What is replacing MS Project online?
Microsoft Project Online is being retired on September 30, 2026, with Microsoft shifting its strategy toward Microsoft 365-based planning tools.
Microsoft's primary in-ecosystem replacement is a combination of Microsoft Planner (including premium capabilities), Project for the Web, and solutions built on the Power Platform.
The retirement is driven by Project Online's outdated SharePoint-based architecture, which prevents integration with modern tools like Power Platform and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
However, Project for the Web is not a straightforward drop-in replacement. It lacks advanced scheduling, portfolio visibility, and resource optimization features that many project managers rely on.
New licenses for Project Online stopped being sold after October 1, 2025, and after the September 2026 deadline, project data will become completely inaccessible, making early migration critical.
For organizations with complex needs, third-party platforms such as Easy8 have emerged as strong alternatives, with experts recommending that organizations treat this not merely as a forced tool swap but as an opportunity to rethink portfolio management, address resource bottlenecks, and modernize how project value is delivered.
Related content
Has MS Project been discontinued?
No, Microsoft Project as a whole has not been discontinued. Only the cloud-based Project Online is retiring on September 30, 2026, while the desktop version (Project Professional/Standard) and Project Server Subscription Edition continue with support.
Project Online stops new sales October 1, 2025, and fully retires in 2026 due to its outdated architecture, with Microsoft shifting focus to AI-enhanced tools like Planner Premium and Project for the web. Desktop apps remain fully supported indefinitely, and on-premises Project Server lasts until at least 2031.
What is replacing Microsoft Project?
Microsoft Project Online (the Project Web App/PPM cloud service) will retire on September 30, 2026. Microsoft says its legacy architecture limits innovation and the delivery of modern, AI-powered, deeply integrated experiences, so investment is shifting to Microsoft Planner (which now incorporates the former Project for the web experience) and AI capabilities such as the Project Manager agent/Microsoft 365 Copilot.
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Project?
Easy8 stands out as the top alternative to Microsoft Project for EU-based IT professionals like you, offering superior ease of use, on-premises deployment for GDPR compliance, and hybrid Agile/Waterfall features at lower costs. It builds on Redmine with modern Gantt charts, resource management, and ITSM integrations, making it ideal for enterprise migrations from MS Project's rigid structure.
