When managing tasks, customers have many choices. Microsoft Lists and Microsoft Planner are two of the most well-liked venture administration apps. However are they the one-stop resolution venture managers and their groups must plan, handle and observe work? There’s just one solution to discover out. We in contrast Microsoft Lists vs. Planner. Let’s see how they stack up.
We’ll put Microsoft Lists vs. Planner by a collection of checks. First, let’s outline every to know what they’re and the way they’re used, together with key options. Then we’ll discover Microsoft vs. Planner by way of the professionals and cons of every and the place one excels over the opposite.
When evaluating Microsoft venture planning instruments, resembling Microsoft Project, Microsoft Lists and Planner, all of them have the benefit of integrating with the massive suite of MS merchandise. For instance, each are bundled with the enterprise version of Microsoft 365, which supplies customers entry to staples, resembling Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and extra. However are these the instruments venture managers and their groups must ship profitable tasks?
The reality is when taking a look at Microsoft Lists vs. Planner, the very best different is ProjectManager, award-winning venture and portfolio administration software program that has options and a number of venture administration instruments to plan, schedule and observe tasks. Managers can plan on Gantt charts (or the sheet view, a Gantt chart with out the timeline) that hyperlink dependencies, filter for the vital path and set a baseline to trace venture variance in actual time. Groups can use kanban boards or activity lists to handle their work and stakeholders can monitor progress on the calendar view. Microsoft Lists vs. Planner pale as compared. Get began with ProjectManager at no cost.
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: Why Ought to You Select MS Lists?
Let’s show that ProjectManager is the skin winner in a contest between Microsoft Lists and Planner by going by the due diligence on each instruments. Let’s begin with Microsoft Listing and undergo an intensive tour of what it’s, what it’s used for, its key options and rather more.
What Is Microsoft Lists?
Microsoft Lists is like SharePoint Lists however delivered in a standalone app. It’s an info administration software that tracks and organizes duties for private use {and professional} groups. It creates lists, grids and calendars to indicate difficult knowledge in a transparent and simply digestible format. It payments itself as easy to make use of, versatile and capable of combine with different MS instruments, resembling Groups.
What Is Microsoft Lists Used For?
Microsoft Lists is used to prepare work and observe info. It may observe points, property, contracts, stock, routines and extra. Customers can create challenge trackers, new rent checklists, occasion itineraries and recruiting lists. Duties could be shared to collaborate with others. Microsoft Lists could be personalized by view, good guidelines and alerts. There are project management templates to assist customers get began and different options that may be added on for a price, resembling automation.
Who Makes use of Microsoft Lists?
Each particular person customers and groups use Microsoft Lists. Venture administration groups use the app to create lists they’ll share and to trace venture info when managing projects. Occasion organizers use Microsoft Lists to organize and execute their occasions in addition to cope with points that come up and handle property wanted for these occasions. Others use Microsoft Lists for workflow administration, as lists can assist groups handle their workflow.
Microsoft Lists Key Options
Microsoft Lists is just like a spreadsheet or database, which might embody folks, footage, hyperlinks and file attachments. As famous, some templates and lists could be color-coded to spotlight essential particulars and customers can observe adjustments with its model historical past. Listed here are a few of the options of Microsoft Lists.
- Create customized views to give attention to particular info
- Combine with different Microsoft 365 apps
- Share task lists with crew members
- Observe guidelines, reminders and feedback
- Templates to get began faster
- Model historical past to trace adjustments
- Shade-code rows and columns for readability
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: How Is Microsoft Lists Higher Than Planner?
Whereas we’ve not highlighted Microsoft Planner but, let’s nonetheless take a look at a few of the benefits of utilizing Microsoft Lists over Planner. For one, Microsoft Lists is a greater choice when on the lookout for an app with better flexibility and customization. It may create customized columns and tables, which makes it higher for monitoring stock, managing property, making journey plans and managing occasion inventories.
Microsoft Lists is nice as a repository for crew duties. Customers can assign duties, replace their standing and have conversations. It additionally works nicely with Microsoft Teams, which fosters higher collaboration. Customers could make as many lists as they need and see the duties which are assigned to others on the crew. There may be automation, as famous above, however it comes at the next value. The templates are a promoting level, although.
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: How Is Microsoft Lists Worse Than Planner?
Microsoft Planner is extra of a venture administration software. It has kanban boards, which aren’t out there in MS Lists. Kanban boards are visible workflow instruments used to handle duties, assist keep away from bottlenecks and are perfect for agile groups who need to handle their backlog and plan sprints—all of which gained’t work on Microsoft Lists.
Those that are concerned with a easy venture administration software, they’re going to gravitate in the direction of Planner. It integrates with To Do and Duties in Groups and as said earlier works nicely in an agile surroundings. Nevertheless, it could possibly additionally serve those that handle in a waterfall methodology. It’s superb for smaller groups versus enterprise or portfolio tasks. There’s additionally a dashboard, which one gained’t discover in Microsoft Lists.
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: Why Ought to You Select MS Planner?
In our comparability between Microsoft Lists vs. Planner, we’ve given the previous look over. Now it’s time to overview the latter. Microsoft Lists has proven itself to be a easy and versatile software for organizing work. However don’t dismiss Microsoft Planner. It’s time to take an in depth take a look at the software, its options and what it’s used for.
What Is Microsoft Planner?
Microsoft Planner is a web-based software that comes with most Workplace 365 for enterprise subscriptions. The software program can be utilized for private planners, however it’s designed for enterprise groups to create, assign and set up their venture work. The main target is on activity administration, which is a part of the bigger venture administration, particularly useful when smaller are managing easy tasks. Due to this fact, it depends upon collaboration to attach groups when planning and assigning duties.
What Is Microsoft Planner Used For?
The primary use of Microsoft Planner is to create venture plans, assign duties to groups and collaborate on the execution of these duties amongst crew members. Managers can then observe the crew’s work to make sure the venture is progressing as scheduled. Its visible interface facilitates the group of the crew’s work and their collaboration with different crew members. This makes it superb for light-weight tasks. That’s as a result of it’s not a full-service venture administration software program as a lot as a activity administration software.
Who Makes use of Microsoft Planner?
Managers and groups that need to handle their duties will naturally use this software. That can embody some venture administration professionals who work on tasks that aren’t overly complicated and search a collaborative software, particularly if working with distributed or cross-functional groups. It may also be utilized by people who need to manage their work and even households making an attempt to prepare their family duties.
Microsoft Planner Key Options
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner now strikes on to listing the options that make this activity administration software program a powerful contender for the title of greatest software program. Listed here are a few of the extra important project planning options of Planner.
- Job playing cards for making assignments, with checklists, due dates, labels, file attachments and standing
- A number of views, together with kanban boards, charts and calendars
- Integrates with MS Groups, Outlook and extra
- Customization with reporting, automation and workflows
- Resource, program and portfolio administration
- Notifications to alert assignments, due dates and feedback
- Actual-time collaboration
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: How Is Microsoft Planner Higher Than Lists?
Within the battle of Microsoft Lists vs. Planner, let’s take a look at how Planner beats Lists. One benefit is that Planner is an out-of-the-box resolution that’s prepared to make use of with out a lot of a studying curve. It’s straightforward to make use of and has a drag-and-drop interface that customers like. The duty playing cards seize a wealthy number of info that’s useful for each managing and executing the work.
Not like Lists, Planner has a dashboard that features bar charts and different instruments to achieve useful venture insights. This gives managers with an outline of the venture, which helps them preserve it on schedule and funds. Greater than MS Lists, Planner is a straightforward software that helps groups preserve observe of their duties and execute them collaboratively with different crew members.
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: How Is Microsoft Planner Worse Than Lists?
Whereas each are task management tools, Planner focuses extra on utilizing kanban boards. Microsoft Lists is the extra versatile and customizable software program. That makes Microsoft Lists match for when customers need extra choices, resembling controlling the fields, format, views and extra.
Microsoft Planner has limitations, resembling a activity minimal in a plan (2,400), 9,000 duties assigned to every consumer, 3,000 most duties created by a consumer and others. Whereas this seems like loads, it’s restrictive for bigger, extra difficult tasks. Microsoft Lists, alternatively, is the higher selection for large tasks with many transferring components and folks. It may observe these particulars higher than Planner.
How one can Make a Microsoft Planner Gantt Chart With ProjectManager
Microsoft Planner customers could make a Gantt chart in ProjectManager. First, sign up for a free trial of ProjectManager, no bank card is required! Use the 30-day free trial to discover all the pieces our software program has to supply.
1. Export Your Microsoft Planner Venture as an Excel, MPP or CSV File
Within the board view of Microsoft Planner, export your plan as an Excel spreadsheet, CSV or MPP file. It has all of your knowledge and can be able to import into ProjectManager’s Gantt chart.
2. Select the Excel, CSV or MPP File You Wish to Import
ProjectManager’s Gantt chart view has an import icon. Click on on it and a popup window will seem and ask which file you need to import. Now, select the Microsoft Planner file that you just exported.
3. Choose Choices
Subsequent, select if you wish to add the info to an present ProjectManager venture or as a brand new venture. In the event you’re including the info to a venture, select which one and decide if you wish to preserve or delete present knowledge.
4. Import Into ProjectManager
The subsequent step is selecting the info to import. There can be a popup window that asks if you wish to import all the info or solely the duty listing. Select which fits your venture and click on subsequent.
5. Customise Your Microsoft Planner Gantt Chart With ProjectManager
As quickly because the success window seems, you can begin managing your Gantt chart. Now, add duties, hyperlink dependencies, indent and outdent, determine milestones, observe assets and a lot extra.
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner: Pricing Comparability
For some, the underside line is value. Due to this fact, let’s full our Microsoft Lists vs. Planner comparability with a take a look at how a lot it’ll value to make use of. Since each are a part of Workplace 365, the pricing for every is similar, however they are often bought on a enterprise or enterprise degree.
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental: $6 consumer/month with an annual dedication
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise Normal: $12.50 consumer/month with an annual dedication
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium: $22 consumer/month with an annual dedication
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise: $8.25 consumer/month with an annual dedication
- Microsoft 365 E3 (no Groups): $33.75 consumer/month with an annual dedication
- Microsoft 365 E5 (no Groups): $54.75 consumer/month with an annual dedication
- Microsoft 365 F3: $8 consumer/month with an annual dedication
ProjectManager Is Higher Than Microsoft Lists and Planner
When evaluating Microsoft Lists vs. Planner, the battle is between two activity administration instruments that masquerade as venture administration apps. The difficulty is that they lack actual venture administration options. Customers who strive both can be dissatisfied in the event that they’re managing tasks huge or small. Microsoft Lists vs. Planner merely falls in need of actual venture administration software program.
ProjectManager is an award-winning venture and portfolio administration software program that does all the pieces Microsoft’s apps can do and rather more. Our software program has activity administration options, a number of venture views and might collaborate in addition to both Microsoft product, however has real-time venture and portfolio administration dashboards, studies and useful resource administration instruments to maintain tasks on observe.
Monitor Venture Progress, Timelines and Prices in Actual Time
Managing duties alone just isn’t going to ship a profitable venture. Managers want visibility into the progress and prices of the venture because it’s being executed. Gantt charts can present progress on the taskbars of the timeline, however there are extra instruments to trace progress. Actual-time venture and portfolio dashboards present a high-level overview of the venture with easy-to-read graphs and charts that present time, value, workload and extra. Timesheets assist managers observe labor prices, whereas the color-coded workload chart permits them to steadiness workload to maintain groups working at capability, which makes them extra productive and cost-efficient.
Make Venture Administration Studies in Minutes
For a more in-depth take a look at venture key efficiency indicators (KPIs), toggle over to the reports section of the app. Studies could be generated with a keystroke and filtered to indicate solely the info managers or stakeholders are concerned with. There are standing and portfolio studies, whether or not you’re managing one or many tasks, plus studies on all the pieces from variance to workload and timesheets to know the venture’s execution higher. All studies are customizable and could be shared throughout varied codecs with stakeholders and preserve them up to date to handle their expectations and preserve them knowledgeable.
Associated Microsoft Content material
Microsoft Lists vs. Planner is one in every of a number of comparability or software program profile weblog posts we’ve printed just lately. For these nonetheless concerned with exploring the professionals and cons of Microsoft Planner, Venture, Groups and extra, listed here are a handful of hyperlinks to observe.
ProjectManager is on-line venture and portfolio administration software program that connects groups whether or not they’re within the workplace, out within the discipline or wherever in between. They’ll share recordsdata, remark on the activity degree and keep up to date with e-mail and in-app notifications. Be a part of groups at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software program to ship profitable tasks. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
