Do you ever find your team scrambling to plan projects, monitor progress, and quantify success without clearly visualizing your tasks from inception to completion? You’re certainly not alone!
Although far from a new invention, a growing number of teams are pivoting towards employing Gantt chart software intertwined with project management tools to create a crystal-clear visual representation of their tasks spread across the lifespan of a project. Gantt charts give you insights that a simple timeline or even a Kanban board can’t. They show you which tasks will be happening at what time during a project’s duration, helping you plan, prioritize, and manage your resources more effectively. They help you spot and fix potential delays before they happen.
Such tools are indispensable in assisting you to adhere to project timelines, budgets, and deadlines.
After all, time is money! 💸
Speaking of money, Gantt chart features can often turn out to be a costly affair, particularly when it’s imbedded within a platform brimming with pricey features. However, we’re in for some cost-cutting for this blog, focusing solely on presenting you the most exemplary free Gantt chart software options!
It might come as a surprise, but the marketplace is overflowing with robust Gantt chart tools that are available absolutely free of charge. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the top 14 free Gantt chart software options for 2024 and beyond!
The 14 Best Gantt Chart Tools Available
Summarize this article for me please14 Best Gantt Chart Software for Free in 2024
Here’s a complete list of the top 14 free Gantt chart software you can use to manage projects, dependencies, and timelines.
1. ClickUp
ClickUp is the world’s highest-rated productivity and the best free Gantt chart software used by highly-productive teams in small and large companies. From planning and scheduling tasks with time estimates t high-level overviews of everything in your Workspace, ClickUp is the ultimate project management tool.
One of the most requested features from our users, since we started, was the opportunity to create beautiful Gantt charts in ClickUp. And we wanted to make sure we did it right. ClickUp gives you several ways to view different tasks, projects, and Spaces on the ClickUp Gantt Chart view.
On top of that, ClickUp has a ton of other project scheduling features. Use the Workload view to help with resource management, calculate project budgets, and create a balanced workload system for your entire team. Go about managing projects the way you want to with Custom Statuses for your tasks.
Whatever you choose, ClickUp is the best Gantt chart software option for 2024 because of its endless features to successfully complete your current and future projects.
ClickUp key features
- Automatically identifies potential bottlenecks with intelligent tracking of critical paths
- Dynamic timeline view, including automatic rescheduling of all linked tasks when you move a task with dependencies
- One-click sorting according to the due date, priority, assignees, date created, and other sorting options
- Track project progress in real-time with dynamic progress percentages
- Get a bird’s eye view of all ongoing projects in one Gantt chart with clear color coding
- Responsive drag-and-drop interface for multiple collaborators to make changes to the chart
ClickUp pros
- Choose from 1,000+ integrations natively and through tools like Zapier
- Provides real-time updates and visual cues when teammates view, comment, or edit a task you’re in
- Easy to add project files or resources like Docs directly to tasks
- Mission control center with Dashboards to monitor sprints, team planning, or project statuses
- Build custom Gantt chart templates for repeated workflows or use one from its Template Center
ClickUp cons
- Users on the free plan can’t export Gantt charts as PDF or PNG files
- The Free Forever Plan limits users to 100 uses of the Gantt view
- Complex customization features can be overwhelming for some
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever Plan
- Unlimited Plan: $7 per member per month
- Business Plan: $12 per member per month
- Enterprise: Contact us for more details!
ClickUp customer ratings
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 stars (4,798 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,102 reviews)
2. Smartsheet
via Smartsheet
Smartsheet, another popular work management tool with Gantt charts, boasts features such as task dependencies and intuitive timeline adjustments through drag-and-drop controls. Its automated alert system aids in maintaining a close eye on project progression. Furthermore, Smartsheet enriches collaboration by allowing integration with numerous stakeholders, enhancing communication efficiency and streamlining task delegation.
Smartsheet key features
- Enables real-time updates and alterations to ensure all team members are informed and updated
- Allows the automation of processes including recurring requests for comments at set periods
- Offers meticulous control over data management, security, and individual access rights
Smartsheet pros
- Limited formatting capabilities
- All-in-one features include video conferencing and chat
- Some users find that the software can get clunky when dealing with multiple task sub-levels
Smartsheet cons
- No task dependencies in the free version
- Compared to some other project management tools available, Smartsheet can be considered expensive, particularly for smaller teams or start-ups with tight budgets.
- No project management features like time tracking, a workload view, or advanced reporting in the free plan
Smartsheet pricing
- Free:
- Pro: $9 per user per month
- Business: $32 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact for more details
Smartsheet customer ratings
- G2:Â 4.4/5 (9,000+ reviews)
- Capterra:Â 4.5/5 (2,000+ reviews)
3. Toggl Plan
Toggl Plan is another one of the best free Gantt chart tools and it comes with some stunning visual project planning tools to match.
Toggl Plan key features
- Interactive design: The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive and fun to use
- Timeline view: Team members have a bird’s eye view of tasks and deadlines
- Collaboration tools: Plan projects and work with your team members in real-time
Toggl Plan pros
- Beautiful visuals and elegant project timeline features are like project planners, showing you where daily tasks occur on the timeline and how they overlap
- Public link for free Gantt charts to share with others without a Toggl account
- High-level resource management views allow you to see which weeks are fully booked and the number of hours needed for each project
- Estimate project costs or project baselines with simple Gantt charts
- Works with most operating systems
Toggl Plan cons
- No dependencies which is an essential Gantt chart software feature
- The paid plan is needed to access important features like recurring tasks, multiple assignees, and in-app notifications
- Limited integrations with other Toggl tools and third-party apps
Toggl Plan pricing
- Solo: Free
- Team: $9 per user per month
- Business: $15 per user per month
Toggl Plan customer ratings
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 stars (20+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 stars (100+ reviews)
4. ProofHub
ProofHub offers a 14-day free trial to try its robust Gantt charts to help teams plan, manage, and track task progress.
ProofHub key features
- Task management: Visualize task dependencies, highlight critical paths, and drag and drop tasks
- Team collaboration: Connect instantly using a built-in chat application, discussion boards, and comments
- Productivity management: Track the progress of your tasks with critical path analysis, milestones, and baselining (often helpful for software development teams)
ProofHub pros
- All-in-one work management platform
- Get a full picture of your projects in a single timeline view: tasks, dates, deadlines, and assignees
- No per-user fee, flat pricing
ProofHub cons
- No single sign-in on Google
- Notification management could be improved
- Free trial only: there are no free-forever plans
ProofHub pricing
- Free Trial: 14 days
- Essential Plan: $45/month
- Ultimate Control Plan: $89/month
ProofHub customer ratings
- G2: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (65+ reviews)
5. nTask
Another option on our free Gantt chart software list is nTask. This tool comes with an interactive view into your Gantt charts with the ability to double down on milestones, to-do lists, checklists, and risk management. Like many software on this list, it is also a project management software with other features including Kanban boards.
nTask key features
- Automatic creation: Create Gantt charts as you work on different projects, append tasks and add project schedule details
- Simple user interface: Drag and drop feature to drag timelines, manage task dependencies, create and assign risks
- Multiple assignees: Work with collaborators on the same project for better resource planning & management
nTask pros
- Interactive Gantt charts for managing tasks and other things like timelines, dependencies, to-do lists, and individual project milestone tracking
- Setup meetings to ensure round-the-clock communication between project stakeholders
- Create and manage multiple Gantt charts simultaneously
nTask cons
- Users have mentioned that it is not as easy to preview the information on tasks
- Can be difficult to manage multiple projects
- Calendar and reporting functionality is limited
nTask pricing
- Basic: Free
- Premium: $3 per user per month
- Business: $8 per user per month
nTask customer ratings
- G2: 4.4 out of 5 stars (15+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 stars (90+ reviews)
6. Instagantt for Asana
Instagantt is a Gantt chart integration for Asana. While Asana has always been a good project management solution, it didn’t have any Gantt chart software features.
If you want another add-on for your Asana projects, then Instagantt may be your answer for online free Gantt chart software. This bonus gives a robust experience in project scheduling software.
Instagantt key features
- Workload management: Detect when your team members are overloaded with tasks so that you can distribute them equally
- Progress tracking: Track project progress for every daily task and subtask on your project
- Change tracking: Track schedule changes and project delays in real-time
Instagantt pros
- Milestones and different colors to show the progression of your Gantt chart
- Robust features such as path and baseline to understand existing projects
- Export your Gantt chart timeline in JPG or PDF files
- Free Gantt chart templates available
Instagantt cons
- Requires Asana account to access the free plan
- Linked tasks cannot be moved without affecting the other tasks
- The interface is not as clean as other apps and visualization can be cumbersome with many tasks
- No true time tracking features
Instagantt pricing
- Free
- Single User: $7 per month
- Multiple Users: $5 per user a month
Instagantt customer ratings
- G2: 4.5 out of 5 stars (10+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3 out of 5 stars (290+ reviews)
7. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a project management solution and team communication platform that wants to put all of your business needs into one solution. It also offers a Gantt chart program to track and manage tasks.
Bitrix24 also combines CRM, project management, and website building into one platform. It’s known for features that enable and encourage collaboration within teams. It has tools for communication, task management, and CRM, allowing it to serve a wide range of business needs.
Bitrix24 key features
- Offers sales team collaboration, project management, and customer relationship management in a single platform
- Has Kanban boards for multiple sales pipelines to create easier sales pipeline management across the whole company
- Marketing automation features make it easier to design complex marketing campaigns
- Real-time communication tools, including chat and video conferencing, help sales teams and customer support teams
Bitrix24 cons
- On-premise plan is extremely expensive with no free plan available
- There’s a mobile app, but not all features are available on it
- Some users report needing to spend significant time onboarding to the platform due to its complexity
- Slow-loading widgets and set-up process
Bitrix24 pricing
- Free
- Basic: $49 per month
- Standard: $99 per month
- Professional: $199 per month
- On-premise Enterprise: Contact for details
Bitrix24 customer ratings
- G2:Â 4.1/5 (500+ reviews)
- Capterra:Â 4.2/5 (750+ reviews)
Not sure about this tool? Check out the top Bitrix24 alternatives.
8. TeamGantt
For those that are super enthusiastic about Gantt charts, take a look at TeamGantt, cloud-based software with a super-sharp design.
TeamGantt key features
- Customizable views: See your tasks as a simple list, calendar, or Gantt chart
- Team availability: Manage resources and identify which team members are available to work on more tasks
- Planned vs. actual timeline: Compare the original timeline projection with the actual timeline to see if your entire team is on track
TeamGantt pros
- Add attachments to your Gantt chart on Mac
- Moving and assigning tasks is simple because of its Gantt chart generator drag and drop functionality
- Offers features like to-do lists, calendars, resource management, and capacity planning
TeamGantt cons
- The free plan is only limited to three users and with limited functionality
- Importing data from other platforms can be difficult
- Can be a bit laggy
TeamGantt pricing
- Free
- Standard Plan: $24.95 per month
- Advanced Plan: $29.95 per month
TeamGantt customer ratings
- G2: 4.8 out of 5 stars (790+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 stars (180+ reviews)
9. Tom’s Planner
We’re not sure who Tom is, but Tom’s Planner is a simple Gantt chart platform that comes with free templates.
Tom’s Planner key features
- Free templates: Choose from around 500,000+ templates, or create your own template
- Filters: Find any tasks by filtering your Gantt chart by resource, activity, team, and more
- Import projects: Import your project schedule and Gantt charts from MS Project, Excel, Trello, and Basecamp
Tom’s Planner pros
- Drag and drop functionality with task dependencies.
- Easy filtering and custom color coding, so your Gantt charts appear the way you want
- Lightweight tool that you can easily export and share
Tom’s Planner cons
- Visually outdated with the grid and blocky interface
- The free plan allows for only one project and doesn’t have collaboration features
- Cannot create detailed project plans such as hourly scheduling
Tom’s Planner pricing
- Personal: Free
- Professional: $9.95 per month
- Unlimited: $19.95 per month
Tom’s Planner customer ratings
- G2: 4.4 out of 5 stars (5+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 stars (5+ reviews)
10. Microsoft Excel
Another way to have a free Gantt chart tool is by creating a Gantt chart in Excel. This may make some sense if you’re already using Microsoft Excel on a daily basis. But we don’t need to reiterate all of the reasons why Excel project management doesn’t work.
Excel key features
- Free templates: Plenty of free online Gantt charts templates are available in Excel
- Break down projects: View your projects by project phase, percentage completed, task, due date, or assignee
- Team collaboration: Share your chart with your project team to review and edit collaboratively
Excel pros
- Set deadlines and end dates
- Quickly summarize data
- Compatible with a variety of file formats
- Not ideal for software development teams
Excel cons
- Inefficient team collaboration and no notifications or reminders
- Graphing tools can be difficult to use
- Overlapping years of feature additions and subtractions makes standardization of the process difficult
- No time tracking features included
Excel pricing
- Online Excel Version: Free
- Desktop Version: $159.99
- Online Version with Microsoft 365: $6.99 per user per month
Excel customer ratings
- G2: 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8 out of 5 stars (16,800+ reviews)
11. Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a popular project management platform that offers Gantt chart software and detailed instructions to add your charts to a Microsoft PowerPoint.
MS key features
- Task list: List each of your project’s tasks in the grid portion on the left side of the Gantt chart diagram and organize them into a summary task with subtasks
- Zooming in and out: Zoom out to get a bigger picture of your project’s tasks or files by displaying years and months, or project managers can zoom in to see the exact start and finish dates for your project schedule
- Highly customizable: Customize your Gantt chart tools and bars with different colors, shapes, and patterns. You can also add text to your bars, change the height of bars, and change the appearance of link lines between bars
MS Project pros
- Powerful features and detailed options
- Gantt charts show all timeline info in one view with a split screen
- Access many Gantt chart templates
MS Project cons
- Steep learning curve and an overwhelming amount of data for individuals or small teams
- Expensive pricing plans
- You need to purchase all the software in the Microsoft Suite and cannot use Projects separately
MS Project pricing
- Project Plan 1: $10 per user per month
- Project Plan 3: $30 per user per month
- Project Plan 5: $55 per user per month
Microsoft also offers three on-premise plans for enterprise work management.
MS Project customer ratings
- G2: 4.0 out of 5 stars (1,500+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,200+ reviews)
12. Wrike
With Wrike online Gantt chart software, users can import files from Excel and MS Project or choose from 400+ integrations to copy information automatically. Wrike makes it easy for users to schedule tasks and see the actual progress of the entire project.
- Visualize progress and dependencies with our drag-and-drop builder
- Add MPP, MPX, and XML tasks to Wrike
- Control projects from one platform using critical path analysis, snapshots, and baselining
Wrike features
Wrike pros
- Create tasks and link them using dependencies
- The project scheduler timeline automatically adjusts everything around changes made to tasks
- Notifications send to project members when users adjust assignees or dates for more accurate project planning
- Workload management feature provides a view into your task assignment process
Wrike cons
- Not suitable for smaller organizations because user permissions are limited
- Lack of customized views
- Not ideal for large projects needing more storage space
Wrike pricing
- Free
- Professional: $9.80 per user per month
- Starter: $24.80 per user per month
Wrike customer ratings
- G2: 4.2 out of 5 stars (2,220+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 stars (1,680+ reviews)
13. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects provides a Gantt chart creator so users can sort tasks with the Milestone Gantt view or the Chronology Gantt view. This online Gantt chart software helps to deliver projects on time with essential task management and bug-tracking features. Its project management software is a good choice for those who enjoy a visually appealing Gantt chart maker to track task progress and the project schedule.
Zoho Projects features
- Use Zoho Project’s four types of task dependencies to manage dates: Finish to Start, Start to Start, Start to Finish, and Finish to Finish
- Rescale the Gantt chart to accommodate more Gantt bars or clean up the view
- Quickly get an idea of task statuses with clear color distinction
Zoho Projects pros
- Drag and drop between taskbars to define relationships between them
- Hover over the task name to display additional details
- Export the Gantt chart as a PDF to share digitally or print
Zoho Projects cons
- Not suitable for agile or marketing teams needing robust project management features
- Basic features require upgrading to paid plans
- Maximum of two projects on the free plan
Zoho Projects pricing
- Free: Up to 3 users
- Premium: $5 per user per month (up to 50 users)
- Enterprise: $10 per user per month (unlimited users)
Zoho Projects customer ratings
- G2: 4.3 out of 5 stars (230+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 stars (230+ reviews)
14. GanttProject
This open-source Gantt chart software is hosted locally (compared to cloud-based project management) and has a few simple tools for sketching out dependencies and timelines.
GanttProject features
- Manage dependencies:Â Show dependencies between tasks by drawing a line between tasks
- Import/export files:Â Export and import your Gantt Charts to/from CSV files to analyze data in Microsoft Project and Excel, or export files to PDF or PNG to create printable charts and reports
- Open source: Modify the source code to create a management app that suits your needs
GanttProject pros
- View your projects for free with no hidden costs
- Simple interface and easy to set up
- Differentiate how many tasks you want to be grouped by colors or other elements such as cost
- Open source Gantt chart makes it easy to implement
GanttProject cons
- Not a full-fledged project management tool
- No resource visualization on the Gantt chart
- No online or app version to access your open-source Gantt chart
GanttProject pricing
GanttProject is completely free as an open-source Gantt chart solution.
GanttProject customer ratings
- G2: 4.4 out of 5 stars (40+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 stars (120+ reviews)
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow To Choose The Best Gantt Chart Software for You
There are so many gantt chart tools to choose from, how do you choose the right one? This decision requires a comprehension of your project requirements, budget and team’s adaptability. Here are some tips for how to asses the different software available.
- Define Your Requirements: Before opting for any software, identify your project needs. Do you need a simple tool to visualize your project schedule or a complex software that also tracks resources and budget? By defining your priorities, you can filter out irrelevant options while honing in on the most suitable Gantt chart software.
- User-friendly Interface: One crucial factor to consider is usability. Choose a software application that offers an intuitive interface, as it significantly speeds up the learning curve and improves user adoption rate. Look for programs that provide clear visual representations, easy-to-understand symbols and an organized work area.
- Flexibility: Your Gantt chart software should be flexible and scalable to accommodate a range of project sizes, from small assignments to large, complex tasks. It should allow you to easily adjust schedules, provide a clear view of dependencies, and offer simple options to edit and update tasks.
- Compatibility and Integration: In this digital era, your team likely uses various software tools for
different tasks. Therefore, the Gantt chart software you choose should be compatible with your existing technology stack and offer integration options with other commonly used programs. This integration enables a smoother workflow and prevents potential bottlenecks. - Collaboration Features: Keep an eye out for collaboration capabilities in your Gantt chart tool. In a world where remote working is a norm, look for features that allow team members to share, comment, and update the Gantt chart in real-time, fostering clear communication and transparency.
- Budget: As you evaluate different Gantt chart software options, budget is an obvious consideration. However, your focus shouldn’t be solely on the upfront costs. Consider the value it provides in terms of time saved, improved efficiency, and reduced project risks. Opt for software that delivers optimal performance while staying within your financial capacity.
- After-Sales Support: Choose software companies that provide solid after-sales service and customer support. This support could be in the form of thorough documentation, tutorials, user-guides, or an accessible customer service team. These resources can be particularly useful when you run into hitches or technical issues while using the software.
- Reviews: Reviews from other users can provide valuable insights into a tool’s ease-of-use, reliability, and performance under various conditions. Look at app ratings and user feedback to inform your decision-making process. Browse social platforms like Reddit with genuine discussions and feedback on how people feel about the gantt chart software in question.
Choosing the right Gantt chart software is a critical step in effective project management. It enables clear visualization of project progression, enhances team collaboration, and aids in efficient resource allocation. In the end, the best Gantt chart software is the one that aligns with your project requirements, team size, and budget, meeting your unique work management needs.
Summarize this article for me pleaseGet Off the Chart Success With Gantt Charts
Okay, now we know all of our best Gantt Chart options and what really determines them to be free.
The best Gantt chart tools are helpful, but some give teams more visual representations of where their work may overlap than others. In the end, you need to choose an online Gantt chart maker that helps your team plan projects and prioritize work.
Choose an option that provides plenty of customizable chart templates that actually help you track the project’s critical path or allow you to calculate project costs more effectively. Customization is key to the best Gantt chart options.
And if you’re looking for a place to start, just sign up for ClickUp for free and experience the perfect project management and Gantt chart tool yourself. We know you’ll love it!
Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.