Best Microsoft Project For Mac Alternatives of 2026 (Free & Paid)

If you’re looking for a Microsoft Project alternative for Mac, you’re not alone.

Despite repeated requests from Mac users over the years, Microsoft still doesn’t offer a native version of Microsoft Project for macOS. The last Mac version was discontinued decades ago, leaving project managers, planners, consultants and businesses looking for alternatives that work properly on modern Macs.

The good news is that there are now several excellent replacements for Microsoft Project that run natively on Apple Silicon Macs, support Gantt charts, critical path analysis, resource management and even Microsoft Project (.MPP) files.

How We Tested These MS Project Alternatives For Mac

We’ve tested dozens of project planning tools on Macs running the latest versions of macOS and evaluated them based on:

• Microsoft Project file compatibility (.MPP)
• Gantt chart functionality
• Resource allocation and workload management
• Critical path analysis
• Baseline tracking
• Team collaboration features
• Native Mac support
• Overall ease of use

While many project management tools claim to be Microsoft Project alternatives, only a handful genuinely provide the advanced scheduling and planning features that serious project managers need

Quick Answer: What Is The Best Microsoft Project Alternative For Mac?

Need	Best Choice
Best overall Microsoft Project alternative	Merlin Project
Closest to Microsoft Project	Project Plan 365
Best free alternative	ProjectLibre
Best for Gantt charts	GanttPRO
Best spreadsheet-style alternative	Smartsheet
Best native Mac app	OmniPlan
Best for collaboration	Monday.com
Best enterprise solution	Wrike

Microsoft Project Compatibility Comparison

Here’s a look at how compatible the apps we tested are with macOS, Microsoft Project (MPP) files and whether they support Gantt charts.

Software	Open MPP Files	Export MPP Files	Mac App	Gantt Charts
Merlin Project	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Project Plan 365	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ProjectLibre	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes
OmniPlan	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes
Smartsheet	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GanttPRO	Yes	Limited	No	Yes
Monday.com	No	No	Yes	Partial
Microsoft Planner	No	No	No	Basic Timeline view
Office Timeline	Yes	No	No	Yes
Pagico	No	No	Yes	No

1. Merlin Project (Best Overall Microsoft Project Alternative For Mac)

Merlin Project is the best Microsoft Project alternative for Mac users who need professional project planning tools that feels like its had an Apple touch.

Unlike Microsoft Project, Merlin Project was designed specifically for macOS and combines advanced Gantt charts, resource management, critical path analysis and mind mapping in a modern Mac-native interface.

It also supports Microsoft Project file formats, making it one of the easiest ways to transition from Microsoft Project to a Mac.

Most recently Merlin has been updated with an AI assistant which will suggest a project plan based on a description of what you’re working on.

There’s also a lighter version Merlin Project Express which is cheaper for freelancers and individuals.

Check out our full Merlin Project review for more.

Pricing: Free Trial / $199.99 per user/year or $19.99 per user/month.

Pros:

• Slick interface
• Innovative hybrid project planning approach
• Uses AI to create project plans based on descriptions
• Gantt charts and Kanban boards
• iOS apps
• MS Project import/export support
• Available in two versions depending on your budget

Cons:

• Limited team collaboration tools
• High up front cost
• No free version

2. Project Plan 365 (Closest To Microsoft Project)

Project Plan 365 is the closest replacement for Microsoft Project available on a Mac.

Its interface, terminology and workflow closely mirror Microsoft’s software, making it ideal for project managers who want a familiar experience.

With full support for opening, editing and exporting MPP files, plus compatibility with Microsoft Project Server, it offers one of the smoothest migrations from Microsoft Project to macOS.

Project Plan 365 has both a Mac desktop and Cloud interface so you can choose to work offline or online on macOS.

Project Plan 365 also supports, Gantt charts & timeline views, task & resource management and allows you to colloborate via iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Project Plan 365 cloud.

Check out our full Project Plan 365 review for more.

Pricing: Free Trial / Plans start at $8.99/m (20% off)

Pros:

• Will feel familiar to anyone that’s used MS Project
• Solid MPP file import and export support
• Connects to Microsoft Project Server
• Mac desktop app but Cloud access supported
• Good value

Cons:

• Dated interface like MS Project
• Lacks AI and automated assistance features

3. ProjectLibre (Best Free Microsoft Project Alternative For Mac)

ProjectLibre is the best free Microsoft Project alternative for Mac users that need traditional project planning tools without the cost of a subscription.

Built specifically as an open source replacement for Microsoft Project, it uses a familiar interface with Gantt charts, task dependencies, resource allocation and workload tracking that will feel instantly recognizable to experienced Microsoft Project users.

ProjectLibre can open Microsoft Project files and supports many of the scheduling features that project managers rely on, making it one of the easiest ways to continue working with existing project plans on a Mac for free.

Unlike most modern project management platforms, ProjectLibre is a desktop application that runs locally on your Mac, allowing you to work offline without storing project data in the Cloud.

ProjectLibre also supports Gantt charts, network diagrams, work breakdown structures (WBS), earned value costing and resource management, giving it many of the core capabilities found in Microsoft Project.

Most recently it has been updated with AI features that allow you to describe your project and then ProjectLibre will automatically create and track it for you.

Pricing: Free

Pros:

• Completely free and open source
• Designed specifically as a Microsoft Project replacement
• Familiar interface for Microsoft Project users
• Supports Gantt charts and resource management
• Works offline on Mac
• Can open many Microsoft Project files
• Includes AI assistant

Cons:

• Dated interface
• No cloud collaboration features
• Limited compatibility with newer Microsoft Project formats

4. Smartsheet (Best Spreadsheet Based Alternative)

Smartsheet is ideal for Microsoft Project users who prefer working with spreadsheets but need more powerful project planning tools.

It combines the familiarity of Excel with Gantt charts, automated workflows, resource tracking and collaboration features that are often easier to use than Microsoft Project.

In fact, if you use Excel for a lot of your project management tracking, we ranked it one of the best alternatives to Excel for Mac too thanks to its much easier to use interface.

It also supports importing and exporting Microsoft Project files, making it suitable for teams working across both platforms.

It also has a excellent Mac desktop app but can be used in any browser in the Cloud too giving you the best of both worlds.

It’s incredibly easy to get up and running with Smartsheet with hundreds of project management templates compared to most project management software.

Check out our full Smartsheet review for more.

You can also check out our in-depth look at Smartsheet vs Microsoft Project to see how it measures-up to Microsoft’s product.

Pricing: Free for one user and 2 editors / Plans starting from $9 per user/month.

Pros:

• Mac desktop app
• Great for simplifying spreadsheets into timelines
• Powerful Gantt chart features
• Imports and Exports Microsoft Project files
• Lots of customization via add-ons

Cons:

• Requires add-ons for time tracking, resource management and other features
• No real time updating

5. GanttPRO (Best For Gantt Chart Planning)

GanttPRO is one of the best Microsoft Project alternatives for teams that rely heavily on Gantt charts.

It imports Microsoft Project files in native MPP format making it an ideal replacement for MS Project on macOS.

It simplifies project scheduling with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface while still supporting dependencies, milestones, resource allocation and MPP file imports.

Compared to Microsoft Project, GanttPRO is significantly easier to learn while retaining many of the planning features professional project managers need.

It offers features like resource management, time tracking, and budget monitoring, making it suitable for complex and multi-team projects.

Although integration is not its strong point, it does integrate with popular tools like Google Drive and Jira for enhanced team collaboration and data sharing.

Check out our full GanttPRO review for more.

Pricing: Free Trial / Plans starting from $7.99/user per month.

Pros:

• User-friendly Gantt chart interface
• Strong collaboration tools
• Excellent resource and budget management features
• Integration with Jira
• Imports Microsoft Project files

Cons:

• Limited integration options beyond core tools
• May require a learning curve for advanced features
• No desktop app for offline use

6. OmniPlan (Best Native Mac Desktop App)

OmniPlan is one of the most capable native Mac alternatives to Microsoft Project.

Developed exclusively for Apple devices, it offers advanced scheduling, resource management and dependency tracking in a polished macOS interface.

For project managers who prefer desktop software over cloud-based platforms, OmniPlan delivers many of the core features of Microsoft Project while feeling much more at home on a Mac.

Read our full review of OmniPlan for a more in-depth look.

Pricing: $199.99/standard license or $19.99/month for unlimited updates

Pros:

• Made specifically for Mac
• Imports MS Project files
• Superb Dark and Light mode interface
• Seamless integration across Apple devices
• One time purchase option available

Cons:

• Expensive up front cost

7. Monday.com (Best For Teams Moving Beyond MS Project)

Monday.com is best suited to organizations moving away from Microsoft Project in favor of a more collaborative and visual approach to project management.

While it doesn’t support native MPP files, it replaces traditional project schedules with customizable boards, timeline views, automations and real-time collaboration tools.

Teams that find Microsoft Project too rigid often appreciate Monday.com’s flexibility and ease of use.

You can choose multiple views for projects such as spreadsheets, lists, maps, Kanban boards and more.

You can easily upload attachments to cards and leave comments for colleagues.

Although you can’t import or export Microsoft Project files into Monday.com, there’s lots of integration with third party products such as Jira, Google Drive, Slack, Excel and more.

Check out our Monday.com review for more.

Pricing: Limited Free Plan / Paid Plans starting from $8 per user/month.

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• Slick Mac desktop app
• Timeline views
• Excellent summary charts
• Lots of third party integrations
• Includes CRM tools

Cons:

• No native MS Project import support

8. Wrike (Best Enterprise Alternative)

Wrike is a powerful enterprise project management platform for organizations that have outgrown Microsoft Project’s standalone scheduling approach.

It combines project planning, resource management, reporting and collaboration tools in a cloud-based environment that scales well across departments.

You can import MS Project files into the Professional and Business versions of Wrike in MPP, MPX and XML format.

It is also one of the most well-integrated apps we’ve seen and works with over 30 major apps such as Microsoft Office 365 including Microsoft Project, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and OneDrive.

Check out our full review of Wrike for more.

Pricing: Free Trial / Plans starting from $10 per user/month.

Pros:

• Highly scalable for large teams
• Integrated with lots of third party tools including MS Office
• Familiar to Trello and Jira users
• Imports MS Project files

Cons:

• No time tracking or invoicing tools

9. ProjectManager (Best For Real-Time Project Visibility)

ProjectManager is a strong Microsoft Project alternative for businesses that need real-time reporting and project visibility.

Alongside traditional Gantt charts and task scheduling, it offers live dashboards, workload management and collaboration tools that provide more immediate insight than Microsoft Project.

Support for importing MPP files also makes it a practical choice for transitioning from Microsoft’s platform.

You can also integrate ProjectManager with over 1000 business apps including Office 365, Google Drive & Calendar, Slack, Jira and Zapier.

Pricing: Free trial / Plans starting from $14 per user/month.

Pros:

• Slick Mac desktop app looks great on macOS
• Customizable dashboard
• Clear and easy to use Gantt charts and Kanban boards
• Imports Microsoft Project files

Cons:

• Team version limited to 20 projects

10. Microsoft Planner (Best For Existing Microsoft 365 Users)

Microsoft Planner is the closest thing Microsoft now offers to a cloud-based version of Microsoft Project for Mac users.

Microsoft has merged many of the features previously found in Project for the Web into Planner, making it the company’s primary project management platform for Microsoft 365 customers.

For organizations already invested in Microsoft 365, Planner provides timeline views, task dependencies, resource management, goals tracking and collaboration tools that integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, Outlook and other Microsoft services.

Unlike Microsoft Project, Planner works entirely in a browser and on mobile devices, making it easy to access projects from a Mac without needing Windows or virtualization software.

Planner is also Microsoft’s recommended replacement for Project Online, which is being retired in September 2026. Existing Project Online users are being encouraged to transition to Planner as Microsoft’s long-term cloud project management solution.

While Planner is easier to use than Microsoft Project and better suited to collaborative teams, it lacks some of the advanced scheduling, reporting and portfolio management features found in the desktop version of Microsoft Project.

Check out our comparison of Microsoft Project vs Microsoft Planner to see how it compares to the full version of MS Project.

Pricing: Included with many Microsoft 365 plans / Premium Planner plans start from $10 per user/month

Pros:

• Made by Microsoft
• Works on any Mac browser
• Integrates with Microsoft 365, Teams and Outlook
• Modern collaborative interface
• Microsoft’s long-term replacement for Project Online
• Easier to use than Microsoft Project

Cons:

• Lacks many Microsoft Project features
• Limited support for complex project scheduling
• Premium features require higher-tier Microsoft subscriptions

11. OfficeTimeline (Best For Presentations)

Office Timeline is a useful companion or alternative to Microsoft Project for professionals who primarily need to present project plans rather than manage them.

It specializes in creating polished Gantt charts, roadmaps and timelines that can be shared with stakeholders and executives.

For turning complex Microsoft Project schedules into presentation-ready visuals, few tools do it better.

You can export timelines as editable PowerPoint slides, which makes them ideal for status updates and executive reporting.

Pricing: Free version available / Paid plans start from $149/year.

Pros:

• Works in any browser
• Imports from Project, Excel, Jira, Smartsheet
• Produces polished, presentation-ready Gantt charts
• Exports to editable PowerPoint slides
• Includes timeline and swimlane templates
• Free version available

Cons:

• Full desktop add-in is Windows-only
• Requires PowerPoint for some export formats
• Advanced features require paid version

12. Pagico (Best For Organizing Project Notes)

Pagico is best suited to individuals and small teams looking for a lightweight alternative to Microsoft Project.

Rather than focusing purely on project schedules, it combines tasks, notes, documents and project information in a single Mac-native application.

It lacks MPP compatibility and advanced scheduling features but offers a more personal and flexible way to organize projects on macOS.

You can attach important relevant data to your tasks including photos, documents, checklists, emails and contracts.

For those looking for an offline alternative to Microsoft Project, Pagico also works offline on a Mac if you don’t want your project data saved in the Cloud.

Pricing: Free Trial / $65.00 for personal use, additional users $5/per user/month

Pros:

• Designed specifically for Macs
• Brings notes, projects, tasks and documents into one app
• Useful tagging feature
• Cloud syncing free for personal use
• Can be used offline

Cons:

• No Microsoft import support

FAQ

What Is The Best Microsoft Project Alternative For Mac?

The best Microsoft Project alternative for Mac depends on your needs.

For most Mac users, Merlin Project offers the closest combination of advanced project planning features and a native macOS experience.

If you’re looking for something that closely resembles Microsoft Project, Project Plan 365 is the most familiar option, while ProjectLibre is the best free alternative.

Are There Any 100% Free Microsoft Project Alternatives For Mac?

Yes. ProjectLibre is one of the few completely free and open source Microsoft Project alternatives available for Mac.

Other tools such as Smartsheet, Monday.com, ClickUp and Teamwork offer free plans, although these usually come with restrictions on users, projects or advanced features.

For more options, check out our guide to the best free Microsoft Project alternatives for Mac.

Which Microsoft Project Alternative Has The Best MPP File Support?

If working with Microsoft Project (.MPP) files is important, Project Plan 365 is one of the best options available.

Merlin Project, Smartsheet, OmniPlan, Wrike and GanttPRO also offer varying levels of MPP import support, although compatibility can differ depending on the version of Microsoft Project used to create the file.

Can You Open Microsoft Project Files On A Mac?

Yes. Several of the tools featured in this guide can open Microsoft Project files on a Mac, including Project Plan 365, Merlin Project, OmniPlan, Smartsheet and ProjectLibre.

If you only need to view Microsoft Project files without editing them, a dedicated Microsoft Project Viewer may be a more affordable option.

Are There Any Microsoft Project Viewers For Mac?

Yes. Microsoft Project viewers for Mac allow you to open and view MPP files without purchasing Microsoft Project or a full project management platform.

These are useful for stakeholders, clients or team members who only need read-only access to project plans.

Can You Run Microsoft Project On A Mac?

Yes, but there is still no native Mac version of Microsoft Project.

The most common way to run Microsoft Project on a Mac is by using a virtual machine such as Parallels Desktop and installing Windows 11.

While this works well on Apple Silicon Macs, you’ll also need a Windows license and a Microsoft Project subscription, making it a more expensive option than most alternatives featured here.

Does Microsoft Make A Project Management App For Mac?

Microsoft does not currently offer a native Mac version of Microsoft Project.

However, Microsoft Planner is available through Microsoft 365 and works in any web browser on a Mac. It combines task management, project planning and collaboration features and is Microsoft’s primary cloud-based project management platform going forward.

Is Microsoft Project Online Still Available?

Microsoft Project Online is being retired by Microsoft and is scheduled to reach end-of-life in September 2026.

Microsoft is encouraging organizations to move to Microsoft Planner, which now incorporates many of the features previously available in Project for the Web and Project Online.

What Is The Closest Alternative To Microsoft Project?

Project Plan 365 is generally considered the closest alternative to Microsoft Project because it closely replicates Microsoft’s interface, scheduling tools and workflows.

It also supports MPP files and Microsoft Project Server, making it one of the easiest options for organizations migrating from Microsoft Project.

Which Microsoft Project Alternatives Support Gantt Charts?

All of the leading Microsoft Project alternatives include Gantt chart functionality.

Merlin Project, Project Plan 365, GanttPRO, OmniPlan, Smartsheet, ProjectManager and Wrike all offer advanced Gantt chart features including dependencies, milestones and critical path planning.

Which Microsoft Project Alternatives Support Resource Management?

Resource management features are available in Merlin Project, Project Plan 365, Smartsheet, GanttPRO, OmniPlan, Wrike and ProjectManager.

These tools allow you to assign resources, balance workloads, monitor utilization and forecast project capacity in a similar way to Microsoft Project.

Does Apple Have Its Own Project Management Software?

No. Apple has never released dedicated project management software for macOS or iOS.

While Apple Numbers can be used to create basic project schedules and Gantt charts, it lacks the advanced planning, dependency tracking and resource management features found in professional project management tools.

What’s The Best Way To Migrate From Microsoft Project?

The easiest way to migrate from Microsoft Project is to export your existing projects as MPP or XML files and import them into a compatible alternative such as Project Plan 365, Merlin Project, Smartsheet or OmniPlan.

Before switching, it’s worth checking that your chosen software supports the specific Microsoft Project features your organization relies on, such as custom fields, resource pools or project baselines.