized tools.
• It's a Premium tool: Its high-quality resourcing and reporting also means it comes at an elevated price that can discourage many small businesses from getting it.

Expert Opinion

In assessing Parallax against the spectrum of resource management tools out there, I can confidently say this tool plays in a different field. If you are looking into Parallax it’s because you need a tool that can help you solve complex resource management problems through reporting. The reports in this tool help you make staffing and financial decisions based on your Sales efforts, current resourcing options, utilization levels and project profitability targets.

I believe this is a great tool for you if you already have a CRM and a time tracking tool and are looking to connect them all in a resource management solution that only speaks people.

Why Trust Our Software Reviews

We’ve been testing and reviewing resource management software since 2011. 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.

Are You a Good Fit for Parallax?

Who would be a good fit for Parallax?

Parallax is ideal for digital agencies seeking to improve forecasting, planning, and profitability. It's particularly beneficial for agencies that already use CRM and time-tracking tools, as Parallax integrates with popular platforms like HubSpot, Harvest, and Jira. Its ability to connect various tools and provide detailed insights into project timelines and financial performance makes it a valuable resource management solution for teams aiming to optimize operations.

Who would be a bad fit for Parallax?

Small businesses or teams with limited budgets might find Parallax unsuitable due to its high cost and focus on managing a large number of resources. The base license pricing starts at $13,500 per year, which may not be feasible for smaller enterprises. Additionally, if a company does not require extensive project planning or financial forecasting capabilities, Parallax's feature set may be more than necessary.

Parallax Evaluation Summary

• Core Functionality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Standout Features: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Onboarding: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Customer Support: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Integrations: ⭐⭐⭐
• Customer Reviews: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Parallax Review

Core Resource Management Features

Resource Forecasting and Capacity Planning ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Since Parallax brings information from other software like time tracking apps and CRMs, it can help you forecast resources and look at capacity with ease. A big part of this can be accomplished because of its reporting module. Its hiring forecast report, for example, will offer information on the dates when you will encounter over-capacity problems and assist in decisions like “How many people should we hire?”.

The information in this report can be displayed in FTEs or hours. Therefore, you can use what makes more sense to you. Personally, I like seeing it in FTEs as it gives me a better estimate of how many new people I should consider.

Additionally, keep in mind that this is bringing information from projects in the pipeline (a.k.a. your CRM). If you want to have more control over which projects it should consider, there is an additional filter in which you can specify the probability level. This probability level is the same one you set in your CRM to define the probability of closing a new deal. Using the probability filter can also help you with scenario planning. Which is mentioned in a criterion below.

Resource Scheduling ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scheduling resources is a breeze and you can tell the amount of work that has been put into trying to make this process as simple as possible. To allocate work, you can select a day and set the number of hours (it feels like you are changing the number on a cell in a spreadsheet). Then, if you want to duplicate this time allocation across several days, you just click and drag the cell to the desired end date.

Another factor that made it easy to schedule was the possibility of resourcing a new project with roles instead of people. This makes it really quick to get going and assign the work that is needed before even thinking about who will do the work.

Time and expense tracking ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Staying true to its integration-first approach, Parallax has several time trackers it can connect to. During my test, I connected the platform to Harvest and the system would pull timesheet information as needed and you can see this in the assignments view, for example. The assignments view will display resources and the time they’ve been allocated to the project. However, some of these cells will have two numbers on them. The numbers on the bottom are the actuals that have been registered in the time tracker and brought to compare against the planned time.

Would I have loved to have a timesheets feature? Maybe, but if you work with any of the software they integrate with, it won’t matter really.

Expense tracking, however, is a different story. Parallax has cost rates, project financials, costs and revenue, and even a P&L to help you understand where your projects stand in terms of profitability. Here are some of the things you can do.

You can assign cost rates to people or to roles. You can also create rate cards in different currencies and for different situations. For example, I create a rate card that has every hourly rate with a 10% discount.

Another thing you can do is add unexpected revenue and costs to a project as you encounter them. For example, if I had to buy software that I needed and didn’t originally plan for, I can add the licencing expense as an additional expense. Both extra revenue and expenses will be considered in the P&L where you will see your planned profitability vs the current vs the projected profitability.

The project health report can also help you see where you stand interesting financial information like EAC (Estimate At Completion) %.

Finally, a financials graph inside each project’s overview lets you see where your project is headed if you stay the current course.

Resource Management ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The settings section of Parallax has all that you need to manage resources effectively. You can create departments, roles, rate cards, locations, users that will be managed vs users that will consult the platform, manage time off, and create tags and service offerings.

An important factor in making the most out of your resources is being able to tag them with skills so you can resource projects based on specific requirements. The tags section of Parallax allows you to do just that. Additionally, you can set tag requirements to roles that have been assigned to new projects so that Parallax can assist you in searching only for those people that have what it takes to do the job.

Finally, I liked that the platform is ready to manage distributed teams. This applies to resources working from different locations as well as having support for multiple holiday calendars and currencies.

Something important to note is that you are charged for the resources you manage and schedule work for. Any other type of account is free. Therefore, if you need to create accounts for managers or other stakeholders who just want to monitor and access reporting, you can do so without limitations.

Automation and scenario planning ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Parallax is full of interesting useful automations that will help you be more productive. The first one is in the notifications section, where you can define what to be alerted about and through which platform. During my test, I was able to choose between email messages, in-app notifications, and Slack messages.

Another piece of automation I was positively surprised by is the option to automatically fill a role. After you create a high-level plan for a project and staff it with roles, you will have to assign people to start working on it. This can get complicated if you have 50+ users. Therefore, Parallax can take on the job of looking for the person with the necessary capacity to take on the project.

In the forecasting section, I spoke about the hiring forecast report and probability level filter. This probability filter allows you to do scenario planning. How? Well, you can choose to only consider projects that have an 80% probability of closing for more realistic demand or engage in wishful thinking, set that probability to 60% and see how that impacts your resources given their current utilization.

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Parallax Standout Features

Role tag requests and advanced user search ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When you first create projects, you can add roles to them as opposed to people. This way, you don’t have to spend much time upfront thinking about who is available or who will be assigned to the project.

After adding the roles, there is an additional customization option that lets you add tag requests to those roles. For example, I need the Lead Designer to be experienced with this specific software. This way, you can identify the requirements that the person filling the role needs to be successful in the project.

The beauty of having done this is that when you decide to fill that position with a name in your organization, you can do so via the advanced user search. The advanced search will open a window where you can see a list of resources that Parallax has picked from your company that occupy the role you need AND comply with your tag requirements.

You might not see the benefit of it if you manage only a few resources, but this feature becomes incredibly helpful as that number increases.

Communication with CRM ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One thing I noticed during the testing phase of this evaluation is the benefit of the integrations-first approach. I personally used Parallax with Hubspot, but there are integrations with other platforms too.

The first thing I noticed was the speed at which the software updates information created in the CRM. It almost felt like it was in real time.

The second thing I noticed was the respect with which Parallax treats the information going the other way. If you make changes in Parallax that impact the cost of the project, the new cost will not override the one set by sales on the lead. Instead, it will reflect the amount in the section that relates to Parallax so that the Salesperson is updated and can make use of the information however they see fit.

The third and final is the relationship with the stages in the Sales pipeline and the percentage probability of winning a deal. I was impressed with the probability filter that lets you include the deals of your choosing in your forecasts. With this filter, you can plan for scenarios in which different numbers of projects are added.

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Ease of Use ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Considering that every new user will go through a couple of demo calls, this software is very intuitive when it comes to navigation. Getting from one feature to another is really simple as everything is nested in the left navigation menu.

There is also two main screens when you are looking at information. Either you are on a view that is more top level and you can see the main menu on the left or you are inside of a project in a screen that does not have the main navigation menu. This indicates you can use the hamburger menu icon to navigate to other sub-menus within the project and that you have to use the ‘X’ on the top right corner to return to a higher level view.

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Onboarding ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The onboarding process is a white glove service that will take you from the discovery phase all the way to the purchase of the tool and a 90-day onboarding to help you get settled. During this 90-day on-boarding strategy, the client will begin improving resource planning within the first 1-2 months. During this implementation period, customers receive a dedicated Implementation & Onboarding CSM and Slack channel. Several training sessions occur during this period as well as a personalized weekly sync with their CSM and on-demand support.

The team will help you bring the information in the systems you already have into Parallax and set everything up.

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Customer Support ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When implementation is complete, customers will continue their Parallax adoption journey to ensure change management and adoption is successful. Business Reviews as well as adoption meetings with a dedicated Loyalty CSM occur where goals/progress are reviewed and tracked.

Contacting support via the tool was an experience and here’s why. When you click on the “contact support” button in Parallax, you open a screen editor and a form. While the form is pretty standard in covering the kind of details you would convey to report an issue, the editor is something else.

I can highlight parts of the screen, make annotations, and even draw using my pointer to make my submission as helpful as possible.

You can then attach that screenshot to your request. However, if an image isn’t enough, there is also a button that lets you upload a video. This can speed up the time it takes to solve the problem as the customer support team won’t have to replicate the issue to see how they can fix it.

There is a knowledge base that covers FAQs and some of the ways in which you can use Parallax. This documentation has screenshots that are very helpful in understanding what to do. You can find information here.

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Integrations ⭐⭐⭐

Parallax is an integrations-first platform, which means they really care about you being able to connect to the tools that matter most to resource management.

The platform has pre-built integrations with time tracking and CRM software like Hubspot, Harvest, Pipedrive, Copper, Salesforce, Replicon, Clockify, and Toggl. Also communication platforms with Slack and Teams. Finally, it has a couple of PM software integrations with Asana and Jira.

I feel there should be more pre-built integration options if the tool is an integrations-first solution. From what I can see listed on their website, it is clear they’ve gone with the 20% that covers 80% of potential clients. Maybe they will add more in the future.

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Customer Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Some users commend Parallax for its detailed resource planning and forecasting capabilities, which enhance operational efficiency. Others highlight how effectively it integrates with tools like HubSpot and Harvest, streamlining workflows and centralizing data.

Overall, Parallax has garnered generally positive feedback from users across various review platforms. Users appreciate its robust features and the support provided by its team, though some note areas for improvement regarding their reporting customization and performance with large data sets.

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Value for Money ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After speaking with their team, it is clear that this solution is not for small budgets. There is also several factors that contribute to the final price, making it hard to estimate. “Regarding pricing, our base license pricing is $13,500 per year and increases based on the number of resource managed, functionality, and contract terms. Implementation fee is dependent on the number of resources and client requirements.”

From conversations with Parallax’s team, they want you to see the value of the platform and how it will help your team before the price. However, something tells me this is not for small businesses.

Probably the best value for money comes from managing 50+ resources as this platform is clearly made to handle large volumes of data.

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Product Specifications

Feature	Parallax Availability
Detailed Project Planning	✅
Resource Allocation	✅
Financial Forecasting Tools	✅
Project Timelines Visibility	✅
Team Availability Scheduling	✅
Project Budgets Tracking	✅
Real-time Insights	✅
Integration with Harvest	✅
Integration with Jira	✅
Skill Tagging for Resources	✅
Distributed Team Management	✅
Multiple Holiday Calendars	✅
Multiple Currencies Support	✅
Free Accounts for Managers	✅
Automation and Notifications	✅
Time Tracking	❌
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)	❌
Built-in Communication Tools	❌
Inventory Management	❌
Gantt Chart Support	❌

Parallax FAQs

What kind of companies is Parallax best suited for?

Parallax is ideal for startups and SMEs, particularly in the tech, marketing, and creative sectors.

Does Parallax offer integrations with other tools?

Yes, Parallax offers basic integrations and an API for custom integrations.

Is mobile access available on Parallax?

Yes, Parallax provides mobile access for managing projects on the go.

Does Parallax support advanced project management features like Gantt charts or risk management?

No, Parallax focuses on essential project management features, omitting some advanced functionalities like Gantt charts and risk management.

Is there a free version of Parallax available?

Detailed information regarding a free version should be directly confirmed from Parallax’s official resources.

Can Parallax be customized to suit a company’s specific needs?

Parallax offers a level of customization, but for detailed customization options, you might want to refer to official Parallax resources or contact them directly.

Does Parallax provide extensive customer support and resources?

Parallax does offer customer support, but for detailed information on the extent and channels of support, it’s advisable to inquire directly.

What are the reporting capabilities in Parallax?

Parallax provides basic reporting tools necessary for analyzing project statuses and performances.

Alternatives to Parallax

• Hub Planner: One of the best in the category at an affordable price. It supports capacity planning, resourcing through a skills database, and time off management.
• Kantata: A robust alternative if you are looking for an all-in-one platform rather than an integrations-first like Parallax.
• Float: Ideal for small teams looking for a resource management tool that can help them manage teams and allocate resources.

Parallax Company Overview & History

Parallax is a project and resource management company specializing in enhancing forecasting, planning, and profitability for digital agencies and consultancies. The company focuses on providing detailed project planning, resource allocation, and financial forecasting tools. Founded in 2019, Parallax is headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, and employs 44 people. The software integrates with popular tools like Harvest and Jira to aid efficient scheduling and capacity management while offering financial insights by tracking project budgets and actuals.

The company has received $10.2 million in total funding, with the latest round amounting to $7 million. Parallax reported an annual revenue of $1 million and has shown a 10.9% employee growth over six months.

Summary

In conclusion, Parallax presents itself as a competent project management tool, embodying simplicity and focusing on essential functionalities. It appears well-suited for smaller businesses and startups requiring straightforward solutions to enhance team collaboration and project oversight.

Parallax might not cater to the needs of larger organizations seeking advanced project management capabilities. It invites potential users to consider their project needs against what Parallax offers, ensuring an informed decision that aligns with their project management requirements. Feel free to share your experiences and thoughts about Parallax in the comments.