Top Certinia PSA Alternatives & Competitors For 2024

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Looking for alternatives to Certinia PSA? Many users crave user-friendly and feature-rich solutions for tasks like Dashboard and Reporting, Resource Management, and Time and Expense Management. Leveraging crowdsourced data from over 1,000 real PSA Software selection projects based on 400+ capabilities, we present a comparison of Certinia PSA to leading industry alternatives like Upland PSA, Autotask PSA, Accelo, and Polaris PSA.

Upland PSA Software Tool
Autotask PSA Software Tool
Accelo Software Tool

Product Basics

Certinia PSA (formerly FinancialForce PSA) offers users complete clarity over their business' sales, finances and services. It enables users to manage clients, team members, projects and financial information in one PSA system. Users receive uniform data points so they can better monitor resources and make accurate estimates.

Sales engagement, project management, time and expenses and resource management are some of Certinia PSA's top capabilities.
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Upland PSA is a professional service automation tool that helps businesses use remote management tools that improve the profitability and growth of service businesses. It helps users manage capacity utilization and planning strategies for profitability and workload management. Users can change how projects are delivered with expense and timesheet capture with workforce and project management, project financials and billing.

Some of its key features include knowledge management, proposal automation and customer surveys. It has a host of webinars, case studies, e-books and articles to help users navigate its various modules.
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Autotask PSA, developed by Datto, is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline the management of professional services automation (PSA) tasks. It is particularly well-suited for IT service providers, MSPs, and other technology-based businesses seeking to optimize their operations, project management, and billing processes. One of the key benefits of Autotask PSA is its ability to enhance efficiency through automation, thereby reducing manual errors and saving time. Its popular features include project management tools, time tracking, billing and invoicing capabilities, and a customizable dashboard that provides real-time insights into business operations. When compared to similar products in the market, users often highlight Autotask PSA's robust integration options and user-friendly interface as distinguishing factors. Pricing for Autotask PSA typically follows a subscription model, with costs varying based on the number of users and the specific features required by the business. This flexible pricing structure allows businesses of different sizes to find a plan that suits their budget and needs.

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What’s a workspace without organization? Chaos. Just like an event coordinator needs a detailed planner, your business needs PSA software like Accelo.

Its cloud-based platform is ideal for getting your tasks checked off and ensuring nothing slips through the cracks. How? By automating processes and letting you manage client and service operations in one place.

The system assists small professional service businesses with sales, client billing, project management and time tracking. It offers complete visibility into projects, clients, and finances from any device, with features for reporting and team collaboration.

Designed for sectors like accounting, engineering, consulting, and design, it integrates various systems to provide real-time insights into your company’s health. It also supports maintaining client relationships, staying competitive and enhancing profitability.

According to our Express App data, Accelo earns a 95 in customer relationship management (CRM), 91 in project management and a perfect 100 in resource management.

It’s one of our top five PSA products for CRM, integration and extensibility, and ranks in the top ten for project and resource management.

Users praise its support team for being responsive, helpful and effective. Users also note the platform is great for centralizing work and company information, including emails, tickets, and invoices. Customization options for workflows, invoicing and time tracking are also appreciated.

In contrast, some users report challenges with confusion during onboarding, limited automation capabilities and a time-consuming approval process.

What are some stand-out features off the bat?

  • Live Profitability Reporting
  • Skills-Based Scheduling
  • 360° Client View
  • Custom Retainers
  • Automatic Recurring Tasks

Let’s take a closer look at what Accelo brings to the table.


Price $50 Per User, Monthly
Deployment Method Cloud
Business Size Small
Customer Service Availability Accelo’s global support team is available 24/6. You can submit issues via email or the Get Help menu.
Popular Integrations Google Workspace, Microsoft 365

Quick Comparison

See how Accelo stacks up against top competitors below.

Product Starting Price Free Trial User Score Ideal for Deployment
Accelo $50 per user, monthly No N/A Small Businesses Cloud
Asana $10.99 per user, monthly Yes 88% S, M, L Cloud
Scoro $26 Monthly Yes 92% S, M, L Cloud
Workday PSA $99 per user, monthly Yes 81% Large Businesses Cloud
Certinia PSA $175 per user, monthly Yes 84% M, L Cloud, On-Premise
Dynamics 365 Project Operations $95 per user, monthly Yes 78% M, L Cloud, On-Premise
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Polaris PSA streamlines professional services workflows for project-based businesses. Its core strength lies in automating administrative tasks like time tracking, invoicing, and project reporting, freeing up valuable time for client work. While ideal for agencies of all sizes, it particularly caters to those juggling multiple projects and juggling complex client billing structures. Users praise its intuitive interface, powerful reporting tools, and seamless integrations with popular accounting software. Compared to similar offerings, Polaris PSA stands out for its focus on scalability and customization, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs. Pricing follows a tiered model based on the number of users and project complexity, ensuring cost-effectiveness for growing companies.

Pros
  • Intuitive interface
  • Comprehensive features
  • Strong integrations
  • Robust reporting
  • Reliable support
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Occasional bugs
  • Limited customization
  • Higher pricing
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Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
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Videos
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Email
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FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
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Product Ranking

#16

among all
PSA Software

#32

among all
PSA Software

#17

among all
PSA Software

#5

among all
PSA Software

#15

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PSA Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

92
72
we're gathering data
83
88
93
77
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95
58
97
100
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65
100
95
67
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Project Collaboration
Project Financials
Dashboard and Reporting
Mobile Capabilities
Time and Expense Management
Dashboard and Reporting
Project Collaboration
Time and Expense Management
Project Financials
Resource Management
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Dashboard and Reporting
Project Collaboration
Project Financials
Resource Management
Resource Management
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Project Management
Integration and Extensibility
Dashboard and Reporting
Project Financials
Resource Management
Time and Expense Management
Platform Capabilities

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Certinia PSA
Upland PSA
Autotask PSA
Accelo
Polaris PSA
+ Add Product + Add Product
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Dashboard and Reporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Project Collaboration Project Financials Project Management Resource Management Time and Expense Management 93 97 95 92 100 100 93 94 95 77 100 67 75 90 86 65 85 88 95 65 67 73 80 71 91 100 83 58 100 89 93 87 100 85 100 100 0 25 50 75 100
82%
18%
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45%
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91%
9%
27%
73%
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92%
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8%
83%
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

80%
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70%
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 536 reviews
Good User Sentiment 193 reviews
Good User Sentiment 214 reviews
Great User Sentiment 716 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 202 reviews
84%
of users recommend this product

Certinia PSA has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 536 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

79%
of users recommend this product

Upland PSA has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 79% when considering 193 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

76%
of users recommend this product

Autotask PSA has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 76% when considering 214 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

88%
of users recommend this product

Accelo has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 716 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Polaris PSA has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 202 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (9)
n/a
4.8 (2)
n/a
n/a
4.2 (438)
3.9 (98)
3.7 (135)
4.4 (513)
n/a
4.2 (49)
4.0 (14)
n/a
4.5 (172)
4.6 (198)
4.7 (22)
4.3 (69)
n/a
n/a
n/a
3.6 (18)
2.3 (12)
4.0 (77)
4.1 (31)
5.0 (4)

Awards

Mobile Capabilities Award
Project Collaboration Award
Project Management Award
we're gathering data
we're gathering data
we're gathering data
User Favorite Award
Time and Expense Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Friendly Interface: Precisely 62% of users stated that the program has an easy implementation process and an intuitive user interface.
Strong Performance: Certinia PSA is a single source of information that streamlines procedures and manages projects, teams, patrons and financial tasks, as stated by 65% of users.
Oodles of Features: This solution is equipped with a wide range of features including time tracking, resource planning and allocation, reporting, forecasting, bank reconciliation and more, according to 67% of users.
Smooth Integrations: Roughly 94% of users say the software can merge with other solutions such as Salesforce, Excel, NetSuite, Certinia Accounting, other CRM programs and more.
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User Friendly: The system is easy to use and intuitive, as noted by approximately 86% of users who mention the system’s usability.
Functionality: Asana offers a robust suite of successful project management tools, as reported by 76% of the users who mention the product’s functionality.
Support: Support for the system is prompt, as reported by 88% of users who mention support.
Integrations: Available integrations help add value to the base product, as reported by 80% of reviewers who mention integrations.
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Performance: Precisely 60% of users that discussed performance said the system meets company needs and it is easy to fix mistakes.
Accessories: Approximately 63% of users that mentioned functionality stated the solution has straightforward features.
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89% of users commend Accelo's customer support, noting it as helpful, quick and friendly.
80% of users appreciate its ability to centralize work and company information, integrations and comprehensive features for managing tickets, tasks and projects.
67% find invoicing straightforward, especially for setting up repeaters and managing client invoices, which is easier than using separate systems. They also enjoy the variety of invoicing options.
A little over half of Accelo users praise its time tracking, citing it’s easy to use and log time with options like manual entry or a timer.
Most users found the platform intuitive and liked the UI, frequent updates and the convenience of accessing information from any device.
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Intuitive Interface: Users consistently praise Polaris PSA's ease of use, even for those without extensive technical backgrounds.
Flexible Customization: The software allows for tailoring to specific workflows and business needs, ensuring a seamless fit within existing processes.
Comprehensive Project Management: Users appreciate the ability to manage all project aspects, from planning and scheduling to resource allocation and budgeting, within a single platform.
Accurate Time Tracking: Polaris excels at capturing billable hours precisely, streamlining timesheet submission and approval processes.
Streamlined Invoicing: Generating accurate invoices based on project data is effortless, leading to faster client billing and improved cash flow.
Robust Reporting: The software provides insightful reports on project performance, resource utilization, profitability, and other key metrics, empowering data-driven decision-making.
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Customization Limitations: Certinia PSA's customization options may not be as extensive as some users require, potentially leading to workarounds or compromises in tailoring the platform to specific workflows.
Usability Challenges: The user interface and overall user experience of Certinia PSA can be complex and require a significant learning curve, particularly for new users or those transitioning from other PSA solutions.
Reporting Flexibility: Generating customized reports or accessing specific data points within Certinia PSA may require advanced knowledge or technical expertise, potentially hindering efficient data analysis and decision-making.
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Integrations: Nearly 90% of reviewers found Upland PSA’s interface to be dated and not intuitive.
Learning Curve: Nearly 100% of users who mentioned its learning curve reported that Upland PSA has a steep learning curve.
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Interface: Approximately 78% of users that discussed the look of the platform said this solution has a cluttered and clunky interface as well as a lengthy implementation process.
Performance: Of the users who discussed this program's overall performance, 40% said it required unnecessary steps to carry out a task and had too many pop-up windows.
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Users have mixed feelings about Accelo's reporting. Some are frustrated by the inability to lock timesheets and find it difficult to search due to the system keeping activities open.
20% of users find the interface complex and missing features, such as smart text options and dark mode.
The platform’s many features and ways to perform tasks can lead to different team members using it in various ways, causing confusion.
While there are a lot of options to tailor the system to different workflows, they also note that there are limited aspects of the system that can be changed, such as rates.
Some users have experienced challenges with adjusting project schedules and time entries.
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Learning Curve: Users report a steeper learning curve compared to simpler PSA tools.
Initial Setup Complexity: Setting up Polaris PSA can be complex for smaller teams or those with limited technical expertise.
Limited Workflow Customization: While flexible, some users find it challenging to tailor the software to highly specialized workflows.
Performance Issues: Users have reported occasional lag or glitches, especially on older hardware or with large datasets.
Software Bugs: While uncommon, some users have encountered bugs that require technical support to resolve.
Pricing Concerns: Polaris PSA's pricing can be higher compared to some basic PSA tools, especially for smaller businesses.
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Certinia PSA is an effective PSA application that extends a full variety of features to its users. Its interface is user friendly and the implementation process is straightforward, avoiding confusion. It also integrates with other programs such as NetSuite, Salesforce, Salescloud, Certinia Accounting, other financial management solutions and more. Certinia PSA's overall performance expedites routine operations and governs projects, teams, customers and financial duties with ease, making it a robust and handy software.

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Upland PSA is a user-friendly PPM system, and users praise its time-sheet feature. Many users don’t have any complaints and say that Upland PSA has increased their efficiency. It ranks very high in usability and functionality. Its support team is helpful and quick to respond. Users find that Upland PSA helps organize tasks that their team members should work on. Its integration feature increases productivity. However, the interface is not intuitive and has a learning curve.

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Autotask PSA is a vigorous PSA and project management solution that is customizable to fit all business requirements. It's simple to fix errors and has an abundance of simple modules such as reporting, time tracking, invoicing, adjustable dashboards, billing, CRM and more. Although some users find that this application has a toilsome setup, the interface is clunky and it takes unnecessary clicks to execute tasks, the majority find that it's a manageable solution with the right amount of tools and is well worth the price tag.

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Get ready to "accelo-rate" your understanding of this PSA and project management software.Accelo commonly uses a dual-menu design, where you’ll find different menu options on the left and right sides of the screen. This setup can ease navigation by grouping related tasks. However, this can require more screen real estate, which could be a disadvantage on smaller monitors or devices, making the interface feel cluttered.Let’s dive into the sales module first, where you can view and manage your book of business (your clients). On the left-hand side, contact info is clearly displayed for quick reference. There’s a visual to see the momentum of your work with each client, including activities vs. hours, revenue and how many times they’ve been in touch with you over the past week.Personally, I liked the sales module and felt like the layout was easy to follow. There’s Recent Work that shows closed tasks like campaign planning, new product visuals and website maintenance.As a multitasker prone to triple checking things, I liked that this helps you track progress and ensure everything’s wrapped up before moving on to the next task. It's great for accountability and communication by keeping details transparent, so everyone stays on the same page without sifting through emails or notes.The page seems intuitive and reasonably simple to navigate. There are tabs at the top for contacts, attachments, assets, tasks and billing.Under the Work tab at the top, you can manage sales opportunities, such as web maintenance. All the info you need is in one place to help reduce time spent clicking around.Click on the opportunity, and from there, view important details. See the sale type to determine the right workflow and help reps understand which stage comes next (there’s also automation between steps). See the sale’s value, how likely closure is and when it’s due. Basically, it’s set up like the answer key in the back of a textbook that gives you all the clear details.Teamwork makes the dream work, right? There’s a sales pipeline report, and you can track effort. It’s known for its resource management feature, helping reduce burnout with automated recurring tasks and skills-based scheduling to get the job done by the best person.Integrate with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to track communications between team and customer. Additionally, track time spent on emails directly in Accelo. A timer at the bottom of your emails tracks exactly how long you’ve spent on it.Click Add quote and select a template for creating a quote, and configure it based on your branding. On the left-hand side of the sales opportunity (in this example it’s web maintenance) there are sales details, team, bookings, comments, quote and a visual for sales activity (also additional details, sales email alias and tags).When ready to generate a quote, click the add icon on the right. The process is seamless, with just three steps: create an estimate, edit it and preview/publish.Quotes/estimates hold a lot of info, like details on services, terms and conditions, specific price breakdowns, and your team mission statement. The cool thing about Accelo is you can toggle on or off certain details easily, so if this is a client you’ve worked with a lot and they don’t need a lengthier quote, you can easily simplify it.Once you press publish, you have the chance to generate an email to the client. You can also include a link to the client portal and a PDF of the quote. On the client’s side, accept or decline are clearly displayed in the top right corner. Once they’ve accepted, you can convert the quote into a project.Under the Work tab, there's a comprehensive view of all ongoing activities for a client, including requests, sales, projects and tickets. Important details are all in one place, like billable hours, assignees, contacts and due dates. For a specific task, the left side shows progress, important dates, bookings and schedules, giving you a clear picture of what’s planned and what’s active.Some user reviews mention confusion during onboarding, specifically that having multiple ways to do the same action or task can be tricky. For example, viewing the schedule in different places might lead to mismatches if not handled carefully.The range of options and layout might seem overwhelming at first. While there might be a learning curve, the design aims to provide a flexible and detailed view of everything.Time tracking is color-coded to help you stay within your budget. If you log hours that are well within your limit, they’ll be displayed in green, approaching your limit in yellow and exceeding it in red.Its Tickets module is straightforward for managing and tracking your support requests. When you click on a ticket’s name/title, it opens up and displays key information on the left side, including priority, type and class.At the top of the page, you’ll see the workflow stages like tier one and tier two escalations, ticket resolved, and waiting to track where each ticket stands in the resolution process.On the right side, you’ll see key stats like the ticket’s age, days since the last update and the due date. Below this, you’ll find a stream that captures all communication back and forth, providing a clear history of interactions.The billing module takes a streamlined approach to managing invoicing, and it integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero so your finances stay consistent.The platform includes an invoicing wizard that pulls together all customer work that’s ready for invoicing and guides you through each step. It also offers a handy Complete and email button, allowing you to finalize and send invoices with a single click.You’ve got a solid selection of templates to choose from and customize. Plus, you can set up automatic invoicing for retainer work, so you won’t have to deal with recurring billing manually. Within the Billing tab, view all invoices you’ve created and sent and track which ones are still outstanding.

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User reviews for Polaris PSA paint a picture of a powerful, albeit demanding, PSA tool. Many praise its intuitiveness and flexibility, with one user calling it "a breath of fresh air compared to clunky legacy systems." It stands out in its comprehensive project management, effortlessly handling everything from planning to billing within one platform. Another user loved "ditching the patchwork of apps we used before and having everything in Polaris." However, Polaris' learning curve can be steep. "It's not as pick-up-and-play as some simpler tools," admitted a reviewer. The initial setup can also be complex, especially for smaller teams. This complexity, while offering deep customization, led some to feel limited in tailoring it to specific workflows. "We have a unique process, and while Polaris is flexible, it took more work than expected to get it just right," shared one user. Performance isn't always flawless, with occasional lag and bugs reported, particularly on older systems. Despite these hiccups, many appreciate Polaris' robust reporting and data-driven insights, with one user exclaiming, "Finally, we can make informed decisions based on actual data, not just gut feeling!" Ultimately, Polaris PSA shines for its comprehensiveness and power, but demands investment in training and setup. Users often compare it to Asana or Monday.com, finding it more robust but less user-friendly. If you're a growing team seeking a one-stop PSA solution with deep customization and powerful reporting, Polaris is worth a look. Just be prepared to dedicate some time to mastering its intricacies.

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Related Categories

Top Alternatives in PSA Software


Accelo

Avaza

Changepoint SA

CloudBlue PSA

ConnectWise Manage

Deltek Vantagepoint

Dynamics 365 Project Operations

Kantata

Mavenlink

OpenAir

Polaris PSA

Projector PSA

Scoro

Upland PSA

Workday PSA

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