The 5 Best Options: SAP Analytics Cloud Competitors featured image
FP&A Software

Looking for SAP Analytics Cloud Competitors? Here Are the 5 Best Options

6 mins

SAP Analytics Cloud is a popular FP&A tool, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. Many finance teams find it difficult to implement, expensive to maintain, or too dependent on IT support. Others struggle with its limited flexibility when working with non-SAP systems.

 

Read: FP&A Software Buyer’s Guide

 

If you’re looking for a different approach to planning, budgeting, and forecasting, several strong alternatives are worth considering. This guide covers five of the best: Farseer, Anaplan, Workday Adaptive Planning, Prophix, and OneStream. Some offer faster implementation, others provide more control over financial models, and a few come at a lower total cost.

Common Problems with SAP Analytics Cloud

SAP Analytics Cloud combines planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analytics in one platform. It works well for companies that use SAP’s ecosystem, but many finance teams run into issues that slow down operations and increase costs. 

SAP Analytics Cloud homepage image
Source: SAP Analytics Cloud

This is why many start looking for SAP Analytics Cloud competitors that offer more flexibility and lower costs. 

 

  • Takes too long to set up – Getting started with SAC can take months, often requiring outside consultants and IT involvement.
  • Hard to adjust financial models – Making changes isn’t easy. Many updates require IT support, slowing everything down.
  • High total cost of ownership – Licensing is expensive, but the real cost comes from consulting, maintenance, and integrations, which add up over time.
  • Doesn’t work well with non-SAP tools – SAC is built for SAP ERP systems like S/4HANA and SAP BW. Connecting it to other ERPs or databases can be a struggle.
  • Slow performance with large datasets – Running forecasts or reports on large datasets can cause delays, making real-time insights difficult.
  • Custom reports are difficult to build – Creating reports and dashboards takes extra time and sometimes even technical help.
  • Basic collaboration features – No real-time multi-user editing, workflow approvals, or detailed version tracking, making teamwork less efficient.
  • Slow data updates – Information from non-SAP sources doesn’t always sync in real-time, leading to outdated numbers.
 

Also, a typical SAP Analytics Cloud contract for mid-sized companies is around $90,000 per year, depending on users and features, which might raise some brows. 

If SAP Analytics Cloud isn’t the right fit, other FP&A tools offer easier setup, more flexibility, or lower costs. Here’s how the top five SAP Analytics Cloud competitors compare.

Farseer – A Faster, Smarter SAP Analytics Cloud Competitor for Data-Heavy FP&A

Farseer is a financial planning platform designed for mid-market companies and enterprises in industries like retail, manufacturing, and professional services. It combines a powerful proprietary calculation engine and spreadsheet-like interface with an in-memory database for fast calculations, real-time scenario planning, and AI-driven forecasting.

Why Farseer?

  • Quick deployment – Implemented in 6–8 weeks, much faster than SAP Analytics Cloud.
  • No-code financial modeling – Models can be customized without IT support.
  • High performance – Large datasets are processed quickly.
  • AI-powered insights – Forecasting and anomaly detection improve decision-making.
  • Real-time collaboration – Budgets and forecasts stay up to date.
  • Automated no-code dashboards – Workflows adapt to business needs.
  • Easy-to-use interface – A spreadsheet-like design reduces training time.
  • Faster time-to-value – Delivers results more quickly than traditional enterprise tools.

Weaknesses

  • Best suited for mid-sized and large companies, as smaller teams with basic planning needs may find it too advanced.
  • Advanced features take time to master, but strong customer support helps with adoption.

Pricing

Pricing starts at $20,000 per year, depending on company size and features.

Ideal Use Case

Best for mid-sized and large companies with complex planning needs and multiple users. It replaces Excel with AI forecasting and real-time scenario planning.

 

If you’d like to learn more, book a demo and see Farseer in action. 

Anaplan – A Scalable SAP Analytics Cloud Competitor for Enterprise-Wide Planning

Anaplan is a cloud-based FP&A platform built for large companies that need detailed scenario modeling and planning across multiple departments. It works well for organizations that want to connect finance, sales, HR, and supply chain planning in one system. However, setting it up takes time, and many teams struggle with its complexity, slow performance, and reliance on IT.

Anaplan financial analysis tool homepage
Source: Anaplan.com

Why Anaplan?

  • Works across departments, linking finance with other business units
  • Handles large datasets and detailed scenario planning
  • Allows for extensive customization
  • Integrates with major ERP, CRM, and BI systems, though setup can be tricky

Weaknesses

  • One of the most expensive FP&A tools, both for licenses and setup
  • Takes months to implement and usually requires outside consultants
  • Difficult to learn, especially for finance teams without technical experience
  • Slow performance when processing large datasets or when multiple users work at the same time
  • Built-in reporting tools are not as strong as some alternatives
  • Connecting it to other software can be frustrating
  • Customer support is inconsistent, with some users reporting slow or unhelpful responses

Pricing

Pricing averages $200,000 per year, though costs vary by company size and requirements. Many companies also find its pricing model hard to understand.

Ideal Use Case

Best for large companies needing complex, company-wide planning and forecasting, with the IT resources to support it.

 

Workday Adaptive Planning – A Simple SAP Analytics Cloud Competitor

Workday Adaptive Planning is a cloud-based FP&A tool made for mid-sized companies and enterprises that need a straightforward way to handle budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. Its clean interface makes it easier for finance teams to build reports, adjust plans, and collaborate without relying on IT.

Workday screenshot
Source: Workday.com

Many companies choose Workday Adaptive Planning because it is simple to use and allows teams to work together in real-time. It includes scenario modeling and customizable reports, but it lacks advanced forecasting tools and financial consolidation features that larger organizations may need.

Why Workday Adaptive Planning?

  • Easy-to-use interface that requires little training
  • Strong collaboration features for finance teams
  • Reports can be customized without IT support
  • Quicker to implement than more complex FP&A solutions

Weaknesses

  • Missing features for detailed financial consolidations
  • No advanced AI tools for predictive forecasting
  • Can struggle with large datasets
  • Reporting tools are basic compared to other FP&A solutions

Pricing

Pricing starts at $50,000 per year, with costs increasing based on features and users.

Ideal Use Case

A good fit for mid-sized companies that need simple planning and forecasting without advanced financial modeling or consolidation.

Prophix – A Budgeting-Focused SAP Analytics Cloud Competitor

Prophix is a cloud-based FP&A tool designed for companies that need structured budgeting and forecasting without relying heavily on IT. It automates many manual finance processes, helping teams reduce errors and improve efficiency. While it works well for budgeting, its financial modeling and reporting features are limited compared to more advanced FP&A solutions.

Prophix homepage screenshot
Source: Prophix.com

Why Prophix?

  • Strong budgeting and forecasting tools with automation
  • Familiar spreadsheet-like interface for finance teams
  • Pre-built templates for standard financial processes
  • Basic AI features for anomaly detection and predictive insights
  • Works well for companies moving away from Excel

Weaknesses

  • Limited flexibility for financial modeling beyond budgeting
  • Not ideal for complex scenario planning or enterprise-wide planning
  • Reporting and visualization tools are less advanced than competitors
  • Can be slow when handling large datasets
  • Some users report a dated interface compared to newer FP&A tools

Pricing

Pricing averages $205,000 per year, depending on company size and required features.

Ideal Use Case

Best for companies that need structured budgeting and forecasting but don’t require advanced financial modeling or complex scenario planning.

OneStream – A Costly but Comprehensive SAP Analytics Cloud Competitor

OneStream is built for large companies that need consolidation, planning, and reporting in one system. It works well for businesses with complex structures that require detailed financial controls and compliance tools. Companies can expand its features through an add-on marketplace, which includes tools for tax provisioning, account reconciliation, and other finance tasks.

Anaplan competitor One stream screenshot
Source: Onestream.com

Why OneStream?

  • Strong financial consolidation and compliance features for multi-entity companies
  • Combines planning, reporting, and analytics in one system
  • Additional tools available through its add-on marketplace
  • Well-rated customer support

Weaknesses

  • One of the most expensive FP&A solutions available
  • The interface feels outdated compared to newer platforms
  • Implementation takes longer due to the platform’s complexity

Pricing

Pricing averages $170,000 per year, varying by company size and selected features.

Ideal Use Case

Best for large companies that need a centralized system to manage financial operations across multiple entities and have the budget and IT resources to support it.

Which SAP Analytics Cloud Competitor is Right for You?

SAP Analytics Cloud works well for some companies, but many finance teams need a faster, more flexible, or more affordable alternative.

 

Farseer is the best option for companies that want speed, flexibility, and full control over financial models without relying on IT. It has quick deployment, real-time collaboration, and no-code modeling, all at a lower cost than most competitors.

 

Other tools have their strengths but come with trade-offs. Anaplan is powerful but expensive and complicated to set up. Workday Adaptive Planning is easy to use but lacks advanced features. Prophix is a strong budgeting tool but doesn’t offer much flexibility. OneStream is built for financial consolidation but is costly and IT-heavy.

 

If you’re looking for a modern FP&A solution that makes planning and forecasting easier, Farseer is worth considering.

 

Want to see if it’s the right fit? Reach out, and we’ll be happy to show you how it works.

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