Microsoft Project Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Microsoft Project has been the default scheduling tool in a lot of offices for decades, and it's still a serious piece of software. But it isn't the only way to plan a project with dates, dependencies and a Gantt chart. If you run a small business or a small team, you might want something lighter, something that runs in a browser, or something you can host yourself.

This page lists ten Microsoft Project alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller, open source and independent tools with a few better-known platforms, because the smaller ones are often the easiest to start with. Everything here comes from each tool's own website and plans pages. If you're weighing general team tools too, my guides to Asana alternatives and monday.com alternatives cover the wider field.

Microsoft Project alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a permanent free plan, a free community edition or free software. Trial only means a free trial with no ongoing free plan. Plans change, so check the current details before you move a live project across.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Celoxis	Project and portfolio tool	Client projects, portfolios and resource planning	Trial only
GanttProject	Desktop Gantt scheduler	Offline schedules on Windows, Mac or Linux	Yes
Leantime	Open source project tool	Simple plans with milestones on a timeline	Yes
OpenProject	Open source project suite	Gantt timelines, tasks and team collaboration	Yes
Plane	Open source project tracker	Issue tracking and cycles for product teams	Yes
ProjectLibre	Desktop and cloud scheduler	Traditional scheduling with familiar Gantt and WBS views	Yes
Redmine	Self-hosted project tool	Issue tracking with Gantt chart and calendar	Yes
Smartsheet	Spreadsheet-style work platform	Grid planning that switches into Gantt view	Trial only
Teamwork.com	Client work platform	Agencies running projects for clients	Yes
Wrike	Work management platform	Cross-team projects with custom workflows	Yes

Ten tools that can replace Microsoft Project, A to Z

Celoxis

Best for: Growing teams that juggle several client projects at once and want Gantt scheduling with portfolio and resource views.

GanttProject

Best for: Solo planners who want a free desktop scheduler that can open older project files and works with no internet connection.

Leantime

Best for: Small teams who like a friendly, open source tool and are happy to host it themselves for free.

OpenProject

Best for: Teams who want classic project scheduling with timelines and are comfortable with an open source community plan.

Plane

Best for: Product and software teams who want a modern open source tracker with a free tier for smaller groups.

ProjectLibre

Best for: People coming straight from desktop scheduling who want a familiar layout and the option to import existing project files.

Redmine

Best for: Technical teams who can run their own server and want a long-standing open source tool they control.

Smartsheet

Best for: Spreadsheet lovers who want to plan in rows and columns and flip the same sheet into a Gantt chart.

Teamwork.com

Best for: Agencies and service businesses who manage client projects and want Gantt views alongside client-friendly features.

Wrike

Best for: Teams who share work across departments and want flexible workflows, with Gantt charts on its higher plans.

What to check in a Microsoft Project replacement

The trick is to match the tool to how you plan, not to the longest feature list. Microsoft Project is built for detailed scheduling, and many teams only use a slice of it. Work out which slice you need.

• Dependencies. Can you link tasks so that one can't start until another finishes, and does the schedule move when dates slip?
• Gantt view on the plan you'll use. Some tools only show a Gantt chart on their higher plans, so check the plan you'd be on.
• Resources. Do you need to see who's overloaded, or just who owns each task?
• File import. If you've got existing project files, check whether the new tool can open them or import a spreadsheet export.
• Desktop, browser or self-hosted. Decide where your plans should live and who needs to reach them.
• Sharing with clients. If clients need to see progress, look for guest access or read-only views.

Which kind of Microsoft Project alternative suits your business

• Free desktop schedulers suit a solo consultant or project manager who builds plans alone and shares them as files or PDFs.
• Open source, self-hosted tools suit teams with someone technical on hand who wants full control over where the data sits.
• Browser-based platforms suit teams spread across locations who need to update the same plan at once.
• Client work platforms suit agencies and service businesses that run lots of similar projects for different customers.

If your projects are mostly to-do lists with a few dates, you may not need Gantt scheduling at all. My comparisons of Trello alternatives and ClickUp alternatives cover lighter task tools.

Moving your plans out of Microsoft Project

1. Export a copy of every live plan before you change anything, and keep the originals somewhere safe.
2. Pick one small, real project to rebuild in the new tool, rather than a blank demo.
3. Check that task links, durations and milestones came across the way you expect.
4. Rebuild any views you rely on, such as a filtered list of overdue tasks.
5. Show the team the new tool with their own tasks in it, so they see why it's worth the switch.
6. Run both side by side for a short spell, then retire the old plan once the new one's trusted.

Mistakes people make when leaving Microsoft Project

• Choosing a tool with a lovely board view, then finding the Gantt chart isn't on the plan they picked.
• Importing every old project at once instead of starting fresh with live work.
• Forgetting that a self-hosted tool needs updates, backups and someone to look after it.
• Assuming the whole team wants detailed scheduling, when most of them just need to see their own tasks.
• Skipping a quick check of how the tool handles holidays, working days and time zones.

Do you make project scheduling or Gantt chart software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Making your final Microsoft Project alternatives shortlist

Pick two tools that fit the way you work and where you'd like your plans to live. Rebuild the same small project in each, link a few tasks, move a date and see what happens. Keep the one your team understands without a training session, and don't delete your old files until the new tool has run a project from start to finish.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Project?

Yes. Several tools on this list are free desktop software, open source or have a free plan. Check each tool's own site for current limits, especially on Gantt views.

Can other tools open Microsoft Project files?

Some desktop schedulers can open or import project files, and others accept a spreadsheet export. Test with your own file before you rely on it, because complex schedules don't always come across cleanly.

Do I need a Gantt chart for a small project?

Not always. If your project has a handful of tasks with no dependencies, a list or board may be enough. Gantt charts earn their keep when tasks depend on each other and dates move.

What is the easiest Microsoft Project alternative to learn?

Browser-based tools with templates and simple views are usually the quickest to pick up. Desktop schedulers that mirror the classic layout suit people who already know that style.

Should I host project software myself?

Self-hosting gives you control over your data, but you'll need someone to handle updates, backups and security. If nobody on the team can do that, a hosted plan is usually safer.