SaaS + AI vs self-host open source
Onplana vs OpenProject
Both are credible PMO platforms. The choice is managed-service convenience vs open-source autonomy.
OpenProject is the right call for organisations that need open-source freedom, want to self-host without per-seat licensing, and have the ops capacity to maintain the platform themselves. Onplana is the right call for teams that want a managed SaaS option, AI bundled rather than absent, native .mpp binary import (not just XML), and a modern UI on a faster release cadence. Most readers landing here are weighing self-host autonomy against managed-service convenience; both are legitimate trade-offs.
Feature-by-feature comparison
14 dimensions calibrated to PMO buying criteria.
| Feature | OpenProject Open source, self-host first | Onplana SaaS + self-host + AI |
|---|---|---|
| License model | GPL v3 open source (Community) + commercial Cloud | Commercial SaaS + self-host on Enterprise+ |
| Self-host option | ✓ Self-host first (Docker / package install) | ✓ Self-host on Enterprise+ via Docker Compose |
| Per-seat cost (Community) | $0 (self-host the Community Edition) | Free plan up to 5 users; paid from $7/seat |
| Per-seat cost (managed) | ~$7-15/user (Cloud Edition) | $7 Starter, $12 PRO, $20 Business, $29 Enterprise |
| Critical path computation | Manual workaround via Gantt views | Auto-computed CPM with forward + backward pass |
| Dependency types | FS, SS, FF, SF (all four) | FS, SS, FF, SF + lag/lead in days/hours/percent |
| Saved baselines | Baseline comparison (Enterprise Edition) | Multiple baselines, Gantt shadow overlay (all paid plans) |
| Native .mpp / MSPDI import | MSPDI XML only (no binary .mpp parser) | Direct .mpp binary + MSPDI XML + Project Online OData |
| AI features | Not built in | Risk detection, plan generation, status reports (PRO+) |
| Resource pool / capacity | ✓ Resource module | Org-wide pool + heatmap + 4-week forecast |
| Stage-gate governance | Custom workflows + statuses | 12-stage pipeline + multi-reviewer gates + audit |
| Audit log retention | ✓ Audit module (Enterprise Edition) | ✓ Configurable retention policy + per-org SCIM |
| Mobile experience | Web-responsive (no native mobile app) | Web-responsive (native mobile on roadmap) |
| Modern UI / iteration pace | Mature, slower iteration cycle | Modern React UI, weekly release cadence |
| Result | Strong open-source PMO platform | Wins 6/14 on managed-service + AI criteria |
When OpenProject fits
- •Open-source freedom matters: you want to audit code, fork if needed, no vendor-lock-in.
- •You have ops capacity to self-host (upgrades, backups, security patches) and want zero per-seat cost.
- •You don't need AI features as part of the platform.
- •Your .mpp source files can be re-saved as MSPDI XML before import.
When Onplana fits
- •You want managed SaaS as the default, with the option to self-host later (Enterprise+).
- •You want AI bundled into the platform: risk detection, plan generation, status reports.
- •You're migrating
.mppbinary files at scale and don't want a Project Desktop conversion step. - •You value a modern UI on a faster release cadence over deeper open-source customisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenProject really free?▾
The OpenProject Community Edition is GPL v3 licensed and free to self-host: download, install (Docker or native package), run on your own infrastructure. There is no per-seat licensing for Community Edition. The Enterprise Edition adds features (baseline comparison, audit module, custom themes, premium support) and is priced commercially. The Cloud Edition is OpenProject-hosted SaaS at roughly $7-15 per user per month. So "free" is true if you self-host the Community Edition and are comfortable maintaining the platform yourself, including upgrades, backups, security patches, and ops monitoring.
Can OpenProject import Microsoft Project files?▾
OpenProject imports MSPDI XML format (the open Microsoft Project XML schema). It does NOT import .mpp files directly, you would need to first open the .mpp in Microsoft Project Desktop and save it as XML, then import that XML into OpenProject. Onplana imports .mpp binary directly via its MPXJ-based parser, no Microsoft Project Desktop license needed for the conversion step. For PMOs migrating dozens or hundreds of .mpp files, the conversion step at scale is a meaningful operational difference.
Does OpenProject have AI features?▾
As of early 2026, OpenProject does not ship native AI features. There is no built-in risk detection, plan generation, status-report writer, or natural-language task parsing. Some community plugins add light AI integrations but they are not first-class supported features. Onplana ships AI as a core platform layer: dual-provider architecture (Claude + Azure OpenAI), bundled into the seat price from PRO upward, with admin-switchable provider per organisation. For PMOs that want AI as part of the platform rather than a separate workstream, this is the largest functional gap.
Where does OpenProject clearly win?▾
Three places. First, open-source freedom, you control the code, can audit it, can fork it, and have no vendor-lock-in concerns. Second, zero per-seat cost on the Community Edition, attractive for organisations with strong ops capacity but tight per-seat budgets. Third, mature on-premises deployment, OpenProject has been self-host-first for years and the install path is well-documented. Onplana also offers self-host (on Enterprise+) but is SaaS-first.
Where does Onplana clearly win?▾
Three places. First, AI bundled into the platform rather than absent. Second, native .mpp binary import without requiring Project Desktop as an intermediary. Third, modern React UI with a faster release cadence (weekly vs OpenProject's quarterly-ish). For PMOs migrating off Project Online specifically, the .mpp binary import is the practical difference, an XML-only import path requires every source .mpp to be opened in Project Desktop first, which becomes the migration bottleneck at scale.
Can I run Onplana on my own infrastructure like OpenProject?▾
Yes, on the Enterprise+ plan. Onplana ships a Docker Compose stack that runs on AWS, Azure, GCP, or on-premises. Customers with Azure enterprise agreements can additionally point Onplana at their own Azure OpenAI deployment so AI inference stays inside their tenant. The architectural philosophy is similar to OpenProject (self-host as a first-class option) but the licensing model is different (commercial seat-based rather than GPL-licensed code).
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