10 Best Microsoft Project Viewer Software for 2024

When I started as a project manager, I quickly saw that while Microsoft Project is powerful, its high cost and complex licensing were challenging for many folks.

Navigating volume licenses was overwhelming—would my team use all the features, or were we just paying for extras? Plus, unauthorized file changes made it tough to maintain control. 

I needed a simpler solution, so I looked into Microsoft Project Viewer to help my team access and share project details without the full licensing hassle.

In this article, I’ll share my top 10 picks for the best Microsoft Project viewer software and their best features and limitations so you can make an informed decision. 

Let’s dive in!

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What Should You Look for In Microsoft Project Viewer Software? 

All Microsoft Project viewers allow access to project files, but some offer extra features, making them true Microsoft Project alternatives. These added capabilities can greatly improve team collaboration and information sharing.

Here are some must-have features for project managers to consider:

• Open MPP files: Ensure compatibility with various file formats (.mpp, .mpt, .mpx, .xml) for complete project access
• Share project files: Look for options to export MPP files as Excel or CSV for easy sharing with non-Microsoft Project users
• Print project files: Ensure the viewer allows for easy printing of hard copies that you’ll need for meetings
• Support operating systems: Confirm compatibility with your OS, whether Windows, Mac, or Linux
• Display charts and reports: Check for essential project visuals like Gantt charts and resource allocation reports
• Access custom views: Ensure it can open custom views created in Microsoft Project for accurate data presentation
• Export files: Look for the ability to export files back to Microsoft Project or Excel for easy updates
• Handle large files: Be aware of any file size limitations that may restrict access to larger projects
• Integrate with cloud services: Verify compatibility with SharePoint, Google Drive, and OneDrive
• Support specific versions: Confirm compatibility with the versions of Microsoft Project you’re using

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The 10 Best Microsoft Project Viewer Software

Here are my top 10 Microsoft Project viewer software options that allow you to view and share Microsoft project plans in detail: 👇🏼

1. ClickUp (Best for overall project management with integrations)

ClickUp offers both Microsoft Project file viewing capabilities and comprehensive project management features, making it an excellent choice for teams who want to work with MS Project files while having access to additional project management tools.

While it isn’t specifically designed as an MS Project viewer, ClickUp Project Management Software is a versatile platform worth considering when managing your projects.

I chose ClickUp as my top choice because it combines integration capabilities with collaboration tools, making it the best project management tool.

ClickUp Tasks

With ClickUp Tasks, you can break complex projects down into manageable tasks and align them with your workflow. Add custom fields, link dependent tasks, and categorize them by Task Types to ensure everything is organized just the way you need it. 

This customization goes beyond just viewing files to actively managing your projects.

ClickUp Integrations

As a ClickUp user, I love how ClickUp Integrations, which has over 1,000 tools, makes importing and exporting data effortless. 

Whether you’re bringing in tasks from Asana, Trello, or Jira, or syncing with Google Drive, Slack, and HubSpot, ClickUp keeps everything streamlined and accessible in one place.

Gantt charts are great for tracking timelines, while Kanban boards are perfect for visualizing workflow and managing task priorities.

ClickUp Views

While many Microsoft Project viewers mainly allow you to view .mpp files, ClickUp Views go beyond that. It lets you actively manage your projects with customizable views like Gantt charts and Kanban boards.

Download This Template

The ClickUp Project Management Template makes planning easy with a pre-built Space that organizes work into project-phase Folders.

Here’s what it can help you achieve:

• Visualize and track resources: Get a clear overview of project resources
• Manage and prioritize tasks: Assign and prioritize tasks with multiple workflow views
• Seamless collaboration: Sync effortlessly with stakeholders and your team

This free template features a flexible List and Kanban-like Board views for immediate progress tracking, along with six custom task statuses to indicate if action items are in progress, open, or completed.

Compared to conventional Microsoft Project viewer software, this ClickUp template offers a more interactive approach, allowing you to manage tasks and collaborate with your team, rather than just viewing data.

ClickUp best features

• Control access: Set permissions and control who can view or edit your projects by creating shareable links for Lists or Docs
• Centralize information: Organize your work in a structured way across spaces, projects, lists, tasks, and subtasks. You can also add custom fields for more detailed tracking and organization 
• Track time: Optimize your project management workflow by using time tracking and reporting features, which provide detailed insights into task durations and resource allocation
• Collaborate with your team: Use comments, chats, and @mentions to stay connected and ensure that everyone is on the same page throughout the project lifecycle
• Track progress: Keep everyone updated, including external stakeholders, with customizable ClickUp Dashboards that show real-time progress on key project metrics to understand areas of improvement

• Use AI knowledge manager: Instantly access answers about tasks, documents, and team members through ClickUp Brain, eliminating the need to sift through multiple sources for information

ClickUp limitations 

• There can be a steep learning curve due to ClickUp’s comprehensive project management features
• The mobile app is still developing and does not yet match the web version’s performance and functionality

ClickUp pricing

• Free Forever
• Unlimited: $7/month per user
• Business: $12/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing
• ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $7 per member per month

ClickUp ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)

2. Project Plan 365 (Best for Microsoft Project compatibility on any device)

Project Plan 365, developed by Housatonic Software, is a project management tool that’s compatible with Microsoft Project (.mpp) files. 

It lets you open and edit Microsoft Project files directly without importing or exporting, making collaboration smooth and hassle-free.

This tool provides seamless planning and collaboration, especially for users familiar with Microsoft Projects. Whether you’re managing traditional projects or using modern Agile methodologies, this tool makes it easy to track progress and keep everything organized.

Project Plan 365 best features

• Access your projects on any device—PC, Mac, iOS, or Android
• Connect with all major cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and SharePoint, ensuring your data is always accessible and secure
• Calculate costs, deadlines, and critical paths with its advanced scheduling engine  
• Create stunning Gantt charts and visual reports to track project progress

Project Plan 365 limitations 

• You may face occasional crashes when working with complex charts
• Some users have reported syncing issues with Dropbox 

Project Plan 365 pricing

• Standard: $10/month per user (billed annually)
• Business: $16/month per user (billed annually)

Project Plan 365 ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

3. MOOS Project Viewer (Best for lightweight Microsoft Project file viewing)

MOOS Project Viewer is a user-based licensing software that runs on any Java-enabled platform, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It’s a cost-effective solution for project managers and stakeholders, making it a flexible option for users across multiple systems. 

While it was not developed by Microsoft®, this Microsoft Project viewer is designed to give you all the viewing capabilities you need to manage your projects efficiently.

MOOS Project Viewer best features

• Open Microsoft® Project files in various formats (.mpp, .mpt, .xml) and versions from 2000 to 2019, giving you flexibility in accessing project data across versions
• Print any project view directly, allowing you to easily share reports or keep hard copies for reference
• Automatically loadmaster projects and subprojects for more streamlined project management
• Filter tasks for better focus, enabling you to highlight specific tasks or phases of your project

MOOS Project Viewer limitations 

• The lack of advanced features makes it less suitable for complex projects
• This software relies heavily on integration with other software

MOOS Project Viewer pricing

• Regular: $25/license
• Upgrade: 12.50/license
• Renewal: $7.50/license

MOOS Project Viewer ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

4. Steelray Project Viewer (Best for advanced MS Project viewing and reporting)

Launched in 2000, Steelray Viewer is an affordable Microsoft Project viewer, ideal for team members who only need to view project files. 

It’s perfect for those who don’t need the full functionality but still require access to key project details.

You can easily find tasks, resources, or dates and print project plans at scale. While Steelray is an on-premises solution, meaning you need to download it to your computer, its simplicity and cost-effectiveness make it a great option for those needing a reliable project viewer.

Steelray Project Viewer best features

• Access enterprise-level project viewing for industries with large project schedules, such as aerospace and construction
• Open Microsoft Project files from versions 1998 to 2019, as well as Oracle Primavera P6.XER files, for seamless compatibility
• Navigate project details with a single click, viewing tasks, resources, or key dates with ease
• Preview and scale project plans effortlessly with enhanced printing options. Control page size, orientation, and other printing details for more efficient output

Steelray Project Viewer limitations 

• Steelray only caters to users focused on viewing MPP files
• It may not fully support newer formats or features 

Steelray Project Viewer pricing

• Viewer for Microsoft project: $20/year per user
• Ultimate Edition: $35/year per user
• Viewer for Primavera: $20/year per user

Steelray Project Viewer ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

5. Seavus Project Viewer (Best for secure project viewing with full MS Project functionality)

Seavus Project Viewer is a handy tool for opening and viewing MS Project files, offering a simple and affordable way for your organization to access project data seamlessly.

This Microsoft Project viewer offers an interface similar to Microsoft Project, making it easy for users to navigate and manage project plans.

I like that it provides over 27 views, is customizable for different project roles, and includes Gantt charts, critical path schedules, and task management views, making it a good entry-level task management software. 

Seavus best features

• Securely share project data without storing it externally, ensuring privacy and data protection
• Use it in your language with multi-language support, available in 11 different languages like English, German, Japanese, and more
• Integrate with Skype for Business, enhancing your project communication plan for direct team communication within the project viewer
• Extract detailed project reports on progress, costs, and task updates, giving you clear insights into project health

Seavus limitations 

• Seavus Project Viewer is limited to viewing MPP files, and you cannot create or edit files
• The extent of integration with other commonly used project management tools may be limited

Seavus pricing

• Single License: $30 per license (Individual)
• Concurrent License: $89 per license (Individual)
• Company: Custom pricing 
• Enterprise Unlimited: Custom pricing 

Seavus ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

6. GanttProject (Best for open-source Gantt chart creation and management)

I’m a big fan of open-source solutions, so I enjoy using GanttProject. This versatile project management tool makes building and managing projects straightforward and efficient. 

Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux, GanttProject is quick to set up and helps you organize tasks and resources with ease.

Released under the GPL3 license, the source code is available for download, modification, and redistribution. This flexibility makes it a cost-effective choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking for the best Microsoft Project viewer. 

GanttProject best features

• Start creating projects right away with no complicated setup process
• Break down tasks, assign resources, and build Gantt charts effortlessly
• Export project files to Microsoft Project format, or work with CSV and Excel files. You can also create PDF and PNG reports
• Track progress and compare it directly with baselines to identify deviations

GanttProject limitations 

• This tool is not ideal for complex analysis
• The interface feels old and a bit awkward to use

GanttProject pricing

• Free
• Voluntary contributions starting at $5 onwards

GanttProject ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.2/5 (150+ reviews)

7. MPP Viewer (Best for simple and fast MPP file viewing)

If you’re looking for an easy way to access MS Project files, MPP Viewer is a good choice. This straightforward viewer allows you to open, export, and print MPP files seamlessly. 

It’s compatible with various versions of Microsoft Project, including 2016, 2007, 2003, and 2000. Plus, it offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate your project data.

MPP Viewer 4.0 requires .NET Framework 4.6.2 to run smoothly. If you’re on Windows XP, you’ll need MPP Viewer 1.0, which supports .NET 4.5.

MPP Viewer best features

• View your project structure with a clear, hierarchical layout to easily understand task relationships
• Work on several project documentation files simultaneously, allowing for seamless comparison and management of tasks
• Filter tasks by completion status, whether completed, incomplete, or due today, with ease
• Stay ahead of deadlines by automatically highlighting overdue tasks

MPP Viewer limitations 

• You cannot open 2007 project files, and without an error log, troubleshooting options are severely limited

MPP Viewer pricing

• Free to use as it’s an open-source platform

MPP Viewer ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

8. Project Reader (Best for cost-effective MS Project file viewing)

Project Reader ensures that you have the tools to manage projects effectively, especially when dealing with large amounts of data.

You can open multiple projects with various Microsoft Project file types, including MPP file, MPT, XML, and even files from versions dating back to 1998.

This lightweight viewer mimics the experience of using MS Project, offering essential features like Gantt Charts, Task Usage, Tracking Gantt, and Resource Management for both Windows and Mac users. 

Project Reader best features

• Take notes on tasks, sort tables, and export data to Excel for easy sharing and analysis
• Choose from several languages—English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, and French—making it accessible to a broader audience
• Quickly locate data within large projects using the search feature, saving you valuable time
• Customize your viewing experience by choosing from existing tables or creating your own

Project Reader limitations 

• Lacks flexibility in closing files at the saved level and reopening them at the top level
• Limited options for file management may disrupt user workflow

Project Reader pricing

• Standard: $29 (Single workstation license)
• Standard: $92 (Concurrent license)
• Professional: $40 (Single workstation license)
• Professional: $115 (Concurrent license) 

Project Reader ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

9. Smartsheet (Best for collaborative work management and automation)

Smartsheet combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with features from project collaboration and management tools, making it a practical alternative to traditional Microsoft Project viewers, including Microsoft Project Server.

To successfully import a .mpp file, you must remove constraints like ‘must finish on’ and ensure all columns are expanded. These steps help prevent any hiccups during the import process.

Smartsheet best features

• Integrate seamlessly with a variety of applications, including Microsoft and Google apps, Jira, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Slack, Box, and Tableau
• Use Smartsheet’s AI to auto-populate formulas or text in your spreadsheet cells, streamlining your data entry and reducing errors
• Share files, set alerts, and create conversation threads to keep your team connected and enhance team communication
• Easily export Gantt chart data back into spreadsheets, allowing for quick analysis and manipulation of your project information

Smartsheet limitations 

• Only one spreadsheet is allowed per file
• There’s a limit to the amount of data you can store across rows and columns

Smartsheet pricing

• Pro: $9/month per user
• Business: $32/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Smartsheet ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 (15,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (3,200+ reviews)

10. Project Viewer 365 (Best for cross-platform MS Project file viewing)

Project Viewer 365 is a handy tool for opening, reading, and sharing MS Project files. Whether you’re part of a small team or collaborating with external partners, this MS Project viewer simplifies the process, allowing for quick access to project details without the complexity of full project management software.

It works perfectly with MS Project versions from 2021 back to 2010. Plus, its Office 365-like interface is user-friendly, making it a breeze for anyone to use.

Project Viewer 365 best features

• Utilize the free version to view your projects without any cost, making it a great choice for teams that just need to see task details
• Access your .mpp files seamlessly on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices, ensuring you can work from anywhere
• Easily connect with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and SharePoint for effortless file management and sharing

Project Viewer 365 limitations 

• The free version may restrict access to advanced features
• This tool is not designed for editing or creating project files

Project Viewer 365 pricing

• Perpetual license: Starts at $29.99/user

Project Viewer 365 ratings and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: Not enough reviews

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Combine Project Viewers with ClickUp for Better Organization

Choosing the right Microsoft Project viewer software can significantly improve your project management. It provides a cost-effective solution to view and share project files without the complexities of full licensing. 

Each of the ten MS Project viewer tools we’ve covered has unique features, from seamless collaboration to robust reporting.

But if you want more than just an MS Project viewer, ClickUp is the clear winner. With its intuitive task management and customizable views, such as Gantt charts and Kanban boards, ClickUp lets you tailor your workflow to your needs perfectly. 

Sign up to ClickUp and upgrade your project management experience today!

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