20 Best Portfolio Management Tools Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 20 best software from the 35 tools reviewed.
The best project portfolio management (PPM) tools help make strategic decisions about which projects to fund, pause, or cancel across a global portfolio, based on real-time data about resource capacity, financial impact, alignment with business objectives, and risk exposure. When you're managing several initiatives at once, it's easy to lose track of priorities, overcommit resources, or miss key deadlines. PPM tools help solve this by centralizing project data, surfacing real-time insights, and enabling better decision-making at scale.
Over my 20+ years in project management, I used over 15 PPM tools and learned how these tools help prioritize and allocate resources across competing client projects based on real-time capacity and strategic value.
Below, you'll find my top picks based on hands-on testing. Each was selected for how well they help teams manage project portfolios with clarity, alignment, and control.
You Can Trust Our Project Portfolio Management Tools Reviews
We’ve been testing and reviewing PPM 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 PPM tools review methodology.
Table of Contents
The Best PPM Tools Comparison Chart
Here’s a table you can use to compare all the tools we just covered in the overviews.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for workflow customization capabilities | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Best for real-time project portfolio visibility | 14-day free trial available | From $19.9/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for NPD and innovation | 14-day free trial | From $17/user/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for service teams | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for marketing teams | Free plan available | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 6 | Best for prioritizing projects with AI | 14-day free trial + free demo available | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for team workload tracking | Free plan available | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 8 | Best for structured, AI-enabled PMO planning | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 9 | Best for professional services teams | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 10 | Best lightweight PPM tool | 14-day free trial | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 11 | Best for strategic AI portfolio management | Free plan available (one user max) | From $10/month (billed annually, 3 users) | Website | |
| 12 | Best for real time profitability insights | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 13 | Best for collaboration | Free plan available | From $5/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 14 | Best for agencies and consultancies | 7-day free trial | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 15 | Best for code-free application building | 30-day free trial | From $35/user/month (billed annually, min 20 users) | Website | |
| 16 | Best for portfolio dashboards | Free plan available | From $4/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 17 | Best for enterprises | Free demo available | From $2,750 | Website | |
| 18 | Best for built in and custom report templates | 30-day free trial | From $14/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 19 | Best for strategic planning | Free trial available | From $48/user/month | Website | |
| 20 | Best for predictive scheduling | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website |
-
Accelo
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.4 -
monday.com
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Smartsheet
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.4
Best Portfolio Management Tools Reviews
Any project portfolio management solution from this list should help you with managing projects and strategic alignment across your portfolio.
monday.com is a project portfolio management software that focuses on simple, visually intuitive layouts that help clarify the sequence of work. One of its biggest advantages as a PPM tool is the connectivity built into the platform. In fact, when speaking about connectivity with consultant Ken Sarmadi, he mentioned that "monday.com gives you the option to connect boards using connected columns and mirroring columns."
Why I Picked monday.com
It allows you to allocate and prioritize tasks, use various views in order to see where everything stands, and track multiple projects using dashboards that provide high-level insights in a visual and intuitive way. The platform is completely customizable, so you will be able to adjust it to your workflow. The platform also provides powerful and customizable notifications and automation so you and your team can focus on what’s important.
monday.com lets you plan, manage, and track your budgets in an intuitive interface. You can track expenses, income, their dates, and attach files to each item. And thanks to the various columns, you can filter items by many different variables such as status, people, text, time, location and others. Formula columns are also available.
While monday.com doesn’t offer traditional automated reporting, it is built to show the big picture at a glance to help you analyze various aspects of your projects and processes. To learn about the different capabilities that help analyze performance, scope out their detailed explanation here.
monday.com Key Features
In addition to customization, monday.com offers a range of features that will help you better manage your project portfolios.
- High-Level Portfolio Management Boards: These boards provide a comprehensive overview of all your projects so you can monitor progress and make informed decisions.
- Snapshot Views: This feature lets you quickly assess portfolio health and identify areas that require attention and adjustment.
- Streamlined Project Intake and Approvals: This simplifies the process of adding new projects and obtaining necessary approvals to make sure your portfolio remains dynamic and responsive.
- Shareable Reports: You can facilitate alignment with stakeholders via easily distributable reports that keep everyone informed and engaged.
monday.com Integrations
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- See projects and portfolios together on dashboards
- Clear rollups of project health
- Link multiple projects into one portfolio
Cons:
- Slower performance with many projects and boards
- Limits on the number of boards that can be linked
New Product Updates from monday.com
monday.com Launches Autopilot Hub
monday.com introduces the Autopilot Hub, a centralized space to view, manage, and troubleshoot all automations and workflows across your organization. This enhances visibility, reduces downtime, and helps teams maintain smoother, error-free automation processes. For more information, visit monday.com's official site.
Scoro is a work management software with features for project portfolio management (PPM) that can help businesses manage multiple projects and portfolios efficiently.
Why I Picked Scoro
As a project portfolio management software, Scoro combines everything you need in one place. Scoro's PPM tool is tailored to provide insights into project health, status, and financial metrics, as well as facilitate internal time tracking and granular resource management.
These features aim to offer visibility and control for various roles within an organization, including executives, operations managers, project managers, financial managers, and team members. Additionally, the platform's real-time reporting feature can help you understand which projects and clients are impacting profit margins the most, so you can make more informed decisions about what projects to pursue.
Scoro Key Features
Scoro also offers several other features that can help improve your project portfolio management capabilities.
- Customizable Dashboards: You can create personalized dashboards to track key performance indicators (KPIs), tasks, and goals relevant to your projects, which helps with focus and organization.
- Time Tracking: There are multiple time tracking options, including a built-in timer for real-time logging, which help you improve project planning and manage labor costs effectively.
- Automated Budget Management: You can automatically track project spending against planned budgets, get real-time financial insights to avoid issues, and improve future planning.
- Invoice and Payment Management: You can automate invoice creation based on quotes and integrate with payment systems like Stripe to streamline the billing process for your projects.
Scoro Integrations
Integrations include Google Calendar, Stripe, Jira, Microsoft Exchange, Expensify, Slack, Asana, Dropbox, PayPal, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Build dense multi-project reports
- Track budget usage in real time
- Forecast resources across projects
Cons:
- Limits on report customization
- Setup can be time-consuming
New Product Updates from Scoro
Scoro Version Update: Enhancements to Billing and Reporting
Scoro's latest update introduces advanced purchase order status automation, cost-tracking features, and better integration with BambooHR. For more information, visit Scoro's official site.
Bubble® PPM is a scalable, highly configurable platform designed for mid-to-large size companies looking to align strategy with delivery and increase efficiency and confidence in execution.
Why I Picked Bubble® PPM
I picked Bubble® PPM for its focus on new product development (NPD) and innovation, and it's an ideal choice for organizations that want to streamline project execution. The software's strategic planning capabilities, coupled with customizable project and resource management tools, provide a tailored approach for managing diverse projects.
The tool's support for remote collaboration makes sure your team can work seamlessly across different locations, and integrations with third-party platforms make it highly adaptable.
40% of the company’s international customer base is from the Fast-Moving Consumer Packaged Goods (FMCG/CPG) sector, but the platform is equally suited to R&D, new product development, capital projects, or change management programs. To see the company’s short explainer video, click here
Bubble® PPM Key Features
Bubble® PPM offers several additional features for project portfolio management.
- Real-Time Portfolio Analysis: This feature lets you evaluate projects using up-to-date data so you can make informed decisions quickly.
- Scenario Simulation: You can model different project outcomes to assess potential risks and benefits, which helps with strategic planning.
- Custom Dashboards: You can create personalized views of project metrics and KPIs, which provide you with a clear overview of performance and priorities.
- Advanced Resource Management: This offers insights into capacity planning and resource allocation, so you can make sure your projects are staffed appropriately.
Bubble® PPM Integrations
Integrations include Outlook, Salesforce, Jira, SAP, Power BI, and Microsoft Dynamics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customize workflows to match your team’s process
- Align projects with your strategic roadmap
- Simulate portfolio scenarios before committing
Cons:
- Dashboard customization can be difficult
- Advanced features require more time to learn
Adobe Workfront is a cloud-based enterprise work management solution for teams that handle a high volume of projects and requests. It’s used by teams to plan, assign, and manage work from start through delivery, as well as maintain visibility over resources and priorities.
Why I Picked Adobe Workfront
You’ll find tools such as request queues and automated workflows to help your service team organize incoming work and assign it efficiently. It offers resource capacity planning and prioritization features so your team can balance demand and available hours. It also supports configurable review and approval processes so you can handle client requests or internal service tickets with structured governance, and the strategic planning modules provide visibility into where your team’s efforts are going at a portfolio level.
Adobe Workfront Key Features
There are several other features that make Adobe Workfront an effective project portfolio management tool.
- Centralized Management: This feature facilitates a unified approach to managing all operations and makes sure your team can collaborate effectively across projects and departments.
- Cross-Team Collaboration: This feature streamlines collaboration, simplifies review processes, and makes sure all team members are aligned and informed about project progress.
- Advanced Reporting: You can get detailed insights into project performance to help you make informed decisions and optimize project outcomes.
- Workflow Automation: You can automate repetitive tasks, approvals, and project health monitoring to boost efficiency and reduce the need for manual intervention in your workflows.
Adobe Workfront Integrations
Integrations include Adobe Experience Manager, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Drive, and Box.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed capacity heatmaps across teams
- Skill-based resource allocation across roles
- Structured request routing to match your's team flow
Cons:
- Complexity in modelling non-standard workflows
- Requires dedicated admin time for configuration
New Product Updates from Adobe Workfront
Adobe Workfront's Transition to Unified Approvals
Adobe Workfront is transitioning from Legacy document approvals to Unified Approvals through a six-month phased rollout, starting automatically on July 17, 2025. More details at Adobe Experience League.
Smartsheet is a versatile work management and automation platform designed to help teams plan, capture, manage, automate, and report on their work. This tool can provide high-level visibility of projects and resources so you can focus on key decisions.
As we learned from Senior PM, Thako Harris, "In the PM role, tools like Smartsheet make it easy to see team allocation and capacity in real time."
Why I Picked Smartsheet
As a PPM software, Smartsheet helps marketing teams manage their portfolio of complex projects. It offers real-time collaboration features, ensuring everyone stays on the same page. Its task tracking and scheduling capabilities also enable teams to plan and execute campaigns with precision, while automated workflows help reduce manual effort and minimize errors.
Another reason Smartsheet is ideal for marketing teams is its robust reporting and analytics capabilities. The platform provides customizable dashboards and reports that give users valuable insights into project performance, budget tracking, and resource allocation.
Smartsheet Key Features
In addition to being suited for marketing teams, Smartsheet offers a variety of project portfolio management features.
- Strategic Planning: This feature helps you align projects with company goals and budgets, so you can make sure your portfolio delivers value.
- Demand Intake and Prioritization: You can manage project requests effectively and make sure they align with business objectives to maintain a streamlined workflow.
- Resource Management: You can track and allocate resources across various projects to keep workloads balanced and optimize utilization, so the right resources are applied to the right projects at the right time.
- Automation: You can automate tasks and processes to reduce inefficiencies and let your team focus on strategic tasks rather than repetitive manual processes.
Smartsheet Integrations
Integrations include Docusign, Tableau, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Google Workspace, Jira, Microsoft Office 365, Box, Dropbox, Adobe Creative Cloud, Slack, OneDrive, Evernote, GitHub, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Workload heat maps across resources
- Formula calculations mirror spreadsheet logic
- Map dozens of project sheets on one view
Cons:
- Large datasets can cause slow performance
- Complex automations difficult to build
New Product Updates from Smartsheet
Smartsheet Adds Provisional Member Expiration Tracking
Smartsheet has introduced Provisional Member Expiration Tracking to improve visibility and control over user seats. This update helps admins monitor when a user’s provisional membership period ends, supporting better governance and budget management. For more information, visit Smartsheet's official site.
Celoxis offers robust Project Portfolio Management (PPM) capabilities, empowering organizations to streamline, monitor, and optimize their entire project portfolio in one unified platform. At its core, Celoxis provides visibility across all projects, ensuring executives and project managers can align initiatives with strategic business objectives and optimize resource allocation.
Why I picked Celoxis: With advanced AI-powered prioritization tools, Celoxis helps businesses focus their strategies on the most impactful projects by analyzing project criteria such as strategic alignment, financial feasibility, and resource availability. This enables better decision-making, ensuring that high-value initiatives receive the attention they deserve, while less critical projects are managed efficiently or deferred.
The platform's real-time project tracking allows for immediate insights into project progress, resource utilization, and financial health, providing complete transparency at every stage of the project lifecycle. With AI-driven predictive analytics, Celoxis forecasts potential risks, bottlenecks, and resource gaps, helping teams to proactively mitigate issues before they affect timelines or budgets. Celoxis also features integrated financial management, providing a centralized hub for managing project budgets, actuals, forecasts, and variances.
Celoxis Standout Features & Integrations
Features include AI-driven algorithms for resource management and optimization across the portfolio as well as dynamic portfolio planning and governance. With its real-time capacity planning, you can identify resource constraints before they become bottlenecks, ensuring optimal workload distribution. The platform also aligns project execution with strategic goals by providing visibility into project priorities and performance metrics, making it a strong choice for organizations balancing multiple high-stakes projects.
Integrations include hundreds of popular business applications through integration connectors and web-based API. This includes critical platforms like Jira, Salesforce, QuickBooks Online, Excel, Slack, Google Apps, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Cloud and on-premise deployment available
- Lots of custom-fields and custom apps
- Visualize cross-project resource workloads in one chart
Cons:
- Complexity increases with larger teams
- Interface can feel cluttered
Wrike is an award-winning, easy-to-use project portfolio management software that is highly configurable and includes AI capabilities that can assess at-risk projects and help to optimize your portfolio. Users can customize workflows, dashboards, reports, request forms, and more.
Why I Picked Wrike
I picked Wrike for its ability to let you accurately track team workloads, a critical component for project portfolio management. With intuitive workload charts, you can visualize your team's capacity and redistribute tasks to avoid burnout and maintain optimal resource use.
Wrike's real-time reporting and customizable dashboards provide the insights you need to track progress and make informed decisions promptly. This focus on workload management boosts collaboration and keeps your projects aligned with strategic business goals.
Wrike Key Features
Wrike also offers several other features that make it a strong choice for a project portfolio management tool.
- Customizable Request Forms: These forms let your team collect and prioritize project requests seamlessly, so you can make sure only the most critical projects move forward.
- Real-Time Budgeting Tools: You can allocate and track financial resources across projects and keep your budget aligned with project objectives.
- Agile Support: Wrike provides flexibility for methodologies like agile to help your team adapt quickly to changing project needs.
- AI Automation: Wrike's AI agents let you automate mundane tasks, improve efficiency across your projects, and free up your team to focus on more strategic activities.
Wrike Integrations
Integrations include Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Dropbox, Salesforce, and Marketo.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Manage multiple verticals/departments in one place
- Manage workload charts and forecast demand
- Tailor workspaces and fields to projects
Cons:
- Large datasets can slow performance
- Limits on niche custom fields or form logic
Planisware is a project portfolio management (PPM) software designed to help organizations manage and prioritize their projects. It is designed to handle complex project portfolios and can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of different organizations and industries.
Why I Picked Planisware
One of the key features is its dynamic portfolio analysis capabilities, which allow managers to categorize, prioritize, and balance projects based on strategic business objectives. This aligns projects directly with corporate strategies, ensuring that all initiatives drive value and meet predefined business goals. The platform also facilitates portfolio scenario planning with advanced simulation and forecasting tools.
Additionally, Planisware provides a structured yet flexible framework to help PMOs mature their project portfolio management practices. From standardized processes and methodologies to a fully customizable interface that adapts to various project management maturity levels, the AI-enabled software supports development toward more advanced PPM practices.
Planisware Key Features
Planisware also offers a suite of additional features to help with project portfolio management.
- Demand Management: This lets you centralize and assess project proposals to get alignment between needs and implementation.
- Budget and Cost Management: You can track and analyze project financial performance in real-time and create reliable budget forecasts.
- Collaboration and Reporting: This facilitates communication among teams and provides real-time insights for decision-making.
- Resource Management: You can optimize team capacity and workload with the tool's comprehensive view of resource activities.
Planisware Integrations
Integrations include Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Oracle NetSuite, Hyperion, JD Edwards, Tableau, Qlik, Workforce, ADP, SAP, Jira, Salesforce, HubSpot, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports multi-currency and global enterprises
- Tailor workflows and data fields to your needs
- Model scenario planning across large portfolios
Cons:
- Not ideal for small teams
- Advanced customization may require technical expertise
Kantata is a project portfolio management (PPM) platform purpose-built for professional services firms. It unifies portfolio visibility, resource planning, and financial management so you can manage your entire service delivery lifecycle in one place.
Why I Picked Kantata
I picked Kantata because it's well-suited for professional services teams that need a project portfolio management solution. AI-powered forecasting and resource management tools help you allocate your team optimally and make adjustments as needed when priorities or demands change.
Kantata's financial management features offer real-time insights that help you improve profitability and transparency across projects. The project health insights and risk management capabilities let you prioritize tasks and make informed strategic decisions, which in turn help you maintain project delivery standards and client satisfaction.
Kantata Key Features
Kantata also offers several other key features that help you and your team better mange your projects and portfolios.
- Customizable Dashboards: These let your team view key project metrics across the entire portfolio, and get insights into project health and resource allocation.
- Issue Detection: This feature lets you monitor the real-time health of projects so you can identify potential issues early and intervene in a timely manner.
- Collaboration Tools: You can facilitate seamless communication and feedback among teams and clients, to keep everyone aligned and informed throughout the project lifecycle.
- Gantt Charts and Task Tracking: This feature provides a visual representation of project progress and helps you prioritize tasks, which also improves accountability and communication within your team.
Kantata Integrations
Integrations include Salesforce, SAP, Jira, Xero, BambooHR, Slack, Worday, QuickBooks, HubSpot, and NetSuite.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Templates standardize delivery processes
- Real-time health indicators across projects
- See time and financials in one view
Cons:
- Admin time required for system optimization
- Too complex for smaller teams
Acuity PPM offers a sleek and intuitive project portfolio management solution for organizations that want to make better, more strategic decisions about their portfolio. It offers real-time visibility into project statuses, centralizes reporting, and eliminates the need for cumbersome spreadsheets. This lean software simplifies project and resource management and offers quick implementation so it's easy to get up and running.
Why I Picked Acuity PPM
I picked Acuity PPM because it offers a streamlined approach to project portfolio management with its lightweight design and is perfect for organizations that want to improve project visibility with minimal complexity. It offers scorecards for strategic alignment and dynamic resource management features so you can prioritize projects and maintain a clear view of resource utilization.
Acuity PPM also integrates seamlessly with tools like Asana and Jira for further usability. This combination of simplicity, quick implementation, and strategic features makes it an ideal choice for teams that want a focused yet flexible solution.
Acuity PPM Key Features
Acuity PPM offers several additional features that can help you improve project portfolio management at your organization.
- Intuitive Dashboards: These provide a clear and concise view of project data so you can make informed decisions quickly.
- Advanced Scenario Planning: This feature lets your team explore various project outcomes and optimize resource allocation effectively.
- Project Scheduling: You can easily plan and track project timelines to make sure all tasks align with organizational goals.
- Risk Management: This helps you identify potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies to keep your projects on track.
Acuity PPM Integrations
Integrations are not available natively, but Acuity PPM integrates with Jira, Smartsheet, monday.com, and Asana via Make.com.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Dashboards show project health and risks
- Allocate resources and see capacity across teams
- Configurable scoring model for priorities
Cons:
- Advanced capacity features require training
- Custom reporting options are limited
OnePlan is an AI-enabled strategic portfolio management platform designed to meet the needs of various organizations by providing tools for project portfolios, financial planning, resource planning, and work management.
Why I Picked OnePlan
OnePlan's AI-driven strategic portfolio management stands out by enabling organizations to align their project initiatives directly with business objectives. This makes sure resources are optimally allocated and that projects deliver maximum value. Additionally, OnePlan's ability to integrate with tools like Microsoft Project, Azure DevOps, Jira, and Smartsheet allows for a unified view of all projects
I also like OnePlan's adaptive project portfolio management feature, which supports both traditional and agile methodologies. This flexibility is crucial for organizations that need to manage a variety of project types and methodologies within a single platform. The tool's resource planning and professional service automation features also assist in resource allocation and utilization, ensuring that the right skills are applied to the right projects at the right time.
OnePlan Key Features
OnePlan offers a variety of other features that cater to diverse project portfolio management needs.
- Portfolio Boards: These offer a visual representation of project stages so you can track progress, identify issues, and optimize portfolios using agile methodologies.
- Roadmapping: This provides visual timelines that align with your organizational goals and product, technology, and business roadmaps to help your team stay on track.
- Reporting and Business Intelligence: This offers real-time visibility into project performance with customizable reports and dashboards and allows for proactive decision-making.
- Progress Visualization: You can use Gantt charts to manage project timelines, tasks, dependencies, and milestones and get a clear view of project development.
OnePlan Integrations
Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Project For The Web, Azure DevOps, Smartsheet, and Jira.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Monitor actuals versus forecasts easily
- Scenario planning to test investment trade-offs
- Model resource capacity across entire portfolio
Cons:
- Larger portfolios require more admin effort
- Full use of AI features requires training
Accelo is a professional services automation platform that helps service firms manage work from client engagement through to delivery and payment. It offers tools to track client work, monitor team capacity, and link project execution with financial results.
Why I Picked Accelo
Accelo lets you manage your quote-to-cash workflow from start to finish, and ties project tasks, time tracking, billing, and reporting together so you can see where profitability is coming from. It includes real-time dashboards that show project budgets, actuals, and margin so you're not waiting weeks to get a pulse-check on profitability and what’s going off course. Resource management lets you allocate work by skill and availability so your team stays busy and efficient. It’s designed with service firms in mind so you’re aligned around the kinds of client-work models your team uses.
Accelo Key Features
Accelo offers a range of additional features that can help you with project portfolio management.
- Task Management: You can create, assign, and prioritize tasks while tracking progress in real-time to make sure your team stays on track.
- Resource Allocation: This lets you efficiently assign resources based on availability and skill sets and manage workloads effectively across multiple projects.
- Budgeting and Financial Management: You can set project budgets and track expenses and revenue in real-time to maintain financial control and optimize profitability.
- Reporting and Analytics: This lets you generate performance reports and analyze project data to gain insights and make informed decisions for continuous improvement.
Accelo Integrations
Integrations include Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, HubSpot, PayPal, Zapier, Xero, and Jira.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Allocate resources based on skills and availability
- Link quotes directly to project financials
- View live profitability across your portfolio
Cons:
- Data discipline required to maintain insight accuracy
- Unique service models require more customization
If you want a project portfolio management solution that can help improve collaboration and your workflows, Hive offers an intuitive platform that can meet the needs of teams in a variety of industries. The customizable interface lets you track tasks, manage time, and allocate resources. You also get features for proofing, approvals, and client engagement to boost productivity, foster clear communication, and help your team achieve project goals.
Why I Picked Hive
I picked Hive for its ability to foster collaboration, an important part of effective project portfolio management. Hive's platform offers features like task tracking and customizable dashboards, which keep your team aligned and let you manage projects from a centralized hub.
The integrated proofing and approval tools make sure projects move forward without bottlenecks. With AI-powered assistance and automation options, Hive supports collaboration and helps your team achieve project goals efficiently.
Hive Key Features
Hive offers a range of other features that can help improve project portfolio management for your team.
- Forms: You can create and manage accessible forms for internal and external collaboration, which helps to streamline feedback collection and project intake.
- Resourcing: This lets you assign team members to projects, visualize their availability, and maintain optimal resource allocation across tasks.
- Time Reporting: You can analyze time spent, costs, and resource progress to gain insights into project efficiency and budget adherence.
- QuickBooks Integration: You can track and send invoices through QuickBooks to seamlessly integrate financial management with project activities.
Hive Integrations
Integrations include Google Drive, Google Calendar, Dropbox, QuickBooks, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Trello, Asana, and Basecamp.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI-driven Hive Mind automates project planning
- Real-time collaboration with built-in comms tools
- Placeholder resources for better planning
Cons:
- Custom fields limited to action cards
- Time tracking only available in higher-tier plans
Bonsai is a business management solution that caters to the needs of agencies, consulting firms, and professional services by offering a suite of tools for client management, project management, and financial management.
Why I Picked Bonsai
I selected Bonsai for its suite of features designed to streamline and optimize project portfolio management. One of the standout features is its project dashboard, which provides a comprehensive overview of all ongoing projects. This allows professional service teams, agencies, and consultancies to monitor project progress, deadlines, and resource allocation at a glance, ensuring that every project stays on track and within budget.
Additionally, Bonsai's financial management capabilities help agencies manage project portfolios. The software includes advanced invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting features, enabling teams to keep a close eye on their financial health. Automated invoicing and payment reminders ensure timely payments, while detailed financial reports provide insights into profitability and cash flow.
Bonsai Key Features
In addition to features for agencies and consultancies, Bonsai offers several other features that project portfolio managers will find useful.
- Task Management Dashboard: This feature centralizes project-related tasks and provides an intuitive interface to manage deadlines and responsibilities.
- Budget Tracking: You can maintain financial oversight by tracking project budgets and making sure costs align with project goals.
- Time Tracking: This lets you monitor billable hours for accurate invoicing and better resource allocation.
- Proposal Templates: You can streamline client interactions with customizable templates for proposals, contracts, and invoices, as well as save time and maintain professionalism.
Bonsai Integrations
Integrations include Zapier, QuickBooks, Xero, HiBob, and Calendly.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Reusable contract templates tailored to your needs
- See project budgets and monitor overspend early
- Links time tracking to invoicing
Cons:
- Difficultly in tracking complex project dependencies
- Larger agencies might find the tool lacking
QuickBase is a workflow and project management tool that lets you build custom business applications. It's suitable for businesses of all sizes and stages, including those managing multiple portfolios.
Why I Picked Quickbase
I chose Quickbase for project portfolio management because it lets you build custom applications without any coding. This feature lets you quickly adapt your project management processes to specific business needs without relying on IT.
With its real-time data insights and automation capabilities, you can manage resources and optimize workflows, which is crucial for maintaining project timelines and budgets. Additionally, Quickbase's integration capabilities let you connect with other tools your team already uses to boost overall project visibility and collaboration.
Quickbase Key Features
Quickbase offers several other features that are useful for project portfolio management.
- Real-Time Data Tracking: This feature lets you monitor project progress and performance metrics in real time, so you can make timely decisions based on the latest data.
- Customizable Workflows: You can tailor workflows to fit your unique business processes, which helps you manage tasks and resources more effectively across projects.
- Mobile Access: You and your team can access project information and make updates on the go to make sure everyone stays informed regardless of their location.
- Insightful Analytics: This feature lets you aggregate data across projects, which provides valuable insights for performance comparisons and customized reporting for stakeholders.
Quickbase Integrations
Integrations include Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Slack, Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Trello, Asana, Jira, Zendesk, and Docusign.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scalable when the number of projects increases
- Automate workflow logic across portfolios
- Consolidate data from multiple project systems
Cons:
- Requires strong data discipline
- Customization can require technical skills or support
For teams that want a project portfolio management tool with strong dashboard functionality, Zoho Projects offers a flexible and comprehensive solution. This platform is ideal for industries such as construction, software development, and marketing and provides features like task management, time tracking, and collaboration tools that boost productivity and streamline workflows.
Why I Picked Zoho Projects
I picked Zoho Projects for its impressive portfolio dashboard capabilities, which offer detailed overviews of your project timelines, statuses, and budget health. This feature lets you make informed decisions by providing real-time insights into project progress and performance.
The platform's customization options, such as filtered views and work allocation tools, let you to tailor the dashboard to fit your team's specific needs. With these capabilities, Zoho Projects addresses the need for effective oversight and resource management, which is crucial for teams handling multiple projects simultaneously.
Zoho Projects Key Features
Zoho Projects offers a suite of other features designed to help with portfolio and project management.
- Task Management: This feature lets you to break down projects into manageable tasks and set up dependencies so your team can prioritize and focus on what needs to be done next.
- Time Tracking: You can accurately log hours spent on each task, which helps with productivity analysis and budget management.
- Gantt Charts: You can visualize your project timelines with interactive Gantt charts that help with planning, tracking progress, and adjusting schedules as needed.
- Automation: This lets you set up workflows and business rules that automate notifications, task assignments, and status updates to streamline repetitive processes.
Zoho Projects Integrations
Integrations include Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, GitHub, and Zendesk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automate recurring tasks and workflows
- Switch between list, Gantt, board views freely
- Build detailed task hierarchies easily
Cons:
- Workflow automation options can be overly basic
- Less flexible customization for advanced portfolio models
Oracle Primavera is an enterprise-grade project and portfolio software designed for complex, large-scale work across multiple projects and programs. It serves industries that need to manage heavy resources, tight schedules, and large budgets in a coordinated way.
Why I Picked Oracle Primavera
The tool includes multi-project scheduling and resource optimization features that help you plan, prioritize, and manage work at the enterprise level. The solution supports detailed analyses of cost, risk, and dependencies so your team can handle complexity and size without losing control. It offers role-based access and cross-project roll-up insights so execs and planners stay aligned. With a deployment model that supports on-premises and cloud options, your organization can choose the setup that fits your scale and governance.
Oracle Primavera Key Features
Oracle Primavera offers several additional features that cater to diverse portfolio and project management needs.
- Gantt Charts: You can visualize project timelines and track progress with detailed scheduling tools.
- Risk Management: This lets you identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks that could impact project delivery.
- Dashboards: You can access real-time data visualization for insights into project performance and decision-making.
- Workflow Automation: This lets you streamline processes and boost overall productivity by automating repetitive tasks.
Oracle Primavera Integrations
Integrations include Primavera Cloud, Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle Business Intelligence, Primavera Gateway, Primavera Web Services, Oracle ERP, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel, Oracle Unifier, and Oracle Cloud.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Set permissions and roles across large teams
- Link cost, schedule, and risk in one view
- Enterprise-level resource allocation and capacity modelling
Cons:
- Heavy configuration required to fit workflows
- Setup may require specialized IT or admin support
ProjectManager is an online work and project management platform that lets teams plan, execute, and oversee projects. It helps you coordinate tasks, track resources, and monitor progress across multiple projects.
Why I Picked ProjectManager
You and your team get access to built-in report templates for status, workload, timesheet and variance tracking, plus the option to customize templates to your exact workflow. ProjectManager also supports portfolio dashboards and roadmaps so you can align all your projects and see project progress and health without building everything from scratch. It offers resource management, time tracking, and budgeting features that tie the data in your reports to real execution. The mix of standard templates and custom options lets you get started quickly and adjust as your needs grow.
ProjectManager Key Features
ProjectManager offers several other key features that can help you and your project management office with portfolio management.
- Real-Time Dashboards: These provide live insights into project status to let you and your team to make informed decisions quickly.
- Kanban Boards: You can quickly visualize workflows and progress, which facilitates easier task prioritization and management.
- Resource Management: This helps you allocate resources efficiently across projects and maintain balanced workloads.
- Gantt Charts: You can plan and track project timelines, set milestones, and manage dependencies effectively.
ProjectManager Integrations
Integrations include Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel, Jira, Slack, and Power BI.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Workload visualizations help prevent overload
- Copy projects into templates and scale quickly
- Portfolio dashboards cover many projects
Cons:
- Report customization requires a learning curve
- Template logic setup requires time investment
Portfoleon is a strategic planning and execution tool designed to help teams align their goals and focus on key results. It allows you to manage strategic objectives without getting bogged down by everyday tasks.
Why I Picked Portfoleon
Portfoleon offers structured planning and project prioritization based on outcome contributions. These features help make sure your team stays focused on what's most important. With scenario planning, you can evaluate different strategies and adapt quickly to changing situations.
Another reason I chose Portfoleon is its progress monitoring capabilities. You can link daily work to strategic objectives, making it easier to track how your projects align with your broader goals. Visualization options like timeline boards and Kanban boards help you manage and analyze your work effectively.
Portfoleon Key Features
Portfoleon offers a range of additional features that can help you improve project portfolio management in your organization.
- Kanban Boards: You can keep track of your portfolio items with customizable Kanban boards, which you can also color-code and use to organize tasks by different categories and priorities.
- Resource Management: This lets you manage resources efficiently by defining capacity, assigning resources to project phases, and analyzing resource utilization across teams and locations.
- Draft/Publish System: You can make edits and updates to your portfolio without immediate visibility, which lets you prepare changes for stakeholder approval before publishing them.
- Integration API: You can access all of Portfoleon's functions via an API, which allows for deeper integration into your existing IT systems for synchronized operations.
Portfoleon Integrations
Integrations include Jira, Azure DevOps, Asana, Trello, Slack, Mailchimp, and Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Unlimited read-only users for stakeholder visibility
- Import spreadsheets and pivot data easily
- Automation rules reduce repetitive updates
Cons:
- Governance rules required to keep usage under control
- Reporting less mature than enterprise tools
Tempo Portfolio Manager (formerly LiquidPlanner) is a project management tool that helps boost team collaboration and efficiency. With features like predictive scheduling and workload management, it helps teams adapt to changes and manage uncertainties in project timelines.
Why I Picked Tempo Portfolio Manager
I picked Tempo Portfolio Manager because of its predictive scheduling capabilities, which use Monte Carlo simulations to forecast project timelines with a 90% confidence level. This means you can manage multiple projects without worrying about missed deadlines. Additionally, it offers real-time visibility into team capacity and can automatically adjust schedules to prevent overload and maintain smooth workflows.
Another reason for picking Tempo Portfolio Manager is its strategic prioritization feature. This lets you focus on what truly matters and align your projects with strategic goals. The tool helps identify potential risks and prevent bottlenecks, so your team can work more effectively and efficiently.
Tempo Portfolio Manager Key Features
In addition to predictive scheduling capabilities, Tempo Portfolio Manager offers several other key features for project portfolio management.
- Dynamic Capacity Management: This feature lets you monitor and adjust team workloads in real-time to maintain optimal resource utilization across projects.
- Real-Time Bandwidth Monitoring: You can keep track of your team's availability and prevent overload by constantly monitoring bandwidth and making necessary adjustments.
- Automatic Resource Leveling: This lets you automatically adjust resources to meet project demands without manual intervention to maintain balance and efficiency across your portfolio.
- Risk Management: You can identify potential project risks early on and implement mitigation strategies proactively.
Tempo Portfolio Manager Integrations
Integrations include Jira and Confluence.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Facilitates collaboration among team members
- Customizable dashboards for personalized views
- Effective project tracking and reporting features
Cons:
- Customization may be overwhelming for small teams
- Limited offline functionality
Other Portfolio Management Tools
These PPM tools did not make it to the top 10 but are worth considering if you want to expand your tool research.
- Proggio
For AI-driven project timelines
- Ravetree
For client management
- Visor
For syncing with Jira
- RAIDLOG.com
For risk management and monitoring
- ESPMI
For financial administration
- Mach-AI
For automated project prioritization
- Primetric
For IT service companies
- WorkOtter
For capacity planning
- Perforce
For agile planning
- GanttPRO
For creating Gantt charts
- ClickUp
For customization
- Forecast
For linking resource planning and financials
- dragonboat
For OKR alignment
- Runn
For growing software teams
- Corporater
For governance and compliance
Related Project Management Reviews
- Project Management Software
- Resource Management Software
- Workflow Automation Software
- Time Tracking Software
- Task Management Software
- Collaboration Tools
Selection Criteria For Project Portfolio Management Tools
Selecting project portfolio management (PPM) tools requires a nuanced understanding of both the portfolio software's capabilities and how those capabilities align with specific business needs.
Through my hands-on trials and comprehensive research, I've identified key criteria that are crucial when evaluating these tools. These criteria ensure that the selected PPM tool not only offers the essential functionalities but also addresses common pain points, facilitating the alignment of project efforts with company goals.
Core Project Portfolio Management Tools Functionality (25% of final scoring): Common features for project portfolio management tools typically include project scheduling, resource allocation, budget management, risk management, collaboration tools, dashboards and reporting, portfolio optimization, time tracking, document management, and integration with other business tools.
To be considered for inclusion on my list of the best project portfolio management tools, the solution had to support the ability to fulfill common use cases. These include:
- Efficiently managing multiple projects and resources to avoid overallocation
- Aligning projects with strategic business goals to ensure relevance and value
- Providing real-time visibility into project status and performance for timely decision-making
- Facilitating collaboration across teams and stakeholders to keep projects on track
- Streamlining reporting and analytics to assess project impact and ROI
Additional Standout Features (25% of final scoring): I looked at any features that incorporate new technologies or move the needle in terms of innovation in this space. Examples include advanced AI-driven analytics for predictive insights into project success and risks and tools that introduce innovative approaches to collaboration. Finally, tools that push the envelope in usability, such as employing natural language processing for easier task updates or voice commands.
Usability (10% of final scoring): I prioritize tools that balance sophisticated features with intuitive design, ensuring that users can leverage the full range of functionalities without a steep learning curve.
I also look for interfaces that simplify complex data presentation, such as drag-and-drop scheduling tools and dashboards that can be customized without IT support.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring): This criterion involves evaluating how quickly and efficiently new users can get up to speed with the tool, including the availability of training materials like videos, templates, and product tours.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring): Assessing the responsiveness, availability, and expertise of the customer support team, including the range of support channels (email, chat, phone) and the presence of a knowledge base or community forum.
Value For Money (10% of final scoring): Comparing the tool's pricing structure with its feature set, scalability, and performance to ensure buyers receive optimal value for their investment, considering both current and future needs.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring): Analyzing feedback from current and past users to gauge satisfaction levels, particularly focusing on reliability, user experience, and the impact on project outcomes.
Each tool selected under this rigorous process carefully balances core functionalities with specific business needs to ensure the selected tool drives value.
How To Choose Project Portfolio Management Software
With so many different project portfolio management solutions available, it can be challenging to make decisions on what project portfolio management tool is going to be the best fit for your needs.
As you're shortlisting, trialing, and selecting project portfolio management tools consider the following:
- What problem are you trying to solve - Start by identifying the project portfolio management tools feature gap you're trying to fill to clarify the features and functionality the project portfolio management tool needs to provide.
- Who will need to use it - To evaluate cost and requirements, consider who'll be using the software and how many licenses you'll need. You'll need to evaluate if it'll just be the project team, or the whole organization that will require access. When that's clear, it's worth considering if you're prioritizing ease of use for all, or speed for your project portfolio management tools power users.
- What other tools it needs to work with - Clarify what tools you're replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate with, such as accounting, CRM or HR software. You'll need to decide if the tools will need to integrate together, or alternatively, if you can replace multiple tools with one consolidated project portfolio management tool.
- What outcomes are important - Consider the result that the software needs to deliver to be considered a success. Consider what capability you want to gain, or what you want to improve, and how you will be measuring success. For example, an outcome could be the ability to get greater visibility into performance. You could compare project portfolio management tools features until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to drive, you could be wasting a lot of valuable time.
- How it would work within your organization - Consider the software selection alongside your workflows and delivery methodology. Evaluate what's working well, and the areas that are causing issues that need to be addressed. Remember every business is different — don’t assume that because a tool is popular that it'll work in your organization.
Trends In Project Portfolio Management Tools For 2025
As businesses strive for efficiency, agility, and strategic alignment, PPM tools have become crucial in providing visibility, enhancing decision-making, and demonstrating how individual projects contribute to overarching goals. This summary highlights key trends in PPM tools.
Enhanced Integration and Automation: Increased emphasis on seamless integration with other business tools, including CRM, ERP systems, and collaboration platforms, to streamline workflows and reduce manual data entry.
Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Advanced analytics and customizable reporting features are rapidly evolving to offer deeper insights into portfolio performance, resource allocation, and risk management. Recent upgrades include AI-infused analytics for predictive analysis of project outcomes, and more intuitive, customizable dashboards that allow stakeholders to visualize how projects align with business objectives.
Focus on Strategic Alignment: Tools are increasingly incorporating features that help organizations align projects with strategic goals and demonstrate this alignment to stakeholders. New functionalities include goal-setting frameworks, outcome-based planning tools, and alignment scorecards that map project outputs directly to strategic objectives.
Declining Trends
Traditional Documentation: Traditional, heavyweight documentation and reporting features are becoming less important, as users demand real-time, digestible insights over extensive, static reports. Shift towards dynamic dashboards and visual project tracking tools, reducing the reliance on lengthy, detailed report generation.
In summary, the project portfolio management tools are becoming more integrated and automated, with a strong emphasis on user experience and collaboration. This evolution underscores the importance of PPM tools in not just managing projects, but in ensuring they contribute effectively to the strategic goals of the organization.
What Are Project Portfolio Management Tools?
Project portfolio management tools help organizations oversee multiple projects from a strategic level. They allow project managers and PMOs to evaluate project performance, prioritize initiatives, allocate resources efficiently, and align execution with business goals. Teams use PPM software to reduce risk, avoid resource conflicts, and make data-informed decisions across their entire project portfolio.
Features of Project Portfolio Management Tools
Selecting the best project portfolio management software is a pivotal decision for organizations aiming to align project initiatives closely with their strategic goals. The ideal PPM tool not only streamlines project execution but also ensures resources are used efficiently and stakeholders stay well-informed. Below, I outline the most critical features to look for in PPM software to achieve these objectives.
- Strategic Alignment Tools: These features ensure that every project contributes directly to the overarching goals of the organization. By aligning projects with company strategy, businesses can prioritize initiatives that offer the highest value.
- Resource management: Like resource scheduling software, PPM software with resource planning will help you make better decisions around project planning at the portfolio level. This includes features for resource allocation, capacity planning, resource utilization, managing timelines, and projections.
- Real-time Dashboards: Dashboards provide instant access to critical project metrics and KPIs. They are crucial for maintaining visibility into project health, enabling timely decisions that keep initiatives on track and aligned with business objectives.
- Collaboration and Communication Tools: These features facilitate seamless interaction among team members and with stakeholders. Clear communication is vital for aligning expectations, resolving issues promptly, and ensuring everyone is working towards the same goals.
- Risk Management: This aspect helps identify, assess, and mitigate project risks. Proactive risk management is key to minimizing surprises and ensuring that projects contribute positively to the company's strategic objectives.
- Portfolio Analytics and Reporting: Advanced analytics and customizable reporting capabilities offer insights into portfolio performance. This intelligence is crucial for evaluating how well projects align with strategic goals and where adjustments might be needed.
- Agile and Flexible Framework Support: Support for various project management methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall, allows organizations to apply the best approach for each project. Flexibility in project management is essential for adapting to changes and achieving strategic objectives.
- Financial Management: Financial portfolio management software provides visibility into project budgets, costs, and ROI are critical. They ensure that financial resources are allocated wisely, supporting projects that align with strategic priorities and deliver the greatest value.
- Integration Capabilities: The ability to integrate with other enterprise systems (like ERP, CRM, and HR software) ensures that project data is consistent and accessible across the organization. Integration streamlines processes and supports strategic decision-making.
- Security & Compliance: Achieving business objectives requires making informed decisions based on accurate data. Since unwanted visitors can compromise that, I looked at the tool’s compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX. Also, data security certifications and level of permission customizations within each tool.
- Client Management: Facilitates structured and strategic client engagement. By providing centralized access to client communications, feedback loops, approval workflows, and relationship histories, this feature helps ensure that client expectations are continuously aligned with project goals.
Selecting a PPM tool with these features is fundamental for organizations focused on delivering strategy-aligned project initiatives. By ensuring efficient use of resources and facilitating easy communication with stakeholders, businesses can better navigate the complexities of modern project management. The best PPM software not only supports the tactical aspects of project execution but also enhances strategic decision-making, ultimately driving success and competitive advantage.
Benefits of Project Portfolio Management Software
Project Portfolio Management (PPM) software is an invaluable tool for today's project managers and organizations aiming to streamline their project processes and align initiatives with their strategic goals. By adopting a project portfolio manager, users can enjoy a multitude of benefits that enhance efficiency, visibility, and decision-making. Here are five primary advantages that PPM software offers:
- Enhanced Strategic Alignment: This benefit ensures that all projects contribute directly to the strategic objectives of the organization. PPM software enables users to select and prioritize projects that align with their business goals, ensuring resources are invested in the most impactful initiatives.
- Improved Resource Optimization: By providing a clear overview of resource allocation and availability, resource and investment portfolio management tools allow for the efficient utilization of personnel, budget, and time. This optimization helps businesses maximize productivity and reduce overhead costs, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
- Increased Visibility and Control: With real-time dashboards and reporting features, PPM software offers users comprehensive visibility into project performance, timelines, and risks. This increased oversight enables managers to make informed decisions quickly, keeping projects on track and aligned with business strategies. Similar to the visibility project controls offer when you don't have a SaaS tool to support you.
- Better Risk Management: PPM software aids in identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks across the project portfolio. By proactively managing risks, organizations can minimize the impact of uncertainties on their projects, ensuring smoother execution and higher success rates.
- Enhanced Collaboration and Communication: Facilitating seamless communication between team members and stakeholders, PPM software ensures that everyone is on the same page. This fosters a collaborative environment where information is shared freely, leading to more cohesive project teams and better project outcomes.
Adopting PPM software brings a strategic edge to organizations, enabling them to navigate the complexities of project management with greater ease and efficiency. As the demand for streamlined project processes and strategic alignment grows, the role of PPM software in achieving these objectives becomes increasingly vital.
Cost & Pricing For Project Portfolio Management Software
One of the most important aspects of selecting PPM software is understanding the different pricing plans available. These plans can vary widely in features, support, and scalability options, making it vital to be aware of common plans across the market to avoid overpaying for common features.
It is also essential to carefully evaluate what each plan offers to avoid paying for unnecessary capabilities. Conversely, while basic, lower-cost plans might seem appealing, they often lack essential features like advanced resource allocation, comprehensive risk management, and detailed performance metrics, meaning that you may get better value if you upgrade your plan.
The table below outlines common plan options, their average pricing, and included features to help you make an informed decision and get the most value for your investment:
Comparison Table For Project Portfolio Management Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features Included |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10 - $20/user/month | Access for 1 user, basic project management features, limited reporting, and dashboard capabilities |
| Team | $25 - $50/user/month | Project collaboration tools, resource management, enhanced reporting and dashboards, support for multiple users |
| Professional | $50 - $100/user/month | Advanced analytics, portfolio management, risk assessment tools, integration capabilities, unlimited projects |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing | Customizable features, advanced security options, dedicated support, enterprise-grade scalability |
| Free Option | $0 | Limited projects, basic task management, simple reporting tools, access for a limited number of users |
When selecting a PPM tool, be sure to examine different plans to find the best deal for you, and take advantage of any free trials to test the software before committing. Once you've chosen your tool, consider starting with a basic plan for cost savings or a professional plan for more comprehensive features. Remember, you can always upgrade your plan if necessary.
Moreover, when choosing a software plan, it's important to consider both the immediate and future needs of your organization. Opt for a plan that not only fits your current project management requirements but also offers room for growth as your business evolves.
Common stages where your company may want to upgrade their pricing plan include:
- Increase in Project Volume: As the number of PPM projects managed by the company grows, the basic tier may no longer be sufficient. Upgrading allows for better handling of multiple projects with advanced features.
- Expansion of Team Size: When the team managing the projects expands, the company might need more user licenses, enhanced collaboration tools, and advanced user management features.
- Need for Advanced Analytics and Reporting: As the company seeks deeper insights into project performance, resource allocation, and financial metrics, users may want to upgrade to a higher tier with robust analytics and reporting tools.
- Requirement for Enhanced Integration Capabilities: As the company grows, so does the complexity of its software ecosystem. Scaling up to a higher tier can provide better integration options with other essential business tools.
- Demand for Advanced Security and Compliance Features: With growth, the company may face increased security risks and stricter compliance requirements. Higher pricing tiers typically offer enhanced security features and compliance tools.
Ultimately, the right plan depends on your specific business requirements and budget. With careful consideration and research, you should be able to find the right plan to balance functionality and cost.
Project Portfolio Management Tools FAQs
Find answers to common questions other people ask about this topic.
What is the difference between portfolio management and project management?
Portfolio management and project management can easily be confused. While they both focus on projects, the main difference is the objective they pursue. Portfolio management focuses on aligning projects with strategic business goals and managing resources across multiple projects rather than the successful completion of projects on time and within budget.
As a senior project manager, you’ll need to balance project delivery with portfolio-level priorities, ensuring you make data-driven decisions about which initiatives to prioritize, pause, or stop based on impact, value, and available resources.
How can I identify my company's PPM maturity level?
According to the Gartner model, you can determine your enterprise’s maturity by placing it into one of the 5 models (in ascending order of maturity):
- Reactive – this accounts for all organizations with an ad-hoc approach to projects. There is a minimal requirement for high-end PPM tools, although they’ll prove necessary for growth.
- Emerging Discipline – next level of PPM management and approach to projects. It involves the use of basic PPM tools but on a more frequent and advanced level.
- Initial Integration – follows a more holistic approach to PPM. This is the point where a larger organization pattern is needed. Risky decisions could surface, and data tracking must be on point.
- Effective Integration – This is the point where automation becomes necessary, and a manager needs as much help as possible in order to execute everything on time, and under budget.
- Effective innovation – This is the end-game everyone strives for. PPMs are fully utilized on multiple levels, and an Enterprise Project Management Office is installed to facilitate the execution.
How can I support multiple work methods within PPM tools?
Supporting multiple work methods within PPM tools is essential for effective PPM (project portfolio management). By accommodating different methodologies, organizations can optimize their project portfolio and ensure successful project delivery. Here’s a breakdown of several popular approaches:
1. Waterfall – The Waterfall methodology is a linear and sequential approach where each phase must be completed before the next begins. This method is best suited for projects with well-defined requirements and low uncertainty. To support this approach, organizations can utilize portfolio management software to track progress through phases and effectively manage timelines.
2. Agile – The agile methodology is characterized by its iterative nature, promoting flexibility and customer collaboration through short cycles, known as sprints. It is ideal for projects with changing requirements or those in dynamic environments. To leverage this approach, teams can use project and portfolio management software that offers agile boards and backlog management features to enhance collaboration and responsiveness.
3. Hybrid – The hybrid approach combines elements of both Waterfall and agile methodologies, allowing teams to adapt based on project needs. This method is particularly useful for complex projects that require both structured planning and flexibility. Organizations can benefit from enterprise project portfolio management software to integrate these methodologies, providing a unified view of the entire project portfolio.
4. Scrum – The Scrum framework is a subset of agile that emphasizes teamwork, accountability, and iterative progress toward a well-defined goal. It involves roles such as Scrum Master and Product Owner and utilizes time-boxed iterations called sprints. PPM software can facilitate Scrum by providing tools for sprint planning, backlog management, and performance tracking.
5. Kanban – Kanban is another agile methodology focused on visualizing work, limiting work in progress, and maximizing flow. It uses boards to represent tasks and their status, making it easy to identify bottlenecks. Portfolio management solutions that include Kanban boards can help teams manage tasks efficiently and adapt to changing priorities.
6. Lean – The Lean methodology aims to maximize value by minimizing waste and improving processes. It encourages continuous improvement and focuses on delivering value to customers. Portfolio tracking software can support Lean by providing insights into process efficiency and areas for improvement.
7. Six Sigma – Six Sigma is a data-driven approach that seeks to improve quality by identifying and removing causes of defects and minimizing variability. It utilizes statistical methods and is often used in manufacturing and process-oriented projects. For example, investment portfolio management software can incorporate Six Sigma methodologies to enhance project quality and performance metrics.
By integrating one or more of these approaches within your portfolio management system, you can enhance workflow efficiency and improve overall project outcomes, making your portfolio tools more versatile and effective.
How can I use PPM tools to capture and manage project demand?
Whether opting for free portfolio management software or investing in comprehensive solutions, the right software for portfolio management can transform how project demand is captured and managed, leading to more informed decision-making and improved project outcomes. To effectively capture and manage project demand, organizations can leverage project portfolio management software (PPM software) to streamline the following processes:
- Demand Identification: Utilizing a PPM system, teams can gather project requests from various stakeholders. This may involve forms or dashboards within portfolio management solutions that allow for easy submission and visibility.
- Prioritization and Evaluation: Once demands are captured, portfolio analysis software can be used to assess the potential value and alignment of each project with organizational objectives. This is where portfolio project management software shines, offering tools to evaluate project feasibility, resource needs, and expected outcomes.
- Approval Workflow: Implementing a structured approval process with portfolio manager software guarantees that only projects aligned with strategic goals and delivering value progress further. This approach can utilize automated workflows to seamlessly guide projects through each stage of the approval process.
- Resource Allocation: Effective IT portfolio management software assists in allocating resources to approved projects, helping to balance demand with available capacity. This minimizes bottlenecks and ensures projects are adequately supported.
- Monitoring and Adjustment: Continuous monitoring through portfolio analytics software allows project managers to track progress against demand forecasts, enabling timely adjustments to resource allocation and project timelines.
By integrating these processes with the right tools, such as personal investment management software and portfolio risk management tools, organizations can enhance their PPM project management capabilities.
How do I get leadership buy-in for adopting a new PPM tool?
To get leadership buy-in, start by identifying the business problems your current process creates, such as wasted resources or missed deadlines. The steps that follow are to:
- Research and select a PPM tool that directly addresses those issues.
- Build a clear business case with specific data and show projected savings, efficiency gains, or risk reductions.
- Involve key decision-makers early so you can understand their goals and concerns.
- Demo the tool with a small pilot or proof-of-concept, then share results, lessons learned, and staff testimonials.
Finally, present a detailed rollout plan that covers costs, timelines, adoption strategies, and measurable outcomes so leadership can see clear value and reduced risk.
How can I measure ROI after implementing a PPM tool?
Measure ROI by tracking metrics like project delivery speed, resource utilization, on-budget performance, and project success rates before and after implementation. Compare:
- The time saved on reporting
- How much it reduced project failures
- Improvement percentage of alignment to business goals.
Be sure to collect feedback from users and executives to show both quantitative and qualitative improvements.
What's Next?
Want to connect with other digital project managers to share resources and best practices? Join our membership community and get access to 100+ templates, samples, and examples and connect with 100s of other digital project managers in Slack.
