Free Alternative Comparison · 2026
GanttFather vs OpenProject
Choose OpenProject if you want open-source software on your own servers, because its Community edition is free, GPL-3.0 licensed and includes Gantt charts. Choose GanttFather if a small team wants a hosted Gantt chart with critical path and four dependency types for free, without running a server or meeting the 25-user minimum of OpenProject's paid plans.
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What's the difference between GanttFather and OpenProject?
Side-by-side feature comparison of the two tools across pricing, dependencies, real-time collaboration, AI integration, and platform support. Bold rows highlight the dimension where one tool clearly leads.
| Feature | GanttFather | OpenProject |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for one project you own, with 2 editors and unlimited free viewers; US$5 a month per extra project (US$2.50 a month billed yearly) | Community edition free to download and install; paid plans from €5.95 per user per month (Basic) |
| Free without running a server | Yes; sign up and start in the browser | The free Community edition runs on your own server; the hosted cloud is paid, with a 14-day trial |
| Self-hosting | No; GanttFather hosts it | Yes: DEB or RPM packages, Docker, or Kubernetes with Helm |
| Open source | No | Yes, under GPL-3.0 |
| Gantt chart | Yes, on every plan | Yes, in the free Community edition |
| Dependencies that move dates | Finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish, with lag and lead in days, between tasks under the same parent | Predecessor/successor only (the successor starts after the predecessor finishes), with lag in working days |
| Critical path | Yes, a toggle in the Gantt and List views | Not available yet, per its Gantt chart FAQ |
| Baselines | No | Compare with yesterday on the free edition; any date or range with an Enterprise add-on |
| Gantt PDF export | PDF and PNG reports, including a Gantt schedule, on every plan | Enterprise add-on |
| Smallest paid team | Pay per extra project or editor seat; an extra editor seat is US$2 a month (US$1 a month billed yearly) | 25 users minimum on Basic and Professional, 100 on Premium, 250 on Corporate |
| Billing terms | Monthly or yearly | 1 to 5 years; a monthly term only on Cloud Basic, at €1.00 more per user |
Sources: OpenProject · GanttFather. Checked on 18 October 2026.
Figures and their sources
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Community edition | Free to download and run on your own server | OpenProject download and installation |
| Cheapest paid plan (Basic) | €5.95 per user per month, 25 users minimum | OpenProject pricing |
| Critical path | Not available yet, per its Gantt FAQ | OpenProject Gantt chart FAQ |
| GitHub stars | 16.5k | GitHub |
Checked on .
When is OpenProject the better choice?
OpenProject is the better choice when you need to run the software, and keep the data, on your own infrastructure.
- Project data must stay on your own servers; OpenProject installs with DEB or RPM packages, Docker, or Kubernetes.
- You want open-source code under the GPL-3.0 license.
- You have people who can install and maintain a server, and want the free Community edition with no user minimum.
- You want baselines: the free edition compares changes since yesterday, and an Enterprise add-on compares against any date.
- You need relations beyond scheduling, such as "blocks", "duplicates" or "requires".
When is GanttFather the better choice?
GanttFather is the better choice when a small team wants a hosted Gantt chart with scheduling tools and no server to run.
- Critical path is a toggle in the Gantt and List views; OpenProject's Gantt FAQ says it does not have one yet.
- All four dependency types (finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish), with lag and lead in days.
- PDF and PNG reports, including a Gantt schedule, at no cost; in OpenProject, Gantt PDF export is an Enterprise add-on.
- No 25-user minimum: one project with 2 editors and unlimited viewers is free, and each extra project is US$5 a month.
- AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor can read and edit the plan through the GanttFather MCP server.
- Nothing to install or maintain: you sign in with Google, GitHub or email and start.
Frequently asked questions: GanttFather vs OpenProject
Is OpenProject free?
The Community edition is free to download and install on your own server, with no minimum number of users. Paid plans start at €5.95 per user per month (Basic), with a 25-user minimum, and the Enterprise cloud has a 14-day free trial.
Does OpenProject have a Gantt chart?
Yes. Gantt charts and timelines are part of the free Community edition. Only predecessor/successor relations move dates: the successor starts after the predecessor finishes, with optional lag counted in working days.
Does OpenProject have a critical path?
Not yet. The OpenProject Gantt chart FAQ says the critical path feature is not available. GanttFather shows the critical path with a toggle in the Gantt and List views.
Can I self-host GanttFather like OpenProject?
No. GanttFather is a hosted web app and is not open source. OpenProject can be installed with DEB or RPM packages, Docker, or Kubernetes with Helm.
Does OpenProject have baselines?
Partly. The free edition compares changes since yesterday; comparing against any date or date range is an Enterprise add-on. GanttFather has no baselines.
How much does GanttFather cost for a small team?
One project you own is free, with 2 editors and unlimited free viewers. Each extra project costs US$5 a month (US$2.50 a month billed yearly), and an extra editor seat costs US$2 a month (US$1 a month billed yearly).
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