Sun. Apr 21st, 2024
  • Best for scalability: Asana
  • Best for beginners: Trello
  • Best for simple management of multiple projects: TeamGantt
  • Best for enterprise users: Wrike
  • Best for users of all technical levels: monday.com
  • Best for high levels of customization: ClickUp
  • Best for current Microsoft customers: Microsoft Project
  • Best for a variety of project visualizations: Zoho Projects
  • Best easy-to-use solution for small teams: GanttPRO
  • Best for customization: Airtable

If you are trying to keep track of a complex project or juggling your way through multiple projects, online Gantt chart software offers a great visual solution for project management. With the right Gantt chart software in place, project leaders can more easily oversee different aspects of a project, and all team members can visualize what they need to do to keep up with the project timeline.

With so many software options available for interactive Gantt charts, it can be challenging to pick the right software for your needs. Some of these platforms offer high levels of customization and various integrations, which can be useful for larger teams that have in-house skills to develop the software. Conversely, there are also many Gantt chart tools that are easier to set up and implement out of the box.

Regardless of your team’s current skill level, capacity, budget and project tasks, there are various Gantt chart software solutions for you. We have highlighted five of the best Gantt chart software options for your business to consider.

What is a Gantt chart?

Gantt chart is a project management tool used for planning, scheduling and monitoring projects. In a Gantt chart, the project tasks or phases are represented as bars against time. It has the task list on one axis and time on the other axis. Depending on the complexity of the Gantt chart, it can show important details of the project, such as due dates, task owners, task dependencies, percent completion and critical path analysis.

Top Gantt chart software comparison

Here is how the top Gantt chart software compares in terms of core features.

Starting price (per month, billed annually) Free version Integrations 24/7 support Mobile support
Asana $10.99 per user Yes 500+ Only with higher-priced plan plans Yes
Trello $5 per user Yes 200+ No Yes
TeamGantt $19 per user Yes Limited No Yes
Wrike $9.80 per user Yes 400+ Only with premium plans Yes
monday.com $9 per user Yes 350+ Yes Yes
ClickUp $7 per user Yes 550+ Yes Yes
Microsoft Project $10 per user No 600+ Yes Yes
Zoho Projects $4 per user Yes 300+ No Yes
GanttPRO $7.99 per user No Limited Yes Yes
Airtable $20 per user Yes 200+ Yes Yes

Asana: Best for scalability

Image: Asana

Asana is one of the most popular project management solutions, offering a wide range of features, including Gantt charts. With Asana’s Gantt charts (Figure A), users can plan each step of the project and adapt project planning to accommodate changes. You get a variety of Gantt chart features, including timeline filters, color coding and drag-and-drop functionality.

Asana Gantt chart view.
Figure A: Asana Gantt chart view. Image: Asana

Pricing

  • Basic: Free for up to 15 users.
  • Premium: $10.99 per user per month if billed annually or $13.49 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Business: $24.99 per user per month if billed annually or $30.49 per user per month if billed monthly.

Standout features

  • Project views: Users can easily switch between project views, including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, lists, calendars and workload views.
  • Import project data: Users can import project data from several other project management applications.
  • Attachments: Users can attach references, Kanban boards and Google Sheets directly to Gantt charts.

Top integrations

  • Slack.
  • Dropbox.
  • Google Drive.
  • Microsoft Teams.
  • Salesforce.
  • OneDrive.
  • Dropbox.
  • Zendesk.

Pros

  • Feature-rich.
  • Extensive import options.
  • Highly scalable.
  • Powerful reporting tools.

Cons

  • The user interface can feel unintuitive.
  • There is an occasional lag when moving between pages.

Why we chose Asana

Asana makes it easy to switch between multiple project views, including Gantt charts. Its wide selection of features and multiple pricing plans also means that it’s highly scalable for growing businesses of all sizes. The free plan supports teams of up to 15 people, so it’s a great option for small businesses, while the paid plans offer the more advanced features that larger teams need.

For more information, read the full Asana review.

Trello: Best for beginners

Image: Trello

Gantt chart is available in Trello through a “power-up,” which is a type of add-on. With the Gantt chart feature in Trello (Figure B), you can easily organize multiple boards into a single Gantt chart, add task dependencies information, sync dates, and access and use the Gantt chart from different web browsers. Trello also syncs seamlessly with other Atlassian products, including Confluence and Jira software.

Figure B: Trello Gantt chart view. Image: Atlassian

Pricing

  • Free: Up to 10 boards per workspace.
  • Standard: $5 per user per month if billed annually or $6 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Premium: $10 per user per month if billed annually or $12.50 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Enterprise: $17.50 per user per month, billed annually.

Standout features

  • Auto Link feature: This can be used to connect Gantt charts with Kanban boards. You can also use the Manual Link for added flexibility.
  • Butler: This is Trello’s automation feature. Using this tool, you can automate recurring or repetitive tasks.
  • Project views: You can view project status through real-time updates and a variety of project views.

Top integrations

  • Slack.
  • Miro.
  • Everhour.
  • Google Drive.
  • Gantt for Trello.
  • Zapier.
  • Hootsuite.
  • GitLab.

Pros

  • Highly visual and responsive interface.
  • User-friendly.
  • Generous free plan.

Cons

  • Reliant on Kanban boards.
  • Not suitable to handle complex projects or a project portfolio.

Why we chose Trello

Trello is known for its simple and intuitive Kanban boards, and you can add on Gantt charts through a power-up (a type of extension). The software presents a low learning curve for beginners thanks to its well-thought-out design. It also integrates well with other Atlassian software.

For more information, read the full Trello review.

TeamGantt: Best for simple management of multiple projects

Image: TeamGantt

TeamGantt makes it easy to create, edit and view Gantt charts (Figure C) with its online Gantt chart software. Users can view or track all parts of multiple projects using TeamGantt. In addition, they can view task dependencies and the timeline for multiple projects. The user interface is well-designed and intuitive, making it ideal for teams that are just starting to learn how to use Gantt charts and project management software. With TeamGantt, you can easily switch from one view to another.

Figure C: TeamGantt Gantt chart. Image: TeamGantt

Pricing plans

TeamGantt’s pricing model is different from its competitors’ as its plans are priced per project manager. TeamGantt offers several paid plans, as well as a free version:

  • Free plan: $0; designed for one manager and up to two collaborators, one project and up to 60 tasks.
  • Lite: $19 per month per manager if paid annually or $24 per month per manager if paid monthly. This plan supports up to five projects and collaborators per manager.
  • Pro: $49 per month per manager if paid annually or $59 per month per manager if paid monthly. This plan supports up to 20 projects and unlimited collaborators per manager.
  • Unlimited Everything: This plan supports unlimited projects, tasks and collaborators per manager. Contact the sales team for a custom quote.

Standout features

  • Shake feature: TeamGantt users can fix violations in dependent tasks using the Shake feature. For example, if any tasks are scheduled out of order, users can click on the outermost task and jiggle their cursor to automatically reschedule tasks in the right order.
  • Interactive Gantt charts: Users can change descriptions, due dates, task details, dependencies and other data directly from the Gantt view.

Top integrations

  • Slack.
  • Trello.
  • Dropbox.
  • Zapier.

Pros

  • Interactive Gantt charts.
  • Automated dependencies.
  • Outstanding tutorial content.

Cons

  • Reporting needs improvement.
  • Limited integrations.
  • Expensive.

Why we chose TeamGantt

TeamGantt’s easy Gantt chart tool makes it simple to manage multiple projects at once. Its unique pricing structure can also be more affordable if only a few people on your team need to make Gantt charts since it charges per project management, as opposed to per user.

For more information, read the full TeamGantt review.

Wrike: Best for enterprise users

Image: Wrike

Wrike is one of the best on the market for comprehensive project management software with interactive Gantt charts and Kanban capabilities. It offers a live activity stream, subtask management and other useful tools. The ready-to-use Gantt chart templates (Figure D) make it easy to get started; however, the number of tabs and pages can be overwhelming for new users at first.

Figure D: Wrike Gantt chart. Image: Wrike

Pricing plans

Wrike is available in several plan options, including a free plan:

  • Free: $0 per user per month; no credit card is required to sign up for the Free plan.
  • Team: $9.80 per user per month.
  • Business: $24.80 per user per month.
  • Enterprise: Pricing information is available only upon request. This plan supports unlimited users.
  • Pinnacle: Pricing information is available only upon request. This plan supports unlimited users.

Standout features

  • Customized views for Gantt charts: Wrike users can create custom or editable views for Gantt charts using filters.
  • Real-time analytics: With Wrike, you get real-time analytics through continuously updated charts, project statuses and reports.

Top integrations

  • Google Drive.
  • Zoom.
  • Miro.
  • Microsoft OneDrive.
  • Tableau.
  • Slack.
  • Dropbox.

Pros

  • Enterprise-grade functionality.
  • Automated workflows.
  • Variety of built-in templates.

Cons

  • Somewhat complicated interface.
  • Limited import capabilities.

Why we chose Wrike

Wrike offers not one but two pricing plans designed for large teams and enterprises. These plans provide advanced features and security, such as custom access roles, advanced reporting and business intelligence, budgeting, team performance stats and more.

For more information, read the full Wrike review.

Standout features

  • Variety of time estimation tools: Users can use these tools, including Gantt charts, to help with project planning.
  • Visual and customizable dashboards: These dashboards help improve visibility and maintain control over project progress.
  • Variety of pre-built and customizable templates: These include specialized templates for different functions, including software development, marketing and design project management.

Top integrations

  • Slack.
  • Gmail.
  • Microsoft Teams.
  • Mailchimp.
  • Excel.
  • Outlook.
  • DocuSign.

Pros

  • Clean and well-organized interface.
  • Highly customizable.
  • Suitable for an extensive range of use cases.
  • Variety of pre-built templates.

Cons

  • Advanced features have a steep learning curve.
  • Occasional issues with data reconciliation after importing.

Why we chose monday.com

monday work management offers multiple pricing plans that are suitable for users of various technical levels, from Gantt chart beginners all the way up to experienced project managers. The platform is also very flexible and highly customizable, making it suitable for many types of teams and use cases.

For more information, read the full monday work management review.

ClickUp: Best for high levels of customization

Image: ClickUp

ClickUp is all-in-one project management software loaded with features, including Gantt charts and other project visualizations. One of the reasons ClickUp is rated highly by its users is that it offers granular customizability and delivers excellent visibility into each project task. The Gantt chart tool (Figure F) is easy to create and offers a simple way to visualize task dependencies. To set up the Gantt chart view, users can simply draw a line between tasks. From there, ClickUp handles the rest of the build.

SEE: How to create a Gantt chart in ClickUp (TechRepublic)

Figure F: ClickUp Gantt chart view. Image: ClickUp

Pricing plans

ClickUp offers four different plans to users, including a free option:

  • Free Forever: Free forever for unlimited members and tasks.
  • Unlimited: $7 per member per month if paid annually, or $10 per member per month if paid monthly.
  • Business: $12 per member per month if paid annually, or $19 per member per month if paid monthly.
  • Enterprise: Pricing information is available upon request from the ClickUp sales team.

Standout features

  • Automatic critical path calculations: This feature allows ClickUp users to more accurately determine the chain of tasks that need to be completed to meet project deadlines.
  • Multiple assignees: You can assign tasks to individuals, groups or teams in ClickUp. You can also tag tasks with client names and do time tracking for specific tasks.
  • Variety of project views: These include Mind Maps, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, List view and Calendar view.

Top integrations

  • Slack.
  • Webhooks.
  • Google Drive.
  • Outlook.
  • Microsoft Teams.
  • Zoom.
  • Hubspot.
  • Toggl.

Pros

  • High level of customization.
  • Over 1,000 available integrations.
  • All-in-one platform with real-time updates.

Cons

  • Steep learning curve.
  • Missing advanced time tracking features.
  • Dashboard view is too busy for some users.

Why we chose ClickUp

ClickUp offers a high level of customization, so you can tailor each Gantt chart, project and task to suit your needs. The free plan also supports unlimited members and unlimited free tasks, which is a rare combination, although the other functions are somewhat limited. Fortunately, the pricing plans are affordable if you decide that you need to upgrade after all.

For more information, read the full ClickUp review.

Microsoft Project: Best for current Microsoft customers

Image: Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is project management software that can be used to manage resources, create schedules and track time, among other PM functions. If you are already a user of other Microsoft products, you will find Microsoft Project fits well into the ecosystem of technology you already use, allowing you to work seamlessly between different Microsoft tools. Microsoft Project is offered in both cloud-based and on-premises formats. The layout of Microsoft Project is simple and intuitive, making this solution one of the easiest for creating and managing Gantt charts (Figure G).

SEE: The 8 Best Alternatives to Microsoft Project (Free & Paid) (TechRepublic)

Figure G: Microsoft Project Gantt chart view. Image: Microsoft

Pricing plans

Although Microsoft Project does not come with a free plan option, it still offers flexibility for users who want to use either cloud or on-premises PM tools:

Cloud-based pricing

  • Project Plan 1: $10 per user per month; a free one-month trial is available.
  • Project Plan 3: $30 per user per month; a free one-month trial is available.
  • Project Plan 5: $55 per user per month; can be tested with a Microsoft PPM partner.

On-premises pricing

  • Project Standard 2021: $679.99.
  • Project Professional 2021: $1,129.99.
  • Project Server: Information is available upon request.

Standout features

  • Gantt chart customization: Microsoft Project users can choose from a long list of patterns, shapes and colors. There are also options to add text to Gantt charts.
  • Zooming capabilities: Simply zoom in or zoom out of project tasks to view details or get a high-level view of a project.

Top integrations

  • Microsoft Teams.
  • SharePoint.
  • OneDrive.
  • Excel.
  • Word.
  • Power BI.

Pros

  • Seamless integrations with other Microsoft software.
  • Easy-to-create Gantt charts.
  • Online and offline versions.

Cons

  • Lacks a free plan.
  • No mobile app.

Why we chose Microsoft Project

If you are already a dedicated user of the Microsoft ecosystem, then Microsoft Project is an excellent Gantt chart tool to consider, as it relies on other Microsoft products for communication and other functionality. Microsoft Project’s features are also quite advanced, making it suitable for managing complex projects.

For more information, read the full Microsoft Project review.

Zoho Projects: Best for a variety of project visualizations

Image: Zoho Projects

The Gantt charts feature (Figure H) of Zoho Projects is as intuitive to use as that of other competitors, and it also offers excellent functionality. Users can easily create and edit task dependencies, and Zoho Projects will automatically adjust the project schedule accordingly. You also get task hierarchies, drag-and-drop functionality and team collaboration tools for Gantt charts.

Figure H: Zoho Projects Gantt chart view. Image: Zoho

Pricing

  • Free: $0 for up to three users.
  • Premium: $4 per user per month if billed annually, or $5 per user per month if billed monthly. A free trial is available.
  • Enterprise: $9 per user per month if billed annually, or $10 per user per month if billed monthly. A free trial is available.

Standout features

  • Project baseline: Users can create a project baseline to compare actual progress with planning.
  • Access to other Zoho applications: These include Zoho CRM, Analytics and Mail.
  • Critical path analysis: This feature can be used to eliminate bottlenecks, optimize resource allocation and streamline project progress.

Top integrations

  • Zapier.
  • Zendesk.
  • Microsoft Teams.
  • Office 365.
  • Slack.
  • ServiceNow.
  • Dropbox.
  • SharePoint.

Pros

  • Familiar interface for existing Zoho users.
  • Transparent pricing and affordable plans.
  • Easy to navigate.

Cons

  • Limited project views.
  • Steep learning curve for Gantt charts.

Why we chose Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is very affordable, with its most expensive Enterprise plan costing about the same as the entry-level plans of its competitors. The software offers a variety of project visualization options beyond just Gantt charts, and paid plans include advanced features like time tracking and resource utilization.

For more information, read the full Zoho Projects review.

GanttPRO: Best easy-to-use solution for small teams

Image: GanttPRO

GanttPRO is one of the best Gantt chart (Figure I) solutions for small teams because of its simple and easy-to-use interface. It is also loaded with features, including Kanban boards, customization tools and critical path analysis. Although this is a great tool for dynamic Gantt charts and other kinds of visualizations and project features, some advanced features are missing.

Figure I: GanttPRO Gantt chart view. Image: GanttPRO

Pricing plans

GanttPRO comes in four different paid plans, all of which are offered with free trials:

  • Basic: $7.99 per user per month if billed annually, or $9.99 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • PRO: $12.99 per user per month if billed annually, or $15.99 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Business: $19.99 per user per month if billed annually, or $24.99 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Enterprise: Pricing information is available upon request.

Standout features

  • Critical path: This feature highlights the sequence of tasks or events that must be completed to keep a project on schedule.
  • Gantt chart formatting: GanttPRO users can choose from a variety of formatting options to customize Gantt charts.

Top integrations

  • Microsoft Teams.
  • Google Drive.
  • OneDrive.
  • Slack.
  • Jira Cloud.

Pros

  • Added security features, such as two-factor authentication.
  • Several collaboration tools.
  • Interface is easy to navigate.

Cons

  • Reports are limited.
  • No free version.

Why we chose GanttPRO

GanttPRO’s extremely easy-to-use Gantt chart tool makes it an ideal choice for small teams looking to get started with dedicated Gantt chart software. While it isn’t as feature-rich as some other project management software, it excels at Gantt chart creation specifically.

For more information, read the full GanttPRO review.

Airtable: Best for customization

Image: Airtable

Airtable is versatile Gantt chart software that allows users to create highly customizable no-code apps and databases. You can structure Gantt charts (Figure J) according to your specific project requirements. For example, you can integrate rich media and different data types into the Gantt charts. You also get excellent ease of use in creating and editing Gantt charts.

Figure J: Airtable Gantt chart view. Image: Airtable

Pricing

  • Free: Unlimited bases for up to five editors and unlimited commenter and read-only users.
  • Team: $20 per user per month if billed annually, or $24 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Business: $45 per user per month if billed annually, or $54 per user per month if billed monthly.
  • Enterprise Scale: Contact Airtable for pricing information.

Standout features

  • Variety of scripts: The tool has various scripts to deploy pre-built automations. The scripts can also be configured through coding for extra customization.
  • Access to Airtable apps: This helps extend functionality.
  • Spreadsheet-based interface: This is ideal for users who use Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

Top integrations

  • Google Drive.
  • Zendesk.
  • Salesforce.
  • Box.
  • Dropbox
  • Evernote.
  • Jira.
  • WordPress.

Pros

  • Highly customizable.
  • Easy to use.
  • Powerful automation engine.
  • Rich media integration.

Cons

  • Scaling limitations.
  • Occasional lag when working with large volumes of data.

Why we chose Airtable

Airtable’s unique design means that it offers lots of customization and flexibility not just for Gantt charts, but for all kinds of productivity apps. While the unusual interface does present a higher learning curve, many users find that functionality is worth mastering the platform.

For more information, read our full Airtable review.

Key features of Gantt chart software

Advanced Gantt features

If you’re looking to manage complex projects through Gantt charts, then you will need access to advanced Gantt features like critical paths and filtering. Some software confines these features to more expensive plans, so be sure to read the fine print: Just because a lower-cost plan gives you a Gantt view doesn’t mean that you’ll get access to all the Gantt chart features.

Project views

Sometimes, switching from a Gantt chart to a different project view can be extremely helpful and help you visualize a project in a new way. For this reason, you’ll probably want to choose online Gantt chart software with additional project views such as list, grid, calendar and Kanban board.

Task management

The best Gantt chart software should also make it easy to assign tasks to yourself or other people, set due dates and create a subtask or task dependency. You should also be able to view all of your upcoming tasks in one plan and sort them by due date or priority so that you can stay on target.

Team collaboration

The best Gantt chart software should help you collaborate with teammates by tagging each other in comments and responding with emoji reactions. Some platforms like Asana even offer a built-in chat messaging function so that you don’t have to switch to email or Slack to have a more extended conversation.

Integrations

Some of the software on this list only offer a handful of pre-built integrations, such as GanttPRO and Team Gantt, while others connect natively to hundreds of apps. Some Gantt chart software also offer additional integrations through Zapier, but this requires an extra tool and often an additional fee to set up as well. Make sure that your final Gantt chart tool selection offers the integrations that you need.

How to choose Gantt chart software

When choosing the right Gantt chart software, you need to clearly define your requirements. Every Gantt chart software solution has unique pros and cons, making different products better suited for certain industries or business types. For example, GanttPRO is better suited for smaller teams, while Wrike offers more enterprise-level functionality.

You also need to consider your collaboration and sharing needs as certain Gantt chart software is more geared toward teamwork, while other solutions are better for individual use. You should also consider how many seats you’ll need and how much money you’re willing to pay. Not every team has the budget to spend on this type of software. Thankfully, many solutions offer free or lower-tier plans that may fit both within your budget constraints and your project’s requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of Gantt chart software?

The primary benefit of using Gantt chart software is it offers a quick visual representation of a project. The top-line perspective of projects helps project managers keep up with the project timeline, allocate appropriate resources and track tasks. Gantt charts provide a high-level overview and tools that allow project managers to view more details of specific tasks.

Another key benefit of using Gantt chart software is it can alert managers when dependencies overlap. For example, the completion of one task may be contingent on the completion of another. Similarly, two different tasks could require overlapping resources, which could also affect timelines. The best Gantt chart software sends alerts when resource and timeline issues arise. Even without actual alerts, the visual design of a Gantt chart makes it easier for project team leaders to anticipate problems before they occur.

Project managers are often responsible for tracking project progress and reporting on that progress. Gantt chart software offers different tools, such as benchmarks, to help managers stay on schedule, resolve problems and create comprehensive project data and performance reports. For project planning purposes, Gantt charts help set realistic deadlines and expectations while keeping all team members aligned on project goals and tasks.

What are the drawbacks of Gantt chart software?

The initial setup of Gantt chart software can be time-consuming, especially if you use applications with advanced features or a busy layout. Users unfamiliar with the Gantt chart format might also need some time to get used to it; the possible learning curve at the beginning may, in turn, interfere with team members’ overall productivity.

Another disadvantage of Gantt charts is they are not designed to show the amount of work each task requires. Although users can click to dig deeper into the task and determine this information, individual and task workloads are not readily apparent when looking at a Gantt chart.

Finally, another potential drawback of Gantt chart software is these charts can be too limiting and hard to navigate when working on larger projects. If your project has a lot of task forces, subgroups and dependencies that would clutter a singular Gantt chart, you might benefit from breaking the project into smaller and more manageable phases. From there, you can make a Gantt chart for each phase. The majority of Gantt chart software solutions make it possible for users to manage and work off of multiple Gantt charts at once.

Which is the easiest Gantt chart software to use?

GanttPRO is one of the easiest to use Gantt chart software solutions, offering a simple, clean and intuitive user interface. However, with its quick learning curve, the tradeoff for users is GanttPRO’s lack of advanced features and customization tools. If you plan on using this software for enterprise-level functionality, you’ll likely find it too limited. However, it is an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses that are just starting to get a handle on their project management workflow.

Methodology

The best Gantt chart software for businesses in 2024 were selected based on hands-on experience, user reviews, product documentation and pricing plans. After researching options extensively, we selected these 10 different Gant chart tools to cover a wide range of business sizes, levels of team experience and project parameters.

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