Microsoft Planner is usually the better fit for teams already working in Microsoft 365, while Trello is a strong choice for teams that want a visual board workflow, a free starting tier, and integrations through Power-Ups. The deciding details are licensing, project-planning depth, ecosystem, governance, and the cost for your actual team—not a universal feature-score winner. Planner’s capabilities differ between Basic and Premium, and Trello’s limits and tools vary by plan. Prices below reflect vendor pages reviewed October 7, 2026; confirm current terms for your region before buying.
Microsoft Planner vs. Trello at a glance
| Question | Microsoft Planner | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Teams using Microsoft 365 who want plans integrated with Microsoft apps and, on eligible paid plans, advanced project-planning features. | Teams that prefer visual boards, want a free tier, or need to connect a varied set of tools with Power-Ups. |
| Free or included option | Basic Planner is included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions; eligibility depends on the subscription. Microsoft’s licensing FAQ explains the qualification. | Free plan listed at $0, with up to 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace. |
| Paid entry point shown | Planner Plan 1: $10 per user/month billed yearly on Microsoft’s US pricing page. | Standard: $5 per user/month billed annually, or $6 monthly, on Trello’s pricing page. |
| Advanced scheduling | Premium adds Timeline, dependencies, workload, critical path, milestones, and other project-planning features. | Premium includes Timeline and other views, but a similarly named view does not establish identical project-management behavior. |
| Integrations | Native placement in Microsoft 365 apps and services, including Teams and Outlook in supported workflows. | Power-Ups connect external apps and tools; some partner Power-Ups may require a separate subscription. |
Pricing and included capabilities are based on the vendors’ pages reviewed October 7, 2026. Microsoft figures are for the US pricing page, not a global quote. See Microsoft Planner pricing and Trello pricing.
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Which app is better for your team?
Choose Planner if Microsoft 365 is already your team’s workspace
Planner fits naturally when people already collaborate in Microsoft 365 and need plans embedded in workflows involving Teams, Outlook, Loop, or Power Automate. Basic Planner may already be covered by an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription. If your team needs dependencies, workload views, or critical-path scheduling, check the Premium feature set and the licenses assigned to everyone who will use those capabilities.
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Trello centers work on boards, lists, and cards. Its Free tier can be a practical starting point for an individual or small team, and Power-Ups provide connections to external services such as Slack, Google Drive, and Salesforce. Verify whether a specific connector is included in your plan or entails another subscription.
#1 Best Overall
- COOPERATIVE STRATEGY: Work as a team against the game itself in Pandemic. Players combine their roles and actions to contain four global outbreaks, share knowledge, and race to complete all four cures before time runs out.
- SPECIALIST ROLES: Play as the Medic, Scientist, Researcher, Operations Expert, and more. Each role has distinct abilities that shape team strategy and make every player's decisions important from start to finish.
- TEAMWORK GAMEPLAY: Pandemic rewards planning, card management, and coordinated moves. This cooperative strategy game creates tense decisions each round as players balance immediate threats with long-term progress.
- SERIES ENTRY POINT: Pandemic is the base game that introduces the wider series, including Pandemic Legacy Season 1. Learn the core systems here, then build on that experience in future campaign play.
- GROUP GAME NIGHT: For 2-4 players ages 8 and up, Pandemic plays in about 45-60 minutes. It fits family game nights at home, family vacations, adult board game groups, and players looking for a teamwork-focused tabletop challenge.
Don’t decide by feature names alone
Planner Premium offers a Timeline view and Trello Premium offers a Timeline view, but matching labels do not prove that the tools support the same planning behaviors. Compare the actual requirements: dependencies, workload allocation, milestones, critical path, goals, sprints, reporting, and the way your team tracks work.
What Planner includes—and what requires Premium
Planner is a tiered product. Microsoft’s comparison shows substantial overlap between Basic and Premium, but important scheduling and workload capabilities are Premium features. Which features a person can use depends on the license attached to that user and the plan.
Basic Planner
Microsoft lists Grid, Board, and Charts views, filtering and grouping, task notes, Excel export, and access to assigned tasks in both Basic and Premium. Its comparison marks Schedule view, Outlook calendar, SharePoint integration, Teams Mobile tasks, recurring tasks, and adding plans to Loop as Basic-only.
Planner Premium
Premium adds Timeline (Gantt), People/workload view, task dependencies, milestones, custom fields, conditional coloring, critical path, colored buckets, backlogs and sprints, goals, custom calendars, and task history. Copilot in Planner is marked as a preview in Microsoft’s comparison table; preview status can change. Use Microsoft’s Basic vs. Premium feature comparison to check the current feature matrix.
Rank #2
- BUILD STRONGER BONDS AND TEAM SPIRIT: Break the ice and inspire meaningful conversation with our Team Building Chips! Designed especially for workplaces, these chips inspire laughter, stories, and shared insights. They’re ideal for fostering collaboration in meetings, work retreats, or casual office settings. There’s something for every team - whether you’re a new team that is just getting to know each other, or an established team that’s ready to delve into deeper conversations.
- 200 PROMPTS, 4 THEMES, 3 LEVELS: This game comes with 100 double sided chips for a total of 200 conversation prompts and endless opportunities for connection! Prompts cover the themes Work & Career, Goals, About You, and Favorites. And the questions are designed to meet everyone’s comfort level, offering a choice of Light, Medium, and Deep prompts.
- THREE WAYS TO PLAY: Enjoy adaptable gameplay with options like Group Sharing, Facilitator’s Choice, or Pick Your Question (see the included instructions booklet for details). Allowing participants to choose what level they feel comfortable sharing at creates an inclusive environment where introverts and extroverts alike can engage in meaningful ways.
- PORTABLE DRAWSTRING BAG: In addition to the sturdy storage box, the game comes with a convenient drawstring bag that makes it easy to transport the chips between meeting rooms or to offsite meetings. Each 2.25” diameter chip is the perfect size to draw out of the bag and read out loud. And the chips are made from thick, matte laminated cardstock to ensure they last for countless years of use!
- FUN AND WORK APPROPRIATE: The 200 thoughtfully curated questions in this game are designed to help coworkers have fun connecting and getting to know each other better. Whether laughing over embarrassing childhood fashion trends, or sharing deeper thoughts on how to grow as a team, you may be surprised at the fun insights and thoughtful discussions that unfold! Suitable for gifting, this game is a great choice for coworkers, teams, managers, and workplace celebrations.
Microsoft says a user without a premium license may have some editing access to a premium plan, but not every advanced capability. Do not assume that plan membership grants full access; check the user’s license and intended tasks in the Planner licensing FAQ.
Planner limits and migration considerations
Microsoft lists a limit of 9,000 tasks per Basic plan and 3,000 per Premium plan. Microsoft also warns that applications and workflows built for Basic plans require modification to work with Premium. Before changing plan types, inventory any connected applications and automations rather than assuming a switch will be seamless. The feature comparison contains these limits and the compatibility warning.
What Trello’s plans offer
Trello expands a board-centered workflow through paid tiers. The following prices and plan details are those shown on its pricing page reviewed October 7, 2026; prices may vary by region or change over time.
| Plan | Displayed price | Notable features listed |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace, unlimited cards and Power-Ups, 10 MB per-file storage, 250 Workspace command runs monthly, assignees, due dates, mobile apps, and two-factor authentication. |
| Standard | $5 per user/month billed annually; $6 monthly | Unlimited boards, advanced checklists, Custom Fields, card mirroring, and 1,000 monthly command runs. |
| Premium | $10 per user/month billed annually; $12.50 monthly | Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard, and Map views, unlimited command runs, and additional admin, security, and Workspace features. |
| Enterprise | $17.50 per user/month billed annually | Organization-wide permissions, organization-visible boards, public board management, multi-board guests, attachment permissions, Power-Up administration, and Atlassian Guard Standard. |
These are Trello’s displayed plan prices and features, not a guarantee of current checkout terms. Check Trello’s pricing page for current details.
Rank #3
- Play a card from your hand, and place a chip on a corresponding space on the game board - when you have five in a row, it’s a SEQUENCE
- Each player or team tries to score the required number of five-card SEQUENCES before their opponents
- Easy enough for children, challenging for adults!
- Exciting gameplay develops STEM skills like strategy
- Includes 1 Folding Game Board (19.75" x 15.25"), 2 Decks of SEQUENCE Playing Cards (2.25" x 3.5"), 135 Playing Chips (50 Green, 50 Blue, 35 Red), and Complete Instructions
Power-Ups and third-party costs
Power-Ups connect external apps and tools to Trello boards. Trello names Slack, Google Drive, and Salesforce as examples, and notes that some partner Power-Ups may require a separate subscription. Check the specific connector’s availability and cost before selecting a plan. See Atlassian’s Power-Ups documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much do Planner and Trello cost?
On Microsoft’s US pricing page reviewed October 7, 2026, Planner Plan 1 is listed at $10 per user/month billed yearly, while Planner and Project Plan 3 is listed at $30 per user/month billed yearly. Microsoft also lists Planner as included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions, but that does not mean every subscription includes Premium capabilities. Confirm regional availability and billing terms on Microsoft’s pricing page and check eligibility in its licensing FAQ.
Trello lists Free at $0, Standard at $5 per user/month billed annually ($6 monthly), Premium at $10 billed annually ($12.50 monthly), and Enterprise at $17.50 per user/month billed annually. Prices and billing terms are from Trello’s page reviewed October 7, 2026. Confirm current regional checkout pricing at trello.com/pricing.
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For a fair estimate, count the people who need paid features, account for annual versus monthly billing, and include any separately billed integrations. Also check guest billing rules for the Trello setup you intend to use. An existing Microsoft 365 subscription can change Planner’s incremental cost substantially, but only if it is eligible and the included capabilities meet the team’s needs.
Rank #4
- TENSE TEAMWORK – Work together to defend Castle Bravehold as monsters attack from all sides; trade cards, coordinate plans, and keep at least one tower standing to survive the siege as a united team.
- EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT EXPERIENCE – Face plagues, boulders, and boss monsters that disrupt your plans and force strategic choices; each turn adds suspense for both new and experienced players.
- CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE – Enjoy four modes: Co-op, Solo, Master Slayer competitive mode, and Overlord where one player controls the monsters; each option offers unique tension and replay value.
- TOWER DEFENSE THRILLS – Featuring 3D towers, vibrant monster tokens, and an illustrated board, this 45-minute adventure blends accessibility with satisfying strategic depth for 1–6 players.
- HEARTHSIDE HARMONY – Bring friends and family together with an easy-to-learn game that blends teamwork, excitement, and warm table energy; ideal for mixed-experience groups and repeat play.
Which factors should decide the comparison?
Existing ecosystem
If the team’s communication, files, and workflows already live in Microsoft 365, Planner’s native placement can reduce context switching. If the team works across a varied app stack, Trello’s Power-Ups may be more useful, subject to connector availability and cost.
Planning depth
List the capabilities you actually need—such as dependencies, Gantt-style scheduling, workload, critical path, goals, or sprint tracking—and confirm their availability in the exact plan. Trello Premium’s views can help visualize work, but do not assume they replace every Planner Premium scheduling function.
Governance and access
Compare the permissions, guest access, authentication, and administrative controls in the specific plans under consideration. Trello’s Enterprise plan lists organization-wide controls and Power-Up administration; Planner access to advanced capabilities is license-dependent. Security claims should be checked against the requirements of your own organization rather than treated as a blanket product ranking.
Automation and plan changes
Determine how existing workflows are connected before moving work. For Planner, Microsoft’s warning about modifying Basic-plan applications and workflows for Premium is especially relevant to a plan-type change. For Trello, count command runs against the plan’s monthly allowance and verify any Power-Up dependency.
What about older Project for the web guides?
Microsoft’s FAQ says Project for the web and the Project and Roadmap Teams apps were retired in August 2025, with users transitioned to Planner for web and Planner in Teams. If an older guide tells you to use those retired product names, consult the current Microsoft Planner FAQ for the transition context.
Quick Recap
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