55 Open Source Replacements for Information/Project Management Tools

Experts say that interest in IT project management has grown substantially in recent years. A December 2010 report from Dice.com put project managers fourth on its list of the most in-demand IT jobs for 2011. And a Forrester report found that for 2011, CIO priorities are shifting from cost reduction to improving execution. As a result, they're looking to the disciplines of project management and project portfolio management to help them "allocate resources effectively while killing off bad ideas quickly."

Project managers have a huge list of software tools that can help them do their jobs, ranging from simple spreadsheets to groupware with collaboration features to full project management solutions. These tools can be very expensive, but a growing number of open source projects offer similar functionality without the high price tag.

For this list, we've assembled 55 different open source applications that can help IT teams manage their projects more effectively. In addition to project management (PM) and project portfolio management (PPM) software, we've included a number of other apps that can be helpful for project managers, including groupware and server software with some PM capabilities, bugtrackers and version control software for development teams, time tracking software, to-do lists and other tools that help teams collaborate and track their progress on projects.

Note that these aren't ranked in order of their quality or usefulness. Instead, they're grouped in categories. The PM and PPM software comes first, followed by the other categories in alphabetical order. As always, if you know of other open source projects that would fit on this list, feel free to mention them in the Comments section below.

Project Management

1) OpenProj Replaces: Microsoft Project, Oracle Primavera

Downloaded more than 1.25 million times, OpenProj was specifically designed to replace Microsoft Project, and it opens both Project and Primavera files. Key features include Gantt charts, network diagrams (PERT charts), WBS and RBS charts, earned value costing and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

2) GanttProject Replaces: Microsoft Project, Oracle Primavera

Like OpenProj, GanttProject can also import and export from Project. As you would expect from the name, it creates Gantt charts, and it also creates PERT charts, generates reports and exports data to spreadsheet formats. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

3) Achievo Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office Outlook

Designed for medium-sized organizations, Acheivo combines calendar, contacts, project management, time tracking and basic CRM and human resources management capabilities. It's Web-based, and the site offers a demo so that you can try it out before you download. Operating System: OS Independent.

4) Dotproject Replaces: Microsoft Project, Daptiv

This Web-based app offers an e-mail based trouble ticket system, client/company management, project listings, hierarchical task list, file repository, contact list, calendar, discussion forum and resource-based permissions. To see it in action, check out the demo on the site. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

5) KPlato Replaces: Microsoft Project

The project management solution included in KDE's KOffice suite, KPlato can handle "moderately large" projects that require multiple resources. It offers Gantt chart views, tracks progress towards completion and automatically schedules resources based on availability. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

6) openXprocess Replaces: Microsoft Project, Plandora Replaces Microsoft Project

Plandora meets the needs of a variety of kinds of teams with Gantt charts, a Balanced Scorecard view and an Agile development board. In addition, the latest release includes cost management, artifact management and new gadgets. Operating System: OS Independent.

8) Redmine Replaces Microsoft Project, Daptiv

Web-based Redmine offers Gantt charts, calendar, per-project wikis, an issue tracker, newsfeeds and more. It also integrates with most version control systems, making it a good choice for development teams. Operating System: OS Independent.

9) NavalPlan Replaces Microsoft Project, Daptiv

As the name suggests, this Web-based project management system was originally created for the ship building industry, but its features make it useful for just about any industry. It helps organizations schedule resources, control costs, organize tasks and monitor progress, and it connects with many ERP systems. Operating System: Linux.

10) PHPProjekt Replaces Microsoft Project, Daptiv

PHPProjekt combines project management with a time tracker and some groupware functions, like a calendar, to do list and contact manager. It's Web-based, and the site provides a helpful demo so that you can see the features in action. Operating System: OS Independent.

11) TaskJuggler Replaces Microsoft Project, Daptiv

TaskJuggler calls itself "project managers' delight" and includes tools for project scoping, resource assignment, cost and revenue planning, and risk and communication management. It's designed for "serious project managers" and takes some effort to learn. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

12) web2Project Replaces Microsoft Project, Daptiv

Offering "real project management for real business," this Web-based tool can manage multiple projects, companies, departments and users. Key features include a modular infrastructure, built-in security, role-based permissions, project- and group-wide Gantt charts, and group calendar. Operating System: OS Independent.

13) XPlanner+ Replaces Microsoft Project, Daptiv

Designed for development teams, this Java-based app includes project management, bug tracking and time tracking capabilities. It supports Agile methodologies and it can export to multiple formats, including Microsoft Project. Operating System: OS Independent.

Project Portfolio Management

14) Onepoint Project Replaces Daptiv, Oracle Primavera

Onepoint combines project management with project portfolio management capabilities, including supporting formal, Agile and JIRA projects within a single solution. The Basic and Community editions are available with a GPL license, while the supported editions for enterprise users have a proprietary license. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.