GanttProject

GanttProject is a free, local-first desktop planner built around Gantt scheduling. It suits small and medium businesses, educators, and anyone who wants full scheduling features without per-seat limits. Its strongest case is controlled, offline project files; teams needing browser, mobile, or broad enterprise collaboration should choose another tool.

Overview

GanttProject organizes work through tasks, schedules, and assigned resources on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The desktop application works offline and keeps project files on your computer unless you select cloud storage or an integration. That is a practical fit for organizations that need direct file ownership or unreliable connectivity, but it also makes the product less convenient for distributed teams expecting a shared browser workspace.

Optional GanttProject Cloud adds project locks, notifications, and recent-project history, storing files in Google Cloud Storage. The maker, GanttProject, has worked on the software since 2003; BarD Software s.r.o. coordinates development and support from Prague. Support uses a Support Portal, with public discussions encouraged for non-confidential questions.

Key features

Task hierarchies let you break a project into phases and work packages. Dependencies, constraints, automatic scheduling, milestones, and baselines provide the controls needed to sequence work and compare current progress with an original plan. This is a solid scheduling foundation when timing relationships matter, although the primary task view is Gantt rather than a broad collection of planning views.

You can assign people to tasks, inspect resource-load charts, and calculate task costs from resource rates. Those tools make the free desktop edition useful for capacity checks and budget-aware planning, not just timeline drawing. PERT charts add a network-oriented perspective, while exports to PDF, HTML, PNG, and CSV make it easier to circulate plans or process data elsewhere.

Compatibility with Microsoft Project files is a practical advantage: GanttProject imports MPX, MPP, and XML/MSPDI files and exports XML/MSPDI. It can therefore fit into workflows that exchange schedules with Project users, though the product remains centered on locally managed files. The desktop privacy policy says purchase and app data travel over secure channels, and the payment processor does not pass card numbers to GanttProject.

Pricing

GanttProject desktop is free: the GPL-3.0 download costs free and includes every feature with no limits on projects, tasks, resources, or users. There is no trial period because the full desktop application is already free. This is unusually suitable for classrooms, consultants, and small businesses that need many schedules without subscription or seat accounting.

An optional paid download costs $5, paid once, billed as “Pay what you think is fair, starting from $5.” It contains the same binaries, license, and features as the free download, so payment is voluntary support rather than an upgrade. A separate paid-download listing has custom pricing, while GanttProject Cloud is an optional collaboration route rather than a stated desktop plan price.

Platforms

The desktop app runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its offline operation and local storage favor laptop and workstation use. There is no stated phone or tablet application, so mobile-first project managers will find the platform coverage restrictive.

Who it's for

The maker targets small and medium businesses, including construction, architecture, engineering, pharmaceutical, and media-production organizations, as well as educational users. It is a good match for a coordinator who needs structured dependencies, resource loading, cost calculations, and portable exports without licensing overhead. It is a poor fit for browser-based real-time editing, phone or tablet management, many third-party integrations, or large interdependent enterprise portfolios.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Complete free edition: all features are included, with no project, task, resource, or user caps.
• Serious scheduling controls: dependencies, constraints, automatic scheduling, milestones, and baselines support disciplined planning.
• Resource and cost visibility: assignments, load charts, and rate-based costs help reveal capacity and budget pressure.
• Flexible file exchange: PDF, HTML, PNG, CSV, PERT, and Microsoft Project imports and exports support reporting and handoffs.
• Offline-first privacy: local files keep core work usable without a connection and under the user's control.

Cons

• Desktop-centric workflow: there is no stated mobile app, limiting work from phones and tablets.
• Limited live collaboration: browser real-time editing and broad integration needs are outside its stated fit.
• Narrower view model: Gantt is the listed task view, so teams wanting multiple native planning views may need another product.
• Enterprise mismatch: large portfolios with many interdependent projects are specifically outside the intended fit.

Alternatives

Agantty is the better choice when you want web and mobile access, a freemium model, and a 14-day all-features trial; its free tier is limited to one project, no teams, and no support.

Open Planner Studio suits users seeking a free, open-source option with web access, Gantt charts, critical-path analysis, and resource planning.

ProjectLibre is worth considering for Microsoft Project import and enterprise resource management in a paid subscription, with Core priced at $9.99 a month billed annually.

RationalPlan fits a smaller capped free workspace—two projects, 100 tasks, 10 MB storage, and two users—or a one-time single-project purchase.

Tom's Planner is a web-focused alternative with a free personal schedule capped at 200 rows and no printing or exporting.

Ganttic is aimed at browser and mobile resource planning, with a free tier supporting up to 10 resources, unlimited users, and unlimited projects.

LibrePlan is an open-source, self-hosted web option with no license fee in its Community Edition.

Microsoft Project is the alternative for organizations wanting Microsoft's Planner and Project ecosystem, including timeline, dependencies, backlogs, sprints, and reports.

For broader directories, browse Gantt Chart Software and Project Management Software.

Verdict

Choose GanttProject if you want a genuinely free, full-featured desktop scheduler with unlimited local projects, resource costing, and strong file exchange. Look elsewhere if your work depends on real-time browser editing, mobile project management, extensive integrations, or enterprise-scale portfolio coordination.