The short version: the easiest free Gantt chart templates come from Microsoft Excel, ProjectManager, TeamGantt and Asana. Excel doesn't have a predefined Gantt chart type, so a ready-made template saves you building one from a stacked bar chart. If you'd rather have a live tool than a file, TeamGantt says its Personal plan is free forever for 1 user, 1 project and 40 tasks.
A Gantt chart is the moment a project stops being a to-do list and starts being a plan. You can see what starts when, how long it takes and what's waiting on what. I'm a big fan, but I've also watched people burn a whole morning trying to draw one from scratch in a spreadsheet. You don't need to. Here's where to get one ready-made, and how to choose between a file and a tool.
Where the free Gantt templates live
In no particular order:
- Microsoft Excel: best for a spreadsheet template with task categories, risk levels, progress and start dates already built in.
- ProjectManager: best if your team mixes formats, with the same template in Excel, Word and its own app.
- TeamGantt: best for one small project you want to run in a live Gantt tool on a free plan.
- Asana: best for mapping tasks, spotting dependencies and sharing progress with a small team.
Gantt chart sources, plan by plan
| Source | Best for | Free plan (as of Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Asana | Dependencies and shared progress | Yes |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet templates with progress tracking | Not stated |
| ProjectManager | One template in Excel, Word or its app | Not stated |
| TeamGantt | A single project in a live Gantt tool | Yes |
Pages and plans change, so check the vendor's own page before you rely on a limit.
The catch: Excel has no Gantt chart button
This surprises a lot of people. Microsoft's own support wording says that although Excel doesn't have a predefined Gantt chart type, you can simulate one by customising a stacked bar chart to show the start and finish dates of tasks. It works, but it takes fiddling with bars, axes and hidden series, and it's easy to break when dates move.
That's exactly why a template saves real time. Microsoft's free Excel Gantt templates let you customise pre-built charts with task categories, risk levels, progress and start dates, so the hard part is already done. If you'd still like to understand the mechanics, my guide to building a Gantt chart in a spreadsheet walks through it.
Those extra columns are worth using, not deleting. A progress column tells you at a glance which tasks are behind, and a risk level flags the ones that could knock the whole timeline over if they slip. Task categories let you colour the bars by team or phase, so a client can read the chart without you talking them through it. I'd keep all three, even on a small project, because they turn a pretty timeline into something you can manage from.
A static file or a live tool?
Here's the real trade-off. A template is a file. It's free, it's yours and it works offline, but every change is manual. Move one task and you've got to shift everything after it yourself. ProjectManager covers both sides: it says its free Gantt chart template is available in Excel, Word and ProjectManager, so you can work in whichever format fits your team, and its Excel version includes industry-specific templates for construction, manufacturing, professional services and more.
A live tool updates for you. TeamGantt describes a Gantt chart as something that shows when tasks start, how long they take and how they relate to each other, and its free Personal plan includes basic Gantt features such as dependencies and drag-and-drop scheduling. Asana's template is built to map out tasks, spot dependencies and share progress with your team. If you're weighing up paid options, my comparison of the best Gantt chart software goes further.
How big a project can a free plan carry?
This is where the free plans differ most. TeamGantt says its Personal plan is free forever and includes 1 user, 1 project and 40 tasks. That's plenty for a website launch or a small event, and too tight for a team running several projects. Asana's free plan lists 2 users with unlimited tasks and projects, which suits a founder and one helper.
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Setting up your first Gantt chart
- List every task, then group them into phases.
- Add a start date and a length for each task.
- Mark the dependencies: which tasks can't start until another one finishes.
- Choose your format: an Excel or Word template if one person updates it, a live tool if several people do.
- Add milestones for the dates that matter to the client or the team.
- Review it once a week and move dates as soon as something slips, not at the end.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a free Gantt chart template?
Microsoft Excel and ProjectManager both offer free Gantt chart templates, and TeamGantt and Asana each list a free plan with Gantt features.
Does Excel have a Gantt chart template?
Microsoft says Excel doesn't have a predefined Gantt chart type, but it does offer free Gantt chart templates. You can also simulate one by customising a stacked bar chart.
Is there a free Gantt chart template for Word?
Yes. ProjectManager says its free Gantt chart template is available in Excel, Word and its own ProjectManager app.
What is the difference between a Gantt template and Gantt software?
A template is a file you update by hand. A tool such as TeamGantt keeps the chart live, and TeamGantt says its free plan includes dependencies and drag-and-drop scheduling.
How many tasks can a free Gantt chart tool handle?
TeamGantt says its free Personal plan includes 1 user, 1 project and 40 tasks. Asana's free plan lists 2 users with unlimited tasks and projects.
Are there industry-specific Gantt chart templates?
ProjectManager says the Excel version of its template includes industry-specific options for construction, manufacturing, professional services and more.
