Best Microsoft Planner Alternatives in 2026
The top Microsoft Planner alternatives are ClickUp, Jira and Asana: 15 project management software our editors would look at instead of Microsoft Planner, in our ranking order.
Microsoft Planner: A capable Microsoft 365 project hub with strong views, dependencies, and sprint planning. Where it falls short: the free offering is tied to eligible microsoft 365 enterprise subscriptions.
Switching from Microsoft Planner? For most project management software buyers the best Microsoft Planner alternative is ClickUp, built for all-purpose teams needing broad project control. On a budget, YouTrack starts at $4.50/user/mo. Jira offers the most free-plan user limit (10 users).
Why People Look for a Microsoft Planner Alternative
- The free offering is tied to eligible Microsoft 365 enterprise subscriptions
- Premium capabilities depend on regional and licensing requirements
- Advanced project controls require paid plans starting at $10 per user monthly
- Native integrations: 5 integrations — up to 3000 integrations with Jira
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallClickUp9.4
All-purpose teams needing broad project control
Visit ClickUp - Lowest priceYouTrack7.9
Paid plans from $4.50/user/mo
Visit YouTrack - Best free optionClickUp9.4
Has a free plan
Visit ClickUp - Most free-plan user limitJira9.3
10 users
Visit Jira
All 15 Microsoft Planner Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forAll-purpose teams needing broad project control
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.6
Broad project control with tasks, Docs, automations, reporting, time tracking, and AI.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
9.4/10★★★★★Visit ClickUp -
Best forAgile and software delivery teams
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 3000 integrations vs 5 integrations
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.6
A mature choice for agile delivery teams needing boards, backlogs, workflows, and automation.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Jira -
Best forEstablished teams wanting polished core PM
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 200 integrations vs 5 integrations
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.6
A mature project hub with flexible views, automation, reporting, and AI features.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Asana -
Best forVisual teams balancing work and resources
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 850 integrations vs 5 integrations
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.6
A flexible visual workspace for coordinating projects, resources, automations, and integrations.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
9.1/10★★★★★Visit monday.com -
Best forOrganizations needing resource and capacity planning
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 400 integrations vs 5 integrations
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.6
Wrike brings project views, automation, time tracking, and capacity planning into one workspace.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Wrike -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing structured project controls
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 50 integrations vs 5 integrations
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.6
Deep project controls and automation at a low annual-billing entry price.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho Projects -
Best forClient-service teams managing budgets and capacity
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 150 integrations vs 5 integrations
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.6
A strong fit for client-service teams that need capacity, budgets, and profitability control.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Teamwork.com -
Best forSpreadsheet-oriented enterprise project teams
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.6
A spreadsheet-oriented work management platform with broad planning and automation depth.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Smartsheet -
Best forMicrosoft-centric teams needing traditional scheduling
A strong fit for Microsoft-centric teams that need traditional scheduling and resource planning.
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forTeams wanting simple visual task management
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 200 integrations vs 5 integrations
A flexible visual task manager with strong automation and broad integrations.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Trello -
Best forModern software teams focused on issues and cycles
A focused project management system for software teams that organize work around issues and cycles.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Linear -
Best forOrganizations wanting formal PM with strong reporting
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 400 integrations vs 5 integrations
A formal project management suite with broad views, reporting, resources, and budget controls.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit ProjectManager -
Best forTeams prioritizing communication and simplicity
A communication-focused workspace with broad collaboration tools and limited automation.
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Basecamp -
Best forSelf-hosted teams wanting open-source PM
- Better than Microsoft Planner:
- Native integrations: 6 integrations vs 5 integrations
A broad, self-hosted PM suite for teams that value control over simplicity.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit OpenProject -
Best forAgile teams wanting self-hosting at low cost
A broad agile work hub with a free 10-user plan and flexible deployment options.
- Automation rules
- Guest access
- Time tracking
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit YouTrack
Microsoft Planner Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Planner?
ClickUp: #1 in our Project Management Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Broad project control with tasks, Docs, automations, reporting, time tracking, and AI.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Planner?
Yes. ClickUp, Jira, Asana, monday.com and Wrike have a free plan or a free tier (12 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Microsoft Planner?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, YouTrack starts lowest, at $4.50/user/mo.
Why do people look for Microsoft Planner alternatives?
The free offering is tied to eligible Microsoft 365 enterprise subscriptions; Premium capabilities depend on regional and licensing requirements; Advanced project controls require paid plans starting at $10 per user monthly.
Which Microsoft Planner alternative has the most free-plan user limit?
Jira, with 10 users.
How do I switch from Microsoft Planner?
Export your data from Microsoft Planner (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Microsoft Planner.
How to Switch from Microsoft Planner
- Export your data from Microsoft Planner (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Microsoft Planner.
Microsoft Planner vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Automation rules | Time tracking | Guest access | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Microsoft Planner | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 1 | ClickUp | Yes | $7/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Jira | Yes | $7.91/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 3 | Asana | Yes | $10.99/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 4 | monday.com | Yes | $9/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 5 | Wrike | Yes | $10/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 6 | Zoho Projects | Yes | $5/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 7 | Teamwork.com | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 8 | Smartsheet | No | $12/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 |
| 9 | Microsoft Project | No | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 10 | Trello | Yes | $5/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 11 | Linear | Yes | $10/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 12 | ProjectManager | No | $15/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 13 | Basecamp | Yes | $25/mo | No | Yes | Yes | 8.1 |
| 14 | OpenProject | Yes | €5.95/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 15 | YouTrack | Yes | $4.50/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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