Project management tools · Comparison
Microsoft Planner vs Notion (2026): Which Is Better?
Microsoft Planner is best for microsoft 365 organisations; Notion is best for docs and projects in one workspace. We compare pricing, features, ease of use and G2 and Capterra ratings to help you choose.
Key takeaways
- Overall winner: Microsoft Planner (8.1/10 vs 8.0/10), winning 3 of 7 categories.
- Choose Microsoft Planner for organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Choose Notion for teams that want documents, wikis and lightweight project tracking in one flexible workspace.
- Price: Microsoft Planner Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month; Notion Free; paid from $10/member/month.
Quick verdict
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.
Notion is the best docs-first workspace. For structured project, resource and portfolio management, Wrike, monday.com or Asana are stronger.
Microsoft Planner vs Notion at a glance
| Microsoft Planner | Notion | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Best for | Organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams | Teams that want documents, wikis and lightweight project tracking in one flexible workspace |
| Starting price | Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month | Free; paid from $10/member/month |
| Free plan | Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365 | Yes |
| Free trial | One-month trial of Plan 1 and Plan 3 (credit card required) | Free plan available |
| Vendor | Microsoft | Notion Labs, Inc. |
Pricing compared
| Microsoft Planner | Notion | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | 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) | Free: $0 Plus: From $10/member/month Business: From $20/member/month Enterprise: Contact sales |
Checked on vendors' pricing pages on 5 October 2026. Read the full Microsoft Planner pricing and Notion pricing breakdowns.
Features compared
| Feature | Microsoft Planner | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Gantt / timeline | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Kanban boards | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Time tracking | ◐ Partial | ✕ No |
| Resource & workload management | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Portfolio management | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Docs & wiki | ◐ Partial | ✓ Yes |
| Automations | ◐ Partial | ✓ Yes |
| Agile / sprint tools | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Proofing & approvals | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Built-in AI | + Add-on | ✓ Yes |
| Guest / client access | ◐ Partial | ✓ Yes |
| Flat (non per-user) pricing | ✕ No | ✕ No |
Category winners
| Category | Microsoft Planner | Notion | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 8/10 | 7/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Feature depth | 6/10 | 8/10 | Notion |
| Planning & resource management | 7/10 | 5/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Collaboration | 7/10 | 9/10 | Notion |
| Agile & software teams | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Value for money | 8/10 | 9/10 | Notion |
| Scalability & enterprise readiness | 8/10 | 7/10 | Microsoft Planner |
User ratings
| Microsoft Planner | Notion | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.2/5 (237 reviews) | 4.6/5 (13,862 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.3/5 (298 reviews) | 4.7/5 (2,834 reviews) |
| Top praise (G2) | Ease of use | Ease of use |
| Top complaint (G2) | Limited features for complex projects | Steep learning curve for advanced setups |
Notion has the higher G2 rating. Notion has the higher Capterra rating. See reviews on G2 for Microsoft Planner, G2 for Notion, Capterra for Microsoft Planner and Capterra for Notion.
Which should you choose?
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
Choose Notion if…
- Start-ups and small teams wanting docs and tasks together
- Product teams managing specs and roadmaps
- Excellent docs and knowledge base matters to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Microsoft Planner or Notion?
In our review, Microsoft Planner scores 8.1/10 and Notion 8.0/10. Microsoft Planner wins on ease of use, planning & resource management, scalability & enterprise readiness; Notion is better for feature depth, collaboration, value for money.
Is Microsoft Planner cheaper than Notion?
Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month. Notion: Free; paid from $10/member/month. Compare total cost at your team size, including seat minimums and add-ons.
Do Microsoft Planner and Notion have free plans?
Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365. Notion: Yes.
Which is easier to use, Microsoft Planner or Notion?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for ease of use in our review (Microsoft Planner 8/10, Notion 7/10).
Which is better for Agile teams, Microsoft Planner or Notion?
Neither (tie) is stronger for Agile and software teams in our scoring.
Microsoft Planner vs Notion: which has better resource and portfolio management?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for planning and resource management (Microsoft Planner 7/10, Notion 5/10).
Microsoft Planner vs Notion: which is better for large enterprises?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for scalability and enterprise readiness.
How do Microsoft Planner and Notion compare on G2 and Capterra?
Microsoft Planner: 4.2/5 on G2 (237 reviews) and 4.3/5 on Capterra (298). Notion: 4.6/5 on G2 (13,862) and 4.7/5 on Capterra (2,834). Checked 5 October 2026.
Do Microsoft Planner and Notion have Gantt charts?
Microsoft Planner: yes. Notion: yes (plan-dependent).
Can I switch from Notion to Microsoft Planner (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 Microsoft Planner and Notion?
See our lists of Microsoft Planner alternatives and Notion alternatives, or the top 10 project management tools.