Anaplan

Anaplan is a business planning platform for organizations that need to coordinate decisions across functions such as finance, supply chain, sales, HR and retail. It is best suited to teams that need connected plans and scenario analysis across those areas; custom pricing and a broad enterprise focus make it a less natural fit for buyers seeking a simple, self-serve tool.

Overview

Anaplan brings budgeting, forecasting, workforce planning, financial consolidation and scenario modeling into a platform built around cross-functional planning. Its combination of deterministic calculations, probabilistic AI, connected data, workflows and role-based agents is intended to support decision-making across business functions rather than isolate each team in its own planning process. That breadth is its central strength, but organizations should expect to scope a purchase with Anaplan rather than choose a public subscription tier.

Key features

Planning and analysis

Purpose-built applications provide domain-specific functionality and planning best practices. This can give teams a more structured starting point for finance, supply chain, sales and marketing, HR and workforce, or retail planning. The range is useful for organizations coordinating assumptions across departments; it may be more platform than a team needs if its planning work is limited to one narrow use.

Mobile and integrations

The iOS and Android app lets users review dashboards, update plans, collaborate and complete workflow tasks. That supports participation away from a desktop, although the stated mobile functions are centered on reviewing and acting on plans, not building them. Connectors and integration platforms link Anaplan with third-party services, while its Integration API supports data movement, model interaction and process execution. Documented REST APIs also cover financial consolidation, identity management, CloudWorks, application lifecycle management, audit and administration.

Security and support

Anaplan states that data in transit uses HTTPS with TLS 1.2 as the minimum and TLS 1.3 as the maximum, while data at rest uses AES-256 full-disk encryption. Access controls include single sign-on, SAML 2.0, OAuth, role-based access control and centralized identity management. The platform lists SOC reports, TRUSTe Privacy Seal, Cloud Security Alliance STAR, and ISO 27001, 27017, 27018 and 27701. Integration API requests use the authenticated user's permissions rather than granting extra access. Customer care is available by phone 24x7.

Pricing

Anaplan subscription

Anaplan is paid software with custom pricing. Costs vary by service purchased and are provided through a Statement of Work or Order Schedule; prospective customers must contact Anaplan for a quote. The pricing page directs buyers to a contact form to connect with an Anaplan expert. This approach suits organizations expecting a tailored deployment, but makes it difficult for buyers to compare costs or assess budget fit before a sales conversation.

Platforms

Anaplan is available on web, iOS and Android, with API access for integrations. Mobile support extends dashboard review, plan updates, collaboration and workflow tasks to phones and tablets. Organizations looking for a listed desktop application beyond the web platform should consider that distinction.

Who it's for

Anaplan is aimed at organizations planning across finance, sales, supply chain, HR and retail. It is a stronger fit when multiple functions need to work with connected plans, forecasts and scenarios than when a single team wants a narrowly scoped budgeting tool. Custom service-based pricing also makes it more appropriate for buyers prepared to define their requirements with the vendor.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Planning applications span multiple business functions, which can help organizations coordinate assumptions rather than manage each area in isolation.
• Pro: Mobile users can review dashboards, update plans, collaborate and complete workflow tasks on iOS and Android.
• Pro: A broad API and integration set supports data movement and model interaction, while role-based access controls and encryption address security needs.
• Con: Custom pricing requires a quote, so buyers cannot quickly compare a public subscription price or select a self-serve tier.
• Con: The platform's breadth is harder to justify for a team with only one limited planning need.

Alternatives

For a related category, browse Revenue Planning Software, Forecasting Software, Corporate Performance Management Software, Financial Forecasting Software, Financial Planning & Analysis Software or Scenario Planning Software.

• Workday Adaptive Planning is another paid planning option, with a 30-day trial and support for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, web and API platforms.
• IBM Planning Analytics offers a free trial and an Essentials plan starting at $875.00 USD for small teams, alongside a wider range of supported platforms.
• Board offers customized quotes for Finance, Supply chain and Retail plans; consider it if one of those tailored areas is the priority.
• Pigment offers a 14-day free trial with a private workspace, weekly office hours and no credit card required; some features and capabilities are limited.
• Jedox is another paid planning option with Business and Professional plans.
• Planful tailors subscription pricing to company size, user count and selected modules.
• Fintastic is another paid, web-based option.
• Predict.ai has a free plan capped at 500 credits per month, one workspace, one seat, one goal per workspace, one shared deployment and 1 GB of ingestion per month.

Verdict

Anaplan is a strong choice for organizations that need connected planning across several business functions, with mobile participation and extensive integration options. Its main reason to choose it is that breadth; its main reason to look elsewhere is the commitment required to assess a custom-priced platform when a simpler or more transparent option may meet the need.