Hive vs Microsoft Project
Compare Hive and Microsoft Project on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.

Hive
Work management platform with free plan (≤10 members) and Teams from $12/user/mo annual — strong monday.com peer.
Best for
- • SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
- • Teams that can start on Free (≤10) before upgrading to Teams
- • Buyers comparing monday.com as a primary Work OS peer
Starting from $5.00/user/mo
Free plan available
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Hive and Microsoft Project. Choose Hive when SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday. Choose Microsoft Project when Microsoft 365 standardised orgs. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Hive is better for
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Ease of use
- ✓ Automations
- ✓ Collaboration
Microsoft Project is better for
- ✓ Timeline / Gantt
- ✓ Integrations
- ✓ Reporting
Choose Hive if: SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
Choose Microsoft Project if: Microsoft 365 standardised orgs

Microsoft Project
Microsoft 365 project / Planner ladder for Gantt, resources and portfolios — Planner Plan 1 from ~$10/user/mo.
Best for
- • Microsoft 365 standardised orgs
- • Traditional PMO Gantt/resource needs
- • Enterprise portfolio planning on higher plans
Starting from $10.00/user/mo
No free plan
Hive vs Microsoft Project at a glance
Criterion-level leaders from verified research.
Scorecard preview
Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.
- Starting pricingDepends
Hive
Microsoft Project
- Seat / licence minimumDepends
Hive
Microsoft Project
- Free planHive
Hive
Microsoft Project
- Ease of useHive
Hive
Microsoft Project
- Timeline / GanttMicrosoft Project
Hive
Microsoft Project
Which project management is better for you?
Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.
- → Hive
Best for free plan
Hive researches a free plan; Microsoft Project does not research a free plan.
- → Hive
Best for ease of use
Hive leads on ease of use (8/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Hive
Best for automations
Hive leads on automations (8/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Microsoft Project
Best for timeline / gantt
Microsoft Project leads on timeline gantt (8/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Microsoft Project
Best for integrations
Microsoft Project leads on integrations (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Microsoft Project
Best for reporting
Microsoft Project leads on reporting (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Starting pricing
DependsHive
Hive researched starting price from $5/mo; a free plan is researched; Microsoft Project researched starting price from $10/mo. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
Microsoft Project
Hive researched starting price from $5/mo; a free plan is researched; Microsoft Project researched starting price from $10/mo. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
Seat / licence minimum
DependsHive
Check paid seat floors for Hive and Microsoft Project on current vendor packaging.
Microsoft Project
Check paid seat floors for Hive and Microsoft Project on current vendor packaging.
Timeline / Gantt
Microsoft Project winsHive
Trails Microsoft Project on this criterion
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project leads on timeline gantt (8/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Automations
Hive winsHive
Hive leads on automations (8/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Microsoft Project
Trails Hive on this criterion
Integrations
Microsoft Project winsHive
Trails Microsoft Project on this criterion
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project leads on integrations (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Reporting
Microsoft Project winsHive
Trails Microsoft Project on this criterion
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project leads on reporting (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Which should you choose?
Choose Hive if
- SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
- Teams that can start on Free (≤10) before upgrading to Teams
- Buyers comparing monday.com as a primary Work OS peer
Choose Microsoft Project if
- Microsoft 365 standardised orgs
- Traditional PMO Gantt/resource needs
- Enterprise portfolio planning on higher plans
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider

monday.com
Work OS / work management platform with boards, timelines, automations and AI credits — Basic from $9/seat/mo annual (3-seat minimum).

Office Timeline
PowerPoint-native timeline / Gantt specialist (now Lucen Timeline) — Free add-in; Lite from $9/user/mo annual.

Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style work management with Gantt, portfolios and automation — Pro from $9/member/mo annual.

Asana
Cross-functional work management with goals, workflows and AI Studio — Starter from $10.99/user/mo annual.
How we compare
A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology
1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.
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- Independent criterion outcomes
- No invented scores or prices
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