Essentially a smaller version of cheese grater, a microplane is a handheld, flat device with tiny holes that give a finer grate, making it easier to integrate garlic into recipes.
While a garlic press crushes the garlic, at least part of the clove is often left intact, requiring you to then chop it yourself. With a microplane, you can evenly grate the clove.
Additionally, a microplane is much easier to clean due to its flat surface, which allows you to simply tap the tool on the edge of a pan or bowl to extract any leftover garlic.