Smoov vs manual timetabling
Building your timetable in a spreadsheet or by trial-and-error on the university portal takes hours. Smoov does it in seconds - and explains every tradeoff.
Free, no sign-up. Your timetable stays on your device.
Side by side
| Category | Smoov | Manual timetabling |
|---|---|---|
| Time to complete | Add your subjects and constraints once, then generate ranked schedule options in under a second. Full timetable ready in minutes. | Checking each class combination by hand, verifying no conflicts, and comparing options across browser tabs typically takes 1-3 hours per semester. |
| Conflict detection | Backtracking solver with forward checking eliminates every conflicting combination before presenting options. You only see valid, clash-free timetables. | Conflicts are discovered after the fact - usually when you try to enrol and the system rejects a combination, requiring you to start over. |
| Tradeoff explanations | Each schedule option comes with a plain-language tradeoff summary - showing which preferences are met and what you give up compared to other options. | No explanations. You assess each combination yourself, relying on memory of what you looked at earlier. |
| Work and life constraints | Block work shifts, recurring appointments, or any fixed commitment as a hard constraint. The optimiser guarantees these are never scheduled over. | You mentally track your work shifts while checking each combination. Easy to miss a conflict, especially across many subjects. |
| Multiple schedule options | Generates 2-4 ranked schedules using Maximum Marginal Relevance diversity selection - each option is meaningfully different, not just minor variations. | You typically build one schedule and stop, or compare 2-3 options if you have the patience. Systematic exploration of all combinations is not feasible by hand. |
| Group coordination | SmoovSync lets you and your friends find schedule combinations that maximize shared free time, shared campus days, or shared days off. | Group coordination requires sending screenshots or manually comparing schedules over chat. Very time-consuming with more than 2 people. |
Smoov as a manual timetabling alternative
No tab-switching - all your subjects and constraints live in one place
Solver eliminates invalid combinations automatically so you never waste time on a schedule that cannot work
Tradeoff explanations help you make an informed choice instead of guessing
Work shift protection means you never accidentally schedule a class over a shift
Compare 2-4 meaningfully different options side by side in seconds
Export directly to Google Calendar or ICS - no re-entering your schedule
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a timetable with Smoov?
Most students finish in under 5 minutes. Add your subjects (or import from Allocate+), set your preferences, and the solver generates ranked options in under a second. Compare that to 1-3 hours of manual tab-switching.
Can Smoov handle complex timetables?
Yes. The solver uses backtracking with forward checking and MRV heuristics to explore hundreds of combinations efficiently. It handles multi-campus classes, alternating-week lectures, and up to 6 subjects with full constraint satisfaction.
What if I want to keep a specific class option?
Premium users can anchor (lock) a specific class option in place, and Smoov will re-solve around it. This is useful when you have a preferred tutorial group or a lab that fits perfectly with your work schedule.
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.