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Microsoft Project Review 2021


Microsoft Project is primarily a desktop program that lets users manage and create projects. Could you find out more about our analysis?

What is Microsoft Project?

With many businesses being run by employees from their homes, it's more crucial than ever to ensure that all of your business's operations are running on the same system. This is where Microsoft Project can come into use since it allows you to manage your entire company's projects on the same screen.

When used in conjunction with Microsoft Teams, these software platforms can enable business owners to view the full dimensions of their company's performance. Many popular choices for software to manage projects are web-based apps accessible via browsers. However, Microsoft has a desktop version of Microsoft Project, which is perfect for those who prefer a traditional working method. Project is a web-based application, just like the other ones, but its primary goal (as with other Microprokey software) is the Office application that runs on a desktop. If, until now, you've organized your tasks using an Excel spreadsheet and you're not happy with it, Project could be simpler to switch to something entirely web-based like Asana ($10.99 for a month) and Trello ($10 monthly). The cheapest Project level starts at just $10 per user per month—placing Project within the same price range as the other options.

Microsoft Project alternatives

Although Microsoft Project has its benefits, however, there are several other alternatives that we believe in having an advantage. For one, Microprokey.com is an affordable, extremely customizable platform with amazing automation features.

Another program called Wrike comes with an all-free tier that lets you explore the application without stress. It comes with a huge array of features. It also works seamlessly with Slack along with Google Hangouts. Please look at some of Microsoft Project's major rivals below, or check out our list of the most effective software for managing projects.

Microsoft Project Features

When opening the first Microsoft Project document, the first thing you'll see is that it shares many of its "DNA" with other Microsoft Office products. The well-known Office Ribbon is at the top of the screen, with menu options specifically designed for managing projects like a task, resource, and report? At the bottom of the screen, you'll find an entry grid similar to Excel. However, that's where the similarities end since Project is about managing your team's efforts by using Gantt charts and milestones, allocation of resources, and a variety of choices for reporting.

Auto-scheduling

One of the most useful features of Project is the auto-scheduling function. The Project requires that you define the projects you want to work on in a particular manner, starting with brief tasks and sub-tasks and milestones. After you've defined the details of your Project and specified the timeframes for your projects, auto-scheduling can set the calendar for your projects automatically. You can input any dates you want manually. However, auto-scheduling provides an easier way to manage the timeline view of Project and Gantt charts.

View of the Board

Microsoft Project has a Kanban card and a board view accessible via Task and View. Task Board. It comes with four predefined columns: not started, Next up, In Progress and Done. It is also possible to add additional columns that fit your business's workflow, change the names of the columns that are already in use or remove them altogether. Like the other Kanban boards, this one, too, is an interface for drag-and-drop. It is also possible to create tasks directly from the interface and include important information like notes and resources.

Notes and attachments to files for tasks

As with other tools for managing projects, it is possible to include notepads and files that you attach to projects within Project. But, in a typical Microsoft manner, it uses confusingly obscure terms. Double-clicking on the cell with information for any task opens an extremely tiny task information window with six tabs. In its Note stab tab, users can write down text notes in small, rich fonts regarding the task. There's an Insert object option, and this allows you to attach an image file, Word Document, Excel spreadsheet or PDF document, image file, etc. It would be simpler to comprehend the option if it was known as "Attach," but like many other Microsoft products, Project has its legacies to keep in mind.

Sub-projects

Do not worry about sub-tasks. Microsoft Project lets you embed projects into projects. This is an excellent option for anyone looking for the creation of a master document to keep track of multiple projects. Once you've connected the sub-project to the master project, it is possible to modify the first in the second. Additionally, the changes you make in the sub-projects file are reflected within the master one. This feature is useful for obtaining a comprehensive overview of the projects you've created.

Microsoft Project Pricing

Microsoft Project is not available in a free version. This is not surprising because very limited Office programs are (save those that are the well-known ones). As mentioned before, pricing starts at just $10 per user per month in Project Plan 1. This pricing level supports collaboration among team members, coauthoring multi-project management views and the web-based app and cloud-based saves.

The next level will be Project Plan 3 for $30 per month per user. This pricing level includes mapping, a desktop application with the ability to upload timesheets, optimize resource allocation, and portfolio reports.

Then, Project Plan 5 costs $55 per month per user. The plan also includes Portfolio selection and optimization as well as the capability to manage the demand, as well as resources planning and management capabilities.

Each pricing plan is invoiced each year.

Microsoft also offers Project in the form of an on-premise application beginning at $620 per computer for Project Standard and does not include the ability to collaborate online. Project Professional starts at $1,030 per computer and can support online collaboration and collaboration via Skype for Business. Additionally, Project Server doesn't have a predetermined cost and includes advanced analytics and the standard assessment and capture process featured in Project Online Premium.

Microsoft Project Review Verdict

It's not a secret. There's no doubt that Microsoft Project is a very competent application with all the features necessary to manage projects. But, it isn't the right selection for smaller, agile teams.  The first thing to note is that it's quite stable in its design and feels like an Office product. It's incredibly feature-rich to become overpowering, yet it conceals all that energy behind the typical Office appearance. Simply put, you'll find much more user-friendly and comfortable interfaces to manage projects that are smaller or smaller teams.

Second, Project doesn't have lower-priced tiers. This makes the tool unattainable for many. To the extent that it is fair, it should be compared with the higher tiers of other project management tools that hide important features behind more expensive products. If your company is heavily committed to Microsoft Office, Project is an obvious extension of this investment. However, if you're not in the market for Office or Office, then Project isn't the best option for you, regardless of how feature-rich it is.

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