The ProjectLibre Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ProjectLibre in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ProjectLibre
The Insider’s Guide
Microsoft Project-compatible scheduling: free desktop app, paid cloud
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among project management tools, read from ProjectLibre’s own pages.
Made by ProjectLibre · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ProjectLibre’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ProjectLibre’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 73 of the 79 other project management tools we grade
ProjectLibre is project scheduling software that comes in two forms. ProjectLibre Desktop is a free, open-source app for Windows, macOS and Linux, meant for one person managing individual project files. ProjectLibre Cloud is a browser-based subscription for teams that adds real-time collaboration, shared resource pools, portfolio management, risk analysis and an AI Co-Pilot. Both open Microsoft Project files.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ProjectLibre, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Installing it is nothing and your old .mpp files open straight away, which saves a day.
- 1
Best for a free stand-in for Microsoft Project
ProjectLibre is a free, open-source desktop scheduler for Windows, macOS and Linux that opens .mpp files and does Gantt charts, critical path and baselines.
- 2
Paid plans start at $9.99 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $9.99 per user / month, billed annually.
- 3
There is a free plan
ProjectLibre Desktop: a free, open-source app for a single user managing individual project files on Windows, macOS or Linux, with no subscription.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 5
CPM scheduling and Gantt charts
Schedules use dependencies, constraints, calendars, baselines and critical path with float, shown as a Gantt chart, a WBS chart or a network diagram.
- 6
Microsoft Project and Primavera import
Opens Microsoft Project .mpp files and Primavera .xer files directly, keeping tasks, dependencies, resources and the project structure.
- 7
Resource leveling and shared pools
ProjectLibre Cloud finds over-allocated resources and levels them at the project or portfolio level, drawing on enterprise resource pools shared across projects.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 73 of 79
That is against the other project management tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of ProjectLibre you could make: Gantt & timelines and reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
ProjectLibre at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9.99 per user / month, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial of ProjectLibre Cloud for up to 15 users, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- ProjectLibre, since 2012
- Category
- Project Management
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free stand-in for Microsoft Project
ProjectLibre is a free, open-source desktop scheduler for Windows, macOS and Linux that opens .mpp files and does Gantt charts, critical path and baselines. But the free app is for one person and their own files: collaboration, portfolios, resource leveling and AI are in the Cloud at $9.99 a user, billed annually only, with a 7-day trial. There are no phone apps.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The desktop app costs nothing and includes Gantt, WBS, critical path, baselines, costs and earned value, where this category's cheapest quarter starts at $5.10 a user a month. The cloud plan is $9.99 a user, the dear end of the category, and annual billing only. |
| Free plan and trial | A | ProjectLibre Desktop is free and open source with no subscription and nothing metered, in 54 languages, but it's for one user and individual project files. The cloud side gets only a 7-day trial for up to 15 users, no card needed. |
| Features | B | Scheduling with dependencies, constraints, calendars, baselines and critical path with float, as a Gantt chart, WBS chart or network diagram, with .mpp and Primavera .xer files opening directly. Cloud adds resource leveling, Monte Carlo risk analysis, DCMA audits and the Co-Pilot. No boards or task chatter. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Installing it is nothing and your old .mpp files open straight away, which saves a day. But critical path, constraints and earned value are a profession, not a feature you pick up over lunch. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, macOS and Linux on the desktop plus the cloud version in a browser. No phone apps at all, though, and the only connections on record are Microsoft Project .mpp and Primavera .xer files. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ProjectLibre is for
- Fits if you're one project manager who wants a free desktop scheduler
- Works for moving schedules off Microsoft Project or Project Online, as .mpp files open directly
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your team wants to stay free, because collaboration is only in the paid Cloud
- Not for you if you want to pay month to month, since Core is billed annually only
- Too light for portfolios, resource leveling, risk analysis or AI if you're on the free app, as those are Cloud only
- Skip it if you want to check a plan on your phone, as there are no phone apps
- Watch out: the Cloud trial lasts 7 days, a higher tier is marked Coming Soon, and Core's portfolio claims carry an unexplained asterisk
Good to know
Good for
- Teams moving schedules off Microsoft Project or Project Online
- Individual project managers who want a free desktop scheduler
- Plans that need earned value, resource leveling and risk analysis
Worth knowing
- The free Desktop app is for one user and individual projects; collaboration, portfolios, resource leveling, risk analysis and AI are in the paid Cloud.
- ProjectLibre Core is priced only with annual billing; the pricing section shows no month-to-month rate.
- A second, higher cloud tier is marked Coming Soon, and Core lists enterprise resource and portfolio management with an asterisk the page does not explain.
- The Cloud trial lasts 7 days and covers up to 15 users.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9.99
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
ProjectLibre has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 per user / month, billed annually.
ProjectLibre Desktop
$0
Free, open-source desktop app for one person: Gantt chart, WBS, critical path, baselines, single-project resources, costs and earned value.
ProjectLibre Core
$9.99
per user / month, billed annually
The cloud plan on sale today: Microsoft Project import, Gantt and WBS scheduling, Core and Pro user modes and the AI Copilot.
The free plan
ProjectLibre Desktop: a free, open-source app for a single user managing individual project files on Windows, macOS or Linux, with no subscription.
Trying it first
7-day free trial of ProjectLibre Cloud for up to 15 users, no credit card required
Read from projectlibre.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Microsoft Project-compatible scheduling: free desktop app, paid cloud. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, AI features, real-time collaboration, Gantt & timelines, reports.
Cloud adds resource leveling, Monte Carlo risk analysis, DCMA audits and the Co-Pilot.
- CPM scheduling and Gantt charts
- Schedules use dependencies, constraints, calendars, baselines and critical path with float, shown as a Gantt chart, a WBS chart or a network diagram.
- Microsoft Project and Primavera import
- Opens Microsoft Project .mpp files and Primavera .xer files directly, keeping tasks, dependencies, resources and the project structure.
- Resource leveling and shared pools
- ProjectLibre Cloud finds over-allocated resources and levels them at the project or portfolio level, drawing on enterprise resource pools shared across projects.
- Risk analysis and schedule audits
- Cloud runs Monte Carlo risk analysis and DCMA schedule-quality audits on the schedule, alongside earned value reporting with SPI, CPI and TCPI.
- AI Co-Pilot
- In Cloud, the Co-Pilot builds a CPM schedule from a prompt and can then edit tasks, the WBS and resources as the project changes.
- Free desktop app
- ProjectLibre Desktop is installed on Windows, macOS or Linux, keeps project files on the user's computer and is offered in 54 languages.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Microsoft Project
- Primavera P6
ProjectLibre is made by ProjectLibre, and has been around since 2012.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
73/79
Other project management tools it is graded above
ProjectLibre's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 73 of the 79 other project management tools we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 71 of 79) and worst on ease of use (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $9.99 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 47 of the 74 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 17 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 80 project management tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. ProjectLibre’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 68 of 79
- AFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 79
- BFeaturesAbove 27 of 79
- CEase of useAbove 2 of 79
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 6 of 79
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 78 project management tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ProjectLibre is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of ProjectLibre you could make: Gantt & timelines and reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 73 of the 79 other project management tools we grade. It costs $119.88 a year. ProjectLibre is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Gantt & timelines and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. ProjectLibre’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Microsoft Project, GanttProject, OpenProject, ProjectManager and Smartsheet
The 5 tools ProjectLibre is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.6GPA
Microsoft Project
Free trial · from $30.00/mo
Desktop project scheduling for Windows with Gantt charts.
- ProjectLibre has a free plan. Microsoft Project does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ProjectLibre lists a web app.
- Only ProjectLibre lists macOS and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
GanttProject
Free plan · from €1/mo
Free, open-source desktop Gantt chart app for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Only ProjectLibre lists a web app.
- ProjectLibre also covers reports.
- 2.6GPA
OpenProject
Free plan · from $7.25/mo
Open-source project management for classic and agile teams.
- Only ProjectLibre lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only OpenProject lists iOS and Android apps.
- OpenProject is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
ProjectManager
Free trial · from $15/mo
Gantt-based project and portfolio management with resource planning.
- ProjectLibre has a free plan. ProjectManager does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ProjectLibre lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only ProjectManager lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
Smartsheet
Free trial · from $9/mo
Spreadsheet-style project and work management for teams.
- ProjectLibre has a free plan. Smartsheet does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ProjectLibre lists a Linux app.
- Only Smartsheet lists iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ProjectLibre free?
ProjectLibre has a free plan. ProjectLibre Desktop: a free, open-source app for a single user managing individual project files on Windows, macOS or Linux, with no subscription.
How much does ProjectLibre cost?
ProjectLibre lists 2 plans. ProjectLibre Desktop: $0.
What platforms does ProjectLibre work on?
ProjectLibre is available on Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does ProjectLibre have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. ProjectLibre is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does ProjectLibre have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. ProjectLibre is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is ProjectLibre open source?
Yes. ProjectLibre is open source, according to its own site.
What does ProjectLibre integrate with?
ProjectLibre's listing names Microsoft Project and Primavera P6. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does ProjectLibre have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial of ProjectLibre Cloud for up to 15 users, no credit card required.
Who makes ProjectLibre?
ProjectLibre is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2012.
What are the alternatives to ProjectLibre?
The closest alternatives to ProjectLibre in our directory are Microsoft Project, GanttProject, OpenProject, ProjectManager and Smartsheet.
How does ProjectLibre compare with other project management tools?
ProjectLibre's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 73 of the 79 other project management tools we grade, and level with 5.
Is ProjectLibre good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ProjectLibre A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $9.99 a month for each person, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 47 of the 74 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of ProjectLibre?
The plain part of ProjectLibre you could make: Gantt & timelines and reports.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ProjectLibre’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ProjectLibre's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-06.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ProjectLibre. Prices change, so check projectlibre.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ProjectLibre, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/projectlibre
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ProjectLibre: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/projectlibre
Know someone choosing between project management tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/projectlibre/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded project management tools after ProjectLibre, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Project Management Insider's GuideEvery one of the 80 project management tools we grade, compared
- GitHub Issues Insider's GuideIssue tracking and project planning built into GitHub3.4 GPA
- Freedcamp Insider's GuideProject management suite with a free plan for unlimited users3.2 GPA
- Huly Insider's GuideOpen-source project management with chat, docs and video calls3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ProjectLibre’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ProjectLibre is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ProjectLibre. Prices and plans change: check projectlibre.com before you buy.