Project Management Software

There are many software tools available to help manage projects. I have stopped including a guide to using Microsoft Project as so many other tools are available. Many have free trials. The following Forbes Advisor article provides a great summary: Best Project Management of 2025.

I strongly suggest you try Project Libre. You can download a FREE desktop version that will open old Microsoft Project files. You can use it to create Gantt charts, network diagrams, find the critical path, etc. They also have a new AI version that works in the Cloud. You can request a short free trial of it.

Below are links to a few older resources:

  • Free 30-day trial and paid versions of Microsoft Project. Note that there are several versions/plans of the software in 2024. Project Plan 3 includes a 30-day free trial and is probably most similar to older versions of Microsoft Project. Here’s the link to Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project Support.
  • A Brief Guide to Microsoft Project Professional 2016 pdf file and link to the files for download – new-project2016files (Note that the tracking.mpp file was added in Nov 2018. Use that file to start the section on “Entering Baseline Plan, Actual Costs, and Actual Times). You can still follow the instructions in my book with newer versions of Project. Simply open the template files provided with my guide, and they should open. 

Note: You might want to consider using other software. See a few options such as the following:

  • Jira: Anyone can get an unlimited free version of Jira (with limited capabilities). You can also access a Product Guide and many free tutorials from this site.

MindView: This software allows you to create mindmaps which can be used to create a WBS and Gantt chart.

Basecamp: This software includes several different tools to help teams put all of their project data and communications in one place. Instructors and students can request a free account with no time limit from Basecamp.

Gantt chart templates: You can use software like Excel or Google sheets to create Gantt charts and other project management documents. Below are a few sites to explore: