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ProjectLibre

Score7.5 out of 10

22 Reviews and Ratings

What is ProjectLibre?

ProjectLibre is an open source project management software built as a software as a service (SaaS) deployment.

Categories & Use Cases

Top Performing Features

  • Mobile Access

    Mobile access is the ability to access the software from a smartphone or tablet.

    Category average: 8

  • Integration with accounting software

    Real-time, two-way sync with accounting or financial software to facilitate project and financial reporting

    Category average: 8.3

  • Gantt Charts

    Gantt charts are charts that show tasks or events along the y-axis displayed against time along the x-axis.

    Category average: 8.3

Areas for Improvement

  • Workflow Automation

    Workflow automation is the ability to route work requests along an approval process automatically.

    Category average: 8.6

  • Invoicing

    Ability to create, manage and send invoices to clients during or after completion of a project

    Category average: 7.6

  • Timesheet Tracking

    Timesheet tracking is the ability to track all billable and non-billable hours for each project.

    Category average: 8.4

A good open source project manager.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

ProjectLibre is used by our IT department to manage our infrastructure and development projects. We've been using it for many years and best of all, the software is open source and compatible with our Windows 10 and Linux operating systems that our IT team uses in the office. The software allows us to go further and we have the routine of creating diagrams and different types of graphics to improve our management and control of micro activities within the projects of the areas. It has a friendly and intuitive interface and with a simple training it is possible to master all the features.

Pros

  • It supports Microsoft Project files.
  • Allows you to create Gantt Chart, PERT, Data Structure and other charts.
  • Friendly interface.
  • Allows you to export files to PDF.
  • Reports.
  • Manage IT department resources, as well as keep track of dates and deadlines.

Cons

  • I've had incidents of crashing and freezing of the screen a few times.

Return on Investment

  • Provides greater organization of teams and compliance with deadlines and work responsibilities.
  • Open source software at no additional cost.

Other Software Used

Cisco Webex Desk Pro, Cisco Webex Room Series, EasePDF

Cost effective PM tool

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

My team and I use ProjectLibre for the following -

1) Access project plan created using MS Projects - MS Projects license is expensive and we cannot have all users assigned one. This is where ProjectLibre comes in

2) User interface is simple and friendly. It hardly takes anytime for anyone to get go with it

3) Printing options are friendly too - you are able to adjust paper sizes, timescales, etc.

Pros

  • Creating Project plans are painless
  • There are loads of printing customizations one can do
  • Update frequencies are good

Cons

  • Customer service is not there - I understand that the product is open source but some kind of forum with FAQs, etc. can come in handy
  • App crashes at time for no reason. There have been instances where you try to create a new task and all the diagrams and other items get messed up

Return on Investment

  • Cost of acquisition was nil and setting up was easy. With this application, we could have more members of the team get access to view project plans as is than converting them to PDFs

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Project

Great free/inexpensive alternative to Office, more functional than Google Sheets

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As a free alternative to Microsoft office suite, ProjectLibre is more than sufficient for our business needs. With more functionality than Google sheets/docs/etc, it's a great in between option.

Pros

  • Spreadsheet functionality (better than Google sheets)
  • Desktop downloads (highly functional, not internet-dependant
  • Document formatting for printing

Cons

  • Some tools are difficult to find (different shortcuts than typical)
  • user interface isn't the prettiest or most intuitive (just takes some getting used to compared to Google alternatives)

Return on Investment

  • Saved money not having to purchase Office
  • Integrates well with all current systems/files (very low learning curve to switch)
  • Mirrors Office/Google functionality close enough to learn quickly

Alternatives Considered

Google Sheets

ProjectLibre - Perfect For Those Focused on the Work

Pros

  • Visual management of time!
  • Realistic management (multiple projects at once because not all projects operate independently of others where time is concerned).
  • Data handling - reports, etc...

Cons

  • I will get into this more, but comparisons. Comparison is the evil twin of this program.

Return on Investment

  • While the company didn't go with it because of what I'd witnessed, I have recommended it to many people I felt fell within their scope. For them, I can see it streamlining their workflow and giving them more time to focus on other things, rather than dwelling on how to run a workflow program.

Alternatives Considered

TeamGantt

Other Software Used

Basecamp

ProjectLibre - a great value at no cost!

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As an IT Management instructor, I use ProjectLibre (open source) to show my students an efficient way to manage their projects. I have also used ProjectLibre to manage my own projects in Language Development and Translation. In my opinion, ProjectLibre is easier to use than MS Project; yet ProjectLibre can be used to open MS Project files.

Pros

  • Task Assignment and Accountability
  • Tracking Tasks throughout the life of project
  • Excellent visual representation of project progress

Cons

  • Translation into KiSwahili and other African languages of wider communication would be great.
  • It's great to be able to open an MS Project file, but I'd love to be able to change my work back to an MS Project file when I'm done.
  • It's hard not to compare ProjectLibre with MS Project because it really does have a lot of the same functionality. However, I wish the user interface was a bit more appealing and intuitive. Still, this is not a serious drawback.

Return on Investment

  • I have often worked for nonprofit organizations who try to stretch their dollars. ProjectLibre is a lifesaver in this regard.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Project

Other Software Used

Microsoft Project