Best open source
MS Excel alternative

Choose an open source on-premises project management software as best Microsoft Excel alternative.

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  • Open source
  • High security and data privacy

More than 20+ Mio downloads of the leading open source project management software

#1 open source project management software

OpenProject is the best open source MS Excel alternative for project management

MS Excel is often the default calculation software in many companies. Additionally, it is often used as a basic project management software in companies that don’t yet use a dedicated project management software. Microsoft Excel is very flexible and allows users to quickly create basic plans, calculations and even very basic Gantt charts. When starting out with basic project planning, Excel can be a good first step. When using the offline version of the MS Excel, keeping track of the latest version quickly becomes hard and inefficient. It is now possible to use MS Excel as part of the Microsoft 365 app, which enables document collaboration. Let’s take a look at why OpenProject is the best open source MS Excel project management alternative.

What does OpenProject offer?

When you use OpenProject, you can create as many projects as you like. You can organize your tasks into lists similar to an Excel spreadsheet. With the click of a button you can instantly display a Gantt chart and complete your planning. Through different permission levels you can always control what level of access different users should have. Aside from task management and Gantt charts, OpenProject offers many additional functions, such as meeting scheduling, agile support, roadmapping and much more. The OpenProject Enterprise cloud provides an easy and affordable way to use OpenProject. If you prefer to host OpenProject on your own servers, you can opt for the Enterprise edition. When you use this OpenProject version you receive support and many advanced security and customization options. If you prefer an open source and sovereign alternative to MS Excel, OpenProject is the best choice.

OpenProject vs. MS Excel

Compare both tools side by side and decide for yourself

Features OpenProject MS Excel
Open source software
OpenProject
MS Excel
Available on-premises
OpenProject
MS Excel
Available in the cloud
OpenProject
MS Excel
Comprehensive project management features
OpenProject
MS Excel
Agile boards
OpenProject
MS Excel
Team planner
OpenProject
MS Excel
User and permissions management
OpenProject
MS Excel
Product roadmap
OpenProject
MS Excel
Meeting management
OpenProject
MS Excel
Project wiki
OpenProject
MS Excel
Forums
OpenProject
MS Excel
Data server in EU/Germany
OpenProject
Headquarters in the EU.
Data stored in EU/Germany on request.
MS Excel
Microsoft is a US based company.

Secure Open Source Alternative

Why is OpenProject better than MS Excel for project management

If you are looking for an open source alternative to Microsoft Excel, take a look at the following OpenProject advantages.

We are open source

MS Excel is a proprietary software. Therefore, users run the risk of depending solely on the vendor to make code adjustments and implement feature requests. OpenProject is an open source software and as such it can be the more secure and more cost efficient option. It provides absolute transparency and high flexibility. This article on choosing an open source software further elaborates on the advantages over a proprietary solution.

Data sovereignty

OpenProject offers a self-installed version, hosted on your infrastructure with full control over your data. With a powerful API integration and highest security levels, OpenProject allows to comply with the strictest data security regulations and ensures reliability.

No compromises in data protection

If you decide to go with the cloud edition, you can be sure that your data is secure. OpenProject has its headquarters in the EU, is GDPR compliant by default and stores all of the data in the EU. Microsoft is a US based company.

Not sure yet?

Try OpenProject for free

You can test the OpenProject Enterprise cloud 14 days for free, or you can get a 14 days free trial license key to upgrade your self-hosted Community edition to the Enterprise on-premises – risk-free without cancellation.

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Enterprise add-on

The OpenProject Enterprise add-ons are part of our Enterprise on-premises and cloud plans. With the upgrade to a paid version, you will support the development and maintenance of the open source project.