10 Best Free Project Scheduling Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 22 tools reviewed.
There are countless scheduling tools that offer free trials and free versions of their software. However, figuring out which is right for you is tough. You know you want to create, manage, and optimize project schedules, ensuring that tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner but need to figure out which tool will allow you to do it for free. I've got you! In this post I'll help make your choice easy, sharing my personal experiences using dozens of different tools with startups and small teams, with my picks of the best free project scheduling software.
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Compare Software Specs Side-by-Side
Here is a table with some of the information we just covered. Use it to compare the options from this list and, if you want to expand your tool research, we have more options after this chart.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best free scheduling for startups & freelancers | 14-day free trial + free plan + free demo available | From $9/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 2 | Best for customized solutions | Free demo + free plan + 14-day free trial available | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for its wide selection of pre-made templates | Free plan available | From $8/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 4 | Best for scalability & flexibility | Free plan available | From $4/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 5 | Best for extensive visualization options | Free plan available | From $4/user/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best no-code document builder | 14-day free trial | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for simple Kanban boards | Free plan available | From $5/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 8 | Best for time tracking | 30-day free trial + free demo available | From $10.99/user/month (min 3 users, billed annually) | Website | |
| 9 | Best for creating beautiful PowerPoint Gantt charts | Free plan available | From $9/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 10 | Best project scheduling for small teams | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
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Forecast
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Accelo
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.4 -
monday.com
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Free Project Scheduling Software Reviews
Here is a description of each free project management tool that will help you track project progress based on schedules.
Monday.com is a project management app that lets you create spreadsheet-like projects for different parts of your business. The tool has over 200 templates for functions such as marketing, events, real estate, and sales.
To get started, just sign-up and then choose the templates you need. You can customize each one by adding the exact features you need. For example, a realtor can add dates, list prices, and locations. Or a content agency could keep track of publish dates, clients, and writers.
The free version of Monday.com lets you create unlimited boards. Use these for different projects or clients. You can also add unlimited docs and access over 200 templates.
The biggest restriction is that you can only add one other person to your projects. This is fine for freelancers, but you’ll have to pay as soon as your business grows to three team members. At this point, the cheapest paid plan costs $6 per user per month.
New Product Updates from monday.com
monday.com Integrates AI Agents and Apps
monday.com now allows integration of AI agents and apps to enhance task management and insights generation. For more information, visit monday.com's official site.
Wrike is a flexible project scheduling tool that lets you view projects in both board and spreadsheet views.
When setting up, you can create different spaces. These could be based around projects, departments, clients, teams, or whatever makes sense for your business. You can then add tasks to each project and include essential information such as due dates, collaborators, files, and descriptions.
The free version has all the features you need to schedule projects. You can add unlimited users, manage tasks and subtasks, view projects in board or spreadsheet views, and collaborate with external users.
You can also access a free trial for paid plans to try out more advanced features.
New Product Updates from Wrike
Streamlining Workspaces with New Updates
Wrike announces custom space templates, AI Agents in Wrike Labs, and a new Guage widget to improve project management. For more information, visit Wrike's official site.
Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard platform, enabling teams to brainstorm, plan, and track projects together in real-time. Its standout feature is a wide range of pre-made templates, quick diagramming tools, and wireframing capabilities, alongside an infinite canvas ideal for complex project management. For many teams, this flexibility translates directly into smoother planning. As Kate Hondarovska, Internet Marketing Manager, put it: “Miro has helped me and my team in project planning and creating timelines. It makes it all way easier to manage.”
The platform supports task visualization by sprint, status, epic, or team and allows for the identification of task dependencies with its Dependencies App. Collaboration tools like voting, sticky notes, and comments also facilitate real-time idea exchange and adjustments.
Standout features include TalkTrack, which allows users to create process explanation videos that can be viewed asynchronously. Miro also features a planner tool with capacity planning capabilities, as well as the Miro Assist AI to help generate ideas and paths for you.
Integrations include Webex, Figma, Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence, Trello, Slack, Asana, Monday.com, Notion, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Zoom, and 100+ others. You can access thousands of additional tools using a Zapier integration, though this may require an additional expense.
Pricing starts at $10/user/month and they offer a free plan.
New Product Updates from Miro
Miro Integrates Google Chat and Glean for Smarter Collaboration
Miro introduces new integrations with Google Chat and Glean, helping teams stay updated on board activity and access company knowledge without switching tools. For more information, visit Miro’s official site.
Zoho Projects is a free project management platform with project scheduling capabilities designed for project managers (PMs) and stakeholders. For small business owners, its ease of use can make a significant difference. Mark Harrell, owner of retail store Scrubs of Evans, shared his experience: “I tested Zoho Projects when we expanded our inventory tracking across three supplier relationships, and honestly, it was the only tool that didn't require a computer science degree to set up basic task workflows. Our order fulfillment improved by roughly 30% just from having visibility into who was handling what shipment. For small retailers like us, skip the fancy enterprise tools and go with something your least tech-savvy employee can actually use without training.”
Zoho’s free project planner can be used by project managers of smaller teams and businesses to easily map out their work breakdown structure. The tool is equipped with various core modules such as task and subtask management, issue management, task lists, and milestones. The free planning and scheduling tool also enables project managers to create plans that guide team members on the step-by-step journey of completing their project, thanks to the platform’s built-in Gantt chart view. Project managers who are managing a remote or hybrid team can benefit from Zoho Projects’ collaborative features, including the built-in Feed, documents, Forums, and chat tool.
Zoho Projects is endlessly scalable and flexible using its marketplace of tool connectors and app add-ons. Pick between hundreds of integrations, free and paid options, for customer relationship management, asset management, marketing, design, and more. You can sort add-ons by pricing, user rating, and/or functionality. Certain add-ons are limited to paid Zoho Projects plans but many are open to freemium users, like Hubspot, DocuSign, and SugarCRM.
Features include roadmapping, project management, task scheduling/tracking, customer management, prioritization, and notifications.
Integrations include Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Zendesk, and ServiceNow. Integrations via Zapier and Zoho Flow are also supported. Being part of the Zoho ecosystem allows you to connect to several of Zoho’s own services for Sales, Marketing, CRM, customer service, and others.
Zoho Project is completely free for up to three users. Paid plans start from $5 per user/month. A 10-day free trial is available.
If you're seeking a versatile solution to streamline your project scheduling needs, GoodDay might be the perfect fit for you. Designed to cater to diverse teams across various industries, GoodDay offers a comprehensive suite of features that enhance collaboration and productivity. With its ability to support multiple project management methodologies like Agile and Waterfall, GoodDay helps you manage complex projects while keeping your team organized and focused.
Why I Picked GoodDay
I picked GoodDay because it stands out with its extensive visualization options and customizable workspaces. The platform offers over 20 different views, including Gantt charts and boards, which allow you to visualize project timelines and workflows effectively. Additionally, GoodDay's support for Agile and Waterfall methodologies ensures that it can adapt to your team's specific project management needs, making it a well-rounded choice for diverse teams.
GoodDay Key Features
In addition to its visualization capabilities and methodology support, I like that it offers:
- Customizable Dashboards: You can tailor the interface to display the most relevant information for your team, ensuring that everyone stays on the same page.
- Automation Tools: These tools help streamline repetitive tasks, allowing your team to focus on more critical project activities.
- Shared Workspaces: Improve communication and transparency by providing a centralized location for all project-related information.
- Mobile Applications: Access project data and collaborate with your team on the go, ensuring that you can stay productive no matter where you are.
GoodDay Integrations
Integrations include Google Drive, Slack, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Asana, and an API for custom integrations.
Coda is the most unusual tool on this list. It is a no-code document builder that lets you combine familiar document features into a single file. One document can include spreadsheets, text, charts, Kanban boards, drop-down menus, and headings.
How does this fit in with project scheduling? Well, you can use the tool to create powerful apps to manage your projects. Just add the features you need to get your work done. If you need some help, start off with one of many project templates that cover everything from task lists, to content calendars, and more.
You can also pull in data from different tools, or send the information from your doc out to other software. For example, you can set up the tool to notify people on Slack when someone completes a task. Each document is fully collaborative, so everyone in your team can work on the same one.
The free tool offers access to pretty much everything Coda has to offer. The only limit is that you can’t hide pages which means docs become complicated. You are also restricted to using 1,000 rows and up to 50 objects.
If you find this isn’t enough, you can upgrade to a paid plan for $12 per doc maker per month. The doc maker is the person who creates the document, everyone else can still collaborate on the doc for free.
Trello is user-friendly project scheduling software that uses Kanban boards to keep you on track. The basic idea is that you create a board for each project, add lists such as “To do”, “In progress,” and “In review,” then add tasks to each one.
The thing I love about Trello is how easy it is to use. It’s easy to add tasks by creating a new card. You can then add due dates, collaborators, and a to-do list that shows what you need to do to complete a task.
Moving cards across projects is as simple as dragging them from one list to another. And you can set up an automation that moves tasks when the to-do list is complete. You can also comment on tasks and add attachments to each one.
Trello has a generous free plan with unlimited members and cards. You also get access to the easy-to-use mobile app on Android and iOS.
The downside is that you can only add ten boards per workspace. You also miss out on custom fields, advanced checklists, and the ability to upload files larger than 10MB.
Trello has plenty of integrations, including with Slack, Google Drive, Jira, and Ganttify. If you want to upgrade, the standard plan costs $6 per user per month and premium costs $12.50 per user per month.
Teamwork is a powerful project management solution with plenty of advanced features on the paid plan. The free plan is more limited, but still has much to get to grips with.
Teamwork’s free plan lets you create two projects and add up to five users. You can create tasks and subtasks within each project, and then set dependencies so work gets done in the right order. Calendar, Gantt, and board views provide plenty of insight into project progression, which is great for scheduling.
Time tracking functionality is the standout feature of the free plan. You can track how long activities take manually or with a timer. It’s easy to view all this data on a timesheet, which is useful for invoicing or simply scheduling upcoming projects effectively.
While Teamwork has plenty of integrations, the free plan only offers integrations via Zapier. If you want to upgrade, paid plans start at $12.50 per user per month.
Office Timeline is a project management tool designed to help users create PowerPoint timelines and Gantt charts quickly and efficiently. It stands out for its integration with PowerPoint, allowing for the creation of professional-looking timelines and charts directly within the PowerPoint environment using an add-in.
Office Timeline's drag-and-drop interface facilitates easy scheduling and rescheduling of tasks and milestones so project managers can adjust project plans when priorities shift. Its customizable templates, on the other hand, provide a solid foundation for creating project schedules that cater to specific project needs and goals.
Additionally, it allows PMs to leverage their existing work and data and streamline the project planning process through raw data import from some PM tools and Excel. Other features include real-time data synchronization and automation to update project timelines based on project changes.
Integrations include tools like Jira, Project, Excel, and Smartsheet. These let you import data and manipulate it so you can get the PowerPoint visuals you need for your stakeholder presentations.
Runn is a real-time resource planning software that has a project planning tool to help you quickly schedule your projects.
Why I picked Runn: The software is extremely intuitive and its Gantt view has drag-and-drop features and a colorful user interface. The free version of this software lets you build unlimited projects and offers a project portfolio view, which makes it perfect for small project teams.
Runn Standout Features & Integrations
Features include resource scheduling, capacity management, project scheduling, timesheets, forecasting, and reporting. All features are available in the free plan.
Integrations include Clockify, Harvest, and WorkflowMax. On top of that, you can use their API to build custom integrations with your favorite apps.
Runn Plans & Pricing
The free version is available for up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $10/user/month.
Other Free Project Scheduling Software Reviews
Here are some more free project scheduling tools that you can check out.
- ClickUp
Productivity platform
- Productive
Work management software for agencies
- Float
For prroject scoping
- Zoho Sprints
For agile development teams
- Hub Planner by Milient
For businesses or teams that need to manage complex schedules and resources
- Google Workspace
For those in the Google app ecosystem.
- Asana
For integrations
- Freedcamp
Free plan with unlimited users, storage, projects, and task management.
- Basecamp
For businesses that also need communication features
- Airtable
For project scheduling via spreadsheets.
- TeamGantt
For Gantt charts
- Microsoft Online
Free project scheduling on the web using Excel, PowerPoint and the MS Office 365 suite.
Selection Criteria for Free Project Scheduling Software
When selecting the best free project scheduling software to include on this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like the need for intuitive scheduling tools and seamless collaboration features. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion on this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Providing Gantt chart or timeline views
- Enabling task assignments and dependencies
- Scheduling across multiple projects
- Time tracking or progress tracking
- Basic reporting or analytics
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Integration with popular third-party tools
- Advanced project templates for quick setup
- Customizable workflows or automations
- Collaborative features like chat or file sharing
- Mobile app availability for on-the-go access
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- An intuitive and clean user interface
- Simple navigation between features
- Minimal clicks required for basic tasks
- A responsive and lag-free experience
- Support for multiple languages or regional settings
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of step-by-step interactive tutorials
- A library of templates provided to get started
- Access to detailed user guides or FAQs
- Live chat or customer support offered during setup
- Access to training videos or on-demand webinars
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- Multiple contact options like email or chat
- Support during non-business hours
- An extensive knowledge base or forums
- Quick responses to user queries or issues
- Demonstrated expertise and problem-solving skills
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- A robust free plan with core features
- Minimal limitations on user count or projects
- No hidden fees or paywalls for key features
- A reasonable upgrade path
- Favorable comparisons against competitors’ free plans
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Highlighted ease of use and time savings
- Praise for support and customer service
- Positive feedback on free plan inclusions
- Comments on stability and performance
- Reports of integration effectiveness with other tools
How to Choose Free Project Scheduling Software
Complex feature lists and pricing structures can make it hard to figure out what you’re really getting from free project scheduling software. To help you stay focused as you work through your software selection process, here are some factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
| Free Offer Scope | Look at the features included in the free plan—are the task dependency, calendar, or user access limits sufficient for your needs? |
| Scalability | Ensure the tool can grow with your projects or team, offering paid options or advanced features as you expand. |
| Integrations | Verify compatibility with apps like Google Calendar, Trello, or Slack to streamline workflows for your team. |
| Ease of Use | Make sure the interface is simple and requires little to no training so your team can get started quickly. |
| Collaboration Tools | Check for features like task comments, file sharing, and notifications to keep your team on the same page. |
| Customizability | Look for options to adjust views, templates, or workflows to match your team’s specific needs. |
| Mobile Access | Ensure there’s a mobile-friendly app for managing tasks and schedules on the go. |
| Reporting Features | Assess if the software includes basic reporting or progress tracking to monitor deadlines and performance. |
What is Free Project Scheduling Software?
Free project scheduling software is a tool that helps users plan, organize, and manage project timelines, tasks, and resources at no cost or with limited free versions. Professionals like project managers, freelancers, and small business owners use these tools to keep projects on track and meet deadlines without overspending. Features like drag-and-drop scheduling apps, task dependencies, and calendar integrations are common in many free scheduling tools, making them ideal for creating timelines and managing workloads efficiently.
Features of Free Project Scheduling Software
Let’s go over the features commonly found in project scheduling software, and which ones are usually included in free project scheduling software vs. paid plans.
Typically Free Project Scheduling Software Features
- Task assignment: Allows you to allocate tasks to team members and set due dates, ensuring accountability and progress tracking.
- Basic scheduling tools: Provides a simple interface to create project timelines or Gantt charts for organizing project phases.
- Collaboration tools: Includes options for team communication and file sharing.
- Progress tracking: Offers features like checklists or status updates to monitor the completion of tasks in real time.
- Project templates: Provides pre-designed templates to help you quickly set up projects without starting from scratch.
- Limited reporting: Includes basic reporting options to analyze project progress or task completion metrics.
Typically Paid Project Scheduling Software Features
- Advanced integrations: Allows seamless connectivity with third-party apps like CRMs, time tracking tools, or financial software for extended functionality, ideal for businesses upgrading from a free scheduling program.
- Customizable workflows: Offers the ability to tailor project phases and task dependencies to suit unique team requirements.
- Resource management: Provides tools for assigning and balancing workloads across team members or projects, a must-have for a construction scheduling app or growing organizations in-general.
- Advanced analytics: Includes detailed reporting and data visualization options to gain deeper insights into project performance.
- Automation features: Enables automating repetitive tasks like notifications or reminders, adding significant value over free apps for scheduling.
- Unlimited users or projects: Removes caps on the number of users or active projects, making tools like the best free scheduling apps more scalable for larger teams.
- Priority customer support: Offers faster response times or dedicated support teams to address user issues efficiently.
- Mobile app enhancements: Includes offline access or advanced mobile features for project management on-the-go.
Benefits of Free Project Scheduling Software
Implementing free project scheduling software can provide several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Cost savings: Offers access to basic project management features without spending money, which is perfect for small businesses or startups.
- Task organization: Helps you assign and track tasks easily, so nothing falls through the cracks.
- Improved team collaboration: Lets your team share files and updates in one place, reducing the need for back-and-forth emails.
- Basic scheduling tools: Gives you access to simple tools like Gantt charts or calendars to plan project timelines effectively.
- Accessibility: Many free tools offer mobile apps or cloud-based access, so you can manage your projects from anywhere.
- Templates for quick setup: Pre-designed templates let you start projects fast without needing to build everything from scratch.
- Limited reporting: Even free plans often include basic reporting to help you keep track of progress and identify delays.
Costs & Pricing for Free Project Scheduling Software
I realize you came to this article looking for the best project scheduling software options that are available for free. However, since free plans only offer limited features, there's a good chance you'll need to scale your plan up in the future.
The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in project scheduling software solutions:
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic task management, project templates, file sharing, and limited reporting. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$15/user/month | Unlimited projects, basic integrations, priority support, and enhanced reporting. |
| Business Plan | $20-$50/user/month | Custom workflows, team collaboration tools, advanced reporting, and integrations. |
| Enterprise Plan | $50-$100/user/month | Custom onboarding, dedicated support, advanced analytics, and enhanced security. |
Free Project Scheduling FAQs
Find answers to common questions other people ask about this topic.
What is Project Scheduling Software?
Project scheduling software is a tool that helps you keep your projects on track. It provides an overview of everything you need to do to get work done and enables you to delegate these tasks to team members.
Project scheduling software has a lot in common with both project management software and resource scheduling software.
What key features should I look for when choosing free project scheduling software?
The tools on this list all help you schedule projects in their own way. But they will often have some combination of the following features:
- Projects: Create spaces for each of your projects to keep tasks separate. This provides crucial insight into how each one is progressing. Free tools usually limit the number of projects you can create, so check the tool you want meets your needs before signing up.
- Tasks: Tasks are the individual things you need to do to complete a project. The best free project scheduling tools let you create tasks, set due dates, and assign team members to each one.
- Subtasks and dependencies: Subtasks let you break each task down into steps. You can also create dependencies, so work is always completed in the correct order.
- Multiple views: Views provide different insights into your projects. The tools on this list provide some combination of Gantt, Kanban, calendar, and task views.
- Automation: Some tools include automation to help streamline your workflow. For example, Trello lets you set up an automation that automatically moves a task to your “Done” board when you tick off all boxes in the task checklist.
What is the best way to schedule a project?
Scheduling a project effectively is crucial for its success. Here are key practices to consider:
- Define objectives and scope: Clearly outline goals, deliverables, and the timeline. Identify major phases or tasks.
- Break down tasks: Divide the project into smaller tasks with clear start and end points, including dependencies.
- Estimate durations: Collaborate with the team to estimate task times, considering complexity, resources, and risks.
- Allocate resources: Assign personnel, equipment, and materials to tasks, ensuring availability aligns with the schedule.
- Create a timeline: Use tools like Gantt charts to visualize tasks, dependencies, and milestones.
- Track progress: Regularly review and update the schedule to reflect changes and communicate progress to stakeholders.
- Manage changes: Anticipate delays or risks, assess their impact, and prioritize necessary changes.
Free project scheduling tools can help teams collaborate by keeping everyone aligned on tasks, timelines, roles, and responsibilities.
How can free project scheduling software help implement Agile and Scrum methodologies?
Free project schedule software tools can support Agile and Scrum methodologies by providing features like sprint planning, task assignment, and progress tracking at no cost. With free software for project management, teams can create flexible schedules, manage backlogs, and adapt to changing priorities. These free scheduling apps (such as Coda’s free plan) also often include integrations with free calendar scheduling tools and Kanban boards, enabling collaboration and streamlined workflows.
Do free project scheduling tools offer AI or automation features?
Some free scheduling applications offer basic AI or automation features, such as task prioritization, schedule adjustments, and reminders. While free online scheduling tools may not have advanced AI capabilities, they often include automated notifications and time-saving integrations. For teams needing enhanced functionality, an easy scheduling app may also include limited automation for task management and calendar syncing.
Do free project scheduling tools offer time tracking or invoicing features?
Many free project management scheduling software offer basic time tracking features to help monitor task durations and project progress. Some free apps for scheduling also include invoicing options, but these features may be limited compared to paid versions. For small teams, a free scheduling app for small business can provide simple time logs and billing functionalities.
Are there open-source free project scheduling tools?
Yes, several open-source free project scheduling tools are available, offering customizable solutions for task management and timelines. These tools, often categorized as project software free, provide features like Gantt charts, resource allocation, and timeline tracking. For teams looking for flexibility, open-source options can function as free scheduler software, tailored to specific project needs.
What sort of data security and privacy features do free project scheduling tools offer?
Free project scheduling tools, like the best free calendar scheduling apps, often provide basic data security features such as encrypted storage and password-protected accounts. Some free scheduling websites may also include limited access controls to safeguard sensitive project data. However, while these scheduling free software tools offer fundamental privacy protections, advanced compliance or enterprise-grade security is typically reserved for paid versions.
What’s Next:
If you're in the process of researching free project scheduling software, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.
You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.
