How to Create Jira Gantt Chart: Tools, Tips, Best Practices, and Alternatives

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With a clear visual timeline, the Gantt chart helps teams stay on track, manage dependencies, and hit deadlines with ease. In this guide, we’ll dive into the tools, tips, and best practices for building Jira Gantt charts, along with an alternative solution.

What is a Gantt chart and why use one in Jira?

A Gantt chart is a project management tool that displays tasks as bars on a timeline. It’s a fantastic way to visualize:

• Task start and end dates.

• Dependencies between tasks.

• Progress across your entire project.

In Jira, integrating Gantt charts can bring clarity to complex workflows, especially in agile and hybrid teams that need to manage sprints and long-term milestones simultaneously.

How to Create a Gantt Chart in Jira

1. Jira built-in timeline

Jira Software comes with a Timeline feature. While it isn’t a classic Gantt chart, the roadmap provides a timeline view of tasks and their dependencies. Here's how to use it:

Steps to Create a Timeline:

1. Create Epics: start by creating epics, which represent larger initiatives or high-level tasks.

2. Add Issues and Dependencies: add issues under each epic and set their start and due dates. You can also link tasks to define dependencies.

3. View Timeline: go to the "Timeline" tab to view a timeline representation of your epics and tasks.

2. Jira plugins

To create a more feature-rich Gantt chart, Jira’s ecosystem offers a variety of plugins. Here are some popular options:

Gantt Chart for Structure PPM

• Key Features: offers hierarchical task structures, customizable Gantt views, and powerful reporting.

• Best For: large teams managing complex projects with interrelated tasks.

Learn More

BigGantt

• Key Features: task grouping, critical path analysis, and drag-and-drop scheduling.

• Best For: teams looking for a versatile Gantt tool.

Learn More

WBS Gantt-Chart for Jira

• Key Features: Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) integration, milestone tracking, and resource allocation.

• Best For: enterprises requiring advanced project management capabilities.

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ProScheduler

• Key Features: combines resource planning, Gantt charts, and reporting for complete project visibility.

• Best For: teams focused on resource management and timeline optimization.

Learn More

Challenges with Classic Gantt Charts

While traditional Gantt charts are incredibly useful, they can become overly complex and challenging to manage, especially for agile teams. This is where modern alternatives like Planyway come into play.

Planyway for Jira: A User-Friendly Alternative

Planyway transforms your Jira experience with an intuitive Gantt-like timeline view. Here’s why it stands out:

• Simplicity: unlike traditional Gantt tools, Planyway is easy to set up and use, even for beginners.

• Flexibility: ideal for both agile and hybrid teams, it accommodates sprints, milestones, and custom workflows.

• Visual clarity: Planyway’s clean interface avoids the clutter of classic Gantt charts, ensuring you focus on what matters most.

• All-one-tool: Compared to some Gantt plugins, Planyway offers great value without compromising on functionality. It includes roadmap, capacity planning, and time tracking under the same cost.

Tips for Using Jira Gantt Charts Effectively

1. Start with Clear Objectives: define your project’s goals and deliverables before diving into the timeline.

2. Break Down Tasks: ensure tasks are manageable and assign clear owners to each.

3. Set Dependencies: link tasks logically to avoid bottlenecks and ensure smooth progress.

4. Regularly Update Your Chart: keep the Gantt chart current to reflect real-time project status.