Project.net is a free, open source project management tool, so the closest replacements are other open source tools you can host yourself. OpenProject is the closest full replacement, with Gantt charts, agile boards, and a free Community edition plus cloud plans from $7.25 per user per month. Redmine, ProjectLibre, and GanttProject cost $0 to start, which suits teams that want no per-seat fee and full control of their data.
We compared 7 options for project.net alternatives. Each profile below lists the price, free plan, pros and cons as published by the company.
On this page
Project.net alternatives: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenProject | Full Microsoft Project replacement | $7.25 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | Taiga | Agile Scrum and Kanban teams | $7 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Redmine | Custom issue tracking and plugins | $0 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | Plane | Modern Jira alternative | $0 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | Leantime | Small teams and strategy work | $10 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | ProjectLibre | Desktop Microsoft Project replacement | $0 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | GanttProject | Simple desktop Gantt charts | $0 per user/month | Yes | Visit |
The 7 best project.net alternatives, in detail
OpenProject
Best for: Full Microsoft Project replacement
OpenProject is the closest full replacement for Project.net. It is web-based, open source project management software with Gantt charts, agile boards, work packages, time tracking, and cost reporting, and it integrates with GitLab, Jira, Microsoft Project, and Slack. The Community edition is free to self-host, while cloud plans start from $7.25 per user per month.
- The depth is the point.
- A team that needs critical path, resource management, and multi-project reporting will find OpenProject closer to Microsoft Project than most open sou
- The trade-off is setup.
- A small team that only needs a Kanban board may find it heavy, and enterprise features sit on priced plans.
Pros
- Full Gantt, agile boards, and cost reporting
- Free Community edition for self-hosting
Cons
- Enterprise features need a priced plan
- Setup takes time for a small team
Taiga
Best for: Agile Scrum and Kanban teams
Taiga is an agile-first, open source platform with Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs, sprints, and a clean interface that teams enjoy using. The self-hosted edition is free, and cloud plans start from $7 per user per month. That combination suits small businesses and product teams that want agile boards without a per-seat fee for self-hosting.
- The limit is planning depth.
- Taiga is strong on sprints and boards, but it does not match OpenProject on Gantt charts, resource planning, or cost reporting.
- A team that runs Scrum or Kanban and does not need heavy scheduling will find Taiga fast and clear, while a team that needs Microsoft Project style pl
Pros
- Clean Scrum and Kanban boards
- Free self-hosted edition
Cons
- Less depth in Gantt and cost reporting
- Cloud pricing rises with team size
Redmine
Best for: Custom issue tracking and plugins
Redmine is the classic open source issue tracker, and it is free to install and use. It covers projects, issues, time tracking, wikis, and forums, and its plugin ecosystem, with more than 500 plugins, lets a team add Gantt charts, agile boards, help desk features, and reporting. That flexibility is why it still appears in many open source shortlists.
- The trade-off is the interface and the setup.
- Redmine looks dated next to Taiga or Plane, and a team needs to install and maintain plugins to get the features that other tools include by default.
- For a technical team that wants full control and a free core, Redmine is a strong choice, and the cost is the time to configure it.
Pros
- Free, open source, and highly custom
- More than 500 plugins for extra features
Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Gantt needs a plugin for full depth
Plane
Best for: Modern Jira alternative
Plane is a modern, open source alternative to Jira, built for development teams that want issue tracking, cycles, and modules without the weight of Jira. The self-hosted edition is free, and the cloud plan has a generous free tier, which makes it easy to test with a real team before paying. The interface is clean and fast, and the cycle and module structure suits teams that run sprints in two-week blocks.
- The limit is maturity.
- Plane is newer than Redmine or OpenProject, so its plugin set and enterprise features are smaller.
- For a dev team that wants a modern Jira replacement it can host itself, Plane is a strong pick.
Pros
- Modern interface for issues and cycles
- Free self-hosted edition and cloud free tier
Cons
- Newer product with a smaller plugin set
- Some enterprise features are priced
Leantime
Best for: Small teams and strategy work
Leantime combines project management with strategy tools for small teams. It links goals, ideas, and milestones to tasks and timelines, so a small team can see how daily work connects to a larger plan. The self-hosted core is free, and cloud plans start at $10 per user per month.
- That goal-first view is the difference from a pure task tool.
- A startup or a small agency that needs to track strategy as well as tasks will value it, while a large team that needs deep scheduling will find OpenP
- The community is smaller than OpenProject, so a buyer should check documentation and support options before committing to a self-hosted install.
Pros
- Combines project work with goals and strategy
- Free self-hosted core
Cons
- Smaller community than OpenProject
- Cloud starts at $10 per user per month
ProjectLibre
Best for: Desktop Microsoft Project replacement
ProjectLibre is a free, open source desktop app that describes itself as the leading replacement for Microsoft Project. It includes Gantt charts, network diagrams, resource allocation, critical path analysis, and earned value, and it opens Microsoft Project files natively. With more than 7 million downloads in 193 countries, it is a proven choice for a single planner who needs Microsoft Project compatibility without a licence fee.
- The limit is collaboration.
- ProjectLibre is a desktop tool, so a team that needs shared boards, comments, and live updates will need a separate tool or a priced cloud plan, which
- For a solo planner or a small team that works from files, the free desktop app is a direct and low-cost fit.
Pros
- Free desktop app with full Gantt support
- Opens Microsoft Project files
Cons
- Desktop only, no built-in team collaboration
- Cloud plans cost extra
GanttProject
Best for: Simple desktop Gantt charts
GanttProject is a free desktop app for Gantt charts, resource management, and task dependencies. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, imports and exports Microsoft Project files, and produces clean charts for a solo planner or a small team. The free plan covers up to two users in some listings, with extra users from 1 euro per user per month, but the desktop app itself is free to use.
- The product is simple by design.
- It does not offer agile boards, team chat, or deep reporting, and a team that needs collaboration should choose OpenProject, Taiga, or Plane instead.
- For a planner who needs a Gantt chart fast, with no licence fee and no server to maintain, GanttProject is the easiest start in this list.
Pros
- Free, simple Gantt and resource charts
- Easy to learn in a day
Cons
- No built-in team collaboration
- Limited agile and reporting features
How we chose
We compared pricing pages, product documentation, and feature lists for open source project management tools that cover the same ground as Project.net. We checked whether each tool is open source, whether it offers a free self-hosted edition, whether it publishes a cloud starting price, and whether it covers Gantt charts, agile boards, or both. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we did not use third-party review scores as a ranking factor. Prices were read from vendor pricing pages on 2026-11-12, and free tools are listed at $0 per user per month where the core is free.
What to check before you buy
Start with hosting. A self-hosted tool gives you control of your data and no per-seat fee, but it needs a server, updates, backups, and someone to maintain it. A cloud plan removes that work but adds a monthly cost per user. Ask who will own the install, how updates are applied, and how data is backed up before you choose. Check the features you actually use next. Gantt charts, agile boards, time tracking, and cost reporting are not the same in every tool, and a tool that is strong on boards may be weak on scheduling. Test with a real project, including dependencies and resources, and check import from Microsoft Project or from your current tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is Project.net?
Project.net is a free, open source project management tool for planning, tracking, and collaborating on projects. It covers tasks, schedules, and team work in a web-based system that an organisation can host itself. It is less widely maintained than OpenProject or Taiga, which is why many teams look for a current open source replacement.
Which Project.net alternative is best overall?
OpenProject is the best overall replacement in this list. It offers the closest match to Microsoft Project, with Gantt charts, agile boards, and cost reporting, plus a free Community edition for self-hosting. Cloud plans start from $7.25 per user per month for teams that do not want to host it themselves.
Is there a free Project.net alternative?
Yes, Redmine, ProjectLibre, and GanttProject are free to use, and OpenProject, Taiga, Plane, and Leantime all offer free self-hosted editions. The free core covers most planning work, while cloud hosting and enterprise features use priced plans.
Which alternative is best for agile teams?
Taiga is the best agile pick, with clean Scrum and Kanban boards and a free self-hosted edition. Plane is a close second for development teams that want a modern Jira alternative, with cycles and modules for sprints.
Which alternative opens Microsoft Project files?
ProjectLibre opens Microsoft Project files natively and is built as a desktop replacement for Microsoft Project. GanttProject also imports and exports Microsoft Project files, and OpenProject imports Microsoft Project files for planning and reporting.
Should I self-host or use the cloud plan?
Self-host if you need full control of your data, have someone to maintain the server, and want to avoid per-seat fees. Use the cloud plan if you want updates, backups, and support handled by the vendor, and if your team is small enough that the per-user cost is low. Test the free self-hosted edition first, then compare the cloud price for your team size.
Sources
- https://www.openproject.org/
- https://www.openproject.org/pricing/
- https://taiga.io/
- https://taiga.io/pricing/
- https://www.redmine.org/
- https://plane.so/
- https://plane.so/pricing/
- https://leantime.io/
- https://leantime.io/pricing/
- https://www.projectlibre.com/
- https://www.projectlibre.com/pricing/
- https://www.ganttproject.biz/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.