Full critical-path scheduling, resources, baselines and a built-in AI assistant — fast, native, and free.
A real Microsoft Project alternative for Mac: opens .mpp files and exports Project XML. Universal app for Apple Silicon & Intel · macOS 10.15+.
✨ New in 2.0
Describe a plan in plain English — or drop in a supplier quote — and Plan4Projects builds the whole programme: tasks, durations, dependencies and costs. Ask it to push dates, level resources, or explain the critical path, and the Gantt updates as it works.
Attach a PDF quote, a scan, or a CSV and turn it into a costed, phased schedule.
“Push everything after the survey by three days.” It makes the change and reschedules.
Bring your own Anthropic key — stored only on your Mac, in the Keychain. No accounts, no server.
Free app, no subscription — add your own Anthropic API key and pay only for what you use (typically pennies per request).
✨ New in 3.0
Connect once and Plan4Projects keeps a dedicated calendar and reminders list in step with your plan — on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. Your existing calendars stay untouched.
Every task becomes a calendar event and a due-dated reminder, kept in their own dedicated list.
Changes flow across in seconds. Tick a reminder off on your phone and the task completes in your plan.
It syncs through your own iCloud, so your programme travels with you. No accounts, no server.
Everything lives in its own “Plan4Projects” calendar and list that you can remove any time — and it all goes through your Apple account, never a Plan4Projects server.
A full scheduling engine — not a to-do list with a calendar.
A complete CPM engine: forward/backward pass, four dependency types with lag, seven constraint types, total slack, and a live critical path.
Per-resource calendars and hourly rates, automatic over-allocation detection, and one-click resource leveling.
Gantt, Timeline, Network (PERT), Calendar, Resource Usage, and an earned-value Dashboard — all live.
Save up to six baselines, track % complete and actual costs, and watch variance and earned value (SPI / CPI).
Reads .mpp and ~20 other formats, and exports MS Project XML that Microsoft Project opens natively.
A real macOS app with its own bundled Java runtime — nothing else to install — that updates itself in place.
Switching from Microsoft Project?
Microsoft doesn’t make a Mac version of Project, and most ways to open a .mpp file on a Mac are paid, web-based or view-only. Plan4Projects is a real, native macOS app that opens Microsoft Project files (and ~20 other formats) and exports Microsoft Project XML that Project reads natively — so you can pick up an existing programme, plan it properly with a full critical-path engine, and hand it straight back. No subscription, no browser, no Windows VM.
The whole scheduling engine is free — no seats, no monthly fee, no feature paywall.
A genuine Mac app that runs offline. Your plans stay on your own Mac.
Import Microsoft Project files and export Project XML for a clean round-trip.
Whatever you’re scheduling — construction, IT and software projects, security installations, events or maintenance — Plan4Projects brings Microsoft-Project-grade planning to the Mac, for free.
Yes — Plan4Projects is completely free. The full Gantt and critical-path scheduling engine, resource management, baselines and all seven views are included, with no subscription and nothing locked behind a paywall. There is an optional tip jar if it saves you time.
Yes. Plan4Projects reads .mpp files (Microsoft Project 98 through 2019 and later) plus around 20 other formats, and exports Microsoft Project XML that opens natively in Project. It is one of the few free, native Mac apps that can open .mpp files.
Microsoft does not make a Mac version of Project, so Plan4Projects gives Mac users a native, free way to plan: a complete critical-path (CPM) engine with four dependency types, seven constraint types, resource leveling, multiple baselines and earned-value tracking — and it opens and exports Microsoft Project files.
Yes. Plan4Projects runs entirely on your Mac with no account and no server, so you can plan with no internet connection. The optional AI assistant is the only feature that goes online, and only when you choose to use it.
Yes. It is a universal app that runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, on macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and later, and it is signed and notarized by Apple.
Yes — the Gantt chart is the heart of the app. Add tasks, set durations and dependencies, and Plan4Projects draws a live Gantt chart with the critical path highlighted, baseline bars and dependency arrows. Timeline, Network (PERT), Calendar and Dashboard views are built in too.
No. Plan4Projects bundles its own runtime, so there is nothing else to install — just download it, open it, and start planning.
Yes. Your projects are stored locally on your Mac and are never sent to a Plan4Projects server. If you use the AI assistant you bring your own Anthropic API key, which is stored in the macOS Keychain.
Plan4Projects is free and built by one developer. If it saves you time, you’re welcome to leave a tip — never required.
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