The Project for Office (Plan E3) is included in Microsoft 365 E3, the Project Plan 3 is purchased separately. They are products that, although they look the same, have great differences.
Many are confused by not knowing that an appropriate Project Plan license is required for Office 365 users to use Project Online.
The Project for Office (Plan E3) allows access to only a few functions in Project for the Web, such as viewing schedules and updating allocated activities without access to Project Online.
The Project Plan 3 is a very complete license and gives access to Project Online, Project for the Web and also allows you to enjoy Microsoft Project Professional (Desktop) on your PC.
Microsoft Project has different types of plans. Soon, before signing a license, it is essential to understand your need. To use Project Online, the available licenses are Project Online Essentials, Project Plan 1, Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5.
Project Plan 3 is the most recommended for offering a good cost ratio x benefit, allow access to Project Desktop and integration to the online environment enabling the creation and management of projects enjoying all the robust features of Project Professional combined with the practicality of Project Online.
With Project Plan Essentials, it is possible that the team members assigned to the tasks follow the progress of the portfolio activities and updates. This is an accessory license and has a much lower cost. However, its acquisition depends on at least the acquisition of a Plan 3 by the organization.
Project Plan 5, however much it allows access to the project prioritization tool, is a license with a much higher cost than its predecessor and recommended for specific cases.
Note: Each subscription license allows up to five simultaneous installations of the Project Online desktop application.
In conclusion, if your organization need to integrate Project Desktop to Project Online, at least the Project Plan 3 license is required. Or rather, an appropriate Project Plan license is required for your Office 365 users to use the Project for the web.
This will guarantee access to the corporate environment and functions such as:
- Centralised display of projects
- Share Projects
- Access information from any device
- View reports
- Task tracking
- Quick access to projects
- Assign Resources
All of this allows inclusion and collaboration, besides monitoring by stakeholders without the obligation of expertise in the tool.
Reviewed: 05/25/2022.
Original content from the MLPro editorial library, fully preserved and translated for the English website.