Why teams switch from
Microsoft Project Online
It's not just about the retirement date. Project Online was built for a world that no longer exists — expensive, Azure-locked, and AI-free. Here's how Onplana compares.
Your migration window is closing
Plan your transition now to avoid a last-minute scramble when Project Online shuts down.
April 2026
Start evaluating alternatives — 6 months remaining
June 2026
Begin data export and parallel running
Aug 2026
Full cutover with team training complete
Sep 30 2026
Project Online access ends permanently
Feature-by-feature comparison
See exactly where Onplana outperforms — and where both tools are on par.
| Feature | Project Online Retiring Sept 2026 | Onplana Modern & AI-native |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement date | September 30, 2026 | Actively developed |
| First project setup | Empty file, manual task entry | AI-generated from one sentence |
| Pricing (per user) | $30+/user/month + M365 | Free → $29/user/month |
| AI features | None | Claude (Anthropic) & Azure OpenAI — built in (all plans) |
| Deployment options | Azure cloud only | AWS, Azure, GCP, self-hosted |
| Gantt chart | ✓ (desktop-era UX) | ✓ Modern, interactive, web |
| Sprints / agile | Limited via SharePoint | ✓ Full Scrum (sprints, backlog) |
| Real-time collaboration | Limited | ✓ Live updates, comments |
| API access | OData API (read-heavy) | ✓ Full REST API + webhooks |
| Risk detection | Manual | ✓ AI-powered (BUSINESS+) |
| Portfolio management | ✓ (expensive add-on) | ✓ Included from BUSINESS |
| Proposal / governance | SharePoint workflows (manual) | ✓ Built-in 12-stage pipeline |
| Import Microsoft Project plans | N/A (it is the source) | ✓ XML upload + OData + field mapper |
| Mobile-friendly | Partially (PWA wrapper) | ✓ Responsive React SPA |
| SSO / SAML | ✓ (M365) | =✓ ENTERPRISE+ plan |
| On-premises option | Project Server (costly) | ✓ Enterprise+ self-hosted |
| Result | End of life | Wins 15/16 |
Want a deeper dive on the specific problems with Microsoft Project Online?
Read: Microsoft Project Alternative →How Onplana compares to other alternatives
Other tools are generic. Onplana was designed specifically for enterprise project management teams.
vs Asana
- Claude (Anthropic) & Azure OpenAI built in — not a paid add-on
- Native Gantt + critical path
- Deploy on your own infrastructure
- MS Project XML & OData import built in
vs Monday.com
- Data sovereignty — deploy anywhere
- Transparent per-seat pricing
- Project-focused UX, not generic work mgmt
- AI risk detection from day 1
vs ClickUp
- Focused on PM — less feature bloat
- Native Earned Value Management
- Proposal governance pipeline
- Enterprise SSO + SCIM + audit logs
vs Smartsheet
- AI-native — Claude (Anthropic) & Azure OpenAI in every workflow
- Self-hostable — keep your data
- Full sprint + agile support
- From $0 — not $14/seat minimum
Ready to make the switch?
Start free — no credit card, no seat minimums. Import your first project in minutes.