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With all their similarities, features, and advantages, it can be challenging to choose between MS Project and Project Online. This article includes a detailed comparison between Project Online vs Project for the Web to help you pick the best fit.
Microsoft Project for the Web
Microsoft Project for the Web offers project managers and team members easy and intuitive task management features to create and manage work of any scale.
Project for the Web is based on the Microsoft Power Platform. It offers Project Home, Roadmap, and a new web-based project management experience designed for informal project managers.
Features
Comparing MS Project Online vs Project for the Web, MS Project for the Web is built for lightweight projects and comes with several features:
- Project Home: This gives you a birds-eye view of recent and critical projects.
- Project Views: Project for the Web comes with three project views – Board, Grid, and Timeline, which let you efficiently manage and track tasks, dates, dependencies, etc., for better monitoring.
- Milestones: It lets you establish and track essential tasks and project milestones.
- Task Scheduling: Offers an accurate schedule of project dates using task start and end dates, work, dependencies, etc.
- Dependencies and Summary Tasks: It lets you set and track dependencies between tasks. You can also plan and manage deliverables and phases with the Summary Tasks feature.
Besides the existing features, Microsoft Project for the Web welcomed some new features with the latest update, including:
- New Project Home Page Actions: Many project-related actions have been combined on the Project Home page for ease of use. The copy, rename, and export options are currently available without opening the project first.
- Creating a Custom Field: You can now build custom fields besides the eleven primary fields. The feature also lets you create a custom field from a list of permitted values.
- Filtering Changes: The new Filters button is available for all three project views.
- Importing a Microsoft Project Desktop Schedule: This new feature is helpful if you’re transitioning to Project for the Web from the Microsoft Project desktop application.
- Creating a Custom Rollup Number Field: You can now designate customNumberfields as Rollup Fields so that values entered in the field will roll up to their respective summary tasks.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
- Comes with a wide range of extensions – MS Teams, Power BI, SharePoint, and more
- Perfect for beginners and informal project managers
- Mapped with tasks, Kanban board, timeline, etc.
| - Advanced features like resource planning, time tracking, etc., are only available with expensive pay plans.
- Requires some waiting time when switching between program parts
- Limitations in terms of maximum hierarchy levels, resources assigned to a task, complete tasks for the project, etc.
|
Microsoft Project Online
Comparing Microsoft Project Online vs Project for the Web, the first one comes with more sophisticated workflows, granular levels of control, and complex project management functions (such as portfolio analysis and resource management), making it the perfect tool for extensive project and portfolio management.
Impeccably integrated with Power BI for analytics, Project Online facilitates efficient portfolio management, resource utilization, forecasting, and timely delivery of tasks.
Features
Jam-packed with complex systems, analysis, and collaboration tools, the noteworthy features of Microsoft Project Online include:
- Baselines and Critical Path: You can set project baselines to monitor and compare current vs. past performance. With Critical Paths, you can visually track tasks representing the longest path through the project.
- Board, Grid & Gantt View: Besides a hierarchical view of tasks in Grid View, the Ganеt view lets you track assignments, dependencies, dates, etc., on a Gantt chart. The Board View makes it easy to track projects and improve workflow visually.
- Deliverable, Issue, and Risk Management: Lets you track and manage deliverables using automated scheduling. Issue and Risk management features allow you to identify issues and risks at project and task levels.
- Project Versioning: This feature allows you to compare different versions of a project.
- Task Scheduling and Updates: This feature enables you to capture the status and time for comments.
- Timelines and Timesheets: This feature lets you visually track project dates, dependencies, etc., on the same timeline. With timesheets, team members can enter time and status for tasks, non-project work, or non-working time and submit them for supervisor approval.
- Non-working Time Setup: Only available with Project Online Premium, this feature enables you to add holidays, medical leave, and other non-working times into the project schedule.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
- Excellent for organizations that already use Microsoft products.
- Access to summary board tables, detailed reports, and schedules for data analysis
- Fluid communication and collaboration
- Extensive governance and control, effective management of resources, etc.
- Quick start, smooth access, effortless control, and flexible deals based on specific business needs.
| - Takes more time to load multiple projects and calculate different calendars
- Variety of add-on and license purchases required to access all features
- Limitations in terms of changing domains, principal user names, and master page customizations
- Only supported in SharePoint classic mode and has a quota of 25 GB per site.
|
Microsoft Project for the Web vs Project Online Comparison
While MS Project Online is the more heavyweight tool, it can be too complex for some organizations and team members. Microsoft Project for the Web is easier to manage but still includes a wide range of features.
So, which of these should you select for your project management needs? Here’s a short comparison summary revealing difference between Project Online and Project for the Web.
| Feature | Project For the Web | Project Online |
| Project Type | Small, lightweight projects | Multiple projects and resources |
| Permissions | Share projects through Office 365 groups | Higher level of control through SharePoint security groups or Project permissions |
| View | Grid, Timeline, and Cards on a Board | Grid and Timeline |
| Platforms | Integration with Power BI, Power Automate, etc. | Easily integrate projects with SharePoint. |
| Integration | Power apps integration allows custom solutions to work problems | Advanced project management- portfolio analysis, program management, etc. |
| Advantages | Easy usage, Groups Integration, New features | More complex systems, robust project management capabilities |
Find out how to achieve broader Project for the Web adoption when using it among with Project Online
FAQs
Microsoft Project for the Web vs Project Online Comparison
It is best suited for small to medium-sized teams. Project Online, on the other hand, serves enterprise organizations with more complex project management needs. It offers portfolio management, resource management, and advanced reporting and analysis.
Can I migrate from project online to project for the Web? ›
All types of dependencies can be migrated from Project Online, to Project for the web. To use this functionality, it is required to generate a token when connecting to your Project for the web environment. Please refer to the 'How to create task custom fields' article for more details.
Is Project Online being discontinued? ›
We remain deeply committed to providing the full support you need and expect, so you can continue to use and invest with confidence in Microsoft Project. There is no date to limit the functionality of Project Online at this time, but we encourage customers to plan their transition as soon as possible.
What is the difference between PWA and P4W? ›
PWA uses legacy technologies but has hundreds of features that P4W doesn't, such as program and portfolio management, better resource management, and more progress measurement options.
Is PWA going away? ›
Apple has announced that it's reversing its previously announced decision to no longer support home screen web apps, also known as Progressive Web Apps (PWA), on the iPhone. As of Friday, March 1, 2024, EU users will continue to be able to install and use home screen web apps on iOS going forward.
What are the benefits of project for the Web? ›
Project for the web provides simple, powerful work management capabilities and can be used by project managers and team members to plan and manage work of any size.
Is Microsoft replacing project? ›
Spring 2024: The new Planner app in Teams will be generally available. The current Tasks by Planner and To Do app in Teams will be renamed to Planner. Microsoft Project for the web will be renamed to Planner as part of the Premium experiences.
Can I export a project online to MPP? ›
Connect your Project Online with the Project Desktop client (the step-by-step guide we provided in this article as a Method 2) and import the required projects. Choose the project you wish to export from the list of available projects. Click “File” → “Export” → “Save Project as File” → “Choose MPP extension”.
Can you import Excel into a project online? ›
If you started your project in Excel but need to manage more complex schedules, resource sharing, and tracking, you're probably ready to move your data into Project. You can do this by using the Project Import Wizard.
Is Project Online included in Office 365? ›
Is Microsoft Project Online Included in Office 365? Microsoft Office 365 doesn't include any online or desktop version of MS Project. You'll need to pay for a subscription to use Microsoft Project Online.
Microsoft Project Online is an excellent tool we can use separately from the Office 365 suite. We can say that it's widely used and has a long history. The online interface displays a much cleaner 'look and feel', allowing us to stay focused on the task that is important.
What is the new name for Project Online Professional? ›
Project Plan 3 is the new name for Project Online Professional, the license most often assigned to a project manager or resource manager.
Is a PWA better than website? ›
Unlike Native apps, PWA works like any website so it can be indexed in search engines. Compared to normal/responsive web pages, PWA has increased performance and engagement, helping your website rank better in search results.
When should you not use PWA? ›
Disadvantages of progressive web apps (PWAs)
Many native apps can run even when the user is not connected to the internet. However, PWAs rely on web browser connection to run, and therefore require internet connectivity. If offline mode is important for your users, a PWA is likely not the right choice.
Do people still use PWA? ›
Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are already supported by browsers like Google Chrome and Opera, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Firefox. Hence, PWA is still relevant in 2023 and has the potential to become the web application of the future.
How do I import a project online to project for the Web? ›
Go to project.microsoft.com and sign in to your Microsoft 365 account. Select the arrow next to New blank project, and then select Import from Project desktop. In the Import from Project desktop dialog box, select Choose .
Is there a web version of MS Project? ›
Use Project for the web to create and manage projects in the way that works best for you.
What is Microsoft Project online? ›
Project Online is web-based, and is great for:
Managing multiple projects. Tracking work on timesheets. Balancing broad resource needs.
What is the difference between Project Server and Project Online? ›
Microsoft Project Server is a server-based application that provides centralized resource management, project portfolio management, and collaboration tools. It requires users to have Microsoft Windows as their operating system. Microsoft Project Online is the cloud-hosted version of Microsoft Project Server.
