Microsoft Planner’s quick informationBeginning value: $6 per consumer per thirty days, billed yearly Key options:
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Microsoft Planner is a job administration and crew collaboration software that’s a part of the Microsoft 365 suite. It permits groups to create, assign and monitor duties and tasks utilizing a visible, board-based interface.
Microsoft has just lately launched Copilot in Planner, now rolling out in preview to customers with a Undertaking Plan 3 or Undertaking 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 targets.
This overview explores whether or not Microsoft Planner is price contemplating to your undertaking administration wants and introduces some prime alternate options.
Microsoft Planner’s pricing
As a part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Planner is included in numerous Workplace 365 subscription plans.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental | Net and cellular variations of Workplace apps, electronic mail internet hosting, 1 TB OneDrive storage, Groups and SharePoint | |
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Customary | Desktop variations of Workplace apps, all options of Enterprise Fundamental, plus extra enterprise apps | |
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium | All options of Enterprise Customary, plus superior safety, gadget administration and extra | |
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise | Helps desktop variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Plus 1 TB of cloud storage per consumer |
Free trial availability
Microsoft affords a free trial for his or her Enterprise Customary plan, which incorporates entry to Microsoft Planner. This trial permits customers to expertise the total vary of the software’s options for one month with none dedication.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental
The Enterprise Fundamental plan is essentially the most inexpensive 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 purposes, 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 providers.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Customary
At $12.50 per consumer per thirty days, the Enterprise Customary plan affords all of the options of the Enterprise Fundamental plan and extra. This plan is right for companies that want full-featured productiveness instruments and collaboration providers, 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 contains all of the options of the Enterprise Customary plan, plus superior safety and administration instruments. This plan is tailor-made for companies that require extra complete safety options, together with risk safety, gadget administration and data safety.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise is a subscription plan greatest match for small and medium-sized companies that want important Workplace purposes with out extra providers like electronic mail internet hosting or superior security measures. Priced at $8.25 per consumer per thirty days when billed yearly, this plan affords an economical resolution for organizations that primarily want productiveness instruments.
Whereas Microsoft Planner is included in Microsoft 365, you may as well purchase it via the next subscription one-time buy plans:
- Planner Plan 1: $10 per consumer per thirty days (annual dedication).
- Undertaking Plan 3: $30 per consumer per thirty days (annual dedication).
- Undertaking Plan 5: $55 per consumer per thirty days (annual dedication).
One-time buy
- Undertaking Customary 2021: $719.99 (one-time buy).
- Undertaking Skilled 2021: $1,409.99 (one-time buy).
- Undertaking Server: Customized quote.
Microsoft Planner’s key options
Process administration
Microsoft Planner helps groups set up their work visually. They’ll create plans, add duties, assign them to crew members and set deadlines. Every job can embody particulars resembling descriptions, checklists, attachments and labels for categorization. The software additionally permits progress monitoring via dashboards and charts, permitting customers to see job statuses at a look.
![Microsoft Planner dashboard.](https://assets.techrepublic.com/uploads/2024/06/tr_20240607-microsoft-planner-review-figure_a.jpg)
A number of undertaking views
For planning and managing tasks, customers can use the Grid view, which presents duties in an ordered record format, making it simple to stipulate work. Alternatively, the Board view affords a visible illustration of undertaking duties via 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.
![Kanban board in Microsoft Planner.](https://assets.techrepublic.com/uploads/2024/06/tr_20240607-microsoft-planner-review-figure_b.jpg)
Process dependency
Dependencies are important in undertaking administration, as they define the sequence by which duties should 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 may be categorized into two important varieties: “End-to-Begin” (FS) and “Begin-to-Begin” (SS). A “End-to-Begin” dependency signifies that one job should be absolutely accomplished earlier than the subsequent job can start. Conversely, a “Begin-to-Begin” dependency signifies {that a} job can begin concurrently with the duty it’s depending on.
Reporting
The reporting performance in Microsoft Planner contains instruments for visually monitoring and assessing undertaking progress via intuitive dashboards. These dashboards are geared up 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 tasks, managing sources or overseeing whole applications and portfolios.
Microsoft Planner ease of use
Microsoft Planner’s easy design and seamless integration with different instruments contribute to its ease of use. The mixing with Microsoft 365 purposes ensures that customers can entry Planner from acquainted environments like Groups and Outlook, lowering the educational curve. The clear visible format, with customizable job playing cards and color-coded labels, helps customers establish and prioritize duties.
Microsoft Planner execs
- Supplies 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 crew collaboration options.
Microsoft Planner cons
- Dependency on Microsoft ecosystem.
- No free model.
- Doesn’t assist Workplace 365 private accounts.
Alternate options to Microsoft Planner
Whereas it integrates seamlessly with different Microsoft purposes, Microsoft Planner’s restricted performance might go away customers looking for extra superior options.
Workflow customization | ||||
Reporting | ||||
Integrations | ||||
Ease of use | ||||
Free plan | ||||
Beginning value (per consumer per thirty days, billed yearly) |
![Trello icon.](https://assets.techrepublic.com/uploads/2024/06/tr_20240607-microsoft-planner-review-trello.jpg)
Trello
Each Trello and Microsoft Planner are easy purposes with a kanban-style interface. With a shallow studying curve, customers ought to discover it easy to get began on both of those purposes. 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} tasks.
Trello additionally affords a bit extra customization and performance than Microsoft Planner. Nevertheless, for those who’re not a Microsoft 365 consumer, you might discover Microsoft Planner restricted.
To study extra, try our full Trello vs. Microsoft Planner review.
![Asana icon.](https://assets.techrepublic.com/uploads/2024/06/tr_20240607-microsoft-planner-review-asana.jpg)
Asana
For restricted use, resembling gentle collaboration and job progress monitoring, Microsoft Planner will get the job executed. Nevertheless, for extra superior actions, you have to full undertaking administration software program resembling Asana. You additionally get a wider vary of third-party integrations with Asana.
To study extra, learn our full Asana vs. Microsoft Planner review.
![monday.com icon.](https://assets.techrepublic.com/uploads/2024/06/tr_20240607-microsoft-planner-review-monday_com.jpg)
monday.com
monday.com is a complete undertaking administration software 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 provided by monday work administration and will favor to make use of easier instruments like Microsoft Planner. However for those who want superior work administration software program, monday.com could also be useful.
Assessment 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.
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