About Microsoft Project Microsoft Project, Project Standard 2024, one-time purchase $679.99 USD one-time
$849 CAD
Every pick below has a free version.
Key file formats .mpp .xml Filter alternatives 3 alternatives
Windows2 macOS2 Linux2 Web1 Self-hosted1
Self-hostable1 Works offline2
Tool License Platforms Status
Strong 2 tools Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.
1 Pr
Best for planning single projects and opening MPP files
License: Open source
Status: Unknown
MPP MPP: opens only, partial fidelity. Opens MPP files; saving back to MPP is not documented XML XML: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Microsoft Project XML import and export , 0 people switched from Microsoft Project to ProjectLibre ProjectLibre for changes Desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, with no release since 1.9.8 in April 2025. Shared resource pools and portfolio views belong to the paid ProjectLibre Cloud. Free version: ProjectLibre Desktop is free for single users. The hosted ProjectLibre Cloud for teams starts at US$9.99 per user per month.
2 Ga
Best for simple Gantt planning with MS Project import
License: Open source
Status: Unknown
MPP MPP: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports MPP files; exports MS Project XML instead XML XML: opens and saves, full fidelity. Microsoft Project XML (MSPDI) import and export , 0 people switched from Microsoft Project to GanttProject GanttProject for changes Free desktop app on Windows, macOS and Linux. The stable 3.3 release dates from January 2024; 3.4 is in beta.
Situational 1 tool Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
3 Op
Best for teams planning projects in a browser
License: Open source
Status: Unknown
, 0 people switched from Microsoft Project to OpenProject OpenProject for changes A web app for team project management. Needs a server (Community edition) or a hosted Enterprise plan. Does not open MPP files. Free version: Community edition is free to self-host. Enterprise add-ons such as team planner and SSO start at EUR 5.95 per user per month.
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Feature parity How each alternative covers what people use Microsoft Project for. Numbers link to editor notes.
Feature parity with Microsoft Project Feature ProjectLibre GanttProject OpenProject Compatibility MPP file compatibility Note 1Opens existing MPP files; saving back to MPP is not documented Note 2Imports MPP and MS Project XML; exports XML, not MPP Note 3No MPP importer; the docs point to Excel sync Scheduling Gantt charts with task dependencies Note 4Gantt chart, WBS and network diagram views Note 5Gantt chart with dependencies and a task tree Note 6Gantt view with work package relations Critical path and baselines Note 7Critical path and baselines are listed on the desktop app Note 8Critical path and baselines with fewer scheduling options Note 9Baselines compare to yesterday in Community; any date needs Enterprise Resources Resource, cost and workload management Note 10Resources, rates, costs, workloads and earned value Note 11Resource allocation and load; cost tracking is basic Note 12Time tracking and costs; team planner and resource management are Enterprise Collaboration Multi-user collaboration Note 13The desktop app is designed for single users and single projects Note 14Single-user desktop app Note 15Multi-user web app with roles and permissions Output Reports and dashboards Note 16Built-in reports; no dashboards Note 17Exports charts and data to PDF, PNG, HTML and CSV Note 18Reports are included; Gantt PDF export is Enterprise Parity score 67% 50% 58%
ProjectLibre, MPP file compatibility: Opens existing MPP files; saving back to MPP is not documented GanttProject, MPP file compatibility: Imports MPP and MS Project XML; exports XML, not MPP OpenProject, MPP file compatibility: No MPP importer; the docs point to Excel sync ProjectLibre, Gantt charts with task dependencies: Gantt chart, WBS and network diagram views GanttProject, Gantt charts with task dependencies: Gantt chart with dependencies and a task tree OpenProject, Gantt charts with task dependencies: Gantt view with work package relations ProjectLibre, Critical path and baselines: Critical path and baselines are listed on the desktop app GanttProject, Critical path and baselines: Critical path and baselines with fewer scheduling options OpenProject, Critical path and baselines: Baselines compare to yesterday in Community; any date needs Enterprise ProjectLibre, Resource, cost and workload management: Resources, rates, costs, workloads and earned value GanttProject, Resource, cost and workload management: Resource allocation and load; cost tracking is basic OpenProject, Resource, cost and workload management: Time tracking and costs; team planner and resource management are Enterprise ProjectLibre, Multi-user collaboration: The desktop app is designed for single users and single projects GanttProject, Multi-user collaboration: Single-user desktop app OpenProject, Multi-user collaboration: Multi-user web app with roles and permissions ProjectLibre, Reports and dashboards: Built-in reports; no dashboards GanttProject, Reports and dashboards: Exports charts and data to PDF, PNG, HTML and CSV OpenProject, Reports and dashboards: Reports are included; Gantt PDF export is Enterprise Not covered by any free alternative yet: MPP file compatibility, Reports and dashboards. See all feature gaps
File formats Can each alternative open and save Microsoft Project files?
Opening and saving Microsoft Project files Format ProjectLibre GanttProject OpenProject .mpp Note 1Opens MPP files; saving back to MPP is not documented Note 2Imports MPP files; exports MS Project XML instead Note 3No MPP importer; the docs point to Excel synchronization .xml Note 4Microsoft Project XML import and export Note 5Microsoft Project XML (MSPDI) import and export Note 6MS Project XML import is not documented
ProjectLibre, .mpp: Opens MPP files; saving back to MPP is not documented GanttProject, .mpp: Imports MPP files; exports MS Project XML instead OpenProject, .mpp: No MPP importer; the docs point to Excel synchronization ProjectLibre, .xml: Microsoft Project XML import and export GanttProject, .xml: Microsoft Project XML (MSPDI) import and export OpenProject, .xml: MS Project XML import is not documented Switching saves about $680 USD / $849 CAD one-time. Prices checked Oct 7, 2026 .
Based on Project Standard 2024, one-time purchase. Price source .
Microsoft Project is a product of Microsoft, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Microsoft Project: Windows, Web.