FET

Overview

FET can build schedules automatically, or let schedulers allocate activities semi-automatically or manually. That range is valuable for institutions whose constraints require human decisions, but it also means FET is not simply a push-button answer for every timetable. The maker says simpler schedules usually take under five minutes, complicated ones 5–20 minutes, and extremely difficult ones may take hours.

Key features

Time and space constraints cover teacher and student availability, preferred times and rooms, gaps, working hours, and room or building changes. This breadth lets schools model practical limits that can otherwise make a timetable unusable. The trade-off is that more complicated constraint sets may take longer to solve.

FET accepts flexible XML input and imports and exports CSV; it exports completed timetables in HTML, XML, and CSV. Those formats give institutions several ways to exchange or publish schedules. Third-party tools can convert FET XML results to Microsoft Excel or import FET-compatible timetables into RosarioSIS, but these are separate tools rather than built-in integrations.

The stated algorithm limits are 500,000 activities, 30,000 student subgroups, 30,000 rooms, and 30,000 buildings. Those high ceilings make FET relevant to large institutions, though they describe algorithm limits, not a promise that every schedule will finish quickly. The download page publishes SHA256 checksums for release files and an ASCII signature for the source archive, a useful integrity check for organizations managing software distribution.

Pricing

FET costs 0.00 USD per free under its FET plan, with no stated usage limits. There is no free trial because the software itself is free. It is free software under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, making it a strong fit for institutions seeking timetable software without a subscription charge. The trade-off is that there is no paid plan described here with a different service level or feature set.

Platforms

FET supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. That desktop operating-system coverage suits institutions with mixed environments, but it does not include a web or mobile platform.

Who it's for

FET is a sensible choice for schools, high schools, and universities that need extensive time, room, teacher, and student-group constraints, and can accommodate a desktop workflow. Its manuals, instructions, tips, FAQs, and user forum give schedulers reference and peer-support channels. The authors also say they may help make a custom variant when a requested change is not too difficult, or advise on how to implement it. Institutions needing a guaranteed custom development commitment should not treat that as one.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free software with no stated usage limits makes broad scheduling capacity available without a listed license cost.
• Pros: Automatic, semi-automatic, and manual allocation offer flexibility when a schedule needs human intervention.
• Pros: Multiple import and export formats support exchange with spreadsheet, publishing, and other scheduling workflows.
• Cons: Very difficult schedules may take hours, so it may not suit teams that require a predictable short turnaround.
• Cons: Linux, macOS, and Windows support leaves out web and mobile access.

Alternatives

For a broader shortlist, see School Scheduling Software or Exam Scheduling Software.

Choose UniTime instead if you need a free option with web, self-hosted, and API platforms, or want commercial support available for a fee. Peñalara GHC is a freemium alternative with a free trial and Android, iOS, web, and Windows platforms. GC Education Analytics K–12 Master Scheduler is another free option, delivered on the web.

SchoolGrid offers a free plan and trial on the web, with an annual-billed evaluation for one school and up to 15 drafts during that evaluation. Tes Timetable is a paid option for web and Windows. TimetableMaster is freemium with a free trial and broad platform support, but no free plan.

UniversiTools Schedulers is a paid web option whose scope and pricing require a separate approved proposal or agreement. aSc Timetables is a paid alternative with a free trial across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows; its trial has no purchase requirement before generating a schedule, but export is unavailable.

Verdict

Choose FET if your school or university needs detailed constraint-based scheduling, broad file-format support, and freedom from a software fee. Its strongest case is the combination of flexible allocation modes and generous stated algorithm limits. Look elsewhere if web or mobile access is essential, or if extremely difficult timetables must be generated within a predictable short window.