OpenProject vs Microsoft Project
Last updated June 2026
Looking for a European alternative to Microsoft Project? Here's how OpenProject compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.
Our pick for a European buyer: OpenProject. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.
What it is
Open-source project management from Germany with EU hosting and self-hosting option
not established
Headquarters
🇩🇪 DE
🇺🇸 US
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
not established
DSGVO / GDPR
Yes
not established
Certifications
No
not established
Price from
$7.25/user/mo
not established
Free plan
Yes
not established
Open Source
Yes
not established
Integrations
GitHub, GitLab, Nextcloud, OneDrive, SharePoint +5
not established
We have not yet completed our own research on Microsoft Project; rows above show only what we can evidence. Check the vendor for specifics.
Where each one wins
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
Microsoft Project
Review sentiment not yet compiled.
Data residency & compliance
OpenProject
Microsoft Project
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
not established
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
not established
Certifications
No
No
Pricing
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.
Microsoft Project
No published pricing we could verify.
Features
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
Microsoft Project
Feature breakdown not yet compiled.