{"id":54038,"date":"2022-02-24T16:22:48","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T22:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/?p=54038"},"modified":"2026-04-28T14:50:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:50:07","slug":"choose-a-project-planner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/choose-a-project-planner","title":{"rendered":"Best Project Planner Tools: Apps, Software & Templates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Projects don\u2019t just complete themselves. They need plans to direct them toward success. A strong project plan<\/a> allows you to organize tasks and assign resources to execute them, all within a set budget and on a deadline. It\u2019s unrealistic to think you can just wing it, which is why it\u2019s recommended you use a project planner of some kind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Is a Project Planner?<\/h2>\n

A project planner is any tool that helps you keep track of time, costs and tasks through the execution of a project. Through the years many types of project planners have been created such as notebooks, project management software<\/a> and more recently mobile apps. We\u2019ll run through different project planner tools so you can decide what\u2019s right for you.<\/p>\n

ProjectManager<\/a> allows you to create an advanced project plan. That means creating and monitoring your plan with advanced task, cost and time tracking features. ProjectManager is not only an excellent project planner but also a fully-featured project management software.<\/p>\n

\"ProjectManager's<\/a>
ProjectManager\u2019s Gantt charts let you filter for the critical path, set a baseline and more.\u2014Learn More!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Must-Have Project Planner Tools<\/h2>\n

There are many project planners available online. From notebooks to project management apps<\/a>, you’ll find many choices. They all have their pros and cons depending on your needs. Here we have compiled the most important features that you should look for when choosing a project planner.<\/p>\n

Gantt Charts<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re planning a larger, more complex project, the go-to tool is the Gantt chart. This project planner tool looks like a spreadsheet on one side and a project timeline<\/a> on the other. Tasks are listed on the left and then populate the project timeline to the right. This gives you a full view of the whole project plan across its life cycle.<\/p>\n

The pros of using a Gantt chart<\/a> are that it visualizes projects big and small, simple or complex, in such a way that you can see the big picture. It is a great way to organize a lot of tasks, sub-tasks and milestones so you can manage your plan daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or even yearly. This all helps you better control team, time and resource management.<\/p>\n

Gantt charts are the gold standard project planner, and one that you should be familiar with even if you don\u2019t choose to use it. Here are some Gantt makers<\/a> to get you started.<\/p>\n