Here are our top Microsoft Teams project management apps to consider for your organisation.
These apps not only make project management tasks easier, they also increase team productivity and communication efficiency.
Microsoft Teams Project Management Apps
1. Microsoft Planner
Microsoft Planner is a task management tool designed for teams to organise their work visually. It offers a simple, visual way to organise teamwork, dividing work into buckets of tasks and assigning these to team members [1].
Key Features: Easy task management, due date tracking, status updates, comments on tasks, file attachments, and task assignment.
Pros: Fully integrated with Microsoft Teams, simple and straightforward to use, suitable for small to medium-sized teams.
Cons: Limited advanced features, not ideal for complex project management needs.
Free Version Available: Included in most Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
2. Trello
Trello is a project management tool based around a system of boards, lists, and cards. It’s highly visual and flexible, helping teams organise their tasks and progress [2].
Key Features: Kanban-style boards, card-based tasks, checklists, labels for categorization, file attachments, comments.
Pros: Highly visual, easy-to-use interface, great for small to medium-sized teams, flexible system.
Cons: May lack depth for complex project management, can become cluttered for larger projects, limited reporting.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a free version with basic features available.
3. Jira
Jira is a project management tool from Atlassian, best known for its use in software development. However, it can be adapted for any kind of project management.
Key Features: Bug and issue tracking, customizable workflows, agile reporting, scrum and Kanban boards, roadmaps.
Pros: Highly customizable, robust feature set for agile development, extensive reporting capabilities.
Cons: Can be complex for new users, may be too heavy-duty for simple projects, relatively high cost.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a free version for up to 10 users.
4. Coda
Coda is an all-in-one document that brings words, data, and teams together. This platform combines the functionality of a word processor and a spreadsheet, allowing teams to create documents where they can manage tasks, track projects, and store information.
It’s particularly useful if your team prefers working in a doc-like environment while still having powerful project management capabilities at hand
Key Features: Task and project management, customizable templates, interactive tables, data visualisations, real-time collaboration.
Pros: Highly customizable and flexible, intuitive interface, great for team collaboration and project management.
Cons: The unique nature of its “doc” format might require some getting used to, mobile experience could be improved, and some users may find the range of possibilities overwhelming at first.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a free version with basic features available.
5. Asana
Asana is a comprehensive project management platform designed to help teams organise and track the progress of their work. From tasks and projects to conversations and notifications, Asana enables teams to move work from start to finish.
Key Features: Project and task management, workflow visualisation, timeline views, reporting capabilities, project collaboration.
Pros: User-friendly interface, solid task management features, robust reporting capabilities, powerful integrations.
Cons: Can become overwhelming with large projects, advanced features may have a learning curve, pricing can be high for larger teams.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a basic free version available.
6. ClickUp
ClickUp is a cloud-based project management and collaboration tool suitable for businesses of all sizes and industries. Its features are ideal for managing tasks, time tracking, and document sharing.
Key Features: Task management, customizable status, project and goal tracking, multiple views (List, Board, Box, and Gantt), time tracking, automation.
Pros: Highly customizable, user-friendly interface, excellent integration capabilities including with Microsoft Teams, versatile for different management styles.
Cons: Can feel overwhelming due to its plethora of features, occasional lags reported, mobile app could be improved.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a free version with limited features.
7. Wrike
Wrike is a cloud-based project management platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. It provides teams with collaboration, scheduling, and project planning tools.
Key Features: Task and subtask management, shared dashboards, Gantt charts, time tracking, document collaboration.
Pros: Excellent for large, complex projects, good integration with Teams, wide range of features, flexible and customizable.
Cons: Steeper learning curve, may be more than what smaller teams need, can become expensive for larger teams.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a free version for up to 5 users.
8. Monday.com
Monday.com is a work operating system that powers teams to run processes, projects, and workflows in one digital workspace.
Key Features: Workflow automation, multiple views (Kanban, timeline, etc.), extensive integrations, real-time progress tracking.
Pros: Highly customizable, intuitive interface, suitable for diverse project management needs, strong community and support.
Cons: Can be expensive for larger teams, notifications can be overwhelming, somewhat steep learning curve.
Free Version Available: No, but there is a two-week free trial.
9. Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a project management solution designed for enterprises of all sizes. It features project scheduling, which allows project managers to define project tasks, assign them to the team, and track in-progress assignments.
Key Features: Robust project scheduling, resource management, Gantt charts, project budgeting, built-in project templates.
Pros: Comprehensive project management features, integration with Microsoft ecosystem, good for complex and large-scale projects.
Cons: Higher learning curve, might be too advanced for small projects, cost can be high for small teams.
Free Version Available: No, but there’s a free trial available.
10. Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects is a cloud-based project management tool that helps you plan and track your work efficiently. It’s packed with features to streamline project planning and execution.
Key Features: Task management, time tracking, Gantt charts, document management, project feeds.
Pros: Affordable, user-friendly, comprehensive feature set, good for small to medium-sized projects.
Cons: Some features may be too basic for complex projects, user interface can be improved.
Free Version Available: Yes, there is a free version with limited features.
The Bottom Line
These apps all offer distinct advantages for different teams and projects. Remember, the best project management app for you is the one that meets your team’s specific needs and helps you achieve your goals more efficiently.
