SPM Software comparison: Planview vs Clarity vs Keto AI+
SPM Software comparison: Planview vs Clarity vs Keto AI+
Choosing the right SPM software is no small task. Every platform promises to connect strategy with execution, but not all deliver on that promise equally. The reality is, most organisations are still wrestling with siloed systems, slow decision-making, and missed opportunities. That’s where Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) tools step in – turning strategy into something you can actually execute.
In this SPM software comparison, we take an honest look at three of the most talked-about platforms – Planview, Broadcom Clarity, and Keto AI+ – to see how they perform where it really counts: alignment, agility, AI, automation, and time-to-value.
Quick verdict
Planview: The classic enterprise powerhouse. It shines when you have mature governance and plenty of structure, but it needs time, budget, and patience to implement.
Clarity (Broadcom): Finance-led and detail-oriented. Great for control and tracking, but a bit heavier when it comes to change and modernisation.
Keto AI+: The agile newcomer that’s purpose-built for speed, simplicity, and AI-driven strategy execution. It gives you enterprise-level visibility without the overhead.
Strategic alignment and impact
Planview and Clarity do a solid job of linking portfolios to corporate goals—but they often rely on static processes. Keto AI+, by contrast, keeps things alive and dynamic. Its OKR-to-portfolio linking ensures that as priorities shift, your portfolio does too. No spreadsheets, no waiting on monthly reviews—just live strategy in motion.
If your organisation blends agile and waterfall delivery or pivots frequently, Keto AI+ helps maintain alignment without dragging teams through endless governance meetings.
👉 Related reading: What is Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM)?
AI-driven decisions and automation
Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword anymore – it’s changing how portfolio leaders plan, prioritise, and predict outcomes.
- Planview brings powerful analytics, but it needs clean data and expert configuration.
- Clarity adds automation through external BI tools but still leans heavily on manual inputs.
- Keto AI+, however, was built with AI at its core. It predicts delivery risks, forecasts value, matches skills to demand, and automates approvals and reporting. Leaders get answers instantly instead of waiting for reports to land in their inbox.
👉 You might also like: How aligning goals with strategy drives performance
Configurability and user experience
Here’s where user adoption often lives or dies. A platform can be powerful, but if people find it confusing or rigid, it simply won’t be used.
Planview and Clarity are feature-rich but IT-heavy. They work brilliantly once set up, but changes usually mean waiting for specialists.
Keto AI+, on the other hand, empowers business users directly. With no-code configuration, teams can adapt workflows, fields, and dashboards easily. That means faster deployment, smoother adoption, and higher satisfaction.
Many customers report going live in as little as four to six weeks – a fraction of the time needed for traditional enterprise tools.
Integration and enterprise architecture
SPM software doesn’t live in isolation. It must integrate with finance, HR, and delivery systems to tell the full story.
- Planview excels here, offering broad integrations and native enterprise architecture tools (via Troux).
- Clarity provides APIs and connectors, but requires more custom work to stitch everything together.
- Keto AI+ offers open REST APIs and no-code connectors for ERP, CRM, ITSM, and DevOps platforms. The result is a single, unified view of strategy and delivery data.
Cost, speed, and time-to-value
This is where the gap really shows. Planview and Clarity bring powerful capabilities but come with enterprise-level cost and rollout times – often stretching into months or even years. Keto AI+ delivers a faster return. Its pricing is transparent, implementation is lightweight, and automation cuts manual work. Most teams see tangible value in weeks, not quarters.
Feature comparison at a glance
| Capability | Keto AI+ | Planview | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic alignment | OKR↔portfolio linking; live dashboards | Scenario planning; governance-heavy | Finance-led alignment; predefined controls |
| AI & insights | Built-in predictive analytics | Strong but needs expert setup | External BI required |
| Automation | No-code workflows & reporting | Powerful but complex | Limited |
| Method support | Agile, waterfall, hybrid | Strong traditional, some agile | Mostly waterfall |
| Resource capacity | Real-time visibility, AI skill matching | Forecasting tools | Heavier setup |
| UX & adoption | Modern and intuitive | Complex but powerful | Traditional UI |
| Configurability | No-code for business users | Needs specialists | IT-driven |
| Implementation | 4–6 weeks typical | 6–12 months | 9–12 months |
| Cost | Transparent SaaS | Modular pricing | High long-term cost |
Which SPM software should you choose?
It really depends on what you need most.
Planview: perfect for large enterprises that value deep governance and process standardisation.
Clarity: best for organisations where financial control is the top priority.
Keto AI+: ideal for teams that want flexibility, speed, and modern AI-driven insight – without the complexity.
The bottom line
All three platforms promise to connect strategy with execution. The difference lies in how much effort it takes to get there. Planview and Clarity are built for structured control; Keto AI+ delivers that same control with agility, AI, and ease of use. It gives leaders real-time visibility, teams a clear sense of purpose, and the business measurable results faster.
👉 Request a Keto AI+ demo and see how it turns your strategic portfolio into an intelligent, self-adjusting system that drives outcomes – not just plans.