[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Project Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/project-management/) \> [Project Management Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/project-management-software/) \> [Microsoft Project](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/microsoft-project/) \> Microsoft Project vs Microsoft Planner 

# Microsoft Project vs Microsoft Planner 

Last Updated: August 3rd, 2026 

Our analysts compared [Microsoft Project](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/microsoft-project/) vs [Microsoft Planner](https://www.selecthub.com/p/task-management-software/microsoft-planner/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [Project Management Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/project-management-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=Project Management Software&cta=project-management-software). 

[Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Analyst Ratings](#analyst-rating-section) [Comparison Charts](#product-comparison-charts) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Microsoft Project Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/0e98aeeb54acf612b9eb4e48a269814c-bc04f678f03b4bce09f87df579aef107/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317909)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/microsoft-project/)

[ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) 

Remove Add to Compare 

[![Microsoft Planner Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/f93fde6f0ceb4375d70e5de050e6693e-de0ec774f2db5d6c2dcef8a210707e26/resources/normal/logo.png?1726633834)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/task-management-software/microsoft-planner/)

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BProject&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F0e98aeeb54acf612b9eb4e48a269814c-bc04f678f03b4bce09f87df579aef107%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317909) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BProject&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F0e98aeeb54acf612b9eb4e48a269814c-bc04f678f03b4bce09f87df579aef107%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317909) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BProject&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F0e98aeeb54acf612b9eb4e48a269814c-bc04f678f03b4bce09f87df579aef107%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317909&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BProject&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F0e98aeeb54acf612b9eb4e48a269814c-bc04f678f03b4bce09f87df579aef107%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1693317909&price=1) 

[Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BPlanner&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Ff93fde6f0ceb4375d70e5de050e6693e-de0ec774f2db5d6c2dcef8a210707e26%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1726633834) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BPlanner&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Ff93fde6f0ceb4375d70e5de050e6693e-de0ec774f2db5d6c2dcef8a210707e26%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1726633834) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BPlanner&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Ff93fde6f0ceb4375d70e5de050e6693e-de0ec774f2db5d6c2dcef8a210707e26%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1726633834&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=Project+Management+Software&product%5Fname=Microsoft%2BPlanner&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Ff93fde6f0ceb4375d70e5de050e6693e-de0ec774f2db5d6c2dcef8a210707e26%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1726633834&price=1) 

### Products Insights 

Overall Rating Comparison 

[ Analyst Rating Microsoft Project - Analyst Score: 72 out of 100 72 Detailed Analysis ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) (3873 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) 

[ Analyst Rating we're gathering data ](#analyst-rating-section) [ User Sentiment ![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) (801 Reviews) ](#user-sentiment-section) 

Price Starts From 

$10/User, Monthly 

[30 Day Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Microsoft Project&category=Project Management Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/0e98aeeb54acf612b9eb4e48a269814c-bc04f678f03b4bce09f87df579aef107/resources/normal/logo.png?1693317909) 

$10/User, Monthly 

[30 Day Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Microsoft Planner&category=Project Management Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/f93fde6f0ceb4375d70e5de050e6693e-de0ec774f2db5d6c2dcef8a210707e26/resources/normal/logo.png?1726633834) 

Pros 

What we like about Microsoft Project and Microsoft Planner: 

* Handles complex projects with Gantt charts, task dependencies and detailed scheduling
* Resource management tools include heat maps and usage analytics
* Portfolio optimization lets you model scenarios and weigh proposals against business priorities

* Simple Kanban boards make task assignment and tracking easy for any team
* Comes included with most Microsoft 365 subscriptions
* Intuitive interface means teams can get started without much training

Cons 

What we dislike about Microsoft Project and Microsoft Planner: 

* Has a steep learning curve that many users find overwhelming
* Collaboration features fall short for team-based work, users report
* Costs more than most alternatives, which users frequently flag as a concern

* Lacks Gantt charts and milestone tracking needed for complex project planning
* No dedicated desktop app, which limits offline access
* Struggles to scale with large projects and intricate workflows

### Our Review 

**Bottom line:** Microsoft Project is the better fit if you're managing complex projects that need detailed scheduling, resource tracking and portfolio-level oversight. Microsoft Planner works well for teams that want simple task management inside a Microsoft 365 environment without a lot of setup or training.

Microsoft Project handles Gantt charts, task dependencies, resource leveling and budget tracking. It's built for people who need to manage multiple projects with real planning depth. Users appreciate its scheduling capabilities and feature set, though many find it has a steep learning curve and collaboration tools that don't keep up with the rest of the product.

Microsoft Planner takes a lighter approach. You get Kanban boards, task assignment, due dates and progress tracking — enough for most team workflows, but not built for complex dependencies or detailed resource management. Its simplicity is a genuine strength for teams that just need to stay organized.

On pricing, Microsoft Project starts at $10 per user per month. Microsoft Planner starts at $5 per user per month and is included with most Microsoft 365 subscriptions, so if you're already paying for that, Planner may cost nothing extra.

If you're running a construction, engineering or IT project with interdependent tasks, resource constraints and stakeholder reporting, Microsoft Project is the more capable tool. If your team mostly needs task boards, deadline reminders and a place to coordinate work inside Teams or Outlook, Planner is likely enough — and it won't cost you more than you're already spending.

### Analyst Rating Summary 

Overall Scores 

Based on the research and analysis by SelectHub's team of research analysts, Microsoft Project has an analyst rating of 72\. Our analysts are still gathering data for Microsoft Planner. 

Microsoft Project - Analyst Score: 72 out of 100 72 

we're gathering data

Features Comparison 

**Customizations**  
Tailor your workspace by easily adjusting fields, views, and workflows, ensuring the software perfectly fits how you and your team actually get work done. 

57 

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**Dashboards and Reporting**  
See your project's health and performance at a glance with personalized dashboards and simple reports, making it easy to share progress with stakeholders. 

97 

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**Mobile Capabilities**  
Manage tasks, review documents, and stay connected with your team whether you are at your desk or on the go using your phone or tablet. 

0 

we're gathering data

[Show More](#) [Show More](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Project Management Software) 

### Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Project Management Software) 

How Microsoft Project compares against the top 9 functional requirements as defined by SelectHub project data. 

Microsoft Project Microsoft Planner 

\+ Add Product [\+ Add Product](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Project Management Software) 

Customizations Dashboards AndReporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Features Project Planning AndScheduling Project Tracking Task Management Team Collaboration Time Tracking AndManagement 57 97 0 74 97 95 85 47 81 0 25 50 75 100 

Implementation Level of Effort Estimation 

**Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) 

**Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. 

**Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. 

**Customizations**   
Tailor your workspace by easily adjusting fields, views, and workflows, ensuring the software perfectly fits how you and your team actually get work done. 

29%

43%

28%

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N/A

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N/A

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N/A

**Dashboards And Reporting**   
See your project's health and performance at a glance with personalized dashboards and simple reports, making it easy to share progress with stakeholders. 

100%

0%

0%

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N/A

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**Mobile Capabilities**   
Manage tasks, review documents, and stay connected with your team whether you are at your desk or on the go using your phone or tablet. 

0%

0%

100%

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N/A

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N/A

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N/A

**Platform Features**   
Integrate with your favorite existing tools, like Slack or Google Drive, creating a single, connected place for all your communication and files. 

63%

13%

24%

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N/A

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**Project Planning And Scheduling**   
Build out your project timeline with drag-and-drop ease, clearly defining tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking dependencies so nothing slips through the cracks. 

92%

0%

8%

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N/A

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N/A

**Project Tracking**   
Monitor real-time progress by tracking task status and effort spent, giving you an immediate, accurate view of how work is actually advancing. 

86%

0%

14%

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N/A

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N/A

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N/A

**Task Management**   
Break down large goals into small, clear tasks you can assign, track, and complete, ensuring every team member knows exactly what to do and when. 

75%

8%

17%

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N/A

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N/A

**Team Collaboration**   
Communicate directly on tasks, share feedback, and attach necessary files all in one spot, keeping everyone on the same page without endless email chains. 

33%

25%

42%

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N/A

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N/A

**Time Tracking And Management**   
Log time spent on tasks manually or with a simple timer, so you can accurately bill clients and see exactly where your team's effort is going. 

71%

14%

15%

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N/A

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N/A

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N/A

**Customize This Data For Your Unique Needs**and compare feature capabilities head-to-head [CUSTOMIZE NOW](#) [CUSTOMIZE NOW](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Project Management Software) 

### Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements [Customize This Data](#) [Customize This Data](https://pmo.selecthub.com/customize-data/?category=Project Management Software) 

Implementation Level of Effort Estimation 

**Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. [Read more](#) 

**Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. 

**Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. 

**Integrations And Extensibility**   
Connect with your favorite existing tools, like Slack or Google Drive, creating a single, connected place for all your communication and files. 

61%

6%

33%

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N/A

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N/A

**Platform Security**   
Protect your sensitive project data with industry-leading encryption and access controls, giving you complete peace of mind that your information is safe. 

88%

0%

12%

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N/A

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**Requirements Summary**Of typical requirements, 62.2% are fully supported out of the box by Microsoft Project including Project Planning And Scheduling, Platform Security and Project Tracking. We are still evaluating data for Microsoft Planner at this time. Microsoft Planner has an analyst rating of and a user sentiment rating of 'great' based on 801 reviews, while Microsoft Project has an analyst rating of 72 and a user sentiment rating of 'great' based on 3873 reviews. Microsoft Project is a SelectHub award-winner. 

### User Sentiment Summary 

Microsoft Project has a user sentiment rating of 84 based on 3873 reviews. Microsoft Planner has a user sentiment rating of 84 based on 801 reviews. 

![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) 3873 reviews 

![Great User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/great.svg) 801 reviews 

Synopsis 

Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. 

84% 

of users recommend this product

Microsoft Project has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 3873 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites. 

84% 

of users recommend this product

Microsoft Planner has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 801 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites. 

User Review Scores 

**FinancesOnline** 

**4.7** (21) 

n/a 

**G2.com, Inc** 

**4.0** (1577) 

**4.2** (213) 

**GetApp** 

**4.4** (1289) 

n/a 

**Capterra Inc** 

n/a 

**4.3** (255) 

**Gartner, Inc** 

**4.4** (408) 

**4.3** (234) 

**TrustRadius** 

**4.1** (578) 

**3.7** (99) 

### Awards 

SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. 

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Microsoft Project and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Project Planning and Scheduling. 

![Project Planning and Scheduling Award]()

No awards.

### Product Assistance 

Training Resources 

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Documentation

In Person

Live Online

Videos

Webinars

Support 

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

Email

Phone

Chat

FAQ

Forum

Knowledge Base

24/7 Live Support

### Product Basics 

Company Size 

i 

Small

Medium

Large

Small

Medium

Large

Platforms Supported 

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Windows

Mac

Linux

Android

Chromebook

Deployment Supported 

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Cloud

On-Premise

Mobile

Comparison of Top Alternatives 

[Microsoft Project Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project/alternatives/) 

[Microsoft Planner Alternatives ](https://www.selecthub.com/task-management-software/microsoft-planner/alternatives/) 

### Screenshots 

![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() 

![Screenshots]() 

### Key Features 

* **Project scheduling** – Supports Gantt charts, task dependencies, sprints and Kanban layouts to cover both waterfall and agile planning approaches.
* **Resource management** – Heat maps identify overworked or underused resources, and analytics help managers monitor usage and address issues before they affect the schedule.
* **Portfolio optimization** – Models multiple scenarios using scatter charts to weigh project proposals against strategic business priorities and cost constraints.
* **Microsoft ecosystem integration** – Connects with Office apps, Teams, SharePoint and Power BI to support collaboration and cross-portfolio reporting.

* **Kanban task boards** – Visualize and manage work using intuitive Kanban-style boards with customizable columns, labels and priority levels.
* **Microsoft 365 integration** – Works natively with Teams, Outlook and OneNote to keep task management inside the tools your team already uses.
* **Progress tracking** – Tracks task status across Not Started, In Progress and Completed states, with charts that give a team-level view of workload and bottlenecks.
* **Bucket organization** – Groups related tasks into named buckets so you can structure projects by phase, owner or topic and filter work by category.

### Top Alternatives in Project Management Software 

[  Airtable ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/airtable/) [  Asana ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/asana/) [  Basecamp ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/basecamp/) [  ClickUp ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/clickup/) [  Jira ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/jira/) [  LiquidPlanner ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/liquidplanner/) [  MeisterTask ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/task-management-software/meistertask/) [  monday.com ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/monday/) [  ProofHub ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/project-management-software/proofhub/) [  Smartsheet ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/work-management-software/smartsheet/) 

### Related Categories 

Microsoft Project and Microsoft Planner can also be found with other leading products in these categories: 

[Collaboration Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/collaboration-software-tools/) 

[PPM Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/ppm-software/) 

Show more 

[Collaboration Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/collaboration-software-tools/) 

[Task Management Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/task-management-software/) 

[Work Management Software ](https://www.selecthub.com/c/work-management-software/) 

Show more 

### Head-to-Head Comparison 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Asana Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Asana](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/asana-vs-microsoft-project/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Celoxis Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Celoxis](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-celoxis/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Clarity PPM Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Clarity PPM](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-clarity-ppm/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Daptiv Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Daptiv](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-planview-daptiv/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Jira Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Jira](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/jira-vs-microsoft-project/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![LiquidPlanner Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS LiquidPlanner](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-liquidplanner/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Micro Focus Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Micro Focus](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-micro-focus/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Planview Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Planview](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-planview/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Planview ProjectAdvantage Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Planview ProjectAdvantage](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-planview-projectadvantage/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Smartsheet Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Smartsheet](https://www.selecthub.com/work-management-software/smartsheet-vs-microsoft-project/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Wrike Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Wrike](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-wrike/) 

![Microsoft Project Software Tool]() 

![Zoho Projects Software Tool]() 

[Microsoft Project VS Zoho Projects](https://www.selecthub.com/project-management-software/microsoft-project-vs-zoho-projects/) 

**About SelectHub (and our data)** 

We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies.

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() 

[Build Your Requirements](https://pmo.selecthub.com/project-management-requirements-onsite/)

![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() 

[Get Your Free Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=Project%20Management%20Software)

**Tier 1:**  
Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment.  
Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. 

**Tier 2:**  
Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs.  
Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. 

**Tier 3:**  
Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost.  
Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 

[Close](#)

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