Microsoft Planner vs. Jira: Comparison & Expert Reviews For 2025
Microsoft Planner offers a straightforward approach to managing your team's tasks and projects. Jira, on the other hand, is an agile tool for tracking and managing complex projects. While Microsoft Planner is user-friendly and easily integrates with other Microsoft products, Jira is known for powerful customization and scalability.
I’ve tested and reviewed each project management software tool to compare their features, pros and cons, pricing, and more. Find out which tool is the right option for your team’s needs in my expert comparison.
Microsoft Planner vs. Jira: An Overview
Microsoft Planner
Jira
Why You Can Trust Us
Microsoft Planner vs. Jira Pricing Comparison
| Microsoft Planner | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | A month’s free trial for all products | 7-day free trial + free plan available |
| Pricing | From $5/user/month | From $7.16/user/month (billed annually, min 5 seats) |
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowMicrosoft Planner vs. Jira Pricing & Hidden Costs
The cost of Microsoft Planner is generally included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, but additional costs may arise if you need more advanced features or higher-tier plans. Jira’s pricing is based on a tiered subscription model, and costs increase as you add more users and premium features.
To choose the right project management tool for your budget, assess your team's specific needs and usage patterns, then calculate the total cost of ownership, including potential hidden expenses, to make sure it aligns with your budget.
Microsoft Planner vs. Jira Feature Comparison
Microsoft Planner’s intuitive task boards are perfect for straightforward project workflows, and you can easily manage and track your team’s daily tasks. Jira’s reporting features are great for projects that require detailed analysis and tracking, especially in agile environments.
| Microsoft Planner | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| API | ||
| Calendar Management | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Developer Tools | ||
| External Integrations | ||
| Feedback Management | ||
| File Sharing | ||
| Gantt Charts | ||
| Google Apps Integration | ||
| Kanban Boards | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Product Catalog | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Release Management | ||
| Reports | ||
| Resource Management | ||
| Review Monitoring | ||
| Status Notifications | ||
| Task Scheduling/Tracking | ||
| Time Management |
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowMicrosoft Planner vs. Jira Integrations
| Integration | Microsoft Planner | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Slack | ❌ | ✅ |
| Trello | ❌ | ✅ |
| Microsoft Teams | ✅ | ✅ |
| Confluence | ❌ | ✅ |
| GitHub | ❌ | ✅ |
| Figma | ❌ | ✅ |
| Miro | ❌ | ✅ |
| Google Calendar | ❌ | ✅ |
| API | ✅ | ✅ |
| Zapier | ❌ | ✅ |
Microsoft Planner's integration with Microsoft Teams helps you coordinate tasks and communication. It’s especially valuable if you’re already using Microsoft 365. Jira's integration with Confluence is great for agile teams that need to document and share project insights.
Microsoft Planner vs. Jira Security, Compliance & Reliability
| Factor | Microsoft Planner | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy | Microsoft Planner maintains data privacy through compliance with GDPR and other regulations. | Jira offers data privacy measures, including GDPR compliance and customizable privacy settings. |
| Encryption | Microsoft Planner uses end-to-end encryption to secure data both in transit and at rest. | Jira provides encryption for data transmissions and storage to maintain secure access. |
| Reliability | Microsoft Planner relies on Microsoft's global data centers for high availability and uptime. | Jira offers a 99.9% uptime service level agreement and redundant systems to prevent downtime. |
Microsoft Planner and Jira both offer strong security and compliance features, but their approaches differ slightly. To evaluate their security and compliance features, review their data handling policies, encryption standards, and compliance certifications to see which aligns best with your organization's requirements.
Microsoft Planner vs. Jira Ease of Use
| Factor | Microsoft Planner | Jira |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Microsoft Planner offers a clean and intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality. | Jira has a feature-rich interface that can be overwhelming, but is highly customizable for power users. |
| Onboarding Experience | Microsoft Planner provides a straightforward onboarding process with integrated guides. | Jira's onboarding can be complex and requires training before you can fully use its features. |
| Setup | Microsoft Planner integrates effortlessly with Microsoft 365 to simplify setup. | Jira's setup requires configuration and can be time-consuming for new users. |
Microsoft Planner’s simple interface and Microsoft 365 integration makes it quicker to adopt for new teams. Jira, while powerful, can be more challenging due to its complexity and extensive features. There is a steep learning curve, but it offers greater customization for seasoned users.
Microsoft Planner vs Jira: Pros & Cons
Microsoft Planner
- The simple, user-friendly interface makes task management straightforward.
- Its integration with Microsoft 365 enhances team collaboration
- You can easily assign and track tasks within your team.
- It may not accommodate larger teams needing detailed task dependencies.
- The reporting features are not as robust as some competitors.
- It lacks advanced customization options for complex projects.
Jira
- Agile workflow management supports Scrum and Kanban and can improve your teams' productivity.
- Automation rules are easy to set up, which helps your team speed up their work.
- Custom filters can be created and accessed quickly, which improves your team's efficiency.
- The interface can be too crowded in Scrum projects, which can make it hard for your team to navigate.
- There's a lack of resource management capabilities, which could limit your team's planning.
- Field names can be confusing, which might slow down your team's workflow.
Best Use Cases for Microsoft Planner and Jira
Microsoft Planner
- Small Businesses Microsoft Planner's straightforward interface is perfect for small businesses that need to manage tasks without complex features.
- Marketing Teams It helps marketing teams track campaigns and collaborate effectively with its task assignment and tracking capabilities.
- Educational Institutions Schools and universities can use it to organize academic projects and coordinate activities across departments.
- IT Departments IT teams can benefit from its integration with Microsoft 365, making it easy to manage tech projects and resources.
- Remote Teams For remote teams needing a simple way to track tasks and collaborate, Microsoft Planner provides the necessary tools.
- Nonprofits Nonprofits can use it to manage volunteer tasks and projects efficiently, leveraging its easy-to-use interface.
Jira
- Software development Jira’s agile tools like Scrum and Kanban boards make it perfect for managing software projects.
- IT departments Its issue tracking capabilities help your team efficiently handle technical support and bug fixes.
- Tech startups Jira offers customization capabilities that allow your team to scale and adapt as your projects grow.
- Agile teams Sprint planning and backlog management features keep your agile processes organized and effective.
- Large enterprises Jira’s automation rules can streamline your complex workflows and improve team productivity.
- Project managers Its reporting and analytics provide insights that help you make informed decisions quickly.
Get free help from our project management software advisors to find your match.
Get Expert AdviceOpens new windowWho Should Use Microsoft Planner, and Who Should Use Jira?
In my opinion, Microsoft Planner is best for teams already using Microsoft 365, especially those looking for a straightforward task management tool to manage simple tasks and projects. It's great for small to medium-sized teams that value ease of use and quick integration with existing tools.
I believe Jira is ideal for larger organizations and software development or technical teams that need advanced project tracking, customization, and detailed reporting, particularly if you’re using agile methodologies. If your team members thrive on complexity and intricate workflows, Jira's extensive features might be the perfect fit.
Differences Between Microsoft Planner and Jira
| Microsoft Planner | Jira | |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | Microsoft Planner offers basic automations within the Microsoft ecosystem. | Jira includes advanced automation features for complex workflows and agile project management. |
| Integrations | Microsoft Planner integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 apps. | Jira supports a wide range of third-party integrations, which is ideal for diverse tool ecosystems. |
| Onboarding | Microsoft Planner's onboarding is straightforward and includes integrated guides. | Jira's onboarding can be complex, and your team may require additional training. |
| User Interface | Microsoft Planner offers a simple, intuitive interface suited for basic task management. | Jira provides a complex interface with extensive customization options for detailed tracking. |
| Visit Microsoft PlannerOpens new window | Visit JiraOpens new window |
Similarities Between Microsoft Planner and Jira
| Cloud-Based Access | Both are cloud-based, so your team can access and update projects from anywhere with internet access. |
|---|---|
| Collaboration | Both tools offer collaboration features; Planner integrates with Microsoft Teams, while Jira supports real-time updates and comments. |
| Reporting | Both offer reporting capabilities; Planner provides basic project progress charts, and Jira offers advanced reporting for detailed insights. |
| Security | Both provide robust security features. Microsoft Planner leverages Microsoft 365's security and Jira offers customizable security settings. |
| Task Management | Both Microsoft Planner and Jira allow you to create, assign, and track tasks, with MS Planner using boards and Jira using tickets. |
| Visit Microsoft PlannerOpens new window Visit JiraOpens new window | |