3 Best School Timetable Makers for Teachers: Price & Features Compared

Determine the 3 best school timetable makers for teachers. Compare prices and features to find the perfect scheduling software for your classroom needs.

Key Takeaways

• aSc TimeTables is designed specifically for schools, generating optimized schedules in minutes while handling complex constraints. It comes as a one-time purchase starting at $99, making it affordable long-term but less customizable than Alpha TransForm.
• FET is the only completely free option, offering open-source software that can be customized endlessly. However, it requires some technical skill to set up and maintain compared to the ready-made solutions.
• Alpha TransForm is the most flexible option, letting schools build custom scheduling apps without coding. It’s especially useful for institutions with unreliable internet since it works offline, with pricing starting at $30 per user per month beyond the free tier.
• Alpha TransForm runs on a subscription model, aSc offers one-time payments with upgrade tiers, and FET is entirely free, giving schools options depending on budget and technical capacity.
• Alpha TransForm suits schools wanting to digitize operations and integrate with existing systems without requiring developers or technical staff, aSc TimeTables works best for educators seeking an easy plug-and-play scheduling tool, while FET appeals to schools needing a lightweight solution with basic features and available IT support.

Why School Timetable Makers Matter for Teachers

Designing a school timetable isn’t as simple as just filling in boxes. Teachers have to balance classes, subjects, free periods, and sometimes even last-minute changes. Doing this by hand can quickly turn into a stressful puzzle that eats up valuable time.

That’s where school timetable makers come in. These tools help teachers create well-structured schedules without the endless erasing and confusion. They save time, reduce errors, and make it easier to focus on what really matters: teaching.

3 Best School Timetable Solutions & Features

1. Alpha TransForm

Alpha TransForm makes school scheduling simple by letting teachers and administrators build the apps they actually need. Everything works offline, ties into existing systems, and cuts out the need for developers.

Instead of rigid templates, schools can turn paper forms and availability sheets into mobile apps in hours. Our offline-first tech keeps things running in rural areas, basement classrooms, or during outages, with automatic syncing once the connection returns.

Educators can build and update apps on their own, freeing them from IT delays. Beyond scheduling, schools use our platform to streamline workflows, save time, and improve communication with students and parents.

Alpha TransForm's school scheduling platform provides educators with customizable dashboards and analytics to streamline timetabling

without requiring IT support or technical expertise

Key features:

• Patented offline-first technology functioning without internet, perfect for schools with unreliable connectivity
• Advanced data capture including GPS tracking, photo capture and mark-up, speech-to-text, audio recording, and timestamp documentation
• Comprehensive education platform supporting school directories, student registration, incident reporting, staff certification tracking, and equipment inspections beyond timetabling
• Cross-platform performance with embedded business logic, complex calculations, and seamless integration with existing school information systems
• Built for all skill levels enabling rapid development and delivery of custom education solutions without technical expertise
• Built-in dashboards that show data in visual reports that can be shared, allowing administrators to gain insights and identify issues at a glance

2. aSc TimeTables

aSc TimeTables serves as a comprehensive automatic timetabling solution designed specifically for educational institutions. The software evaluates over 5 million scheduling possibilities to create optimized timetables based on criteria set by schools, handling complex constraints while generating balanced schedules efficiently.

The platform offers robust features, including schedule verification, manual adjustments, mobile access for teachers and students, and integrated substitution management. aSc TimeTables includes both online and offline versions, allowing collaborative timetable development while ensuring data accessibility during system maintenance.

aSc TimeTables provides automatic timetable generation for schools (image courtesy of Asc TimeTables). 

Key features:

• Automatic timetable generation evaluating millions of possibilities to create conflict-free schedules within 5 minutes for most school configurations
• Integrated substitution management with automatic cover teacher recommendations and instant notification systems for schedule changes
• Multi-platform accessibility including web-based collaboration, mobile apps for teachers and students, and offline desktop versions
• Comprehensive school management tools including class registers, event scheduling, parent communication, and attendance tracking integrated with timetable data
• Flexible deployment options supporting both cloud-based collaborative work and standalone offline operation with data synchronization capabilities

3. FET (Free Timetabling Software)

FET provides open-source automatic timetabling software for schools, high schools, and universities. Written in C++ using the Qt framework, FET uses fast and efficient algorithms to solve complex scheduling problems, typically generating complete timetables within 5–20 minutes for most educational institutions.

The software offers extensive customization capabilities with constraint-based scheduling, supporting various educational models including standard schedules, morning-afternoon configurations, and specialized block scheduling. FET includes comprehensive multilingual support and cross-platform compatibility.

FET offers free open-source timetabling software for educational institutions (image courtesy of FET). 

Key features:

• Completely free open-source software with full source code availability under GNU/GPL licensing for unlimited institutional use
• Fast automatic generation algorithms typically solving complex timetables within 5–20 minutes using constraint-based optimization methods
• Extensive customization capabilities supporting flexible student groupings, teacher constraints, room assignments, and various educational scheduling models
• Cross-platform compatibility running on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems with consistent functionality across operating systems
• Comprehensive constraint management allowing detailed control over scheduling rules, teacher availability, room capacity, and curriculum requirements

Pricing Breakdown

Alpha TransForm Pricing

Alpha TransForm offers a free tier supporting up to 3 users and 35 forms per month, including offline data collection, mobile and browser access, and API integrations. Our Business plan starts at $30 per user monthly, providing unlimited forms, full offline support, API access, and dedicated customer success management.

For larger schools or specialized requirements, an Enterprise plan offers flexible usage-based pricing, comprehensive onboarding support, and on-premise deployment options. This model proves ideal for educational institutions prioritizing rapid digitization and operational flexibility with minimal upfront investment, allowing schools to scale their technology investment as scheduling needs grow.

Most importantly, we offer special discounts to educational institutions. Contact us for more information about pricing tailored to your school's budget.

aSc TimeTables Pricing

aSc TimeTables offers four one-time payment tiers without subscription fees. The Primary Schools and Standard packages both cost $99, providing automatic timetable generation, multi-license coverage, substitution management, and mobile access with two years of support and upgrades.

The Premium tier costs $500 and includes personalized team assistance plus premium support with schedule analysis and improvement suggestions. The PRO package at $1995 adds advanced student-based automatic generators for individual schedules. The software offers unlimited free trial access with full functionality except export capabilities.

FET Pricing

FET is completely free under the GNU/GPL open-source license, requiring no purchase, subscription, or licensing fees for any educational institution. Schools can download, install, use, and modify the software without cost restrictions or user limitations.

While the core software remains free, schools may choose to invest in optional professional support services, custom development, or training from third-party providers. The open-source nature needs technically skilled staff to modify the software to meet specific institutional requirements without vendor dependencies.

*Note: Pricing and/or product availability mentioned in this post are subject to change. Please check the retailer's website for current pricing and stock information before making a purchase.

Alpha TransForm vs aSc TimeTables vs FET: Comparison Table

Which Platform Should You Choose?

FET works best for schools with technical staff seeking maximum customization control with budget constraints. Its open-source nature provides unlimited flexibility and zero licensing costs, though implementation requires technical expertise and ongoing maintenance responsibility.

aSc TimeTables serves traditional schools seeking proven automatic timetabling with minimal setup requirements. Its commercial support and education-specific features deliver immediate value for conventional scheduling needs, though customization remains limited to predefined configuration options.

Alpha TransForm gives schools the flexibility to create technology that truly fits their scheduling needs, staff workflows, and administrative processes. With our no-code platform, schools can build exactly what they need, like custom teacher availability forms or specialized room booking systems, without relying on IT teams or getting stuck with vendor lock-in. Plus, we offer a significant discount to educational institutions.

Why Alpha TransForm is the Best Platform for Teachers

Alpha TransForm stands out by empowering educators to build exactly what they need rather than adapting to rigid software constraints. Our no-code app builder enables teachers and administrators to easily create custom scheduling solutions that match their specific institutional needs and culture. Need help? We will digitize your form for you.

Our offline-first technology ensures apps function perfectly regardless of connectivity—rural schools, basement classrooms, or during system outages. Staff can manage scheduling tasks with advanced features like GPS tracking, image documentation, and speech-to-text input, all syncing automatically when networks return.

Teachers can build custom apps for availability tracking, room management, or conflict resolution in minutes without technical expertise. Our platform extends beyond timetabling to support comprehensive school operations, including directories, registration systems, incident reporting, and staff certification tracking. 

This unified approach delivers measurable improvements: reduced administrative hours, enhanced communications, and improved safety through fast emergency reporting. Plus, we offer special discounts to educational institutions, making professional-grade digital transformation accessible even for schools with tight budgets.

With Alpha TransForm, teachers can create custom scheduling solutions without technical expertise. 

For example, we powered MySchoolAnywhere (a mobile school scheduling app), delivering their solution 3x faster than traditional development would have allowed, which enabled them to achieve a 60% revenue increase in under a year with more than 350 schools signing up since launch.

Alpha TransForm transforms school scheduling from an administrative burden into a competitive advantage, helping educators work smarter and more efficiently than ever before.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes timetable software suitable for school environments?

School timetable solutions must handle complex constraints like teacher availability, room capacity, curriculum sequences, and student enrollment while providing reliable offline functionality for areas with poor connectivity. 

The best approaches support easy modification for last-minute changes, integration with existing school systems, and user-friendly interfaces for non-technical staff.

How quickly can schools implement new timetabling solutions?

Implementation speed varies significantly by approach. Alpha TransForm enables schools to digitize existing scheduling processes in minutes using their current workflows as templates, while traditional commercial systems may require weeks of configuration and staff training. 

Open-source solutions like FET require technical setup time but offer unlimited customization. Success depends on choosing solutions that work with existing processes rather than forcing operational changes.

Do school timetabling apps work reliably without internet connectivity?

This depends entirely on the platform's offline capabilities. Alpha TransForm's patented offline technology ensures full functionality without connectivity—staff can update schedules, record changes, and manage assignments with automatic syncing when networks return. 

aSc TimeTables offers offline desktop versions alongside online collaboration tools. FET operates as standalone software requiring no internet connection for core functionality.

What's the typical ROI timeframe for school timetabling solutions?

ROI varies based on implementation complexity and staff adoption. Alpha TransForm users typically see returns within weeks due to the immediate digitization of existing scheduling processes and the elimination of manual coordination tasks. 

Commercial solutions like aSc TimeTables may take months to show full ROI as staff adapt to new procedures. Free solutions like FET provide immediate cost savings but may require ongoing technical support investment.

Can Alpha TransForm handle more than just timetabling for schools?

Yes, Alpha TransForm serves as a comprehensive education platform supporting the full spectrum of school operations. Educational institutions can use our no-code platform to build comprehensive administrative solutions, including school directories, student registration and invoicing systems, activity sign-up and payment processing, and staff certifications and training trackers. 

It also supports operational applications like equipment inspection apps, incident reporting systems, time and attendance solutions, and workplace wellness programs. All applications feature offline operation, advanced data capture including photos and GPS tracking, speech-to-text input, and seamless integration with existing school systems.