QSRA software · 2026 buyer's guide

QSRA Software Compared: Safran Risk, Primavera Risk Analysis, Acumen Risk and @RISK

Short answer. For integrated cost and schedule risk on a major project, most owners and EPC contractors now choose Safran Risk or Deltek Acumen Risk. Oracle Primavera Risk Analysis is still widely used but has had no new feature release since version 8.7. Excel add-ins such as @RISK and ModelRisk suit cost models, not full schedule models. The software matters less than the method: a badly built model gives a wrong P80 in any tool.

Vendor-neutral · Written by practitioners who run QSRA on live UK and GCC projects · Updated October 2026
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The comparison

What each tool does for schedule risk (QSRA), cost risk (QCRA) and the Joint Confidence Level (JCL). Prices are only shown where the vendor or an official reseller publishes them.

SoftwareBest forSchedule inputCost risk and JCLDeploymentPublished price
Safran RiskIntegrated cost and schedule risk on major programmes; the usual replacement for Primavera Risk AnalysisP6 XER, MS ProjectYes, integrated; JCLDesktop on a database; cloud options via resellersNot public
Oracle Primavera Risk Analysis (Pertmaster)Teams with existing PRA models and P6 schedulesP6, MS ProjectYes, integrated; JCL scatter plotWindows desktop, single userNot public
Oracle Primavera Cloud (Risk)Organisations already planning in Primavera CloudNative Primavera Cloud scheduleYes; target JCLCloud (SaaS)From about £72 per user per month in a UK G-Cloud bundle (schedule, resource and risk)
Deltek Acumen RiskSchedule quality checks and risk analysis in one suiteP6, MS Project, Open Plan, PowerprojectYes, integrated; probabilistic cash flowWindows desktopNot public
Lumivero @RISK (with ScheduleRiskAnalysis)Excel cost models; smaller schedulesMS Project and P6 imported into ExcelYes, in ExcelExcel add-inCheck the vendor
Barbecana Full MonteLow-cost schedule risk inside MS ProjectMS Project; P6 Professional databasesYes; JCLMS Project add-in; P6 edition$1,195 perpetual, then $299 a year support
Intaver RiskyProjectRisk register driven schedule analysis on a budgetP6, MS ProjectYes; JCLDesktop, MS Project add-in, server$685 to $979 a year (Lite, Professional)
Vose ModelRiskAdvanced Excel cost and contingency modelsNone nativelyCost risk in Excel; no schedule engineExcel add-inUp to €1,550 a year; free Basic edition

Prices and features as published by vendors and official resellers, checked 6 October 2026, excluding VAT. Confirm with the vendor before you buy. Disclosure: IQRM is a Vose Software partner and may earn a referral fee on ModelRisk.

Which one should you choose?

Owner or EPC on a major project

Choose Safran Risk or Acumen Risk. Both read your P6 schedule, map a risk register to activities, run cost and schedule together and report a JCL.

Already on Primavera Risk Analysis

Keep running live models, but plan the move. The product has had no feature development for years, and new staff increasingly train on Safran Risk.

Cost contingency in Excel

Use an Excel engine such as @RISK or ModelRisk. They are strong for QCRA, but they are not a substitute for a schedule model.

Five questions to ask before you buy

  1. Does it read our schedule without rework?

    Test it on your own P6 or MS Project file, not the vendor demo. Calendars, constraints and links must survive the import.

  2. Can it map risks to activities?

    Discrete risks from the register must drive the activities they affect. Without this, the model only shows estimating uncertainty.

  3. Does it do cost and schedule together?

    If you need a JCL or time-dependent cost, both models must run in the same simulation.

  4. Does it handle correlation?

    Uncorrelated models give a falsely narrow range and an optimistic P80. Check how correlation is set and reported.

  5. Will your team be able to run it?

    Licences are the small cost. The bigger cost is people who can build, check and defend the model.

The software is not what makes a QSRA defensible

Every tool on this page uses Monte Carlo simulation. What separates a P80 a project director can sign from one that gets challenged is the input: a healthy schedule, calibrated three-point estimates, a quantified risk register and correlation that reflects the project. That is method, not software.

Need it done on your project?

IQRM's QSRA consultants build and defend the model in Safran Risk or Primavera Risk Analysis, working from your P6 schedule.

QSRA consulting

Need your team to do it?

The QRM Professional Programme teaches QSRA and QCRA on real project models in Safran Risk. Corporate teams can run it as a live cohort.

Corporate QSRA training

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common QSRA software?
On UK infrastructure and GCC oil and gas projects, Primavera Risk Analysis is still the most common legacy tool, and Safran Risk is the most common replacement. Acumen Risk and @RISK also appear in job adverts for risk engineers.
Is Primavera Risk Analysis discontinued?
Oracle has released no new features since version 8.7, and the last patch set was 8.7 Patch Set 8. Check your support status with Oracle before relying on it for new projects. See our Primavera Risk Analysis guide.
Can I do a QSRA in Excel?
For a small schedule, yes, with an add-in such as @RISK. For a major project schedule with thousands of activities, a dedicated tool that reads P6 directly is faster and easier to audit. Start with our Monte Carlo in Excel guide.
Which software calculates P50, P80 and P90 completion dates?
All the tools in the comparison do. The difference is how well they handle risk mapping, correlation and integrated cost. See P50, P80 and P90 explained.
Which software calculates a Joint Confidence Level?
Safran Risk, Primavera Risk Analysis, Primavera Cloud, Full Monte and RiskyProject all report a JCL from an integrated cost and schedule model.

Choosing or setting up QSRA software?

Tell us your schedule size, contract and the decision coming up. We will tell you which tool fits and what it takes to get a defensible model running.

Ask a QSRA consultant
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