Planitude vs ProjectLibre: a shared Gantt in the browser, free
Both are free and both read Microsoft Project files. The choice depends on one question: is the plan managed by one person on their own computer, or shared with the team?
In this article
ProjectLibre has long been one of the best-known open-source alternatives to Microsoft Project: a free desktop application with a complete scheduling engine. Planitude was created with the same goal, planning as in MS Project without paying for licenses, but it runs in the browser and puts collaboration at the center.
The main differences are outlined below, based on data from ProjectLibre’s official pages.
Who ProjectLibre and Planitude are for
ProjectLibre desktop is designed for people who plan on their own computer: data stays local[1], and the engine also covers costs, earned value and resource leveling[1].
Planitude is designed for people who plan together with others:
- distributed teams that need to see the same, always up-to-date plan;
- project managers who want to receive comments and updates directly on tasks;
- professionals who work across several devices and prefer not to install or update an application.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Planitude | ProjectLibre |
|---|---|---|
| Opening .mpp files | Available.mpp/ | Available.mpp and .xer |
| Export | AvailableMicrosoft Project XML, CSV, print/ | Not statedNot stated |
| Dependencies (4 types, with lag) | AvailableFS, SS, FF and SF, with lag | Availabledependencies and constraints |
| Critical path | Availableon demand, with total float | Availablecritical path and float |
| Baselines | Availablesaved automatically at first progress; slippage in days | Availablebaselines and earned value |
| Calendars and holidays | Availableworking calendars with exceptions | Availableproject, task and resource calendars |
| Date constraints | Availableconstraint dates and deadlines | AvailableAvailable |
| Resources and over-allocation | Availableproject members assigned to tasks, daily workload, over-allocation warnings | AvailableAvailable |
| Costs and budget | Partialfixed and baseline costs from imported files; no budget view | AvailableAvailable |
| Earned Value Management (EVM) | Not availableNot available | AvailableAvailable |
| Automatic resource levelling | Not availableapplies the leveling delay from .mpp files; does not calculate it | AvailableAvailable |
| Views | AvailableSummary, Gantt, list, board, calendar, workload | Not statedNot stated |
| Collaboration | Availableowner, editor and viewer roles; comments with @mentions | Partialreal-time collaboration in the paid Cloud edition |
| Public sharing | Availableread-only public link | Not statedNot stated |
| Interface languages | Available10 | Available54, according to the vendor |
| Self-hosting | Not availablemanaged service, EU servers (Germany) | Availabledesktop application; data stays local |
| Entry price | Availablefree, ad-supported | Availabledesktop edition free; Cloud pricing not published |
| Free plan | Availableall features, no seat limit | Availablefull desktop application, open source |
The data is the same as in our full comparison and on the Planitude and ProjectLibre page. ProjectLibre is more complete in earned value and resource leveling, and we state this clearly.
Scheduling
In this area, the two tools follow the same logic. ProjectLibre lists dependencies and constraints, critical path and float, baselines, and project, task and resource calendars[1]. Planitude offers FS, SS, FF and SF dependencies with lead and lag, constraints and deadlines, calendars with holidays and exceptions, an automatic critical path and baselines with the variance of each task.
Planitude also adds the Summary, List, Board, Calendar and Workload views with an overallocation warning, multi-level subtasks created with Tab and a version history with non-destructive restore.
The areas in which ProjectLibre remains ahead are earned value and resource leveling[1]. Planitude does not calculate them, but it respects the leveling delay already present in imported .mpp files.
Import, export and migration
ProjectLibre reads .mpp and .xer files[1]. Planitude reads .mpp, Microsoft Project XML and Primavera .xer files, with an import report that lists the items that could not be mapped. For output, Planitude exports to Microsoft Project XML, CSV for Excel and print/PDF.
Collaboration
With ProjectLibre desktop, each plan is a local file; real-time collaboration is a feature of the paid Cloud edition[2]. In Planitude, collaboration is free: link invitations, roles (owner, editor, viewer), tasks that can be assigned to several people, comments with mentions, a change history and a read-only public link.
Pricing
ProjectLibre desktop is free and open source; the price of the Cloud edition is not published on the vendor’s page[1]. Planitude is free, supported by advertising, with collaboration included and an unlimited number of users.
Languages, data and AI assistant
ProjectLibre is available in 54 languages according to the vendor[1] and, in the desktop version, keeps data locally[1]. Planitude is available in 10 languages and hosts projects on servers in the European Union, in Germany. 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 ProjectLibre to Planitude
- Retrieve the original files: if your plans originate from an
.mppfile, you can import that file directly. - For projects created in ProjectLibre, save them in a Microsoft Project format if your version allows it, or export the task list to a spreadsheet.
- Create a free Planitude account, import the file and review the import report.
- From a spreadsheet, you can paste the rows from Excel into the Planitude grid (names, durations, indentation) and then add the dependencies.
- Save a baseline and invite your team.
Try Planitude with your own plan
Create a free accountConclusion
ProjectLibre is an excellent desktop tool, free and with a very complete engine. Planitude keeps the same scheduling logic, does not offer earned value or leveling, and in return makes the plan available online, with free collaboration, comments and sharing for everyone. When the plan is a team effort, it is the natural next step.
Frequently asked questions
Is Planitude open source like ProjectLibre?
No. Planitude is a free online service, supported by advertising; ProjectLibre desktop is open source[1].
Does Planitude work offline?
No. Planitude runs in the browser and requires an internet connection. ProjectLibre desktop runs locally[1].
Do .mpp files opened in ProjectLibre also open in Planitude?
Yes, if they are .mpp files created with Microsoft Project: Planitude imports them with tasks, dependencies, calendars and baselines, and lists assigned resources in the task notes.
Does Planitude calculate earned value?
No. It is one of the areas in which ProjectLibre is more complete[1].
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 pageprojectlibre.com
- ProjectLibre Cloudprojectlibre.com
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.