4 Best Microsoft Project Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 14 min read
Microsoft Project is a popular tool for enterprise project managers. With pricing starting at $10/user/mo, it can be expensive for many teams. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 4 best Microsoft Project alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 4
- Free alternatives: 4 (Asana, Monday.com, Wrike)
- Best overall: Asana
- Best free: Asana
Why Look for Microsoft Project Alternatives?
People commonly look for Microsoft Project alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: At $10/user/mo, Microsoft Project isn't cheap, especially for small teams and startups.
- Feature gaps: Very expensive and complex interface are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Microsoft Project overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Project | ✗ No | $10/user/mo | ⭐ 3.9 | No | Enterprise project managers |
| Asana | ✓ Up to 10 users | $10.99/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Mid-size teams managing complex projects |
| Monday.com | ✓ Up to 2 users | $9/user/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Teams that need highly customizable workflows |
| Wrike | ✓ Up to 5 users | $9.80/user/mo | ⭐ 4 | No | Enterprise teams with complex workflows |
| Smartsheet | ✓ 1 user, 2 sheets | $9/user/mo | ⭐ 4.1 | No | Teams comfortable with spreadsheets |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Asana
Work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage work.
Asana is a leading work management platform that helps teams orchestrate their work, from daily tasks to strategic initiatives. Founded in 2008 by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, Asana has grown to serve over 100,000 organizations worldwide. The platform offers multiple project views including lists, boards, timelines, and calendars, making it versatile for different work styles and project types.
Pros
- ✓ Intuitive interface
- ✓ Powerful automation
- ✓ Great for cross-team projects
- ✓ Excellent mobile app
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for large teams
- ✗ Can be overwhelming for simple projects
- ✗ Limited free tier
- ✗ No built-in time tracking
Monday.com
Work operating system that powers teams to run projects and workflows with confidence.
Monday.com is a versatile Work OS that serves as a foundation for teams to create custom workflows for any type of project. Known for its colorful, visual interface and high customizability, Monday.com has become one of the fastest-growing project management platforms. It offers pre-built templates and allows teams to build custom apps on top of its platform.
Pros
- ✓ Highly customizable
- ✓ Beautiful visual interface
- ✓ Great automation
- ✓ Excellent customer support
Cons
- ✗ Can get expensive quickly
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ Limited free plan
- ✗ Complex pricing tiers
Wrike
Versatile work management platform for enterprise teams.
Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management platform that helps teams plan, manage, and complete work at scale. With features like cross-tagging, custom workflows, and advanced reporting, Wrike is designed for organizations that need robust project management capabilities.
Pros
- ✓ Enterprise-grade features
- ✓ Excellent reporting
- ✓ Strong security
- ✓ Good for large teams
Cons
- ✗ Complex setup
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ Outdated interface
Smartsheet
Platform for managing work through a spreadsheet-like interface.
Smartsheet brings spreadsheet-like familiarity to project management, making it popular with teams transitioning from Excel. It offers powerful automation, reporting, and resource management features while maintaining an interface that feels comfortable to spreadsheet users.
Pros
- ✓ Familiar spreadsheet UI
- ✓ Powerful automation
- ✓ Great for data-heavy projects
- ✓ Strong integrations
Cons
- ✗ Expensive for full features
- ✗ Can be slow
- ✗ Complex formula syntax
- ✗ Limited mobile app
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Project?
The best free alternative to Microsoft Project is Asana, which offers Up to 10 users.
Is there an open-source alternative to Microsoft Project?
There are no widely-used open-source alternatives to Microsoft Project at this time, but several affordable options exist.
What is the cheapest alternative to Microsoft Project?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Asana, Monday.com, Wrike. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $9/mo.
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