Smoov vs Lookahead
Lookahead is a student-built timetable optimiser for the University of Melbourne. Smoov takes the same idea further - automated scheduling with work shift protection, preference weighting, and support for any Australian university.
Free, no sign-up. Your timetable stays on your device.
Side by side
| Category | Smoov | Lookahead |
|---|---|---|
| University support | Works with any Australian university. One-click Allocate+ import works at UTS, USYD and ANU. Everywhere else, you type your classes in. | University of Melbourne only. Pulls class data from the Melbourne course API. Students at other universities cannot use it. |
| Schedule optimisation | Backtracking solver with constraint propagation generates 2-4 ranked schedule options in under a second. Each option includes plain-language tradeoff explanations. | Optimises timetable arrangements based on user preferences. Generates schedule options from available class combinations. |
| Work shift protection | Block recurring work shifts, sport training, or appointments as hard constraints. The solver guarantees no class will overlap with your blocked times. | Custom events can be added to the timetable but are not treated as hard constraints during optimisation. |
| Preference system | Eight weighted preferences (avoid 8am, minimise gaps, protect lunch, finish by 4pm, minimise days, breathing room, protect a day, prefer afternoons) with adjustable priority weights. | Supports preferences for minimising clashes and optimising class times. Less granular weighting system. |
| Group scheduling | SmoovSync lets friend groups share schedules via room codes and find combinations with maximum shared free time, lunch alignment, and shared campus days. | No group scheduling feature. Students coordinate manually outside the tool. |
| Maintenance and reliability | Maintained by a dedicated team. Works year-round regardless of semester timing. Data comes from the student (import or manual entry), so there is no dependency on university API availability. | Maintained by a single student volunteer. Has had downtime periods between semesters when course data was not updated. Depends on Melbourne course API being available. |
Smoov as a Lookahead alternative
Works at any Australian university, not just Melbourne
Eight weighted preferences give you fine-grained control over schedule priorities
Work shifts are hard constraints - never violated, not just visually displayed
Tradeoff explanations tell you exactly what each schedule gains and gives up
SmoovSync group scheduling finds shared free time without sharing personal data
No dependency on university API uptime - works reliably every semester
Frequently asked questions
Is Smoov better than Lookahead for Melbourne students?
Both tools optimise timetables, but they take different approaches. Lookahead pulls directly from Melbourne course data, which is convenient if you only study at Melbourne. Smoov offers deeper preference weighting, work shift protection as hard constraints, and tradeoff explanations on every schedule. If you work part-time or want to see exactly why one schedule is better than another, Smoov adds value beyond what Lookahead provides.
Can I use Smoov at the University of Melbourne?
Yes. Smoov works at any Australian university including Melbourne. Melbourne uses Allocate+ for class allocation. One-click import works at UTS, USYD and ANU so far, so at Melbourne you type your class times in from Allocate+.
Is Lookahead free?
Yes, Lookahead is free and student-built. Smoov also has a free tier covering 4 subjects, 2 schedule options, and 3 preferences.
What happens when Lookahead is down between semesters?
Lookahead depends on a volunteer updating it with new course data each semester. If that update is delayed, the tool may show outdated information or be unavailable. Smoov does not depend on university APIs - you import your own class data, so it works reliably regardless of semester timing.
Further reading
Try it on your own week
Put in your subjects, your shifts and your hard nos. Smoov shows you every timetable that fits, and what each one costs you.