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PinromLite
ComparePinrom vs Microsoft Project

The Budget-Friendly Microsoft Project Alternative for Small Teams

Simple task management vs enterprise scheduling

Microsoft Project is enterprise PPM software built for complex, dependency-heavy scheduling. Compare it with Pinrom's simple, affordable project management with built-in chat and a client portal.
P
Pinrom
Simple & Affordable
Recommended
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project
Enterprise project management
$1
Starting price per user
14 days
Free trial
5 min
Setup time

Feature by feature

Detailed Feature Comparison

See how Pinrom compares to Microsoft Project across key features and capabilities.

Core Features

Time Tracking

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Pinrom
Built-in time tracking with a focus timer, manual entries, and a billable flag — included even on the $1/user Solo plan
Microsoft Project
Basic plan lacks time-tracking functionality
Time tracking not available in Plan 1. Requires higher-tier plans

Built-in team chat (DMs + group)

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Pinrom
Real-time direct messages and group chat built in — no separate Slack to pay for
Microsoft Project
No native real-time chat — relies on separate Microsoft Teams

Unlimited Projects

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Pinrom
Unlimited projects even in the Solo plan
Microsoft Project
Unlimited projects in paid plans

Custom Statuses

P
Pinrom
Custom statuses, labels, and priorities available in all plans
Microsoft Project
Custom fields available in desktop versions only
Browser-only Plan 1 has limited customization

Collaboration

Client Collaboration

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Pinrom
Free client collaboration with 10 active clients in Solo, unlimited in higher plans
Microsoft Project
No built-in client collaboration features
No free client or freelancer access. Enterprise-focused only

Freelancer Access

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Pinrom
Up to 3 (Solo), 10 (Team), 50 (Agency) freelancers at no extra cost
Microsoft Project
No freelancer-specific collaboration features
All external users require paid licenses

Private Projects

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Pinrom
Private projects available in all plans
Microsoft Project
Limited private projects unless on Business plan
Advanced privacy features require higher plans

Storage & Files

File Storage

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Pinrom
2GB (Solo), 5GB (Team), 100GB (Agency) with organized management
Microsoft Project
No direct file storage management
Relies on OneDrive or SharePoint for document handling. Additional subscriptions needed

File Organization

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Pinrom
Organized file management within projects
Microsoft Project
No integrated file management system
Requires separate Microsoft 365 subscriptions

Ease of Use

Learning Curve

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Pinrom
Intuitive interface designed for immediate productivity
Microsoft Project
Complex enterprise interface requires extensive training
Steep learning curve for small teams, with enterprise-focused complexity

Setup Time

P
Pinrom
Ready-to-use project management, no configuration needed
Microsoft Project
Requires extensive setup and configuration
Hours of configuration needed for basic functionality

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Pinrom Advantages

  • Starts at $1/user/month — a fraction of the price
  • Built-in time tracking and a client portal
  • Built-in team chat (DMs + group), no Teams subscription needed
  • Simple setup without enterprise complexity
  • No additional Microsoft 365 subscriptions required

Best for: Small teams, freelancers, creative agencies, and startups who want simple, affordable project management with built-in chat and a client portal.

Microsoft Project Advantages

  • Extremely powerful for enterprise project scheduling
  • Advanced resource management and portfolio tracking
  • Deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem
  • Comprehensive reporting and analytics
  • Dependency-heavy scheduling for large programs

Best for: Enterprises that need complex, dependency-heavy scheduling, resource optimization, and portfolio management across large programs.

Cost calculator

See how the cost compares

Estimate what your team would pay on Pinrom versus Microsoft Project.

Team Size: 10 users
1 user100 users
Recommended
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Pinrom
$120.00/year

For 10 users

  • All features included
  • Built-in time tracking
  • Unlimited projects
  • Priority support
Microsoft Project
$3600.00/year

For 10 users

  • Project management features
  • ·Higher starting price than Pinrom
  • ·Included features vary by tier — check their site

About $3480 less per year with Pinrom

For a 10-person team, based on the Microsoft Project tier priced above.

Microsoft Project pricing shown as of June 2026 and may have changed — check Microsoft Project's website for current pricing. Pinrom figures use list pricing ($1/user/month, billed yearly).

Simple project management from $1/user/month

Get essential project management features without forcing your team into enterprise-level complexity and costs.

14-Day Free Trial

Full access to all features, no credit card required

5-Minute Setup

Get your team up and running in minutes, not hours

Team Chat Built In

DMs and group chat included — no separate Slack to pay for

Simple project management from $1/user/month

14-day free trial
• No credit card required
• Free client & freelancer seats