Microsoft Planner review
A capable Microsoft 365 project hub with strong views, dependencies, and sprint planning.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Microsoft Planner is a work-management application for individuals, teams, and project managers who organize projects within Microsoft 365. It supports content-rich tasks with files, checklists, and labels, alongside Grid, Board, Schedule, Charts, Calendar, and premium Timeline views. Teams can also manage goals, milestones, dependencies, backlogs, sprints, reports, dashboards, and guest access. Planner is available on the web, iOS, and Android, with collaboration through Microsoft Teams.
The published plans span a free Microsoft 365 offering and two paid tiers. Planner in Microsoft 365 includes task creation and management, My Day, My Tasks, Assigned to Me, basic templates, core views, and Teams integration. Planner Plan 1 costs $10 per user per month with annual billing and adds task dependencies, premium templates, reports, Timeline (Gantt), backlogs, sprints, and people management. Planner and Project Plan 3 costs $30 per user per month with annual billing and adds advanced dependencies with lead and lag, resource requests, task history, program and demand management, and Project Online and its desktop client. A 30-day free trial is available, while premium plans have regional and licensing dependencies.
Planner fits teams already working in Microsoft 365, particularly those that need structured task views, Microsoft Teams collaboration, and workflow automation through Power Automate. Its ecosystem includes Microsoft Loop, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Teams, giving Microsoft-centric organizations a direct path from communication to project work. The product also offers AI features and supports web and mobile access. Teams needing deeper portfolio and resource management can consider Planner and Project Plan 3, while smaller groups may find Planner in Microsoft 365 sufficient. Organizations outside the Microsoft ecosystem should weigh its focused integration set before choosing it.
Microsoft Planner pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Rich task management with files, checklists, labels, goals, and milestones
- Multiple views, dependencies, backlogs, sprints, reports, and dashboards
- Teams integration, guest access, and Power Automate actions and triggers
- Where it doesn't
- 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
Microsoft Planner fact sheet, pricing and score →
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