Excel MCP Server vs Microsoft Planner
A side-by-side look at the Excel MCP Server and Microsoft Planner MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Excel MCP Server for workplace & productivity work as a local process; choose Microsoft Planner for workplace & productivity as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Excel MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
comma, semicolon, tab.
Choose Microsoft Planner when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
MS_TENANT_ID, MS_CLIENT_ID, MS_CLIENT_SECRET, MS_REFRESH_TOKEN. - You want tools like
planner_search_groups, planner_find_user, planner_list_plans.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Workplace & Productivity | Workplace & Productivity |
| Quality signal | 60/100 · Good | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | MS_TENANT_IDMS_CLIENT_IDMS_CLIENT_SECRETMS_REFRESH_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 4,258 | 4 |
| Directory activity | 14 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 7 | 12 |
| Full listing | View Excel MCP Server | View Microsoft Planner |
Tools & capabilities
Excel MCP Server tools 7
commasemicolontabpipecp1252decimalformatted
Microsoft Planner tools 12
planner_search_groupsFind Microsoft 365 groups (Teams) by name → group IDplanner_find_userFind a user by name/UPN → user ID for assignmentsplanner_list_plansList plans owned by a groupplanner_get_planPlan + its bucketsplanner_create_bucketCreate a bucket in a planplanner_list_tasksTasks in a plan or bucket (filter by assignee, open/completed)planner_list_user_tasksAll tasks assigned to a user, across plansplanner_get_taskTask with description and checklistplanner_create_taskCreate task (bucket, due date, priority, assignees, description)planner_update_taskUpdate title/bucket/due/priority/progress/assigneesplanner_update_task_detailsUpdate description; add or (un)check checklist itemsplanner_delete_taskPermanently delete a task
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Excel MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"haris-musa-excel-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"excel-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
Microsoft Planner
{
"mcpServers": {
"microsoft-planner-2": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-planner"
],
"env": {
"MS_TENANT_ID": "YOUR_MS_TENANT_ID_HERE",
"MS_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_MS_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"MS_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_MS_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"MS_REFRESH_TOKEN": "YOUR_MS_REFRESH_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Excel MCP Server is categorized under Workplace & Productivity and uses a local stdio subprocess. Microsoft Planner belongs to Workplace & Productivity and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Excel MCP Server for workplace & productivity work and Microsoft Planner for workplace & productivity.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Excel MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Microsoft Planner has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add haris-musa-excel-mcp-server and microsoft-planner-2 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Excel MCP Server has a quality signal of 60/100 (Good) with 14 views, 0 installs and 4,258 GitHub stars. Microsoft Planner has 55/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 4 GitHub stars.