Microsoft Planner vs Aha!

Jira

Asana

Trello

Jira is project tracking software that helps every team collaborate to plan, track, and release work by breaking down big ideas into achievable steps. Jira offers features like task organization, work alignment to goals, customizable workflows, and real-time data insights to optimize outcomes.

Asana Starter Plan provides growing teams with project management tools to track progress and meet deadlines. The plan includes workflow automation features, custom project templates, forms for standardized work requests, and rules for routine task management. It also offers visualization tools like Gantt and timeline views, plus AI-powered features for status updates and project organization.

Trello is a project management tool that helps teams organize and manage their tasks. It caters to a range of industries and teams, from marketing to engineering. Trello's simple and intuitive interface makes it easy for any team to get started and stay on top of their work.

Microsoft Planner is a task planning and collaboration solution for teams which integrates with other Microsoft products including Outlook, OneDrive and OneNote

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Activity Tracking

Agile Methodologies

Alerts/Notifications

Assignment Management

Charting

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Configurable Workflow

Customizable Fields

Customizable Templates

Dashboard

Data Import/Export

Deadline Management

Document Storage

Drag & Drop

Email Management

File Management

Planning Tools

Prioritization

Progress Reports

Progress Tracking

Project Management

Project Planning

Project Tracking

Project Workflow

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Updates

Resource Management

Status Tracking

Tagging

Task Editing

Task Management

Task Planning

Task Progress Tracking

Task Scheduling

Task Tagging

To-Do List

Visual Workflow Management

Reviews for Microsoft Planner come from a wide variety of industries, including Information Technology and Services (13% of reviewers), Higher Education (4%), and Construction (4%). The most frequent use case for Microsoft Planner cited by reviewers is task management (88% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

The Microsoft Planner integrations most frequently cited by reviewers are: Microsoft 365 (a document management product rated 4.6 out of 5 for its integration with Microsoft Planner), Microsoft Outlook (an email management product, 4.8), and Microsoft Teams (a meeting product, 4.9).

Integrations

Microsoft Planner is a task management program with key features that include task management, task editing, task scheduling, alerts and notifications, task progress tracking, collaboration tools, and more.

Microsoft Planner

Web-based

Windows

iPhone

iPad

Android

monday.com

ClickUp

Notion

Todoist

Zoho Sprints

Bitrix24

Smartsheet

 Planner Plan 1

 Planner and Project Plan 3

 Planner and Project Plan 5

Project and IT Manager

Free version has enough task views options for you to keep a track of your tasks timeline (grid, board, calendar and charts), as well as filters.

IT Team Lead

This ultimately leaves me constantly searching for buttons and settings that are dancing around a forever changing interface; what might look like progress on paper often leaves me feeling like I'm required to relearn the platform time and time again, usually becoming more confident and familiar just as a new release changes everything again.

Planner does a fine job of covering the core functions you'd expect from a task management solution, and delivers in a way that is consistent with the rest of Microsoft 365 tools and so feels somewhat familiar and intuitive.

The interface is clean, modern and responsive; a constant flow of new features demonstrates that Microsoft is clearly invested in developing Planner into a more powerful and capable planning solution.

Managing Director

As a busy event planner, for me the best features are its ability to provide a snapshot of my daily and weekly tasks!

Operations Lead

MS Planner helps me keep on track by providing a daily task list linked between MS Teams and Ms Outlook.

Retail sales manager

I use Microsoft Planner to assign, discuss any challenges and to finally make sure tasks are acomplished within set timelines

Director of IS Project Management

However, for the more advanced project managers out there, there is planner premium that allows for more robust project, managing tools and offers the assistance of AI With all of the premium license plans.

Fulfillment Manager

We share it between multiple departments, including our warehouse team, and we can see how far along they are in their processes.

People Business Partner

The platform allows me to set goals, monitor progress, and add contributors.

HR and IT

Connectivity to "to do" lists in outlook was more seamless so you didnt feel you needed to exit planner in order to go to your flagged task emails.

Corporate Training Manager

As with any other Microsoft product, Planner provides a well-designed solution for managing tasks and projects, especially if you are used to using Excel or paper lists.

Sales and Accounts

The only downside to Planner is that the completed tasks stay recorded in the completed dropdown, so with heavy use over some time, it can get clogged up and stop accepting new input.

I have in the past used this to setup a production task creation and tracking workflow for 30+ people, and it worked seamlessly.

Product Designer

Overall, Microsoft Planner is a straightforward design task management tool and is suitable for simple project planning and team coordination, so for organizing and prioritizing design work, it is a great toolbox to have in its place to make sure everything is put together in time.

Business Development Rep

Leveraging the Microsoft App and tools also make it easier in terms of integration where you can easily move data within the same Microsoft product offering without having to find another way to ingest the data from other sources or to other sources.

You can easily customize the buckets for your planner and track your tasks the way you want them and the same applies for projects.

I am constantly working on multiple programs at once, so I live and die by a helpful planner that keeps me on task!

Client Service Specialist II

You can add several things, add attachments, notes and duration for each task and you can also assign tasks to others.

Research Scientist

Great replacement for Smartsheet, manages your team well, and with full integration with Microsoft suite of tools.

Overrall it is a great product to use, could use some gantt chart features for dragging and dropping tasks.

It helps me reach daily goals, as well as long term projects.

It is an amazing software to get your work and your teammorganized and working on the same page.

MS Planner is a great task and planning tool, so you can keep track of your work.

Senior Director, Fundraising Technology

Has helped with project progress and being able to analyze work tasks/request for our team.

this is annoying and i wish the notification would come after the card is complete.

Use Planner to create an effective support ticketing request system for my tech team.

Training Communication Specialist

I like that I can assign tasks to my team and categorize them in different buckets.

We all love the visual aspect of the data, ongoing projects, reporting, task management and the list goes on and on.

Allied Health Professional

I would like the option of having a view where I can see all my tasks from all plans, rather than only being able to view each plan separately

AI and Automation Engineer

I like the visual, intuitive task management interface of Microsoft Project.

The biggest drawcard was how easy it was to use for all users, no matter their level of computer literacy, and if you are already paying for Microsoft 365, it's part of the subscription already.

I can even track team outputs from task assignments.

Manager

I also like that I have the availability to assign tasks to individuals or teams if I like.

What I love the most about Microsoft Planner is how visually appealing it is to track any ongoing projects and basically manage our teamwork effectively.

I love the fact that you can enjoy planner basic to get started and get familiar with using the tool. Because there is a learning curve that requires you to use it and practice using it.

administration

no free version making it lack on features. if your gonna pay to play, it should offer any feature on the market no time tracker available.

Mental health specialist

With Microsoft planner sharing files is quick and easy, assing tasks takes no time at all leaving you with time to plan other activities.

I love that it connects with Microsoft 365 products.

Assistant Property Manager

It's very clean and organized and you are able to schedule Todo's for certain times, so you don't get overwhelmed by a big list.

Microsoft planner makes organizing your new plan a breeze, along with sharing files and organizing tasks at hand.

IT Infrastructure engineer

Best Microsoft tool for Managing project , great to create boards and create , assign task to users.

It is very easy to set up and get using, the different interfaces e.g. grid/task list, board, timeline, are all easy to switch between, and with minimal training.

Sr. Coordinator

My colleagues and I use it daily to keep track of projects and the tasks related to them.

It is obviously very easy to integrate with Microsoft Teams and Outlook and it is very easy to begin working with it.

Content Marketing Manager

Microsoft Planner's functionality is quite basic, which becomes evident when scaling project complexity or team size.

It's well integrated with other M365 apps.

Associate Project Manager cum Business Analyst

Integration with Outlook, To-Do and Sharepoint with mobile and web accessibility.

im able to chat with my team, assign tasks to staff, and really improves work flow.

Limited features like Gantt Charts and customizable workflows.

Task and Project Management

Team Management

Pricing

Training and Learning Curve

Progress Monitoring

Notifications and Status

User Interface

Bugs and Issues

Small Business

Large Enterprises

Freelancers

Mid-size Business

Microsoft

Confluence

Confluence is a remote-friendly workspace offering a centralized platform for documentation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Its AI-based tools via Rovo assist teams in drafting, brainstorming, and turning ideas into plans. Confluence supports live docs, whiteboards, databases, and templates to meet diverse needs while integrating seamlessly with Atlassian products and third-party tools.

monday.com is a cloud-based Work OS, where teams create workflow apps in minutes to run their processes, projects, and everyday work. Teams shape workflows and projects, code-free, with a platform that adapts to shifting needs, liberates teams from manual grunt work, and connects teams in a collaborative work space.

Product Manager III

Disappointing to not get the same level of service commitment that the company provided in their early days but they claim a "lean" servicing model per my recent discussions with their Customer Success department.

Sr. Director - Product Management

The flexibility, collaboration, ability to connect delivery with strategy, and outstanding customer service keep me coming back.

Product Lead AI

So far customer support didn't disappoint and always provided swift and good answers/solutions.

Aha! Roadmaps is the complete product management solution. Set your product roadmap based on strategy, resources, and what customers value most. Make objective prioritization decisions. Build visual plans or create a live dashboard to show the timing and scope of initiatives, launches, and projects.

Microsoft Planner vs Aha! Comparison (2026)

Microsoft Planner

Aha!

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives