Microsoft Planner Overview (2024): Is MS Planner Price It?

Microsoft Planner is a job administration and group collaboration instrument that’s a part of the Microsoft 365 suite. It permits groups to create, assign and monitor duties and initiatives utilizing a visible, board-based interface.

Microsoft has lately launched Copilot in Planner, now rolling out in preview to customers with a Mission Plan 3 or Mission Plan 5 license. This new function leverages generative AI to simplify planning, administration and execution, making certain groups keep knowledgeable and on monitor with their objectives.

This evaluation explores whether or not Microsoft Planner is value contemplating in your undertaking administration wants and introduces some prime options.

Microsoft Planner’s pricing

As a part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Planner is included in numerous Workplace 365 subscription plans.

Free trial availability

Microsoft gives a free trial for his or her Enterprise Normal plan, which incorporates entry to Microsoft Planner. This trial permits customers to expertise the total vary of the instrument’s options for one month with none dedication.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise Primary

The Enterprise Primary plan is probably the most reasonably priced possibility at $6 per consumer per thirty days, billed yearly, offering important instruments for productiveness and collaboration at a low value. You get entry to internet variations of Workplace functions, Microsoft Groups for communication and 1 TB of OneDrive storage. This plan is appropriate for small companies or groups that primarily use on-line instruments and companies.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise Normal

At $12.50 per consumer per thirty days, the Enterprise Normal plan gives all of the options of the Enterprise Primary plan and extra. This plan is right for companies that want full-featured productiveness instruments and collaboration companies, together with Microsoft Planner for job administration.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium

Priced at $22 per consumer per thirty days, billed yearly, the Enterprise Premium plan consists of all of the options of the Enterprise Normal plan, plus superior safety and administration instruments. This plan is tailor-made for companies that require extra complete safety options, together with risk safety, machine administration and data safety.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise is a subscription plan finest match for small and medium-sized companies that want important Workplace functions with out further companies like e mail internet hosting or superior security measures. Priced at $8.25 per consumer per thirty days when billed yearly, this plan gives a cheap answer for organizations that primarily want productiveness instruments.

Whereas Microsoft Planner is included in Microsoft 365, it’s also possible to purchase it by the next subscription one-time buy plans:

• Planner Plan 1: $10 per consumer per thirty days (annual dedication).
• Mission Plan 3: $30 per consumer per thirty days (annual dedication).
• Mission Plan 5: $55 per consumer per thirty days (annual dedication).

One-time buy

• Mission Normal 2021: $719.99 (one-time buy).
• Mission Skilled 2021: $1,409.99 (one-time buy).
• Mission Server: Customized quote.

Microsoft Planner’s key options

Activity administration

Microsoft Planner helps groups manage their work visually. They will create plans, add duties, assign them to group members and set deadlines. Every job can embody particulars corresponding to descriptions, checklists, attachments and labels for categorization. The instrument additionally allows progress monitoring by dashboards and charts, permitting customers to see job statuses at a look.

A number of undertaking views

For planning and managing initiatives, customers can use the Grid view, which presents duties in an ordered record format, making it straightforward to stipulate work. Alternatively, the Board view gives a visible illustration of undertaking duties by prebuilt and customizable job boards, facilitating higher workflow administration and standing monitoring. The Timeline (Gantt) view is especially helpful for monitoring and understanding the chronology, assignments and interrelationships of undertaking duties.

This flexibility permits groups to decide on the view that most closely fits their working fashion and undertaking wants.

Activity dependency

Dependencies are important in undertaking administration, as they define the sequence through which duties have to be accomplished, making certain that every step builds upon the earlier one.

Inside Microsoft Planner, dependencies between duties dictate their execution sequence, permitting for a structured workflow. These dependencies could be categorized into two fundamental varieties: “Finish-to-Start” (FS) and “Start-to-Start” (SS). A “Finish-to-Start” dependency implies that one job should be totally accomplished earlier than the subsequent job can start. Conversely, a “Start-to-Start” dependency signifies {that a} job can start concurrently with the duty it’s depending on.

Reporting

The reporting performance in Microsoft Planner consists of instruments for visually monitoring and assessing undertaking progress by intuitive dashboards. These dashboards are outfitted with charts that present real-time insights into key efficiency indicators and milestones.

Microsoft Planner helps each pre-built and customized dashboards and studies. This flexibility permits groups to tailor their reporting instruments to particular wants, whether or not monitoring progress on particular person initiatives, managing sources or overseeing total packages and portfolios.

Microsoft Planner ease of use

Microsoft Planner’s simple design and seamless integration with different instruments contribute to its ease of use. The mixing with Microsoft 365 functions ensures that customers can entry Planner from acquainted environments like Groups and Outlook, decreasing the training curve. The clear visible structure, with customizable job playing cards and color-coded labels, helps customers determine and prioritize duties.

Microsoft Planner professionals

• Gives a number of views (kanban, timeline, grid, calendar) for monitoring undertaking progress.
• Subscription gives entry to different Microsoft 365 suite enterprise apps.
• Spectacular reporting instruments utilizing Microsoft Energy BI.
• Wonderful group collaboration options.

Microsoft Planner cons

• Dependency on Microsoft ecosystem.
• No free model.
• Doesn’t help Workplace 365 private accounts.

Alternate options to Microsoft Planner

Whereas it integrates seamlessly with different Microsoft functions, Microsoft Planner’s restricted performance could go away customers looking for extra superior options.

Trello

Each Trello and Microsoft Planner are easy functions with a kanban-style interface. With a shallow studying curve, customers ought to discover it easy to get began on both of those functions. Trello expands on the capabilities of Microsoft Planner by providing extra versatile and customizable workflows. Its simplicity and ease of use make it appropriate for each private {and professional} initiatives.

Trello additionally gives a bit extra customization and performance than Microsoft Planner. Nevertheless, in case you’re not a Microsoft 365 consumer, chances are you’ll discover Microsoft Planner restricted.

To study extra, try our full Trello vs. Microsoft Planner evaluation.

Asana

For restricted use, corresponding to mild collaboration and job progress monitoring, Microsoft Planner will get the job carried out. Nevertheless, for extra superior actions, you will have full undertaking administration software program corresponding to Asana. You additionally get a wider vary of third-party integrations with Asana.

To study extra, learn our full Asana vs. Microsoft Planner evaluation.

monday.com

monday.com is a complete undertaking administration utility appropriate for companies of all sizes. It stands out from Microsoft Planner with its intensive automation capabilities and extremely customizable dashboards. Freelancers and solopreneurs won’t want all of the performance supplied by monday work administration and should favor to make use of less complicated instruments like Microsoft Planner. However in case you want superior work administration software program, monday.com could also be helpful.

Overview methodology

To realize a complete understanding of Microsoft Planner, I evaluated the software program to evaluate a number of options. I reviewed the general usability of the software program, together with its consumer interface and ease of navigation. I additionally analyzed buyer testimonials from a number of respected web sites. Lastly, I in contrast the applying to a few of its prime rivals to know its strengths and disadvantages.

Learn subsequent: The ten finest undertaking administration software program and instruments for 2023