Gantt Chart Maker vs Trello
A free, no-signup Gantt chart tool compared with Trello — feature by feature, and honestly about who each one fits.
Open the free app →Trello is the friendliest kanban tool there is: cards on lists, drag them across as work moves along. For lightweight, flow-based work it is delightful. What it is not is a schedule — there are no native Gantt bars and no dependencies; a timeline needs a paid Power-Up, and even then it is not Trello's heart.
Gantt Chart Maker is the tool for when "what happens when, and in what order" matters. It is free, needs no account, and draws a proper time-based Gantt with dependencies — the view Trello isn't built to give you.
Trello vs Gantt Chart Maker at a glance
| Feature | Gantt Chart Maker | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — every feature | Free tier; Power-Ups paid |
| Account to start | Not required | Required |
| Runs in the browser | Yes — installable PWA | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | Limited |
| Your data stays on your device | Yes, by default | Cloud |
| Gantt view | Yes — purpose-built | Timeline (paid Power-Up) |
| Task dependencies | Yes — live re-routing, lag/lead | No native |
| MS Project import / export | Yes (.xml both ways) | No |
| Live collaboration | Yes — free (optional account) | Yes |
| Best for | Fast, focused Gantt planning | Simple kanban workflows |
Comparison reflects publicly documented features as of July 2026. Competitor free tiers, plans, and features may change — check their site for the latest.
Where Trello is strong
- The simplest possible way to track work as cards on a board.
- Delightful drag-and-drop flow for ongoing, non-scheduled work.
- A generous free tier and a low learning curve.
- Power-Ups and automations (Butler) extend it when needed.
Where Gantt Chart Maker is different
Kanban answers "what is in progress now"; a Gantt answers "when does it happen and what depends on it." Trello is the former and does not natively do the latter. Gantt Chart Maker gives you the time axis, dependencies with lag/lead, milestones, and export to image / PDF / CSV / MS Project XML — for free, with no Power-Up to buy. Our Gantt vs Kanban guide covers when each fits.
Which should you choose?
Choose Trello if your work is a flow of cards with no hard schedule. Choose Gantt Chart Maker when deadlines, sequence, and dependencies matter — and you want that timeline free and instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Can Trello show a Gantt chart?
Only through a paid Timeline Power-Up, and it is not a full scheduling tool. Gantt Chart Maker is a dedicated Gantt with dependencies, free and with no add-ons.
Should I use Kanban or a Gantt chart?
Kanban suits continuous, flow-based work; a Gantt suits work with deadlines and dependencies. See our Gantt vs Kanban guide for the full comparison.
Is Gantt Chart Maker as easy as Trello?
It is built to be just as fast to start — open the page and drag bars. There is no board to set up and no account required.
Try it — it opens in seconds
Gantt Chart Maker runs entirely in your browser: no signup, no account, nothing to install. Build a plan with dependencies in under a minute.
Open the app →