Tom's Planner

Tom’s Planner is an online Gantt chart maker for building and tracking project schedules. It suits people who want a visual alternative to spreadsheets without adopting more complex project-management software. Its standout strength is a highly adjustable timeline; the free plan is constrained if you need to share, print or export your work.

Overview

Founded in 2009, Tom’s Planner focuses on scheduling rather than presenting itself as an all-purpose project-management system. Its appeal is the ability to organize work in a chart, track progress visually and adjust the level of timing detail to the task. That focused approach may suit individuals and teams whose spreadsheets have become difficult to manage, but it is less compelling if they need a wider set of project-management capabilities.

Key features

Schedules can be viewed at scales ranging from a year down to five-minute intervals. That flexibility makes it possible to use one chart for both long-range planning and tightly timed work. Drag-and-drop, color-coded time blocks make schedule changes visible, while progress markers can use percentages, traffic lights, icons or colors. Milestones and task dependencies help show sequence and status; resource management is also supported.

Filters by resource, activity, team, icon and date can help narrow a busy chart. Imports from Excel, MS Project, Outlook and Google Calendar give users a way to bring in schedules from familiar tools. Paid accounts can export to MS Project, Excel, CSV, PDF or an image file; JSON export is limited to Unlimited. This makes paid plans the practical choice when schedules need to move between tools or be distributed outside the planner.

Free users can accept collaboration invitations, but need a paid account to invite others. Personal also excludes online sharing, printing and export, so it works better for trying out a chart or keeping a limited schedule for individual use than for distributing plans. The privacy statement says chart access is limited to account credentials and credentials of collaborators the user has chosen.

Tom’s Planner is cloud-based and requires no installation, but schedules can also be saved offline on a user’s own computer. It works with iPhone, iPad and Android devices without requiring an app; mobile use is mainly intended for consulting schedules on the go. Free email support is offered across account types. The support team is available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CET on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CET on weekends, and typically responds within an hour.

Pricing

The freemium plans are priced in USD per month on a yearly subscription for paid accounts:

Personal is a useful no-cost starting point, but its one-chart cap and lack of printing, export and online sharing sharply limit its role in collaborative work. Professional is the sensible step up for users who need to manage multiple schedules and invite collaborators or distribute copies. Unlimited is aimed at heavier use or workflows that specifically need JSON export, embedded schedules or printing by collaborators. Both paid plans are based on a yearly subscription.

Platforms

Tom’s Planner supports web, Android and iOS. The maker says it can be used on iPhone, iPad and Android devices without an app, with mobile chiefly suited to checking schedules rather than doing the main planning work.

Who it's for

Choose Tom’s Planner if a visual schedule, adjustable time scale, progress indicators and task dependencies address the core of your planning needs. It is particularly suited to people replacing chaotic spreadsheets who do not want a more complex project-management product. Look elsewhere if you need the free plan to support sharing, printing or export, or if your work calls for more than a schedule-centered tool.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The timeline spans yearly views to five-minute intervals, so users can match the chart to different planning horizons.
• Pros: Color-coded time blocks, multiple progress markers, dependencies, milestones and filters make schedule status and structure easier to represent.
• Pros: Imports from four common scheduling tools and a range of paid export formats support moving schedules between applications.
• Cons: Personal allows only one schedule of up to 200 rows or activities, with no printing or export.
• Cons: Inviting collaborators and online sharing require a paid account, making the free tier a poor fit for teams distributing plans.
• Cons: Mobile access is positioned mainly for consulting schedules, not as the primary way to plan.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Gantt Chart Software.

• Agantty is another freemium option, with a 14-day trial of all features and a free plan capped at one project.
• Open Planner Studio is a free, open-source alternative with Gantt charts, critical-path analysis and resource planning, without subscription or per-seat licence fees.
• ProjectLibre is worth considering for Microsoft Project import and Gantt and WBS features; its Core plan is $9.99 a month billed annually.
• RationalPlan offers a free tier capped at two projects, 100 tasks, 10 MB of storage and two users.
• Ganttic may suit resource-focused planning, with a free plan for up to 10 resources and unlimited users and projects.
• GanttProject is a free desktop download for users who prefer a desktop application.
• LibrePlan offers a self-hosted, open-source Community Edition with no license fee.
• Microsoft Project is another option for users considering a paid project-planning product.

Verdict

Tom’s Planner is a strong fit for individuals and teams who want a flexible, visual schedule without taking on a more complex project-management system. Its adjustable time scales and clear progress tracking are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need free sharing, printing or export, or expect a broader project-management tool; Personal’s one-chart limit and paid collaboration features make that distinction important.