The best alternative to Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is for planning projects and their schedules. Tallyfy is for the work your team repeats, like onboarding and approvals.
- Handoffs - Steps can go to a group, or to a job title you fill at launch
- Design - We invented Workflow Made Easy ®
- Support - Get expert 1:1 help free, for life
- AI - Ask ChatGPT or Claude, on their paid plans, to launch a process or find a task
People ❤️ Tallyfy
Simple for everyone. Powerful enough for pros.
"We can finally delegate work with confidence and focus on growing the business.
"Tallyfy has been transformative for us. It's reduced manual errors, sped up processes like onboarding, and helped us document workflows that are critical as we grow. The ability to track tasks and aggregate them in one place saves us so much time and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks.
"Tallyfy is intuitive, fun and visually appealing. We can quickly gather every detail we need from our client in order to finish it on time. All the documents, specific details and comments are in one place.
"A paper-based approval for critical purchases could take a couple of days before if someone was waiting for a director to be available for a signature. Now approvals are often completed in minutes.
"It has become a regular thing that people say 'put that in Tallyfy'. They know it by name. It has become the executive approval tool for our company. We have bi-weekly Tallyfy calls where we review what needs approval and what is pending - it keeps everyone aligned.
"It used to take us two days to run monthly client campaigns, now, with the help of Tallyfy, we complete them in just a few hours!
"Tallyfy is a very reliable way to delegate and track tasks with confidence. It has taken the guesswork out of the equation and has helped our team focus on delivering a service within deadlines. Thank you for making my life much easier!
"Tallyfy transformed how we manage client onboarding and policy renewals. It eliminated inefficiencies, reduced meeting times from hours to minutes, and helped us avoid costly penalties by automating key processes. We now have full visibility over tasks, and I no longer need to chase down updates - it's all right there.
"With Tallyfy, we have seen clarity in our processes as well as any bottlenecks. Tallyfy would be a good fit for any company that has a design, approval and implementation process that needs to have a quick turn around and that is growing fast.
"Tallyfy has revolutionized how we manage our marketing projects at West Community Credit Union. It allows us to quickly launch tailored campaigns and track every moving part, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. The ease of creating flexible, repeatable processes has saved us significant time and improved team collaboration.
"Our clients and team sail through the Tallyfy process - there is no need for clients to log in, there is one link for everything they need to do, everything saves in real-time - it all works incredibly well! I can't imagine scaling our agency without Tallyfy.
"When asked for an update on a pending request, I would have had to look through several email threads, make phone calls, and often have to wait for a reply to give an accurate update. I can now go into Tallyfy and view all of the information in one place. In two seconds, I am able to update the requestor on the status of their order.
"Tallyfy has helped our team streamline the efficiency of our processes. We now have smooth processes from beginning to end - without any steps being forgotten or skipped.
"If you want to be efficient and scale your business then Tallyfy is the way go. There is no question about it.
"Routing multiple documents is far quicker and there's immediate accountability and oversight. After switching to Tallyfy, routing documents and layouts went from taking over a week to taking just 2-3 days.
"We can finally delegate work with confidence and focus on growing the business.
"Tallyfy has been transformative for us. It's reduced manual errors, sped up processes like onboarding, and helped us document workflows that are critical as we grow. The ability to track tasks and aggregate them in one place saves us so much time and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks.
"Tallyfy is intuitive, fun and visually appealing. We can quickly gather every detail we need from our client in order to finish it on time. All the documents, specific details and comments are in one place.
"A paper-based approval for critical purchases could take a couple of days before if someone was waiting for a director to be available for a signature. Now approvals are often completed in minutes.
"It has become a regular thing that people say 'put that in Tallyfy'. They know it by name. It has become the executive approval tool for our company. We have bi-weekly Tallyfy calls where we review what needs approval and what is pending - it keeps everyone aligned.
"It used to take us two days to run monthly client campaigns, now, with the help of Tallyfy, we complete them in just a few hours!
"Tallyfy is a very reliable way to delegate and track tasks with confidence. It has taken the guesswork out of the equation and has helped our team focus on delivering a service within deadlines. Thank you for making my life much easier!
"Tallyfy transformed how we manage client onboarding and policy renewals. It eliminated inefficiencies, reduced meeting times from hours to minutes, and helped us avoid costly penalties by automating key processes. We now have full visibility over tasks, and I no longer need to chase down updates - it's all right there.
"With Tallyfy, we have seen clarity in our processes as well as any bottlenecks. Tallyfy would be a good fit for any company that has a design, approval and implementation process that needs to have a quick turn around and that is growing fast.
"Tallyfy has revolutionized how we manage our marketing projects at West Community Credit Union. It allows us to quickly launch tailored campaigns and track every moving part, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. The ease of creating flexible, repeatable processes has saved us significant time and improved team collaboration.
"Our clients and team sail through the Tallyfy process - there is no need for clients to log in, there is one link for everything they need to do, everything saves in real-time - it all works incredibly well! I can't imagine scaling our agency without Tallyfy.
"When asked for an update on a pending request, I would have had to look through several email threads, make phone calls, and often have to wait for a reply to give an accurate update. I can now go into Tallyfy and view all of the information in one place. In two seconds, I am able to update the requestor on the status of their order.
"Tallyfy has helped our team streamline the efficiency of our processes. We now have smooth processes from beginning to end - without any steps being forgotten or skipped.
"If you want to be efficient and scale your business then Tallyfy is the way go. There is no question about it.
"Routing multiple documents is far quicker and there's immediate accountability and oversight. After switching to Tallyfy, routing documents and layouts went from taking over a week to taking just 2-3 days.
What switching from Microsoft Project saves
What busywork costs your company
per week
per year
over 5 years
A board rebuilt by hand can come out different
Every run you launch from a Tallyfy template starts with the same steps.
Tallyfy vs. Microsoft Project
Tallyfy runs recurring processes, such as onboarding and approvals.
The alternatives
Project and task management tools
When you edit a Tallyfy template, every process launched after that follows the new version.
AI readiness comparison
How Microsoft Project and Tallyfy compare on AI-native capabilities
A run can start by hand, from a form, or when a task in another process is completed. Tallyfy has a live MCP server with 100+ tools that connects to ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot Studio.
Which tool is right for you?
Tallyfy is best for
- Work your team does the same way every time
- Operations teams that hand work from one person to the next
- Compliance and audit checklists
- Teams that want to start without building a project schedule
- Steps that several people must each sign off
Consider Microsoft Project for
- Planning large projects and booking people's time
- Teams already using Microsoft 365
- Construction and engineering projects
- Teams that track baselines and a critical path on their timelines
Write it once, run it every time
Each run follows the same steps, and every change you make improves the next one.
Here's why people don't like Microsoft Project
This is third party content sourced from the public web. You can verify this content if you wish. See our disclaimer and citations section below.
" The interface is limiting and difficult to understand without putting effort into experimentation.[1] "
" Microsoft always feels clunky and dated compared to similar software options.[2] "
" It can be a bit complicated for new users. The interface has a lot of features, which can feel overwhelming if you're not familiar with project management tools.[3] "
" One of the cons is that it is very expensive compared to its competitors. Even the UI is bit complex and handling large projects becomes difficult.[4] "
" A very heavy platform and visually not very appealing.[5] "
" The software is tough to master, with a steep learning curve. There are also restrictions in customising possibilities and integration with other products.[6] "
" It is a restrictive tool, it can only be used in Windows environments, not compatible with Linux or MAC OS. It can be expensive and the interface is not very friendly when you are using it for the first time.[7] "
" Microsoft Project can be overwhelming for smaller teams who don't need all the complex features. The learning curve is steep and it requires dedicated training to use effectively.[8] "
" The onboarding experience was extremely frustrating. Unlike practically every other project management tool out there, you can't just enter your email and begin to try out the program. Instead, Microsoft requires you to enter quite a bit of data about yourself, and then asks for your phone number to verify your account.[9] "
" Changes to task dates or dependencies in Microsoft Project leave no audit trail. This undermines trust in the project plan, makes stakeholder reviews more difficult, and disables visibility into who changed what and when.[10] "
" Collaboration in MS Project is definitely a 3-star experience as conversations are not built into the product. You have to create a connection with a Teams channel so you can start having conversations. You will have to spend on two separate licenses as Teams and Project do not come together in any bundle.[11] "
- Timeline (Gantt) view
- Task dependencies
- Backlogs and sprints
- Project desktop app
- Create portfolios
- Baselines and critical path
Tallyfy might not be right for you if...
- Not built for planning one-off projects with task dependencies
- No Gantt chart or timeline view
- No resource leveling or capacity planning
- No built-in timesheets
Turn the work you repeat into a process
Write it down once and run it as often as you need
| Status | Step | Assignee | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status: Completed Status: Active Status: Waiting Status: Conditional Status: Up next | 1. Document | TM Team member | |
| Status: Completed Status: Active Status: Waiting Status: Conditional Status: Up next | 2. Track why this works | AI AI agent | |
| Status: Completed Status: Active Status: Waiting Status: Conditional Status: Up next | 3. Improve | TM Team member |
Why Tallyfy is the AI control layer
Set up
Define the recipeLay out your steps, deadlines, and who does each: a person, AI, or a rule.
Run
People + AI togetherLaunch in one click. AI does the routine steps; people approve. No glue code.
Track and improve
Audit and learnWatch every step live, then refine - a gradual shift, never a total redo.
Tallyfy does not charge for basic services
Need help? Onboarding and 1:1 support are free for life, and you can book as many 25-minute screen-sharing calls with our experts as you need.
Book a call
Tallyfy is secure, proven and enterprise-grade
API & Webhooks
Free SSO
Legal & Procurement
Integration hubs
AI & Automation
BI & Data export
Triggers & Forms
Plus Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, Box, and many more via integrations.
Switching from Microsoft Project to Tallyfy
Most teams move their main processes over in 1-2 weeks
Find the work in Microsoft Project that your team repeats
Save each one's steps as a Word or PDF file and upload it; Tallyfy's AI turns it into a template
Choose who does each step, and add deadlines and form fields
Connect your other apps through Zapier or Power Automate, if you need to
Run each new process once with your team to check it
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Microsoft Project used for?
What exactly is Tallyfy and how does it differ from Microsoft Project?
When should I use a process tool instead of a project tool?
How do task dependencies work in Tallyfy?
Does Tallyfy price differently by country?
How does Tallyfy handle process improvement?
How does Tallyfy use AI?
What security standards does Tallyfy meet?
Does Tallyfy work with Microsoft 365?
Is setup help included?
How can I get started with Tallyfy?
How do I see where each piece of work stands?
How does Tallyfy handle a long process with many steps?
References and Citations
- [1] Capterra - Microsoft Project review by Publishing industry user (Found February 2025)
- [2] Capterra - Microsoft Project user feedback about interface (Found February 2025)
- [3] Capterra - Microsoft Project complexity review (Found February 2025)
- [4] Capterra - Microsoft Project pricing and UI feedback (Found February 2025)
- [5] Capterra - Microsoft Project platform weight review (Found February 2025)
- [6] G2 - Microsoft Project learning curve review (Found February 2025)
- [7] Software Advice - Microsoft Project compatibility limitations review (Found February 2025)
- [8] TrustRadius - Microsoft Project complexity for small teams review (Found February 2025)
- [9] Expert Reviews - Microsoft Project onboarding experience review (January 2025)
- [10] Celoxis - 13 Reasons Not to Use Microsoft Project (January 2025)
- [11] The Digital Project Manager - Microsoft Project Review (January 2025)
7 alternatives to Microsoft Project
Explore other alternatives to Microsoft Project
Asana
Work management software for teams and AI agents
- Plans, automates and runs team workflows
- Ready-made AI agents for each team
- No-code automations
monday.com
Workspace where people and AI agents work together
- Separate products for projects, CRM, service and dev teams
- Agent builder for custom AI agents
- Dashboards and reporting
Trello
Boards for organizing tasks and projects
- Inbox, Boards and Planner views
- Automation for tasks and workflows
- Power-Ups that link other tools
ClickUp
All-in-one work app with tasks, docs, goals and chat
- AI agents you can build and hand tasks to
- Kanban boards, Gantt views and custom fields
- Time tracking and sprints
Basecamp
Project management and team communication app
- Message boards and to-dos in each project
- Built for working with clients too
- API and CLI for developers and AI agents
Teamwork
Professional services automation (PSA) software for client work
- Resource and capacity planning
- Live margin on every project
- Connects to CRM and finance tools
Wrike
Enterprise work management software for people and AI
- Request forms with conditional logic
- Workload and capacity planning
- Interactive timelines
Pick one process. Run it this week.
Start with the one your team repeats most, and stop chasing it.
DISCLAIMER OF AFFILIATION, ACCURACY & LIABILITY
This page is an independent, good-faith comparative review prepared by Tallyfy, Inc. ("Tallyfy") and is based on publicly available information, third-party reviews, and vendor materials current as of November 2026. The content is offered "AS IS" for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, technical, or legal advice.
- • No Affiliation. Tallyfy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft Project" and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; all such marks appear solely for nominative, comparative reference permitted under the Lanham Act and the doctrine of nominative fair use.
- • Dynamic Information. Features, service levels, and pricing change frequently and may have changed since the compilation date. Users should verify current offerings directly with each vendor before making purchasing decisions.
- • Opinion & First-Amendment Protection. All statements constitute Tallyfy's opinion or commentary, which is protected speech when truthful and non-misleading.
- • No Warranties; Limitation of Liability. Tallyfy disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including accuracy, completeness, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose, and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content.
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