A friend recently asked me to recommend project scheduling software.
He’s currently using Microsoft Project and he’s not exactly a raving fan (to put it nicely).
His requirements include the ability to assign tasks, view project calendars and generate Gantt charts.
So I put the question out to the ArchSmarter community and asked: “What project scheduling software do you recommend (other than MS Project)?”
The response was great with over 100 responses. There were some obvious favorites. Here are the top 4 recommendations for project scheduling software:
LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner is an online project management platform. It’s platform-independent, accessible via web browsers and mobile devices. LiquidPlanner allows for quick and easy updating of tasks to accommodate changing priorities and updating of schedules. Users can also create best and worst case scenarios for risk assessment situations.
LiquidPlanner incorporates notifications, commenting and document sharing for teams. It also includes time tracking, client portals and resource management tools. For cloud storage, the software integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox and Box.
Available by subscription, monthly prices range from $9.99 per user /month for a Small Team Plan to $60 per user/month for an Enterprise Plan.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a web-based application that offers an innovative way to assign tasks, track progress, manage calendars and share documents. Using Smartsheet’s spreadsheet-like user-interface, called “smartsheets”, users can quickly modify and adapt their project plans as needed.
Data can be imported from Microsoft Office or Google applications and integrated with services such as Dropbox, Salesforce and Amazon Web Services. Users can access Smartsheet from any browser or device. It’s a simple, fast and flexible tool that’s able to handle basic task lists to more complicated processes.
Subscription prices range from $14 to $25 per month. Customized pricing is also offered for larger packages.
Clarizen
Clarizen is a cloud-based collaborative project management application that provides tools to connect resources, manage workflows, and plan activities. The platform includes tools for project management, workflow automation, and collaboration. Additionally, its customizable interface displays all available tools on a single navigation bar, making for a clean and modern experience.
Clarizen is particularly strong in the areas of execution and monitoring. Stepping stones and stumbling blocks can be quickly discovered through information comparisons in critical moments. Likewise, it provides the ability to generate reports and dashboards with ease.
Clarizen currently offers two plans: Enterprise Edition which costs approximately $45 per user/month and an Unlimited Edition at $60 per user/month.
GanttProject
GanttProject is a free, Java-based project management tool for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. It’s suitable for small to medium-sized businesses and available in over 20 languages.
GanttProject features basic project management as well as resource management functions through the use of Gantt chart and resource load charts. It also offers a variety of project charting, task building, and milestone implementation and has the capability to export and import functions with Microsoft Project.
How About You?
Do you use project scheduling software? If so, what application do you use? Do you swear by MS Project or do you use something else? Leave a comment below!
Teamwork Project Management has been the best project management tool I have ever used.
http://www.teamwork.com
Thanks Brian! I’ll check it out.
Would love to see a comparaison with BIM 360 Plan
https://info.bim360.autodesk.com/bim-360-plan
We are trying write at the moment after checking bitrix, slack+Trello, teamwork and a few others. WRIKE is pretty cool so far. Missing just a real Slack like chat instead of comments.
For those of you running a mac-centric office OmniFocus, OmniPlan and Daylite are very robust, yet easy to use, software.
To add to the list, checkout JIRA and Portfolio (for Jira). They (Atlassian) also bought Trello.
For Mac, please consider FastTrack Schedule.
Try the iSmart.Life app
They have a demo and you can understand whether it suits you or not. I use this app to planing my tasks and projects. This is a free and very convenient web app. This app has an interesting interface and services.
I really like your blog. Project management platform is tightly focused on time management. It offers a variety of roles, so that users can have the right permissions levels and visibility. The basic rules that help project managers to avoid issues when trying to manage a project schedule are avoid the temptation to set too many deadlines on tasks, avoid using too many specific date constraints on tasks, only one task in a project should be without a successor, only one task in a project should be entered without a predecessor, avoid creating predecessor/successor task relationships between summary tasks, only one task in a project should be without a successor.
Thank you. Very helpful.