Project management tools · Comparison
Jira vs Microsoft Planner (2026): Which Is Better?
Jira is best for software and agile teams; Microsoft Planner is best for microsoft 365 organisations. We compare pricing, features, ease of use and G2 and Capterra ratings to help you choose.
Key takeaways
- Overall winner: Jira (8.6/10 vs 8.1/10), winning 3 of 7 categories.
- Choose Jira for software development and IT teams running Scrum or Kanban.
- Choose Microsoft Planner for organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Price: Jira Free for up to 10 users; Standard roughly $7.91/user/month; Microsoft Planner Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month.
Quick verdict
Jira is the strongest choice for software teams. For organisations that need one platform across engineering, marketing and operations, Wrike or monday.com are easier to roll out widely.
Planner is the convenient default for Microsoft 365 shops. For richer collaboration, resource and portfolio management, Wrike integrates with Microsoft tools while offering far more depth.
Jira vs Microsoft Planner at a glance
| Jira | Microsoft Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Best for | Software development and IT teams running Scrum or Kanban | Organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams |
| Starting price | Free for up to 10 users; Standard roughly $7.91/user/month | Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month |
| Free plan | Yes (up to 10 users) | Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365 |
| Free trial | Free trial of paid plans | One-month trial of Plan 1 and Plan 3 (credit card required) |
| Vendor | Atlassian | Microsoft |
Pricing compared
| Jira | Microsoft Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Free: $0 Standard: About $7.91/user/month (monthly, small teams) Premium: About $14.54/user/month (monthly, small teams) Enterprise: Contact sales | Planner (basic): Included in Microsoft 365 Planner Plan 1: $10/user/month (annual) Planner and Project Plan 3: $30/user/month (annual) Microsoft 365 Copilot: $30/user/month add-on (annual) |
Checked on vendors' pricing pages on 5 October 2026. Read the full Jira pricing and Microsoft Planner pricing breakdowns.
Features compared
| Feature | Jira | Microsoft Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Gantt / timeline | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Kanban boards | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Time tracking | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Resource & workload management | ◐ Partial | ✓ Yes |
| Portfolio management | ◐ Partial | ✓ Yes |
| Docs & wiki | ✕ No | ◐ Partial |
| Automations | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Agile / sprint tools | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Proofing & approvals | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Built-in AI | ✓ Yes | + Add-on |
| Guest / client access | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Flat (non per-user) pricing | ✕ No | ✕ No |
Category winners
| Category | Jira | Microsoft Planner | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 6/10 | 8/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Feature depth | 8/10 | 6/10 | Jira |
| Planning & resource management | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Collaboration | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Agile & software teams | 10/10 | 6/10 | Jira |
| Value for money | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Scalability & enterprise readiness | 9/10 | 8/10 | Jira |
User ratings
| Jira | Microsoft Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.3/5 (7,988 reviews) | 4.2/5 (237 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.4/5 (15,493 reviews) | 4.3/5 (298 reviews) |
| Top praise (G2) | Ease of use for Agile workflows | Ease of use |
| Top complaint (G2) | Steep learning curve | Limited features for complex projects |
Jira has the higher G2 rating. Jira has the higher Capterra rating. See reviews on G2 for Jira, G2 for Microsoft Planner, Capterra for Jira and Capterra for Microsoft Planner.
Which should you choose?
Choose Jira if…
- Software engineering and IT teams
- Organisations already using Atlassian tools
- Best-in-class Agile and Scrum tooling matters to you
Choose Microsoft Planner if…
- Organisations already on Microsoft 365 and Teams
- Teams needing simple, integrated task management
- Included or low-cost for Microsoft 365 customers matters to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Jira or Microsoft Planner?
In our review, Jira scores 8.6/10 and Microsoft Planner 8.1/10. Jira wins on feature depth, agile & software teams, scalability & enterprise readiness; Microsoft Planner is better for ease of use.
Is Jira cheaper than Microsoft Planner?
Jira: Free for up to 10 users; Standard roughly $7.91/user/month. Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month. Compare total cost at your team size, including seat minimums and add-ons.
Do Jira and Microsoft Planner have free plans?
Jira: Yes (up to 10 users). Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365.
Which is easier to use, Jira or Microsoft Planner?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for ease of use in our review (Jira 6/10, Microsoft Planner 8/10).
Which is better for Agile teams, Jira or Microsoft Planner?
Jira is stronger for Agile and software teams in our scoring.
Jira vs Microsoft Planner: which has better resource and portfolio management?
Neither (tie) scores higher for planning and resource management (Jira 7/10, Microsoft Planner 7/10).
Jira vs Microsoft Planner: which is better for large enterprises?
Jira scores higher for scalability and enterprise readiness.
How do Jira and Microsoft Planner compare on G2 and Capterra?
Jira: 4.3/5 on G2 (7,988 reviews) and 4.4/5 on Capterra (15,493). Microsoft Planner: 4.2/5 on G2 (237) and 4.3/5 on Capterra (298). Checked 5 October 2026.
Do Jira and Microsoft Planner have Gantt charts?
Jira: yes. Microsoft Planner: yes (plan-dependent).
Can I switch from Microsoft Planner to Jira (or the reverse)?
Yes. Both support importing data, typically via CSV or built-in importers. Pilot with one project before migrating everything.
What are alternatives to Jira and Microsoft Planner?
See our lists of Jira alternatives and Microsoft Planner alternatives, or the top 10 project management tools.