When you’re out there for a software program device that may assist simplify activity administration, then you definately’ve most likely explored Microsoft Planner. It’s a activity administration device that’s a part of the bigger Microsoft universe, which incorporates Microsoft Groups and Microsoft Challenge. It may appear as if Microsoft has cornered the market in challenge administration till you are taking a better look. Whereas Microsoft claims to supply all the pieces a challenge supervisor and their group require, the reality is that they fall quick when it comes to value, usability and even options. That’s why folks search a Microsoft Planner Different.
How Microsoft Planner Works
Microsoft Planner is much like many activity administration instruments in the marketplace. It organizes teamwork and duties for challenge administration. It’s a hub for groups to work collectively and make plans, assign duties and verify on progress with dashboards.
The device acts as a hub for challenge documentation for sharing recordsdata and offering visibility for the challenge group. It’s a part of the bigger Workplace 365 supplied by Microsoft that features OneDrive, mail, calendar, Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and far more. Microsoft Planner works with Microsoft Groups and Microsoft Initiatives, however don’t get us began on how difficult, buggy and costly that product suite is. You’ll be paying so much for thus little.
However, it’s comprehensible why folks use it. Microsoft guarantees a holistic method to enterprise, providing all the pieces they want in a single place. If that sounds too good to be true, then you definately perceive why search phrases similar to Microsoft Planner various are so widespread.
Why Search a Microsoft Planner Different?
There are various the reason why individuals are in search of a Microsoft Planner various. The software program makes use of kanban boards, that are an awesome visible workflow device, however one dimension doesn’t match all. Those that work in an agile surroundings actually admire kanban boards, however most likely not the rigidity of Microsoft Planner.
Managers will surprise the place the Gantt charts are and others will need a activity checklist. However they’ll be sorely dissatisfied as Microsoft doesn’t have a number of challenge views to let customers work how they need. They don’t even present a timeline, which is much from a Gantt chart, however Microsoft doesn’t appear to care what customers need.
Associated: Microsoft Planner Gantt Chart: How to Make a Gantt Chart in Microsoft Planner
Notifications are key, however Microsoft Planner gained’t allow you to ship a notification to at least one individual. You must ship them to everybody. That’s distracting the remainder of the group and saps productiveness. There are feedback, however they’re naked bones—no emojis, tagging, and many others. However Microsoft is the gorilla within the room, and so they do what they please.
Perhaps most damning for activity administration software program, there aren’t recurring duties. Sure, you’ll be able to’t create recurring duties with Microsoft Planner. Which may not look like an enormous deal, however setting recurring duties saves time, and time is among the most vital constraints when managing a challenge.
2025 Greatest Microsoft Planner Alternate options Software program Rankings
We’ve checked out 10 of the perfect Microsoft Planner options in the marketplace and created a listing so that you can see which one suits your wants. We did some editorializing and began the checklist with our number-one selection after which labored our means down the highest 10. You’re certain to discover a Mircosoft Planner various that’s match on your subsequent challenge.
1. ProjectManager
The very best Microsoft Planner various by far is ProjectManager. ProjectManager is an internet challenge administration software program that has in-depth challenge knowledge, enabling you to successfully schedule initiatives, monitor progress and handle sources in a single device. Construct detailed challenge plans, then monitor your groups’ progress as they replace their duties on desktop or cellular. With quite a few highly effective options and full compatibility with Microsoft Challenge and PowerBI, it’s clear that ProjectManager is the perfect Microsoft Planner various. And there’s a beneficiant free 30-day trial.
Dynamic Scheduling and Monitoring
Not like Microsoft Planner, ProjectManager has a number of challenge views, together with kanban boards, activity lists, sheet and calendar views. All knowledge is up to date in actual time throughout every view, and there are interactive Gantt charts that may hyperlink dependencies, set baselines to trace challenge variance and even filter for the vital path. You possibly can even handle prices and monitor the progress because it occurs. The Gantt chart could be simply edited and shared to maintain everybody up to date on probably the most present iteration of the plan.
Effortlessly Handle Assets
Because the challenge progresses, use the Staff web page to see precisely what everybody’s engaged on and the way far alongside they’re. Filter by group sort, due dates and extra. Immediately reallocate work with a easy drag-and-drop to scale back bottlenecks and maintain everybody completely happy and productive. You possibly can even click on right into a activity and connect recordsdata or feedback to collaborate and maintain all the pieces on one platform.
Monitor Efficiency in Actual Time
For a high-level view of the challenge, there are dashboards that require no configuration and mechanically seize six challenge metrics which are displayed in colourful graphs. For extra element, there are customizable experiences for challenge and portfolio standing, timesheets and extra. They will also be simply shared with stakeholders to maintain them up to date.
ProjectManager is the perfect Microsoft Planner various for the straightforward undeniable fact that it has each facet of challenge administration coated together with activity approval settings, dangers, useful resource administration, timesheets, automated workflows and extra. On high of that, this tops our checklist because it’s extremely simple to make use of. Its intuitive person interface requires no time-consuming coaching. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
ProjectManager Professionals & Key Options
- Absolutely featured Gantt chart for challenge planning, scheduling and monitoring
- Actual-time useful resource, value and time monitoring
- A number of challenge administration instruments and options
- Cell app for Android and iOS
- Free 30-day trial
ProjectManager Cons & Limitations
- Restricted customization
- Few native integrations
- No free plan
Pricing
- Staff: $13 person/month
- Enterprise: $24 person/month
Q&A
- Does ProjectManager provide a free trial? Sure, ProjectManager has a 30-day free trial
- Does ProjectManager have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
ProjectManager Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “ProjectManager works very properly with each massive and small-scale initiatives. With the ability to use this with something from a challenge involving solely two members of employees, to tons of, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
- “We used to handle our initiatives, sources, and reporting in several techniques. Enter ProjectManager. We now have consolidated techniques and work extra effectively.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
- “Having the total scope of actions and who’s accountable to do it, plus the time monitoring is superb.” Flavio M – from G2
- “It has a wonderful accounting system able to calculating the time that an individual has used to develop a activity that was assigned to him, I like having the ability to collaborate with all my colleagues within the Finance sector by way of ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
- “The UI of the appliance is user-friendly, and it helps to establish what we’re in search of with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2
2. Trello
Trello is a Microsoft Planner various that shares Microsoft’s all-in angle about kanban boards. The truth is, they do kanban higher than Microsoft, which is why it’s excessive on our checklist. It’s an awesome collaborative device and you may customise workflows to streamline work. When you’re working in an agile surroundings, this can enchantment to you. It’s much more versatile than Microsoft Planner. The truth that it syncs knowledge throughout units can also be a plus for distant employees.
It’s not a lot of a Microsoft Planner various if it solely has kanban boards. Whereas it may be a great tool, these managing initiatives in a extra conventional vogue are going to look elsewhere the second they don’t see Gantt charts. There’s a timeline view, however that’s a lite model of the Gantt at finest. Even kanban lovers shall be shocked that there aren’t any swimlanes and work-in-progress (WIP) limits.
Trello Professionals & Key Options
- Preferrred for agile groups
- Customizable challenge administration views
- Versatile for software program and product improvement groups
Trello Cons & Limitations
- Kanban boards and calendars are its solely challenge planning views
- Requires customers to buy add-ons and integrations on account of its lack of options
- Doesn’t have absolutely featured Gantt charts
Pricing
- Commonplace: $5 person/month
- Premium: $10 person/month
- Enterprise: $17.50 person/month
Q&A
- Does Trello provide a free trial? Sure, Trello has a 14-day free trial
- Does Trello have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Trello Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “I cherished the truth that it’s so simple to make use of, really easy that my non-tech-savvy workers had been in a position to make use of it and I didn’t need to go behind them fixing errors.” Michelle N – from G2
- “Trello’s visible simplicity and adaptability are what I like finest.” Cagri M – from G2
3. Microsoft Challenge
Microsoft Project isn’t precisely a Microsoft Planner various, it’s extra just like the older brother. They’re household and instruments that work properly collectively. What Microsoft Planner lacks, Microsoft Challenge fills in that gap. It doesn’t damage that just about everybody who has managed initiatives professionally has expertise with this device. The device does what challenge managers want when it comes to planning and different options associated to delivering a challenge.
Associated: Best Microsoft Project Alternatives
Nevertheless, these options are a bit basic. There aren’t any particular business features for development or software program groups, which is a adverse of this Microsoft Planner various. However there are greater than mere dings related to this costly, difficult software program. There are restricted integrations exterior of the Microsoft household and nothing works with Apple merchandise. In case your group makes use of Macs, they’re out of luck.
When you’d like extra info on how Microsoft Planner compares to Microsoft Challenge when it comes to their challenge administration performance, you’ll be able to take a look at this weblog the place we discover the variations between Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project.
Microsoft Challenge Professionals & Key Options
- Provides quite a lot of challenge administration views for managing all the challenge life cycle
- Sturdy sufficient for challenge administration workplaces (PMOs)
- Constructed-in challenge administration experiences and templates
- Has a free 1-month trial
Microsoft Challenge Cons & Limitations
- It’s an costly challenge administration answer
- Steep studying curve and overwhelming person interface for newcomers
- Microsoft Challenge has a novel file format which is difficult to share
- No cellular app
Pricing
- Challenge Plan 1: $10/person/month
- Challenge Plan 3: $30/person/month
- Challenge Plan 5: $55/person/month
Q&A
- Does Microsoft Challenge provide a free trial? Sure, it has a 1-month free trial
- Does it provide a cellular app? Sure, Microsoft Challenge affords a cellular app
Microsoft Challenge Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “The standard of MS Challenge output is usually ample for the requirement of most initiatives.” Paul B – from Capterra
- “It’s simple to arrange a challenge plan utilizing templates offered in MS Challenge.” Alex N – from G2
4. Monday.com
Monday.com is a activity administration software program, which makes it a great Microsoft Planner various. It’s cheaper than signing up for the total suite of Microsoft merchandise and so much simpler to make use of. The user-friendly interface isn’t solely easy to get round however will please non-professional challenge managers who don’t want deep dives into knowledge. It’s a good way to arrange your activity on kanban boards, activity lists and timelines.
It’s not the perfect Microsoft Planner various, particularly as a result of it truly is simply activity administration software program. It may need another options however not those which are important to managing initiatives. A working example is the Gantt chart. Once more, a timeline isn’t a Gantt chart, though it’s an awesome visible device and targets newbies. When you’re a challenge supervisor on a extra severe stage, although, you’ll wish to look elsewhere.
Monday.com Professionals & Key Options
- Person-friendly interface
- Studies and dashboards to trace a number of initiatives
- Has a free 14-day trial
- Cell app out there for Android and iOS
Monday.com Cons & Limitations
- Light-weight Gantt charts lack vital challenge administration options
- Restricted challenge reporting capabilities in comparison with different Microsoft Planner options
- Customizable views require handbook setup
Pricing
- Primary: $8/person/month
- Commonplace: $10/person/month
- Professional: $16/person/month
Q&A
- Does Monday provide a free trial? Sure, Monday has a 14-day free trial
- Does Monday have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Monday.com Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “I really suggest utilizing Monday to small to medium scale enterprises due to its ease of use.” Vikas G – from G2
- “I actually just like the monday work administration interface.” Luiz Fernando J – from G2
5. Asana
Asana is among the extra widespread Microsoft Planner options. It options all the pieces from timelines to kanban boards. There’s additionally a calendar view. All are shared with the challenge group to maintain them working from one supply of data. It makes our checklist particularly due to its real-time activity administration reporting options that assist maintain initiatives on monitor and set strategic targets. There are collaborative instruments and a bug tracker, which is nice for software program improvement.
Nevertheless, there’s an issue with this Microsoft Planner various: the dearth of danger administration instruments. Dangers can rapidly sidetrack a challenge and with out options to establish and monitor their initiatives can rapidly go off monitor or worse. That will be dangerous sufficient, however one other shortcoming is that you may solely assign one individual to a activity. Which may work for some initiatives, however most may have a small group working collectively to execute a activity. Pointless so as to add, these folks gained’t be utilizing Asana.
Asana Professionals & Key Options
- Straightforward-to-use activity automation options
- Person-friendly interface
- Has a free 14-day free trial
- Has a free plan
- Has a cellular app out there on iOS and Android
Asana Cons & Limitations
- Gantt chart lacks options similar to vital path evaluation and value monitoring
- Restricted challenge administration options for program and portfolio administration
- Timeline and Gantt chart options will not be strong sufficient for challenge administration workplaces (PMOs)
Pricing
- Premium: $13.49/person/month
- Enterprise: $30.49/person/month
- Enterprise: Customized pricing
Q&A
- Does Asana provide a free trial? Sure, Asana has a free 30-day trial
- Does Asana have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Asana Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “I can create duties, set their dates, routines, collaborate with my teammates, see their duties, personal my duties, and a lot extra.” Shivam Ok – from G2
- “The dashboard view is the primary profit; it helped me manage the work into phases and gave me a transparent image of how far alongside the group was.” Carrie C – from G2
6. ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based Microsoft Planner various that’s versatile sufficient to work with quite a lot of groups. Like many of the software program listed, there are activity administration options to assist with productiveness. However there are additionally course of administration, time administration and collaborative instruments. Add to that reporting options and you’ve got an concept why this product made our checklist. You even get a dashboard for a high-level view of the challenge and an easy-to-use device that’s very engaging to customers.
If there’s a draw back to this Microsoft Planner various it’s the customization needed to make use of the device. There’s a lot effort and time essential to squeeze the advantages out of the software program that it’s probably midway by way of the setup you’ll be in search of one other device on this checklist. In fact, the explanation it’s on the checklist is that there are numerous advantages, however the work needed to maximise the advantages is so much. There are nonetheless detrimental facets of the software program, similar to new initiatives exhibiting up on the backside of your checklist, however these could be acceptable if customization wasn’t a lot hassle.
ClickUp Professionals & Key Options
- Versatile device that may work for numerous forms of companies and groups
- Doc enhancing and on-line collaboration options
- Cell app out there for Android and iOS
ClickUp Cons & Limitations
- Cluttered person interface, laborious to be taught for many customers
- Most of its options will not be designed for managing initiatives
- Information could be exported in PDF format solely, which makes it to make use of them exterior of ClickUp
- No free trial
Pricing
- Limitless: $5/person/month
- Enterprise: $9/person/month
- Enterprise Professional: $19/person/month
Q&A
- Does ClickUp provide a free trial? No, ClickUp doesn’t have a free trial
- Does ClickUp have a cellular challenge planning app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
ClickUp Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “I really like the benefit of holding all the pieces in a single place! Group initiatives organized by duties, boards with outcomes, and my favourite half, paperwork!” Naomy G – from G2
- “General, my expertise with ClickUp has been extremely optimistic. It has streamlined challenge administration duties and improved group collaboration considerably.” Paula L – from Capterra
7. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a Microsoft Planner various that will get inspiration from one other Microsoft product, Excel. The software program tries to be an excellent spreadsheet or a wiser model of Excel. For probably the most half, it succeeds. It’s superb what number of corporations are nonetheless working their enterprise with Excel, which is perhaps why Smartsheet makes use of the spreadsheet as a mannequin. It’s acquainted however much more customizable and highly effective. Advantages embody automation, proofing and approvals, to call a couple of.
However, bear in mind, most individuals looking for a Microsoft Planner various are in search of one thing apart from a spreadsheet, even a sensible one. However be cautious of any product that touts its intelligence. There’s so much lacking from this product. As an illustration, there’s no time monitoring, budgeting or useful resource administration. Certain, you need to use different instruments, however then you definately’re leaping round and your work is unfold throughout many various platforms. That provides inefficiencies and prices.
Smartsheet Professionals & Key Options
- Sturdy challenge spreadsheet options
- Automation to streamline duties and processes
- Cell app for Android and iOS
- 30-day free trial
Smartsheet Cons & Limitations
- Its spreadsheet instruments aren’t best for managing all forms of initiatives
- Challenge dashboards have an outdated appear and feel in comparison with different Microsoft Planner options
- Customers have to be taught formulation to make use of spreadsheets
Pricing
- Professional plan: $7 person/month
- Marketing strategy: $25 person/month
Q&A
- Does Smartsheet provide a free trial? Sure, Smartsheet has a 30-day free trial
- Does Smartsheet have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Smartsheet Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “Automation can save hours of time by mechanically sending emails and reminders to make sure we meet our deadlines.” Amy S – from G2
- “Simply permits a sharable doc that concurrent customers can view and make dwell adjustments to.” Steven Ok – from G2
8. Wrike
Wrike might be already acquainted to you. This Microsoft Planner various likes to promote. When you’ve been looking for a challenge administration device, then you definately’ll be seeing their adverts. That ought to let you know one thing. This can be a product for customers however not skilled challenge managers. Wrike does, nonetheless, have kanban boards, reporting instruments and Gantt charts, so it’s a reasonably good device for challenge administration. The mixing is first rate and the dashboard is vital for getting a high-level view of the challenge.
Oddly sufficient, contemplating that the Microsoft Planner various is being pitched to anybody managing a challenge, it has a steep studying curve. Even weirder, you need to manually onboard your challenge group. Isn’t software program imagined to streamline processes like this? There’s plenty of knowledge captured by the software program, however with no filter to sift by way of the noise, it may be tough to search out the sign. Even altering a take a look at’s standing is a hurdle to clear. Who desires to wrestle with the very device that’s being bought to assist them higher handle their work?
Wrike Professionals & Key Options
- A number of challenge planning and monitoring instruments
- Straightforward-to-use challenge experiences
- 14-day free trial
- Cell app out there for Android and iOS
Wrike Cons & Limitations
- Gantt chart view interface seems and feels outdated
- Restricted challenge reporting options
- Non-friendly person interface could make it tough to navigate the software program
Pricing
- Skilled plan: $9.80/person/month
- Marketing strategy: $24.80/person/month
Q&A
- Does Wrike provide a free trial? Sure, Wrike has a 14-day free trial
- Does Wrike have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Wrike Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “Wrike has grow to be important in my day and retains me organized and on high of my duties.” Paige T – from G2
- “Productiveness has been enhanced by eradicating important however repetitive chores.” Denise S – from G2
9. Basecamp
Basecamp is the Microsoft Planner various that sells itself as a collaborative device. Collaboration is vital, however it’s not distinctive to challenge administration software program. Properly, all besides Microsoft, which appears to have a blind spot about collaboration. Even their Groups will not be best. Again to Basecamp, it does collaboration rather well. Whereas it doesn’t have plenty of different options, it affords many integrations.
In fact, integration is nice for pulling in different apps you utilize exterior of challenge administration. The truth that this Microsoft Planner various has no Gantt chart is detrimental. There’s additionally no scheduling, useful resource administration or danger administration, however then that is primarily a communication device. Nevertheless, it even falls quick there. It feels as if conversations are siloed and that’s not the way you collaborate.
Basecamp Professionals & Key Options
- On-line collaboration instruments for challenge administration groups
- Pleasant person interface
- Cell app for Android and iOS
- 30-day free trial
Basecamp Cons & Limitations
- Restricted challenge administration function set
- No Gantt charts
- No useful resource or value monitoring options
Pricing
- Private: Free for 3 initiatives and as much as 20 customers
- Enterprise: $99 flat charge
Q&A
- Does Basecamp provide a free trial? Sure, Basecamp affords a 30-day free trial
- Does Basecamp have a cellular challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Basecamp Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “As an organization, it permits us to flawlessly monitor all of our conversations, planning, duties, and challenge progress.” Özgür Ok – from G2
- “The interface transforms complicated functionalities into an intuitive expertise for all customers.” Tom G – from G2
10. Zoho Initiatives
Zoho Projects is one other Microsoft Planner various that provides a kanban board for activity administration. What makes it distinctive is the social feed reveals activity updates. That’s fairly cool and a novel option to foster collaboration. There’s additionally a discussion board for longer-from discussions. There are timesheets, challenge monitoring and even a Gantt challenge view. That’s plenty of what any challenge supervisor and the group will wish to run a extra productive challenge.
Managers will rapidly hit a wall once they attempt to handle sources. There aren’t any useful resource administration options. There’s no reporting both. Now, the Microsoft Planner various doesn’t look as scorching, huh? That’s why it’s on the backside of our checklist. There are undoubtedly some worthwhile options however with out useful resource administration and reporting, you’ll be managing as if one hand was tied behind your again.
Zoho Initiatives Key Options & Advantages:
- Low-cost challenge administration instruments
- Free plan for as much as three customers
- Provides quite a lot of third-party integrations
- Cell app for Android and iOS
Zoho Initiatives Cons & Limitations:
- Its challenge planning views similar to Gantt charts and kanban boards have restricted performance
- There are navigability and usefulness points throughout its function set that have an effect on the person expertise
- Brief free trial interval
Pricing
- Premium: $5/person/month
- Enterprise: $10/person/month
Q&A
- Does it provide a free trial? Sure, Zoho Initiatives has a 15-day free trial
- Does it provide a cellular app? Sure, Zoho Initiatives has a cellular app
Zoho Initiatives Evaluations
Highlighted Person Evaluations
- “Zoho One affords a complete suite of instruments that combine properly with one another, which is nice for streamlining a number of enterprise features in a single place.” Peter S – from G2
- “A really highly effective device and really simple to make use of.” Tobias S – from Capterra
ProjectManager Is the Greatest Microsoft Planner Different
Whereas there are numerous robust contenders, there can solely be one finest and that’s ProjectManager. All of the Microsoft Planner options have one thing to learn your challenge, however ProjectManager has all of them. From activity administration to danger administration, useful resource administration to a number of challenge views, timesheets to collaboration, and finances to real-time knowledge, the checklist goes on. The truth that it’s additionally simple to onboard your group is simply icing on the cake.
Associated Content material
ProjectManager is award-winning challenge administration software program that helps you intend, schedule and monitor progress in actual time. Our collaborative platform permits groups to share recordsdata, remark and tag anybody on the challenge group. Be part of these delivering profitable initiatives at NASA, Siemens and Nestle utilizing our software program. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
