Asana vs Microsoft Project
Compare Asana and Microsoft Project on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Asana
Cross-functional work management with goals, workflows and AI Studio — Starter from $10.99/user/mo annual.
Best for
- • Cross-functional marketing/ops teams
- • Buyers prioritising adoption ease and goals/workflows
- • Mid-market work management shortlists
Starting from $10.99/user/mo
Free plan available
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Asana and Microsoft Project. Choose Asana when Cross-functional marketing/ops teams. Choose Microsoft Project when Microsoft 365 standardised orgs. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana is better for
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Ease of use
- ✓ Automations
- ✓ Collaboration
Microsoft Project is better for
- ✓ Integrations
Tie
- • Timeline / Gantt
- • Reporting
Choose Asana if: Cross-functional marketing/ops teams
Choose Microsoft Project if: Microsoft 365 standardised orgs
Microsoft Project
Microsoft 365 project / Planner ladder for Gantt, resources and portfolios — Planner Plan 1 from ~$10/user/mo.
Best for
- • Microsoft 365 standardised orgs
- • Traditional PMO Gantt/resource needs
- • Enterprise portfolio planning on higher plans
Starting from $10.00/user/mo
No free plan
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for Asana and Microsoft Project. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- Depends
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
Asana researched starting price from $10.99/mo; a free plan is researched; Microsoft Project researched starting price from $10/mo. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
AsanaDependsMicrosoft ProjectDepends - Depends
Seat / licence minimum
Minimum billed seats and how that changes small-team cost.
Check paid seat floors for Asana and Microsoft Project on current vendor packaging.
AsanaDependsMicrosoft ProjectDepends - Asana
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
Asana researches a free plan; Microsoft Project does not research a free plan.
AsanaStrongerMicrosoft ProjectWeaker - Asana
Ease of use
How quickly teams become productive.
Asana leads on ease of use (9/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana9/10Microsoft Project6/10 - Tie
Timeline / Gantt
Native timeline, Gantt, or dependency planning.
Asana and Microsoft Project are close on timeline gantt (9/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana9/10Microsoft Project9/10 - Asana
Automations
Rules, recipes, and workflow automations in the work OS.
Asana leads on automations (8/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana8/10Microsoft Project6/10 - Asana
Collaboration
Docs, comments, chat, proofing, and guest collaboration quality.
Asana leads on collaboration (9/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana9/10Microsoft Project7/10 - Microsoft Project
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
Microsoft Project leads on integrations (8/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana8/10Microsoft Project9/10 - Asana
AI features
Useful AI for the primary job — not marketing fluff.
Asana leads on ai features (8/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana8/10Microsoft Project6/10 - Tie
Reporting
Reporting and forecasting quality.
Asana and Microsoft Project are close on reporting (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana8/10Microsoft Project8/10 - Asana
Value for money
Capability relative to total cost of ownership.
Asana leads on value for money (7/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Asana7/10Microsoft Project6/10
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