Microsoft Project vs OpenProject
A detailed comparison of Microsoft Project and OpenProject to help you choose the best tool for your needs in 2026. OpenProject is a powerful open-source project management suite covering Gantt timelines, Agile/Scrum boards, work packag...
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is the long-standing enterprise standard for project scheduling, Gantt charts, and resource management. It's powerful for complex plans, but its licensing is costly (Project Plan 1 starts at $10/user/month, Plan 3 at $30/user/month) and it's largely desktop-bound with limited real-time collaboration. Many teams are moving to free or freemium alternatives that run in the browser, support real-time collaboration, and don't require a per-seat subscription.
PRICING
Project Plan 1 $10/user/month; Plan 3 $30/user/month; Plan 5 $55/user/month (billed annually)
OpenProject
OpenProject is a powerful open-source project management suite covering Gantt timelines, Agile/Scrum boards, work packages, time tracking, and cost reporting. The Community Edition is free to self-host (Docker), giving teams full data control. A managed cloud tier is also available.
RATING
4.5Live Data
Microsoft Project
OpenProject
No live data available for this tool yet.
Visit Website💡 Data sourced from FMHY (Free Media Heck Yeah) and updated regularly. GitHub stars reflect real-time community adoption.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Detailed breakdown of features, pricing, and capabilities
| Feature | Microsoft Project | OpenProject |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid Project Plan 1 $10/user/month | Free |
| Open Source | ||
| Self-Hosted | ||
| User Rating | — | 4.5 |
| Migration Difficulty | N/A | Medium |
| Best For | General use | Engineering and product teams wanting a self-hosted, open-source Project replacement |
Why Choose OpenProject Over Microsoft Project?
Open-source, self-hostable project management with Gantt, Agile boards, and time tracking — free to self-host
KEY FEATURES
Best For
Engineering and product teams wanting a self-hosted, open-source Project replacement
Pros & Cons
Microsoft Project
KNOWN FOR
Microsoft Project is the long-standing enterprise standard for project scheduling, Gantt charts, and resource management. It's powerful for complex pl...
PAIN POINTS
- High per-seat subscription cost
- Primarily desktop-bound (Windows-only for full features)
- Weak real-time collaboration
OpenProject
PROS
- Free open-source Community Edition
- Self-hostable for full privacy
- Covers both classic & Agile PM
- Strong permissions model
CONS
- Self-hosting needs technical setup
- Steeper learning curve
- Some features locked to Enterprise cloud
Why Consider Switching from Microsoft Project?
Save $1,200+/year for a 10-person team with free alternatives
Work in the browser with real-time collaboration on any OS
Use open-source tools (ProjectLibre, GanttProject, OpenProject) with no license
Self-host for complete data control and privacy
Get simpler onboarding with Kanban-style tools like Trello and ClickUp
Common Microsoft Project Pain Points
High per-seat subscription cost
Impact: A 10-person team pays $1,200–$6,600/year
Primarily desktop-bound (Windows-only for full features)
Impact: Mac and mobile users get a degraded experience
Weak real-time collaboration
Impact: Teams can't co-edit a plan live without expensive add-ons
Steep learning curve for Gantt/scheduling
Impact: New PMs take weeks to become productive
No free tier — trial only
Impact: Casual users can't try it without paying
How to Migrate from Microsoft Project to OpenProject
- 1
Export your Microsoft Project plan as XML (File → Save As → XML)
- 2
Import the XML into GanttProject or OpenProject to preserve tasks and dependencies
- 3
For a direct desktop replacement, install ProjectLibre and open the original .mpp file
- 4
If you prefer a collaborative tool, create a ClickUp or Trello workspace and recreate the task board
- 5
Invite your team and confirm the new plan renders before cancelling the Project license
Pro Tips
- ProjectLibre opens .mpp natively — use it first if you just need to view/edit existing plans
- OpenProject is best if you need self-hosted, real-time, multi-user planning
- ClickUp/Trello trade deep scheduling for collaboration — pick them only if your team doesn't need true Gantt
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Project?
Yes. ProjectLibre and GanttProject are 100% free and open-source desktop tools that open .mpp and Project XML files. OpenProject is free to self-host. ClickUp and Trello offer free tiers for collaborative planning.
Which Microsoft Project alternative opens .mpp files?
ProjectLibre is the closest free replacement — it opens native Microsoft Project .mpp files and mirrors the desktop interface, so you can keep working on existing plans without a license.
Can I self-host a Microsoft Project alternative?
Yes. OpenProject's Community Edition is free and self-hostable with Docker, giving you Gantt timelines, Agile boards, and time tracking with full data control.
What's the best free alternative for real-time team collaboration?
ClickUp (free plan) and Trello (free plan) both support real-time collaboration in the browser. OpenProject also supports it if self-hosted. Microsoft Project itself has limited live collaboration without expensive add-ons.
Do any free MS Project alternatives support Gantt charts?
Yes. ProjectLibre, GanttProject, and OpenProject (free/self-hosted) all support Gantt charts. ClickUp and Trello offer Gantt/Timeline views on their paid plans.
Other Microsoft Project Alternatives
Not sure OpenProject is right for you? Check these other options: