Software profile

Microsoft Planner

Microsoft’s task and project planning app, included free in most Microsoft 365 business plans, with Planner Plan 1 and Plan 3 adding Gantt timelines, dependencies and portfolios.

  • Included with Microsoft 365
  • Free trial
  • Per user, seat or unit
  • Cloud
  • AI features
  • Independent sources

by MicrosoftProject Management SoftwareTask and project management in Microsoft 365 (SaaS)

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  • Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
  • 3 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
  • Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
  • Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
Quick answer

What is Microsoft Planner?

Microsoft Planner is the task and project management app inside Microsoft 365 that provides boards, task lists and My Day in Teams and the web, with paid Planner Plan 1 and Planner and Project Plan 3 licences adding timelines, dependencies, baselines and portfolios.

  • Best forOrganisations already on Microsoft 365
  • Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises
  • PricingIncluded with Microsoft 365; Planner Plan 1 reported at $10 per user a month.
  • Main limitationTimelines and dependencies need a paid Plan 1 licence.
  • AlternativesTrello, Asana, monday.com, ClickUp · compare all

Reviewed by the Stack18 editorial team · Verified 13 Nov 2026 · 3 sources

Overview

Microsoft Planner overview: who it is for and what it does.

Planner is the default way many Microsoft 365 organisations track team tasks. Basic Planner, with boards, task assignment, checklists and Teams integration, is included in Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard and Premium, Office 365 E1, E3 and E5, Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 and frontline F1 and F3 plans.

Premium capabilities come from separate licences that absorbed the old Project plans. Planner Plan 1 (renamed from Project Plan 1 on 30 April 2024) is reported at $10 per user a month and adds timeline or Gantt views, dependencies, subtasks, custom fields, goals and sprints. Planner and Project Plan 3, reported at $30, adds baselines, critical path, portfolios and the Project desktop app.

Microsoft stopped selling Plan 5 worldwide on 1 May 2026, and Project Online was retired on 30 September 2026. The Planner agent built on Copilot needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, with premium agent functions unlocked by Plan 1 or higher.

Main problem it solves

Lets Microsoft 365 teams assign and track work where they already chat and store files, and step up to Gantt-style planning without a new vendor.

Typical customer segment

Organisations of every size already on Microsoft 365, from small offices to large enterprises and PMOs.

Target users

  • Teams tracking tasks inside Microsoft Teams
  • Project managers needing timelines and dependencies
  • PMOs managing portfolios on Plan 3

Primary use cases

  • Team task boards in Teams
  • Personal task lists and My Day
  • Project schedules with dependencies
  • Sprint planning
  • Portfolio views

What makes it distinct

  • Included at no extra cost in most Microsoft 365 business plans.
  • Native in Teams, Outlook and To Do.
  • Upgrade path to Project-grade scheduling in the same app.
Key features

Microsoft Planner features explained.

Basic Planner (included)

Boards and task lists
Buckets, labels, checklists, attachments and due dates.
My Day and My Tasks
Personal views that pull tasks from Planner and To Do.
Teams integration
Plans as tabs inside Teams channels.

Planner Plan 1

Timeline and Gantt
Schedules with dependencies and subtasks.
Custom fields and goals
Track goals and custom data on tasks.
Sprints and people view
Agile sprints and workload view.

Plan 3 and AI

Baselines and critical path
Plan 3.
Portfolios
Create portfolios on Plan 3.
Planner agent (Copilot)
Requires Microsoft 365 Copilot; premium functions need Plan 1+.
Pricing

Microsoft Planner pricing and plans.

Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 13 Nov 2026 against O365HQ · PPM Express · Capterra.

Pricing model

Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365; premium features licensed per user per month.

Free plan

Included with Microsoft 365

Free trial

Yes (premium plans, reported)

Microsoft Planner plans and prices (USD)

  • Planner in Microsoft 365

    Included

    With Microsoft 365 business or enterprise plans

    Boards, task lists, My Day, Teams integration.

  • Planner Plan 1

    $10 per user a month

    Annual

    Timelines, dependencies, custom fields, goals, sprints.

  • Planner and Project Plan 3

    $30 per user a month

    Annual

    Baselines, critical path, portfolios, Project desktop app.

  • Planner and Project Plan 5

    No longer sold

    Ended 1 May 2026

    Existing customers only.

Premium plan prices are reported by an independent licensing guide. Microsoft 365 business plan prices changed on 1 July 2026; the Planner agent requires a separate Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.

Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.

Visit official website (external) ↗See alternatives
Integrations and compatibility

Microsoft Planner integrations, API and platforms.

Important integrations

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Outlook and To Do
  • Microsoft Loop
  • Power Automate

Supported platforms

  • Web
  • Windows (Teams)
  • iOS
  • Android

API

Microsoft Graph API for Planner tasks.

Data import and export

Not reviewed for this profile.

Planner works best inside Microsoft 365. Integrations outside Microsoft usually go through Power Automate.

Strengths, limitations and best fit

Microsoft Planner pros and cons.

Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.

Strengths

  • Basic Planner costs nothing extra for most Microsoft 365 customers. [1]
  • Native in Teams, so adoption is easy for Microsoft shops. [1]
  • Clear upgrade to Gantt, dependencies and portfolios on Plan 1 and Plan 3. [1]
  • Graph API and Power Automate support for automation. [1]

Limitations

  • Timelines and dependencies need a paid Plan 1 licence. [1]
  • The Copilot-based Planner agent needs an extra Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. [1]
  • Plan 5 and Project Online have been retired, forcing migrations. [1]
  • Limited value outside the Microsoft ecosystem. [2]

Best for

  • Organisations already on Microsoft 365
  • Teams that live in Microsoft Teams
  • PMOs replacing Project Online

May be less suited to

  • Teams on Google Workspace or mixed stacks
  • Teams wanting advanced automation without Power Automate
How it compares

Microsoft Planner compared with similar project management software.

Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.

ProductPricing modelFree planStarting priceBest for
Microsoft PlannerPer user, seat or unitIncluded with Microsoft 365Included with Microsoft 365; Planner Plan 1 reported at $10 per user a month.Organisations already on Microsoft 365
TrelloPer user, seat or unitYesFree plan; Standard $5 per user per month billed annually ($6 monthly).Small teams that want simple Kanban boards
AsanaPer user, seat or unitYesFree Personal plan; Starter reported at $10.99 per user per month billed annually.Teams that want a free start and a clear upgrade path
monday.comPer user, seat or unitYesFree plan for up to 2 seats; paid plans reported from $9 per seat per month billed…Teams that want a flexible visual board-based tool
ClickUpPer user, seat or unitYesFree Forever plan; Unlimited reported at $7 per member per month billed annually.Teams that want a generous free plan to evaluate
AirtablePer user, seat or unitYesFree plan available; Team $20 and Business $45 per user per month billed annually…Teams that want custom trackers and workflows over linked data

Browse all Project Management Software →

FAQ

Microsoft Planner questions and answers

What is Microsoft Planner used for?

Microsoft Planner is used for team task boards in Teams, personal task lists and My Day, project schedules with dependencies and sprint planning.

Does Microsoft Planner have a free plan?

Yes. Included with Microsoft 365. Free trial: Yes (premium plans, reported).

How much does Microsoft Planner cost?

Included with Microsoft 365; Planner Plan 1 reported at $10 per user a month. Premium plan prices are reported by an independent licensing guide.

What is the difference between Microsoft Planner Planner Plan 1 and Planner and Project Plan 3?

Planner Plan 1 is listed at $10 per user a month (Timelines, dependencies, custom fields, goals, sprints). Planner and Project Plan 3 is listed at $30 per user a month (Baselines, critical path, portfolios, Project desktop app). Confirm current plan contents with the vendor.

What are the main alternatives to Microsoft Planner?

The main alternatives to Microsoft Planner covered on Stack18 are Trello, Asana, monday.com and ClickUp. Trello may suit small teams that want simple Kanban boards. Asana may suit teams that want a free start and a clear upgrade path. monday.com may suit teams that want a flexible visual board-based tool. See the Microsoft Planner alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.

What integrations does Microsoft Planner support?

Documented integrations include Microsoft Teams, Outlook and To Do, Microsoft Loop and Power Automate. API: Microsoft Graph API for Planner tasks.

What are the limitations of Microsoft Planner?

Timelines and dependencies need a paid Plan 1 licence. The Copilot-based Planner agent needs an extra Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. Plan 5 and Project Online have been retired, forcing migrations.

Which platforms does Microsoft Planner run on?

Microsoft Planner is documented as available on: Web, Windows (Teams), iOS, Android.

When was the Microsoft Planner profile last verified?

Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 13 Nov 2026. 3 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.

Sources and freshness

Where this information comes from.

  1. Planner Plan 1 vs Plan 3 vs Plan 5: Licensing and What Each Unlocks O365HQ Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
  2. Microsoft Planner licensing and pricing 2026 PPM Express Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
  3. Microsoft Planner Pricing 2026 Capterra Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026

Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are corroborated across independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.

Plan names, prices and features were checked against the sources listed on 13 Nov 2026. Capabilities were not tested.

Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.

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