Alternative to Microsoft Project

[prand]

Is there a different (essentially cheaper) version of MS Project I could use to produce project plans and GANTT charts?

I'm not going to be using this as a day to day tool, but from time to time will need to do some planning and want to produce outputs for people to review and edit, possibly in MS Project itself.

[nyt]

There are quite a few other options : http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-fr...
ProjectLibre looks to be worth checking out.

But from an image and interoperability point of view I've always gone for project. It only takes one non-compatible file for the client to think you're a cheapskate.

[sgrimshaw]

I've used ProjectLibre in the past but got so frustrated with it that I ended up getting MS Project.

For the life of me, I could never find out how to move a task in PL - pretty sure it simply isn't possible. In MSP, it's a simple drag'n'drop.

2-plan Desktop might be worth a look - it's free:

http://2-plan.com/free-project-management-software...

Another option you might want to consider is an app if you have a tablet of some nature.

There are some pretty good one's for both iOS and Android, and most can export to MSP format.

[Foliage]

Try project commander, a lot of our architects and contractors use it. Its fully compatible with MSProject which is what we use.

[prand]

nyt said:

There are quite a few other options : http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-fr...
ProjectLibre looks to be worth checking out.

But from an image and interoperability point of view I've always gone for project. It only takes one non-compatible file for the client to think you're a cheapskate.

Many thanks for that link, I was thinking of ProjectLibre, will have a more detailed look at it.

You're exactly right about working with clients - the professional image was exactly on my mind. Although when I've had compatibility issues in the past its often because I've been running a more recent version than people in the project team!

I've got the opportunity to start afresh with a new business, so I have also been looking at Project on Office 365. Trying to find a bundled Office 365 plan with Project that suits my requirements, and avoiding paying for software I don't need is not easy however.

[muppetdave]

A friend of mine rates SG Project Pro which he uses on his iPad. I looked quickly and it seems Project Pro is Mac etc. only, but there is SG Project for Windows - I've not used them myself as I have MS Project, so I can't vouch for them. Friend is an architect though, so uses it frequently and seems happy enough.

[mondeoman]

Try Gantter - its a google app thingummy

[clived]

prand said:

Is there a different (essentially cheaper) version of MS Project I could use to produce project plans and GANTT charts?

I'm not going to be using this as a day to day tool, but from time to time will need to do some planning and want to produce outputs for people to review and edit, possibly in MS Project itself.

Do you actually need all the project planning capabilities of Project, or do you just want to be able to create / review / edit a GANNT chart. If the latter, if you're at all proficient in Excel, you can build some good looking (and even resource data driven) charts there.