Microsoft Project is the best project, portfolio, and resource management solution—but it’s not available on macOS®. However, with Parallels Desktop® for Mac, Apple® users can use a Windows virtual machine (VM) to run Microsoft Project on Mac®.
.Pre-built templates help you get your project started on the right track.Sync with Project Online and Project Server.Users can submit timesheets to capture project and non-project time spent.Run what-if scenarios to make the most of your task assignments.Auto-populate start and end dates based on dependencies.Visually represent complex schedules with built-in multiple. With MS Project For Mac, you can do accounting and project management tasks with precision. A blend of Windows based office environment and Mac OS makes it quite seamless for users to do the tasking without facing any glitches. Here in this article, we shall have a look on the various features of Microsoft project for Mac. A project is defined by a file (e.g.,.csproj for C# projects) which contains xml that defines the file and folder hierarchy, paths to files and project-specific settings, such as build settings. When a project is loaded by Visual Studio for Mac, the Solution Pad uses the project file to display the files and folders in your project. First I’ll set the scene – we support access to Project Web App (PWA) both for Project Server 2013 and Project Online using Safari on the Apple Mac, but we do not have a version of Project Professional 2013, or Project Pro for Office 365 that runs natively on OS X.
Getting started with running MS Project on macOS is easy:
- Download a trial of Parallels Desktop.
- Set up a Windows 10 VM. It’s very easy to buy a new Windows 10 license inside Parallels Desktop. (You can also use an existing Windows 10 license key.)
- Purchase Microsoft Project and download the .exe file in your Windows 10 VM.
- Start using Microsoft Project to get your job done!
Parallels Desktop is the #1 virtualization solution to run Windows, Linux, and other popular operating systems on Mac. Virtualization of a Windows OS on Mac has endless benefits, including:
- Low cost in comparison to buying a second computer
- Minimized or eliminated downtime
- Increased productivity
- Faster backups
- Easy to recover or migrate to additional Mac devices
- Economic use of energy
- Eco-friendly choice to minimize the amount of electronic waste a single user produces.
If you’re still deciding if Parallels Desktop is right for you, continue reading to understand how a program manager utilizes virtualization to run Microsoft Project.
As a self-employed program manager, Tim specializes in large-scale data migrations and the development of sustainable business intelligence (BI) and analytic solutions. He has a wealth of experience in both IT and capital asset delivery, as well as general management, operational, and strategic roles in asset-intensive industries and regulation.
Like most consultants, Tim needs slick and stable IT to allow him to focus on the real issues. He doesn’t want IT issues to constantly be distracting him. Parallels Desktop offers a reliable platform that allows him to deliver.
As an avid personal user of Apple products, Tim also wished to migrate his work life to Mac. However, for most clients he needed to use Microsoft Project as a Gantt chart management tool. Being able to manage multi-project plans is an essential element for any program manager. Unfortunately, Microsoft Project is one of the few pieces of Microsoft software that has not been developed to run on macOS.
After online research, Tim concluded that the only successful way to use Microsoft Project on a Mac was through a Windows virtual machine. He discussed the issue directly with Apple, and they recommended Parallels Desktop as a solution.
In addition, 1Password lets you carry all your passwords with you, securely, on your iPhone or iPod touch. 
Following a very simple installation of Parallels, Tim can now use Microsoft Project natively within a Windows environment on his MacBook Pro®. This means there’s no translation between products claiming to act as a Microsoft Project editor—quite simply, he’s running a Windows version of Microsoft Project on his Mac. It has proved to be an excellent solution for Tim.
Tim wholeheartedly recommends Parallels Desktop, which he has now been using successfully for several months. Installation was simple, and there are many configuration options that can be changed. (For example, the amount of memory dedicated to the Apple or Windows operating system.) This gives greater flexibility to the user. Tim hasn’t had any issues with Parallels Desktop at all, and the product is extremely stable in every way. Tim also added that Parallels® Toolbox (which comes included with Parallels Desktop) has been useful. He particularly likes the disk cleaning tool, which ensures his laptop is always operating efficiently.
If you’d like to use Parallels Desktop to run popular Windows programs on Mac (without rebooting!), download a free 14-day trial.
Today’s Topic: Microsoft project Alternative for MAC; Microsoft Project is a project management software product, used worldwide by many kinds of firms in multiple fields. The product has its variables in every product, therefore, every third company has use of it. In this article, we will discuss the top best alternative for MAC, regarding Microsoft project.
Good news for a project manager, that there are lots f best alternative options available – Cheaper and cost-effective. Although you can found hundreds of options, here we will describe only the best option for you relates to our company.
It allows you to develop a schedule, schedule tasks, assign work, maintain the budget, and maintain deadlines and more. Now obviously, being a useful Microsoft Product comes with its perks for Windows OS users. The software is available only on Windows platforms which in my opinion, makes it a tad bit controversial for MAC OS.
Related Article: Project Portfolio Template
For this reason, many MAC users have to opt for different ways in order to get their MS Project needs going.
Following are some of their options, a Microsoft Project alternative software for MAC and an additional bonus way to get Microsoft Project Running on your MAC:
Microsoft Project Alternatives for MAC:
Install a virtual machine, such as a virtual box on your already existing MAC. Below we explain the best Alternatives according to their specifications.
Q: What is a Virtual Machine?
Answer: A Virtual Machine is basically just software, which allows you to allocate a part of your hard drive, memory, and other resources to another OS within your OS. This allows you to install multiple OS within one OS and it is a pretty cool feature.
- However, this eventually leads to slowing down your PC when the virtual machine runs for reasonable times which is obviously not ideal.
- So, your first option for using a Microsoft Project on MAC is by installing a virtual machine, installing a Windows OS on your virtual machine and then getting yourself a Microsoft Project software.
Another option is using third-party app sharing software products if you’re a large enterprise who can only afford a cut in this part of the budget and you have to use MS Project only then this may be your best shot. Also, please note that managing servers and sharing remote connections can be an extremely difficult process and only the professionals should deal with it.
It’s obviously not impossible to do this individually but, this way will require more than a couple of head itches and nervous breakdowns. So let’s not keep you waiting and take you to the only product that’s worth your time in this case.
- Project Plan 365: This simple, yet powerful product is the only one available in the market that can open, edit and save new projects in the exact format as Microsoft Project. It’s just that simple, a direct MS Project alternative released in 2018.
Also, please take a minute to imagine the pain people had to go through before December 2018. The other option was only to get a PC instead of MAC because it brought that much frustration.
- Bonus Alternative for MS Project – TeamViewer: Well that’s right, I don’t know if it has crossed your mind or not but you can connect a PC to a MAC using a team viewer. In order to do that, you do need an active and good internet connection.
Teamviewer is a software that allows you to connect one pc to another and share its view and operate it in any way you like, and it’s free.
Just install TeamViewer on both, a PC that has MS Project installed and the MAC. Connect the Teamviewer in MAC to the PC using id and password it provides and boom, there’s your MS Project through a foolproof way. Although it does require the presence of a PC it is ideal in a case where your office has a PC and your home computer is a MAC or vice versa.
Microsoft Project – Is there any free version of MS Project?
I get this question a lot, and the answer is no. MS Project is a project managing software developed and sold by Microsoft. So unless you’re using a pirated version which I am not suggesting you to do that in any case, there’s really no way.
Best Alternatives for Microsoft Project for All Platforms:
I have combined together a bunch of MS Project alternatives. Following is a list of best alternatives for Microsoft Project (both free and paid):
- ToDoList: This is an excellent alternative for beginners and the best part is that it’s free to use. The product is not very comprehensive but it’s great for small businesses, projects, and freelancers. You can manage your tasks, customize reports, and make online documentation and more using ToDoList. Moreover, you can also use milestones to manage your large tasks.
- Basecamp: Basecamp is another good option but it’s paid, the pricing starts at 100$/month. The application is a full-blown project managing product and allows you to observe tasks, calendars, assign tasks as objectives and in short pretty much every project managing need.
Like ToDoList, this one is also available on multiple platforms including Windows, MAC, and iOS.
- ProjectLibre: ProjectLibre has an active online community, it’s free and considers itself the closest to MS Project. The product has complete features for Project Managing software including Gantt charts and dependencies.
- Clarizen: Clarizen is very easy to manage and use alternatives for MS Project. It has all the functionalities that a Project Manager requires and more. The product also has a great timeline observing features. The product is not free, however, on the Clarizen official website, you may be able to request the management to give you a suitable price according to your needs.
- Scoro: As a project manager, you can use Scoro to assign tasks to your users, you can assign responsibilities and later on link the done tasks to your clients. This Project Managing product comes with big-time businesses and creative use. To illustrate its relevance to MS Project better, the cloud-based software product has all the features of time-tracking, task scheduling, and reporting.
Project For Mac Os
Conclusion (Summarized)
In summary, I agree that MS Project comes with great benefits and used at a great price but let’s be real, the alternatives of this product exist. This article is based on 2019 reviews about different software about Microsoft project Alternative for MAC. On the basis of 2019 reviews, we will forecast the best option for small businesses or other medium-size businesses.
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Microsoft Project For Mac Free Template
While some people do not ever choose any other product when compared to MS Project, the others, at the same time did find a way to make their ends meet. If you have some questions relates to MS project, then ProjectsManagement.net team could help you regarding choosing the options.