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Project Planning Software

Free Project Planning Software

Catalystk's free project planning software helps you plan, schedule and deliver projects on time. Create a project schedule with milestones and due dates, see the whole project timeline on a Gantt chart, and use the free project scheduler online or on the mobile app. Free download of your project plan in Excel and PDF.

  • 100% free
  • Gantt chart
  • Milestones & due dates
  • Excel & PDF download
Start a project plan: name, auto project code, client, unit, cost centre and terms.

Start a project plan: name, auto project code, client, unit, cost centre and terms.

Enlarged view: Free project planning software new project form with project name, project code, client, unit and cost centre
How it works

Plan a project in five steps

A clear plan takes minutes, not days.

  1. 1

    Define the project

    Name, client, unit, cost centre, currency and value. The project code is created for you.

  2. 2

    Set the dates

    Choose the start and end dates that frame the whole schedule.

  3. 3

    Break it into milestones

    Add each milestone with a due date and its share of the work.

  4. 4

    Review the timeline

    Check the plan on the Gantt chart and adjust dates that clash.

  5. 5

    Submit for approval

    Send the plan to reviewers and approvers, then start work.

Planning

Project planning software that turns scope into a schedule

A project plan answers four questions: what will be delivered, by when, by whom and for how much. Catalystk's project planning software captures all four on one screen. You enter the project name, client, unit, cost centre, currency and project value, and Catalystk creates the project code automatically. Terms and conditions can be attached so the plan and the commercial terms stay together.

From there you plan the work as milestones. Each milestone has a name, a due date, a percentage of the project and an amount, and the totals always add up to 100% of the project value. The result is a plan your client understands, your team can follow and your accounts team can bill against.

Scheduling

Free project scheduling software and project scheduler

Scheduling is where most plans slip. Catalystk works as free project scheduling software: every project has a start and end date, and every milestone has its own due date inside that window. As a free project scheduler, it keeps the dates in front of the team, shows how many days are left and highlights milestones that are overdue together with the next due date.

When dates change, update the milestone and the schedule, dashboard and reports reflect it immediately for everyone on the web and the mobile app. You do not need to rebuild a spreadsheet or resend a file: the schedule your team sees is always the current one.

  • Start and end date for every project
  • Due date for every milestone
  • Days left and timeline % on the dashboard
  • Overdue milestones and next due date
Timeline

Project timeline software with days left and overdue alerts

A good project timeline shows the whole journey at a glance. In Catalystk the timeline runs from the project's start date to its end date, with the milestones placed along it. The dashboard turns the timeline into a simple measure: the percentage of time used and the number of days left, next to the percentage of work done.

Comparing time used with work done is the quickest health check in project management. If 50% of the time has gone but only 25% of the milestones are complete, the project is behind and needs action now, not at the end. Catalystk's project timeline software makes that comparison automatic for every project.

Timeline: 9% of the schedule used and 137 days left, next to work done and overdue.

Timeline: 9% of the schedule used and 137 days left, next to work done and overdue.

Enlarged view: Project timeline in free project planning software showing 9% of time used, 137 days left and milestone progress
Gantt chart

Free Gantt chart software for project plans

A Gantt chart draws each milestone as a bar on a calendar, so you can see what happens when, what overlaps and where the gaps are. Catalystk includes free Gantt chart software: your project's milestones and dates appear on the Gantt view without any extra setup, because they come straight from the plan you already entered.

Use the Gantt chart to explain the plan to a client, to spot milestones that are bunched together, and to agree realistic dates with your team before you submit the project for approval. Because it is part of the same system, a date you change in the project updates the Gantt chart too, so the picture is never out of date.

Milestones

Plan milestones, due dates and payments together

In Catalystk a milestone is both a step in the plan and a point of payment. Enter a percentage and the amount is calculated from the project value, or enter an amount and the percentage is filled in for you. One milestone means a single payment; several milestones mean the client pays as each stage is completed.

Planning work and payments together keeps cash flow predictable. To track progress and bill each milestone, see free project cost tracking and milestone billing.

Four milestones, each with a due date, 25% share and amount, totalling 100%.

Four milestones, each with a due date, 25% share and amount, totalling 100%.

Enlarged view: Project plan milestones with due dates, percentage and amount in free project planning software
Free download

Free download: your project plan in Excel and PDF

Share the plan with anyone, even people who do not use Catalystk. Preview or print the project, email it from the project screen, or download the plan and milestones in Excel and PDF for free.

Not ready for software yet? Start with our free project plan template in Excel or PDF, which includes a project schedule template, then move the plan into Catalystk when you want automatic tracking.

Project Planning Software: frequently asked questions

Is Catalystk project planning software free?

Yes. Project planning, scheduling, milestones, the timeline and the Gantt chart are all included in Catalystk's free-forever plan, with no credit card and no limit on projects or users.

Can I use it as a free project scheduler?

Yes. Every project has start and end dates and every milestone has a due date. The dashboard shows days left, the timeline % and overdue milestones, so it works as a free project scheduler.

Does it include a Gantt chart?

Yes. Catalystk includes a free Gantt chart view of your project's milestones and dates, built from the plan you have already entered.

What is project timeline software?

Project timeline software shows a project from start to finish with its milestones in date order. Catalystk adds the % of time used and days left so you can compare time against work done.

Can I plan payments with the project schedule?

Yes. Each milestone has a % and an amount. One milestone means a single payment, several mean milestone billing as each stage is completed.

Can I download the project plan in Excel or PDF?

Yes. You can preview, print, email or download the project plan and milestones in Excel and PDF for free.

Can I plan projects on my phone?

Yes. Use the free Catalystk mobile app with the same account. Plans and dates stay in sync with the web version.

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