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.
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 |
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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
Pros And Cons
PROS | CONS |
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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
Pros And Cons
PROS | CONS |
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Below, we have compared the key features of both these tools in detail:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
In addition, Jira supplies multiple Agile boards to facilitate task management and progress tracking in real-time. Even though it adapts well across devices, Jira’s interface is relatively more complex as training and onboarding is required for non-technical teams to use the software efficiently.
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.
4. Collaboration And Communication Tools
Microsoft Planner
Microsoft Planner excels in collaboration, especially when integrated with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and other 365 applications. Users can create plans that are easily shared with other team members through task conversations and project-related discussions. Integrations with these apps ensure all communication is centralized and teams operating across different time zones stay connected.
Jira Software
Jira software includes several collaboration tools that enhance team communication. Team members can comment on issues and receive real-time notifications for updates. The software’s integrations with Atlassian's Confluence allows teams to create documentation linked to Jira issues which promotes knowledge sharing.
Moreover, Jira’s Agile boards not only track tasks but also serve as communication platforms where team members can update statuses and discuss progress. The notifications are also customizable, ensuring that members stay informed about updates relevant to their work and aren’t bombarded with extra information.
Winner: Each software provides robust collaboration tools for varying teams resulting in this round being a tie. Microsoft Planner is great for simple task collaboration within Microsoft 365. Jira’s ability to integrate with a wider range of developer tools and communication platforms makes it the stronger option for Agile and technical teams.
5. Project Templates
Microsoft Planner
Planner has a variety of ready-to-use project templates tailored for common business scenarios. These templates cover areas such as project management, account management, crisis management, and more. Users can create templates based on previous projects or utilize existing ones to streamline planning processes. This feature enhances efficiency by allowing teams to quickly set up new projects without starting from scratch.
Jira Software
Jira provides various project templates that streamline project setup for users. It has predefined templates tailored to specific purposes, including Scrum, Kanban, and bug tracking. Templates can be customized with specific settings, roles, and components to suit project requirements. Administrators can also clone existing projects as templates to ensure consistency across new projects while saving time on setup.
Winner: While Microsoft Planner is a suitable option for basic projects, Jira wins this round due to the wide variety of project templates provided.
6. Reporting And Analytics
Microsoft Planner
While Microsoft Planner does not have built-in advanced reporting features, it integrates well with Power BI, allowing users to generate comprehensive reports and dashboards. The BI Reporting Pack has over 25 pre-built report templates on plan progress, task management, and timelines. This integration enables project managers to visualize data effectively and make informed decisions based on real-time insights.
Jira Software
Jira software offers robust reporting tools that help teams analyze performance and make informed decisions. The option of creating various Agile reports such as sprint reports, burndown charts, and velocity charts provides insight into team performance and project progress.
Users can also create custom dashboards with widgets that display key metrics and reports tailored to their needs. Jira’s advanced search functionality allows users to generate custom reports based on specific criteria, which can be saved and shared with team members.
Winner: Jira software wins due to its ability to provide in-depth insights and powerful analytics capabilities without requiring external application integration.
7. Integrations
Microsoft Planner
The software supports various integrations but is limited to the Microsoft ecosystem. It works well with applications such as Microsoft Teams and Power Automate. These integrations provide an enhanced project management capability to Microsoft Planner and help teams manage tasks more effectively.
Jira Software
Jira integrates seamlessly with a wide range of tools and applications including the Atlassian ecosystem, third-party applications, and API accesses. The software works well with Confluence, Bitbucket, and Trello for enhanced project management capabilities.
It also has access to numerous plug-ins that extend its functionality across domains of time-tracking and reporting. Jira also provides robust API support for custom integrations with other software solutions.
Winner: Jira wins for its extensive integration options, offering far more flexibility for teams that rely on multiple tools, especially in software development environments. Microsoft Planner might be better for teams embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.
8. Automation
Microsoft Planner
Microsoft Planner does not have automation capabilities of its own and primarily uses Power Automate to provide this feature. Users can create automated workflows for task management and create tasks through triggers and pre-set schedules.
Jira Software
Jira’s functionality allows teams to set up automation rules based on triggers (such as issue creation) that execute a given action. Its rules can be applied across multiple projects or can be tailored for individual projects. An example of Jira automation includes automatically updating an issue and its status.
Winner: Jira’s advanced automation features make it the better option for teams looking to streamline task management and reduce manual administrative work.
9. Security
Microsoft Planner
Microsoft Planner benefits from the robust security framework of the Microsoft 365 environment. It includes features such as data encryption both at rest and in transit, compliance with various industry standards, and user access controls. This ensures that sensitive project information is protected while allowing teams to collaborate securely.
Jira Software
The software takes various measures to ensure user data is secure. All data is encrypted both at rest and in transit. Jira's flexible access controls allow administrators to effectively manage user permissions. Features such as Single Sign-On and two-step verification enhance security further. The platform also has regular audits and continuous monitoring for security threats that help maintain a secure user environment.
Winner: The verdict for this would have to be a tie as both Microsoft Planner and Jira provide strong security measures for users. Planner benefits from the robust security setup of the Microsoft ecosystem whereas Jira offers additional advanced features for larger security-conscious organizations.
10. Customer Support
Microsoft Planner
Customer support for Microsoft Planner is accessible through various channels, including the Microsoft support website, community forums, and direct feedback options within the app itself. Users can find resources such as guides and FAQs to assist with common issues or inquiries about using Planner effectively.
The benefit of being part of a large conglomerate is that organizations can also seek professional assistance from third-party consultants specializing in Microsoft products for tailored support solutions.
Jira Software
Atlassian has a comprehensive customer support system set up for all its users. Jira has extensive online documentation and resources that cover everything from setting up the software to using its advanced features.
Teams can seek help from the Atlassian community via community forums where experienced users share their insights and solutions. Lastly, Jira offers various support plans available depending on your subscription level, including options for priority support or dedicated account management.
Winner: In terms of support for higher-tier plans, Jira takes points for 24/7 availability. However, due to the large pool of information and knowledge base offered by Microsoft as a company, Planner does not get left behind. This section, therefore, is also a tie.
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.