Top 6 NetSuite SuiteProjects (OpenAir) Alternatives for Professional Services

NetSuite Suiteprojects (formerly OpenAir, part of Oracle NetSuite’s suite) is a popular PSA (Professional Services Automation) platform for managing projects, resources, and finances. However, some professional services firms find Netsuite PSA too complex and expensive, often paying for features they don’t need and facing lengthy implementations. The good news is that there are modern PSA alternatives that offer similar capabilities – like resource planning, time tracking, project financials, and invoicing – with more intuitive interfaces or industry-specific features. Below are six top NetSuite OpenAir alternatives to consider:

1. Operating.app

Average customer ratings: G2 – 4.6/5, Capterra – 4.8/5

Operating.app was founded in 2022 as a modern alternative to legacy PSA systems like Kantata, NetSuite SuiteProjects, and Workday PSA. Designed specifically for consulting and professional services firms, it brings together resource planning, time tracking, forecasting, and invoicing in one easy-to-use platform. Operating offers a robust REST API to connect with your finance platform of choice (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.), along with ready-made integrations to CRMs like HubSpot and HRIS platforms like HiBob.

Built by former consultants for consultants, Operating gives firm leaders real-time visibility into utilization, capacity, and project margins – all without spreadsheets or clunky interfaces. Features such as skills-based project staffing, margin forecasting, and real-time utilization dashboards help teams make better resourcing decisions and instantly gauge project health.

Optionally, Operating can be placed next to NetSuite, as the resource planning layer. It's later possible to adopt the timesheet module, and invoicing module too! This provides firms with real-time resource planning and forecasting, as well as utilization monitoring, while minimizing change management.

What others say about Operating.app:

“Operating gives us a clear view of upcoming projects and resource needs, making forecasting so much easier — and the team is incredibly responsive to feedback.” – Adam, G2 review

“Operating is the software I wished I had 20 years ago when I started working in consulting. The application is continuously developed to meet customer needs, providing an efficient and intuitive tool for personnel management/staffing. The company’s technical support has always resolved our issues quickly and expertly.” – Mourad, Capterra review

Pricing:

• Resource Planning: $10 (annual) or $12 (monthly) per person per month
• Planning & Timesheets: $13 (annual) or $15 (monthly) per person per month
• With Invoicing: $18 (annual) or $20 (monthly) per person per month

Every plan includes a free trial, personal onboarding help, and live chat support directly with the team (including the founders). You can also book a demo to explore the platform’s features.

2. Kantata (formerly Mavenlink)

Average customer ratings: G2 – 4.2/5, Capterra – 4.2/5

Kantata is a robust PSA platform aimed at mid-sized and large professional services businesses. It was formed from the 2022 merger of Mavenlink and Kimble, and it’s purpose-built for organizations managing complex project portfolios. Kantata is known for excellent financial precision (project accounting, revenue recognition, etc.) and advanced resource planning capabilities, helping firms align strategic goals with execution through deep insights and configurable workflows.

What others say about Kantata:

"Kantata is a comprehensive project management solution that excels at budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, and reporting—all in one platform. Users appreciate its robust scheduling features and strong customer support. However, reporting can be difficult without prior knowledge" - Alex S., G2 Review

"great, i wish they would add more accounting into the system like project overhead and non-billable peoples hours and behind the scene stuff." - Dave, Capterra Review

Kantata consistently ranks among the top PSA solutions and has been recognized in industry awards (e.g. G2’s Best Software lists). However, its complexity and cost can be a drawback for smaller teams or those with simpler needs – the rich feature set comes with a steeper learning curve, and some users desire a more modern, streamlined interface.

Pricing

Kantata doesn't disclose their price, but many sources cite it being $50-$110 per user / month based on the modules used and amount of seats.

3. Workday PSA

Average customer ratings: G2 – 4.1/5, Capterra – 3.5/5

Workday Professional Services Automation is the PSA module within the broader Workday enterprise suite. It manages the full project lifecycle – from staffing and project planning to billing and financial management – in one unified system. Workday PSA is especially attractive for organizations already using Workday’s HR and Financial Management, since it natively integrates project data with HR (HCM) and finance.

One of Workday PSA’s strengths is its enterprise-grade controls and reliability – it excels at resource scheduling linked with HR data, and provides robust security and compliance. However, Workday’s PSA functionality isn’t as specialized or feature-rich as dedicated PSA tools. Many users note that while it covers all basics, its project management and resource optimization depth can lag behind best-of-breed PSA platforms. Workday PSA also tends to be most suitable for larger enterprises.

What others say about Workday PSA:

"I like how workday guides you through different modules when needing to complete different processes. I also like their alert/notification system, as it keeps me organized on things like submitting time, submitting an expense report, etc." – Verified Used, G2 Review

Pricing

Workday doesn't disclose the price of their PSA module directly. It's an add-on that you take on top of the Workday Core Platform, and consists of multiple different modules.

4. Upland PSA (formerly Tenrox)

Average customer ratings: G2 – 4/5, Capterra – 4.3/5

Upland PSA, formerly Tenrox, is a comprehensive PSA solution designed for globally distributed professional services organizations. It integrates project work management with workforce management and financial controls in a single platform. Upland PSA includes tools for automating workflows, resource management, time and expense tracking, project budgeting, and detailed analytics.

It includes a skills-based resource scheduler, Gantt chart planning, multi-currency timesheets, and project accounting features to forecast revenues, costs, and margins. Upland PSA is ISO 27001 certified and ideal for medium to large consulting firms.

That said, the user interface is often considered outdated, and advanced reporting typically requires exporting data to Excel. Smaller businesses often find it too complex for their needs due to the learning curve and heavier configuration requirements.

What others say about Upland PSA:

"One of the best feature about Upland PSA is its user friendly interface and option to add various levels of access / authorisation / hierarchy." - Verified User, G2 review

"It's a very good tool for projects management to get appropriate results in less time. I'm using this tool daily for my projects and tasks management." – Bhargav, Capterra review

Pricing

Some sources state that Upland PSA's pricing starts from $19 per user / month, but they don't disclose the price on their website. You can get a quote by booking a demo.

5. BQE Core

Average customer ratings: G2: 4.3, Capterra: 4.5

BQE Core is an all-in-one business management and PSA suite, especially strong in billing, invoicing, and project accounting. Originally developed for time billing, BQE Core has expanded into a full solution for professional services firms with modules for time tracking, expense management, budgeting, project management, and analytics.

It integrates well with accounting platforms like QuickBooks, MYOB, and Xero, allowing seamless synchronization of financial data. Core is offered in flexible tiers and deployment options (cloud, on-prem, or hybrid) and supports firms of all sizes. Many firms appreciate its business intelligence dashboards and client-centric features that combine PSA functionality with accounting-grade invoicing tools.

What others say about BQE Core:

"It's a comprehensive suite of software, not lacking much. It has a user friendly feel and contains an API." – Mitchell, G2 Review

"BQE Core is easy to navigate and if issues and/or questions do arise, their customer service team is always quick to answer our questions!" – Mary, Capterra Review

6. Workamajig

Average customer ratings: G2: 3.8, Capterra: 3.8

Workamajig is a full-featured agency management platform tailored for creative and in-house teams. It merges project management, tasking, resource scheduling, time tracking, CRM, vendor tracking, and full accounting in a single tool. With over 20 years in the market, it offers a deep feature set for marketing workflows like media planning, briefs, and client approvals.

Workamajig is known for its industry-specific design, which helps creative agencies avoid over-complicated ERP systems. It includes dedicated onboarding support and personalized configuration help. For agencies that want everything from traffic management to invoicing in one tightly integrated package, Workamajig stands out as a focused, scalable alternative.

What others say about Workamajig:

"It is a user-friendly tool. Support is only an email away. The ability to have one-on-one indepth trainings with a Support Team member is extremly helpful when navigating through new process and procedures for a growing company like MarCom Group." – Rhonda, G2 Review

"It’s been great so far. I am excited to dive deeper on more one on one training. There are a lot opportunities for customization which I love." – Maria, Capterra Review

Choosing the Right Alternative

Each of these NetSuite SuiteProjects (OpenAir) alternatives brings different strengths. Operating.app offers a modern, easy-to-use interface and transparent pricing for growing professional services teams and consulting firms in the mid-market and enterprise tier. Kantata and Workday PSA are best suited for larger enterprises. Upland PSA offers strict controls for global teams. BQE Core is strong in financials and analytics. Workamajig fits creative teams that need a PSA platform aligned with marketing operations.

Evaluate your priorities around resource planning, invoicing, ease of use, and integration to determine which solution fits your firm best.

FAQ

What are the top NetSuite SuiteProjects (formerly NetSuite OpenAir) alternatives?

Popular alternatives include Operating.app, Kantata, Workday PSA, Upland PSA, BQE Core, and Workamajig.

Which alternative is best for consulting firms?

Operating.app is a strong fit for consulting firms thanks to its modern resource planning, forecasting, and invoicing features.

How do I choose the right SuiteProjects alternative?

Compare tools based on ease of use, resource planning capabilities, invoicing, integrations with your CRM/accounting tools, and pricing.

Are there more affordable options than NetSuite SuiteProjects?

Yes. Platforms like Operating.app and BQE Core offer more transparent, flexible pricing while covering essential PSA features.

References

• G2.com product reviews
• Capterra.com user feedback
• Official product websites for Operating.app, Kantata, Workday, Upland PSA, BQE Core, and Workamajig
• ISO.org (for ISO certification validation)
• Third-party software comparison sites such as SoftwareAdvice, SelectHub, and TechnologyAdvice