If you happen to’re available in the market for a software program device that may assist simplify process administration, then you definately’ve in all probability explored Microsoft Planner. It’s a process 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’re taking a more in-depth look. Whereas Microsoft claims to supply all the things a challenge supervisor and their crew require, the reality is that they fall brief by way of worth, usability and even options. That’s why individuals search a Microsoft Planner Various.
How Microsoft Planner Works
Microsoft Planner is much like many process administration instruments available on the market. 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 crew. It’s a part of the bigger Workplace 365 supplied by Microsoft that features OneDrive, mail, calendar, Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and rather 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 therefore little.
However, it’s comprehensible why individuals use it. Microsoft guarantees a holistic strategy to enterprise, providing all the things they want in a single place. If that sounds too good to be true, then you definately perceive why search phrases equivalent to Microsoft Planner different are so fashionable.
Why Search a Microsoft Planner Various?
There are numerous the reason why persons are searching for a Microsoft Planner different. The software program makes use of kanban boards, that are an excellent visible workflow device, however one measurement doesn’t match all. Those that work in an agile surroundings actually respect kanban boards, however in all probability not the rigidity of Microsoft Planner.
Managers will surprise the place the Gantt charts are and others will desire a process listing. However they’ll be sorely disillusioned 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 way 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 1 particular person. You need to ship them to everybody. That’s distracting the remainder of the crew and saps productiveness. There are feedback, however they’re naked bones—no emojis, tagging, and so forth. However Microsoft is the gorilla within the room, they usually do what they please.
Possibly most damning for process administration software program, there aren’t recurring duties. Sure, you possibly can’t create recurring duties with Microsoft Planner. That may not appear to be a giant deal, however setting recurring duties saves time, and time is likely one of the most necessary constraints when managing a challenge.
2025 Greatest Microsoft Planner Options Software program Rankings
We’ve checked out 10 of the very best Microsoft Planner alternate options available on the market and created an inventory so that you can see which one matches your wants. We did some editorializing and began the listing with our number-one alternative after which labored our approach down the highest 10. You’re positive to discover a Mircosoft Planner different that’s match to your subsequent challenge.
1. ProjectManager
The very best Microsoft Planner different by far is ProjectManager. ProjectManager is a web-based challenge administration software program that has in-depth challenge information, enabling you to successfully schedule initiatives, observe 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 cell. With quite a few highly effective options and full compatibility with Microsoft Challenge and PowerBI, it’s clear that ProjectManager is the very best Microsoft Planner different. 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, process lists, sheet and calendar views. All information 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’ll be able to even handle prices and observe 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 Crew web page to see precisely what everybody’s engaged on and the way far alongside they’re. Filter by crew kind, due dates and extra. Immediately reallocate work with a easy drag-and-drop to cut back bottlenecks and preserve everybody joyful and productive. You’ll be able to even click on right into a process and connect recordsdata or feedback to collaborate and preserve all the things on one platform.
Observe Efficiency in Actual Time
For a high-level view of the challenge, there are dashboards that require no configuration and robotically seize six challenge metrics which might be displayed in colourful graphs. For extra element, there are customizable studies for challenge and portfolio standing, timesheets and extra. They may also be simply shared with stakeholders to maintain them up to date.
ProjectManager is the very best Microsoft Planner different for the straightforward undeniable fact that it has each side of challenge administration coated together with process approval settings, dangers, useful resource administration, timesheets, automated workflows and extra. On prime of that, this tops our listing because it’s extremely straightforward to make use of. Its intuitive person interface requires no time-consuming coaching. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
ProjectManager Execs & Key Options
- Totally featured Gantt chart for challenge planning, scheduling and monitoring
- Actual-time useful resource, price 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
- Crew: $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 cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
ProjectManager Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “ProjectManager works very nicely with each massive and small-scale initiatives. With the ability to use this with something from a challenge involving solely two members of workers, to lots of, has been invaluable.” Peter W – from Capterra
- “We used to handle our initiatives, sources, and reporting in numerous methods. Enter ProjectManager. We’ve got consolidated methods and work extra effectively.” Jeffrey M – from Capterra
- “Having the complete 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 process that was assigned to him, I like with the ability to collaborate with all my colleagues within the Finance sector by means of ProjectManager.” Jesus C – from G2
- “The UI of the applying is user-friendly, and it helps to establish what we’re searching for with minimal effort.” Pavan H – from G2
2. Trello
Trello is a Microsoft Planner different that shares Microsoft’s all-in perspective about kanban boards. In reality, they do kanban higher than Microsoft, which is why it’s excessive on our listing. It’s an excellent collaborative device and you may customise workflows to streamline work. If you happen to’re working in an agile surroundings, it will enchantment to you. It’s much more versatile than Microsoft Planner. The truth that it syncs information throughout gadgets can be a plus for distant employees.
It’s not a lot of a Microsoft Planner different if it solely has kanban boards. Whereas it may be a useful gizmo, 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 greatest. Even kanban fanatics will probably be stunned that there are not any swimlanes and work-in-progress (WIP) limits.
Trello Execs & Key Options
- Ultimate for agile groups
- Customizable challenge administration views
- Versatile for software program and product growth groups
Trello Cons & Limitations
- Kanban boards and calendars are its solely challenge planning views
- Requires customers to buy add-ons and integrations as a consequence of its lack of options
- Doesn’t have totally featured Gantt charts
Pricing
- Customary: $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 cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Trello Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “I cherished the truth that it’s so straightforward to make use of, really easy that my non-tech-savvy staff had been in a position to make use of it and I didn’t must go behind them fixing errors.” Michelle N – from G2
- “Trello’s visible simplicity and suppleness are what I like greatest.” Cagri M – from G2
3. Microsoft Challenge
Microsoft Project isn’t precisely a Microsoft Planner different, it’s extra just like the older brother. They’re household and instruments that work nicely collectively. What Microsoft Planner lacks, Microsoft Challenge fills in that gap. It doesn’t harm that almost everybody who has managed initiatives professionally has expertise with this device. The device does what challenge managers want by way of planning and different options associated to delivering a challenge.
Associated: Best Microsoft Project Alternatives
Nonetheless, these options are a bit common. There are not any particular trade capabilities for building or software program groups, which is a unfavorable of this Microsoft Planner different. 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 crew makes use of Macs, they’re out of luck.
If you happen to’d like extra data on how Microsoft Planner compares to Microsoft Challenge by way of their challenge administration performance, you possibly can take a look at this weblog the place we discover the variations between Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project.
Microsoft Challenge Execs & Key Options
- Presents quite a lot of challenge administration views for managing your entire challenge life cycle
- Strong sufficient for challenge administration places of work (PMOs)
- Constructed-in challenge administration studies and templates
- Has a free 1-month trial
Microsoft Challenge Cons & Limitations
- It’s an costly challenge administration resolution
- Steep studying curve and overwhelming person interface for learners
- Microsoft Challenge has a singular file format which is tough to share
- No cell 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 cell app? Sure, Microsoft Challenge provides a cell app
Microsoft Challenge Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “The standard of MS Challenge output is commonly ample for the requirement of most initiatives.” Paul B – from Capterra
- “It’s straightforward to arrange a challenge plan utilizing templates supplied in MS Challenge.” Alex N – from G2
4. Monday.com
Monday.com is a process administration software program, which makes it an excellent Microsoft Planner different. It’s inexpensive than signing up for the complete 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 information. It’s a good way to arrange your process on kanban boards, process lists and timelines.
It’s not the very best Microsoft Planner different, particularly as a result of it truly is simply process administration software program. It might need another options however not those which might be important to managing initiatives. A living proof is the Gantt chart. Once more, a timeline isn’t a Gantt chart, though it’s an excellent visible device and targets newbies. If you happen to’re a challenge supervisor on a extra severe degree, although, you’ll wish to look elsewhere.
Monday.com Execs & Key Options
- Consumer-friendly interface
- Reviews 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 necessary challenge administration options
- Restricted challenge reporting capabilities in comparison with different Microsoft Planner alternate options
- Customizable views require guide setup
Pricing
- Fundamental: $8/person/month
- Customary: $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 cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Monday.com Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “I actually advocate 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 likely one of the extra fashionable Microsoft Planner alternate options. It options all the things from timelines to kanban boards. There’s additionally a calendar view. All are shared with the challenge crew to maintain them working from one supply of information. It makes our listing particularly due to its real-time process administration reporting options that assist preserve initiatives on observe and set strategic objectives. There are collaborative instruments and a bug tracker, which is nice for software program growth.
Nonetheless, there’s an issue with this Microsoft Planner different: the dearth of danger administration instruments. Dangers can shortly sidetrack a challenge and with out options to establish and observe their initiatives can shortly go off observe or worse. That will be dangerous sufficient, however one other shortcoming is which you can solely assign one particular person to a process. That may work for some initiatives, however most may have a small crew working collectively to execute a process. Useless so as to add, these individuals gained’t be utilizing Asana.
Asana Execs & Key Options
- Simple-to-use process automation options
- Consumer-friendly interface
- Has a free 14-day free trial
- Has a free plan
- Has a cell app out there on iOS and Android
Asana Cons & Limitations
- Gantt chart lacks options equivalent to vital path evaluation and value monitoring
- Restricted challenge administration options for program and portfolio administration
- Timeline and Gantt chart options usually are not strong sufficient for challenge administration places of work (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 cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Asana Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “I can create duties, set their dates, routines, collaborate with my teammates, see their duties, non-public my duties, and a lot extra.” Shivam Okay – from G2
- “The dashboard view is the primary profit; it helped me set up the work into levels and gave me a transparent image of how far alongside the crew was.” Carrie C – from G2
6. ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based Microsoft Planner different that’s versatile sufficient to work with quite a lot of groups. Like a lot of the software program listed, there are process 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 thought why this product made our listing. You even get a dashboard for a high-level view of the challenge and an easy-to-use device that’s very enticing to customers.
If there’s a draw back to this Microsoft Planner different it’s the customization mandatory 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 means of the setup you’ll be searching for one other device on this listing. After all, the rationale it’s on the listing is that there are lots of advantages, however the work mandatory to maximise the advantages is so much. There are nonetheless detrimental features of the software program, equivalent to new initiatives displaying up on the backside of your listing, however these could be acceptable if customization wasn’t a lot bother.
ClickUp Execs & Key Options
- Versatile device that may work for varied varieties of companies and groups
- Doc modifying and on-line collaboration options
- Cell app out there for Android and iOS
ClickUp Cons & Limitations
- Cluttered person interface, arduous to be taught for many customers
- Most of its options usually are not 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 cell challenge planning app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
ClickUp Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “I really like the benefit of protecting all the things in a single place! Group initiatives organized by duties, boards with outcomes, and my favourite half, paperwork!” Naomy G – from G2
- “Total, my expertise with ClickUp has been extremely optimistic. It has streamlined challenge administration duties and improved crew collaboration considerably.” Paula L – from Capterra
7. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a Microsoft Planner different 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 firms are nonetheless operating their enterprise with Excel, which is possibly why Smartsheet makes use of the spreadsheet as a mannequin. It’s acquainted however much more customizable and highly effective. Advantages embrace automation, proofing and approvals, to call a number of.
However, bear in mind, most individuals trying to find a Microsoft Planner different are searching for 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 example, 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 alternative platforms. That provides inefficiencies and prices.
Smartsheet Execs & Key Options
- Robust 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 supreme for managing all varieties of initiatives
- Challenge dashboards have an outdated appear and feel in comparison with different Microsoft Planner alternate 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 cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Smartsheet Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “Automation can save hours of time by robotically 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 reside modifications to.” Steven Okay – from G2
8. Wrike
Wrike might be already acquainted to you. This Microsoft Planner different likes to promote. If you happen to’ve been trying to find 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, nevertheless, have kanban boards, reporting instruments and Gantt charts, so it’s a fairly good device for challenge administration. The mixing is first rate and the dashboard is necessary for getting a high-level view of the challenge.
Oddly sufficient, contemplating that the Microsoft Planner different is being pitched to anybody managing a challenge, it has a steep studying curve. Even weirder, you need to manually onboard your challenge crew. Isn’t software program presupposed to streamline processes like this? There’s a whole lot of information captured by the software program, however with out a filter to sift by means of the noise, it may be tough to seek out the sign. Even altering a check’s standing is a hurdle to clear. Who needs to battle with the very device that’s being offered to assist them higher handle their work?
Wrike Execs & Key Options
- A number of challenge planning and monitoring instruments
- Simple-to-use challenge studies
- 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 cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Wrike Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “Wrike has turn into important in my day and retains me organized and on prime 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 different that sells itself as a collaborative device. Collaboration is necessary, 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 usually are not supreme. Again to Basecamp, it does collaboration rather well. Whereas it doesn’t have a whole lot of different options, it provides many integrations.
After all, integration is nice for pulling in different apps you employ exterior of challenge administration. The truth that this Microsoft Planner different 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. Nonetheless, it even falls brief there. It feels as if conversations are siloed and that’s not the way you collaborate.
Basecamp Execs & 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 characteristic set
- No Gantt charts
- No useful resource or price monitoring options
Pricing
- Private: Free for 3 initiatives and as much as 20 customers
- Enterprise: $99 flat payment
Q&A
- Does Basecamp provide a free trial? Sure, Basecamp provides a 30-day free trial
- Does Basecamp have a cell challenge administration app? Sure, it’s out there for Android and iOS
Basecamp Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “As an organization, it permits us to flawlessly observe all of our conversations, planning, duties, and challenge progress.” Özgür Okay – 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 different that provides a kanban board for process administration. What makes it distinctive is the social feed reveals process updates. That’s fairly cool and a singular approach to foster collaboration. There’s additionally a discussion board for longer-from discussions. There are timesheets, situation monitoring and even a Gantt challenge view. That’s a whole lot of what any challenge supervisor and the crew will wish to run a extra productive challenge.
Managers will shortly hit a wall once they attempt to handle sources. There are not any useful resource administration options. There’s no reporting both. Now, the Microsoft Planner different doesn’t look as scorching, huh? That’s why it’s on the backside of our listing. There are positively 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
- Presents quite a lot of third-party integrations
- Cell app for Android and iOS
Zoho Initiatives Cons & Limitations:
- Its challenge planning views equivalent to Gantt charts and kanban boards have restricted performance
- There are navigability and value points throughout its characteristic 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 cell app? Sure, Zoho Initiatives has a cell app
Zoho Initiatives Evaluations
Highlighted Consumer Evaluations
- “Zoho One provides a complete suite of instruments that combine nicely with one another, which is nice for streamlining a number of enterprise capabilities in a single place.” Peter S – from G2
- “A really highly effective device and really straightforward to make use of.” Tobias S – from Capterra
ProjectManager Is the Greatest Microsoft Planner Various
Whereas there are lots of sturdy contenders, there can solely be one greatest and that’s ProjectManager. All of the Microsoft Planner alternate options have one thing to learn your challenge, however ProjectManager has all of them. From process administration to danger administration, useful resource administration to a number of challenge views, timesheets to collaboration, and finances to real-time information, the listing goes on. The truth that it’s additionally straightforward to onboard your crew is just icing on the cake.
Associated Content material
ProjectManager is award-winning challenge administration software program that helps you propose, schedule and observe progress in actual time. Our collaborative platform permits groups to share recordsdata, remark and tag anybody on the challenge crew. Be a part of these delivering profitable initiatives at NASA, Siemens and Nestle utilizing our software program. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.
