Planitude vs GanttProject: a shared online plan, free
GanttProject is a free desktop application that works offline. Planitude is free as well, but it runs in the browser and makes the plan accessible to the whole team, with the logic of MS Project.
In this article
GanttProject has long been one of the most widely used free programs for creating a Gantt chart on your own computer: it works offline on Windows, macOS and Linux and is compatible with Microsoft Project files. Planitude is also free, but it is an online service: the plan is not a file on one person’s disk, but a shared project that the whole team always sees up to date.
The comparison below is based on data from GanttProject’s official website.
Who GanttProject and Planitude are for
GanttProject is designed for people who plan on their own computer, even without a connection[1], and exchange files when needed.
Planitude is designed for people who plan together with others:
- teams that need to work on the same plan without emailing files back and forth;
- project managers who want to receive comments and updates on tasks;
- people who use several devices and want to find the plan always up to date in the browser.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Planitude | GanttProject |
|---|---|---|
| Opening .mpp files | Available.mpp/ | Availablereads .mpx, .mpp and XML/ |
| Export | AvailableMicrosoft Project XML, CSV, print/ | AvailableXML/ |
| Dependencies (4 types, with lag) | AvailableFS, SS, FF and SF, with lag | Not statedNot stated |
| Critical path | Availableon demand, with total float | Not statedNot stated |
| Baselines | Availablesaved automatically at first progress; slippage in days | Not statedNot stated |
| Calendars and holidays | Availableworking calendars with exceptions | Not statedNot stated |
| Date constraints | Availableconstraint dates and deadlines | Not statedNot stated |
| Resources and over-allocation | Availableproject members assigned to tasks, daily workload, over-allocation warnings | Availableresource allocation |
| Costs and budget | Partialfixed and baseline costs from imported files; no budget view | Not statedNot stated |
| Earned Value Management (EVM) | Not availableNot available | Not statedNot stated |
| Automatic resource levelling | Not availableapplies the leveling delay from .mpp files; does not calculate it | Not statedNot stated |
| Views | AvailableSummary, Gantt, list, board, calendar, workload | Not statedNot stated |
| Collaboration | Availableowner, editor and viewer roles; comments with @mentions | Not stateda paid cloud service is available |
| Public sharing | Availableread-only public link | Not statedNot stated |
| Interface languages | Available10 | Not statedNot stated |
| Self-hosting | Not availablemanaged service, EU servers (Germany) | Availableruns offline on Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Entry price | Availablefree, ad-supported | Availabledesktop edition free; cloud pay-as-you-go, pricing not published |
| Free plan | Availableall features, no seat limit | Availablefull desktop application |
The data is the same as in our full comparison. “Not stated” means that GanttProject does not provide the information on the page consulted, not that the feature is missing.
Scheduling
GanttProject lists resource allocation[1]. Planitude provides a scheduling engine modeled on MS Project:
- FS, SS, FF and SF dependencies with lead and lag;
- date constraints and deadlines;
- project and resource calendars with holidays and exceptions;
- an automatic critical path and baselines with the variance of each task;
- multi-level subtasks created with Tab;
- Summary, Gantt, List, Board, Calendar and Workload views, and a version history.
Example: from a local file to a shared plan
A technical manager keeps the plan for an installation in a GanttProject file on their laptop and, every Friday, exports it and sends it to colleagues. With Planitude, the same plan is imported once, colleagues are invited as editors or viewers, and files no longer need to be sent: everyone sees the current version, adds comments on tasks and receives mentions. When the client asks about the status of the work, the read-only public link is all that is needed.
Import, export and migration
GanttProject reads .mpx, .mpp and XML/MSPDI files and exports to XML/MSPDI[1]. Planitude imports .mpp, Microsoft Project XML (MSPDI), .mpx and Primavera .xer files, and exports to Microsoft Project XML, CSV for Excel and print/PDF. The Microsoft Project XML format therefore provides a direct bridge between the two tools, in both directions.
Collaboration
For GanttProject, the official page mentions a paid cloud service[1]. In Planitude, collaboration is included and free: link invitations with roles, tasks that can be assigned to several people, comments with mentions, unique task keys, a change history and a read-only public link.
Pricing
GanttProject desktop is free; the cloud service is pay-as-you-go and its price is not published on the page[1]. Planitude is free, supported by advertising, with collaboration included and unlimited users.
Languages, data and AI assistant
GanttProject works offline and keeps files on the user’s computer[1]. Planitude hosts projects on servers in the European Union, in Germany, and is available in 10 languages. It includes an AI assistant that reads the plan and proposes changes for you to confirm, and an MCP server with API keys for integration with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Cursor and VS Code.
How to move from GanttProject to Planitude
- Export the project from GanttProject in XML/MSPDI format[1].
- Create a free Planitude account.
- Import the XML file through the guided import and review the report.
- Save a baseline immediately after the import.
- Invite your team by link and assign roles.
Try Planitude with your own plan
Create a free accountConclusion
GanttProject remains an excellent free tool for people who work alone on their own computer. Planitude is equally free, but it turns the plan into a shared project, with critical path, comments and a public link, and with a direct path through Microsoft Project XML.
Frequently asked questions
Can a GanttProject project be imported into Planitude?
Yes. Export it from GanttProject in XML/MSPDI format[1] and import it into Planitude as Microsoft Project XML.
Does Planitude work offline like GanttProject?
No. Planitude runs in the browser and requires an internet connection. GanttProject desktop works offline[1].
Is it possible to return to GanttProject after working in Planitude?
Yes. Planitude exports to Microsoft Project XML, a format that GanttProject states it can read[1].
Is Planitude free like GanttProject?
Yes. Planitude is free, supported by advertising, including for collaboration.
Sources
Every fact about the products mentioned comes from these official pages, checked in September 2026. Prices are list prices, in the currency and billing period shown by the vendor, and may change.
- Product pageganttproject.biz
Try Planitude with your own plan
Create a free account, import your .mpp file or start from a template: within minutes you will see the Gantt chart with dependencies, calendars and the critical path.