Quick answer: Our top pick is GanttPRO, followed by Zoho Projects and ProofHub. Entry prices start near $8/mo. All 5 are compared below on price, strengths and the key trade-off of each, so you can match one to your needs.
Choosing the right tool here comes down to fit, not hype. This guide rounds up the 5 tools we'd actually recommend for this job, with what each does best, what it costs, and who should pick it.
Each pick was judged on the job in this guide rather than a generic scorecard, weighing results, price and ramp-up time. Pricing is taken from public plans at the time of writing.
Project Plan 1 from ~$10/user/mo; Plan 3 ~$30/user/mo; Plan 5 ~$55/user/mo (cloud, billed monthly/annually; on-premise editions separate).
Traditional/waterfall project managers
The picks, ranked
1. GanttPRO gantt chart PM
Dedicated online Gantt chart software with intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling, dependencies, baselines and resource management for planning-heavy projects. Picked here for how cleanly it handles gantt-first project planning.
Why it's on this list: Dedicated online Gantt software with intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling, dependencies and baselines. Built for planning-heavy teams (construction, engineering) wanting a Gantt-first scheduling tool.
Standout features:
Resource management and workload optimization
Grid, board, list, portfolio and Gantt views
Standout strength: Baselines and resource workload built in.
Worth knowing: Affiliate program: 50% on first purchase then ~20% recurring, unlimited cookie.
Pricing: Basic from ~$7.99/user/mo; PRO ~$12.99/user/mo; Business ~$19.99/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually, minimum ~5 seats).
Affordable, full-featured project management (Gantt, time tracking, blueprints, automation) deeply integrated into the broader Zoho One business suite. Best suited to teams that care most about budget-conscious teams.
Why it's on this list: Full-featured Gantt-and-automation PM at budget pricing, deeply tied into the Zoho One suite. Made for budget-conscious teams, especially existing Zoho users wanting Gantt and time tracking cheaply.
Standout features:
Time tracking, timesheets and project budgeting
Task dependencies and inter-project dependencies
Standout strength: Tight integration with the rest of Zoho One.
Worth knowing: Critical path analysis and the global Gantt chart require the Enterprise plan.
Pricing: Free for up to 3 users; Premium from ~$4-5/user/mo; Enterprise ~$9-10/user/mo (billed annually).
All-in-one project management and collaboration with flat (no per-user) pricing, proofing, Gantt, time tracking and chat, popular with growing teams. A strong default when teams wanting flat pricing is the priority.
Why it's on this list: Flat per-account pricing with unlimited users plus built-in proofing, ideal for large creative teams. Made for growing and large teams (especially creative/agency) wanting flat pricing and built-in proofing.
Standout features:
Flat-rate pricing with unlimited users (no per-seat fee)
Online proofing with annotations and approvals
Standout strength: Flat pricing is very cost-effective for large teams.
Worth knowing: Ultimate Control has an intro rate (~$89/mo) that rises to ~$135/mo after 3 months (annual).
Pricing: Flat pricing, no per-user fee: Essential ~$45/mo; Ultimate Control ~$89/mo (billed annually). Free trial.
Spreadsheet-like interface scaled into enterprise work and project management, with Gantt, automation, dashboards and strong portfolio/PPM capabilities. Picked here for how cleanly it handles spreadsheet power users.
Why it's on this list: A spreadsheet interface scaled into enterprise work management, Gantt and portfolio reporting. Built for spreadsheet-driven enterprise teams and PMOs needing PPM, dashboards and IT/ops tracking.
Standout features:
Connectors for Jira, ServiceNow, Salesforce and Dynamics 365
Spreadsheet-style grid with Gantt, card (Kanban) and calendar views
Standout strength: Free plan exposes grid, Gantt, card and calendar views.
Worth knowing: Pro tier is limited to 10 members and 250 automated workflow runs per month.
Pricing: Free (1 user, limited); Pro from ~$9/user/mo; Business ~$19/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually).
Microsoft's classic project scheduling and portfolio tool with powerful Gantt, critical path, resource management and Power Platform/Teams integration. It stands out for traditional/waterfall project managers without a heavy setup cost.
Why it's on this list: Microsoft's classic powerhouse for detailed Gantt scheduling, critical path and enterprise portfolios. Built for traditional/waterfall project managers in Microsoft 365 orgs needing detailed scheduling and PPM.
Standout features:
Integration with Teams, Power BI, Excel and Power Platform
Detailed Gantt scheduling with task dependencies (lead/lag)
Standout strength: Deep Microsoft 365 / Power Platform integration.
Worth knowing: Critical path, baselines and the desktop client require Plan 3 or higher.
Pricing: Project Plan 1 from ~$10/user/mo; Plan 3 ~$30/user/mo; Plan 5 ~$55/user/mo (cloud, billed monthly/annually; on-premise editions separate).
If you're optimising for budget, start at the lower-priced options and only move up when you hit a real limit. If output quality or team features matter more than price, the top picks above will save you time. When two options look close, try both free tiers on one real task before committing — the right fit is usually obvious within an hour.
FAQ
What is the best option in this list?
For most people, GanttPRO is the strongest all-round pick in this guide, but the right choice depends on your budget and exact workflow.
Are there free options?
Yes — Zoho Projects offers a free plan or tier, so you can validate fit before paying. Check each entry's pricing line above.
How were these tools chosen?
Each pick is judged on fit for the specific job in this guide — its real strengths, pricing and who it suits — using features and facts drawn from independent reviews and the vendors' own documentation, cited in Sources below.
How often is this guide updated?
We revisit pricing and rankings regularly as vendors change plans and ship features.
Sources
The features, strengths and facts cited for each pick above are drawn from these independent reviews and vendor pages: