Microsoft kills one of its productivity services, here is what you need to know

A few months ago, Microsoft announced plans to discontinue Project Online, its web-based management tool that allows assigning tasks, developing schedules, and doing other things. Microsoft Project Online is being merged into Microsoft Planner, and Microsoft has now published a new article detailing everything you need to know about the end of Microsoft Project Online.

Microsoft Project Online retires on September 30, 2026. Before that, Microsoft will stop selling online-only Project SKUs on October 1, 2025. Until September 30, 2026, all Project Online environments will work as always and without disruptions. After that, you will no longer be able to access your projects or any associated data within the service.

Microsoft also adds that the end of Project Online does not affect the Project desktop app, Project Server Subscription edition, or Microsoft Planner with its basic and premium capabilities. In fact, Microsoft recommends users switch from Project Online to Microsoft Planner. Moreover, Planner with a premium license is already included if you have a Planner and Project Plan 3 or Planner and Project Plan 5 license. Additionally, users can switch to Project Server Subscription Edition, Dynamics 365 Project Operations, or Project desktop, which is available with Project Standard 2024 or Project Professional 2024.

Microsoft says that the outdated architecture of Project Online limits the company's ability to implement new features and AI-powered experiences (of course). Therefore, Microsoft wants to focus on Planner and the Project Manager agent. Here is what the company says:

We fully understand the challenge associated with this or any product retirement. We remain excited about the future of our Work Management solutions with enhancements coming to Planner, including advancements in AI-powered project management. With Planner and our AI-powered roadmap, we’re building a future where project management is intuitive, collaborative, and deeply integrated into the flow of work across Microsoft 365. Planner and the Project Manager agent are just the beginning of a more intelligent, integrated, and collaborative project management experience. For more information, visit the Planner Blog or reach out to your Microsoft account team.

You can read more about the end of Project Online in the announcement post.