{"id":64220,"date":"2025-09-19T12:50:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T17:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/?p=64220"},"modified":"2026-02-04T16:04:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:04:33","slug":"best-microsoft-planner-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/best-microsoft-planner-alternatives","title":{"rendered":"11 Best Microsoft Planner Alternatives of 2026 (Free & Paid)"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re in the market for a software tool that can help simplify task management, then you\u2019ve probably explored Microsoft Planner. It\u2019s a task management tool that’s part of the larger Microsoft universe, which includes Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Project. It might seem as if Microsoft has cornered the market in project management until you take a closer look. While Microsoft claims to offer everything a project manager and their team require, the truth is they fall short in terms of price, usability and even features. That\u2019s why people seek a Microsoft Planner Alternative.<\/p>\n

How Microsoft Planner Works<\/h2>\n

Microsoft Planner<\/a> is similar to many task management tools on the market. It organizes teamwork and tasks for project management. It\u2019s a hub for teams to work together, make plans, assign tasks and check progress with dashboards.<\/p>\n

The tool acts as a hub for project documentation, file sharing, and team visibility. It\u2019s part of the broader Microsoft 365 suite, which also includes OneDrive, Outlook (mail and calendar), Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more. Microsoft Planner integrates smoothly with Microsoft Teams and other task management tools like Microsoft To Do and Microsoft Lists. However, it isn\u2019t fully compatible with Microsoft Project\u2014Microsoft\u2019s most advanced project management software\u2014because it can\u2019t open or edit Microsoft Project files (MPP files<\/a>). And don\u2019t get us started on how complicated, buggy and expensive that product suite is. You\u2019ll end up paying a lot for very little.<\/p>\n

But, it\u2019s understandable why people use it. Microsoft promises a holistic approach to business, offering everything they need in one place. If that sounds too good to be true, you understand why search terms such as Microsoft Planner alternative are so popular.<\/p>\n

Why Seek a Microsoft Planner Alternative?<\/h2>\n

There are many reasons why people are looking for a Microsoft Planner alternative. The software uses kanban boards, which are a great visual workflow tool, but one size doesn\u2019t fit all. Those who work in an agile environment certainly appreciate kanban boards, but probably not the rigidity of Microsoft Planner.<\/p>\n

Managers will wonder where the Gantt charts are and others will want a task list. But they\u2019ll be sorely disappointed as Microsoft doesn\u2019t have multiple project views to let users work how they want. Microsoft Planner Premium, one of the multiple versions of Microsoft Planner does offer a timeline tool<\/a>, which is far from a Gantt chart, but Microsoft doesn\u2019t seem to care what users want.<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Microsoft Planner Gantt Chart: How to Make a Gantt Chart in Microsoft Planner<\/a><\/p>\n

Microsoft Planner Pricing Plans<\/h2>\n

Another key disadvantage of Microsoft Planner is its confusing pricing structure and the constant changes Microsoft makes to the features included in each plan. To access the full version of the software, you\u2019ll need to pay for the higher tiers. Even then, Microsoft Planner remains a lightweight and expensive project management solution compared to the alternatives featured in this list. Below are the current Microsoft Planner pricing plans.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Planner Basic<\/h3>\n

The version included in most Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Good for lightweight task management. Starts from $6 to $22 per user per month, billed annually. Price varies depending on the Microsoft 365 subscription.<\/p>\n