Who Owns OmniPlan?
OmniPlan is owned by The Omni Group, an employee-owned American software company founded in 1993 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The Omni Group is privately held and employee-owned, with no parent company or public stock exchange listing.
Parent Company
The Omni Group
Founded
2006
Status
Private
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington, USA
Who Owns OmniPlan?
- Parent Company: The Omni Group
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| OmniPlan | The Omni Group | Wholly owned |
History of OmniPlan
- Founded: 2006
- Founders: The Omni Group (internal development)
OmniPlan was developed and launched by The Omni Group in 2006 as a professional project management and planning application for Apple platforms. The software was released as a public beta on June 6, 2006, building on The Omni Group's expertise in creating high-quality applications for the Mac ecosystem.
Throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, OmniPlan evolved through multiple major versions, adding features like Gantt charts, resource management, critical path analysis, and collaboration capabilities. The application became known for its powerful project management capabilities combined with Mac-native user experience design.
Version 4 of OmniPlan was released on July 15, 2020, adding significant features including interval tracking, recurring tasks, auto-hiding of completed tasks, enhanced scheduling abilities, a project wizard, updated outline and resource views, and an optional dark-themed UI mode.
OmniPlan has maintained its focus on Apple platforms throughout its history, supporting macOS, iOS, and later expanding to iPad and Apple Vision Pro. The application has received numerous awards and recognition for its quality and innovation in project management software.
About The Omni Group
What does The Omni Group own?
The Omni Group owns and develops four productivity applications for Apple platforms: OmniFocus (task management), OmniGraffle (diagramming and visual communication), OmniPlan (project management), and OmniOutliner (structured outlining). The company also operates OmniPresence, a free document synchronization service. All products are sold exclusively for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and visionOS.
Is The Omni Group publicly traded?
No, The Omni Group is not publicly traded. The company is a privately held, employee-owned business with no stock exchange listing. It has never accepted outside investment and has operated independently since its founding, funding its operations entirely through product revenue.
Who founded The Omni Group?
The Omni Group was founded by Wil Shipley, Ken Case, and Tim Wood. The three began working together informally in 1989 as NEXTSTEP platform consultants and incorporated as Omni Development, Inc. in 1993. Wil Shipley departed in 2004 to co-found Delicious Monster. Ken Case has served as CEO since 2003 and continues in that role.
Where is The Omni Group headquartered?
The Omni Group is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, where it has been based since its founding. The company does not have offices in other locations, with its team working from Seattle and remotely.
How many brands does The Omni Group own?
The Omni Group operates four primary application brands: OmniFocus, OmniGraffle, OmniPlan, and OmniOutliner. The company also provides OmniPresence as a supporting synchronization service. All products operate under the Omni brand identity and are designed to work together within the Apple device ecosystem.
Who owns The Omni Group?
The Omni Group is owned by its employees and founders, with no external shareholders or parent organization. Co-founder and CEO Ken Case holds a significant ownership stake. The employee-owned structure has been maintained since the company's founding and is a deliberate part of its operating philosophy. The company has never been acquired and has not accepted venture capital or private equity investment.
- Founded: 1993
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: not publicly disclosed
Where Is OmniPlan Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Apple ecosystem platforms
OmniPlan Sustainability & Ethics
OmniPlan operates within The Omni Group's sustainability framework, implementing environmental initiatives and ethical practices as an employee-owned software company. As a project management software developer exclusively for Apple platforms, OmniPlan focuses on sustainable software development, energy-efficient computing, and responsible business practices that align with the company's long-term philosophy of respect for customers and employees.
Sustainable Software Development Practices: OmniPlan emphasizes long-term software support and sustainable development practices, avoiding the planned obsolescence common in the software industry. The company provides continuous updates and support for its products, reducing electronic waste and extending the useful life of software investments. This approach aligns with The Omni Group's 30+ year history of maintaining and supporting its applications across multiple Apple platform generations.
Energy-Efficient Computing and Digital Sustainability: As a software company, OmniPlan's primary environmental impact comes from energy consumption in development operations and customer device usage. The company optimizes its software for Apple's energy-efficient hardware platforms, reducing the overall carbon footprint of digital project management. OmniPlan's focus on native Apple platform development ensures optimal performance with minimal resource requirements compared to cross-platform alternatives.
Employee Ownership and Ethical Business Model: The Omni Group's employee-owned structure represents a unique approach to corporate sustainability, eliminating pressure from external shareholders for short-term financial gains at the expense of long-term product quality and customer service. This ownership model allows OmniPlan to prioritize sustainable business practices, employee welfare, and customer respect over quarterly profit maximization.
Office Sustainability and Remote Work: The Omni Group has implemented sustainable office practices, including transitioning to more efficient office spaces and supporting remote work arrangements that reduce commuting-related environmental impact. The company's presence in Seattle's Pacific Northwest region allows for access to green energy sources and environmentally conscious business practices.
Responsible Product Development: OmniPlan's development philosophy emphasizes creating tools that help users work more efficiently and effectively, potentially reducing wasted time and resources in project management. The software's features like scheduling violation detection and critical path analysis help teams optimize their workflows and avoid inefficient resource allocation.
Community Engagement and Knowledge Sharing: The Omni Group actively participates in the Apple developer community and broader software development ecosystem through podcasts (The Omni Show), forums, and educational content. This community engagement helps promote sustainable development practices and knowledge sharing within the industry.
Data Privacy and Security Ethics: As a project management software provider, OmniPlan handles sensitive project data and prioritizes user privacy and data security. The company maintains strong security practices for its cloud sync features and follows Apple's platform security guidelines to protect customer information.
Long-Term Product Support Philosophy: OmniPlan's commitment to long-term support represents a sustainable approach to software lifecycle management, reducing the environmental impact of frequent software replacements and the associated electronic waste from discarded technology.
Awards & Recognition
OmniPlan has received significant recognition within the Apple ecosystem project management software market, though specific recent awards are limited in public documentation due to the specialized nature of the platform.
Apple Ecosystem Recognition: OmniPlan has been consistently recognized as a premier project management solution within Apple's platform ecosystem. The application's native integration with macOS, iOS, and Apple Vision Pro has earned praise from Apple-focused publications and user communities for its optimization for Apple hardware and user experience.
Macworld Editors' Choice Awards: The Omni Group's distinctive productivity applications, including OmniPlan, have won three Macworld Editors' Choice awards, demonstrating industry recognition for excellence in Mac software development and user experience design.
Apple Design Awards: OmniPlan and other Omni Group applications have received five Apple Design awards, highlighting the company's commitment to high-quality user interface design and adherence to Apple's design principles and human interface guidelines.
MacUser UK "Maxine" Award: OmniPlan has received recognition from MacUser UK magazine, including the prestigious "Maxine" award, which acknowledges excellence in Mac software and applications that demonstrate outstanding innovation and user experience.
iPhone Alley Editors' Choice Award: OmniPlan's iOS version has been recognized with an iPhone Alley Editors' Choice award, demonstrating excellence in mobile application development and optimization for iPhone and iPad platforms.
Mac Observer Editors' Choice Awards: The Omni Group's applications, including OmniPlan, have received two Mac Observer Editors' Choice awards, further validating the company's reputation for creating high-quality productivity software for Apple platforms.
Professional Project Management Recognition: Within the specialized project management software market, OmniPlan has been acknowledged for its innovative approach to Gantt chart visualization, critical path analysis, and resource management features specifically designed for Apple platform users.
CAPTERRA Recognition: In 2025, OmniPlan was shortlisted for the CAPTERRA Project Management Software awards, recognizing it among the top project management solutions in the competitive software market.
User Community Excellence: OmniPlan has received consistent positive recognition from its user community for customer support quality, feature development responsiveness, and long-term product reliability, reflecting The Omni Group's customer-focused business philosophy.
Industry Innovation Recognition: OmniPlan's unique features like Monte Carlo simulation for project outcome evaluation and intelligent scheduling violation detection have been acknowledged as innovative approaches to project management within the Apple ecosystem.
OmniPlan Recalls & Controversies
OmniPlan maintains a clean operational record with no major software recalls, security vulnerabilities, or significant controversies that have substantially impacted the brand's reputation or operations in the project management software market.
Platform Exclusivity Limitations: OmniPlan faces ongoing market limitations due to its exclusive focus on Apple platforms. This platform exclusivity, while enabling deep integration with Apple's ecosystem, prevents adoption by Windows and Android users, limiting market reach compared to cross-platform competitors like Microsoft Project.
Cross-Platform Competition Challenges: The brand faces significant competition from cross-platform project management applications that support multiple operating systems, creating market pressure for broader platform support that conflicts with The Omni Group's Apple-focused development philosophy.
Pricing Model and Accessibility: OmniPlan's premium pricing model, particularly for the professional version with advanced features, has created accessibility barriers for individual users and small teams with limited budgets, particularly in comparison to free or lower-cost alternatives in the project management software market.
Market Size Limitations: As a specialized Apple platform application, OmniPlan operates in a smaller market segment compared to major cross-platform project management tools, limiting its scale and resources compared to larger software companies with broader platform support.
Dependency on Apple Platform Policies: OmniPlan's success is closely tied to Apple's platform policies, App Store practices, and ecosystem decisions. Changes in Apple's platform requirements, App Store review processes, or developer guidelines could significantly impact OmniPlan's development timeline and feature availability.
Feature Gap Criticism: Some users have noted feature gaps compared to more comprehensive project management tools, particularly in areas like advanced reporting, enterprise-level integrations, and specialized industry-specific project management capabilities that are more common in cross-platform solutions.
Microsoft Project Import Limitations: The iOS version of OmniPlan requires an additional in-app purchase for Microsoft Project file import, creating friction for users migrating from Microsoft's ecosystem and additional costs for cross-platform compatibility features.
Resource Management Complexity: While OmniPlan offers robust resource management features, some users have noted that the learning curve for advanced resource allocation and optimization can be steeper compared to more streamlined alternatives, particularly for complex multi-project scenarios.
Synchronization and Collaboration Limitations: Users have reported occasional challenges with document synchronization and real-time collaboration features, particularly when working across different Apple devices or in environments with inconsistent internet connectivity, affecting team productivity in distributed work scenarios.
Enterprise Integration Challenges: Large organizations with existing project management infrastructure may face integration challenges when adopting OmniPlan due to its Apple platform exclusivity and limited API integration options compared to enterprise-focused project management solutions.
Customer Support Response Times: While The Omni Group is known for quality customer support, some users have noted that response times can be longer than larger software companies with 24/7 support teams, particularly during peak usage periods or complex technical issues.
Educational and Training Resources: Users new to project management or Gantt chart concepts have requested more comprehensive educational resources and tutorials, noting that the learning curve can be steeper compared to more intuitive project management tools.
Customization and Scripting Limitations: Advanced users seeking extensive customization or scripting capabilities have noted limitations compared to more extensible project management platforms, particularly for specialized industry workflows or custom reporting requirements.
OmniPlan Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Employee-owned company culture emphasizing long-term customer relationships
- +Deep expertise in Apple platform development and user experience
- +Strong reputation for quality and customer support in Apple ecosystem
- +Loyal customer base with high retention rates among Apple platform users
- +Independence allows focus on product quality over short-term financial targets
Considerations
- -Limited market reach due to Apple platform exclusivity
- -Competition from cross-platform project management applications
- -Smaller scale compared to major software companies with broader platform support
- -Dependency on Apple's platform policies and App Store practices
- -Market size limitations for premium Apple platform productivity software
Frequently Asked Questions About OmniPlan
Sources & Further Reading
- OmniPlan Official Website -
- The Omni Group Official Website -
- The Omni Group About Page -
- The Omni Group Company Mission -
- Wikipedia OmniPlan Entry -
- CAPTERRA Project Management Software Recognition -
- SourceForge OmniPlan Reviews -
- Slashdot.org OmniPlan Reviews -
- Macworld Magazine Archives -- Apple Platform Software Reviews
- MacUser UK Magazine -- Mac Software Industry Recognition
- Apple Developer Documentation -- Platform Development Guidelines
- Apple Design Awards Archives -- Design Excellence Recognition
- The Omni Show Podcast -- Company Insights and Product Development
- Omni Group Forums -- Community Support and User Discussions
- Apple App Store -- OmniPlan Customer Reviews and Ratings
- Mac Observer -- Apple Platform Software Analysis
- iPhone Alley -- iOS Application Recognition
- Project Management Software Comparison Resources -- Industry Analysis
- Gantt Chart Software Reviews -- Specialized Tool Analysis
- Apple Platform Developer Community -- Technical Resources and Support
- Seattle Technology Industry Publications -- Local Company Coverage
- Employee-Owned Company Resources -- Business Model Analysis
- Software Sustainability Organizations -- Digital Product Environmental Impact
- Project Management Professional Associations -- Industry Standards and Best Practices
Competitors to OmniPlan
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlassian | USA | 2011 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Symphony Technology Group | USA | 2006 | Premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Intsig Information | China | 2010 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Microsoft | USA | 1997 | Premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Salesforce | USA | 2013 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Bending Spoons | Netherlands | 2009 | Mass market | Global | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors

Trello
Owned by Atlassian
Web-based kanban-style project management application for organizing tasks and projects using visual boards and cards.

Wrike
Owned by Symphony Technology Group
Cloud-based collaborative work management platform for managing projects, deadlines, schedules, and workflow processes.

CamScanner
Owned by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd.
Mobile document scanning application that converts smartphone photos into PDF and JPEG documents with OCR capabilities.

Outlook
Owned by Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft's personal information manager and email client application for individuals and businesses.

Slack
Owned by Salesforce
Team collaboration and messaging platform featuring channels, direct messaging, file sharing, and integrations for workplace communication and productivity.

WeTransfer
Owned by Bending Spoons S.p.A.
Dutch file transfer service allowing users to share large files up to 2GB for free through a simple web-based interface.
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: OmniPlan competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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