Nowadays, project management is everywhere. Whether you have a team of one or 1,000 — you need to make sure everyone knows what to do, when to do it, and how much time to spend on it. Most companies employ a full-time project manager to oversee the work process, and the most essential tool they use in their work is some form of project management software.
Project Viewer 365 for Mac allows project team members to open MS Project MPP Plans from cloud locations like Google Drive. Dropbox, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Box, Basecamp, URL Links and email attachments. Project Viewer 365 for Mac is compatible with Microsoft Project (MPP file format) 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003 and earlier versions. Today’s Topic: Microsoft project Alternative for MAC; Microsoft Project is a project management software product, used worldwide by many kinds of firms in multiple fields. The product has its variables in every product, therefore, every third company has use of it.
Project management software helps teams plan, organize, and manage their work. There are lots of alternatives on the market: some are as simple as to-do lists and others include all the bells and whistles, like budget estimations, forecasting, and cost control. The most popular and widely used option by far is Microsoft Project.
Microsoft Project was first developed in 1984 as an MS-DOS application, even before there were graphical interfaces. Over the years, it has gained a loyal global following and has become the go-to tool for the majority of project managers.
Sadly, if you predominantly work on Macs, Microsoft hasn’t released a Mac-compatible version just yet, although the rest of the Microsoft Office 365 suite is available on Macs (short of Microsoft Access). So what’s the best Microsoft Project alternative for Mac?
What Is Microsoft Project On Mac Alternative?
Naturally, since Microsoft hasn’t been in a hurry developing an MS Project for Mac build, lots of Mac-specific players have entered the game, occupying all possible niches based on cost, features, tech support, and more. But to understand what makes a perfect competitor to Microsoft Project management software, we need to know what exactly Microsoft Project is revered for.
Microsoft Project supports all project management activities with:
- Built-in customizable templates to quickly get up and running when new projects come in
- Gantt charts to clearly see the timeline and the capacity for execution
- Visual reports to evaluate progress on the go
Besides, Microsoft Project is a great tool for your business portfolio optimization and project evaluation to see where your organization is going and how it is doing. Finally, the software also does a continuous resource analysis, predicting bottlenecks and showing where resources are currently being underused.
So the ideal alternative to replace Microsoft Project for Mac needs to cover most if not all of these features and do it well. And maybe even have a few cards up its sleeve too. For example, Microsoft Project’s cost of $500–1500 per install or $30–60 per user a month is a likely target for other up-and-coming apps.
When we consider all available Microsoft Project alternatives, one stands out right away. In many ways similar to what Microsoft Project on Mac would be, it offers a more intuitive interface, easier onboarding process, and simpler cost structure. Meet Merlin Project Express.
Use Merlin Project Express as MS Project for Mac
Merlin Project Express is an all-in-one planning software that doesn’t constrain you into any project management paradigm. Control multiple projects, resources, and budgets with ease in the way that streamlines your own workflow.
Some notable features of Merlin Project Express include:
- Outstanding planning tools. The app lets you create tasks, sort out dependencies, track progress, and schedule for the future — all on one screen.
- By-the-minute tracking. See how much costs your project generates in real time. Check how busy and productive your team is, and how many hours a day get clocked in.
- Custom templates. Create intuitive templates for all repetitive processes and have your colleagues fire up new projects in no time.
- Precise resource management. Handle all information about your team, tools, and equipment in one secure place. Adding people is just as easy as dragging them from your Contacts, and the calendar view makes it effortless to see everything at once.
- Accurate project timelines. When you have a large project on your hands, how do you predict its success? The best way to do it is to break everything down to smaller tasks, which don’t seem daunting and are much easier to keep track of.
- Unlimited version-based attachments. Storing task-related information separately is a sure way to mismanagement on large projects. With Merlin Project Express, you just drop the required files right onto the task and it will keep it safe, including all the updated versions.
How to start with Merlin Project Express
The most special thing about Merlin Project Express is how intuitive it is. Everything you need to know is displayed on the main Gantt-like screen called Work Breakdown: the list of tasks goes top to bottom, and your timeline from left to right.
Additionally, you can add any extra information (e.g. activities, goals) by pressing the plus icon in the top left. And the activity panel on the right provides specific details about your plan and finances.
Clicking on the Work Breakdown, you can switch the screen to show Resources, which includes all the people in your team, their availability, rate, and accrued costs.
To add a task in Merlin Project Express:
- Click on the dropdown beside the plus icon and choose Activity
- Name the new activity
- Drag it to the right line within the Gantt chart
- Use the indentation icons beside the dropdown to properly place the task within the hierarchy
Once you have all the tasks arranged, your project will begin to take shape. Next you just need to add timelines and people responsible. Finish up with a few milestones, so you know when it’s time to check in on the progress. And just like that your project will be on its way to completion, with no Microsoft Project management software involved.
Best of all, Merlin Project Express is available to you on a free trial via Setapp, a platform of more than 150 Mac productivity tools and apps. And now when you know Microsoft Project for Mac is not needed, you can start substituting all the other Windows-only apps too!
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Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Today’s Topic: Microsoft project Alternative for MAC; Microsoft Project is a project management software product, used worldwide by many kinds of firms in multiple fields. The product has its variables in every product, therefore, every third company has use of it. In this article, we will discuss the top best alternative for MAC, regarding Microsoft project.
Good news for a project manager, that there are lots f best alternative options available – Cheaper and cost-effective. Although you can found hundreds of options, here we will describe only the best option for you relates to our company.
It allows you to develop a schedule, schedule tasks, assign work, maintain the budget, and maintain deadlines and more. Now obviously, being a useful Microsoft Product comes with its perks for Windows OS users. The software is available only on Windows platforms which in my opinion, makes it a tad bit controversial for MAC OS.
Ms Project Free Download 2016
Related Article: Project Portfolio Template
For this reason, many MAC users have to opt for different ways in order to get their MS Project needs going.
Following are some of their options, a Microsoft Project alternative software for MAC and an additional bonus way to get Microsoft Project Running on your MAC:
Microsoft Project Alternatives for MAC:
Install a virtual machine, such as a virtual box on your already existing MAC. Below we explain the best Alternatives according to their specifications.
Q: What is a Virtual Machine?
Answer: A Virtual Machine is basically just software, which allows you to allocate a part of your hard drive, memory, and other resources to another OS within your OS. This allows you to install multiple OS within one OS and it is a pretty cool feature.
- However, this eventually leads to slowing down your PC when the virtual machine runs for reasonable times which is obviously not ideal.
- So, your first option for using a Microsoft Project on MAC is by installing a virtual machine, installing a Windows OS on your virtual machine and then getting yourself a Microsoft Project software.
Another option is using third-party app sharing software products if you’re a large enterprise who can only afford a cut in this part of the budget and you have to use MS Project only then this may be your best shot. Also, please note that managing servers and sharing remote connections can be an extremely difficult process and only the professionals should deal with it.
It’s obviously not impossible to do this individually but, this way will require more than a couple of head itches and nervous breakdowns. So let’s not keep you waiting and take you to the only product that’s worth your time in this case.
- Project Plan 365: This simple, yet powerful product is the only one available in the market that can open, edit and save new projects in the exact format as Microsoft Project. It’s just that simple, a direct MS Project alternative released in 2018.
Also, please take a minute to imagine the pain people had to go through before December 2018. The other option was only to get a PC instead of MAC because it brought that much frustration.
- Bonus Alternative for MS Project – TeamViewer: Well that’s right, I don’t know if it has crossed your mind or not but you can connect a PC to a MAC using a team viewer. In order to do that, you do need an active and good internet connection.
Microsoft Project For Mac Free
Teamviewer is a software that allows you to connect one pc to another and share its view and operate it in any way you like, and it’s free.
Just install TeamViewer on both, a PC that has MS Project installed and the MAC. Connect the Teamviewer in MAC to the PC using id and password it provides and boom, there’s your MS Project through a foolproof way. Although it does require the presence of a PC it is ideal in a case where your office has a PC and your home computer is a MAC or vice versa.
Microsoft Project – Is there any free version of MS Project?
I get this question a lot, and the answer is no. MS Project is a project managing software developed and sold by Microsoft. So unless you’re using a pirated version which I am not suggesting you to do that in any case, there’s really no way.
Best Alternatives for Microsoft Project for All Platforms:
I have combined together a bunch of MS Project alternatives. Following is a list of best alternatives for Microsoft Project (both free and paid):
- ToDoList: This is an excellent alternative for beginners and the best part is that it’s free to use. The product is not very comprehensive but it’s great for small businesses, projects, and freelancers. You can manage your tasks, customize reports, and make online documentation and more using ToDoList. Moreover, you can also use milestones to manage your large tasks.
- Basecamp: Basecamp is another good option but it’s paid, the pricing starts at 100$/month. The application is a full-blown project managing product and allows you to observe tasks, calendars, assign tasks as objectives and in short pretty much every project managing need.
Like ToDoList, this one is also available on multiple platforms including Windows, MAC, and iOS.
- ProjectLibre: ProjectLibre has an active online community, it’s free and considers itself the closest to MS Project. The product has complete features for Project Managing software including Gantt charts and dependencies.
Microsoft Project For Mac Free Download
- Clarizen: Clarizen is very easy to manage and use alternatives for MS Project. It has all the functionalities that a Project Manager requires and more. The product also has a great timeline observing features. The product is not free, however, on the Clarizen official website, you may be able to request the management to give you a suitable price according to your needs.
Microsoft Project For Mac 2016
- Scoro: As a project manager, you can use Scoro to assign tasks to your users, you can assign responsibilities and later on link the done tasks to your clients. This Project Managing product comes with big-time businesses and creative use. To illustrate its relevance to MS Project better, the cloud-based software product has all the features of time-tracking, task scheduling, and reporting.
Conclusion (Summarized)
Microsoft Project For Macbook Air
In summary, I agree that MS Project comes with great benefits and used at a great price but let’s be real, the alternatives of this product exist. This article is based on 2019 reviews about different software about Microsoft project Alternative for MAC. On the basis of 2019 reviews, we will forecast the best option for small businesses or other medium-size businesses.
Ms Project For Mac
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While some people do not ever choose any other product when compared to MS Project, the others, at the same time did find a way to make their ends meet. If you have some questions relates to MS project, then ProjectsManagement.net team could help you regarding choosing the options.