Microsoft Planner for tasks. Manifestly for recurring SOP execution. Fills the gap Planner leaves
Microsoft Planner is a strong task tool for teams already in Microsoft 365, and Planner Basic may already be included in your subscription. Manifestly does not replace that. It adds the recurring operations layer: scheduled SOP runs, step-level guidance, role-based assignments, reminders, required data collection, Microsoft Teams actions, and audit-ready run history.
What Planner tracks, and what Manifestly executes
Planner is useful for task boards and lightweight coordination. Manifestly is built for repeatable procedures that must run the same way every time.
| Need | Microsoft Planner | Manifestly |
|---|---|---|
| Task tracking | Strong fit for Microsoft 365 task boards, cards, buckets, and simple team assignments | Not a general Planner replacement |
| Recurring SOP runs | Recurring tasks can help, but full procedure runs require workarounds | Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and custom scheduled workflow runs |
| Step-level SOP guidance | Task descriptions and attachments | Instructions, links, images, videos, and required fields inside each step |
| Conditional logic | Typically requires Power Automate and IT involvement | Built-in step logic that operations teams can manage directly |
| Audit-ready history | Task activity feed | Per-run history of who completed each step, when, and with what data |
| Microsoft Teams workflow actions | Planner works well inside Teams for task tracking | Launch runs, complete steps, and receive checklist reminders inside Teams |
Pricing context for Microsoft 365 teams
| Option | Typical fit | Price context |
|---|---|---|
| Planner Basic | Included task tracking for Microsoft 365 teams | Often included with existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions |
| Planner Plan 1 | More project views, still not recurring SOP execution | $10/user/month, about 17% more than Manifestly Business |
| Planner Plan 3 | More advanced project management | $30/user/month, about 72% more than Manifestly Business |
| Manifestly Business | Recurring SOP execution, Teams actions, required data, and run history | $8.33/user/month on annual billing |
Adding Manifestly is adding a recurring workflow capability, not replacing a Microsoft 365 license. Microsoft Planner Plan 5 reached End of Sale on May 1, 2026, and Project Online retires September 30, 2026.
Why Microsoft 365 teams add Manifestly
Run repeatable work automatically
Schedule recurring SOPs to launch on a cadence with assignments and due dates already set.
Keep guidance inside the task
Put detailed instructions, screenshots, files, and videos directly in each checklist step.
Use Teams for action, not just alerts
Let team members receive reminders and complete workflow work from Microsoft Teams.
Avoid Power Automate for simple SOP logic
Use built-in conditions for step routing without asking IT to build and maintain custom flows.
Collect required evidence
Require fields, approvals, file uploads, signatures, or dates before a step can be marked complete.
Prove what happened
Use per-run history when managers, clients, or auditors need a reliable record.
Integrations and Ecosystem
Manifestly fits into Microsoft 365 and the rest of your operations stack.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Planner is a good Microsoft 365 task management tool. Manifestly adds recurring SOP execution, assignments, reminders, required data collection, Teams workflow actions, and audit-ready run history for processes Planner is not designed to run.
Yes. Manifestly has a native Microsoft Teams integration for workflow reminders and actions.
Planner Basic is often already included in Microsoft 365, so Manifestly should be viewed as an added recurring workflow capability. Compared with Planner Plan 1 at $10 per user per month, Manifestly Business at $8.33 per user per month costs about 17% less for the recurring SOP use case.
Yes. Manifestly offers a full-featured 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Run recurring SOPs inside your Microsoft 365 stack with Teams actions and audit-ready history.
With Manifestly, your team will Never Miss a Thing.
