A lot of software is available on the internet to help you run your projects. On this page we will provide some pointers on where to get applications for free. And let me start by saying: free is as good as any kind available.
There are three types in existence:
- desktop applications,
- webbased services
- webbased systems.
Links of interest
Free Project Management Education
Death Of Gantt Charts?
Future Of Project Management Software
Free desktop software for project management
This type of applications are installed on your PC. Think in the line of MS Office and MSProject. A nice free software package in this category is GanttProject. This actually looks like an MS Project knock off.
Webbased services
By this I mean websites that offer an on-line internet application that supports project management. You don't have to install anything, you just signup for a service that is running on someone else's server.
An example is iTeamWork, which is kind of a collaboration tool, where you can define projects and tasks, assign people to them, track and trace them, view to-do lists, etc.
Webbased systems
The difference between webbased services and systems is that with the latter you do have to install software on your own hardware. As open source development is taking more and more ground, some of these applications are quite powerful.
The are all more collaboration tools the just plain project management tools. So, if you just need something to create a nice Gantt chart, don't use this category, as it would be overkill.
Examples in this category are:
dotProject is a PHP web-based project management framework that includes modules for companies, projects, tasks (with Gantt charts), forums, files, calendar, contacts, tickets/helpdesk, multi-language support, user/module permissions and themes.
php-collab
phpCollab is an open-source internet-enabled collaboration workspace for project teams.
phProjekt
PHProjekt is a modular application for the coordination of group activities and to share informations and document via intranet and internet. Components of PHProjekt: Group calendar, project management, time card system, file management, contact manager, mail client and 9 other modules …
Consultant Communicator
Consultant Communicator is focused upon the time keeping aspect of project management. Unlike the majority of other tools, it does not use a graphical task time line, it instead uses a hierarchal system.
f2w Helpdesk
f2w Helpdesk isn't actually a pure project management tool; it was actually developed to be a help desk solution. However, it can also be used to manage people.
Taskjuggler
Taskjuggler calls itself a "Project Managers Delight" and to be fair, they're not far from the truth.
TeamSCOPE
TeamSCOPE is developed by a team at the Michigan State University. It is designed to run on Linux. It was designed and developed with communication in mind and as such it focuses on giving every member of the team access to all the files, deadlines and information.
Relevant links
Software That Tells You Bob Will Be Unhappy
Web Timesheet Software Directory. Web-based software for time tracking, payroll, billing, expense, cost and invoicing.
Standard Time - Timesheet and Project Management Software
Thanks very much for all the links and resources.
I've just been "thrust" into being a PM and I have no tools whatsoever.
This is really helpful! Thanks again.
lemonabe
October 23rd, 2007
A great list of links, although i think http://www.comindwork.com deserves to be included to this list - it offers free online project management and collaboration and much more.
Free online project management
November 30th, 2007
Another project management software tool worth a mention is OPM Creator, this software is web based and comes with a free 30-day - http://www.opmcreator.com we have been using OPM for 4 years now to manage our projects online and its great.
Duncan
December 12th, 2007
Another great offering for project collaboration and project management is the Pelotonics system. You can manage up to two projects for free forever with full features!
Troy Malone
Chief Evangelist
http://www.pelotonics.com
Troy Malone
December 23rd, 2007
Project Symphony provides powerful resource scheduler, PDA interface, integrated Resource Management capability.
FREE for Portfolios and Programs dealing with two projects.
shankar
December 27th, 2007
[…] Free Project Management Software […]
ToolBlog » Projektmanagement kostenlos
February 27th, 2008
You should also consider http://www.sharpforge.com which has reasonable per project/disk space pricing model.
SharpForge.com provides commercial hosting of SharpForge, the open source project(http://sharpforge.org/p/SharpForge.aspx).
SharpForge supports agile, lightweight, collaborative processes, including the ability to involve anonymous people in your projects. Each project has a wiki, document repository, forums as well as work tracking.
SharpForge is open source software so your data isn't locked in a proprietary format, you also have more deployment and customisation options.
Scott Bradley
March 9th, 2008
There are lots of web based project tools available, we are in the process of building a directory of web based project management software tools http://www.projectmanagementsoftware.org.uk/ please take a look.
Polly
April 26th, 2008