OpenProject vs Asana

OpenProject

Strengths

• +Intuitive and clean user interface for basic task tracking, making it easy to deploy and onboard for everyday team members
• +Comprehensive project management features including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, Scrum support, task scheduling, and customizable project templates
• +Strong reporting and analytics capabilities with custom dashboards and time/cost tracking
• +High value for money with a free core version and affordable paid plans, appealing to budget-conscious teams
• +Open-source flexibility allows customization of work package types and workflows
• +Enhances team collaboration and centralizes project information, improving transparency and maintaining a single source of truth
• +Easy deployment options including Docker support and API capabilities for integrating AI tools
• +Stable performance that supports productivity and project control

Limitations

• −Steep learning curve for admins and new users when configuring advanced features, requiring more time and patience
• −User interface perceived as less intuitive or overly simplistic compared to competitors, with search functionality needing improvement
• −Limited advanced resource management features, especially in the free version, and lack of offline access or third-party plugin support

Asana

Strengths

• +Intuitive and user-friendly interface
• +Strong collaboration features
• +Flexible project views (list, board, calendar, timeline)
• +Good mobile app experience

Limitations

• −Limited features in the free plan
• −Can become expensive for larger teams
• −Steep learning curve for advanced features
• −No built-in time tracking in lower tiers

OpenProject

• Community Free per user / monthNo minimum number of users · Community features and support · Self-managed or cloud hosting
• Basic $7.25 per user / month (minimum 25 users)Cloud hosting with monthly billing option (+$1.25 per user) · Includes Community features plus Basic add-ons · No long-term commitment required
• Corporate On request (minimum 1000 users)All Premium features plus Corporate Enterprise add-ons · Corporate support (Mon-Fri, 9:00–18:00 CET) · Dedicated support engineer and training

Pricing varies by subscription period (1 month to 5 years). BIM add-on available for +$1.25 per user/month. Users can be selected in increments of 5.

Asana

• Basic Free ForeverUp to 15 teammates · Basic task and project management · Limited integrations
• Premium $10.99 per user/month (billed annually)Unlimited tasks, projects, and teams · Timeline and workload views · Advanced search and reporting
• Business $24.99 per user/month (billed annually)Portfolios and workload management · Custom templates and rules · Admin controls and security features
• Enterprise On request Custom pricingAdvanced security and controls · Custom branding and support · EU data residency (add-on)

Pricing varies by region and plan. EU data residency is an add-on for Enterprise.

OpenProject

Project Portfolio Management

Overview of entire project portfolio (classic, agile, hybrid), Project hierarchies and favorites for structured navigation, Project lists, sharing, and customizable dashboards, Portfolio, program, and project management with priorities and progress tracking

Project Planning & Scheduling

Collaborative project planning with Gantt charts and timelines, Work packages with customizable attributes and identifiers, Relations and hierarchies between work packages, Automatic or manual scheduling modes

Task Management & Issue Tracking

Dynamic task lists with filters and attribute highlighting, Assignment of assignees, accountable persons, and watchers, Real-time notifications and customizable email reminders, Sharing work packages with external users or groups

Agile, Kanban & Scrum

Kanban boards for workflow visualization and improvement, Backlogs for user story prioritization, Sprint boards for daily scrum meetings, Team boards for workload visualization

Time Tracking & Budgeting

Time tracking on work packages (daily or weekly), Custom time reports and PDF timesheets, Labor cost calculation with hourly rates by member or project, Cost reporting with multiple filters

Asana

Task Management

Create and assign tasks, Set deadlines and priorities, Track task progress, Add subtasks and dependencies

Project Tracking

Visualize projects with timelines, boards, or calendars, Monitor project status and milestones, Share project updates with stakeholders, Use project templates

Collaboration

Comment on tasks and projects, Attach files and links, Mention team members in conversations, Use team pages for central communication

Reporting

Generate custom reports, Track team workload and progress, Export reports in CSV or JSON, Use dashboards for real-time insights

Integrations

Connect with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Drive, Use API for custom integrations, Automate workflows with Zapier, Embed Asana projects in other tools