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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 through better resource use, quicker timelines, and centralized management, streamlining workflow and reducing costs.
Sentiment score
4.4
Trello saves time, organizes tasks effectively, and improves workflow, though precise ROI is often undetermined by users.
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
6.5
Users experience mixed tech support, balancing onsite/offshore models, community forums, and improved language availability; average rating is 7/10.
Sentiment score
2.1
Trello's intuitive interface and effective online resources minimized the need for direct technical support, despite some email response delays.
Currently, there are more support personnel who speak English, and Microsoft has increased its Spanish language support compared to previous years.
I would give somewhere around 10 for my overall experience with support.
There is a website and a connection to AI for support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.0
Microsoft Project supports large-scale users and complex tasks, with noted challenges in version differences and cloud integration.
Sentiment score
6.2
Trello is ideal for small to medium teams, but larger enterprises often choose alternatives due to scalability limitations.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Microsoft Project is stable and reliable, with users reporting minimal issues, consistent performance, and positive usability experiences.
Sentiment score
6.8
Trello is highly stable with minimal issues, reliable performance, rare downtime, and supports multiple users efficiently in various scenarios.
Microsoft Project is a stable tool, and when using it in different projects, it works perfectly.
I would rate the stability of Microsoft Project as an eight out of ten.
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Project needs enhanced UI, better integration, collaboration features, streamlined reporting, improved training resources, and more affordable pricing.
Trello needs enhanced time-tracking, communication tools, integration, scalability, mobile app features, pricing, onboarding, AI, and task management.
It would be beneficial to see enhanced reporting functionalities in future versions.
The worst part is handling too many items, like 1,000 items, which Microsoft Project struggles with, especially when printing.
Microsoft Project tends to become very unstable on large project plans with more than 400 lines.
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.
More control over email notifications would also be helpful.
A way to manage an overall project with all the specifications, and then managing all the sub-cards related to that project.
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Project offers cost-effective pricing, but expenses rise with plugins and users, bundled within Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Trello's free version suffices for many, but paid plans start at $6, offering a cost-effective balance of features.
The issue with Microsoft is that the license is per personnel, making it expensive.
I believe it's usually included in the Microsoft 365 package.
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Project is praised for its detailed scheduling, integration, and user-friendly interface, supporting complex plans with robust features.
Trello excels in task management with its intuitive interface, seamless collaboration, automation, and integration, enhancing team productivity.
The collaboration features are valuable for controlling the project and transmitting information to other team members when working in a team.
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.
Trello's interface is aesthetically pleasing for project management, and it enhances collaboration with other team members.
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 has impacted my organization positively by keeping everything very organized and allowing people to keep track of their tasks.
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Project
Ranking in Project Management Software
3rd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
84
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Trello
Ranking in Project Management Software
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.2
Number of Reviews
46
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Project Management Software category, the mindshare of Microsoft Project is 5.7%, down from 10.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Trello is 2.3%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Project Management Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft Project5.7%
Trello2.3%
Other92.0%
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
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Government
8%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
8%
Educational Organization
9%
Insurance Company
9%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business31
Midsize Enterprise14
Large Enterprise41
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business37
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise11
 

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?
The company typically pays for the Microsoft Project licensing. I'm not certain about the exact cost of the licenses, but I believe it's usually included in the Microsoft 365 package.
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?
I do not know about the pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Trello because this part was handled by another coworker, and I never worked with that part.
What needs improvement with Trello?
Sometimes I get notifications in one hour, and I would prefer to receive them immediately in just a small stack, such as within two or three minutes, not an hour.
 

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: September 2025.
867,370 professionals have used our research since 2012.