Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Microsoft Project Server vs ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
5.1
Microsoft Project Server offers positive ROI, varying by organization type, with benefits of time savings and improved reporting.
Sentiment score
7.7
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management improves ROI through streamlined operations, enhanced visibility, and efficient collaboration, benefiting mature companies significantly.
Microsoft Project provides significant return on investment through time savings, enhanced visibility, real-time reporting, and risk mitigation for projects.
For organizations that haven't invested in people and processes, the product is underutilized and seen as overpriced.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.4
Microsoft Project Server support is decent but inconsistent; users rely on external resources and partners for comprehensive assistance.
Sentiment score
6.8
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management provides effective support with responsive teams, comprehensive resources, and valuable training, despite occasional access challenges.
It's challenging to navigate, often making it necessary to search for solutions externally.
Their support tends to decline when not supporting cloud solutions.
Communication with two people, one was knowledgeable while the other was learning.
They have knowledgeable teams across all levels.
They should improve vendor compliance to align with ServiceNow's strategy.
While they have a skilled team, reaching the right resource can sometimes be a challenge.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Microsoft Project Server is scalable for large projects, though performance may vary based on version and infrastructure costs.
Sentiment score
7.6
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management is praised for its scalability and adaptability, effectively managing diverse enterprise needs and user demands.
The desktop version does not have scalability.
Microsoft Project Server is fully scalable and is widely used in many industries.
Scalability is critical for our clients as they deal with numerous projects and changes.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Microsoft Project Server is stable and robust, with minor delays, improved in newer versions, especially the cloud version.
Sentiment score
8.2
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management is stable and reliable, rated highly by users despite occasional performance and customization issues.
I have never had to reach out to their support because the product works as expected.
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Project Server requires better integration, customization, user-friendliness, cloud functionality, and agile methodologies to compete with alternatives.
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management needs more intuitive interfaces, better finance integration, cost-efficiency, and improved reporting and AI features.
Exporting data from Microsoft Project, especially Gantt charts, is overly complex and not user-friendly.
The lack of collaboration capabilities on the desktop version, unlike the cloud version, is a limitation.
Microsoft has become increasingly expensive, and there seems to be a push towards cloud solutions which can be challenging for some.
The integration of artificial intelligence is something my customer is considering for future upgrades.
The recommended export and import functionality could be developed into a real-time scenario to allow seamless data synchronization without manual interventions.
Making the product more cost-beneficial would help more organizations consider investing in it.
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Project Server offers flexible pricing, with on-premise and cloud options, potentially costing enterprises $120,000 to $150,000 annually.
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management's complex pricing is seen as expensive, deterring medium-sized companies despite potential ROI benefits.
Microsoft Project Server is on the expensive side due to high licensing costs.
Microsoft's products are expensive for individuals.
Considering the infrastructure commitments to SharePoint and SQL, the implementation costs are low if already set up.
If a company is prepared to get a return on the investment, the price is worth it.
It's a bit costly currently.
The pricing is rated six, as it's relatively low-medium compared to other solutions.
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Project Server streamlines complex project management with resource allocation, integration, and robust tools for efficient collaboration and scheduling.
ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management provides comprehensive, flexible project management with real-time analytics and seamless ITSM integrations for enhanced decision-making.
The Gantt chart is also a very powerful tool for a visual presentation of sequences, critical paths, and execution processes, which simplifies comprehension for users.
This setup allows for comprehensive reporting and management across multiple projects and portfolios.
The dashboards are amazing for data crunching and provide a project focus with upcoming predictions, including burn-up and burn-down charts.
The platform consolidates multiple offerings into one module, eliminating the need to invest in siloed applications.
Aligning the portfolio with overall strategy and goals is essential for success.
The most valuable features include managing our portfolio, getting a grip on demand in the environment, and making informed decisions about which projects would provide the greatest return.
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Project Server
Ranking in Project Portfolio Management
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
62
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
ServiceNow Strategic Portfo...
Ranking in Project Portfolio Management
2nd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
35
Ranking in other categories
Enterprise Agile Planning Tools (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Project Portfolio Management category, the mindshare of Microsoft Project Server is 5.9%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management is 11.2%, down from 13.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Project Portfolio Management
 

Featured Reviews

Mouloud Fourali - PeerSpot reviewer
Visual project planning enhances collaboration and proactive management
The dependency management in Microsoft Project is highly valuable, as it visually maps dependencies and impacts within a project plan. The online version facilitates easy collaboration without having to share multiple versions of the file. The Gantt chart is also a very powerful tool for a visual presentation of sequences, critical paths, and execution processes, which simplifies comprehension for users.
Vishal Savajiani - PeerSpot reviewer
Effective reporting and AI features enhance task tracking
The best feature is the effective reporting system for project portfolio and program management. It allows us to track tasks easily, create cost budgets for individual tasks, and is aligned with AI features. It's a comprehensive strategic project management tool, Agile tool, and business continuity tool. The platform consolidates multiple offerings into one module, eliminating the need to invest in siloed applications.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Project Portfolio Management solutions are best for your needs.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Government
9%
Energy/Utilities Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Government
9%
Healthcare Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Project Server?
The ability to track a project's progress using Microsoft Project Server is the most valuable aspect. It depends, especially when managing multiple projects.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Project Server?
The pricing for Microsoft Project Server is standard, around $200-$250, but I think it's actually $80 to $100 per year. The pricing for Microsoft Project Server is relative; I would say it is cheap.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Project Server?
In order to improve Microsoft Project Server, collaborative features could be enhanced, as it is possible to improve it in a collaborative way similar to other office products, for example, using c...
What do you like most about ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management?
We mainly use the solution to support operations and align our ITSM operations with our business goals. This involves coordinating between our application development, support teams, and network en...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management?
The pricing is rated six, as it's relatively low-medium compared to other solutions. However, the value isn't fully justified when not all features are used. A pricing model adjustment is needed fo...
What needs improvement with ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management?
Based on observations, improvements in ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management could involve enhancing the project workbench, which currently shows every project to any project manager. Restricti...
 

Also Known As

MS Project Server
IT Business Management, ServiceNow IT Business Management Suite, ServiceNow ITBM Suite, ServiceNow ITBM
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Magnachip, Gwinnett County Schools, CLEAResult, Medbit Oy, Intelbras S.A., ETS, CORE Construction, Keller Foundations
Proximus, UNT SYSTEM, SAP SuccessFactors
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Project Server vs. ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.