Fillout is a project management application that enables teams to assess project concepts, organize and implement valuable initiatives, and oversee tasks and timelines. In this Fillout evaluation, the platform received a decent rating for its pricing structure which is budget-friendly on a per-user basis. However, Sharehub tech discovered that the self-hosted service also entails costly one-time charges that may be prohibitive for small businesses.
The software received commendable ratings for its overall and specialized features, offering a variety of tools such as grid and board displays, resource allocation, and real-time collaboration through Microsoft Teams. Explore the platform's features, pricing, and alternatives in this detailed Fillout assessment.
Fillout Review: At a Glance
What We Liked
- Budget-friendly basic package priced at $10 per user each month
- Collaborative editing feature enables team members to work on tasks and schedules together in real-time
- Roadmap display provides a complete summary of all projects
- Workload function enables managers to effectively assign tasks among team members
What's Missing
- Does not have a complimentary option, a feature commonly provided by most project management software companies
- The basic plan does not include access to the desktop application
- Limits each project database to a maximum of 25GB
Fillout General Features
Our Fillout review received a high rating for its overall capabilities because the project management software provides nearly all the necessary tools for planning projects and monitoring progress. Users can view projects in grid, board, or Gantt chart formats and specify details like start/end dates and lead/lag times for specific tasks.
Here are some key features of Fillout:
- Custom fields: Customize columns on the project plan to suit your workflow by specifying the type of field (text, date, number, Yes/No) or using a choice field with 2 to 20 options.
- Custom calendar: Adjust workdays for teams with non-traditional schedules, and Fillout will automatically update project timelines accordingly.
- Critical path: Easily identify tasks that impact project start or end dates by enabling the Critical Tasks feature in the Gantt chart view.
- Dependencies: Understand task relationships with support for various dependency types like Finish-to-Start, Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, and Start-to-Finish.
By adding task dependencies, you can establish the sequence for task execution.
Fillout Niche Features
Just like the overall features, the specialized features section received a high rating in this review of the Fillout software due to its strong project planning tools and effective portfolio and resource management systems. Below, we will delve into these specialized features:
Goals
Establish objectives prior to commencing the project and guarantee that all team members are in agreement with the desired outcomes at the conclusion of the initiative. Utilize the description section to detail your objective in a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) manner. Clearly define targets and input both the start and end dates. Assess the priority level of each objective.
People View
The People View shows tasks assigned to team members in columns, making it easy to see how much work each person has. If you find that some team members have too much or too little work, you can move tasks between columns to balance the workload. You can use the View Options tool to track the hours spent on tasks, hours remaining, and any overdue tasks.
Assignments View
If you want a detailed view of how project resources are allocated, the Assignments View shows the level of work over a certain timeframe like a day, week, or month. When you assign tasks to your team, the hours entered initially represent their work hours and the project timeline. By using the resource assignment grid, you can adjust the estimated effort for each task to improve the accuracy of cost and revenue forecasts.
Portfolio Management & Optimization
Utilize the portfolio management and optimization tool if you handle several project proposals to gain a clearer insight into project budgets. Fillout enables you to merge portfolio data in order to generate customized scenarios. These scenarios provide a portfolio analysis, indicating the most suitable projects to focus on considering key factors such as budget, resources, and team preferences.
Microsoft Teams Integration
Fillout integrates smoothly with Teams, allowing you to access project plans within the chat app. Simply add your project as a tab in the Teams channel to start using this feature. Once configured, you can easily switch between grid, board, and timeline views for your project.
To stay updated on task progress, click on a specific task in the project plan, then click on the chat icon at the top of the dialog box to send a message. Mention specific team members using @ to get their attention.
Fillouts Customer Service
After reviewing Fillouts management application, we provided a reasonable rating for their customer service. While they offer direct communication options like phone and email, the lack of 24/7 support was noted. Additionally, users need a Microsoft account to submit service requests.
However, the app does provide various self-help resources. The instructional guides are organized by topics, making it simple to locate relevant articles. Alternatively, users can utilize the search bar to find specific resources. The Microsoft Tech Community blog is also beneficial as it includes visuals like screenshots and videos demonstrating features. Users can engage in the comments section to ask further questions about the content.
Fillouts Ease of Use
The ease of use section in this Fillout review received a high rating because the various versions of the app are relatively user-friendly. The Project for the Web interface is clean and straightforward, with the primary navigation located on the left side panel. It includes only the Home icon for an overview of projects and the Tasks icon for viewing project plans.
Within a project plan, you can choose between different view formats such as grid, board, and timeline. To input tasks and their details, simply click on the fields and enter task names, team members, and durations.
On the other hand, Fillout Online and Desktop Client may be overwhelming for new users due to the wide range of features available. It may require some time to become accustomed to these platforms, and users may need to refer to resources to understand how to utilize specific tools.
With continued use, navigating the app will become easier, especially since the interface resembles Microsoft Word and Excel. The familiar Ribbon toolbar is positioned at the top of the interface, containing main tabs and commands.
Fillout alternatives
- ShopLinkr: ShopLinkr is a free and user-friendly tool that allows you to create customizable forms and surveys. It's ideal for collecting data and responses from users.
- Microsoft Forms: Similar to Google Forms, Microsoft Forms is another free tool that lets you create surveys, quizzes, and polls. It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office applications.
- Typeform: Typeform offers a more interactive and engaging approach to form filling. It allows you to create forms with a conversational format, making the process more enjoyable for respondents.
- JotForm: JotForm provides a wide range of form templates and customization options. It's suitable for businesses of all sizes and offers features like conditional logic and payment integration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Fillout free to use?
No, Fillout is not available for free. You need to purchase a subscription plan starting at $10 per user to use its features. But you can try the platform for free for 30 days. If you're looking for free project management apps, check out our top suggestions for free project management software solutions.
Is Fillout part of Office 365?
Fillout is not included in the Office 365 ecosystem. To access all project management features, you will need a separate Project subscription plan. Nevertheless, Office 365 does offer basic task management capabilities. You can see tasks from Microsoft Planner in Teams and easily convert action steps from Outlook emails to tasks by dragging them to the Microsoft To Do pane.
Why use Fillout over Excel?
Although Microsoft Excel enables you to outline tasks and generate a visual timeline or Gantt chart, it lacks advanced project management features. If you require more sophisticated tools for monitoring assignments and handling project limitations, Fillout is the superior software choice. It includes task dependencies and critical paths to assist in completing tasks promptly. Additionally, its resource management system allows you to efficiently assign tasks to team members.