Workload or Forecast for an IT department?
Forecast fits digital agencies and product teams with client billing. Workload fits internal IT departments managing IT capacity, allocation conflicts, timesheet, and Run/Build/Innovation portfolio — 14-day trial, from $59/month.
Features by plan
Jira Tempo, Azure DevOps, and Toggl integrations from the Professional plan
The Starter plan includes the full trial and CSV import; native integrations start on Professional.
Compare plans →Workload vs Forecast
Forecast targets agencies and product teams with project budget and staffing. Workload targets internal IT departments with capacity planning, IT portfolio, and executive reporting.
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Workload is for you if…
- You're an internal IT department (not an agency)
- You manage Run / Build / Innovation and IT budget
- You need CIO KPIs and executive reporting
- You integrate Jira Tempo, Azure DevOps, or CSV
- You want portfolio what-if scenarios and capacity conflicts
Forecast is a better fit if…
- You're a digital agency or studio
- Client billing and project margin are central
- You staff creative/product teams, not an IT department
- No IT governance or CIO budget envelopes
Frequently asked questions
Can Workload replace Forecast?
For an internal IT department, yes — Workload covers capacity planning, allocation, and timesheet better suited to IT. Forecast remains relevant for agencies with billing and commercial staffing.
What's the difference between Forecast and Workload?
Forecast = agency resources + project budget. Workload = IT capacity + CIO portfolio + conflicts + timesheet integrations + executive reporting for IT leaders.
Does Workload offer a free trial?
Yes — 14-day free trial with no credit card at simpleworkload.com/register. CSV import on Starter (~30 minutes for first setup).
Do you need Jira to use Workload?
No. Workload runs standalone with CSV/Excel import (Starter). Jira Tempo and Azure DevOps integrations are on the Professional plan.
What IT team size is Workload built for?
CIO and IT PMO teams from 20 to 500 people. Below 15 staff Excel may suffice; from 30–50 onward a dedicated tool typically pays off quickly.
Can you migrate from Excel or an existing PPM?
Yes. Workload offers CSV/Excel, Sciforma, and MS Project migration kits with guided wizards. Most IT departments migrate teams and projects in hours.
Does Workload replace full enterprise PPM?
Not at multi-BU PPM parity. Workload is the tactical IT capacity layer (teams, allocations, conflicts, timesheet) — often alongside Sciforma/Planview or replacing Excel.
Which timesheet integrations are available?
Jira Tempo, Azure DevOps, Toggl, and Clockify (Professional plan). Workload compares planned vs actual for CIO reporting and PvA variance.
How does Workload handle intelligent allocation?
Transparent 0–100 scoring (skills ~60%, availability ~40%) with conflict detection — no opaque ML on your data. Generative AI may enrich explanatory text only.