Choosing suitable enterprise software can significantly impact how well your company manages its operations, encompassing areas such as human resources (HR), finance, project management, and customer relationships. Oracle PeopleSoft and NetSuite are two prominent systems in this market, each providing extensive features tailored to specific business requirements. 

While both platforms offer key functions, like human resource management and financial management, their setup, deployment, and use vary significantly. This comparison outlines their key features, strengths, limitations, and pricing to help you determine which option is best suited for your organization's needs. 

Comparing PeopleSoft Vs NetSuite: At A Glance

Features 

PeopleSoft 

NetSuite 

Human Capital Management (HCM) 

Robust global HR suite with compliance tools, workforce automation, and real-time analytics 

Unified, cloud-based HCM with integrated payroll, self-service, and role-based dashboards 

Financial Management 

Full ERP with GL, AP/AR, budgeting, and compliance features, asset lifecycle tracking 

Real-time, AI-powered financials with automation, compliance, and deep integration 

Project Management 

Feature-rich Oracle integration with resource matching, billing, and grant management 

Real-time tracking, quick setup, and full financial integration 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 

AI-powered CRM with campaign management., service, and omnichannel engagement 

End-to-end CRM with full customer lifecycle, automation, and 360° view 

 

Reporting And Analytics 

Embedded analytics, Kibana integration, and strong reporting tools (BI Publisher, nVision) 

SuiteAnalytics with real-time dashboards, trend tracking, and no-code reporting 

Pricing 

Starts from $85/user/month for Benefits module 

Starter Edition: $20,000-$65,000 for up-to 15 users 

What Is PeopleSoft?

Oracle PeopleSoft is a comprehensive suite of enterprise solutions designed to meet advanced business needs across multiple sectors. 

It provides integrated solutions in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Capital Management (HCM), supply chain management, financial management, performance management, and enterprise service automation. 

Unique Features Of PeopleSoft 

  • Absence Management: Automates employee absence tracking and management with configurable rules, self-service, real-time forecasting, and seamless integration to help improve compliance and workforce planning  
  • PICASO: It is an AI-powered digital assistant that uses natural language chat to simplify processes like managing payroll, absences, and expenses. It provides seamless, tailored assistance on both desktop and mobile platforms, increasing efficiency and customer experience   
  • Enterprise Learning Management (ELM): Streamlines employee development by linking training to business objectives. It facilitates various learning formats, monitors compliance, integrates with talent management, and efficiently enhances workforce skills 

Pros And Cons 

Pros 

  • User-friendly interface makes the system accessible to a wide range of users  
  • Robust report and query development capabilities help enhance data analysis 
  • Customizable favorites list simplifies navigation through complex menus  

Cons 

  • Reporting updates are complex; backdated changes require deleting later entries, making the process complicated 
  • The user interface feels outdated and disconnected from usual business workflows, negatively impacting its usability 

What Is NetSuite?

NetSuite is a leading cloud-based business management platform that integrates financials, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and e-commerce features. 

It serves over 42,000 companies and aims to help businesses grow by offering a comprehensive, AI-powered platform for managing various business processes. 

Unique Features Of NetSuite 

  • SuiteSuccess: is a comprehensive, industry-tailored deployment and business-optimization framework that provides pre-configured, industry-specific solutions with built-in workflows, dashboards, and KPIs. It enables fast deployment and continuous business optimization from a single cloud platform  
  • Asset Management: centralizes tracking of fixed, customer, and sub-asset information from installation to retirement. It addresses hierarchies, usage history, costs, warranties, automated maintenance, and analytics 
  • Project Budgeting: allows for detailed budgeting of labor, costs, and purchases per project, comparing actuals vs budget forecasts, scenario planning, and reporting for proactive financial monitoring 

Pros And Cons 

Pros 

  • Real-time data access ensures that all information is updated instantly 
  • Efficient inventory management with real-time stock level monitoring and automatic updates  
  • Demand and supply planning helps streamline the Procure-to-Pay cycle for better purchasing efficiency 

Cons

  • Extensive custom scripts make troubleshooting and resolving issues more complex and time-consuming  
  • Rigid billing schedules, require separate setups for different terms, making them challenging to manage  

PeopleSoft Vs NetSuite: Key Features Comparison

1. Human Capital Management (HCM)

PeopleSoft is a powerful, integrated system designed to improve HR processes, increase productivity, and reduce ownership costs. It serves as a global record-keeping system, enabling compliance with local regulations, efficient workforce management (e.g., time and labor, and absence management), and talent management, from recruitment and performance to succession planning.

The platform supports strategic decision-making with insight-driven tools and real-time data visibility; all within a unified, scalable platform.

SuitePeople Human Capital Management (HCM) by NetSuite is a comprehensive, cloud-based HR system that streamlines workforce management and integrates HR and finance. It combines employee data, payroll, time-off, performance, and talent management processes into a single platform, minimizing data silos and eliminating duplicate entries.

Built-in analytics and role-based dashboards offer real-time visibility into headcount, turnover, and engagement. Self-service technologies empower managers and employees by improving HR efficiency and strategic decision-making.

Winner: Tie. Both PeopleSoft and NetSuite offer comprehensive, real-time Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions with robust workforce management and analytics capabilities.

2. Financial Management

PeopleSoft's Financial Management package offers a comprehensive ERP framework that encompasses General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Budgeting, Asset Lifecycle Management, Treasury, and Expense Management. It enables global, multi-currency operations and automates invoicing, payments, cash flow, and compliance.

Integrated financial analytics and reporting solutions provide real-time insights, leading to increased productivity and informed decision-making. Additionally, asset tracking and automatic depreciation improve financial management and accounting accuracy.

The NetSuite Financial Management module is a real-time, AI-driven cloud platform designed to streamline accounting and key financial activities. It automates general ledger, accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), tax, cash management, fixed assets, and revenue recognition while also enabling budgeting, forecasting, and financial closing procedures.

Its multi-entity consolidations, compliance with standards (ASC 606, GAAP, and SOX), and role-based dashboards offer insight from transaction-level data to enterprise-wide performance, seamlessly integrated with CRM, inventory, and order modules.

Winner: NetSuite Financial Management outperforms PeopleSoft with real-time, AI-driven automation and seamless integration across business processes.

3. Project Management

PeopleSoft’s ‘Program and Project Management’ feature offers comprehensive tools for managing projects and programs from start to finish. It enables project planning and estimating, including work breakdown structure templates, activity scheduling, resource allocation, and cost estimation, all integrated with back-office systems.

The platform automates cost collection, project costing, and invoicing, as well as revenue recognition, compliance, capital asset management, and grant award billing. Embedded analytics and digital assistant to improve forecasting, real-time insights, and operational agility across projects and programs.

NetSuite provides real-time visibility and centralized control over all project components, including planning, collaboration, budgeting, tracking, and issue management. It supports both fixed-price and time-and-materials projects, enables automatic project setup using templates, and fully integrates with accounting modules.

With interactive dashboards, Gantt charts, financial analytics, and forecasting, it helps teams proactively address challenges, optimize resource utilization, and complete projects on time and within budget.

Winner: NetSuite wins with real-time visibility, seamless accounting integration, and straightforward project setup, which PeopleSoft lacks.

4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Oracle offers a comprehensive CRM solution by integrating marketing, sales, and service modules to provide a unified view of client interactions. It helps organizations provide tailored experiences across multiple touchpoints by utilizing data insights and AI-powered suggestions.

Some of its key features include sales force automation, campaign management, customer data platforms, and omnichannel service capabilities.

NetSuite CRM offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities for managing the entire customer lifecycle, encompassing lead generation, sales, fulfillment, and support. It combines sales force automation, marketing automation, and customer service management into one single platform.

Real-time dashboards, mobile access, and a single customer view across all channels are key aspects that help companies provide tailored and efficient client experiences.

Winner: NetSuite takes the CRM round by providing a fully integrated platform that streamlines customer lifecycle management more efficiently than Oracle PeopleSoft.

5. Reporting And Analytics

PeopleSoft provides a comprehensive set of tools that integrate directly into business processes, allowing users to produce reports and visualizations without requiring technical knowledge. It features embedded analytics for real-time insights, interactive dashboards, and supports sophisticated reporting tools, including BI Publisher and nVision.

Integration with Kibana enhances data visualization, and tailored alerts keep users informed, enabling businesses to make more informed, data-driven decisions.

NetSuite offers real-time insights through its built-in dashboards, KPI monitoring, and custom reports. It enables users to analyze financial, operational, and customer data across departments using interactive visualizations and role-based access.

NetSuite SuiteAnalytics enables users to execute stored searches, perform trend analysis, and conduct ad-hoc reporting without requiring coding knowledge, allowing organizations to make more informed decisions.

Winner: Tie. PeopleSoft shines by offering excellent inbuilt analytics and Kibana integration, while NetSuite SuiteAnalytics takes the lead by providing customizable, no-code reporting and real-time dashboards.

PeopleSoft Vs NetSuite Cost Structure: What You Need To Know

PeopleSoft HCM by Oracle offers four pricing tiers based on modules: 

  • Benefits: $85/user/month 
  • Pension Administration: $85/user/month 
  • Human Resources: $185/user/month 
  • Payroll: $225/user/month 

Disclaimer: The pricing is sourced through a third-party website and is subject to change.  

Each module is priced separately on a per-user, per-month basis, allowing organizations to select only the functionality they need.  

NetSuite pricing varies widely depending on the number of users and modules. A general estimate suggests: 

  • Starter Edition: $20,000-$65,000 (licenses + services) for up-to 15 users
  • Emerging Edition: $35,000–$85,000 (licenses + services) for 30 users
  • Mid-Market Edition: $35,000 to $125,000 for mid-sized businesses with multi-entity needs
  • Enterprise Edition: $250,000 (for large operations with over 1,000 users)

Disclaimer: The pricing is sourced through a third-party website and is subject to change.

The pricing for each edition is based on the features offered and scalability.

PeopleSoft Vs NetSuite: Which Platform Is Right For You?

PeopleSoft and NetSuite have outstanding capabilities for business operations, but their strengths are tailored to distinct business needs. PeopleSoft excels in compliance-driven environments that demand advanced HR, financial, and asset management capabilities, supported by Oracle's enterprise solutions.

On the other hand, NetSuite offers a more agile, cloud-native platform with real-time visibility, integrated workflows, and AI-powered automation, making it an ideal choice for growing businesses seeking speed and scalability.

Your business structure, industry requirements, and long-term goals determine the right choice. Consider which system best suits your digital strategy and operational complexity.