Microsoft Project vs. Trello

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Microsoft Project
Score 7.8 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Project is a project management software. It provides core PM functionality, including agile workflow support and resource management. Project can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise.
$120
per year per user
Trello
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Trello from Atlassian is a project management tool based on a Kanban framework. Trello is ideal for task-management in a to-do list format. It supports sharing boards and cards across users or teams. The product offers a free version, and paid versions add greater automation, collaboration, and administrative control.
$6
per month per user
Pricing
Microsoft ProjectTrello
Editions & Modules
Project Server
$0
Planner Plan 1
$10
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 3
$30
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 5
$55
per month per user
Project Standard 2024
$679.99
one-time fee per installation
Project Professional 2024
$1,129.99
one-time fee per installation
Standard
$6
per month per user
Premium
$12.50
per month per user
Enterprise
$17.50
per month per user
Free
Forever Free
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Microsoft ProjectTrello
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPlans are billed annually.A discount is offered for annual billing and for larger numbers of users.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Microsoft ProjectTrello
Considered Both Products
Microsoft Project
Chose Microsoft Project
Trello and Wrike are cheaper alternatives, but I do not consider them true project management software. They can certainly work to organize tasks, and they are collaborative, which is something MS Project lacks, but they lack the depth and, in my opinion, the actually necessary …
Chose Microsoft Project
Here is what Microsoft Project has over competitors:
  • No limit on file size upload versus Trello.
  • Easy to define the project activities as it is the same as MS Excel.
Chose Microsoft Project
Project is comprehensive and many project professionals are familiar with it, however the other tools are more business user friendly. Little training needed, Airtable and Trello are more intuitive so anyone can make updates and understand progress.
Chose Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project will continue to be my tool of choice for high stakes high complexity projects with over 100 tasks and many requirements to control costs and delivery but the assumption is that a dedicated PM is needed to keep the file updated and manage communication with …
Chose Microsoft Project
At the end of the day, Microsoft Project still is best in class overall. It isn't as specialized as some tools like Trello or JIRA, but especially with new integration with Planner and native support for Agile project management templates it becomes a lot closer. Microsoft …
Chose Microsoft Project
Our company already has our client and tracking database in microsoft 365 so it was the logical step to stay with microsoft although it is a bit lacking compared to other offerings. If our team was on the go one of these other products might work better. We needed something …
Chose Microsoft Project
Better suited for everyone in the team due to an existing partnership with Microsoft for access to other software suite provided by them.
Chose Microsoft Project
While many of the above tools are extremely well-versed, Microsoft Project's largest advantage comes from it being related to the largest business productivity company in the world. Project does have its sharing limitations - but regardless, offers one of the most robust tools …
Chose Microsoft Project
I selected Microsoft project because we use many other Microsoft products. The advantage it has over competitors is the data visualization, which gives it a good return on investment. The project management tools are good, but other platforms have more features and integrations.
Trello
Chose Trello
Far superior to each in terms of flexibility, collaboration across organizations, and getting stuff done.

Microsoft Project is far to rigid for software development projects of today's day and age.
Chose Trello
Trello is easy for a non-technical person to use. Other management systems, like MS Project, frighten away less computer-savvy users. I've found this to be instrumental in getting volunteers to agree to step in and get fully involved with projects--particularly those that might …
Chose Trello
Trello looked very simple to use compared to others. And basic features mostly suffice the requirement.
Chose Trello
Much more flexible, but lacking the project plan creation capabilities
Chose Trello
Monthly license too expensive, too complicated for us for what we need and use every day. Trello is simple, secure, and so user-friendly. Trello is also very dynamic and in fashion. Many of our customers also use it, which makes it easy to share outside our organization and our …
Chose Trello
When it’s a project on the go, Trello gives you the easiest and fastest experience with assigning tasks and following up with each task and each member’s work progress.
Chose Trello
Really never used another of the alternatives mentioned, but from surveying others tools, Trello has many advantages, and its greatest strength versus other project management tools is its simplicity and ease-of-use. You don't need any type of training or previous set up. You …
Chose Trello
We were huge fans of Clarizen back in the bad old days of waterfall methodology. Clarizen definitely had more robust reporting capabilities, where Trello is completely lacking in resource and financial management capabilities and even basic dashboarding. That said, for simple …
Chose Trello
We also use Microsoft Projects which is integrated with our O365 accounts, and it offers a different kind of project management. Trello is good for when you want to use it with people who don't have our company email and when you want the easy to use interface. I would still …
Chose Trello
We have used JIRA Software for large projects to utilize the ability to create Epics and manage the health of much larger projects that span years. This is something that can be done using individual boards in Trello but if you are not in a scenario where you need a tool that …
Chose Trello
Because it is a very simple and intuitive software to manage, it makes it very easy to explain to a new user and for them to quickly grasp the trick to the tool. For that reason, it is an easy choice for managing projects. Besides being a free tool, you don't have to complete a …
Chose Trello
Having used Basecamp for years, I was pleasantly surprised with Trello and how user-friendly it was. It was easier to introduce into current workflows and with users that had not used workflow tools previously. Basecamp is slightly more simple in its approach and integration …
Chose Trello
Trello is very cost-effective with a high upside and minimal implementation and training needs. If you need a full product management tool then this may not be for you. Although it does have an API for integrations with other tools I cannot speak to the feasibility of this.
Features
Microsoft ProjectTrello
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
8.1
111 Ratings
5% above category average
Trello
8.6
222 Ratings
11% above category average
Task Management8.2110 Ratings9.5222 Ratings
Resource Management7.7107 Ratings9.3185 Ratings
Gantt Charts9.0107 Ratings7.273 Ratings
Scheduling8.5109 Ratings9.1168 Ratings
Workflow Automation10.083 Ratings8.2142 Ratings
Team Collaboration7.398 Ratings9.1218 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology5.083 Ratings8.9147 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology7.783 Ratings7.5115 Ratings
Document Management9.077 Ratings8.3159 Ratings
Email integration5.082 Ratings7.8146 Ratings
Mobile Access10.067 Ratings9.1192 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking10.073 Ratings9.388 Ratings
Change request and Case Management7.964 Ratings8.7102 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management7.786 Ratings7.773 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
Microsoft Project
8.9
79 Ratings
14% above category average
Trello
5.9
72 Ratings
27% below category average
Quotes/estimates7.955 Ratings6.049 Ratings
Invoicing10.045 Ratings5.042 Ratings
Project & financial reporting7.676 Ratings6.658 Ratings
Integration with accounting software10.050 Ratings6.044 Ratings
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Microsoft ProjectTrello
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User Ratings
Microsoft ProjectTrello
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(111 ratings)
9.4
(222 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(3 ratings)
10.0
(6 ratings)
Usability
8.7
(9 ratings)
9.4
(60 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
8.2
(34 ratings)
9.9
(81 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
5.0
(1 ratings)
8.0
(2 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
5.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Microsoft ProjectTrello
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft
Microsoft Project Online is suited to Turnkey Projects where more Collaboration is required in Project Progress monitoring, risk assessment and conveying, issue recording and tracking. It is less appropriate when ERP Suites other than MS Dynamics are used, i.e when Enterprises need to integrate Finance / Accounting with It and having straight project management workflow
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Atlassian
For teams or individuals with lots of individual tasks/details to track, Trello is perfect! It basically removes the need for a paper checklist. For those that need an overall project management tool that requires less tasks and more overarching goals, collaboration amongst various teams, and gantt charts I would suggest monday.com
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Pros
Microsoft
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data. by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • The alert system for the fulfillment and delay of assignments is perfect. Microsoft Project allows me to configure the task system, I can assign the necessary tasks to fulfill the project, and the software alerts me immediately if the managers are fulfilling the assignments.
Read full review
Atlassian
  • Helps track employees "to do before hire", "to do after hired," and "to do when employee leaves"
  • Provides important information on each employee like personal information along with data collected during the time of hire and during employment time
  • Allows more than one person to be assigned to a task per employee and will remain open until everyone involved has completed their task
Read full review
Cons
Microsoft
  • Seems overly complicated for users sometimes in using Project and its functionalities
  • Hard to share files for those folks who do not have MS Project, and then have to print out for them
  • Can be confusing since it looks and feels like MS Excel
Read full review
Atlassian
  • I use colour coding a lot so I would like a wider range of colour options.
  • Also as a visual thinker I would like to be able to easily add images to cards.
  • I would like to be able to attach a wider range of file formats to cards.
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Likelihood to Renew
Microsoft
I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule
Read full review
Atlassian
I am very likely to renew Trello, because it doesn't cost anything to do so. I am also very likely to use Trello's upgraded features in the future because a lot of my team's data is stored on there and they have already gotten used to the platform. Trello is very easy for new team members to pick up, making the onboarding and usability very streamlined.
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Usability
Microsoft
Microsoft
Project is easy to operate because data could be inserted, changed and
deleted like you are in an Excel timesheet. Besides, it provides a great
level of automation beween his fields allowing few data changes. Also, its
funcionalities are well defined and grouped in upper menus, so you can find a
funcionality quickly
Read full review
Atlassian
Trello is incredibly intuitive, both on desktop and mobile right away. It is also full of helpful features that make it even easier to use, and is flexible enough to suit almost any organizational need. Onboarding for the software is thorough, but concise, and the service is frequently updated with even more QOL improvements.
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Reliability and Availability
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Atlassian
yes always support available when I need it!
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Performance
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Atlassian
Never experienced issues with the above!
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Support Rating
Microsoft
Microsoft in recent years has transformed itself and gives a positive feeling when one interacts with the company. The company is focusing on its customers and willing to go extra mile to make customers happy.The company continues to invest in its products and bringing new features from time to time. Overall it is a positive feeling to be associated with such an iconic company.
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Atlassian
I haven't reached out to their support very often and their support is very limited anyway for the free users. They do have tons of great articles and videos in their Help Center and constantly send emails with updates and add-ons to the product. The fact that I've barely ever had to contact their support team means that they've developed a great product.
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In-Person Training
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Atlassian
It was helpful and informative! It was back before the pandemic in 2019 so I'm not sure if they still do it but I really enjoyed the experience
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Implementation Rating
Microsoft
I wasn't part of it so I don't know
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Atlassian
For our small business, getting a few of us started well on Trello was the key, I think. As long as a couple of us were really comfortable with the interface, we could lead others and help them with any questions. From now on, anyone who works with us just naturally uses Trello for information sharing - it's just part of what we do.
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Alternatives Considered
Microsoft
While many of the above tools are extremely well-versed, Microsoft Project's largest advantage comes from it being related to the largest business productivity company in the world. Project does have its sharing limitations - but regardless, offers one of the most robust tools in the market today. Microsoft Project is built with large-scale projects in mind but is more than up to the task for smaller projects as well. However, there are options available (especially cloud-based options) that may be more fitting for higher-level projects that do not require going into the weeds.
Read full review
Atlassian
Trello is more simple and not as "robust" as the other tools, but it's easier to use and manage and understand and ACTUALLY get stuff done with. It's simplicity is part of the beauty of using it. You don't need a million options that nobody uses, you just need to get stuff done.
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Scalability
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Atlassian
Feels like anyone across the org (no matter their location) can use the tool easily!
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Professional Services
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Atlassian
Not sure if we use those
Read full review
Return on Investment
Microsoft
  • Project saved me, as the project manager, countless hours of digging through tickets and schedules to plan everything out. It also saved me time in adjusting the project triangle as needed, since it does so much automatically.
  • It is costly, and since it requires extensive training to master, it's not just the high licensing cost that you need to take into account.
  • The reporting features - even just printing out Gantt charts - makes it far easier to communicate with stakeholders. That means less time for PMs doing all of this manually, and it means less follow-up questions and delays moving forward.
Read full review
Atlassian
  • Trello keeps me organized, focused, and on track. I could filter the Trello board to only see my issues and understand what I needed to work on and when.
  • Trello helped our team implement an agile structure. It's a very simple kanban method of viewing all of your team's tasks and statuses. You can completely customize the columns to your team's specific workflow and create tags relevant to your work.
  • Trello helps reduce unnecessary communications between teams. When I want to request translations, I simply create a card on the localization Trello board -- no need to directly message anyone on the team, and I can watch the status of the card change from "in progress" to "in review" to "translated," all without having to directly ask for updates.
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ScreenShots