GanttProject

GanttProject is a free, local-first desktop planner built around Gantt scheduling. It is best suited to small and medium businesses, educators, and project leads who want complete scheduling without per-seat limits. Choose it when offline files and broad project-data exchange matter more than browser collaboration, mobile access, or a large integration ecosystem.

Overview

GanttProject organizes work through task structures, schedules, and assigned resources on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The desktop application works offline and stores project files locally unless you select cloud storage or an integration. That gives organizations direct control over their files and keeps planning possible without a connection, but distributed teams looking for a shared browser workspace will find the desktop-first model restrictive.

Optional GanttProject Cloud adds project locks, notifications, and recent-project history for team workflows, with files stored in Google Cloud Storage. The software has been developed since 2003, while BarD Software s.r.o. coordinates development and support from Prague. Support is handled through a Support Portal, with public discussions encouraged for non-confidential questions.

Key features

Task hierarchies break large scopes into phases and work packages. Dependencies, constraints, automatic scheduling, milestones, and baselines provide the mechanics for sequencing work and comparing progress with an original plan. This is a strong fit for structured schedules, although the main task view is Gantt, so it is less suitable when a team expects many different planning perspectives.

Resource assignment lets managers attach people to tasks, inspect resource-load charts, and calculate task costs from resource rates. Those tools make the app useful for construction, architecture, engineering, pharmaceutical, and media-production planning where capacity and labor cost affect the schedule. PERT charts add another way to visualize project logic.

Exports to PDF, HTML, PNG, and CSV support sharing and reporting beyond the application. Import for MPX, MPP, and XML/MSPDI files, plus XML/MSPDI export, is valuable for teams exchanging schedules with Microsoft Project users. The breadth of file exchange reduces lock-in, but it does not replace the real-time, integrated workspace offered by browser-first systems.

Pricing

Plan	Price	What it includes
GanttProject desktop (free download)	free	GPL-3.0 software, all features, and no project, task, resource, or user limits
GanttProject desktop (optional paid download)	$5, paid once	Pay what you think is fair, starting from $5; the same binaries and features as the free download

The free download is the practical choice for everyone who can install a desktop application: there are no stated caps on projects, tasks, resources, or users, and no trial period is needed. The optional $5 one-time payment supports the project without buying additional capability. Neither option supplies a separate per-seat upgrade path; teams needing browser collaboration must consider the optional Cloud service rather than a different desktop tier.

Platforms

Native desktop versions are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Offline operation is a core advantage on those systems. There is no phone or tablet project-management experience, so mobile-first teams should look elsewhere.

Who it's for

GanttProject is a sensible choice for small and medium businesses, educators, and project managers who need detailed scheduling, resource loading, cost calculations, and portable project files without subscription or seat limits. It is particularly well aligned with industries that plan sequential, resource-heavy work.

It is a poor fit for organizations that require browser-based real-time editing, phone or tablet management, many third-party integrations, or very large portfolios with extensive interdependencies. Optional Cloud collaboration helps with locking and notifications, but the core workflow remains desktop-centered.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Complete free edition: every feature is included, with no project, task, resource, or user limits.
• Offline, local files: teams retain direct control of project data and can work without connectivity.
• Serious scheduling controls: dependencies, constraints, automatic scheduling, milestones, baselines, resource loads, and cost calculations cover demanding plans.
• Broad exchange: MPX, MPP, and XML/MSPDI imports and XML/MSPDI export ease Microsoft Project workflows, while PDF, HTML, PNG, CSV, and PERT outputs support reporting.

Cons

• Desktop-first collaboration: browser real-time editing is not its strength, even with Cloud additions such as locks and notifications.
• No mobile project management: phone and tablet users need another tool.
• Narrower view model: Gantt is the stated task view, limiting teams that need a broad set of planning views.
• Limited ecosystem fit: the maker identifies many integrations and large interdependent enterprise portfolios as potential mismatches.

Alternatives

Choose Agantty when you need web, Android, or iOS access and are willing to accept a freemium structure; its free plan allows one project, no teams, and no support for a 14-day all-features trial.

RationalPlan suits buyers seeking a paid desktop/web option, with a free tier capped at two projects, 100 tasks, 10 MB storage, and two users.

ProjectLibre is an alternative freemium planner with a $9.99-per-month Core plan billed annually and Microsoft Project import.

Microsoft Project is the better direction for organizations already committed to Microsoft's Planner and Project ecosystem.

Open Planner Studio is another free, open-source option with Gantt charts, critical-path analysis, and resource planning.

Tom's Planner is aimed at web and mobile schedule planning; its free Personal plan permits one schedule and 200 rows but cannot print or export.

Ganttic favors web resource planning, offering a free plan with up to 10 resources, unlimited users and projects, reports, and Kanban boards.

TaskJuggler is a free, open-source alternative licensed under GNU GPL version 2.

For broader category browsing, see Gantt Chart Software and Project Management Software.

Verdict

Choose GanttProject if you want full-featured Gantt scheduling, offline local files, resource costing, and generous Microsoft Project-compatible exchange without per-seat limits. Look elsewhere if your priority is browser-based teamwork, mobile project management, extensive integrations, or coordinating very large interdependent portfolios.