Exact for Project Management Review: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

Exact for Project Management is a professional services automation (PSA) and project management platform built on top of two established enterprise products: Exact Globe (ERP) and Exact Synergy (collaboration and workflow). It targets professional services firms that need more than simple task tracking; specifically, it connects project planning with accounting, invoicing, CRM, and resource management in a single system. For firms in architecture, engineering, and consulting that want their project data tightly linked to financial outcomes, it fills a real gap. But that ERP-grade depth comes with tradeoffs in cost, complexity, and interface modernity that buyers should understand before committing.

The product is strongest when used as a unified business platform rather than a standalone PM tool. If you only need task boards and Gantt charts, you will find it overbuilt and overpriced. If you need to convert tracked hours into invoices, monitor project margins in real time, and consolidate figures across multiple branches without spreadsheets, this is where Exact earns its keep.

What Is Exact for Project Management?

Exact is a Dutch software company founded in 1984 and headquartered in Delft, Netherlands. It is publicly held and claims over 250,000 customers across its full product portfolio, which spans ERP, accounting, HR, and project management. The company has a strong footprint in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain, with a growing but smaller presence in other markets.

Exact for Project Management is not a standalone application. It is a solution built on Exact Globe (the ERP and accounting engine) and Exact Synergy (the workflow, document management, and collaboration layer). This architecture means it inherits the deep financial and operational capabilities of a full ERP system. The product is positioned for the professional services industry, including architecture firms, engineering consultancies, IT services companies, and management consultancies. It exists alongside a lighter product, Exact Online, which offers simpler cloud-based project management for smaller businesses. This review focuses on the full Exact for Project Management (Globe + Synergy) solution.

Exact for Project Management Key Features

Planning and Resource Management

The planning board is integrated directly with time tracking, giving managers a single view of who is assigned where and how much capacity remains. You can assign projects based on employee skills, function, or department. Capacity insights help optimize staffing levels as project loads shift. For firms juggling multiple concurrent projects with shared staff, this is where the platform delivers genuine value over simpler PM tools that treat resource management as an afterthought.

Time-to-Invoice Automation

Converting tracked hours into correct invoices is the core workflow Exact is designed around. Employees log time via smartphone, tablet, or desktop apps, and those hours flow directly into invoicing without manual re-entry. The system includes automated error prevention, payment arrears tracking, and payment reminders. For professional services firms where billable hours are revenue, this tight loop between timesheets and invoices reduces leakage and speeds up cash collection.

Cost and Margin Control

Project monitoring provides real-time visibility into costs and margins at the project level. As project count and team size grow, the system is designed to maintain control over profitability without requiring manual spreadsheet consolidation. This is particularly useful for firms running dozens or hundreds of concurrent projects where margin erosion can be hard to detect until it is too late.

Subscription and Recurring Revenue Management

A somewhat unusual feature for a project management tool: Exact includes the ability to manage monthly, quarterly, and annual subscriptions. It provides insight into recurring revenue streams and expected growth. This is relevant for professional services firms that blend project-based work with ongoing retainer or subscription contracts.

Centralized Multi-Entity Management

Projects, employees, and client relationships are managed centrally. The platform supports inter-branch transactions and consolidated reporting across multiple legal entities. Firms operating across offices or countries can consolidate figures without exporting to spreadsheets, which eliminates one of the most painful month-end processes for multi-entity organizations.

Integrated CRM

Lead tracking and management are built into the platform rather than requiring a separate CRM tool. This means the pipeline flows naturally into project creation, and client relationship data stays connected to project delivery and billing data. It is not as feature-rich as a dedicated CRM like Salesforce, but for firms whose sales process is relatively straightforward, it removes one more system from the stack.

Reporting and Analytics

The platform offers reporting tools for project status, financial performance, and resource utilization. Integration with Qlik (a business intelligence tool) is available for firms that need more advanced analytics and custom dashboards. Standard reporting covers the essentials, but extracting highly detailed occupancy reports (utilization percentages, vacation and leave breakdowns) has been noted as a weak spot that may require workarounds.

Mobile Access

Mobile apps are available on iOS, Android, and Windows 10. The Ultimate edition provides dedicated apps for CRM, HRM, and a general app that includes document access, workflows, and a social timeline. Time entry from a phone is straightforward, which is important for field-based staff who need to log hours on the go.

Exact for Project Management Pricing and Plans

Exact does not publish specific pricing for its Project Management solution on its website or any third-party platform. Pricing is quote-based, and the company requires prospective buyers to request a personalized quote. The subscription model is described as flat-rate, billed monthly, with contracts cancellable on a year-by-year basis.

There are multiple tiers to be aware of, though their exact pricing is not public:

For reference, third-party sources estimate pricing for the underlying Exact Globe platform at $15 to $45 per user per month, depending on modules, support level, and integrations required. On-premise licensing for Exact Globe Next has been listed at a starting point of approximately $225 per license. These figures should be treated as rough estimates; confirm directly with Exact for current pricing on the full Project Management solution.

No free trial is available. Exact offers online demos upon request. The value-for-money perception is mixed; the product scores lowest on this dimension in independent assessments (3.0 out of 5.0), suggesting that while the platform is capable, buyers comparing it to modern cloud-native PM tools may feel the price is high relative to the user experience.

Integrations

Exact advertises more than 220 apps available for extending the platform’s functionality. These include bank links for payment processing, work order automation, incoming invoice automation, and an HRM add-on. The integration with Qlik for advanced business intelligence and reporting is specifically referenced in user feedback as a strength.

Because the product is built on Exact Globe (an ERP system), accounting, invoicing, and CRM are natively integrated rather than connected via third-party tools. This is a fundamental architectural advantage for firms that want a single system of record.

However, API integration capabilities have limitations. Performance issues have been reported when working with large data ranges (thousands of records), and some users have encountered friction when trying to connect external systems via API. There is no mention of Zapier, Make, or other middleware platform support in any of the available documentation, so firms relying on those tools for their integration strategy should verify compatibility directly with Exact.

For firms already in the Exact ecosystem (using Globe or Synergy for other purposes), integration is seamless by design. For firms coming from outside that ecosystem, the integration story is less clear and warrants a thorough technical evaluation during the sales process.

Customer Support

Exact offers a full services model including analysis, consultancy, implementation, training, and ongoing support. Training options include in-person sessions, live online training, webinars, documentation, and video tutorials. This breadth of training options is important given the platform’s complexity; this is not a tool most teams will adopt without some guided onboarding.

The company has introduced an AI-powered Support Agent that is available 24/7. According to Exact’s own materials, this agent resolves 98% of questions directly, though that claim should be taken with appropriate skepticism as it originates from the vendor. Traditional support channels (phone, email, ticketing) are available, though specific hours and SLA details are not publicly documented.

Support quality receives a middling 4.0 out of 5.0 score in independent assessments. The feedback is not negative, but it is not enthusiastic either. For a product with this level of complexity, particularly one that spans ERP, CRM, and PM functionality, responsive and knowledgeable support is essential. Prospective buyers should clarify support terms, response time guarantees, and included support hours as part of the contract negotiation.

Pros and Cons

Exact for Project Management has clear strengths in financial integration and multi-entity management, but equally clear weaknesses in user experience and value perception. Here is what we found:

Who Should Use Exact for Project Management?

Exact for Project Management is best suited for professional services firms with 20 to 500 employees that need project management tightly integrated with accounting, invoicing, and CRM. Architecture firms, engineering consultancies, IT services companies, and management consulting firms are the primary audience. It is particularly strong for organizations operating across multiple offices or legal entities that need consolidated financial reporting.

If your firm bills primarily by the hour and your biggest operational pain is the gap between time tracking and invoicing, Exact addresses that problem directly. It is also a good fit for companies already using Exact Globe or Synergy for other business functions, since the PM module extends an existing investment rather than adding a new system.

This is not the right tool for teams that only need lightweight project tracking (task boards, simple timelines, team collaboration). It is overbuilt and overpriced for that use case. It is also not ideal for organizations outside Europe, where Exact’s market presence and support infrastructure are thinner. Software-only startups, creative agencies, or teams using agile/scrum methodologies will find better-fit options among purpose-built PM tools.

Exact for Project Management Alternatives

Scoro is the closest direct competitor, offering project management combined with billing, CRM, and financial reporting in a single platform. It has a more modern interface and stronger out-of-the-box reporting, but lacks Exact’s depth in multi-entity consolidation and ERP-grade accounting. Choose Scoro if you want similar all-in-one functionality with a better user experience and do not need multi-entity financial consolidation.

Kantata (formerly Mavenlink) is a professional services automation platform built specifically for services firms. It offers strong resource management, project accounting, and business intelligence. It is more modern and purpose-built for PSA than Exact, but does not include native ERP or full accounting capabilities. Choose Kantata if you are a mid-market services firm that already has a separate accounting system and wants best-in-class PSA.

Microsoft Project (with Project for the Web or Project Online) is the default choice for organizations already invested in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It offers strong scheduling and portfolio management but lacks the integrated invoicing and accounting that Exact provides. Choose Microsoft Project if your needs are centered on project scheduling and you handle financials in a separate system.

Exact Online (Exact’s own cloud-only product) is worth considering if you like Exact’s approach but do not need the full Globe + Synergy platform. It offers simpler project management with time tracking and invoicing for smaller firms at a lower price point. Choose this if you have fewer than 50 employees and do not need multi-entity or on-premise capabilities.

Wrike is a strong general-purpose project management tool with excellent collaboration features, Gantt charts, and workflow automation. It does not include accounting or invoicing. Choose Wrike if your primary need is project execution and team collaboration rather than financial integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Exact for Project Management offer a free trial?

No. Exact does not offer a free trial for its Project Management solution. You can request an online demo through their website to see the product in action before committing. Subscriptions are cancellable on a year-by-year basis.

Is Exact for Project Management cloud-based or on-premise?

Both. The Ultimate edition (built on Globe + Synergy) can be deployed in the Exact Cloud (hosted on AWS data centers in Ireland), in your own private cloud, or as an on-premise installation. The lighter Exact Online editions are cloud-only. Cloud deployments are ISAE 3402 Type II certified and GDPR-compliant with two-step verification.

How much does Exact for Project Management cost?

Exact does not publish pricing publicly. The subscription model is flat-rate and billed monthly. Third-party estimates for the underlying Exact Globe platform range from $15 to $45 per user per month, but pricing for the full PM solution should be confirmed directly with Exact by requesting a quote.

What industries is Exact for Project Management designed for?

The product is designed for professional services industries. Architecture and planning firms, mechanical and industrial engineering companies, IT services organizations, and management consultancies are the most common users. It is particularly strong for firms that bill by the hour and need tight integration between project delivery and financial management.

Can Exact for Project Management handle multiple companies or branches?

Yes. The Ultimate edition supports centralized management of projects, employees, and client relationships across multiple legal entities and branches. Inter-branch transactions are supported, and financial figures can be consolidated without manual spreadsheet work.

Does Exact for Project Management include CRM functionality?

Yes. An integrated CRM module is included for lead tracking and management. It covers basic sales pipeline functionality and connects client relationship data to project delivery and billing. It is not as feature-rich as a dedicated CRM platform, but it eliminates the need for a separate tool for many firms.

What mobile apps are available?

Mobile apps are available on iOS, Android, and Windows 10. The Ultimate edition provides dedicated apps for CRM, HRM, and a general app that includes document access, workflows, and a social timeline. Time entry is supported on all mobile platforms.

The Bottom Line

Exact for Project Management is a capable, ERP-grade platform for professional services firms that need project management, accounting, invoicing, and CRM in a single system. Its strength is the depth of financial integration; converting hours to invoices, monitoring project margins, and consolidating multi-entity figures are areas where it genuinely outperforms lighter PM tools. For European firms in architecture, engineering, or consulting with 20 to 500 employees, it deserves a serious look.

The weaknesses are equally real. The interface feels dated compared to modern cloud-native competitors. The dual architecture (Globe + Synergy) creates friction, with some workflows requiring duplicate data entry between the two components. Value for money is the product’s weakest dimension, and the lack of a free trial makes it harder to evaluate before committing. The small number of public reviews and limited market presence outside Europe also mean you are taking on more vendor risk than you would with a widely adopted alternative.

We rate Exact for Project Management 3.5 out of 5.0. It is a solid choice for the right buyer: a professional services firm that wants one platform instead of five and is willing to invest in implementation. If you prioritize user experience, agile workflows, or need a tool your team can adopt without formal training, look at Scoro, Kantata, or Wrike instead.