GanttPRO Review: Excellent Gantt Project Planning Platform

If you love Gantt Charts for project management, then GanttPRO is definitely a tool you should check out.

GanttPRO is a user friendly project management tool that offers a comprehensive, Gantt chart-based interface for planning, managing, and tracking projects.

It provides a visual, organized, and collaborative way to stay on top of projects, tasks, timelines, and resources.

GanttPRO is a Polish based software that’s been around since 2015 and is popular with businesses that want straight-forward project management without bloated add-ons like invoicing, whiteboard tools and advanced reports.

According to the company, it has been used by enterprises including Vodafone, Sony and even NASA for project planning.

In this review, we take a closer look at GanttPRO’s features, benefits and limitations.

What Is A Gantt Chart?

A Gantt Chart is a visual project management tool that outlines tasks over a set timeline.

It displays tasks as horizontal bars, where the length of each bar represents the duration of the task, and their position reflects the start and end dates.

Gantt charts are useful for tracking project progress, understanding task dependencies, and ensuring that deadlines are met.

They help managers allocate resources effectively, spot potential bottlenecks, and visualize the overall project workflow, making them essential for keeping projects organized and on schedule.

You can of course draw Gantt charts in Microsoft Excel and even Apple Pages or Numbers but it’s far slower, tedious and less interactive compared to using specific Gantt Chart software.

Getting Started

You can start using the platform immediately by signing-up for a 14 day free trial of GanttPRO.

All you have to do is enter an email address and your name to get started.

GanttPRO will then ask you a few questions to help customize the dashboard according to the number of users you and how you plan to use it.

You can also choose from a range of templates designed for specific projects such as Web Design, Marketing and Event Planning.

We found these a little hard to find in the app although they are easily accessible from the GanttPRO website.

You’re also given the option of uploading a Microsoft Project file in MPP format.

This is a nice touch as there aren’t many project management tools that offer native MPP file import support and it’s particularly useful for Mac users as Microsoft Project for Mac doesn’t exist.

So if you’ve just switched to Windows from Mac and are looking for an alternative to Microsoft Project for Mac, GanttPRO allows you to keep all of your MS Project data.

If you’re a Jira user, when you create a new project you’re also given the opportunity to import Jira tasks by adding the GanttPRO plugin to your Jira Integrations.

Core Features of GanttPRO

1. Gantt Chart Interface

Unsurprisingly given the name of the platform, Gantt charts in GanttPRO are central to the platform’s usability.

Unlike many tools that provide Gantt charts as an add-on or a view-type, GanttPRO builds its entire system around this feature.

Within seconds of starting your first project, you can very easily create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and define dependencies.

The interface offers:

• Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Adjusting task duration or dependencies is as simple as dragging the task bar.
• Task Dependencies: Creating task dependencies (finish-to-start, start-to-start, etc.) ensures that your project timeline is always logical and helps prevent scheduling conflicts.
• Critical Path Calculation: The Gantt chart highlights the critical path, giving you a visual representation of tasks that are essential for meeting the project’s deadline.

2. Task Management & Breakdown

GanttPRO provides various task management tools that allow you to create a hierarchical task structure.

For large projects, this feature is essential to break down workflows into manageable phases, tasks, and subtasks:

• Subtasks & Milestones: Milestones act as critical checkpoints, helping to keep track of project progress. Subtasks allow for detailed breakdowns of complex tasks. This ability to do task-nesting is one of the things that sets apart dedicated Gantt chart software like GanttPRO compared to other project management apps.

• Custom Fields: You can add custom fields to tasks, tailoring GanttPRO to the specific needs of your project although this is only available in higher level pricing plans.
• Task Completion Tracking: Progress indicators (percentage bars) provide a real-time view of how close a task is to completion.

3. Resource and Workload Management

For project managers handling multiple projects and teams, the Portfolio view provides a way of overseeing all of your ongoing projects (although this feature is not available in the Basic version).

Within these, you can see:

• Team Resource Allocation: You can assign specific team members to tasks and visualize their workload on a resource management board. The tool shows you who’s overloaded and who has free capacity.
• Workload Balancing: GanttPRO’s workload view helps project managers ensure that work is distributed fairly and efficiently among the team, avoiding burnout and bottlenecks.
• Time Estimates and Deadlines: Each task can have time estimates, helping you better predict project timelines and allocate resources accordingly.
• Time Log: Although there aren’t any extensive time tracking features in GanttPRO it does include a basic Time Log to track how much time has been spent on a task which could be useful for invoicing or evaluation purposes.

4. Collaboration Features

GanttPRO also makes it very easy to get an overview of who is working on what at any time. You can send an email invite from the app to invite anyone in to collaborate on a project.

You can easily set permissions of what those invited have access to.

• Kanban Board View: You can instantly switch to a Kanban Board view by clicking on the “Board” tab at the top of the interface. Project managers can also assign tasks here by clicking on cards and have an overview of what stage they are at.

• Task Comments: Team members can comment on tasks and communicate on projects without leaving the app. There is no way to chat in-app however.
• Real-time Updates: Any changes made by team members are updated in real-time, so that all stakeholders can see the most up-to-date information.
• File Attachments: You can attach relevant documents and files to individual tasks, such as invoices, estimates and authorization forms.

5. Project Export, Sharing, and Reporting

GanttPRO’s export functionality is useful for sharing project data with stakeholders who may not be GanttPRO users.

Ways of sharing project timelines in GanttPRO include:

• PDF, PNG, and Excel Export: You can export Gantt charts as a PDF, PNG, or Excel file, making it easy to share the project’s status with external clients or stakeholders.
• Progress Reports: The reporting tools in GanttPRO allow you to create visual progress reports, detailing task completion, milestones reached, and resource utilization. You can also choose to receive audible notifications when milestones are reached or deadlines looming.
• Shareable Links: The platform allows you to share project plans via a password protected link, giving external stakeholders read-only access to the Gantt chart without needing an account.

6. Integrations

Integrations are one of the areas that GanttPRO is lacking compared to most other professional project management tools.

Gantt PRO is integrated with Jira, Microsoft Teams, Google Calendar, Outlook and Slack but this is a lot less than you’d expect.

Zapier integration is however currently a work in progress according to the app and when this is completed, it will open-up GanttPRO to far more applications.

Pros of GanttPRO for Project Managers

There are many positives to GanttPRO and below is a summary of the main highlights we found.

1. Intuitive Gantt Chart Functionality:
   GanttPRO’s focus on Gantt charts makes project planning clear and straightforward. Adjusting tasks, setting dependencies, and visualizing the critical path are simple, reducing the complexity of managing large-scale projects. There are also plenty of tutorial videos on the GanttPRO YouTube channel if you get stuck.
2. Resource and Workload Management:
   GanttPRO’s resource management feature is one of the best available for project managers. Being able to balance workloads, prevent over-allocations, and ensure proper resource distribution is critical for managing both teams and budgets effectively.
3. Comprehensive Collaboration Tools:
   The integration of communication tools like task commenting, file attachments, and real-time updates creates a collaborative environment that keeps all team members on the same page. The ability to centralize all conversations within the tool prevents communication from getting lost in emails or external chats. Shame there’s no in-app instant messaging though.
4. Microsoft Project Import Support: GanttPRO is ideal for those that have recently switched to Mac and need to import MS Project MPP files. It can also import CSV and XSLX file formats.
5. Customization and Flexibility:
   The platform allows for extensive customization (at least in the higher level plans) whether through task fields, templates, or project views. This flexibility is key for project managers who need to adapt tools to fit specific methodologies or industries.
6. Ease of Use:
   GanttPRO is very easy to use compared to many project management apps. The learning curve is minimal, even for beginners. This is particularly important for project managers who need to get teams onboarded quickly without spending weeks on training.
7. Multiple Export Options:
   The ability to export project plans in different formats allows for easy sharing of project progress with stakeholders who don’t have access to GanttPRO.

Cons of GanttPRO

There are some drawbacks however. Compared to some of its competitors, we found some of the following limitations.

1. Limited Integration with Third-Party Tools:
   GanttPRO’s range of integrations is much narrower than some competitors like Monday.com or ClickUp. For teams that rely heavily on Salesforce or need advanced reporting tools, this can be a limitation. It would be nice to see integration added with invoicing software and accounting software too. However, integration with Zapier is being worked on by the team at GanttPRO which will make a huge difference in this regard.
2. No Advanced Time-Tracking:
   GanttPRO lacks a proper built-in time-tracking functionality although it does include a very basic Time Log. For project managers who need to track and itemize hours spent on tasks for billing or project efficiency purposes, this could be a problem.
3. High Cost for Advanced Features:
   While GanttPRO offers various pricing plans, some of the more advanced features, like portfolio management and advanced reporting, are locked behind higher-tier plans, which is a downside for freelancers, smaller teams or those on tighter budgets. The free trial gives you access to these but after the 14 days have expired, they’re not available without a Pro or Business Plan.
4. No Desktop App:
   Although GanttPRO works fine in any browser on a Mac, there is no desktop app for offline use.You can however download a PDF or PNG image of a Gantt chart when you don’t have access to the internet. There is also a mobile app for iPhone and Android (but not iPad).
5. Limited Agile Support:
   While GanttPRO excels in traditional waterfall methodologies, it offers limited support for agile project management frameworks like Scrum or Kanban. This makes it less suitable for teams that follow agile practices exclusively.

GanttPRO Pricing

GanttPRO is available in three pricing plans:

• Basic: Starting at $7.99 user/month: This is suitable for teams of up to 5 people but lacks custom fields, Portfolio views and you can’t save your own project templates with it.
• Pro: Starting at $12.99 user/month: Suitable for larger teams that need Slack and Microsoft Teams integration.
• Business: Starts at $19.99 user/month. Gives you access to all features including single-sign on.

Enterprise plans are available on request which include a dedicated business manager. Educational discounts are also available.

There’s also a 14 day free trial which gives you full access to the Business plan so you can test all features.

Pricing for GanttPRO is generally in line with most cloud based project management apps with pricing per user a common pricing model.

You can see how GanttPRO pricing plans compare below:

Alternatives to GanttPRO

Almost every project management software out there support Gantt chart views although few specialize it in like GanttPRO.

For Mac users that need something much broader than GanttPRO, we’d recommend taking a look at Monday.com and ClickUp.

These also include limited free forever plans for freelancers and small businesses.

These include things like whiteboards, invoicing and instant messaging tools all rolled into one platform.

Alternatively, for a desktop alternative check out Project Plan 365 which also imports Microsoft Project files.

For more alternative, check out our guide to the best Gantt Chart software for Maxc.

GanttPRO FAQs

1. Is GanttPRO suitable for large, complex projects?
Yes, GanttPRO is designed to handle large-scale projects with many tasks, dependencies, and team members. Its resource management and task breakdown features make it particularly well-suited for complex workflows.

2. Can I collaborate with external clients using GanttPRO?
Yes, GanttPRO allows you to invite clients or stakeholders as users, or you can share project views via a public link.

3. Does GanttPRO support agile methodologies?
GanttPRO primarily supports waterfall-style project management through Gantt charts. While it can be adapted for certain agile elements, teams working in pure agile environments may find its features limited in this regard.

4. How customizable is GanttPRO?
GanttPRO offers a high level of customization, allowing you to create custom fields, modify templates, and adjust views to fit the specific needs of your project or industry. However, these are only in the higher-tier pricing plans.

5. Does GanttPRO have a mobile app?
Yes, GanttPRO offers a mobile app for iOS and Android, but it is not as feature-rich as the desktop version. You can view projects and perform basic tasks on the app, but managing complex projects may be challenging without access to the web version.

6. How does GanttPRO compare to competitors?
Compared to tools like Asana, ClickUp, Monday.com, and Trello, GanttPRO excels in Gantt chart functionality and resource management. However, it lacks the extensive third-party integrations and agile features that some competitors offer.

7. Is GanttPRO safe?
Since GanttPRO stores all its data in the Cloud, security is bound to be a concern. The platform uses a range of security measures including PCI-DSS compliance, Microsodt Azure Compliance and various encryption/2FA to keep data safe.