Best Microsoft Project Alternatives 2023
Microsoft Project is one of the staples in the project management field. However, with the changing pace and place of work, more and more teams are looking for solutions that better suit their style. To help you out, we have gathered the best Microsoft Project alternatives for 2023. Each tool providing a specific benefit for those seeking alternatives.
Before we dive into the details, here is a table comparing each alternative to MS Project in one place. Look through, find what you like, and navigate to the tools you want to know more about.
| Teamhood | Jira | Ganttic | GanttPro | Rational Plan | Eylean Board | Wrike | Monday | Asana | Team Gantt | Smartsheet | Trello | Project Libre | Open Project | Agantty | Gantt Project | Planner | Clarizen One | Redmine | Toggl Planner | |
| Task management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sub-task management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||||||||||
| Task dependencies | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||||||||
| Team management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Portfolio management | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||||||||||
| Time tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||||||||
| Gantt chart | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||
| Agile features | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||||||||||||
| Budget and cost tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||||||||||||
| Custom dashboards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |||||||||||||||
| Workload view | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||||||||
| Free version | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
What are the best MS Project alternatives?
MS Project is a well-known tool but it is complex and it no longer fits the modern collaboration standards of project management professionals across the globe. To give you a better understanding of “why?” we have compiled a list of the 20 best alternatives to Microsoft Project. Here is the list of all ms project alternative tools.
1. Teamhood
Capterra score: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Teamhood is the go-to Microsoft Project alternative for ease of use and flexibility. This project management tool is the least opinionated tool that supports a variety of methodologies, such as Classic project management, Agile project management, Kanban project management, or Hybrid project management. Teamhood is best suited for teams larger than 3 people, as only larger teams will be able to appreciate the valuable collaboration features and focus on daily use.
Key features
- Gantt charts
- Workload view
- Dependency management
- Powerful Kanban Board
- Templating
- Project Portfolio
Pros:
- One of the easiest-to-use but still powerful Gantt charts on the market
- Most flexible Kanban structure for visual project management
- Integrated time tracking and ability to generate cost reports per project or portfolio
- Workload and team collaboration features
Cons:
- Some of the popular integrations can be done only via a no-code platform such as Zapier.
Price: Free.
Website: https://teamhood.com
2. RationalPlan
Capterra score: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Rational Plan is one of the professional Gantt tools tailored for experienced project managers. It allows one to meticulously plan out projects, track resources, and manage finances. Its main advantage as an alternative to MS Project is that it can be deployed on-premises. Thus, it is more suited for users with sensitive data.
The one drawback of Rational Plan is the user interface which will not be greatly appreciated by innovative users.
Key features
- Gantt Chart
- Milestones
- Dependencies
Pros:
- Easy Milestones
- Available on-premise
Cons:
- Limits usage per project number
- Outdated user interface
- Complex to use
Price: Starting from 4 USD user / month
Website: https://www.rationalplan.com/
3. Wrike
Capterra score: 4.2/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Wrike is a project collaboration tool tailored for marketing and e-commerce teams. It is a good alternative to MS Project due to its various integrated views – Kanban, Gantt, and Table. On top of this, the team can enjoy automated reporting features, visualize the process with various colors, and enjoy a smoother work environment with all information accessible in one place.
Key features
- Gantt Chart
- Proofing
- Personal tasks
- Kanban
Pros:
- Gantt dependencies
- Annotation of images
- Different views
Cons:
- Not flexible Kanban structure
- Takes time to learn
Price: Starting from 9.80 USD user / month
Website: https://wrike.com
4. GanttPRO
Capterra score: 4.8/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Another Microsoft Project alternative focused on the Gantt chart is GanttPro. This online tool allows you to build the ideal project path and track it as the team gets to work. A great addition to this Gantt chart are dependencies that can be rescheduled based on their dependant items. Choose this tool if your main priority is the online Gantt chart.
Key features
- Gantt Chart
- Milestones
- Dependencies
Pros:
- Flexible structure
- Dependency autoscheduling
- Offers individual user pricing
Cons:
- Higher price than competitors
- Mainly focused on classic project management
Price: 15 USD month for 1 user or 8.50 USD user / month for a team plan
Website: https://ganttpro.com
5. Jira
Capterra score: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Jira is often referred to as the de-facto standard tool for IT development teams and their projects. This tool offers integrations with various development tools. As such it can be a great Microsoft Project alternative for such cases. However, if you are working with a mixed team – developers and non-developers, Jira may prove too difficult and cumbersome to be useful. This tool will work best for teams using Agile practices as it offers no out-of-the-box Gantt chart.
Key features
- Agile Software Development
- Epics
- Sprints
Pros:
- Integrations to developer tools
- Popular among IT professionals
- Flexible
- Query language
Cons:
- Takes time to learn
- Complext to setup
- No Gantt Chart
Price: Starts at 7 USD user / month
Website: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
6. Eylean Board
Capterra score: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Another option for those looking to find the best MS Project alternative is Eylean Board. This on-premise solution offers a powerful Kanban board ready to visualize even the most complicated process. Use it to visualize your processes and subprocesses and involve the whole team in project execution.
Key features
- Kanban Boards
- Office integrations
- Workspace templates
Pros:
- Can be deployed on-premises
- Flexible Kanban structure
- Integrates with Office tools
Cons:
- Windows only
- Limited Gantt Chart
Price: Starting from 5 USD / user / month
Website: https://eylean.com
7. Ganttic
Capterra score: 4.2/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Ganttic is an online resource planning software aimed at portfolio and resource planning. As such, it is one of the best Microsoft Project alternatives for manufacturing and engineering projects. Use this tool to visualize your strategy and plan according to the workflow.
Key features
- Resouce planning
- Scheduling
- Dependencies
- Time Tracking
Pros:
- Has integrated time tracking
- Flexible resource management
- Simple user interface
Cons:
- More for resources than for project management
- Limited Kanban view
- Limited Gantt Chart
Price: Around 1 USD resource / month
Website: https://www.ganttic.com/
8. Monday
Capterra score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Monday is a task management tool for those looking to add some color to their projects. And those looking for the best free MS Project alternative that is good with automation, this tool may be the right one. Monday will allow you to automate daily work and collaborate on tasks with your team easily. However, this is not a project management tool, thus you should look further when managing larger projects.
Key features
- Automations
- List view
- Flexibility
Pros:
- Has flexible structure which is also complicated a bit
- Good automation engine
- Good integrations
Cons:
- Poor Gantt Chart
- Limited project managment features
- Hard to maintain hierarchical tasks or work breakdown schedule
Price: Starts at 9 USD / user / month
Website: https://monday.com
9. Asana
Capterra score: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Asana is a simple project management tool focused on marketing and e-commerce teams. This is the best MS Project alternative for mac users looking to visualize their process and collaborate on tasks in a convenient interface. The tool is created for smaller teams and does get cluttered with more tasks in the mix. Also, it does not support a Gantt chart, thus planning larger projects is more difficult.
Key features
- Kanban view
- Inbox
- Attachments
Pros:
- Good for collaboration
- Convenient inbox
Cons:
- No Gantt Chart
- Becomes cluttered very fast, does not fit bigger/complicated projects
- Expensive
Price: Starts from 13.50 USD user / month
Website: https://asana.com
10. TeamGantt
Capterra score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Compared to the previous item on this list, Team Gantt is focused more on project managers. This Microsoft Project alternative is a tool focused mostly on the Gantt chart. Allowing to plan out projects, resources, and execute those projects with some team collaboration features.
Key features
- Gantt Chart
- Team collaboration
- Resource load and planning
Pros:
- Ease to use Gantt Chart
- Supports majority of the platforms
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Mainly focused on Gantt chart
Price: Starts at 30 USD user / month
Website: https://teamgantt.com
11. Smartsheet
Capterra score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Smartsheet is a flexible Excel-like alternative to Microsoft Project. It supports common data views and has a few automated reports for the users to choose from. This tool is quite straightforward and simple, and as such can be used in a variety of industries.
Key features
- Flexible table structure
- Integrations to business tools
- Reports
Pros:
- Good integrations
- Similar to Excel
- Has Kanban, Gantt, List views
Cons:
- Takes time to setup
- Powerful and complex
Price: Starts at 7 USD / user / month
Website: https://www.smartsheet.com/
12. Trello
Capterra score: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Trello is a simple Kanban tool. This Microsoft Project alternative is best suited for those wishing to track simple projects involving up to 5 people. The true strength of Trello lies in personal usage and a great free version. While it does have great features, larger teams will find it cluttered and hard to navigate with larger projects.
Key features
- Kanban Board
- Kanban Cards
- Attachments
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Visual Kanban cards
Cons:
- Limited functionality
- Gets cluttered fast
- Does not have Gantt chart
Price: Starts from 5 USD user / month, free plan for basic features
Website: https://trello.com
13. ProjectLibre
Capterra score: 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Project Libre is a professional project management tool. This Microsoft Project alternative free is best suited to complex projects that require advanced planning features. Project Libre supports a variety of diagrams, however, the interface will leave most users wanting more.
Key features
- Advanced scheduling features
- Gantt Chart
- Drawing Diagrams for detailed plans
Pros:
- Desktop App for Windows
- Feature rich
- Open Source version available
Cons:
- Complex to use
- Takes time to learn
- Outdated technically
Price: Free / Open Source
Website: https://www.projectlibre.com/
14. OpenProject
Capterra score: 4.3/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
This Microsoft Project alternative is aimed at teams that need Agile workflows in their daily use. Open project is simple to use and has a Gantt chart with work packages. This tool is a great option for cases such as bug tracking.
Key features
- Work packages
- Agile backlogs
- Bug tracking
- Gantt chart
Pros:
- Supports classical and Agile workflows
- Can be used for different use cases including bug tracking
- Has BIM integration
- Open Project
Cons:
- Very limited Kanban view
- Limited collaboration features
- Becomes easily cluttered in larger projects
- Minimum 5 users
Price: Starts from 8.50 USD user / month
Website: https://www.openproject.org/
15. Agantty
Capterra score: 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Agantty is a visual Gantt chart tool. This free Microsoft Project alternative is great for those that need to visualize their data without further project management features. While additional functionality is available for purchase, the main strength of this tool is the Gantt chart.
Key features
- Gantt chart
- Tasks
- Assignments
Pros:
- Free for basic use
- Visual
Cons:
- A lot of features are missing like API, time tracking, workload management
Price: Free
Website: https://www.agantty.com/
16. GanttProject
Capterra score: 4.1/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Gantt Project is a desktop app available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. This tool has the most extensive database of traditional project management reports – Gantt, PERT chart, and resources load. Thus, it is a great Microsoft Project alternative if you are looking for such features. The biggest drawback of this tool – an outdated inteface.
Key features
- Gantt Chart
- PERT Chart
- Resources load
Pros:
- Has professional features
- Has dedicated desktop apps on all platforms
Cons:
- No web version
- Oudated interface
- Complex to use
Price: Starts from 5 USD user / month
Website: https://www.ganttproject.biz/
17. Planner
Capterra score: 0/5
Description
It would not be a complete list of Microsoft Project alternatives without Microsoft Planner. This is a simple task management tool that visualizes tasks on a Kanban board. Great for personal use or teams of just a few people. However, lacking if you need project management features or run larger projects.
Key features
- Kanban Board
- Task List
- Assignments
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Clean interface
- Comes with Office365
Cons:
- No Gantt chart
- No dependencies
- Very limited for project management
Price: Part of Office365 package starting at 12.50 USD user / month
Website: https://tasks.office.com/
18. ClarizenOne
Capterra score: 4.2/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Clarizen One is a classical resource, project, and workflow management tool. This Microsoft Project alternative has a variety of advanced features like resource load diagrams and Portfolio management. However, more tech-advanced teams will find the interface to be quite outdated.
Key features
- Workflow management
- Gantt chart
- Resource load diagram
- Portfolio management
Pros:
- Feature rich
- Good for multiple project management
Cons:
- Outdated from interface and technical standpoint
- Hard to learn
- Complex
- Only enterprise pricing
Price: Enterprise, N/A
Website: https://www.clarizen.com/product
19. Redmine
Capterra score: 4.3/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Redmine is an old-school tool with Agile support. However, one big advantage it offers is the ability to use it with both – classical and Agile project management. Thus, it is a Microsoft Project alternative that will fit hybrid project management practices. The biggest drawback of Redmine is the hard-to-learn interface.
Key features
- Gantt chart
- Sprints
- Kanban
Pros:
- Supports Agile workflows
- Can be used for bug tracking
- Feature rich via plugins
Cons:
- Outdated interface
- Hard to learn
- Complex
- Missing modern collaboration features
- Can be costly if more feature used
Price: Plans starting at 25 USD / month
Website: https://www.easyredmine.com/
20. Toggl Plan
Capterra score: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
Toggl Plan is a visually pleasing tool for small projects. It allows to coordinate teams and set plans via an easy-to-learn interface. However, this Microsoft Project alternative lacks project management functionality. Use it for smaller projects and teams as a visual collaboration platform.
Key features
- Timeline
- Teams
- Collaboration features
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Visually appealing
Cons:
- Limited project management functionality
- No proper Gantt
- Can be pricey as it is monetized by feature usage
Price: 8 USD / month / feature
Website: https://toggl.com/plan/
Key feature gaps for MS project
MS project kanban
The most limited view in MS project is a Kanban Board. Traditional project management has forced focus on features around classical waterfall planning and that has influenced Kanban project maangement to be the lower piority for most software vendors. Luckily that is the opposte in Teamhood case as Teamhood is a true Kanban Project Management system.
Summary
All of the listed tools are great in some areas, while the top ones are good in multiple ones. So, if you are looking for an easy start and the best Microsoft Project alternative – try Teamhood.
All the mentioned MS Project alternatives are mainly focused on Gantt Charts, while Teamhood brings full collaboration experience on top of the Gantt Chart – Kanban, List view, Workload, and many more. Successfully mixing approaches and enabling hybrid project management practices.
Teamhood is the best Microsoft Project alternative because
- Fully customizable and adaptable
- Supports Hybrid, Agile, Kanban or Classic project management
- By default is a Visual tool
- Rich item details
- Efficient collaboration on work items
- Metrics, Reports, Dashboards
- Time tracking
- Templating
- Hourly rates and time sheets
- Workload management
- And more!
Register for Teamhood today for free!
2019 - Present Co-founder and CEO @ Teamhood.
2015-2019 Head of software engineering department at Danske Bank.
2017-2018 Partner Associate Professor at Vilnius University. Lecturer of Software Architecture course
2011 - 2015 Managed numerous smaller IT teams at Prewise.
Co-founder of RaveIT, Eylean, No Brakes Games
Certified Agile product owner and practitioner. Managed large scale enterprise projects as well as launch of small startup products.
MSc of Software Engineering at Vilnius University.
Hobbies: Racing, MTB cycling, Windsurfing
