Best Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Software of 2022: Free and Paid

If you disintegrate your project tasks into smaller activities using a work breakdown structure (WBS), then you surely appreciate all the benefits of this diagram.

In case you have never worked with this kind of project management charts, then choosing an appropriate WBS software should be an interesting and useful practice for you.

Our post covers the best WBS software solutions you may apply to master your ability of planning, scheduling and managing complex tasks. Many platforms offer affordable work breakdown structure examples, so you will have handy samples to start with.

Applying WBS software is beneficial because this is a simpler option of outlining project scope and its deliverables.

You can choose any platform: a free WBS software or a paid one with the advanced functionality. You may also want to work with a highly specialized WBS-focused solution or pick up a multifunctional PM tool with the correspondent feature.

Let’s consider some top work breakdown structure software solutions for your projects.

Best work breakdown structure software

A WBS helps businesses to organize their projects therefore companies seek appropriate work breakdown structure software solutions that will satisfy their needs.

This solution can be:

• A professional Gantt chart maker that breaks down projects to smaller parts.
• An app with a result-oriented tree WBS chart as the major feature.
• Any charting tool where a WBS is just one of the diagrams available.

Some teams still use Excel to create a work breakdown structure online. This way looks a little bit outdated due to the availability of more professional and robust platforms for generating a WBS chart.

While preparing our list of the leading work breakdown structure software, we’ve chosen different but equally reliable systems for your projects’ success.

GanttPRO

GanttPRO is a professional project management tool that offers a friendly work breakdown structure visualized on an online Gantt chart.

The platform allows creating diagrams for different types of projects. You can manage your team more efficiently so they could have more productive results and decrease project expenses.

Key features:

• Online Gantt chart for different kinds of projects.
• Flexible WBS.
• Task management and resource management.
• Tasks prioritization.
• Drag and drop functionality.
• Durations, dependencies, and milestones.
• Export and import.
• Integrations.

GanttPRO will let you convert your WBS to a Gantt chart online without any headache. You need to prepare a list of tasks and subtasks, then add a WBS field from the list, and order your task list to visualize the required hierarchy.

You can also transfer projects created in Excel to GanttPRO.

The platform also provides handy Gantt chart templates that help in creating diagrams.

The price starts at $7.99 user/month (billed annually).

Creately

Creately is an affordable WBS project management software that is a good alternative to the other famous platforms for work breakdown structure since it provides a lot of elements to make different types of effective diagrams. Apart from a WBS, there are many other useful PM diagrams in its template library.

This is the well-designed free WBS software that is perfect for visualizing simple and complex ideas.

Key features:

• Professional visual canvas.
• Data linking.
• Drag and drop functionality.
• History revision.
• Process mapping.
• Data import and export.
• Multiple access and role levels.
• Friendly templates.

The price starts at $4 user/month (billed annually).

EdrawMax

EdrawMax is also a reliable diagramming platform that offers a range of effective charts, including a work breakdown structure. It supports more than 280 types of various diagrams, ranging from flowcharts to complex workflow and business diagrams.

EdrawMax is equipped with a rich gallery of templates that makes it especially useful for users new to the diagramming system.

There is no need to have professional drawing skills to generate a WBS here because the software allows for doing it using its features set.

Key features:

• Professional WBS system.
• Setting, changing, or measuring progress for your tasks.
• Drag and drop functionality.
• Linking tasks to create dependencies.
• Handy reports.
• Quick export to MS Office files and other files.
• Tracking costs.

EdrawMax is a free WBS software. However, if you want to get its advanced functionality, you have to pay. The price starts at $8.25 user/month (billed annually).

Lucidchart

Lucidchart doesn’t require special design skills to generate visually appealing diagrams as well. This free WBS app even includes an option to work offline.

It comes with a wide range of templates to instantly break down projects into smaller chunks. You just need to start working with a work breakdown structure by choosing the correspondent template and make some changes required.

The users of this platform may choose between a free version and professional level subscription plans.

Key features:

• Simple tree-oriented WBS.
• Unlimited number of simultaneous collaborators.
• Links and layers for creative diagrams.
• Alerts/notifications.
• Access control and permissions.
• Hundreds of templates
• Export to pdf, png, jpg, and Microsoft Visio (.vdx).
• Integrations.

The price starts at $7.95 user/month (billed annually).

WBS Schedule Pro by Criticaltools

Another powerful WBS system is WBS Schedule Pro by Criticaltools.com.

It is completely focused on the WBS chart functionality but if you want to use a network diagram or a Gantt chart, you can upgrade your plan and get them there.

This Windows-based PM WBS platform offers the intuitive user interface and visual nature of the diagrams. WBS Schedule Pro looks perfect for presenting projects to teams, management, and customers.

Key features:

• Simple but efficient planning.
• Easy task creation.
• Additional network charts and Gantt charts.
• Ability to export finished projects to Excel spreadsheets.
• Microsoft Project integration.
• Tracking projects’ progress with graphical presentations.

The price starts at $199 user/month (billed annually).

Choose your ideal WBS and win

That’s all we wanted to share about the top paid and free software solutions for creating a work breakdown structure WBS. Have you already chosen which one to use to decompose your project tasks?

Whatever WBS software you select, it’s critical to adapt it to the specifics of your project and the work of the entire team. If you succeed in this, you will get professional planning and competent management of your tasks.

Would you like to get more details and interesting facts about the best work breakdown structure software solutions? You bet it! Feel free to read our full article Top-5 Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Software to Use in Project Management https://blog.ganttpro.com/en/work-breakdown-structure-wbs-software/.