Deltek Review: Overview, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2025

Disconnected software is wrecking project clarity.

If you’re handling project budgets in one system and timesheets in another, it’s impossible to get a real-time grip on true profitability.

That’s exactly why so many of you are stuck with stressful last-minute surprises during billing and struggling to make quick project decisions.

Deltek Ajera tackles this mess by giving small and mid-sized A&E firms an all-in-one ERP platform—bringing project management, accounting, billing, and CRM into one easy-to-navigate workspace. After testing new features and the latest UI update, I found Ajera’s real-time project dashboards and cloud-based flexibility truly stand out compared to legacy tools.

In this review, I’ll break down how you can finally see your project finances in real time and break free from spreadsheet chaos.

In this Deltek review, you’ll find a deep dive into its core features, usability, billing workflows, pricing options, and real competitor comparisons to help with your decision.

You’ll leave with the insights and features you need to make the smartest software choice for your firm.

Let’s get started.

Deltek Overview

Deltek has been around since 1983, based in Herndon, Virginia, focused on providing ERP and professional services automation software specifically for project-based businesses. Their mission has always been about delivering solutions that help organizations manage complex projects, especially in niche sectors.

What sets them apart is how they specialize in government contracting, A&E, and consulting industries where project complexity demands integrated financial and project management tools. Rather than spreading thin across many sectors, they target these areas to better serve precise operational needs.

The recent Deltek review will show you that they’ve made significant strides with Ajera, including a major user interface refresh and enhanced cloud options. These moves clearly signal their commitment to evolving the platform to better suit modern workflows.

Unlike larger, more generic ERP providers, Deltek positions itself around tailored solutions for project-driven firms. You’ll notice their deep integration between project tracking and accounting isn’t common among competitors, which often require separate systems or complex add-ons.

They work with small to midsize architecture, engineering, and consulting firms, many of which rely on Ajera to combine project oversight with financial control in a single system.

Deltek’s strategy now emphasizes strengthening cloud adoption and modern user experience—moves that align with how buyers increasingly want accessible, all-in-one software without sacrificing industry-specific power.

Now let’s examine their capabilities.

Deltek Features

Project and financial disconnects kill profitability insights.

Deltek solutions focus on integrating project management and accounting for A&E firms. These are the five core Deltek solutions that tackle common industry headaches to boost your firm’s financial clarity and operational control.

1. Integrated Project Management & Accounting

Struggling to link project progress with actual costs?

Many firms juggle separate tools, making it impossible to see live profitability or track expenses accurately in real-time.

Deltek’s solution connects every time entry, expense, and invoice directly to project phases. From my testing, the instant budget updates and real-time percent complete tracking provide a clear financial pulse on every job. This feature eliminates guesswork by offering a single source of truth for project health.

This means you can finally make timely adjustments that protect your profit margins throughout the project lifecycle.

2. Automated Billing & Invoicing

Tired of billing complexity slowing down cash flow?

Handling fixed fees, hourly rates, and reimbursables manually is error-prone and wastes time each billing cycle.

Deltek automates invoices based on contract terms, compiling billable hours and expenses with one click. What I love is how this solution supports multiple contract types while applying accurate billing rates and markups automatically. It streamlines approvals and directly emails invoices to clients, reducing administrative load.

Your accounting team saves hours monthly, speeding up revenue recognition and improving client satisfaction.

3. Business Development & CRM

Losing track of leads and failing to convert proposals?

Many A&E sales teams lack a system tailored to their unique sales cycle, which risks missed opportunities.

Deltek’s CRM module lets you track leads, manage contacts, and build fee proposals—all aligned with A&E needs. From my testing, the real win is the smooth handoff from proposal to project that carries all budget details forward effortlessly. Although lighter than full CRM giants, this solution helps you keep your pipeline visible and organized.

So as a business developer, you can close deals faster and reduce duplication of data entry.

4. Reporting & Dashboards

Frustrated by disconnected reports and stale data?

Running profitability and utilization reports manually is slow and often inaccurate, impacting decision-making.

Deltek offers role-based dashboards and a robust report designer showing live financials and work-in-progress. Here’s what I found: while powerful, the custom report creation does require some learning and occasionally outside help. However, these tools provide executives and PMs with timely insights that guide resource allocation and forecasting.

This helps your firm run more predictably and spot issues before they escalate.

5. Centralized Time & Expense Tracking

Still chasing paper timesheets and missing receipts?

Time and expense collection is a drain when scattered across spreadsheets or offline forms, leading to lost billable hours.

Deltek’s solution provides a centralized portal plus mobile apps for employees to log hours and snap photos of receipts on the go. From my experience, the mobile expense capture and direct attachment to reports greatly cuts approval delays and errors. This feature ensures every minute and dollar is accounted for accurately.

This results in faster billing cycles and improved project cost tracking across your teams.

Together, these Deltek solutions create a unified platform that ties your firm’s critical functions into one source of truth, improving visibility and control. This makes managing projects, finances, and clients a more connected and efficient experience for your team.

Deltek Pricing

Confused about what you’ll actually pay?

Deltek pricing follows a custom quote model tailored to your firm’s size and needs, which means you’ll need to contact sales to get detailed rates. This approach is common for specialized ERP software like Ajera, focusing on architecture and engineering firms looking for integrated project management and accounting solutions.

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Custom pricing fits complex needs.

Deltek uses a per-user subscription with license types reflecting roles (e.g., full user vs timesheet-only), plus substantial implementation fees. Their pricing model values customization and scalability to match each firm’s project and accounting complexity. This means your costs hinge on user count, required modules, and professional services, not just fixed monthly fees.

Budget-wise, this approach allows aligning costs with your actual usage but requires careful planning for upfront implementation expenses.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

Worth the investment for your firm?

While subscription fees seem higher than simple SaaS tools, Deltek’s integrated project-accounting system delivers strong ROI through real-time financial insights that replace disconnected spreadsheets and reduce billing errors. Their pricing supports firms that want to streamline operations and improve project profitability instead of juggling standalone tools.

From my cost analysis, the result is your budget gets clearer financial control that offsets implementation costs over time.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Watch for upfront and ongoing costs.

Besides monthly licenses, expect a significant one-time implementation fee for setup, data migration, and training. Implementation usually adds 20-40% or more to your first-year costs, depending on firm size and system complexity. Also, integration and add-on modules impact total expenses, so plan your budget to cover both recurring and initial investments.

So for your business, ensure you allocate funds for these elements instead of underestimating your total cost of ownership.

My Take: Deltek’s pricing approach fits small to mid-sized architecture and engineering firms needing a tailored, integrated ERP. From my cost analysis, this model suits firms that prioritize scalable, role-based licensing and accept upfront investment for long-term project accounting benefits.

Overall, Deltek pricing reflects customized ERP value with scalable cost alignment.

Deltek Reviews

What do actual users say about Deltek?

Deltek reviews from platforms like G2 and Capterra offer a mix of insights drawn from small to mid-sized A&E firms. From my review analysis, I looked at patterns revealing both strong appreciation for core features and recurring challenges reported by customers. This balanced look into Deltek reviews helps you grasp real user satisfaction and pain points.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users show mixed but generally positive feelings.

From the reviews I analyzed, Deltek Ajera holds a solid 4.0 to 4.1 star range. What stands out is how users appreciate the comprehensive integration but acknowledge complexity. Review-wise, customers find the system powerful yet sometimes difficult to fully master without training or expertise.

This means your satisfaction will likely depend on your team’s experience and onboarding support.

2. Common Praise Points

Users consistently value integrated project insights.

What I found in user feedback is that customers praise how Deltek combines project management and accounting into one platform. Many reviews highlight the real-time visibility into project profitability as a standout strength. Customers frequently mention how drilling down from financial overviews to specific timesheets adds huge operational clarity.

This praise suggests these features can significantly help your firm track project health and improve decision-making.

3. Frequent Complaints

Users often struggle with interface and learning curve.

From my review analysis, frequent complaints focus on the dated, clunky UI legacy and a steep onboarding curve. What is clear is how customizing reports often requires additional consulting investment, making it challenging for some users out-of-the-box. The newer cloud interface improves usability but underlying complexity remains a hurdle for many.

In practical terms, these issues aren’t deal-breakers but mean you should prepare for upfront training efforts.

The overall Deltek reviews show consistent user insights balancing power and complexity.

Best Deltek Alternatives

Too many choices for A&E software?

Finding the best Deltek alternatives means assessing your firm’s size, budget, and specific project management needs to ensure the right fit among competitive options.

1. BQE Core

Looking for a modern, user-friendly alternative?

BQE Core shines when your team values an intuitive interface that reduces the learning curve without sacrificing core functions like accounting, billing, and project management. From my competitive analysis, BQE Core delivers a more modern user interface than Deltek Ajera, making it ideal if ease of use is your priority.

Choose BQE Core if your firm wants a familiar all-in-one platform but craves better usability and faster onboarding.

2. Unanet A/E

Need strong government contracting compliance?

Unanet A/E stands out for firms heavily engaged with government clients requiring strict audit trails and DCAA compliance. What I found comparing options is that Unanet provides unmatched compliance features as an alternative to Deltek, though its higher cost suits mid-sized to larger enterprises.

You should pick Unanet when your business demands rigorous regulation adherence and enterprise-grade controls.

3. WorkflowMax

Budget-conscious and focused on simplicity?

WorkflowMax is a solid alternative if you’re a smaller firm with under 20 employees wanting straightforward project tracking and invoicing integrated with Xero accounting. Alternative-wise, WorkflowMax offers affordability and ease of use at a significantly lower price than Deltek Ajera.

You’ll want to consider WorkflowMax if you need core project management without complexities or high costs.

4. CMAP

Prioritizing resource scheduling and clarity?

CMAP makes more sense when your primary challenge is gaining transparent visibility into project resources and scheduling through a highly visual and clean interface. From my analysis, CMAP prioritizes clear, actionable project insights as a strong alternative to traditional ERP-heavy systems like Deltek.

Choose CMAP when your focus is managing workloads and timelines with less emphasis on deep accounting features.

The best Deltek alternatives depend on matching software strengths to your unique business needs rather than just comparing features.

Setup & Implementation

Worried about a complex software rollout?

This Deltek review takes a practical look at what it really means to implement Ajera, focusing on realistic timelines, resource needs, and challenges you’ll face during deployment.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Implementation isn’t just plug-and-play.

From my implementation analysis, Deltek implementation typically takes 2 to 6 months depending on your firm’s size and data complexity. The process involves professional services for data migration, configuration, and training—this is not a solo project. You’ll also need to plan around existing workflows and data cleanup efforts upfront to avoid delays.

You should prepare a dedicated internal champion to drive the process and ensure timelines stay on track.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Infrastructure setup can be demanding.

What I found about deployment is that professional services are mandatory for implementation, so you’ll work closely with Deltek or certified partners. Hardware and software requirements vary based on cloud or on-premise setups, and integration with existing accounting or project management tools can add complexity depending on your IT environment.

Make sure your IT team is ready to support system access and integration tasks during the rollout.

3. Training & Change Management

User adoption requires effort and patience.

Implementation-wise, the system’s depth means your team faces a steep learning curve. From my analysis, dedicated training and a power user are essential for effective adoption. Without strong change management and ongoing support, users often struggle to maximize Ajera’s capabilities and might resist abandoning legacy processes.

Focus on comprehensive training programs and appoint champions to foster user engagement.

4. Support & Success Factors

Vendor support experiences vary.

From my implementation analysis, Deltek’s support team can be inconsistent, with some users praising responsiveness while others find ticket resolution slow. This makes your internal team’s preparation and proactive knowledge building even more important for sustained success with the software.

For best results, invest in internal expertise and maintain close contact with your implementation partner.

Overall, Deltek implementation demands dedicated resources and realistic planning upfront but rewards firms that commit fully to the process with greater project financial insight and control.

Who’s Deltek For

Who benefits most from Deltek?

In this Deltek review, I’ll help you identify whether this software fits your business by focusing on specific user profiles, team sizes, and use case needs based on practical self-qualification insights.

1. Ideal User Profile

Designed for A&E firms needing project profitability clarity.

Deltek Ajera serves architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms who struggle with disconnected accounting and project management tools. From my user analysis, businesses requiring tight integration of project and financial data find the platform’s all-in-one approach invaluable. Target users willing to invest time in training and implementation tend to gain the most clarity and control over project performance.

You’ll succeed if your priority is linking financials directly to project outcomes.

2. Business Size & Scale

Best suited for small to mid-sized firms.

Your business should typically have between 15 and 150 employees to leverage Deltek’s capabilities fully. What I found about target users is that smaller teams often find the system overly complex and costly, while larger companies usually opt for Deltek’s enterprise solutions instead. Your operation size must justify investment in a structured setup and ongoing support.

If your firm fits this range and can dedicate resources, Deltek Ajera works well.

3. Use Case Scenarios

Ideal for managing A&E project lifecycles end-to-end.

Deltek excels when your workflows include billing, time tracking, and project financials all tightly linked in one platform. From my analysis, firms needing unified insight from proposal to final payment gain significant operational efficiency and better project profitability insights with Ajera.

Your use case fits if your biggest hurdle is connecting separate systems tracking projects and accounting.

4. Who Should Look Elsewhere

Not recommended for casual or small firms.

If your team is under 15 employees or you prefer a plug-and-play tool with minimal training, you’ll find Deltek Ajera’s complexity and cost prohibitive. From my user analysis, companies seeking simple, standalone accounting or project tools typically benefit more from alternatives with faster onboarding and lower ongoing overhead.

Look for simpler, more affordable software if you need less integration or lighter financial management.

From this Deltek review, you’ll find it fits best if your business calls for integrated project and financial management within a structured A&E environment.

Bottom Line

Is Deltek the right fit for your projects?

This Deltek review provides a thorough evaluation to help you decide if its specialized project-focused ERP aligns with your business needs and priorities.

1. Overall Strengths

Deltek excels in integrated project management.

The software’s standout capability is offering a single database combining financials and project data, which delivers deep visibility into project profitability and lifecycle management. From my comprehensive analysis, recent cloud and UI enhancements improve accessibility without sacrificing robust PSA and ERP functions tailored specifically for A&E, government contracting, and consulting firms.

These strengths enable your business to improve financial oversight and project delivery accuracy, boosting overall operational performance.

2. Key Limitations

User experience remains a notable challenge.

While the new browser interface is a huge improvement, the system retains a steep learning curve and complex reporting tools, which often require dedicated training and consulting support. Based on this review, many users find customization difficult and navigation overwhelming, particularly for those without accounting expertise or super-user resources.

These limitations are manageable for organizations prepared to invest in onboarding but could hinder smooth adoption for smaller firms seeking simplicity.

3. Final Recommendation

Recommended for project-driven firms needing deep integration.

You should choose Deltek if your priority is a comprehensive project financial management solution with tailored industry focus and you’re ready to commit to user training and change management. From my analysis, this software delivers high value when your business demands detailed project tracking and profitability insights over simplicity.

Your decision should include a trial or demo to verify fit given the software’s complexity and learning requirements.

This Deltek review highlights confident value for specialized project businesses while honestly acknowledging adoption challenges and necessary investments.