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Head-to-head · Agency Project Management Software

Productive vs Synergist

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Productive #1 in Agency Project Management Software 5.7/10 From $10/user/mo · 14-day trial ✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Productive
Higher score Synergist #7 in Agency Project Management Software 7.3/10 From £13/user/mo ✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Synergist

Productive leads on 0 checks, Synergist on 4, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSynergist · 7.3/10
  • Most featuresSynergist · 5 of 6

Synergist scores higher on our rubric for agency project management software: 7.3 against 5.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #1.

Synergist offers resource planning; Productive doesn't publish it. Synergist offers profitability reporting; Productive doesn't publish it. Synergist offers invoicing; Productive doesn't publish it. Synergist offers project budgets; Productive doesn't publish it.

Productive is the better fit for agencies wanting broad PSA coverage. Synergist is the better fit for UK agencies wanting affordable PSA features.

  • Productive fits best

    Agencies wanting broad PSA coverage

  • Synergist fits best

    UK agencies wanting affordable PSA features

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Side by side

Feature Productive 5.7/10 Visit ↗ Synergist 7.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 5.7 7.3
Ranking #1 in Agency Project Management Software #7 in Agency Project Management Software
Best for Agencies wanting broad PSA coverage UK agencies wanting affordable PSA features
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $10/user/mo Not published
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Docs Email, Phone, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA ISO 27001, GDPR, 2FA
Integrations 23+ integrations 20 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Productive 1/6 · Synergist 5/6
Client portal Not published Not published
Resource planning Not published ✓ (best)
Time tracking ✓ ✓
Profitability reporting Not published ✓ (best)
Invoicing Not published ✓ (best)
Project budgets Not published ✓ (best)
Our review
Pros
  • Covers budgets, profitability, resources, time, tasks, and client access
  • Offers boards, lists, timelines, calendars, and Gantt layouts
  • Includes web, desktop, mobile, API, automation, and AI capabilities
  • Covers CRM, quoting, projects, resources, timesheets and profitability
  • Supports many accounting integrations, including Sage, Xero and QuickBooks
  • Includes web, iOS, Android, API and self-hosted options
Cons
  • No ongoing free plan; the trial lasts 14 days
  • Advanced reporting, recurring budgets, and teams require Professional
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of task-only teams
  • Pricing combines hosting, user subscriptions, tier minimums and onboarding
  • No free plan is available
  • Advanced capabilities require Professional or Enterprise tiers
Our verdict

Productive is a professional services automation and project management platform for agencies, consultancies, and other service businesses. It brings project and task management together with budgeting, profitability tracking, resource…

Read the review →

Synergist is an agency management and project management system for creative, design, digital, marketing, PR and professional services businesses. It combines CRM and pipeline management with estimating, quoting, project planning, resource…

Read the review →
  1. ProductiveAgency Project Management Software 5.7From $10/user/mo · 14-day trial
  2. SynergistAgency Project Management Software 7.3From £13/user/mo

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Productive — where it wins

    • Covers budgets, profitability, resources, time, tasks, and client access
    • Offers boards, lists, timelines, calendars, and Gantt layouts
    • Includes web, desktop, mobile, API, automation, and AI capabilities

    Where it doesn't

    • No ongoing free plan; the trial lasts 14 days
    • Advanced reporting, recurring budgets, and teams require Professional
    • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of task-only teams

  • Synergist — where it wins

    • Covers CRM, quoting, projects, resources, timesheets and profitability
    • Supports many accounting integrations, including Sage, Xero and QuickBooks
    • Includes web, iOS, Android, API and self-hosted options

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing combines hosting, user subscriptions, tier minimums and onboarding
    • No free plan is available
    • Advanced capabilities require Professional or Enterprise tiers
  • Productive5.7/10 · From $10/user/mo · 14-day trial

    A broad agency PSA platform combining delivery, budgets, resources, time, and clients.

    Visit ProductiveFull verdict →
  • Synergist7.3/10 · From £13/user/mo

    A broad agency PSA system with flexible user pricing and a complex tier structure.

    Visit SynergistFull verdict →

More comparisons

All agency project management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026