Gantt chart software is a flexible tool that provide a comprehensive look at the status of every project. They allow people to really understand task duration, resource use, and team workload. Here you can find the best gantt chart software for you or your team, look no further!
First, a Gantt chart represents information in a comprehensive, visual way. It summarizes all the important aspects of a project and develops a clear picture of a project’s schedule, resources, and execution, by illustrating what needs to be done, and when it needs to be done. This popular methodology utilizes a progress bar to help you visualize the tasks that need to be completed within a project, next to their start and end dates.
In general, a Gantt chart Software is designed to make the process of monitoring and keeping track of information for your project a lot easier. It’s designed to take some of the weight off your shoulders as the project manager so you can quickly and easily take care of the more pressing issues that need to be done.
Gantt chart software will allow you to:
Know what the different activities are
When activities need to start, and when they need to finish.
How long your activities were primarily scheduled to last.
How much your activities cost, and how much your project is likely to cost.
Which activities depend on others to be effectively completed.
Current progress status.
The duration of the entire project.
Nowadays there are many options when it comes to project management software. Gantt chart makers are no exception to this rule, as they are highly popular around those who love task management. So, how do you make sure that you’re choosing the right Gantt chart to help your team get the job done? Normally you would have to wade through all of that information on your own. But we’ve done the work for you and gathered everything you need to know in one place with the 10 best Gantt chart software out there.
Let’s take a look at some of the best Gantt chart software available, so you can select the best fit for you and your team:
Is one of the best Gantt chart software options on the market. Why? Because it strips away the complexity associated with Gantt charts and provides an easy, drag & drop way to schedule your tasks and follow each step of a project’s progress until the very last detail. But don’t be fooled, it might be very easy to use but it can help you manage a list of complex situations thanks to its large list of options and features.
Instagantt’s core function is scheduling and progress management but it makes a great place for your team to collaborate in your project, as it makes it easy for everyone to stay informed and up-to-date with everyone’s work. Its collaborative options allow you to assign tasks to people in your team, and for them to receive an email notifying them about the tasks and their descriptions. Also, it makes it possible to leave comments to everyone involved in any tasks or subtasks, and to attach any information or files worth sharing.
Instagantt also integrates with Asana. So, if you are an Asana user, you’re covered.
Teamgantt is a very good option when it comes to project scheduling, as it lets users manage their projects easily and visibly. With TeamGantt you get the basics: tasks, timelines, and team assignments. What makes TeamGantt great is their understanding of the project management mentality and philosophy, and they make sure to apply it to their product. This tool offers a wholesome look of every project, their tasks, next to their deadlines and resources.
You’ll love that this system offers interactive Gantt charts and it’s very intuitive. Anyone on your team will be able to check it out and get started using it quickly and easily. And if they have any trouble there’s tutorial content that’s designed to help them along. The downside is that you’ll find budgeting and invoicing aren’t here and there are only average reporting features. Not to mention the discussions, file upload and notifications aren’t quite as stellar as you might want.
TeamGantt Features:
- Baselines - Drag&Drop - Multiple project view in one Gantt chart - Guest permission
Overall, you’ll find a lot of great options with TeamGantt, especially if you want to get started with some of the more basic features and skip some of the more complicated things (or at least leave them until later).
ProofHub is well-known for bringing together several tools that make project management an easy-breezy task. Managers can plan projects, visualize tasks, and modify schedules easily using ProofHub’s built-in Gantt charts. As a manager, you always stay ahead of the game by having complete control over the tasks associated with a project. The Gantt chart offered by ProofHub allows you to set dependencies between different tasks, drag and drop tasks on the chart to change their durations, and much more. Additionally, the platform allows teams to stay in touch with one another and start discussions related to the project.
Another big benefit is the competitive pricing that you’ll find with ProofHub. For all the features that you’ll get there are some great deals to be had. And because it’s quick and easy to get started with you don’t have to worry about the learning curve or downtime for your entire team while you figure things out.The system is easy enough but still offers a good amount of features, but you’ll find that there are no budgeting tools and sometimes it’s going to be a little slow to get going. You might notice that your load time is not quite what you want it to be.
Overall, ProofHub gives you a variety of features and even gives you chat tools and markup options. You’ll be able to do all of the project management that you need and then some. There are a couple drawbacks, such as load speed, and you’ll need a separate budgeting platform, but overall it’s designed to get things done.
Wrike stands out for its organizational design. It serves as a table view, with assignees, task names, start and end dates; very easy to view and to understand.
This popular Gantt chart software allows you to see responsibilities and performance, thanks to its Workload View, one of its stars features. It also allows for easy communication between team members as it lets people adjust the necessary aspects within a project and to stay on top of any changes, minimizing the need for meetings.
You’ll also find new intelligent features, special account types and the ability to manage just about anything and everything you need. Wrike is designed to make sure that any type of business is able to manage and monitor their work, whether it’s larger projects or ongoing tasks. The downside that you’ll find here is that there are several different plans available and it can be difficult to figure out just which one is right for you. Getting in touch with customer service is generally going to be required so you can make sure that you’re on the right one.
Wrike Features:
Critical path
Folder hierarchy
Collaborative team editing
Overall, you’ll find that Wrike has a lot of features and there are plenty of options when it comes to the different plans. That can be a little bit of a downside because you’ll need to pick a plan out of the different options, but it also means that things are going to be rather customized to your business needs.
Smartsheet’s focus is to offer people a platform where all project information can be kept. Expect no beautiful or techy design, as it basically focuses on providing online spreadsheets.
Smartsheet offers great, useful templates, though, so it’s very easy to input your own information into a pre-built project management template that fits your needs. It allows you to see your project tasks and then click on the different parts to connect your own tasks, expenses, dependencies, and overall project related information.
You’ll get a whole lot of customization options here, which is one of the main benefits of working with this program. You’ll also find that you have plenty of automation options that can come from just about anywhere and work with just about any of the processes of the program. On the downside you will find that there are some things that you can’t do. You won’t get autosave options, which can be a downside when you’re working with large groups. It also doesn’t update in real time, which means if more than one person is working on something at the same time you won’t know it.
Smartsheet Features:
Spreadsheet templates
Predecessor tasks
Automated workflows
Overall, this system is designed to be a smarter and more intuitive spreadsheet, but it doesn’t have all of the features that you might expect from Gantt charts. You’re going to want to work on this one with your team and make sure that everyone knows the downfalls if you do decide to go with it, and make sure everyone knows to check in before making too many changes.
GanttPro is a very neatly designed Gantt chart tool, and it’s one of the most popular options around. It’s very simple to use and it focuses on intuitive, quick work.
GanttPro allows its users to create several workspaces and projects, and as soon as they’re done creating them, its drag & drop option makes it easy to start adding tasks and setting them a start and due date. This online tool also provides management options to differentiate permissions to different team members within different projects.
One of the biggest benefits you’ll find here is that it’s an inexpensive system, so you can get started without a lot of overhead. Plus, it has a great design and it’s really focused on Gantt charts rather than any of the other aspects you might consider. There are also other chart options if you prefer to try out something new.On the other hand, if you’re looking for integrations or mobile options you’re not going to get everything here. GanttPro does not have any reporting tools or customization options for dashboards. And they don’t integrate with most other systems. So you’ll have to set up those systems entirely separately if need be.
GanttPro Features:
Workload tracking and management module
Drag & drop
Splitting tasks and subtasks
Merging dependencies
Overall, you’ll find some good things about GanttPro that you don’t want to miss out on, like the cost and the design. You’ll also like that it keeps your history so you can undo changes that were made by mistake. Plus you get different options for the style of board that you want to use, which makes it easy for you to find something.
Who doesn’t know Microsoft Project? It’s probably the most reliable option in all things project management related. It might be the go-to option for most, as it’s developed and sold by Microsoft.
However, it lacks the flexibility an online Gantt chart software will provide for you. Yes, it is very robust when it comes to monitoring resources, budgets, and timelines, especially for large projects, but it might turn out to be just a little too hard to use for teams that just wish to keep track of their progress and to follow through simple project execution.
If you want a whole lot of features and power then you’re going to find it with Microsoft Project. This system gives you a whole lot of highly detailed options and some of the most customizable reports that you’ll find with any of the other systems. That makes it great for those who want to track anything and everything.On the downside, you’ll find that this system is a little more difficult to use and even difficult to purchase. For those who don’t need a lot of the extra features you may want to opt for something a little more simplistic. You’ll also find that it doesn’t integrate with many other apps even though it can do a whole lot of other things, and it’s somewhat expensive comparatively.
Overall, their Gantt chart is slotted in split screens next to task lists and due dates to give you all of your timeline details in one view. This can be overwhelming for users who aren’t used to the volume of info and only need to view a few details or attachments. MS Project is definitely built for project managers who are monitoring timelines, budgets, and progress but is not necessarily the best fit for individual contributors who just need to see their next task.
Click Up deems itself as an elegant Gantt chart software option. It allows its users to schedule, manage dependencies, and prioritize tasks into a project timeline. Its beautiful and swift interface makes it easy to manage projects by creating lists, tasks and following the overall progress of a project. However, if you want to try the Gantt view option, you will have to have access to a Click Up paid plan. Once you get into it, however, you’ll find a number of good features and options that make it possible for you to work more efficiently.This system is inexpensive and offers plenty of different compatibility options. Not only that but it offers 24/7 support with a live representative and plenty of training options to go along with it. That way your entire team can get the hang of the system in no time at all. You’ll also get a number of additional features like portfolio management, resource management and cost-to-completion tracking. On the other side you’ll find that it can be a little difficult to figure out some of the options because there are so many features. It can also be difficult to get started and get things situated for the first time. If you make a mistake it can cause problems for the entire system. You’ll want to get a bit of help and definitely go through the training options to find out more about how it all works.
ClickUp Features:
Multiple views
Assigned comments
Task tray
Notepad
Notifications
Integrations
Dark mode
Overall, you’ll find that this system gives you a whole lot of features and that’s a great way to go when it comes to tracking everything that your team needs to get done on a daily basis. But you’ll want to get some help preparing for how the system works.
Toggl Plan allows you to do everything you would expect with a Gantt chart. It tracks your projects and your team to make your job a whole lot easier. You’ll get a simple and straightforward system that offers Gantt charts and Kanban boards. In fact, Kanban boards are more of what Toggl Plan is known for and will give you a different way to review your projects.The key with this program is that it’s simple.
It’s designed to slim down the information that you need to track to make sure that the process is going to be short and sweet. If you need all the extra bells and whistles then you may want to look at something other than Toggl Plan to get you there. But if you want things to be clear and concise you’re likely in the right place.On the downside you’ll find that it doesn’t have a lot of advanced features. If you’re looking to track anything and everything for your business you may want to go elsewhere, but you’ll still be happy with the overall features and options that come along with this system.
Toggl Plan Features:
Drag & drop
Clean interface
Less tools
Team view
Kanban boards
Overall, Toggl Plan will give you an easy to use system that is drag & drop and also clean. On the other hand you’ll want to consider the balance of features that go into the program and how your company needs to use them.
The final option on our list is Monday, which gives you a host of different features to help you track anything and everything that you want in your projects. In fact, Monday is one of the most modern options for project management and it gives you a lot more than just those functions as well.
You’ll get collaboration tools, CRM tools, project management, task management and a whole lot more. And everything is going to be customizable to what you and your business actually need. For anyone who thinks more features are better, this may be the way to go.The downside with Monday is that it can be a little confusing to figure out which system you want to use.
There are several different programs and plans available and so the pricing can be a little difficult to understand.
Monday Features:
CRM tools
Collaboration tools
Modern system
Customizable
In-app automation
Templates included
Overall, you’ll find that this system is very customizable and has some great templates. It also has a lot of automation features and a modern user interface. But you should consider some of the negatives before you decide to jump in.
How to choose your Gantt chart software? Top 5 features and qualities to look for.
Gantt software resolves the issue of manually planning the project and designing the Gantt chart. However, selecting software specifically for this purpose will not be an efficient design. It is because many tools provide this functionality today. So, you must look for an option that brings you the best user experience when managing projects.
Here are the top 5 things to look for when selecting your Gantt chart software.
1) See how easy to use your Gantt chart software is
Start the selection by looking for ease of use. Gantt software must be very easy to use. It must come with a user-friendly interface that lets you quickly design and update your Gantt charts. It is a crucial factor for both new and seasoned project managers.
2) Look for customization and design flexibility options
Check for customization and design flexibility options. Gantt chart software that comes with such flexibility gives you that slight room to design your Gantt chart right according to your requirements. This way, you may improve the visibility of your project tasks according to project-specific needs.
3) Get the Gantt software that brings integration capabilities
Integration is one of the most important qualities of these tools. It is because we usually use digital tools instead of doing things manually and getting support for integration allows us to connect tools. It helps with productive data processing, ultimately helping project management.
4) Collaboration features with real-time updates are essential
A good Gantt chart designing tool will always come with collaboration features built-in so the whole team stays on the same page. More importantly, you must go for a tool that provides collaboration features with real-time updates. This way every team member will be updated with all changes in the project timeline immediately.
5) Gantt software with reporting and analytics can help in planning projects
Lastly, you must look for qualities like reporting and analytics. Such features can help project managers assess the individual and overall performance. Hence setting more realistic task deadlines with efficient decision-making.
Why is using a Gantt chart Software necessary for you?
Projects keep on getting more complex these days, which makes efficient management more important. A Gantt chart is a tool that can make project management easier in multiple ways. This way, Gantt software can help improve the overall productivity and quality of deliverables. So, here are a few ways why using a Gantt chart is necessary for you.
A Gantt software helps with efficient resource planning
A project needs multiple resources simultaneously. These may include hardware resources, human resources, and time. With Gantt chart software, you can efficiently plan these resources for the project. Hence, you don't face resource shortage or wastage.
Visual timeline and schedule management help keep things on track
A major benefit of using Gantt charts is the visual overview they provide for projects. With every deliverable, group of tasks, and whole project timeline visible, understand things better. It also helps with identifying any possible conflicts within the sequence of projects. So managers can make the necessary changes as soon as possible.
You can efficiently track individual and overall performance and progress
Gantt charts are excellent when you need to track progress and performance. It is because you break down huge projects into small tasks and assign them to individuals. This way, you get a transparent overview of how everyone is performing. Moreover, overall progress tracking becomes easier this way.
You can improve team communication and collaboration
Gantt chart software gives a centralized platform where everyone can collaborate and communicate according to their assignments. It ensures that the whole team understands their responsibilities and assignments. So, they can efficiently work towards the project goal with small tasks.
Advantages and disadvantages of a Gantt software.
Gantt charts are excellent at project management, but they are no way near being perfect. So, before getting started with Gantt chart software, you must know both sides of the story. Here, we will explore some key advantages and crucial disadvantages of Gantt charts:
Advantages
Clarity for every task in the project
As projects get bigger, they become complex, especially when large teams are working on them. Breaking the project down into tasks using the Gantt chart makes small modules that are easier to understand. Hence, everyone working on that project gets amazing clarity, no matter how complex the project is.
Planning and forecasting become easier
Gantt software makes planning and forecasting the project easier. It is because they can assess progress at individual levels. So, managers may take effective measures for planning and forecasting their projects. Hence, the whole project can easily meet the main objectives.A centralized project documentation experience
Your Gantt chart software will provide a central project documentation platform. It is because everyone will be on this project, and they will have their:
With everything present for the project in one place, things will get easier for management and the assignees.
Better accountability and communication for everyone
Gantt charts provide better communication opportunities. Moreover, they provide the necessary transparency needed by every stakeholder of the project. This way, managers and clients can hold the exact individual accountable for any quality issues.
Disadvantages
It can be complex to manage large and dynamic projects
Gantt chart software is amazing for managing projects, but it may get inefficient for extremely large and complex projects. The same goes true for dynamic projects where things keep changing frequently. It is because everything becomes cumbersome, and managing the Gantt chart with all dependencies will become more difficult.
Printing these is not easy
Gantt charts are designed horizontally to manage timelines and deliverables manually. So, if you must print them, their horizontal orientation may make it a complex task. It is because it will take several pages for one Gantt chart, and keeping track of the order of tasks will be difficult.Your team may focus only on the deadlines for deliverables
Gantt software and Gantt charts primarily focus on deadlines. So, if you are not careful enough, your team may focus more on the deadlines rather than quality. It means that even when they are delivering on time, you are not getting the quality of work you need.
Tips for higher efficiency when working with Gantt Chart Software
Getting Gantt software and starting to design your Gantt charts is not enough alone. You might not be using it efficiently enough, and that means less productivity. So, here are our top tips to achieve high productivity from your Gantt chart software.
Start designing your Gantt chart after having a clear project idea
A common mistake managers make is that they get the Gantt software and start designing project timelines without any planning. What you need to do is understand the project beforehand and get a clear idea of the objectives and deliverables. It will help in efficient resource utilization.
Break down projects into manageable tasks and use dependencies wisely
When working on a Gantt chart, you may think that you can get the project delivered very quickly. However, you must break down projects into manageable tasks with realistic deadlines. At the same time, some tasks may be dependent on previous deliverables. So, you must use them wisely.
Leverage the communication and automation features of your Gantt chart
Keeping the whole team on the same page is crucial. So, you must efficiently use the automation and communication features of the Gantt software. This way, the whole team will get real-time updates about their assignments. Moreover, they can communicate to align their project goals.
Regularly update your Gantt chart to keep everyone informed
It is important to update the Gantt chart whenever necessary. Whether you are making some changes to the timeline or a deliverable is late, updating the Gantt chart will keep everyone informed. It will significantly help in staying oriented with the overall project deadline.
Review and improve your Gantt chart by keeping all stakeholders informed
Your project will have multiple stakeholders, including clients, the team, and a committee of managers. A Gantt chart will allow you to get feedback and reviews from every stakeholder. It helps update and improve the Gantt chart while offering everyone transparency.
Conclusion time
Gantt chart software is an essential tool for anyone looking to manage their projects efficiently. Gantt charts make project management and delivery very easy by breaking down projects into small deliverables. This way, every stakeholder gets transparency and accountability for their role. Using Gantt software makes things even better with all the smart integration, scalability, communication, and automation features.
While Gantt chart software brings significant value for you, you must understand the right way to utilize it. More importantly, you must understand which Gantt software is the right pick for you, considering its unique attributes. We hope that this post has been helpful for you in selecting the right Gantt chart software for your use case. If you want to start right now, you don't need to look any further!
Give Instagantt Gantt chart software a try and follow our tips to improve its usability and maximize your benefits.
Gantt charts are great tools that provide a comprehensive look at the status of every project. They allow people to really understand task duration, resource use, and team workload. So, if you are planning on implementing a Gantt chart online software for you or your team, look no further!You can start now by giving Instagantt a try. Just click on the button below and you’ll be a Gantt chart pro-user in no-time!
