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Comparison · PM
OpenProject vs NotePlan
A side-by-side editorial comparison of OpenProject and NotePlan — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
OpenProject vs NotePlan: at a glance
What is OpenProject?
OpenProject adds a workforce model — departments, schedules, staffing — and starts planning people, not just tasks.
17.7 is the largest release in this window: departments as a hierarchical org structure with optional LDAP sync, work-related user attributes, per-user work schedules, and an Enterprise Resource management module with a resource planner timeline and a staffing view. 17.6 shipped an XWiki integration with a wiki tab on work packages and cross-references in both directions. Between the feature releases sit a run of patch versions dominated by security work — three separate CVE waves from the YesWeHack bug bounty, including a container secret-key-base issue that allowed remote code execution.
What is NotePlan?
NotePlan keeps opening its notebook to outside writers: plugins, MCP agents, now Apple Reminders.
NotePlan ships on two tracks: the main 3.2x app and Memo AI, a separate voice-capture product launched in April. Recent main-app work is integration and platform depth — community plugins, an MCP server that lets AI agents edit notes and manage tasks, Claude and MCP permission handling on Mac, and now a two-way Apple Reminders sync in beta. Memo AI has been iterating on transcription efficiency and device reach.
OpenProject vs NotePlan: editorial side-by-side
OpenProject adds a workforce model — departments, schedules, staffing — and starts planning people, not just tasks.
◆ Current state
17.7 is the largest release in this window: departments as a hierarchical org structure with optional LDAP sync, work-related user attributes, per-user work schedules, and an Enterprise Resource management module with a resource planner timeline and a staffing view. 17.6 shipped an XWiki integration with a wiki tab on work packages and cross-references in both directions. Between the feature releases sit a run of patch versions dominated by security work — three separate CVE waves from the YesWeHack bug bounty, including a container secret-key-base issue that allowed remote code execution.
◆ Where it's heading
The product is expanding from project tracking outward in two directions at once: down into the organization (who works where, on what schedule, at what capacity) and sideways into documentation. Both moves target the same buyer — an organization replacing a proprietary stack on its own infrastructure, with the Jira-and-Confluence comparison stated outright in the XWiki notes. The heavier capabilities land as Enterprise add-ons while the structural pieces stay in the community edition.
◆ Prediction
Expect resource management to be filled out over the next few releases — the notes describe the org attributes as the foundation rather than the finished feature — with allocation and utilization views deepening. The steady CVE cadence suggests the bug bounty will keep driving patch releases alongside the feature train.
NotePlan
2.5PM
NotePlan keeps opening its notebook to outside writers: plugins, MCP agents, now Apple Reminders.
◆ Current state
NotePlan ships on two tracks: the main 3.2x app and Memo AI, a separate voice-capture product launched in April. Recent main-app work is integration and platform depth — community plugins, an MCP server that lets AI agents edit notes and manage tasks, Claude and MCP permission handling on Mac, and now a two-way Apple Reminders sync in beta. Memo AI has been iterating on transcription efficiency and device reach.
◆ Where it's heading
The through-line is turning NotePlan into a surface other software writes into rather than a closed notebook. Plugins became installable on iOS and then opened to the community, the MCP server gave agents write access to notes and tasks, and the Apple Reminders integration now syncs in both directions instead of importing one way. Memo AI runs alongside as a capture front end feeding the same note store. Cadence is steady at roughly monthly across the two products.
◆ Prediction
Expect the Apple Reminders integration to leave beta with broader filter and board coverage, and Memo AI to keep iterating on transcription. Deeper agent access through MCP remains the likelier place for the next directional move.
Alternatives to OpenProject and NotePlan
Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either OpenProject or NotePlan.
Atlassian
Atlassian is rebuilding Jira and Forge so agents, not people, are the ones taking action.
Aha!
Aha! keeps closing the gaps that stop product managers from shipping the apps they build.
Process Street
Process Street's feed is a content marketing engine with one real product signal in it.
NocoBase
NocoBase is turning its plugin system into the skill supply for in-app AI employees.
Hive
Hive deepens its proofing stack for creative teams while teaching Buzz restraint
See all OpenProject alternatives → · See all NotePlan alternatives →
Recent activity from OpenProject and NotePlan
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.0 ⚡
- 1d agoNotePlanv3.21.2 - Apple Reminders Integration with Two-Way Sync
- 29d agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.6.0
- 1mo agoNotePlanv3.21.1 - Wiki Link Aliases, Rebuilt Share Extension & Better Claude/MCP Support
- 1mo agoNotePlanv1.2.1 - Memo AI: Faster Transcription, 10× Smaller Recordings & Watch/CarPlay Refinements
- 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.5.1
- 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.5.0
- 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.3.4
- 1mo agoOpenProject17.4.1 patches two data-disclosure CVEs from the bug bounty
- 2mo agoNotePlanv1.2 - Memo AI: Apple Watch and CarPlay support added and more Shortcuts available
- 3mo agoNotePlanv3.21 - Community Plugins, CommandBar Forms, Kanban and Tables upgrades
- 3mo agoNotePlanMemo AI is Available Now ⚡
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between OpenProject and NotePlan?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. OpenProject is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 2.5), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is OpenProject better than NotePlan?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. OpenProject is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 2.5), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to OpenProject?
Top OpenProject alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenProject alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/openproject for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to NotePlan?
Top NotePlan alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "NotePlan alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/noteplan for the full list with editorial commentary on each.