Project management tools · Comparison
Microsoft Planner vs Trello (2026): Which Is Better?
Microsoft Planner is best for microsoft 365 organisations; Trello is best for simple kanban boards. 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 7.8/10), winning 3 of 7 categories.
- Choose Microsoft Planner for organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Choose Trello for individuals and small teams that want simple, visual Kanban boards.
- Price: Microsoft Planner Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month; Trello Free; paid from $5/user/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.
Trello is perfect for simple boards. When projects grow in complexity, teams typically move to Wrike, Asana or monday.com.
Microsoft Planner vs Trello at a glance
| Microsoft Planner | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 |
| Best for | Organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams | Individuals and small teams that want simple, visual Kanban boards |
| Starting price | Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month | Free; paid from $5/user/month |
| Free plan | Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365 | Yes (up to 10 collaborators per workspace) |
| Free trial | One-month trial of Plan 1 and Plan 3 (credit card required) | 14-day Premium trial, no credit card |
| Vendor | Microsoft | Atlassian |
Pricing compared
| Microsoft Planner | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Standard: $5/user/month annual ($6 monthly) Premium: $10/user/month annual ($12.50 monthly) Enterprise: $17.50/user/month (annual) |
Checked on vendors' pricing pages on 5 October 2026. Read the full Microsoft Planner pricing and Trello pricing breakdowns.
Features compared
| Feature | Microsoft Planner | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Gantt / timeline | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Kanban boards | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Time tracking | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Resource & workload management | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Portfolio management | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Docs & wiki | ◐ Partial | ✕ No |
| 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 | Trello | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 8/10 | 10/10 | Trello |
| Feature depth | 6/10 | 5/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Planning & resource management | 7/10 | 4/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Collaboration | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Agile & software teams | 6/10 | 7/10 | Trello |
| Value for money | 8/10 | 9/10 | Trello |
| Scalability & enterprise readiness | 8/10 | 5/10 | Microsoft Planner |
User ratings
| Microsoft Planner | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.2/5 (237 reviews) | 4.4/5 (14,063 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.3/5 (298 reviews) | 4.5/5 (23,628 reviews) |
| Top praise (G2) | Ease of use | Ease of use |
| Top complaint (G2) | Limited features for complex projects | Limited features |
Trello has the higher G2 rating. Trello has the higher Capterra rating. See reviews on G2 for Microsoft Planner, G2 for Trello, Capterra for Microsoft Planner and Capterra for Trello.
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 Trello if…
- Individuals and small teams
- Simple workflows such as content calendars or recruiting pipelines
- Extremely easy to learn matters to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Microsoft Planner or Trello?
In our review, Microsoft Planner scores 8.1/10 and Trello 7.8/10. Microsoft Planner wins on feature depth, planning & resource management, scalability & enterprise readiness; Trello is better for ease of use, agile & software teams, value for money.
Is Microsoft Planner cheaper than Trello?
Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month. Trello: Free; paid from $5/user/month. Compare total cost at your team size, including seat minimums and add-ons.
Do Microsoft Planner and Trello have free plans?
Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365. Trello: Yes (up to 10 collaborators per workspace).
Which is easier to use, Microsoft Planner or Trello?
Trello scores higher for ease of use in our review (Microsoft Planner 8/10, Trello 10/10).
Which is better for Agile teams, Microsoft Planner or Trello?
Trello is stronger for Agile and software teams in our scoring.
Microsoft Planner vs Trello: which has better resource and portfolio management?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for planning and resource management (Microsoft Planner 7/10, Trello 4/10).
Microsoft Planner vs Trello: which is better for large enterprises?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for scalability and enterprise readiness.
How do Microsoft Planner and Trello compare on G2 and Capterra?
Microsoft Planner: 4.2/5 on G2 (237 reviews) and 4.3/5 on Capterra (298). Trello: 4.4/5 on G2 (14,063) and 4.5/5 on Capterra (23,628). Checked 5 October 2026.
Do Microsoft Planner and Trello have Gantt charts?
Microsoft Planner: yes. Trello: partial (plan-dependent).
Can I switch from Trello 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 Trello?
See our lists of Microsoft Planner alternatives and Trello alternatives, or the top 10 project management tools.