Free Alternative Comparison · 2026
GanttFather vs Microsoft Planner
GanttFather is a fully standalone Gantt + Kanban tool with Timeline, dependencies, critical path, and native AI agent integration included free on every plan (free tier: 1 project you own, 2 editor seats, unlimited free viewers & guests, no Microsoft account required). Microsoft Planner is bundled with M365 — its 'free' tier requires an M365 Business Basic+ subscription ($6/user/month), and the Timeline (Gantt) view is paywalled to Plan 1 ($10/user/month annual). Critical path is not surfaced at common Planner tiers. GanttFather wins on standalone access, genuinely free Gantt + critical path, flat per-project pricing ($5/project, $2 per extra editor) that doesn't scale with team size, and native MCP agent support. Microsoft Planner wins on deep Teams and Power Platform integration, native Power Automate flows, and bundled value for organizations already paying for M365.
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What's the difference between GanttFather and Microsoft Planner?
Side-by-side feature comparison of the two tools across pricing, dependencies, real-time collaboration, AI integration, and platform support. Bold rows highlight the dimension where one tool clearly leads.
| Feature | GanttFather | Microsoft Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier projects | 1 project you own + 2 editor seats | Bundled with M365 ($6+/user/mo) |
| Free tier users | Unlimited free viewers & guests | Bundled — every user needs M365 license |
| Standalone (no Office subscription) | Yes — fully standalone | No — requires M365 subscription |
| Timeline (Gantt) view | Yes — primary view (free) | Plan 1+ ($10/user/mo annual) |
| Task dependencies | FS, SS, FF, SF + lag (free) | Plan 1+ basic; Plan 3 ($30/user/mo) for lead/lag |
| Critical path | Yes (free) | Not listed at common tiers |
| Kanban (Board) view | Yes | Yes (free with M365) |
| Sprints / backlogs | Basic via custom statuses | Plan 1+ |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes (SignalR) | Yes (M365 native) |
| Excel round-trip | Yes (free) | Limited (CSV/M365 export) |
| AI integration (MCP) | Native MCP server (free) | M365 Copilot in Planner (Plan 3+, $30/user/mo, preview) |
| Microsoft Teams integration | Via webhooks/integrations | Native (deep, free with M365) |
| Power Automate / Power BI | No native | Native (with M365 license) |
| Pricing model | Flat per-project ($5/mo per project; $2/mo per extra editor) — no per-seat tax | Per-seat ($10–$55/user/mo annual) on top of M365 |
| Lock-in / portability | Standalone, exports to Excel | Tied to Microsoft 365 ecosystem |
Sources: Microsoft Planner · GanttFather. Data verified April 2026.
When is Microsoft Planner the better choice?
Microsoft Planner is the better choice when your organization is already deeply invested in Microsoft 365 and the bundled access justifies the ecosystem lock-in.
- Your team lives in Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint — native Planner integration removes friction.
- You already pay for M365 Business Basic+ or higher, so Planner adds no net cost.
- You need native Power Automate flows for automated task routing and notifications.
- You want Power BI reporting connected directly to your project data.
- You plan to adopt M365 Copilot and want it integrated with your task management.
When is GanttFather the better choice?
GanttFather is the better choice when you want a genuine Gantt tool without buying into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- You don't have (or don't want) a Microsoft 365 subscription — GanttFather is fully standalone.
- Gantt is your primary planning view, not a $10/user/month annual upgrade.
- You need all dependency types (FS, SS, FF, SF) and lead/lag on the free plan.
- You need critical path without paying for Plan 3 ($30/user/month annual).
- You want flat per-project pricing ($5/project, $2 per extra editor) with unlimited free viewers instead of per-seat fees that scale with team size.
- You want AI agents (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf) managing tasks via MCP — native, no add-on tier required.
Frequently asked questions: GanttFather vs Microsoft Planner
Is GanttFather a free alternative to Microsoft Planner?
Yes, especially when you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription. Planner's "free tier" is only free if you already pay for M365 Business Basic+ ($6/user/mo). GanttFather's free tier is genuinely free — 1 project you own, 2 editor seats, unlimited free viewers & guests, no Office license required. You get Timeline (Gantt), all dependency types, critical path, and Excel round-trip at $0.
When is Microsoft Planner the better choice?
Planner makes sense when your team is already deep in Microsoft 365 — Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive — and you want native Power Automate flows, deep Teams integration, and Copilot. The bundled cost makes sense if you're already paying for M365 and don't need standalone Gantt scheduling.
How much does Microsoft Planner actually cost?
Plan 1 (which adds Timeline and dependencies) is $10/user/month annual. For a 10-person team that's $100/month or $1,200/year — on top of whatever M365 you're already paying, and it grows with every seat. GanttFather charges per project, not per head. Viewers and guests are always free and unlimited, so a 10-person team where most only view pays $0. A project you own beyond your free one is $5/month ($2.50/month billed annually), and one extra active editor beyond the 2 included is $2/month. The price tracks projects and editors, never team size.
Does Microsoft Planner have a real Gantt chart?
The Timeline view (added in Plan 1 at $10/user/month annual) provides a Gantt-style schedule. It is competent but locked behind a per-user upgrade. Critical path tooling is not surfaced at common Planner tiers. GanttFather includes Timeline as the primary view and critical path on the free plan.
Can I migrate Microsoft Planner projects to GanttFather?
Yes via Excel/CSV. Export your Planner board to CSV using Microsoft's export tools, convert to .xlsx, and import into GanttFather's Excel importer. Task names, dates, status, and assignees come across cleanly. Power Automate flows and Microsoft-specific integrations do not transfer.
What about AI agents and integrations?
Microsoft Copilot in Planner is in preview at Plan 3 ($30/user/month annual). GanttFather provides a native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server at no extra cost — any MCP-compatible agent (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code) can read tasks, manage dependencies, and update the Gantt programmatically. See ganttfather.com/mcp.
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