- Unified Work Views: Access My Day, My Tasks, and My Plans in one interface.
- Multiple Planning Styles: Switch between board, list, timeline (Gantt), and sprint views.
- Microsoft Teams Integration: Collaborate on plans directly inside Teams channels.
- Task Dependencies: Define relationships and critical paths between tasks.
- Resource & Portfolio Management: Allocate people and manage workloads across projects.
- Power Platform Extensibility: Automate workflows using Power Automate and low-code tools.
Microsoft Planner
Unified task and project management inside Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Updated February 27, 2026
Microsoft Planner Overview
Microsoft Planner is a work and project management tool that centralizes tasks, plans, and projects across Microsoft 365. It supports individual task tracking and collaborative project planning with views like boards, lists, timelines, and sprints.
Planner integrates deeply with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Power Platform, scaling from lightweight task management to advanced portfolio and resource management.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Featured |
|---|---|---|
| Planner in Microsoft 365 | Included with Microsoft 365 (No extra cost) | Task boards and lists, Teams integration, My Day & My Tasks views |
| Planner Plan 1 | $10.00/user/month (Billed Annually) | Task dependencies, Gantt timeline view, backlogs and sprints |
| Planner and Project Plan 3 | $30.00/user/month (Billed Annually) | Advanced dependencies, resource management, Project Desktop & Online |
| Planner and Project Plan 5 | $55.00/user/month (Billed Annually) | Portfolio management, enterprise resource allocation, advanced analytics |
Price details: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/planner/microsoft-planner-plans-and-pricing
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| Asana | Microsoft Planner is more cost-effective for organizations already paying for Microsoft 365. It reduces the need for additional subscriptions while offering solid task tracking. Planner also benefits from native Teams and Outlook integration, lowering adoption friction compared to Asana’s separate workspace model. |
| Trello | Planner offers stronger enterprise controls and structured project views like timelines and dependencies. Unlike Trello’s primarily board-based approach, Planner supports more formal project management and integrates deeply with Microsoft’s security, compliance, and identity management. |
| ClickUp | Planner is simpler to configure and easier for non-technical teams already familiar with Microsoft tools. While ClickUp is feature-heavy, Planner’s tighter focus and native Microsoft 365 integration reduce complexity and training time for enterprise users. |
| Monday.com | Planner delivers better value when bundled with Microsoft 365 licenses. It avoids per-seat cost escalation and connects directly with Teams meetings, files, and chats, whereas Monday.com often requires additional setup and integrations. |
| Smartsheet | Planner is easier for task-centric teams and less spreadsheet-driven. Users benefit from visual boards and task views without needing advanced spreadsheet skills, making Planner more approachable for everyday collaboration. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| Asana | Compared to Asana, Planner lacks advanced automation rules and granular workflow customization. Teams managing complex cross-functional workflows may find Planner more rigid and dependent on Power Automate for scenarios Asana handles natively. |
| Trello | Planner feels heavier than Trello for very simple task tracking. Users seeking a lightweight, visual-only kanban experience may find Planner’s interface and Microsoft 365 dependencies unnecessary. |
| ClickUp | Planner does not match ClickUp’s depth in custom fields, views, and reporting without add-ons. Advanced teams may hit limitations unless they upgrade to higher Project plans, increasing overall cost. |
| Monday.com | Planner’s visual customization and dashboard flexibility are more limited. Monday.com provides richer color-coding, widgets, and configurable boards, which some teams prefer for executive reporting. |
| Smartsheet | Planner is weaker for spreadsheet-style project modeling and complex data manipulation. Smartsheet remains stronger for teams that rely heavily on formulas, cross-sheet references, and structured reporting. |
Reviews
- uctoday.com Review: Microsoft Planner delivers a straightforward, convenient project management experience that fits naturally inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. The reviewer highlights the integrated Copilot assistant that breaks tasks into sub-tasks and answers project status questions, while noting the lack of advanced features such as time tracking and reduced value for non-Microsoft users.
- Reddit r/projectmanagement: Several commenters slam Microsoft Planner as a “glorified to-do list” and “complete garbage,” arguing that time tracking feels like a “dumpster fire” and that the tool collapses when teams need resource planning, Gantt charts, or portfolio views. A minority voice says the simple lists function works well as a personal Kanban-style “To-Do” board for quarterly reviews.
- medium.com Review: The writer values the visual boards where tasks move through drag-and-drop and appreciates that each Plan automatically creates connected tools like an Outlook Group, Teams space, SharePoint site, and even a OneNote notebook. The tight Microsoft 365 integration and optional use of Power Automate strengthen Microsoft Planner for organizations already committed to that ecosystem, though it does not suit those without a 365 account.
- Gartner Review (Rating: 4.4/5): One IT associate calls Microsoft Planner a “fantastic tool” that tracks progress and integrates meeting notes and assigned actions inside Microsoft Teams. A marketing leader criticizes the split between To-Do, Planner, and Project, arguing that juggling three separate apps and a Teams dashboard creates a confusing, overlapping ecosystem that competitors handle in a single product.
