- Construction scheduling software at a glance
- Ten construction scheduling tools to consider
- Your schedule and your safety plan move together
- Gantt tool, collaborative planning or enterprise scheduling?
- Questions to ask before you choose
- Features that matter on site
- When a spreadsheet stops working
- Getting trades to use it
- My plain advice on choosing construction scheduling software
- Frequently asked questions
The best construction scheduling software depends on the size of your projects: a simple online Gantt tool suits small contractors, a collaborative planning tool suits teams working closely with trades, and enterprise scheduling suits large programmes. Ten options follow in no particular order.
A construction schedule is a promise to the client, the trades and the bank. When it slips, everyone feels it, which is why the tool you plan in matters so much.
The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from simple Gantt chart makers to enterprise portfolio scheduling. Every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If you're still planning in a spreadsheet, my guide to building a Gantt chart in a spreadsheet is a good stepping stone.
Construction scheduling software at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free app or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asta Powerproject | Construction planning and project management software | Planners who need 4D BIM links | Trial only |
| Fieldwire | Jobsite management software from Hilti | Site tasks tied to the schedule | Not stated |
| GanttPRO | Online Gantt chart maker | Simple Gantt charts for small builders | Not stated |
| LCMD | Construction project management platform | Planning on large projects | Not stated |
| Outbuild | Scheduling intelligence platform for construction | Master schedules and updates | Trial only |
| Planera | Modern construction scheduling software | Collaborative whiteboard scheduling | Not stated |
| Primavera P6 | Enterprise project portfolio management from Oracle | Large programmes and portfolios | Not stated |
| Smartsheet | Work management platform | Spreadsheet-style planning | Not stated |
| TeamGantt | Online Gantt chart and project scheduling software | Easy schedules for trades | Not stated |
| Touchplan | Construction planning and scheduling software | Planning with trade partners | Not stated |
Ten construction scheduling tools to consider
Asta Powerproject
Best for: Planners who want detailed programmes with 4D BIM integration and a mobile app for site teams.
Fieldwire
Best for: Site teams that want day-to-day jobsite task management linked to the plan, from a tool owned by Hilti.
GanttPRO
Best for: Smaller contractors who want an online Gantt chart maker for project plans without heavy scheduling software.
LCMD
Best for: Large project teams that want an enterprise platform for construction planning and productivity across many sites.
Outbuild
Best for: General contractors who want to build and update contract and master schedules quickly, with a trial first.
Planera
Best for: Project managers who want to plan together on a shared whiteboard and turn it into field schedules instead of emailing static files.
Primavera P6
Best for: Owners and contractors on large programmes who need enterprise project portfolio scheduling from Oracle.
Smartsheet
Best for: Teams that like spreadsheet-style planning and want schedules, tracking and reporting in a flexible work management tool.
TeamGantt
Best for: Contractors and trades who want an easy online Gantt chart, with a construction hub and a free construction schedule maker.
Touchplan
Best for: Lean builders who want trade partners planning together to spot risks before they cause delays or rework on site.
Your schedule and your safety plan move together
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says a principal contractor must prepare a written construction phase plan before the construction phase begins, then regularly review and revise it so it stays fit for purpose.
When your programme changes, that plan may need to change too. Keep safety-critical sequences, like work at height or temporary works, visible in whatever scheduling tool you choose.
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Gantt tool, collaborative planning or enterprise scheduling?
Online Gantt tools are quick to learn and suit small builders and trades. Collaborative planning tools bring trade partners into the plan, so problems surface before they reach site. Enterprise scheduling tools handle large programmes with many linked projects and the detailed logic big clients expect.
Many firms use two: an enterprise tool for the contract programme and a lighter tool for weekly site planning.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Can you import and export the file formats your clients ask for?
- How do trades see and update their part of the plan?
- Does it show the critical path clearly?
- Can site teams use it on a phone or tablet?
- How are delays recorded for later disputes?
- Does it connect to your project management or field tools?
Features that matter on site
- Critical path view. You see which delays really matter.
- Mobile updates. Site teams report progress where it happens.
- Baselines. Compare today's plan with the one you agreed.
- Trade views. Each trade sees only the work that's theirs.
When a spreadsheet stops working
If you're updating dates by hand in three places, or nobody can tell which version of the programme is current, it's time to move. Even a simple scheduling tool keeps one version everyone trusts.
Getting trades to use it
Trades won't log in to yet another system unless it helps them. Share a simple view of their own work, send updates by text or email and keep the plan short enough to read on a phone. When they see fewer wasted trips, they'll start updating it themselves.
Do you make construction scheduling software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing construction scheduling software
Match the tool to the conversation you have most. If clients send you enterprise programme files, you'll need something that reads them. If your biggest problem is trades turning up on the wrong day, a collaborative tool will help more than a complex one.
Then get the site team involved early. A schedule that only the planner understands won't survive the first week on site. My piece on involving stakeholders early in project planning explains why.
Frequently asked questions
What is construction scheduling software?
It's software for planning the order and timing of construction work, usually as a Gantt chart with dependencies and a critical path.
Is there free construction scheduling software?
None of the tools on this list named a free plan on the pages I read, though some offer trials or free schedule makers. Check the table.
What's the difference between scheduling and project management software?
Scheduling software focuses on the programme. Project management software also covers documents, RFIs, photos and site records.
What is pull planning?
It's a collaborative method where trades plan backwards from a milestone together, committing to the work they can deliver.
Do small contractors need scheduling software?
Even a simple online Gantt chart helps small contractors share plans with clients and trades.
What does a principal contractor need to plan?
HSE says a principal contractor must prepare a written construction phase plan before the construction phase begins.
