Project management is a critical aspect of any business or organization. It helps in planning, organizing, and executing tasks efficiently to achieve project goals. Microsoft Project has long been a popular choice for project management software, but it comes at a cost and may not be the best fit for everyone. Fortunately, there are several open-source alternatives available that provide similar functionalities without the hefty price tag. In this blog post, we will explore some of the top open-source alternatives to Microsoft Project for project management.
Why Look For Microsoft Project Alternatives?
Microsoft Project is a formidable tool equipped with an extensive array of features to cater to various project management requirements. However, it’s not universally suitable. Here are three key reasons why you might want to consider alternatives:
1. Distributed work
The way we work underwent a profound change in the wake of the 2020 pandemic. Even post-pandemic, there’s a substantial uptick, with more than a 250% increase in the number of people opting for full-time remote work.
Microsoft Project, originally conceived as a desktop application, encounters difficulties when it comes to adapting to the needs of distributed teams. Collaborative work and task management can be particularly tricky within the constraints of desktop applications.
Although Microsoft Office 365 does offer partial solutions to these challenges, it can quickly become a costly proposition, particularly for small businesses, as expenses can escalate rapidly.
2. Complexity
The inherent power of MS Project lies in its comprehensive feature set, which encompasses:
- Project planning, budgeting, and scheduling
- Resource management
- Portfolio management
- Collaboration and communication
- Reporting
However, this richness in features also introduces complexity. Not all of these features are indispensable for every team member. Consequently, while MS Project proves invaluable for senior managers, its relevance for the entire team remains somewhat limited.
3. Cost
Microsoft Project offers three pricing tiers:
The basic plan includes project planning and execution features and is priced at $10 per user per month.
The second-tier plan includes all features from the basic plan, along with resource management and reporting features, priced at $30 per user per month.
The enterprise tier offers additional enterprise and portfolio management features at a cost of $55 per user per month.
Furthermore, there is an additional cost associated with Office 365.
Consequently, for small businesses, Microsoft Project can quickly become a costly investment. Now, let’s explore some alternatives to Microsoft Project in light of these cost considerations.
Free MS Project Alternatives
Taking into account the factors mentioned earlier, let’s explore several no-cost alternatives to Microsoft Project. In this section, our focus will be exclusively on online tools that support distributed work.
1. Toggl Plan- Open Source Alternatives
Toggl Plan is a beautifully simple project planning and execution tool. It’s built for remote teams that prefer results-driven management, transparency, and autonomy over micro-management.
It comes with the following features:
- Project timeline for project planning and scheduling
- Team timeline for visually managing your team’s workloads
- Comprehensive task management with customizable workflows and recurring tasks
- Assign multiple team members to a task
- Task collaboration and communication using attachments and comments
- Email notification reports
On the minus side, Toggl Plan does not come with portfolio management.
Pricing: Toggl Plan provides a complimentary plan for individual users, which is free for a lifetime and allows for unlimited projects. For team-based usage, pricing begins at $9 per user per month.
2. GanttPRO
GanttPRO stands as a project management tool suitable for teams of varying sizes, employing Gantt charts as its foundation. It effectively streamlines the intricate aspects found in MS Project while delivering a robust set of capabilities:
- Views encompass Gantt chart, Board view, Calendar view, and My tasks dashboard.
- It boasts robust task management functionalities.
- Comprehensive resource management and workload balancing features are available.
- The platform supports team collaboration through comments, attachments, mentions, and notifications.
- Time tracking, including real-time logging, is seamlessly integrated.
- Portfolio management capabilities are offered.
- Users can conveniently export their data to popular formats and share projects via URL.
However, it’s worth noting that GanttPRO lacks a free version, although it does offer a fully-featured 14-day trial period.
3. Asana- Open Source Alternatives
Asana is a comprehensive, online project management tool. And, it’s best suited for large teams and complex projects. It comes with multiple views to manage your projects and the following features:
- Timeline and calendar views for project planning
- Task management with custom task workflows and sub-tasks
- Task collaboration and communication
- Team workload management
- Portfolio management
But, most of the above features are available in the paid plans. And, the free plan is limited to Calendars, Boards, and a limited number of tasks.
Pricing: Asana offers a perpetual free plan that accommodates teams of up to 15 members. However, the free plan imposes restrictions on the number of tasks you can create and does not include features like timelines or workload management. For access to these advanced features, paid plans begin at $13.49 per user per month.
4. TeamGantt
TeamGantt as the name suggests is a project planning and execution tool. It’s an online tool that comes with features similar to MS Project.
Features include:
- Project planning with Gantt charts
- Workload forecasting
- Task management with dependant tasks and estimates
- Team collaboration with conversations and attachments
- Time tracking
Now on to the negatives. The free plan is limited to a single project and up to 3 team members.
Pricing: TeamGantt provides a free plan with limitations, allowing for a single project, one timeline, and a maximum of three members. For expanded capabilities, paid plans are available, commencing at $24.95 per user per month.
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5. Wrike- Open Source Alternatives
Wrike is a comprehensive project management solution offering a versatile array of features that encompass project planning, task management, and reporting. While initially tailored for creative and marketing teams, Wrike also integrates proofing and approval functionalities.
Key highlights of Wrike’s feature set encompass:
- Project planning, incorporating Gantt charts and calendar tools.
- Task management capabilities, including boards, customizable fields, and sub-task management.
- Advanced functionalities for proofing, task approvals, and project-level approvals.
- Comprehensive reporting capabilities with built-in time tracking features.
- Enhanced user access controls to ensure effective collaboration and security measures.
On the downside, it’s worth noting that the free plan does not grant access to the platform’s more advanced features.
Open Source Alternatives To Microsoft Project
Apart from the freemium tools mentioned earlier, there exists a multitude of open-source project management alternatives to MS Project. Let’s delve into three of the most widely recognized options.
1. OpenProject- Open Source Alternatives
OpenProject stands as an open-source project management solution, accessible online, and encompassing a suite of features, including project planning, task management, and bug tracking.
Designed primarily for software development teams, OpenProject offers the following key features:
- Project planning and scheduling facilitated through Gantt charts.
- Task management capabilities utilizing Kanban boards.
- Robust time tracking and comprehensive cost reporting tools.
- Bug tracking functionality coupled with release planning support.
However, it’s essential to note that the tool may present a notable learning curve due to its complexity, requiring some time for your team to become accustomed to its functionalities.
2. ProjectLibre- Open Source Alternatives
ProjectLibre represents a desktop-oriented, open-source alternative to MS Project that closely parallels MS Project’s desktop version. There are plans to develop a cloud-based version of this project management tool in the future.
Key features of ProjectLibre encompass:
- A desktop application compatible with Linux, Mac, and Windows PCs.
- Compatibility with Microsoft Project files.
- Comprehensive functionalities for project planning, task management, and resource management.
- Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that being a desktop application, ProjectLibre inherits the same limitations as MS Project.
Conclusion on Open Source Alternatives
Microsoft Project is a popular choice for project management, but it may not be the most cost-effective or flexible option for everyone. Open-source alternatives like ProjectLibre, GanttProject, OpenProject, TaskJuggler, and Odoo offer a range of features to help you plan, execute, and track your projects without breaking the bank.
When choosing an open-source project management tool, consider your specific project requirements, team collaboration needs, and your familiarity with the software. With these alternatives, you can effectively manage your projects while benefiting from the advantages of open-source software, such as customization, community support, and cost savings. Give them a try and discover which one aligns best with your project management needs.
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