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ALICE vs Planera

Two AI-first scheduling tools with different jobs. ALICE is generative scheduling and optimization software that works from existing Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project schedules or a 3D model to simulate construction scenarios. Planera is a visual, collaborative CPM scheduling platform where teams build and update schedules, with AI that works from plain-English requests. Both are sold by quote. Desk research from vendor pages read Oct 26, 2026; not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 26, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: ALICE (Scheduling; no public prices (quote / sales)) vs Planera (AI-native CPM scheduling; no public prices (quote / sales)). Facts last checked Oct 26, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

ALICE vs Planera: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowALICEPlanera
CategorySchedulingAI-native CPM scheduling
AI role (our label)AI-firstAI-first
What it doesAI construction scheduling software that simulates many scenarios to optimize, de-risk, and recover schedules, at bid stage and during construction. The vendor calls this planning approach "generative scheduling", with "what-if" exploration of construction scenarios. Products listed: ALICE Optimize, ALICE Analyze, ALICE Model (baseline from a 3D model), and ALICE FieldPlan (beta), plus a Schedule Insights Agent for chatting with a schedule. Imports Microsoft Project, Oracle Primavera P6, and Primavera Cloud schedules. Vendor says it has been deployed on more than $410 billion of construction projects (vendor claim). Re-read Oct 17, 2026: the homepage also lists Targeted Optimization (finding the fastest path to a schedule acceleration target), a Schedule Quality Score that says what to fix and why, and a Construction Schedule Agent; its FAQ says the platform is SOC 2 Type II compliant and Cyber Essentials Plus certified, data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-256), and customers own all data they submit and generate (vendor statements). Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: ALICE FieldPlan is still marked In Beta and is described as building lookaheads connected to drawings, ALICE Analyze as a single view of project and portfolio health, and the homepage names industrial (energy, data centers, battery plants, chemical plants, mines, pipelines), civil and transit (railways, metros, highways, bridges, tunnels, viaducts) and building project types. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (ALICE Optimize, Analyze, Model and FieldPlan, still marked In Beta; Targeted Optimization; Schedule Quality Score; works with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project). The page names both a Construction Schedule Agent and a Schedule Insights Agent; the $410 billion deployment figure is an unchanged vendor claim. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged in substance (Optimize, Analyze, Model, FieldPlan in beta, Targeted Optimization, Schedule Quality Score, Construction Schedule Agent and Schedule Insights Agent); the $410 billion figure and 17% / 14% / 12% savings lines remain vendor claims and are not used. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (generative scheduling with Targeted Optimization, the Schedule Insights Agent and Construction Schedule Agent, Schedule Quality Score, and FieldPlan still marked In Beta). The project-value figure on the homepage remains a vendor claim not used here. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (generative scheduling with Targeted Optimization, the Construction Schedule Agent and Schedule Insights Agent, works with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project schedules, and ALICE FieldPlan still marked In Beta). Project-value and savings figures remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged in substance (FieldPlan still marked In Beta; Schedule Insights Agent and Construction Schedule Agent still listed). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (ALICE Optimize working from existing Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project schedules, ALICE Analyze for schedule, project and portfolio performance, ALICE Model from a 3D model, ALICE FieldPlan still In Beta, the Construction Schedule Agent, Targeted Optimization mode and the Schedule Insights Agent; the FAQ says schedules from Microsoft Project, Primavera P6 or Primavera Cloud can be imported). The project-value figure and customer quotes remain vendor material not used here.Visual, collaborative CPM scheduling platform described as AI-native, with quality checks, pull planning and plain-English AI scheduling. Features listed: critical path and float management, DCMA-14 schedule quality checks, resource loading and trade stacking, field schedules connected to the master, a whiteboard for pull planning, and AI that turns plain-English requests into schedules and updates, explores what-if scenarios, flags missing logic and shrinking float, and drafts owner updates and delay narratives. Vendor cites 100+ builders (vendor claim). Re-read Oct 17, 2026: the site also lists iPad schedule updates and side-by-side comparison of schedule versions, and the pricing FAQ says onboarding for teams moving from P6, MS Project or other tools includes schedule import assistance and team training, with optional expert training and services. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the menu now lists an AI Scheduling Assistant marked New (named manny and described as AI that thinks like a scheduler), Risk Simulations, a Project Dashboard and filters among its features, a Data Centers / Hyperscalers solution page, a free DCMA quality check, Planera for Universities, case studies including Big D Construction, Balfour Beatty (marked new), Zachry Construction and AMLI Residential, and comparison pages against P6, Microsoft Project, Outbuild and Procore Scheduling. Customer quotes are vendor-published and not used here. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (AI-native CPM with critical path and float management, DCMA-14 checks, resource loading and trade stacking, unlimited users, field schedules linked to the master, a pull-planning whiteboard, and AI that builds and updates schedules from plain-English requests, explores what-if scenarios, flags missing logic and shrinking float, and drafts owner updates, look-aheads and delay narratives). A banner promotes a Planera vs. P6 comparison event; the 100+ builders line and customer quotes are vendor content and not used. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (AI-native CPM, DCMA-14 checks, resource loading, unlimited users, field schedules, pull-planning whiteboard, plain-English schedule building and updates); the Planera vs. P6 event banner is still shown, and the pricing page's duplicated feature-card texts persist. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (AI-native CPM, DCMA-14 checks, resource loading and trade stacking, unlimited users, field schedules linked to the master, pull-planning whiteboard, version compare, iPad updates); the Planera vs. P6 event banner is still shown. The 100+ builders line and customer stories are vendor content and not used. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: site unchanged in substance (the Planera vs. P6 banner; the free DCMA check). Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: site unchanged in substance (AI-native CPM; the Planera vs. P6 banner; the free DCMA quality check). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (AI scheduling from plain-English requests, DCMA-14 checks and a free DCMA quality check, whiteboard pull planning, field schedules connected to the master, risk simulation, resource loading, version comparison and an iPad app). Builder counts and quotes remain vendor material not used here; the vendor's P6 comparison is not repeated.
Who it's forOwners, contractors, and consultants. Pricing FAQ says it is most often used by GCs and owners in infrastructure, industrial, and commercial sectors, generally on projects of at least $75M construction value.Builders' project managers, superintendents, schedulers, and field crews.
Pricing (as publicly stated)No public prices (checked Oct 16, 2026; unchanged Oct 17 and Oct 19, 2026): the pricing page says "Start here to request a custom quote of ALICE", with a questionnaire (company type, project size, construction value of your average project, priorities, location) followed by a consultation call to share tailored pricing; no figures. The pricing FAQ says the price covers access to the platform plus dedicated time from the customer success team. Earlier note (Oct 14, 2026): pricing based on the size and scope of your projects, with unlimited users and unlimited data. Confirm current pricing with the vendor. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (custom-quote questionnaire on company type, project size, priorities, business model and average project value, then a consultation call; no figures; unlimited users). Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (custom quote, no figures, unlimited users and data; the FAQ still says customers generally use it on projects of $75M+). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026 (pricing rendered in a headless browser): unchanged (custom quote via a questionnaire; unlimited users and unlimited data; typically used on projects of at least $75M construction value per the vendor). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: unchanged (custom quote via a questionnaire and consultation call; no figures; unlimited users and unlimited data; typically used on projects of at least $75M construction value per the vendor). Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (custom-quote questionnaire; the pricing page still says it typically works with projects of $75M or more; no prices). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: unchanged (custom quote via a questionnaire; the pricing page still lists unlimited users and unlimited data and says the vendor generally works on projects of $75M+).Not publicly listed. Pricing page (re-checked Oct 16, 2026; unchanged Oct 17 and Oct 19, 2026) still describes customized pricing from a single project to company-wide use, with unlimited users at no extra cost; the FAQ points to a demo for a custom quote. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the pricing FAQ now describes tiered pricing in which every plan includes the CPM engine, critical path analysis, the visual canvas and collaboration, while higher tiers add DCMA quality checks, Monte Carlo risk simulation, resource loading, portfolio dashboards and advanced integrations, with enterprise features such as SSO and dedicated account management; the page itself still shows no tiers or prices. No prices shown. Earlier note (Oct 15, 2026): Not publicly listed. Pricing page describes customized pricing from a single project to company-wide use, with unlimited users at no extra cost; a custom quote comes through a demo. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (custom pricing from a single project to company-wide, unlimited users at no extra cost, optional professional services, premium support at no added cost; no tiers or figures shown). On the pricing page the Field Schedules and Risk Simulation feature cards repeat the DCMA Quality Check and Project Dashboard descriptions, so we do not rely on those card texts. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (custom pricing from a single project to company-wide, unlimited users at no extra cost, optional professional services, premium support at no added cost; no tiers or figures shown). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged (custom pricing from a single project to company-wide, unlimited users at no extra cost, optional professional services, premium support at no added cost; the FAQ still describes tiers without figures). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: unchanged (custom pricing from a single project to company-wide; FAQ describes tiers without figures). Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (custom pricing from a single project to company-wide, unlimited users at no extra cost; FAQ describes tiers without figures). Re-checked Oct 26, 2026: unchanged (custom pricing from a single project to company-wide; unlimited users at no extra cost; premium support at no added cost; optional professional services; demo only).
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Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Oct 26, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • What each sells (vendor wording): ALICE calls itself AI-powered generative construction scheduling software that simulates many possible construction scenarios to find an efficient plan, for bidding and for managing construction. Planera describes an AI-native CPM platform with critical path and float management, a whiteboard for pull planning and field schedules connected to the master schedule.
  • Starting point: ALICE Optimize works with your existing P6 or Microsoft Project schedule, and its FAQ says schedules from Microsoft Project, Primavera P6 or Primavera Cloud can be imported; ALICE Model builds a baseline from a 3D model. Planera is where the schedule itself is built and kept, and its pricing FAQ says onboarding for teams moving from P6, MS Project or other tools includes schedule import help and training.
  • AI: ALICE lists scenario optimization (including a Targeted Optimization mode), a Construction Schedule Agent, a Schedule Insights Agent, ALICE Analyze for schedule, project and portfolio performance, and ALICE FieldPlan, still in beta, for field plans from drawings. Planera's AI builds and updates schedules from plain-English requests, explores what-if scenarios, flags logic issues and drafts reports.
  • Schedule checks and risk: Planera lists DCMA-14 quality checks (plus a free DCMA check), risk simulation, resource loading, side-by-side version comparison and an iPad app. ALICE focuses on stress-testing options, mitigating risk and finding ways to recover or speed up a project.
  • Who they target (vendor statements): ALICE lists industrial, infrastructure (including railways, highways, bridges and tunnels) and commercial projects, and its pricing page says it generally works on projects of $75M+. Planera prices from a single project to company-wide.
  • Pricing (checked Oct 26, 2026): neither publishes prices. ALICE uses a custom quote through a questionnaire and lists unlimited users and unlimited data. Planera offers custom pricing with unlimited users at no extra cost, premium support at no added cost and optional professional services; demo only.
  • Not used here: ALICE's project-value figure and customer quotes, and Planera's builder count, customer quotes and its own P6 comparison (vendor content).

Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.

What users say

The facts above come from vendor websites. Whether either tool is any good for your work is something only people who use them can say. These are member reviews, all ratings shown, never edited or removed for being negative.

Used either of these? Share your take

Good or bad, an honest review from an estimator, PM or super helps the next team more than another vendor demo. You post under a handle; your email is never shown.

Questions to ask in your review

  • Whether you want to optimize schedules you already keep in P6 or Microsoft Project (ALICE's approach) or move day-to-day scheduling onto a new platform (Planera's approach)
  • Whether your projects fall within ALICE's stated $75M+ focus, and what either tool costs for your portfolio
  • How well each tool's AI handles your own schedules and logic
  • What did you use it for, on what kind of work and project size?
  • How long did setup and training take, and who on your team did it?
  • What does it cost you in practice, compared with what the sales call said?

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