FET

FET is a timetable generator for schools, high schools, and universities, best suited to institutions with complex constraints and no budget for scheduling software.

Overview

FET can generate a timetable automatically, or support semi-automatic and manual allocation. That range is useful when administrators need to retain control over difficult decisions, but institutions wanting a consistently quick, fully hands-off result should account for potentially long generation times. The maker says simpler timetables usually take under five minutes, complicated ones 5–20 minutes, and extremely difficult ones may take hours.

Key features

Its time and space constraints address teacher and student availability, preferred times and rooms, gaps, working hours, and room or building changes. This breadth helps schools represent the restrictions that make real schedules workable; the cost is that complex timetables may take longer to generate.

FET accepts input in flexible XML format and imports and exports CSV. Completed timetables can be exported as HTML, XML, or CSV, giving institutions several options for working with or sharing results. Separate third-party tools can convert FET XML timetables to Microsoft Excel or import FET-compatible schedules into RosarioSIS; these are not built-in integrations.

The stated algorithm limits reach 500,000 activities, 30,000 student subgroups, 30,000 rooms, and 30,000 buildings. That scale makes FET worth considering for large institutions, while the stated ceilings remain relevant for organizations whose requirements approach them. The maker also publishes SHA256 checksums for release files and an ASCII signature for the source archive, useful for verifying downloads.

Documentation includes manuals, instructions, tips, and frequently asked questions, alongside a user forum. The authors also say they may help create an institution-specific variant when a requested change is not too difficult, or advise on how to make it.

Pricing

FET is free software under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3. The FET plan costs nothing, has no stated usage limits, and there is no free trial because the software is free. This is a strong fit for schools that want full scheduling capability without a recurring software fee; institutions that need custom changes should weigh the authors’ limited customization offer rather than assume dedicated development.

Platforms

FET is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. That covers the major desktop operating systems, but institutions specifically seeking a web-based or mobile scheduling product should consider another option.

Who it's for

FET is a good match for schools, high schools, and universities that need detailed control of teacher, student, room, and time constraints, and are comfortable managing timetable generation on desktop software. Its free license and high stated scale ceilings are especially appealing to institutions avoiding per-seat or usage charges. It is less suited to teams that require predictable turnaround on exceptionally difficult schedules or a web and mobile workflow.

Pros and cons

• Pros: No-cost software with no stated usage limits, alongside automatic, semi-automatic, and manual allocation.
• Pros: Detailed teacher, student, room, and time constraints, with multiple import and export formats.
• Pros: Published scale ceilings are substantial, and documentation, a forum, and download verification data are provided.
• Cons: Generation can take hours for extremely difficult timetables, making turnaround less predictable for demanding cases.
• Cons: It targets desktop platforms; the stated platforms do not include web or mobile.
• Cons: Excel conversion and RosarioSIS importing rely on separate third-party tools, not built-in integrations.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse School Scheduling Software or Exam Scheduling Software.

• Peñalara GHC is a freemium option with a free plan and trial, and supports Android, iOS, web, and Windows; consider it if those platforms matter.
• Prime Timetable offers a free evaluation plan with premium support and a 30-day trial period, across web and desktop and mobile platforms. Choose it if that evaluation period and platform reach suit your needs.
• UniTime is free, open-source software with commercial support available for a fee, and supports web, self-hosted, and API options as well as desktop systems. It may suit institutions seeking those deployment options or paid support.
• SchoolGrid has a free annual plan for one school, with staff entry and roster import and a 30-day scheduling and publishing evaluation capped at 15 drafts. Consider it if that school-focused evaluation fits your process.
• TimetableMaster is a freemium alternative with a free trial and support across mobile, web, desktop, and API platforms.
• aSc Timetables offers an unlimited free trial with no purchase required until after generating a schedule, but export is unavailable on the trial plan. It may fit teams evaluating before purchase, provided that export restriction is acceptable.
• GC Education Analytics K–12 Master Scheduler is a free web-based alternative focused on elementary, middle, and high schools.
• Untis is a paid option with WebUntis pricing provided through a sales request. Consider it if you prefer a sales-led pricing process.

Verdict

Choose FET if your school or university needs detailed timetable constraints, flexible allocation, and broad scale without paying for the software. Its strongest reason to choose is the combination of a free open-source license and substantial scheduling controls; look elsewhere if you need web or mobile access, or cannot accommodate generation times that may stretch to hours.