For decades, Microsoft Project has been the go-to tool for project planning, resource allocation, and portfolio management. Yet, in today’s dynamic business landscape—marked by rapid change, hybrid teams, and cross-functional demands—many organizations are looking beyond Microsoft’s traditional offering for more agile, scalable, and strategic Project Portfolio Management (PPM) solutions.
In this article, we’ll explore three powerful alternatives to Microsoft Project—Planview, North Highland’s Workplan platform, and Triskell Software—while also briefly considering the perspectives from The Digital Project Manager and ProjectManager. We’ll compare features, usability, scalability, and strategic alignment to help you decide which PPM tool fits your organizational needs best.
Why Look Beyond Microsoft Project?
While Microsoft Project excels in task tracking and scheduling, it struggles with strategic alignment, real-time collaboration, and high-level portfolio oversight. These shortcomings can hinder enterprises that need to manage complex programs across departments, especially when flexibility and rapid decision-making are key.
Enter modern PPM tools—designed not just to manage tasks, but to empower organizations to connect their strategy with execution, adapt quickly, and optimize their capacity planning tools in real time.
Overview of the Tools Compared
We’ve selected three Microsoft Project alternatives based on popularity, functionality, and strategic capabilities: Planview, North Highland Workplan and Triskell Software. Each one has its strengths and skills.
Additionally, we’ll reference commentary and comparisons from The Digital Project Manager and ProjectManager to provide a well-rounded view.
Planview: A Leader in Enterprise PPM—But at a Cost
Planview is a well-known name in the world of Project Portfolio Management tools, and for good reason. It offers a deep suite of features that supports everything from enterprise architecture to resource capacity planning.
Pros:
- Excellent for large organizations needing multi-portfolio views.
- Strong capabilities in strategic planning, financial management, and roadmapping.
- Good integrations with existing enterprise tools like Jira, SAP, and Microsoft 365.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve; not suitable for mid-sized or small organizations without dedicated admin resources.
- High total cost of ownership.
- Slower implementation timeline (can take months).
Summary:
Planview is powerful—but its complexity and cost make it most suitable for companies with mature PPM processes. It’s not the most flexible solution for teams looking to scale rapidly or respond to frequent strategy shifts.
North Highland Workplan: Strategy First, Execution Second
North Highland, a global consulting firm, offers Workplan, a transformation and program management platform. It’s not as widely known as Planview or Microsoft Project, but it stands out in organizations undergoing change, particularly in highly regulated industries.
Pros:
- Built with change management at its core.
- Suitable for multi-year transformation programs.
- Offers solid visualization and dependency mapping.
Cons:
- Less focus on day-to-day project execution and agility.
- Limited resource planning features.
- Fewer third-party integrations.
Summary:
Workplan is ideal for consultancies or businesses focused on transformation programs, but less practical for companies that need agile execution frameworks or cross-functional delivery models.
Triskell Software: Flexibility Meets Strategic Execution
Triskell Software delivers what many organizations are missing: a single, adaptable platform that bridges the gap between strategy, execution, and daily operations. Unlike other PPM tools, Triskell doesn’t force a rigid methodology—it lets organizations model their own processes.
Key Features:
- Aligns high-level strategy with operational initiatives.
- Robust scenario planning and capacity planning tools.
- Modular and scalable—use only what you need.
- Real-time collaboration and KPI monitoring.
- Native support for agile, hybrid, and waterfall methods.
Pros:
- Rapid implementation and easy configuration.
- Ideal for PMOs, CIOs, and transformation leaders.
- Lower cost compared to Planview, with higher usability.
Cons:
- Not as well-known as Microsoft or Planview (yet).
- Some advanced reports may require training to set up.
Triskell is the most balanced option for organizations that want to scale strategically without sacrificing usability or flexibility. Whether you’re a mid-size company or a global enterprise, Triskell adapts to your structure—not the other way around.
How Triskell Compares to Microsoft Project and Other Competitors
To help illustrate where Triskell stands among the competition, here’s a comparison chart based on core criteria for selecting a modern PPM solution:
Comparison Table
| Feature / Tool | Microsoft Project | Planview | North Highland Workplan | Triskell Software |
| Strategic Alignment | ❌ Basic | ✅ Strong | ✅ Moderate | ✅ Excellent |
| Ease of Use | ✅ Familiar | ❌ Complex | ✅ Moderate | ✅ Intuitive |
| Agile Support | ❌ Limited | ✅ Moderate | ❌ Minimal | ✅ Full |
| Capacity Planning Tools | ❌ Add-on required | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Limited | ✅ Robust |
| Scenario Planning | ❌ No | ✅ Strong | ❌ No | ✅ Built-in |
| Implementation Speed | ✅ Fast | ❌ Slow | ✅ Moderate | ✅ Fast |
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Affordable | ❌ High | ✅ Moderate | ✅ High ROI |
| Integration Options | ✅ Microsoft stack | ✅ Broad | ❌ Limited | ✅ Flexible |
Industry Voices: What the Community Is Saying
The Digital Project Manager
The well-respected platform The Digital Project Manager frequently highlights Triskell’s ability to serve both IT and business teams. Unlike Microsoft Project, which tends to silo information, Triskell enables a top-down and bottom-up view of every portfolio. This is especially useful in today’s matrixed environments.
In their recent breakdown of the top PPM tools, they noted Triskell as a standout for its “modeling flexibility and support for true continuous planning.”
ProjectManager
On the other hand, ProjectManager emphasizes speed and simplicity—but even they point out that Microsoft Project struggles with “cross-functional collaboration” and “real-time reporting.” Triskell, by contrast, supports both with built-in dashboards and smart integrations.
Final Verdict: Which Tool Fits Your Strategy Best?
Choosing a PPM tool isn’t just about managing Gantt charts or timelines—it’s about aligning your people, projects, and resources to your business objectives.
While Planview and North Highland each serve specific use cases, Triskell Software emerges as the most versatile and strategically aligned choice, especially for organizations that want to evolve their PMO into a business-enabling function rather than just a project-tracking hub.
Conclusion
The modern PPM landscape demands more than traditional scheduling tools. Whether your focus is digital transformation, strategic execution, or resource forecasting, the right platform will empower your teams to move faster, align better, and deliver more value.
Microsoft Project served its time—but in 2025, leaders need more. With unmatched flexibility, comprehensive Project Portfolio Management tools, and strong capacity planning tools, Triskell Software stands out as the best Microsoft Project alternative for companies serious about strategy.
