GANTT Software: Best10 Of 2024, Features, Which To Choose
Gantt software is of fundamental importance in project management, as it is intended for the creation and planning of a project. In this article, we’ll discuss what GANTT Software, benefits, features, cons, associated costs, and 10 best GANTT Software in 2024.
In 1986 a Polish engineer designed a method intended to show the interdependencies of production processes, but as it was published in Polish, which was little known at the time, it was immediately replaced by the method written in English and created in 1910 by Henry Gantt in order to develop the productivity levels of his employees.
What is Gantt software?
The Gantt diagram is a bar chart representing the timeline of a project, indicating on the horizontal axis, the timeline of a project, and on the vertical axis, the tasks that make up the project.
Each task is represented by a coloured bar that runs from the start date to the end date of the activity.
After entering all the tasks in the Gantt software, you will have a visual scheme of how the project is structured, immediately seeing which tasks come first and which later. Also, we can use Microsoft excel templates to bring some good results but still Gantt software come with some advantages.
It allows you to go into specifics, indicating who is the resource assigned to a given task, whether they work full time or part-time, the amount of work done and the amount remaining and even clarifies the cost associated with each task.
The diagram also shows the name of the project tasks, their dependency relationships, time dates and the estimated time to complete them.
Do not forget that this diagram should only be set up after a project has been designed, i.e. immediately after the project WBS has been drawn up, which is intended to describe the composition of the activities and sub-activities.
What is the purpose of Gantt software?
Freelancers and work teams should not underestimate the importance of Gantt software. It is an indispensable tool in project planning as it facilitates the planning of a project by respecting the deadlines of the various tasks.
The Gantt is very easy to understand. By reading the coloured bars, it is possible to understand the things to be done, with the corresponding durations and deadlines.
Project managers will be able to understand the start and end date of a project, and it also keeps track of tasks so that nothing is forgotten, bearing in mind that there may be some tasks that can be carried out at any time and others at specific times.
In the project representation, it is possible to identify the critical path, i.e. the sequence of activities that links the start and end of a project and determines the completion date.
Identifying the critical path serves to reduce the time needed to complete the project by indicating the sequence to which more attention should be paid to avoid jeopardising the end date.
Monitoring a process using Gantt software
From the first glance, it can be seen if processes are running on schedule, and team members can see where they are in a project, what they need to complete certain tasks and what input they need.
This diagram clearly shows who to contact and who to work with at each stage of the project, improving team cohesion and communication, and motivating teams to work more consciously, productively and on time.
The Gantt chart is a useful tool for all project management and personnel management activities.
Gantt charts can also be used outside of project management, such as in the manufacturing sector, where they are used to create employment plans.
In such circumstances, activities are organised in resources and not in time steps, and available capacities can be clearly determined.
How Gantt software works
It is important to have a clear idea of the activities to be carried out before creating a project.
Then it is necessary to identify resources, define deadlines and establish dependencies between activities.
As far as the creation of the Gantt chart is concerned, the Excel spreadsheet is considered the ideal tool to use for this purpose.
There are five main parts of a Gantt chart, such as the box showing the name of the task, the taskbar which has information about the start and end of the task and its progress.
Then there is the so-called activity relationship which represents the priority of the work to be done, e.g. activity X cannot start until activity Y is completed.
Also of fundamental importance are resource management and the so-called project milestones, the former intended to assign specific tasks to certain resources, while the latter emphasises the presence of an important result.
If a manager wants to introduce this method into his workflow, he has to check that his projects meet criteria such as deadlines, the need to work on several tasks at the same time, the need for collaboration between different employees and departments.
If these requirements are met, the use of the Gantt method will be satisfactory in all respects.
Advantages of using Gantt software
It allows you to organise the activities of the WBS, i.e. the analytical structure of a project, by defining the relationships and constraints between the various activities, highlighting cases of undesirable overlap.
It is versatile, as from the outset it is possible to break down a single project and have an overview of several projects in a single Gantt chart.
It is flexible, as it allows you to update the project, with an overview of unexpected changes.
It provides clarity by breaking down multiple tasks and timelines into a single overview, allowing you to see where your team is at each stage of the project.
It replaces meetings by providing updates on the progress of a project.
This chart can be used to present a project and its subsequent stages to potential funders.
It enhances the motivation of team members, as with a clear overview they will be able to understand their overall performance and become more aware of the consequences of delays on a project.
Costs for Gantt software
The costs for Gantt software can vary depending on many factors. Much depends on the version chosen, the functionality offered and the quality of the programme.
It is difficult to compare costs in this area as suppliers charge in a variety of methods.
It is estimated that mid-level services cost between EUR 20 and EUR 40 per person per month. Intermediate level Gantt software is ideal for the development of companies and teams.
Small companies, on the other hand, do not need to spend nearly as much for a decent tool, with alternatives ranging from 5 to 12 euros per worker per month. Large companies with hundreds of projects will most likely spend 45 euros per worker per month or more.
The 10 best Gantt software: which one to choose (updated 2024)
1. Clarizen
Clarizen is a great Gantt software designed to link employee conversations and projects into a single environment.
It is aimed at SMEs and large groups with large and complex projects.
It enables strong collaboration between team members and other stakeholders, displays real-time project status.
It monitors project progress, duration and expenses, increasing project profitability.
Its mobile application makes it excellent, providing access to all its functions on the move.
2. Sciforma
Sciforma is a Gantt software designed to manage projects, resources and monitor time.
It offers the possibility of using three modules separately or in a complementary way.
There is a module to manage the right projects according to the company strategy, a second module to manage projects according to different methodologies and a third module to monitor time.
It is very easy to install and is compatible with all browsers.
3. Monday.com
Monday.com is used by more than 80,000 teams worldwide and is very simple to manage any team or project.
Its main elements are tabs, groups, columns and elements.
The tab is a spreadsheet whose sections are called a group, which in turn has elements that contain information, such as what needs to be done.
The 4 most important functions are the dashboard, integrations, visuals and automation.
The dashboard gives us the possibility to see the most important things at a glance, the integrations serve to simplify the workflow, perfectly integrating the most popular external tools, the visuals give us the possibility to divide the various things in different ways and finally the automation allow us to save time and optimize the work.
4. ProjectManager.com
ProjectManager.com is a Gantt software that revolutionises the way we think about projects.
Its main features are: the Gantt chart, to follow each progress on the timeline, the task management, to assign tasks to the team, the online project planning and finally there is the so-called dashboard, which serves to immediately notify any kind of progress or change assigned to the project.
5. Britix24
Britix24 is a Gantt software designed for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing users with a set of tools to manage projects, assignments, etc. It has many integrated functions, such as intranet and project management.
It has many built-in functions, such as a corporate intranet, email management, workflow management, video conferencing.
When assigning resources, the names of the busiest employees at the moment are highlighted in red.
It is very simple to use, it will be easy to understand how it works even for those who have no experience with the Gantt chart.
This Gantt chart software is available free of charge if your team consists of no more than three people, i.e. if you are happy with the basic functions, otherwise, you will need to refer to subscription plans.
6. Instagantt
Instagantt stands out as a user-friendly and visually appealing Gantt chart software solution. Its core strengths lie in its intuitive interface and the polished, professional appearance of the charts it generates. This emphasis on clear visuals makes Instagantt a strong choice for communicating project timelines and progress with clients and external stakeholders.
Among its features, Instagantt offers drag-and-drop editing for streamlined schedule adjustments, task dependencies for defining project flow, and milestones to clearly highlight critical dates. Collaboration is facilitated through in-app discussions and the ability to share project views. Additionally, baseline functionality allows for easy comparison between original plans and current progress.
Instagantt seamlessly integrates with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira. For smaller or less complex projects, it can function as a standalone project management solution. However, it may lack the advanced features needed for highly detailed resource management or cost modeling found in more robust project management software.
Overall, Instagantt strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality, making it a great option for teams needing straightforward Gantt chart creation, clear visualization, and client-friendly project presentations.
7. TeamGantt
TeamGantt is a web-based project management software designed to make the creation and execution of project plans refreshingly simple. Its intuitive interface centers around beautifully visual Gantt charts, making it incredibly easy for teams to understand project timelines, dependencies, and progress.
TeamGantt’s strength lies in its balance of accessibility and functionality. It offers essential features like resource management, task dependencies, and collaboration tools without overwhelming users with excessive complexity. This makes it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized teams, agencies, or any organization wanting to streamline their project management without the steep learning curve of more complex platforms.
Key advantages of TeamGantt include:
- Ease of use: Get started in minutes, not days.
- Clear Visualizations: Gantt charts provide an instant overview of project status.
- Integrated Resource Management: Ensure projects stay on track by monitoring workload and availability.
- Collaboration Features: Keep teams aligned through comments and file sharing.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly way to manage projects visually, TeamGantt is a strong contender.
8. GanttPRO
GanttPRO is a robust online project management solution built around the classic Gantt chart visualization. It’s designed to streamline project planning, resource management, and team collaboration.
Key features of GanttPRO include:
- Intuitive Gantt Charts: The core interface provides a clear timeline view of tasks, dependencies, milestones, and progress. Drag-and-drop functionality makes scheduling and adjustments simple.
- Resource Management: Optimize workload allocation and track resource utilization to prevent bottlenecks and ensure projects stay on schedule.
- Collaboration: Seamlessly share project plans with team members and stakeholders. Real-time updates and commenting features foster efficient communication.
- Baselines & Critical Path: Set baselines to compare actual progress against the initial plan. The critical path calculation highlights tasks that directly impact the project’s end date.
- Customization: Adapt GanttPRO to your workflow with custom fields, task colors, and project templates.
GanttPRO is a strong choice for teams that value a visual project management approach, require detailed resource planning, and need advanced features without overwhelming complexity.
9. ProofHub
ProofHub is a versatile project management software solution designed to centralize and simplify the way teams work. It offers a core suite of tools that go beyond basic task lists to support effective project execution and team collaboration.
Key features include:
- Gantt Charts: Visualize project timelines, track dependencies, and easily monitor progress.
- Kanban Boards: Organize workflows with a flexible card-based system for efficient task management.
- Discussions: Facilitate focused communication within the context of specific projects or tasks.
- File Sharing & Proofing: Centralize document storage, share files easily, and provide clear feedback directly on deliverables.
- Custom Reports: Gain actionable insights into project performance and team workloads.
Additionally, ProofHub stands out with its unlimited user pricing model, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.
ProofHub aims to streamline your project management processes, promote efficient collaboration, and boost overall team productivity within a single, easy-to-use platform.
10. ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based project management platform known for its remarkable customizability and wide range of features.
It goes beyond traditional Gantt charts, offering users a choice of views including lists, boards (Kanban-style), calendars, and even mind maps. This flexibility makes ClickUp adaptable to suit teams of various sizes and across different industries.
ClickUp’s core strengths include:
- Extensive Customization: Tailor the platform’s layout, task statuses, fields, and views to match your unique workflows.
- Robust Features: Time tracking, goal setting, document collaboration, and even an integrated inbox streamline processes.
- Scalability: Accommodates small teams with basic needs while offering the depth to manage complex projects for larger organizations.
- Integrations: ClickUp connects to a wide array of popular tools to centralize your workflow.
ClickUp is an excellent choice for teams that value flexibility and seek a powerful platform to consolidate various aspects of project management in one place. Its potential complexity means it might be best suited for those willing to invest some time in setup and mastering the platform’s extensive features.