Softwr

Construction · head to head

Microsoft Project vs Navisworks

Microsoft Project logo

Microsoft Project

Construction

Keep projects organized and on track

From
$10/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Navisworks logo

Navisworks

Construction

Project review software for construction professionals

From
$145/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Project performance degrades with large projects over 400 tasks, becoming slow and unstable; Navisworks sold in two named editions, Navisworks Simulate and Navisworks Manage, each licensed for install on up to 3 computers per subscription (Internet Archive capture, 7 January 2023)
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Project covers Gantt charts, Navisworks covers Clash detection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Project and Navisworks actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Project and Navisworks differ
AttributeMicrosoft ProjectNavisworks
Starting price$10/month$145/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOSWindows
Founded19751982

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Microsoft Project

  • Gantt charts
  • Resource management
  • Budget tracking
  • Timeline views
  • Task dependencies
  • Critical path
  • Earned value analysis
  • Portfolio management

Only in Navisworks

  • Clash detection
  • 4D scheduling
  • Model aggregation
  • Quantification
  • Visualization
  • Revit
  • AutoCAD
  • BIM 360

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Project

  • Project schedulingnot Navisworks
  • Resource allocationnot Navisworks
  • Portfolio managementnot Navisworks
  • Budget trackingnot Navisworks
  • Enterprise project managementnot Navisworks

Navisworks

  • Clash detectionnot Microsoft Project
  • Construction sequencingnot Microsoft Project
  • Project coordinationnot Microsoft Project
  • Cost analysisnot Microsoft Project

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Project

  • Performance degrades with large projects over 400 tasks, becoming slow and unstable
  • Limited Agile methodology support, primarily designed for waterfall project management
  • Proprietary .mpp file format creates compatibility issues on non-Windows systems
  • No offline mode, limiting users without reliable internet connectivity

Navisworks

  • Sold in two named editions, Navisworks Simulate and Navisworks Manage, each licensed for install on up to 3 computers per subscription (Internet Archive capture, 7 January 2023)

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Project

$10/month
  • Plan 1$10/month
    • Task and project management
    • Grid views
    • Timeline features
  • Plan 3$30/month
    • Desktop client
    • Resource management
    • Advanced scheduling
  • Plan 5$55/month
    • Portfolio management
    • Demand management
    • Enterprise capabilities

Navisworks

$145/month
  • Navisworks Manage$145/month
    • Clash detection
    • 4D simulation
    • Model aggregation
  • Navisworks Simulate$100/month
    • 4D simulation
    • Model aggregation
    • Rendering

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Project if

  • You need gantt charts.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want resource management.
Microsoft Project review

Choose Navisworks if

  • You need clash detection.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want 4d scheduling.
Navisworks review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Project or Navisworks better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Project starts at $10/month and Navisworks at $145/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Project or Navisworks?
Microsoft Project starts at $10/month and Navisworks at $145/month.
Does Microsoft Project or Navisworks run on more platforms?
Microsoft Project runs on Web, Windows, macOS. Navisworks runs on Windows.
What is Microsoft Project best used for?
Microsoft Project is most often used for project scheduling, resource allocation, portfolio management, budget tracking. Of those, project scheduling and resource allocation are not what Navisworks is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Project do that Navisworks cannot?
Microsoft Project covers Gantt charts, Resource management, Budget tracking, Timeline views. Navisworks covers Clash detection, 4D scheduling, Model aggregation, Quantification.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft Project: What are the different Microsoft Project plans and pricing?

Microsoft Project offers Plan 1 at $10/user/month for basic project management, Plan 3 at $30/user/month with desktop client and resource management, and Plan 5 at $55/user/month for enterprise portfolio management. Desktop licenses (2024) start at $679.99 for Standard and $1,129.99 for Professional.

Source
Microsoft Project: Does Microsoft Project support Agile methodology?

Microsoft Project was primarily designed for traditional waterfall project management. While it has some Agile features, it is not optimized for Agile workflows compared to dedicated Agile tools like Jira or Monday.com.

Source
Microsoft Project: Can multiple teams collaborate in real-time on Microsoft Project?

Yes, Microsoft Project for the Web provides real-time collaboration through cloud-based access. However, collaboration is noted as harder compared to modern cloud-native tools due to its file-based architecture.

Source
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