TLDR
Start by matching the tool to how your projects actually run. If you schedule around finish-to-start dependencies, lead/lag times, and a critical path, prioritize tools built for true project scheduling over spreadsheet-style timelines. If your team mostly needs a shared visual timeline, a lighter work management tool with a Gantt view will serve you faster and at lower cost.
Teams coordinating multi-phase projects with dependencies, deadlines, and shared resources across departments.
A Gantt chart is a horizontal timeline that shows tasks as bars, mapped against dates, with lines connecting work that depends on other work. The best software does more than draw bars: it recalculates schedules when a task slips, flags the critical path, and shows who is overbooked.
The right choice depends on project complexity. A content calendar or product sprint needs drag-and-drop bars and clear ownership. A construction schedule needs dependencies with lead/lag, baselines to track drift, and resource leveling across crews. Buying a heavy scheduling engine for simple work wastes money and training time; buying a lightweight timeline for complex work leaves you managing spreadsheets on the side.
Weigh how dependencies are handled, whether baselines and critical path matter to you, how the tool treats resources and capacity, and how well it connects to the apps your team already uses. Also check whether non-project members can view timelines without a paid seat.
best gantt chart software Tools compared
Filter by what you care about. Every tool stays on the page.
| Tool | Price | Task Dependencies | Resource Management | Baselines & Critical Path | Integrations & API | Collaboration | Portfolio View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Project | From $10/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Asana | From $10.99/mo | Yes | Limited | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| monday.com | From $9/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smartsheet | From $9/mo | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ClickUp | From $7/mo | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wrike | From $10/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TeamGantt | From $19/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| GanttPRO | From $9.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Limited |
| Jira | From $7.53/mo | Yes | Limited | No | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Notion | From $10/mo | Limited | No | No | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Zoho Projects | From $4/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited |
| Primavera P6 | Custom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Trello | From $5/mo | Limited | No | No | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Airtable | From $20/mo | Yes | Limited | No | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| ProjectManager | From $13/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Highlighted rows are featured placements. Competitor details are set by each platform, so confirm on their site before buying.
The 15 best best gantt chart software tools
Microsoft Project
From $10/moMicrosoft Project is the reference point for serious Gantt-based scheduling, with task dependencies, critical path, baselines, and resource leveling built in. It works best for project managers who want granular control over timelines and are comfortable with a steeper learning curve. Cloud plans integrate with the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem, while the desktop client remains popular for complex plans.
Pros
- Deep scheduling engine with critical path and baselines
- Strong resource and cost management
- Integrates with Microsoft 365 and Teams
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than lightweight tools
- Collaboration features lag behind modern platforms
- Pricing can add up for larger teams
Best for: PMs who need detailed, dependency-heavy scheduling
Asana
From $10.99/moAsana offers a Timeline view that functions as a Gantt chart, showing dependencies and scheduling across tasks. It is designed for cross-functional teams that want task management, workflows, and planning in one place rather than a dedicated scheduling tool. The Gantt capabilities require paid plans, and heavy scheduling users may find it less detailed than specialist software.
Pros
- Clean interface that is easy to adopt
- Strong task and workflow management
- Many integrations and automations
Cons
- Timeline view needs a paid plan
- No true baselines for schedule comparison
- Less granular than dedicated scheduling tools
Best for: Cross-functional teams wanting planning plus task management
monday.com
From $9/seat/moMonday.com provides a Gantt view with dependencies, milestones, and baselines on its Pro and higher tiers. Its strength is visual, customizable boards that teams can shape to their own workflows. For teams that want a single tool for many use cases, it covers planning alongside CRM, dev, and marketing work.
Pros
- Highly customizable and visual
- Gantt with dependencies and milestones
- Broad integrations and automations
Cons
- Gantt and baselines gated to higher tiers
- Per-seat pricing with minimum seats
- Can get complex as you add features
Best for: Teams wanting a configurable all-around work platform
Smartsheet
From $9/moSmartsheet combines a familiar grid interface with Gantt charts, dependencies, and critical path. It scales well into portfolio and PMO use with dashboards and resource management add-ons. Teams comfortable with spreadsheets tend to pick it up quickly, though some advanced capabilities sit in higher tiers or paid add-ons.
Pros
- Spreadsheet feel lowers the learning curve
- Gantt with dependencies and critical path
- Strong portfolio and reporting options
Cons
- Resource management is an add-on
- Can feel dense for simple projects
- Costs rise with add-ons and premium features
Best for: Spreadsheet-savvy teams scaling into PMO work
ClickUp
From $7/moClickUp includes Gantt charts with dependencies, critical path, and workload views, with unlimited Gantt charts on its paid tiers. It aims to replace several tools with docs, tasks, goals, and time tracking in one place. The breadth is appealing, though the volume of features can overwhelm new users.
Pros
- Unlimited Gantt charts on paid plans
- Many views plus docs, goals, and time tracking
- Competitive per-user pricing
Cons
- Feature overload can slow onboarding
- Performance can lag on large workspaces
- Baselines are limited compared to specialists
Best for: Teams wanting one app for many workflows
Wrike
From $10/moWrike offers interactive Gantt charts, dependencies, and resource management aimed at mid-size and enterprise teams. It pairs planning with dashboards, request forms, and automation for operations, marketing, and PMO groups. Advanced features and higher limits come on the pricier tiers.
Pros
- Interactive Gantt with dependencies
- Solid resource management and dashboards
- Good fit for cross-team operations
Cons
- Advanced features require higher tiers
- Can be complex to configure
- Pricing less transparent for upper plans
Best for: Mid-size to enterprise teams needing structured planning
TeamGantt
From $19/moTeamGantt is built around the Gantt chart, with drag-and-drop scheduling, dependencies, and baselines without the bloat of enterprise suites. It is easy to learn and has grown a strong following in construction and services. Resource management and collaboration are included, and it integrates with common tools.
Pros
- Purpose-built, easy-to-use Gantt charts
- Baselines and dependencies included
- Good fit for construction and small teams
Cons
- Fewer features outside scheduling
- Portfolio reporting is lighter than enterprise tools
- Per-manager pricing can add up
Best for: Small teams and construction wanting a simple Gantt tool
GanttPRO
From $9.99/moGanttPRO focuses on Gantt chart planning with dependencies, milestones, and project calendars across its tiers. Higher plans add workload, portfolio, time, and budget management, and an enterprise tier adds SSO and custom roles. It is a straightforward choice for teams that want dedicated scheduling with modern collaboration.
Pros
- Clean, Gantt-first interface
- Dependencies, calendars, and templates
- Budget and workload on higher plans
Cons
- Portfolio and workload need higher tiers
- Fewer integrations than larger platforms
- Less suited to non-scheduling work
Best for: Teams wanting focused Gantt planning with budgets
Jira
From $7.53/moJira is built for software teams and uses its Timeline and Advanced Roadmaps features for dependency mapping and planning across projects. It is strongest for agile workflows rather than classic waterfall Gantt scheduling. Portfolio-level planning sits in the Premium and Enterprise tiers.
Pros
- Strong fit for agile software teams
- Timeline and roadmap planning with dependencies
- Deep integration ecosystem
Cons
- Not a traditional Gantt scheduler
- Portfolio planning needs Premium tiers
- Overkill for non-software teams
Best for: Software teams running agile with roadmap planning
Notion
From $10/moNotion offers a Timeline view in its databases that can show tasks over time with simple dependencies. It shines as a connected workspace for docs, wikis, and project tracking rather than detailed scheduling. Teams wanting critical path, baselines, or resource leveling will find it too light.
Pros
- Flexible all-in-one workspace
- Timeline view for simple planning
- Good for docs and project notes together
Cons
- No baselines or critical path
- Limited resource management
- Not a dedicated scheduling tool
Best for: Teams wanting docs and light planning in one place
Zoho Projects
From $4/moZoho Projects includes Gantt charts with dependencies, baselines, and critical path at a low price point. It fits small and mid-size teams, especially those already using other Zoho apps. The wider Zoho suite adds CRM, finance, and more for businesses wanting one vendor.
Pros
- Low cost with Gantt and baselines
- Resource utilization charts
- Integrates with the Zoho ecosystem
Cons
- Interface feels dated to some users
- Fewer third-party integrations than rivals
- Best value when used within Zoho
Best for: Budget-conscious teams, especially Zoho users
Primavera P6
CustomOracle Primavera P6 is a heavyweight scheduling tool used in construction, engineering, and large capital projects. It handles enormous schedules, detailed resource and cost loading, baselines, and portfolio analysis. It is powerful but expensive and demands trained schedulers to use well.
Pros
- Handles very large, complex schedules
- Deep resource and cost management
- Strong portfolio and baseline analysis
Cons
- Expensive and quote-based licensing
- Steep learning curve
- Overkill for small teams
Best for: Large construction and engineering programs
Trello
From $5/moTrello is a card-based Kanban tool that adds timeline and calendar views on paid plans and through Power-Ups. It is best for simple, visual task tracking rather than detailed scheduling. Teams needing dependencies, baselines, or resource leveling will need a Power-Up or a different tool.
Pros
- Very easy to learn and use
- Timeline view on paid plans
- Large Power-Up ecosystem
Cons
- Native Gantt is limited or add-on based
- No baselines or critical path
- Not built for complex schedules
Best for: Small teams wanting simple visual task tracking
Airtable
From $20/moAirtable blends a spreadsheet and database, with a Gantt view and dependencies available on its Team and higher plans. It is flexible for building custom trackers and workflows, and connects to many apps. For deep scheduling with baselines and resource leveling, it is lighter than specialist tools.
Pros
- Flexible database-driven setup
- Gantt view with dependencies on higher plans
- Strong integrations and automations
Cons
- Gantt gated to paid tiers
- No true baselines or critical path
- Can require setup effort
Best for: Teams building custom trackers with some scheduling
ProjectManager
From $13/moProjectManager offers online Gantt charts with dependencies, baselines, and critical path alongside kanban, dashboards, and workload views. It targets teams that want planning and tracking with real-time reporting. Pricing is per user with a minimum seat count, and advanced features sit on higher tiers.
Pros
- Interactive Gantt with baselines and critical path
- Workload and resource planning
- Real-time dashboards and reports
Cons
- Per-user pricing with seat minimums
- Advanced features on higher tiers
- Can be more than small teams need
Best for: Teams wanting planning and tracking with reporting
How to choose the right Gantt tool
Map your project reality first. Count how many tasks a typical project has, whether work is truly sequential (dependencies that must recalculate), and whether you track drift against an original plan. Those three answers separate a scheduling engine from a visual timeline.
Then factor in who needs access. Many tools charge per editor but offer free or cheap viewer seats. If executives and clients only need to see progress, confirm viewer pricing before you size the plan. Also check import paths: if you live in Excel or MS Project today, a tool that imports.mpp or.xlsx cleanly saves weeks.
Key features to look for
Dependencies with lead and lag time are the core test. A tool that only links tasks end-to-end, without offsets, will frustrate anyone scheduling real-world work. Critical path highlighting and baselines matter most for construction, engineering, and regulated projects where you report against a committed plan.
Resource management is the second axis. Look for per-person capacity, workload heatmaps, and the ability to level or reassign when someone is overbooked. Finally, test the dynamic recalculation: move one task and confirm downstream dates shift the way you expect, not silently break.
Implementation tips
Pilot on one active project, not a demo dataset. Rebuild a real schedule you already know, then stress-test it by slipping a task and watching the ripple. This exposes how the dependency engine actually behaves.
Standardize a template before rolling out widely. Agree on task naming, milestone conventions, and which fields are required. Teams that skip this end up with inconsistent charts that cannot roll up into a portfolio view. Train editors separately from viewers so you do not pay for seats people never use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Gantt chart and a project timeline view?
A true Gantt chart recalculates dates based on task dependencies and shows the critical path. Many lightweight tools offer a 'timeline view' that draws bars on a calendar but does not auto-shift dependent tasks when one slips. If scheduling logic matters, confirm the tool recalculates downstream dates automatically.
Do I need Microsoft Project, or is a simpler tool enough?
Microsoft Project and Primavera P6 are built for complex schedules with baselines, resource leveling, and critical path analysis. If you run construction, engineering, or PMO-level programs, they earn their cost. For marketing, product, or operations teams, Asana, monday.com, TeamGantt, or Smartsheet are easier to adopt and cheaper.
Can Gantt tools handle resource management?
Some do well. Smartsheet, Wrike, Celoxis, and Microsoft Project offer per-person capacity, workload views, and leveling. Lighter tools show assignees but may not warn you when someone is overbooked. If balancing people across projects is a priority, test the workload view specifically during a trial.
Which Gantt software integrates with Jira or Slack?
Wrike, Smartsheet, monday.com, ClickUp, and Asana all connect to Slack and offer Jira sync to varying degrees. Atlassian's own tools integrate with Jira natively. Check whether sync is two-way and whether it maps dependencies, not just task status.
Can clients or executives view the Gantt chart without paying for a seat?
Several tools offer free or low-cost viewer/guest access. TeamGantt, Asana, and monday.com support shareable read-only links or guest seats. Confirm viewer pricing before sizing your plan, since it can change cost significantly for stakeholder-heavy projects.
Is there free Gantt chart software?
Yes. TeamGantt, ClickUp, and GanttPRO offer free tiers, usually limited by project count or users. Notion and Trello (with Power-Ups) can approximate timelines at no cost. Free tiers rarely include baselines or advanced dependencies, so they suit small or simple projects best.
Can I import my existing Microsoft Project or Excel files?
Many tools import .mpp (MS Project) and .xlsx files, including Smartsheet, GanttPRO, and Wrike. Import quality varies: dependencies and custom fields do not always carry over cleanly. Test a real file during your trial rather than assuming a lossless transfer.
The bottom line
Small teams and marketing groups should pick a work management app with a built-in timeline (Asana, monday, ClickUp) and avoid overbuying. Construction, engineering, and PMO teams managing baselines and resource leveling should trial Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Primavera. Run a two-week pilot on one real project before committing a seat count.