Free Gantt Chart Software (2026): 10 Tools Compared

A Gantt chart is the fastest way to see whether a project will land on time. It's also the view most project tools keep for their higher plans, which is why people go looking for a free one.

Below are ten tools in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, that describe a free plan or free edition on their own websites. Each description comes from the tool's own site, re-checked today. If you're planning a building or fit-out project, my guide to what project management involves in construction shows why timelines and dependencies matter so much there.

Free gantt chart software at a glance

Every tool in this table states a free plan or free edition. Online free plans often limit the number of charts, users or resources, so check before you build a large plan.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Agantty	Online Gantt tool	Small and mid-sized teams	Yes
ClickUp	Work platform	Gantt view inside a wider tool	Yes
Ganttic	Resource planner	Planning people, rooms and equipment	Yes
GanttProject	Desktop Gantt app	Offline planning on your own computer	Yes
Instagantt	Online Gantt tool	Gantt charts for Asana users	Yes
monday.com	Work platform	Visual timelines for small teams	Yes
OpenProject	Open source project tool	Phases and work packages	Yes
ProjectLibre	Desktop project app	Opening Microsoft Project files	Yes
Tom's Planner	Online Gantt maker	One quick visual plan	Yes
Zoho Projects	Project management	Teams already using Zoho apps	Yes

Ten free gantt chart tools

Agantty

Best for: Small and mid-sized teams that want an online Gantt planner with a free account to get started.

ClickUp

Best for: Teams that want a Gantt view alongside lists, boards and docs in one work platform with a free plan.

Ganttic

Best for: Teams scheduling people, rooms or equipment who need resource planning on Gantt bars, free for a small number of resources.

GanttProject

Best for: Planners who want a free desktop Gantt app that works offline on Windows, macOS or Linux.

Instagantt

Best for: Asana users who want full Gantt charts on top of their projects, with a free option for a few projects.

monday.com

Best for: Very small teams that want colourful timelines in a work platform with a free plan for a couple of seats.

OpenProject

Best for: Organisations that want a free, open source Community edition with Gantt charts on their own server.

ProjectLibre

Best for: People who need to open or edit Microsoft Project files without that software, using a free desktop app.

Tom's Planner

Best for: Anyone who needs one simple, good-looking Gantt chart in a browser and can live without sharing on the free account.

Zoho Projects

Best for: Businesses already on Zoho apps that want projects and timelines inside the same family.

Desktop or online free gantt chart software

Here's a difference that matters more than features. GanttProject's own site describes it as local-first, with no cloud dependence and no subscription, and it runs offline on your computer. That's ideal when you plan alone or need to keep files on your own machine. It's less ideal when five people need to update the same plan, because you'll be emailing files around.

Online tools solve the sharing problem, but their free plans usually limit how many charts, people or resources you can add. Decide first whether your plan is personal or shared, then pick the type of tool.

Building a gantt chart that holds up

1. List every deliverable, not every tiny task.
2. Estimate each one in days, then add a little slack.
3. Link the tasks that can't start until another finishes.
4. Mark the milestones your client or boss cares about.
5. Update progress weekly and move the bars when reality changes.

Where free gantt chart software runs out

Free tiers tend to hold back the features that make big plans manageable: critical path, baselines, resource levelling, exports and sharing with clients. If you need any of those for a live client project, test them on a trial before you promise a polished plan.

When a gantt chart is the wrong tool

Gantt charts shine when tasks depend on each other and dates matter, such as events, launches and building work. They're overkill for ongoing work with no fixed end, like a support queue or a content calendar. For those, a board or a list is quicker to keep up to date, and my guide to the main project management methodologies helps you match the view to the work.

Questions to ask before you pick free gantt chart software

• Who updates the plan? One planner suits a desktop app; a team needs an online tool.
• Do you share it with clients? Check whether the free plan allows view-only links or exports.
• Do you track resources? If people or rooms are booked across projects, you need resource planning, not just bars.
• Will you import old plans? Check the file types each tool can open before you switch.

It's also worth deciding how often you'll update the chart. A plan that's accurate on day one and untouched by week three does more harm than good, because people trust dates that are no longer true. A weekly fifteen-minute review keeps it honest.

When you share the chart, share the milestones first. Most people don't need to see every bar; they need to know when the big moments happen and what they're waiting on.

Do you make Gantt chart or project planning software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on free gantt chart software

Use a desktop app if you're the only planner, and an online tool with a free plan if a team needs to update the same chart. Either way, keep the chart at the level of deliverables so it stays readable.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Gantt chart?

A timeline view that shows tasks as bars, with start and end dates, dependencies and milestones.

Is there free gantt chart software?

Yes. Some desktop apps are free to download and several online tools describe a free plan with limits.

Can I open Microsoft Project files for free?

Some free desktop tools can import Microsoft Project files. Check the tool's own site for the file types it supports.

Which is better for teams, desktop or online?

Online tools are easier for teams because everyone edits the same chart. Desktop tools suit solo planners.

What do free Gantt plans usually limit?

Common limits are the number of charts, users, resources or exports.

How detailed should a Gantt chart be?

Keep it at deliverable level. Put the small tasks in a list or board and link them to the deliverable.