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Microsoft Planner Vs. Jira Ultimate Comparison

Microsoft Planner Vs. Jira Ultimate Comparison

Last Updated May 26, 2025· 10 mins Read

Written by

Mubashra Naeem

Jr. Technical Content Writer

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Both Microsoft Planner and Jira are powerful tools for managing tasks and projects. However, they take vastly different approaches, catering to distinct types of users and project needs. Before determining which project management software is better, it is important to compare their functionalities in various settings.

This article will explore how these platforms diverge, helping you decide which one is best suited for your team.

Microsoft Planner, with its intuitive integration within the Microsoft ecosystem, is ideal for simple task management.
Jira software's robust customization and issue-tracking features make it the favorable tool for technical and Agile teams.

Comparing Microsoft Planner Vs. Jira At A Glance

Features	Microsoft Planner	Jira
User Interface	Simple, Kanban-style board interface	Complex, highly customizable interface
Pricing	Planner included in Microsoft 365 suite along with three paid plans	Free plan available along with three paid plans
Customization	Limited customization options	Extensive custom workflows and issue types
Collaboration Tools	Integrated with Teams, Outlook, and Microsoft Office apps	Deep collaboration features (Confluence, Slack)
Reporting	Basic charts and task view status	Advanced reporting with customizable templates
Project Templates	Standard Kanban templates	Scrum, Kanban, Bug-Tracking templates
Integrations	Native Micrsoft 365 integrations	Integrates with several third-party applications and tools such as Trello, GitHub, and many more
Security	Standard Microsoft 365 security	Advanced security, data residency options
Customer Support	Available through Microsoft 365 support	24/7 support with premium plans

Microsoft Planner – Seamless Task Management

Microsoft Planner is an intuitive task management tool built for teams using Microsoft 365. It is heavily integrated with apps such as Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook, which makes it an easy choice for businesses seeking task organization with minimal setup. It has a simple Kanban board layout that helps teams track task progress visually, making it a suitable choice for straightforward, non-technical projects.

Moreover, the software is designed for teams already subscribed to the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, as it cannot be accessed without the 365 Suite. It is also an excellent option for businesses that need simple task management and collaboration tools without the complexity of advanced project management features.

Microsoft Planner Key Features

Microsoft Planner’s key features include:

Task Management: Users can create and assign tasks with due dates, descriptions, checklists, and attachments.
Visual Boards: The software offers Kanban-style boards that help to organize tasks into different categories or stages.
Multiple Views: Microsoft Planner offers various views such as Grid, Board, Calendar, and Timeline to track project progress.
Collaboration Tools: The platform integrates with Microsoft Teams for real-time communication and file-sharing.
Reporting: Users are provided with dashboards and charts for visualizing task statuses and progress.
Notifications: Sends alerts for task assignments and deadlines to keep members informed.

Pros And Cons

PROS	CONS
Intuitive design makes it easy for new users to get started Works well with other Microsoft 365 applications Provides effective visualization of workflow Available on both desktop and mobile devices	Lacks advanced functionalities Limited access for those not using the Microsoft 365 suite No public access options, limiting transparency for external viewers

Pricing Guide of Top

PM Software 2025

Jira – Best For Agile Teams

Jira Software, developed by Atlassian, is a powerful Agile project management tool designed to help teams plan, track, and manage projects of all types. Known for its flexibility and control over project workflows, Jira allows teams to customize processes to meet their unique needs.

With features like customizable dashboards, issue tracking, and advanced reporting, Jira excels in organizing complex and intricate workflows. This makes it a preferred choice for teams that require detailed planning and cross-department coordination.

While Jira is popularly used by software development teams, it is equally effective for Agile teams of all kinds, including those following Scrum or Kanban methodologies. Its sprint planning and workflow organization tools make it an ideal choice for technical teams with dedicated project managers who need to coordinate across departments.

Jira is also well-suited for companies that require advanced reporting features, allowing for in-depth tracking and analysis. With its ability to handle detailed, pre-emptive planning, Jira helps teams stay organized and keep projects on schedule.

Jira Key Features

Jira features the following core tools:

Agile Boards: Jira supports Scrum and Kanban boards for visual task management.
Custom Workflows: Users can create tailored workflows that match their specific workflows.
Reporting Tools: The software offers built-in reports like burn-up charts, sprint reports, and velocity charts.
Integration Capabilities: Jira is compatible with over 3000 applications and tools for enhanced functionality.
Timeline View: The timeline view helps users plan and track work over extended periods with dependency management features.
Issue Tracking: Users are facilitated with the creation, assignment, and tracking of issues throughout their lifecycle.

Pros And Cons

PROS	CONS
Highly customizable layout and design Provides comprehensive reporting features Suitable for teams of all sizes from small and large enterprises	Extensive feature list proves to be overwhelming Unsuitable for non-technical projects

Microsoft Planner Vs. Jira Key Features Comparison

Below, we have compared the key features of both these tools in detail:

Pricing Plans

Microsoft Planner: Microsoft Planner is available with the Microsoft 365 suite at no additional cost. Along with this plan, it has three paid plans that include features such as setting project goals, copilot, task history, and portfolio management. Microsoft Planner and Project are intertwined in their plans and are priced as follows:

Planner Plan 1: $10.00 user/month
Planner And Project Plan 3: $30.00 /user/month
Planner And Project Plan 5: $55.00 /user/month

Jira Software: Jira offers a free plan for up to 10 users that includes unlimited goals and projects, 2GB storage, and 100 automations per site. Paid plans provide advanced features such as Atlassian Intelligence, unlimited storage, and unlimited automation. The plans are priced as follows for team size of 100 users:

Free: $0
Standard: $8.15/user/month
Premium: $16/user/month
Enterprise: Custom Pricing

Winner: Depending on an organization’s requirements, either of the software might take the win. Microsoft Planner is bundled up with the 365 Suite, offering more value for the price, whereas Jira has a competent free plan that smaller teams may benefit more from.

Customization

Microsoft Planner: Though limited to task management functionality, Microsoft Planner offers various customization options to tailor the experience to specific user needs. The software can create custom fields to track unique aspects of tasks, such as status or risks, which effectively keeps an eye on project progress.

Every plan offers up to ten custom fields, which can then be edited and filtered based on content. Additionally, users have the option of copying existing plans as templates to retain their structure and use them for new projects. Microsoft has more recently introduced the ability to create task dependencies in Microsoft Planner, increasing its customization.

Jira Software: Jira software offers extensive customization options to tailor the platform to specific team needs. Users can modify issue fields by adding custom values and making them required or optional to fill. They can also toggle which fields are visible during different operations such as creating or editing an issue.

The software lets administrators create new fields to capture specific information relevant to their projects. Lastly, users can customize workflows that suit their processes, including transitions and statuses specific to their project needs.

Winner: If you need deep customization of workflows, issue tracking, and permissions, Jira is the clear winner. It is ideal for technical teams or organizations with complex processes. However, Microsoft Planner has improved with the addition of task dependencies, but it still caters more to teams that prefer simplicity over advanced configuration options.

User Interface

Microsoft Planner: Microsoft Planner has a simple and user-friendly interface specifically designed for non-technical users. It features both a Grid and Board view, which allow users to visualize tasks in a way that suits their workflow. The interface supports drag-and-drop functionality for task management, making it intuitive to update task statuses and deadlines. Microsoft Planner allows users to set up boards quickly and move tasks around without a steep learning curve.

Jira Software: Jira’s user interface, although designed for efficiency and ease of use, comes off as feature-rich and, at times, overwhelming. The software has a customizable dashboard that allows users to display relevant information and metrics at a glance. It also offers a navigation system to help teams quickly access projects, issues, and reports.

Winner: Microsoft Planner wins here for ease of use. Its simple interface is ideal for teams looking to jump right into task management without extensive setup or training.

Collaboration

Microsoft Planner: Planner allows for easy collaboration via task assignments, comments, and file attachments, all integrated with Microsoft Teams. It supports real-time updates and calendar integrations.

Jira Software: Jira provides robust collaboration tools, including comments, mentions, and integration with Confluence. It’s better suited for technical collaboration and cross-functional teams.

Winner: Jira, for its technical depth and integration with developer tools, though Microsoft Planner offers excellent collaboration within the 365 ecosystem.

Templates

Microsoft Planner: Users can copy existing plans and use them as templates. However, there’s no built-in library of templates for various project types.

Jira Software: Jira offers a wide variety of templates for different project types and team structures, making it easier to get started quickly.

Winner: Jira, due to its rich template library.

Reporting

Microsoft Planner: Offers basic reporting, mostly visualized through Microsoft Power BI. Users must rely on external tools for advanced analytics.

Jira Software: Has built-in robust reporting tools, including sprint reports, burndown charts, velocity charts, and customizable dashboards.

Winner: Jira, for its extensive and built-in reporting features.

Integrations

Microsoft Planner: Integrates well with Microsoft 365 tools like Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive.

Jira Software: Offers integrations with thousands of third-party apps, including Slack, GitHub, Bitbucket, and more via the Atlassian Marketplace.

Winner: Jira, due to the breadth and depth of its integration capabilities.

Automation

Microsoft Planner: Offers automation through Microsoft Power Automate, allowing users to set up workflows across the Microsoft ecosystem.

Jira Software: Provides built-in automation with if/then rules, custom triggers, and advanced branching logic directly inside Jira.

Winner: Jira, for its powerful and native automation capabilities.

Security

Microsoft Planner: Built on Microsoft 365’s security framework, offering enterprise-grade compliance, data encryption, and conditional access policies.

Jira Software: Provides robust security, with features like SAML SSO, audit logs, data residency, and encryption in transit and at rest.

Winner: Tie. Both platforms offer enterprise-level security, though organizations heavily invested in Microsoft may prefer Planner’s native ecosystem.

Support

Microsoft Planner: Users can access support via Microsoft 365 support plans, documentation, and community forums.

Jira Software: Jira provides extensive documentation, a large support community, and dedicated support based on the pricing tier.

Winner: Jira, especially at higher pricing tiers with dedicated support.

Pricing Guide of Top

PM Software 2025

Choosing Between Microsoft Planner And Jira

When deciding between Microsoft Planner and Jira, it largely comes down to the complexity of your projects and the size of your team. Microsoft Planner is ideal for teams already using Microsoft 365 who need basic task management and collaboration. Its simplicity and seamless integration make it an excellent option for smaller, non-technical teams.

On the other hand, Jira is designed for technical, Agile teams working on complex projects. Its extensive customization options, advanced reporting, and workflow management make it the preferred choice for software development, IT, and larger organizations.

Both tools excel in their respective domains, but the choice depends on your project needs and team dynamics. For more information on these two software along with additional options for you to peruse, visit our project management software category page.