Gantt Chart vs Kanban: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Use?

Let's look at what each tool is best at.

What a Gantt chart does best:

·         Project timeline planning across weeks or months

·         Managing task dependencies and sequencing

·         Highlighting milestones for stakeholder updates

·         Supporting critical path thinking when deadlines are tight

·         Making a project schedule easy to explain in one view

What Kanban does best:

·         Daily execution and clarity on what is happening now

·         Work in progress limits (WIP limits) to reduce multitasking

·         Making bottlenecks visible, especially in review or QA

·         Flexible prioritization without rebuilding a schedule

·         Improving throughput and cycle time over time

Same Project, Two Views: A Simple Example

Imagine a small launch: a landing page plus ads. The same work can be managed with either approach, but the view changes what you pay attention to.

Gantt chart example:

Your project schedule might include tasks like:

·         Requirements and messaging

·         Design

·         Copywriting

·         Development

·         Tracking setup

·         QA

·         Launch

With dependencies, the order becomes clear. For example, development starts after design, QA starts after development, and launch happens after QA. A Gantt chart makes it easy to answer questions like, “Can we launch by Friday?” and “What slips if design takes two extra days?”

Kanban board example:

A simple board might use columns like:

·         Backlog

·         Ready

·         In progress

·         Review

·         Done

The focus is not the date. The focus is flow. If items pile up in Review, you can see the bottleneck immediately and fix it.

When to Use a Gantt Chart

Use a Gantt chart when you need:

·         A clear project timeline tied to real deadlines

·         Sequencing that depends on approvals, handoffs, or vendors

·         Visibility into milestones and dates for stakeholders

·         A dependable project schedule that explains what happens next

When to Use Kanban

Use Kanban when you need:

·         A system for continuous incoming work

·         Flexibility when priorities change often

·         Less multitasking, supported by WIP limits

·         Better visibility into stuck work and process bottlenecks

·         Improved flow for ongoing operations, content, or support

Common Misconceptions

Misconception: Gantt charts are only for waterfall.

Not true. Many agile teams use a high level Gantt chart for release planning, major milestones, and cross team dependencies.

Misconception: Kanban means no planning.

Also not true. Kanban teams plan around capacity, WIP limits, and service expectations. The planning is continuous and practical.

Misconception: You must choose one forever.

Most teams do best with a hybrid approach: a Gantt chart for the project timeline and a Kanban board for daily execution.

A Simple Hybrid Approach

Use a Gantt chart to define:

·         Phases and milestones

·         Major dependencies

·         Target dates and launch window

·         Baseline schedule

Use Kanban to manage:

·         Daily work items

·         Review and approval flow

·         WIP limits and bottlenecks

·         Team workload and priorities

How to Decide Quickly

Ask these questions:

1.       Is there a fixed deadline? If yes, lean toward a Gantt chart.

2.       Are there strong dependencies? If yes, lean toward a Gantt chart.

3.       Is the work continuous and incoming? If yes, lean toward Kanban.

4.       Is the team juggling too many in progress tasks? If yes, Kanban with WIP limits helps.

5.       Do stakeholders want milestone reporting? If yes, a Gantt chart makes that simpler.

Pros and Cons in Plain Language

Gantt chart pros:

·         Clear project schedule and dates

·         Great for dependencies and milestones

·         Easy to communicate with stakeholders

·         Strong for long range planning

Gantt chart cons:

·         Needs maintenance when dates change

·         Can get cluttered if you include too much detail

·         Does not automatically fix day to day bottlenecks

Kanban pros:

·         Excellent visibility into what is happening now

·         Encourages finishing through WIP limits

·         Makes bottlenecks obvious

·         Flexible when priorities change

Kanban cons:

·         Less focused on dates and deadlines

·         Harder to communicate an end to end timeline

·         Dependencies can be hidden unless you manage them intentionally

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Gantt chart mistakes:

·         Treating it like a one time document instead of a living schedule

·         Forgetting review and approval time

·         Turning every micro task into its own bar, which hurts readability

·         Ignoring capacity and resource planning

Kanban mistakes:

·         No WIP limits, so everything becomes in progress

·         Too many columns that confuse the team

·         No definition of done, so cards linger

·         Not reviewing flow, so bottlenecks never get fixed

FAQ

What is the difference between a Gantt chart and Kanban?

A Gantt chart is a project timeline and schedule that shows tasks as bars on a calendar with dates, durations, dependencies, and milestones. Kanban is a workflow method that uses a board and cards to manage work through stages, focusing on flow and limiting work in progress.

Is Kanban better than a Gantt chart?

Neither is better in general. Kanban is often better for continuous work and daily execution. A Gantt chart is often better for deadline driven projects that need a clear schedule, dependencies, and milestone reporting.

Can you use a Gantt chart with agile project management?

Yes. Many teams use a high level Gantt chart for milestones and release planning, then manage daily tasks with scrum or a Kanban board.

When should you use a Gantt chart?

Use a Gantt chart when you need a project timeline, a project schedule with dates, dependency management, or stakeholder friendly milestone updates.

When should you use Kanban?

Use Kanban when work is ongoing or priorities change often, and when the team needs better visibility, smoother flow, and fewer tasks in progress using WIP limits.