Free Gantt chart software: the five kinds, and which to pick
Every free way to make a Gantt chart belongs to one of five kinds, and the kind decides more than the brand: whether dates move by themselves when a task slips, whether you need to install anything, and whether you will end up paying for the one feature you need. Here is what each kind does well, and where it gets in the way.
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Open the editor and type your tasks one per row, with how long each takes and what it waits for. The chart schedules itself as you type. Your work is saved automatically in your browser.
Create Your Gantt Chart Free1. Spreadsheets
Excel has no built-in Gantt chart type; the usual method is a stacked bar chart with the first series hidden, or a downloadable template. Google Sheets offers a timeline view on some plans, and the same stacked-bar trick on all of them. Both are free if you already have them, and both are familiar.
Where they get in the way: a spreadsheet does not know that one task waits for another. When a task runs late, every later date has to be retyped by hand, which is exactly the work a Gantt chart is supposed to save.
2. Desktop open-source apps
GanttProject and ProjectLibre are free, open-source desktop programs for Windows, Mac and Linux, and both schedule properly: tasks, dependencies, milestones and resources. They are the closest free equivalents to traditional project-management software.
Where they get in the way: you install them, files live on one computer, and sharing a plan means sending the file or exporting a picture.
3. Work-management apps
Many task and work-management apps offer a Gantt or timeline view alongside their lists and boards. They suit a team that already tracks its work there.
Where they get in the way: the Gantt view is often a paid feature, everyone needs an account, and dependencies may be limited on free plans. Check the current plan before you build a schedule you cannot open next month.
4. Project-management software
Full project software such as Microsoft Project adds resource levelling, baselines, cost tracking and portfolio views. It is the right tool for large, formally managed projects.
Where it gets in the way: it is rarely free, it takes training, and it is far more than a plan for a move, a course or a small team needs.
5. Online Gantt makers
An online maker runs in the browser and schedules from what you type. GanttCharts.app is one: one row per task, its duration in working days and what it waits for, and the dates are worked out for you. Change one duration and every dependent task moves; a duration of 0 is a milestone; the critical path can be highlighted. No install, no account to start.
Where it gets in the way: it is a planning tool, not a resource-management system. It does not level resources, track costs or keep baselines.
How to choose
Pick by who uses the plan and how often it changes:
- One person, a fixed list, dates that never move: a spreadsheet
- One planner on one computer who wants classic scheduling, offline: a desktop open-source app
- A team that already tracks tasks in an app: that app's timeline view
- A formal programme with resources and budgets: project-management software
- Anyone who wants dependent dates that move by themselves, with nothing to install: an online maker
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Gantt chart software?
It depends on the plan. For dependent dates that update themselves with nothing to install, an online maker such as GanttCharts.app. For offline classic scheduling, an open-source desktop app such as GanttProject or ProjectLibre.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Project?
Yes. ProjectLibre and GanttProject are free desktop alternatives. For a lighter plan in the browser with no install or signup, GanttCharts.app schedules tasks, dependencies and milestones for free.
Can I make a Gantt chart in Excel for free?
Yes, with a stacked bar chart or a template, but Excel will not move later tasks when one slips. You retype the dates by hand.
Does GanttCharts.app need an account?
No. The editor opens ready to use and saves in your browser. A free QueryChart account is needed to download the chart or save it to the cloud.
Ready to plan your first project?
The editor opens with a starter plan. Type your own tasks and durations, and the schedule rebuilds itself as you type. No signup required to get started.
Create Your Gantt Chart Free