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Microsoft Project vs Trello comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
7.4
Microsoft Project boosts ROI by optimizing resource use, reducing delays, and centralizing data for cost-effective project management.
Sentiment score
7.4
Trello's free version optimizes workflow by organizing tasks, saving time, reducing meetings, and improving communication efficiency despite unquantifiable ROI.
Microsoft Project does help save time and money due to its completeness as a project management solution.
Sometimes we can have a back-and-forth conversation in the comments, which helps minimize some meetings.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.6
Microsoft Project support has mixed reviews; it's responsive for some, but others face delays and suggest consistency improvements.
Sentiment score
4.3
Trello users often find help center sufficient, but customer service is praised for quick, mostly timely resolutions via web and email.
There is a website and a connection to AI for support.
I would give somewhere around 10 for my overall experience with support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.0
Microsoft Project is scalable for various teams but faces challenges with external integration and performance in large deployments.
Sentiment score
6.9
Trello is scalable for small teams, easy to use, but may not meet larger enterprise needs compared to alternatives.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Microsoft Project is stable and reliable, but larger projects may experience crashes and require caution and customization.
Sentiment score
8.2
Trello is praised for stability and reliability, with some slowdown on large data, but generally no major issues reported.
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Project needs better integration, reporting, collaboration, real-time updates, and affordability, along with improved scalability and modern interface.
Users want Trello to improve time tracking, integrations, analytics, and customization for handling complex tasks and data effectively.
The worst part is handling too many items, like 1,000 items, which Microsoft Project struggles with, especially when printing.
Maybe some generative AI features such as having tasks or activities being suggested automatically based on the rest of the tasks in the project would be useful; I haven't really missed them so far.
Microsoft Project tends to become very unstable on large project plans with more than 400 lines.
More control over email notifications would also be helpful.
It would be beneficial to have a search system that can pull up topics using keywords or AI-driven capabilities, making it easier to find relevant cards.
Currently, notifications flood my inbox, making it hard to differentiate what I actually need to open.
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Project's pricing is moderate to expensive, varying by company needs, especially for large teams or comprehensive features.
Trello provides a free version and scalable paid plans starting at $6 per user, suitable for various business sizes.
The issue with Microsoft is that the license is per personnel, making it expensive.
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Project excels in scheduling, resource allocation, and cost tracking, integrating seamlessly for efficient enterprise-level project management.
Trello streamlines project management with its intuitive interface, enhancing task visualization, collaboration, and integration capabilities for efficient coordination.
This tool is the most accurate project management tool, allowing me to run a full set of project activities without having to switch between different tools for scheduling and other tasks.
The scheduling part of Microsoft Project is easy; if you change one of the dates, the rest of the dates automatically get changed based on the dependency.
The most valuable features are in the successor and predecessor determination and the tracking tools, such as obtaining data on the S curve financial curve.
It replaces ping-ponging emails back and forth with a board where people can follow a task from start to finish and see when it's done.
Trello's interface is aesthetically pleasing for project management, and it enhances collaboration with other team members.
The ability to tag different team members in both the description and the comments, and the due dates feature are handy.
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Project
Ranking in Project Management Software
3rd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
82
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Trello
Ranking in Project Management Software
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
43
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Project Management Software category, the mindshare of Microsoft Project is 7.2%, down from 11.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Trello is 2.6%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Project Management Software
 

Featured Reviews

Nurul Asyikin Wahab - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient project management with robust data tracking and an easy setup
When I have too many elements or items in a project, it becomes cumbersome, especially during printing. Non-technical users do not need all the data, so it's primarily for technical personnel. Without guidance, it's challenging to use the app. With guidance and expert knowledge, it becomes manageable, however, it's not for non-technical teams. The worst part is handling too many items, like 1,000 items, which Microsoft Project struggles with, especially when printing. Printing on A3 size is quite burdensome, so I prefer viewing it on a tablet or computer. On a tablet or phone, I can see the full project elements depending on the screen size.
Ariel Lindenfeld - PeerSpot reviewer
Customizable labels and the ability to modify cards streamline task management and save time
There can be bugs sometimes. When more than one person tries to edit the description at the same time, it can do some unexpected things. I would like to see that improved. Sometimes they add new features, which can be either welcome or odd. More control over email notifications would also be helpful.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
54%
Computer Software Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Government
5%
Educational Organization
63%
Computer Software Company
5%
Financial Services Firm
4%
University
3%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Has anyone moved from Microsoft Project to Smartsheet? How has your experience been with Smartsheet?
Hi @Eire Zimmermann, I helped an organization evaluate both MS-Project and Smartsheet when they were conducting their PM tool RFP. The short of it is this, MS Project is not caught up with the mo...
What do you like most about Microsoft Project?
The product's initial setup phase is easy.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Project?
I'm not aware of the price as we use organization-wide licenses.
What do you like most about Trello?
The solution is very user-friendly, where you have everything you need.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Trello?
The licensing is easy to scale with a number of seats. I am not directly involved with the pricing and cost aspects.
What needs improvement with Trello?
Trello could be improved by having a better notification system. Currently, notifications flood my inbox, making it hard to differentiate what I actually need to open. Each card move or addition re...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

Project Pro, MS Project
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Aston Martin, ABANCA, Airbus Group, Capita, Cardiff University, City of Saskatoon, Intel, Pegasus Airlines, South Australia Power Network (SAPN), Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing
Pixar, Google, PayPal, Kickstarter, National Geographic, Viewbox Holdings
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Project vs. Trello and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.