Microsoft Project review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Microsoft's scheduling and project portfolio product, sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Verdict at a glance
Microsoft Project is Microsoft's scheduling and portfolio product, sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It is aimed at organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs rather than small teams that only want a simple board.
What is Microsoft Project?
Microsoft's scheduling and project portfolio product, sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It is built for microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs. Microsoft Project is based in Redmond, US.
Category: Project Management Software
Microsoft Project pricing
Microsoft Project is priced per user. Third-party listings show Planner Plan 1 at about $10 per user per month and Project Plan 3 at about $30, though the Plan 3 figure comes from sources that may be dated and Microsoft does not confirm either number in the material we found. Billing terms, annual discounts, minimum seats, add-ons and renewal rules are not published in a form we could cite. For 20 users, Project Plan 3 would be roughly $7,200 a year at the third-party price, which you should confirm.
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planner Plan 1 | $10 (G2 listing) | user/month | Third-party |
| Project Plan 3 | $30 (toolsforhumans.ai, Software Advice 2023) | user/month | Third-party, possibly dated |
All prices are third-party figures and not confirmed by the vendor's price list. Confirm on microsoft.com before use.
Who Microsoft Project is best for
Best for
- Microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs.
Not ideal for
- Small teams wanting a simple board without Microsoft licensing.
Microsoft Project alternatives
AsanaCross-functional teams that want timelines and unlimited automations from the Starter tier.
SmartsheetTeams used to spreadsheets who want structured project tracking.
WrikeMid-size teams running cross-functional projects with approvals.
monday.comSmall and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations.
ClickUpSmall and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps.
JiraSoftware and IT teams running agile sprints and backlogs.
What Microsoft Project really costs
Microsoft Project publishes a starting price but few details about how the bill grows, so the real cost depends on the quote. Use the questions below to turn a sales conversation into a number you can compare.
Questions to ask about price
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- Which features we need sit in add-ons or a higher plan, and what do they cost?
- How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Microsoft Project worth the price?
Project is good value mainly where a Microsoft 365 organization already needs PMO-style scheduling and is comfortable with Microsoft licensing. It gets expensive and awkward for small teams that want a simple board, since Plan 3 at about $30 per user is a high per-seat price for light use. Confirm current plan names and prices with Microsoft before building a budget.
Worth it if
- Microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs.
Look elsewhere if
- Small teams wanting a simple board without Microsoft licensing.
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- Plans, features and terms are not confirmed by the vendor's own documentation.
- G2 entry price shown is Planner Plan 1 at $10 per user per month.
Our verdict on Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a scheduling and portfolio product sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Its pricing is the hard part: the figures we found are all third-party, and none is confirmed against Microsoft's own price list. Project Plan 3 appears at about $30 per user per month and Planner Plan 1 at $10, but one of those sources dates from 2023.
There is no free plan. Without a confirmed price list, treat every number here as a range to check, not a quote. The tool targets Microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs. For small teams who only want a simple board, the licensing overhead is likely more than the job requires.
Microsoft Project FAQ
What is Microsoft Project used for?
Microsoft Project is Microsoft's scheduling and portfolio product, sold as Project Plan subscriptions inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It is aimed at organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs rather than small teams that only want a simple board. It suits microsoft 365 organizations with PMO-style scheduling needs.
How much does Microsoft Project cost?
Third-party sources list Project Plan 3 at about $30 per user per month and Planner Plan 1 at about $10. Microsoft does not confirm these figures in the pages we found, so check the current price list.
Does Microsoft Project have a free plan?
No. There is no free plan. A free trial is not listed either, so ask Microsoft whether one applies.
How much would Project cost for 20 users?
At the third-party Plan 3 price of about $30, 20 users would cost 20 x $30 x 12 = $7,200 per year. Treat this as an estimate until Microsoft confirms the price.
About Microsoft Project
- Headquarters
- Redmond, US.
Listed in: Project Management Software
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Microsoft Project's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.