Best free Gantt chart software

How did we choose these free Gantt chart tools?

We started with a simple filter: the tool has to let you build a genuine Gantt timeline for free, not just show you a demo before asking for a card. That means you can create tasks, set start and end dates, connect them with dependencies, and drop in milestones without paying. A calendar view or a plain task list is not a Gantt chart, so those did not make the list.

From there we looked at the limits that actually decide whether a free tier is usable. How many projects can you create before you hit a wall? How many people can collaborate on the same plan? Are core scheduling features, like dependencies, milestones, and a critical path, included on the free tier, or are they held back for a paid upgrade? A tool that gives you one project and three seats can still be perfect for a single plan, but it is a different thing from a tool with no project cap.

We also kept the split between standalone online tools, desktop apps, and broader work platforms clear, because they suit different people. An online Gantt tool is fast to share and needs no install. A desktop app is yours to keep and works offline, but collaboration is harder. A broad platform bundles a Gantt view into boards, docs, and automations, which is powerful but heavier if all you want is a timeline. We treated every option on the same terms; the pricing and free-tier figures below are current list prices that can change, because vendors update packaging often. Confirm the current limits on each vendor's own site before you rely on one.

What does free actually mean here?

Free can mean a few different things, and the difference matters more than the word itself. The strongest form is a tool that is genuinely free with no real cap, so you can run as many projects as you like without an upgrade prompt appearing at the worst moment. Ganttile sits in this group. This is the closest thing to free that behaves like free.

The most common form is a limited free plan. The tool is free to start, but the free tier caps something: the number of projects, the number of people who can collaborate, or which features you can reach. TeamGantt, Instagantt, monday.com, and ClickUp all work this way. These plans are real and often generous enough for one project or a small group, but they are also designed to nudge you toward a paid tier as your use grows, so the limits are the part to read closely.

A third form is a free desktop app you download, install, and own. GanttProject and ProjectLibre are both open source and free in this sense: there is no account, no seat count, and no monthly bill, but you trade away easy online sharing and you manage updates yourself. Separate from all of these is the free trial, which is not really free at all: it is a paid tool that lets you look around for a couple of weeks before the bill starts. When you compare options, look for the limits, not just the label.

The best free Gantt chart software

The eight options below cover the main ways to build a Gantt chart without paying, from a fully free online tool to free desktop apps, broad platforms with a free plan, and the humble spreadsheet template. Ganttile comes first because it is the most straightforwardly free of the group.

• Ganttile
• GanttProject
• TeamGantt
• Instagantt
• ProjectLibre
• monday.com
• ClickUp
• Google Sheets or Excel template

1. Ganttile - free online timeline with no project cap

Ganttile is a free online Gantt chart tool that puts the whole timeline on the free tier: unlimited projects, dependencies, milestones, automatic scheduling, critical path, and export to PDF, image, Excel, or MPP. It runs in the browser with nothing to install, so you can open a blank chart, block out a plan, and share a link in minutes. If you have ever built a plan in a spreadsheet and wished the bars moved themselves when a date slipped, this is the shift our guide to going beyond spreadsheets describes.

Because it is focused on Gantt charts rather than trying to be a full work platform, it stays quick to learn. You are not configuring boards, databases, or automations first; you are laying out tasks on a timeline. That focus is also the trade-off, which is why teams that later want boards, comments, and reporting alongside their timeline often pair it with a project tool like Breeze.

• Best for: teams and freelancers who want a simple online Gantt timeline for free, with no install.
• Pricing: Free - every feature included, unlimited projects (dependencies, milestones, critical path, export to PDF, image, Excel, and MPP).

Pros

• Fully free with no limit on the number of projects
• Nothing to install, so a plan is shareable by link
• Real scheduling built in: dependencies, milestones, and critical path
• Exports to PDF, image, Excel, and MPP

Cons

• Newer tool with limited third-party review coverage so far
• Focused on Gantt charts, so it is not a full work platform with boards and dashboards
• Better suited to timeline planning than to day-to-day task chat and files

Why teams pick Ganttile

2. GanttProject - free open-source desktop Gantt app

GanttProject is a free, open-source desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It has been around for years and covers the fundamentals well: tasks, dependencies, milestones, a resource view, and export to common formats including PDF and image. Because it is desktop software, you download it once and own it outright, with no account to create and no seat count to watch.

The trade-off is collaboration. A desktop file is harder to share and edit together than a link, so GanttProject fits solo planners and small teams who are comfortable passing a file around or storing it in shared storage. It looks utilitarian rather than modern, but it is dependable and completely free.

• Best for: people who want a free open-source desktop Gantt app.
• Pricing: Free, open source (desktop, Windows, macOS, and Linux).
• Rating: 4.2/5 on Capterra

Pros

• Free and open source, with no account required
• Works offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• MPP and CSV import and export, good for small or academic projects
• Covers tasks, dependencies, milestones, and a resource view

Cons

• Dated, less intuitive interface next to newer web apps
• Limited collaboration and no real cloud editing
• Export formatting is weak

What users say about GanttProject

3. TeamGantt - approachable standalone Gantt tool

TeamGantt is an approachable online Gantt tool with a clean, drag-and-drop timeline that is easy to pick up. It leans into being pleasant to use, so building a plan feels light rather than technical, and it is a common recommendation for people new to Gantt charts.

The free plan is where the caution comes in. It is aimed at small use and typically limits how many projects and tasks you can have, so it fits a single simple project better than an ongoing team that keeps adding work. It is worth confirming the current free-tier limits on their site, since a plan that works for one project may not stretch to several.

• Best for: teams that want an approachable, easy-to-learn standalone Gantt tool.
• Pricing: Free plan (1 project, up to 40 tasks); Basic from $24/month for 2 projects; Business $120/month for 5 projects. Priced per project, with unlimited managers and collaborators.
• Rating: 4.6/5 on Capterra

Pros

• Intuitive drag-and-drop timeline that is quick to learn
• Clean online interface with nothing to install
• Strong collaboration with unlimited managers and collaborators

Cons

• Free plan is very limited, at one project and up to 40 tasks
• Reporting could be more advanced
• Better for one small plan than for a growing team

What users say about TeamGantt

4. Instagantt - Gantt timeline for Asana users

Instagantt is an online Gantt tool that works as a standalone timeline and also connects closely with Asana. It covers the expected basics, including tasks, dependencies, milestones, and export, in a straightforward web interface, and it is a familiar pick for people who want a timeline view without much setup.

Its strongest angle is the Asana link. If your team already lives in Asana, Instagantt can turn that work into a Gantt view, which is convenient because Asana's own timeline sits on paid tiers. The free tier exists but comes with limits on connected projects, so, as with the others, read what the free plan actually includes before you build a team's plan on it.

• Best for: Asana users who want a Gantt and timeline view of their Asana work.
• Pricing: Free for Asana users (up to 3 connected Asana projects); Individual from $10/month billed annually ($12 monthly); Teams $20/month billed annually for 3 users.
• Rating: 4.3/5 on Capterra

Pros

• Flexible, easy, and cost-effective add-on for Asana timelines and dependencies
• Also usable as a standalone online Gantt tool
• Covers dependencies, milestones, and export

Cons

• No permission levels
• The interface is less friendly for non-project-manager users
• The strongest value depends on already using Asana

What users say about Instagantt

5. ProjectLibre - free Microsoft Project alternative

ProjectLibre is a free, open-source desktop application often described as an alternative to Microsoft Project. It is a heavier, more traditional project-management tool than most of the online options here, with Gantt charts, dependencies, resource allocation, cost tracking, and compatibility with Microsoft Project files.

That depth is both the appeal and the catch. For anyone who needs a serious, MPP-compatible planning tool without a license fee, ProjectLibre delivers a lot for nothing. But it has a steeper learning curve than a lightweight web tool, and like other desktop apps it is not built for live online collaboration. It suits planners who want Microsoft Project style capability offline and for free.

• Best for: people who want a free desktop Microsoft Project alternative.
• Pricing: Free, open source (desktop app that can open MPP files).
• Rating: 4.4/5 on Capterra

Pros

• Free, open source, and cost-effective, with no license fee
• MPP compatible, reading and writing Microsoft Project files
• Covers the essentials well: dependencies, resources, and cost tracking
• Runs offline on major desktop operating systems

Cons

• Dated interface
• Limited collaboration and no real cloud option
• Occasional stability issues

What users say about ProjectLibre

6. monday.com - Gantt view inside a colorful work platform

monday.com is a broad work platform built around colorful boards, with a Gantt view available among its many ways to see work. It is not a dedicated Gantt tool, but if you want your timeline to sit next to boards, automations, dashboards, and forms in one place, it is a capable option and pleasant to look at.

The free plan is limited in the way you would expect from a large platform. It is capped at two seats and tends to restrict the more advanced views, and the Gantt view in particular is often part of a paid tier rather than the free one. That makes monday.com a strong choice when you want an all-in-one platform, but a weaker one if a free Gantt chart is the specific thing you need.

• Best for: teams wanting a flexible, colorful work platform with a timeline view.
• Pricing: Free plan (up to 2 seats); Basic from $9 per seat/month billed annually (3-seat minimum); Standard $12.
• Rating: 4.7/5 on G2

Pros

• All-in-one platform with boards, automations, and dashboards
• Visual, flexible boards that are easy to use
• Strong onboarding, with a timeline that fits alongside other views of the same work

Cons

• Cost climbs with seats and tiers
• Three-seat minimum on paid plans, and the free plan is capped at two seats
• Advanced features, including the Gantt view, are often gated behind paid tiers

What users say about monday.com

7. ClickUp - all-in-one platform with a free Gantt view

ClickUp is another broad, feature-rich work platform, and it includes a Gantt view alongside lists, boards, docs, and goals. It is known for packing a large amount into one tool, and its free plan is relatively generous, which is why it shows up often in free-tool roundups.

The free plan does include a Gantt view, which sets it apart from some platforms that hold the timeline back, though heavier use and larger teams still run into feature and usage limits. The other consideration is depth: ClickUp offers so many features and settings that it can feel busy if all you want is a clean timeline. It suits people who want one flexible tool for everything and are happy to grow into it.

• Best for: teams wanting an all-in-one work platform with a Gantt view.
• Pricing: Free plan; Unlimited from $7 per user/month billed annually.
• Rating: 4.6/5 on G2

Pros

• All-in-one consolidation of lists, boards, docs, and goals in one place
• Free plan includes a Gantt view
• Highly flexible, so you can shape it to your workflow

Cons

• Learning curve and setup are the top complaint
• The breadth of features can feel overwhelming for simple timeline planning
• Larger teams and heavier use hit free-tier limits

What users say about ClickUp

8. Google Sheets or Excel template - free but fully manual

A Google Sheets or Excel template is technically free and instantly familiar, and a stacked-bar chart or a shaded grid of cells can look like a timeline. For a tiny, stable plan that a couple of people glance at, it can be enough, and there are plenty of free templates to start from.

The limits show up quickly, though. A spreadsheet has no real dependencies, so nothing reschedules itself when a date slips, and every change means editing cells by hand. There is no critical path and no automatic scheduling, so the chart drifts out of date as soon as the plan moves. Our guide on how to create a Gantt chart walks through the steps, and the going beyond spreadsheets guide explains where the approach breaks down.

• Best for: a tiny, stable, one-off chart when you do not want to adopt any new tool.
• Pricing: Free (within Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), but fully manual.

Pros

• Free and already installed for most people
• Familiar, with no new tool to learn
• Fine for a tiny, stable plan

Cons

• No real dependencies or automatic scheduling
• Every date change is manual, so it goes stale fast
• No critical path or milestone logic

A spreadsheet has no real dependencies, so there is no third-party Gantt rating to point to here. It stays free and familiar, but because nothing reschedules itself, the approach breaks down as soon as the plan grows beyond a handful of tasks.

Free Gantt chart software compared

Here is how the eight options line up at a glance. Treat the free-tier notes as a starting point and confirm the current limits on each vendor's site.

How do you choose a free Gantt tool?

Start with two questions: online or desktop, and one project or many. If you want to share a live plan with a team and avoid installs, an online tool wins, and Ganttile keeps the whole timeline free. If you would rather own the software and work offline, a desktop app like GanttProject or ProjectLibre fits better, with ProjectLibre going deeper if you need Microsoft Project style planning and file compatibility.

Then decide whether you want a dedicated Gantt tool or a broad platform. A focused tool gets you a timeline fast with little setup. A platform like monday.com or ClickUp bundles the Gantt view into boards, docs, and automations, which is worth it if you want one tool for everything, but heavier if a timeline is all you need. Remember that on some platforms the Gantt view itself sits on a paid tier, so confirm it is included before you settle in.

Finally, check the limits on any free plan. A tool that caps you at one project or a few people can still be great for a single plan, but it will slow you down as the team grows and adds work. If you expect to run several projects for free, a tool with no project cap saves you from an upgrade prompt at the worst moment. The most reliable test is to build one real timeline, with dependencies and milestones, and see whether you hit a wall.

Common questions about free Gantt chart software

Is there a Gantt chart tool that is completely free?

Yes. Ganttile is a free online Gantt chart tool with unlimited projects, and GanttProject and ProjectLibre are free open-source desktop apps. All three let you build a full timeline with dependencies and milestones without paying.

Can I make a Gantt chart for free without installing anything?

Yes. Online tools like Ganttile run in the browser, so you can create and share a Gantt chart without downloading software. Desktop apps like GanttProject and ProjectLibre are also free, but they need to be installed.

Are free Gantt tools good enough for real projects?

For most small and mid-sized projects, yes. Free tools cover tasks, dependencies, and milestones, which is what most timelines need. You mainly move to paid tools for portfolio reporting, resource management, or larger teams.

What is the catch with free plans?

The usual catch is limits on projects, people, or features. Some tools are fully free, while others use a free plan to nudge you toward a paid upgrade, and a few reserve the Gantt view itself for paid tiers, so read the limits before you rely on one.

Is a spreadsheet a good free Gantt chart option?

Only for the smallest, most stable plans. A Google Sheets or Excel template is free and familiar, but it has no real dependencies and no automatic scheduling, so you update every bar by hand and it goes stale quickly as the plan changes.

What is the difference between free online tools and free desktop apps?

Online tools like Ganttile run in the browser and are easy to share by link, with nothing to install. Free desktop apps like GanttProject and ProjectLibre are yours to own and work offline, but they are harder to collaborate on in real time and you manage updates yourself.

Conclusion

Free Gantt chart software is genuinely good these days, but free means different things. The most reliably free option here is Ganttile, which puts unlimited projects and full scheduling in the browser with nothing to install. If you would rather own your software and work offline, GanttProject and ProjectLibre are strong free desktop apps. The platform free plans from monday.com and ClickUp are worth a look if you want more than a timeline, and TeamGantt and Instagantt are easy on-ramps as long as you read their limits. A spreadsheet stays in the mix only for the smallest one-off charts.