Microsoft Undertaking has its critics. The undertaking administration software program is dear, difficult and never collaborative. No surprise undertaking groups search for open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options. For one factor, it’s (largely) free. However these merchandise additionally give Microsoft merchandise a run for his or her cash when it comes to options.
Let’s have a look at a number of open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options and see what they’ve to supply, the place they succeed as undertaking administration software program and the place they fall quick. Generally a shopper will get what they paid for, which is why we’ll additionally overview a business Microsoft Undertaking different and see the way it stands up in opposition to Microsoft Undertaking open supply alternate options.
What Is an Open-Supply Microsoft Undertaking Different?
As a result of Microsoft Undertaking may be such a ache to make use of, undertaking managers and their groups search alternate options. The extra technical groups, working in IT and different departments, are aware of open supply and the Linux working system. They know open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options are freely out there for anybody to make use of, modify and distribute.
Many causes apart from Microsoft Undertaking open supply alternate options being cost-effective drive the curiosity in utilizing these instruments. They are often simply customizable, modifying supply code to suit one’s wants. There’s group assist from different customers and builders who assist enhance the product and supply assist to resolve points.
That doesn’t imply it’s an ideal answer for these searching for Microsoft Undertaking open-source alternate options. There are a lot of challenges to contemplate earlier than leaping into the unknown. The instruments have a consumer interface that isn’t as polished as these present in business merchandise. There are restricted options. Open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options typically lack superior reporting and integrations and aren’t match for a number of undertaking methodologies. Set up and upkeep may be time-consuming and require technical experience. There are points with knowledge safety that may fear firms.
ProjectManager Is Higher Than an Open-Supply Different
That’s only a few of the problems that drive customers away from Microsoft Undertaking open supply alternate options towards business undertaking administration software program. ProjectManager is award-winning undertaking and portfolio administration software program that may import and export Microsoft Undertaking recordsdata (MPP). It’s a collaborative different with the identical strong options however comes at an reasonably priced value level and an intuitive consumer interface.
Our software program is SOC 2 compliant, offering customers with knowledge safety. Many open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options can’t deal with conventional, agile and hybrid methodologies, however we are able to. They typically don’t have program and portfolio administration options, however we do. Our real-time undertaking and portfolio dashboard doesn’t require consumer setup. It’s prepared as soon as customers set a baseline on the Gantt chart. Reside knowledge can also be displayed on easy-to-read graphs and charts displaying undertaking metrics, similar to time, value, workload and extra.
If you happen to’re merely in search of best-in-class options like job and useful resource administration, you’ll discover all the things you should hold your initiatives and schedules working easily. Use the staff web page to stability assets on the fly and add feedback in actual time to maintain your staff looped in on progress. Get began with ProjectManager immediately without cost.
Why Use an Open-Supply Microsoft Undertaking Different?
For individuals who aren’t satisfied that there’s a necessity for a Microsoft Undertaking open-source different, let’s have a look at all the problems surrounding undertaking administration software program options. One subject is the steep studying curve. Whether or not new to undertaking administration or a seasoned skilled, the extremely technical nature of the software program is troublesome to make use of.
Then some customers need the flexibleness of a cellular utility. They’ll should look elsewhere. Microsoft Undertaking has no cellular utility, not for Android or iOS. Sure, even at the present time the place everybody’s on their cellphone and staff are sometimes required to log hours from the job web site, Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t see a necessity for a cellular utility.
Initiatives depend on communication, however Microsoft Undertaking appears to have forgotten this. They don’t have any collaborative instruments. To collaborate, staff members should pay for add-ons, similar to Groups, Outlook or Slack. It’s not probably the most elegant solution to work collectively, particularly as one should depart Microsoft Undertaking and their work to collaborate with different staff members.
Microsoft Undertaking isn’t solely costly, however its pricing plans are complicated. Customers should pay for a number of licenses, which provides up. Then there are the varied plans which can be onerous to know. That alone will ship customers to a Microsoft Undertaking open-source different. Moreover, the software program is incompatible with Apple merchandise and most throw their fingers up and search an open-source Microsoft Undertaking different.
Advantages of Utilizing a Microsoft Undertaking Open-Supply Different
We touched on some great benefits of open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options, however now that we’ve overwhelmed up Microsoft Undertaking, it is sensible to get again to the advantages of a Microsoft Undertaking open-source different to know its reputation.
- Most open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options are free, although some require a charge for extra superior undertaking administration instruments
- Versatile and customizable open-source software program permits customers to switch code to suit one’s workflow and necessities, which supplies one better management than Microsoft Undertaking affords
- Help comes from a group of builders and customers who improve the software program and reply to points, although this may be spotty and never as dependable as business product assist
- No vendor lock-in tying customers to a selected vendor, permitting for better independence and the power to modify instruments or host options as wanted
- Transparency permits customers to overview code for safety vulnerabilities
- Incessantly up to date and the product incorporates improvements recurrently
- Open requirements make it simpler to combine with different programs and instruments with out the constraints of proprietary codecs
- Collaborative options facilitate groups working collectively
Disadvantages of Utilizing a Microsoft Undertaking Open-Supply Different
That doesn’t imply open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options are good. Removed from it. One cause customers discover themselves migrating from it to ProjectManager is that there are lots of disadvantages to open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options. Listed below are only a few.
- Restricted superior options, similar to built-in experiences, useful resource and portfolio administration options. Microsoft Undertaking simply will get costlier to make use of because it forces one to combine with different instruments, similar to SharePoint, Groups, and many others.
- Safety considerations as customers are answerable for knowledge safety and compliance, which might result in vulnerabilities
- Information possession and management means organizations should handle knowledge internet hosting and server infrastructure and exporting knowledge from one device to a different may be difficult
- Compatibility and integration points with different enterprise software program suites like Microsoft 365, which are sometimes a part of an organization’s company instruments
- Steep studying curve, identical to Microsoft Undertaking, however Microsoft Undertaking open supply alternate options require a better technical information to configure or absolutely use
- Help is community-based, which may be sluggish and fewer dependable in addressing important points
- Person interface is much less polished and trendy than these present in business merchandise
- Set up and upkeep require technical experience and customers are answerable for ongoing upkeep, similar to software program updates, safety patches and backups
- Lack of integrations with widespread instruments and platforms and if out there would possibly require customized improvement, including complexity and value
- Scalability points with bigger, extra advanced initiatives
- Useful resource intensive when organising and an ongoing funding in time and assets to maintain software program useful and safe
4 Greatest Free Open-Supply Microsoft Undertaking Alternate options
That stated, a number of Microsoft Undertaking open-source alternate options is likely to be engaging to customers in search of a less expensive undertaking administration device. We examined the 4 hottest manufacturers of open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options to assist one make an knowledgeable determination.
1. ProjectLibre
ProjectLibre is a Microsoft Undertaking open-source different that may be a desktop utility with a number of undertaking views, useful resource, job and value administration options. It could actually additionally import and export MPP recordsdata in addition to XML and CSV recordsdata.
ProjectLibre Execs & Key Options
- Works with Home windows, Mac and Linux working programs
- Gantt chart hyperlinks dependencies, does important path evaluation and might set a baseline
- Creates, assigns and tracks duties
- Allocates assets
ProjectLibre Cons & Limitations
- No superior reporting or subtle useful resource leveling
- Fundamental software program is free, however extra superior options and assist come at a price
- Lacks real-time collaboration
- Efficiency points with bigger, advanced initiatives
- Lacks model management
- No cloud options for storage
ProjectLibre Opinions
2. OpenProject
OpenProject is an open-source Microsoft Undertaking different designed for conventional, agile or hybrid undertaking administration methodologies. It’s a collaborative device that has undertaking monitoring and options Gantt charts, job lists and kanban boards.
OpenProject Execs & Key Options
- Options embody job administration, timelines, Gantt charts, time monitoring and reporting
- Collaborative platform with messaging, doc sharing and undertaking boards
- Works in a large number of undertaking administration methodologies
- Has scrum boards and versatile workflow administration
OpenProject Cons & Limitations
- Free tier, however different subscriptions with strong instruments are costly
- Advanced and onerous to arrange
- Efficiency points with bigger initiatives
- Poor or lacking useful resource and portfolio administration options
- Buggy cellular utility
- Useful resource intensive for self-hosted deployment
OpenProject Opinions
3. GanttProject
GanttProject is a Microsoft Undertaking open-source different that focuses on making and managing Gantt charts. Its Gantt charts can determine job dependencies and assist important path evaluation and baseline comparability.
OpenProject Execs & Key Characteristic
- Sturdy Gantt charts
- Process administration options
- Tracks useful resource availability and workload
- Export and print Gantt charts to PDF, PNG and CSV codecs, together with MPP
OpenProject Cons & Limitations
- Restricted useful resource, monetary and threat administration options
- Restricted integration with different instruments
- No cellular entry for this desktop-only utility
- Lacks superior safety to safeguard knowledge
- No built-in collaboration instruments
- Studying curve for these unfamiliar with the Gantt chart
GanttProject Opinions
4. Redmine
Redmine is an open-source Microsoft Undertaking different with subject monitoring. It’s a web-based device that facilitates collaboration and has options, similar to Gantt charts, calendars and extra. It may be used for normal undertaking administration or software program improvement initiatives.
Redmine Execs & Key Options
- Create, assign and handle duties or points
- Wealthy reporting and monitoring of points, duties and undertaking progress
- Time monitoring on duties for higher useful resource administration
- E-mail notifications about modifications, updates and deadlines
Redmine Cons & Limitations
- Restricted built-in options missing with out paying for plug-ins
- Setup requires technical information, internet server configurations, database administration, and many others.
- Reporting limitations, once more requiring shopping for plug-ins to shut the hole with business merchandise
- Lacks superior useful resource administration options, similar to capability planning and workload balancing
- No cellular utility
- Kanban boards solely exist as plug-ins, which nonetheless aren’t absolutely useful
Redmine Opinions
ProjectManager Is Higher Than Open-Supply Microsoft Undertaking Alternate options
When it comes all the way down to open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options, they’re not as free as they appear to be. Customers both should pay for add-ons or a higher-tier subscription to get the options they need. A few of these options are good, however others fall quick. Except a consumer is a big-time techie who desires to get underneath the hood and customise their software program, a greater answer is ProjectManager.
Our software program works with Home windows, Mac and Linux working programs, can import and export MPP recordsdata if the group is wedded to Microsoft and has a extra strong function set than any of the reviewed Microsoft Undertaking open-source alternate options. Have they got job, useful resource, threat and portfolio administration multi functional device with a cellular system that works on iOS and Android? We do. Are they SOC 2 compliant to make sure undertaking knowledge is protected? We’re. We’re as collaborative as they’re, with e mail and in-app notifications.
Plan, Execute and Handle Initiatives With A number of Views
Our Gantt charts are simply as highly effective as open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options, linking all 4 job dependencies, filtering for the important path and setting a baseline to trace undertaking variance in actual time. Undertaking managers can set up duties and assets and set prices, however groups don’t want all these bells and whistles. That’s why we’ve got kanban boards to visualise workflow, plan sprints and handle backlogs. Process lists permit staff members to handle their work and the calendar view gives an summary for stakeholders.
Handle Sources and Labor Prices
Whereas lots of the open-source Microsoft Undertaking alternate options have a point of useful resource administration, they pale compared to our software program. The advantages start when onboarding the staff. Undertaking managers can set their availability, together with PTO, trip and international holidays for distant staff. As soon as the staff has been assigned duties, managers can get a reside overview of the useful resource utilization on the staff web page or the color-coded workload chart. This makes it straightforward to see at a look who’s overallocated and who’s underutilized. Then managers can stability their workload to maintain them productive. Safe timesheets do greater than streamline payroll, they supply a window into labor prices and the share full for every staff member’s duties.
Associated Microsoft Undertaking Content material
Sticking with Microsoft Undertaking? That’s comprehensible. It’s a well-liked undertaking administration software program. Nonetheless, its faults outweigh the advantages. Take a look at these current posts that look into Microsoft Undertaking and different Microsoft merchandise in addition to alternate options to them.
ProjectManager is on-line undertaking and portfolio administration software program that connects groups whether or not they’re within the workplace, out within the discipline or anyplace on the earth. They will share recordsdata, remark on the job stage and keep up to date with e mail and in-app notifications. Be part of groups at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software program to ship profitable initiatives. Get began with ProjectManager immediately without cost.