Project management software for Mac, Windows and Linux

If you have a team of people collaborating at common project, or you simply feel that you cannot cope with all your tasks anymore due to their growing number, then probably it is time to look for appropriate project management software which will help you to plan and control your time and efforts. There are three main operational systems in the world, so some products are compatible only with a specific system, while others provide multi-platform solutions. Let’s briefly consider what situation we have for each of the main types:

Mac platform:

According to statistics about 7-9% of market against other operating systems is held by Mac OS. It includes programs compatible with the latest version of Mac OS X or earlier systems produced by Apple Inc. This system is considered as more secure than Windows (viruses and malware designed for a Windows-based processor cannot run on Mac, and creating viruses for Mac is not so popular) and more stable (compatibility of software and hardware on Mac is better because the same developers produce both things), however it has own disadvantages as well. The examples of paid Mac OS X software are Merlin, iTaskX, OmniPlan and others, while free PM software solutions are represented with GanttProject and OpenProj for Mac, which simultaneously are open source Mac tools (for example GanttProject is released under the GPL license).

Windows platform:

Windows systems from Microsoft enjoy a complete market domination having a share of about 90% against others. That’s why project management software for Windows is represented by probably the widest spectrum of different systems. Undoubtedly, the most well-known Windows operated tool is MS Project that offers the extremely rich functionality suitable for the most sophisticated professionals. Besides this overwhelming tool, Windows project management software is represented by simpler task-oriented programs like MS Outlook and dozens of products developed by smaller independent companies. The open source Windows driven products are also widely represented by tools such as OpenProj and others. There is probably also the biggest number of free Windows operated products that usually provide poor quality, ugly interface along with paid support, paid functional improvements etc. Good example of multi-user commercial program is VIP Task Manager. 

Linux project management software:

Linux family includes a big number of different independent systems which were developed on the common background, so PM shareware for Linux is a program which can be installed on computers driven by GNU/Linux distributions like Fedora, Ubuntu, Mandriva Linux and many other free and semi-free systems. 

Security aspect of Linux is much stronger than Windows and its adjustability and flexibility inspires many IT professionals. Usually project management software Linux based solutions are widely represented by free and open source projects which can be also driven on Mac or Windows. Open source project management software Linuxsolutions are represented by products like GanttProject, OpenProj and TaskJuggler. Besides these free Linux solution, there is payware as well like ValleySpeak, DeskAway, RationalPlan, Wrike, and ACE Project. 

Example of Windows-based shareware:

VIP Task Manager is a client-server PM system which interconnects employees and their supervisors in terms of planning project tasks and further ongoing progress control to identify success or to find signs of defections in team performance. This tool features three interface modes – Task List to create and control to-do lists, Task Tree to outline leveling of project elements, and Calendar to share project timelines.