What it does
Microsoft Planner is a task and project planning app for creating shared plans and tracking work. Basic plans offer grid, board, schedule, and charts; premium plans add timeline/Gantt, dependencies, sprints, custom fields, goals, workload views, and task history.
Create shared plans or personal plans, assign tasks, and switch between grid, board, schedule, and chart views. Planner is included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions; premium plan capabilities require an additional Planner or Project license and include timelines, dependencies, sprints, and workload views. See Microsoft’s Planner plan comparison and guide to managing plans.
Strengths
- Basic plans include grid, board, schedule, and chart views.
- Premium plans add Gantt-style timelines, dependencies, sprints, and workload balancing.
- Integrates with Microsoft 365 and Teams workflows.
Watch out for
- Access depends on eligible Microsoft 365 or Planner licensing.
- Advanced project features are gated behind premium plans.
Best for
- Microsoft 365 organizations coordinating team tasks
- Teams that need a simple plan board with optional premium project controls