Compare the Best Gantt Chart Software
Best Gantt Chart Software Of 2025
Methodology
Software testing is a serious business. So, to give software platforms a fair trial, I use our proprietary rubric to help rank multiple features and test the top platforms. For the best Gantt chart software, 17 platforms were chosen and 46 features across seven categories were analyzed. I then tested the top 10 platforms. Each provider was then awarded a final score. Below are the categories and features tested, with the percentage of weight awarded to each.
Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
---|---|---|
Consumer Sentiment Index | 32% | We analyzed real-world reviews on websites such as G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot to find out how project managers and SMB owners felt about the software from each provider. |
Project Management Features | 17% | During testing, I used Gantt charts and other tools such as Kanban boards, lists, resource and workload management features, project templates, AI tools, and forms to see how they functioned and if they were user-friendly. |
Organization | 15% | During testing, I ensured that subtasks, milestones and dependencies, integrations, automations, custom fields, recurring tasks and guest access features worked correctly. |
Value | 13% | We analyze all plans that providers offer and determine if SMBs truly get their money's worth based on the tools provided and the cost per user per month when billed monthly and annually. |
Collaboration Tools | 12% | During testing, I use all available collaborative tools, such as real-time docs, whiteboards, proofing tools, file storage, and messaging features to see how easy they are to use and whether or not they work across multiple platforms (web, desktop and mobile) if available. |
Service and Support | 6% | I reach out to each provider's customer service team by all available methods (phone, live chat and email, and ticketing system). I determine how quickly they respond to my questions and how knowledgeable they are about the products they support. |
Security and Privacy | 5% | During testing, I ensure that providers offer adequate security and privacy features by ensuring two-factor authentication and SAML and single sign-on tools are available and that users can set custom roles and user permissions. I also investigate to see what encryption methods are used, and whether or not platforms conform to privacy laws. |
How To Choose the Best Gantt Chart Software
Before signing on the dotted line for new Gantt chart software, there are many things to consider. You must ensure that the software not only offers robust Gantt charts but also all the other tools you need from project management software, its ease of use and how much value it provides. Below, I’ll share some hints, tips and advice on how to navigate the tricky landscape of Gantt chart software.
Essential Gantt Chart Software Features
Aside from Gantt charts that can help you plot projects, subtasks, dependencies, and milestones, you need to make sure that any project management software you choose offers everything you need to get projects across the finish line. At a minimum, Gantt chart software should offer the following:
- Task Management tools. Gantt charts are great, but they aren’t the be-all, end-all of task management. Any project management software worth your time should also offer access to Kanban boards, lists, calendars, and even spreadsheets to help you plan, organize and track tasks from start to finish.
- Collaboration features. If you can’t collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and clients efficiently, your project will likely fail. Ensure any software you choose offers a robust communication system in the form of commenting or an instant messenger, and features such as collaborative docs, whiteboards, document and image proofing tools to help keep the project rolling. These tools are especially useful for distributed teams.
- Subtasks and dependencies. Every project management platform that I can think of offers support for subtasks and dependencies, but support is not always available in every plan. If you need to use subtasks and dependencies, ensure they are offered in the plan that you can afford.
- Integrations. Many SMBs use multiple platforms to do everything from manage finances, brainstorm, create email marketing campaigns and design assets. The last thing you want to do is use project management software that doesn’t play nicely with your current software. Check provider websites as they list what integrations are available and whether or not integrations can be created with Zapier.
- Automations. Recurring tasks and automations can help save you time, increase productivity and reduce waste. Double-check to see if the project management software you’re interested in offers these features in a plan you can afford.
- Project Templates. If you’re new to project management software or Gantt charts, project templates can help put you on the path to project success. Providers such as monday.com, Teamwork.com, ClickUp and Smartsheet list what project templates are available. Check to see if what you need is offered.
- Finance and resource management tools. Tracking tasks and their due dates and collaborating is one thing, but if you cannot also manage budgets and resources, your project will likely experience scope creep (runaway due dates and blown budgets). Ensure the software you want to use offers robust budgeting and resource management tools that can help keep your project on track.
Value
While I can provide you with Gantt chart software options, only you know how much money you have to spend on software and what features and tools you need for your projects. Fortunately, most providers list the price of each of their plans on their websites and breakdown costs based on monthly and annual fees per user. Before signing up for any plan, you must ensure you can afford a particular platform’s plans and check that it offers everything you need.
Take into account whether or not you can only afford subscriptions one month at a time, or if you can afford annual plans. If you can afford the latter, you’ll find that you can generally save a significant amount of money, but should your need for the software diminish, you will not be able to reclaim much or any of the money you paid up front. You’ll also find that some providers offer discounts to nonprofit organizations or educational institutions. My advice is to shop around and look at the prices and available discounts for multiple vendors before making a final decision.
Ease Of Use
The Gantt chart software with the most features in the world will be worthless if it is not easy to use. I strongly recommend that potential users take advantage of free trials. By doing so, you and your team can get your hands on the software and see if it works for you. I also recommend interacting with a provider’s customer service team to see how helpful they are and getting stuck into a provider’s knowledge base to see if well-written, easy-to-follow user guides are available.
Which Gantt Chart Software Is Best For Your Business?
If, after reading the provider summaries and testing insights above, you still cannot figure out which platform to try, consider the following:
- If you have a small software budget, look at ClickUp, Zoho Projects, GanttPRO, and Coda, as they offer very affordable paid plans.
- If you have no budget for Gantt chart software, try ClickUp, Teamwork.com, Asana, and Coda, which offer exceptional free plans. Just be aware that some providers may limit the use of certain tools.
- If you manage a remote team, look to ClickUp, Zoho Projects, Teamwork.com and monday.com as they offer robust collaborative documents, whiteboards and powerful messaging tools.
- If you’re new to Gantt charts or project management software, I recommend monday.com, Teamwork.com, ClickUp and Zoho Projects. They are user-friendly, provide premade templates and have excellent user documentation and support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Gantt Chart Software?
Gantt chart software allows project managers, their teams, stakeholders, and clients to plot and see various tasks and milestones on a horizontal calendar. Gantt charts offer one of the best visual representations of a project.
Is Gantt Chart software free to use?
Some project management software providers offer free versions of their software that include Gantt charts. However, many put Gantt charts into their paid plans as they are considered advanced workflow management tools.
Are Gantt Charts and timeline views the same thing?
No, while Gantt charts and timelines look similar, they’re not the same. Gantt charts are far more detailed and show a project’s main tasks and subtasks, dependencies, milestones, start dates, due dates and any task overlaps. Timelines are simplified and show only a high-level view of main tasks with start and end dates.
Is Gantt chart software worth the price?
It all depends. While you can create Gantt charts in Excel, it is very time-consuming and often involves complex equations. If saving time and being more efficient is more important to you than saving a few dollars, then yes, Gantt chart software is worth the expense.