Microsoft Planner Review: Pros, Cons, Features and Pricing
Microsoft Planner, previously Microsoft Project for the web, is a project management software that helps you plan, execute, and track projects efficiently. Due to its range of features, Microsoft 365 integration, and centralized platform, it serves small and medium businesses, large enterprises, and remote teams. Microsoft Planner allows you to manage tasks, to-do lists, plans, and projects across Microsoft 365 apps in one place online.
Microsoft Planner addresses issues such as project timeline management and resource allocation. In this article, I'll cover Microsoft Planner's features, pros and cons, use cases, pricing, and more so you can decide if it aligns with your task and project management needs.
Microsoft Planner Evaluation Summary
- From $10/user/month (billed annually)
- Free trial available
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Microsoft Planner Overview
In my opinion, Microsoft Planner is a solid choice if you're looking for task and project scheduling software that integrates well with other Microsoft tools. Its portfolio management features make it appealing for large enterprises, particularly those already using Microsoft products. However, its onboarding process and customer support could use improvement. While it may not offer the best value for money compared to competitors, such as monday.com and Asana, its integration capabilities and useful collaboration tools can justify the cost for those who need comprehensive project management. It's best suited for environments where detailed project tracking and resource management are priorities.
pros
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You can efficiently track project timelines and resources.
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Your team benefits from detailed project planning features.
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It offers strong reporting capabilities for better decision-making.
cons
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You might find the user interface difficult to navigate.
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Your team may face a steep learning curve during onboarding.
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It can be cumbersome to use for smaller projects.
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How We Test & Score Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final scoring)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final scoring)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final scoring)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final scoring)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Task Management: You can create task dependencies, set deadlines, and track progress. This feature helps your team stay organized and on schedule.
Resource Allocation: Allocate resources effectively with visual tools that show who’s busy and who’s available. It ensures your team works efficiently without overloading anyone.
Timeline View: Use Gantt charts and critical path analysis to visualize project timelines and dependencies. It helps you see the big picture and adjust plans as needed.
Reporting Tools: Generate detailed reports on baselines, project status, and resource usage. These insights enable you to make data-driven decisions.
Risk Management: Treat risks as tasks, use buckets, assign owners, set due dates, and detail mitigation strategies in checklists. These features help your team anticipate and avoid issues before they arise.
Ease of Use
Microsoft Planner isn’t the easiest tool to master, especially if your team is new to project management software. Its interface can seem daunting at first, with many features and settings to navigate. However, once you get the hang of its layout, you’ll find its detailed planning and reporting tools invaluable. The learning curve is steep, but the payoff in terms of project control is significant, making it worthwhile for teams managing complex projects.
Integrations
Microsoft Planner integrates with Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Loop and Microsoft Outlook, SharePoint, and OneDrive. Additionally, you can connect it to Power BI, Microsoft Excel, Azure DevOps.
Microsoft Planner also offers an API and connects with third-party integration tools.
Microsoft Planner Specs
- A/B Testing
- API
- Collaboration Support
- Custom Data Forms
- Dashboard
- Dashboards
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Developer Tools
- External Integrations
- Feedback Management
- Gantt Charts
- Google Apps Integration
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Prioritization
- Product Catalog
- Release Management
- Reports
- Resource Management
- Review Monitoring
- Roadmapping
- Scheduling
- Task Scheduling/Tracking
