FET vs Prime Timetable

FET creates timetables for schools, high schools, and universities, with automatic, semi-automatic, and manual allocation modes. Its time and room constraints can account for teacher and student availability, preferred times and rooms, gaps, working hours, and changes between rooms or buildings. It accepts flexible XML input and imports CSV; completed schedules can be exported as HTML, XML, or CSV. The maker states algorithm limits of 500,000 activities, 30,000 student subgroups, 30,000 rooms, and 30,000 buildings. FET runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and is free software under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, with no stated usage limits. The maker provides a forum and documentation, including manuals, instructions, tips, and frequently asked questions. Listed third-party tools convert FET XML results to Microsoft Excel or bring FET-compatible timetables into RosarioSIS. The maker also says it may help institutions with custom variants for changes that are not too difficult, or advise on how to implement them. Stated generation times range from under five minutes for simpler schedules to hours for extremely difficult ones.

Prime Timetable provides automatic and manual timetabling for schools, universities, and similar institutions. Users can schedule multiple weeks at flexible times, move timetable cards in master and individual views, and divide classes into groups for electives. Its generator can account for pinned cards and forbidden time slots, then optimize teacher and student loads, gaps, room use, and building moves. Timetables can be customized, accessed from any device, printed as master or individual schedules, and exported to formats and apps. Data can be imported by copy and paste. The maker says timetables are backed up every 24 hours and the service is used in over 120 countries. The free plan is for evaluation and includes a web app for all devices, premium support, and a 30-day trial period; it requires an internet connection. Commercial plans enable offline work. Basic is for small and medium schools with up to 40 teachers, while Premium is for larger and campus schools with up to 100 teachers. Both commercial plans offer a web app and premium support, with pricing dependent on the selected plan duration.