Planner vs. Fluid PPM vs. OnePlan: How to Choose Post–Project Online
- Project Made Easy
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Microsoft has announced that Project Online will be retired on September 30, 2026, with no new tenants allowed. Your project data, customizations, and workflows are at risk of being lost if you delay the move.
If your organization depends on Project Online, the time to make the change is now. At Project Made Easy, we can help you navigate this change by selecting the right replacement and migrating smoothly.
What Project Made Easy Sees as the Best Options Forward
At Project Made Easy, we’re prepared for this moment. We will help you move off Project Online without disruption. First, by choosing the right tool, then migrating your data, and getting your teams onboarded with minimal training needed.
Here are the main paths we guide organizations toward:
Microsoft Planner (Premium)
Ideal for lighter, team-level task work. It integrates with Microsoft 365, gives you Kanban boards, intuitive task tracking, and simple visuals.
If your use of Project Online is more about task lists and basic collaboration than full portfolio management, Planner might just be enough.
OnePlan
For organizations with complex portfolios, resource dependencies, and the need for deeper integration across tools, OnePlan offers an enterprise-grade solution. OnePlan allows you to connect strategy to execution, offering advanced reporting, Power BI integration, and the ability to manage work across multiple systems. It’s ideal for PMOs and organizations that need greater visibility, governance, and control across all initiatives.
FluidPPM
This is Project Made Easy’s “sweet spot” solution for many clients. FluidPPM combines an Excel-style, user-friendly interface with robust project and portfolio capabilities. This is a seamless transition with no disruption and minimal training for your team.
Key Strengths of FluidPPM
Centralized visibility & portfolio alignment: All project data lives in one place, giving leaders real-time insight to make strategic decisions.
Resource & timesheet management: Easily see team availability, allocate work intelligently, and capture hours without burdening staff.
Budgeting & financial control: The cost grid lets you manage planned, forecasted, and actuals. Track variances and maintain tighter control.
Risk, issues & workflow control: Stakeholders can surface and act on risks or blockers before they derail initiatives.
Interactive dashboards & AI support: Drill into portfolio, resource, and financial dashboards. Use AI / Copilot features to ask questions and generate reports.
Easy Microsoft integration: Works naturally with Microsoft Planner, Power Apps, Power Automate, Teams, and Power BI.
Configurable & future-proof: Port Project Online custom fields and workflows. Adjust grids, dashboards, and flows to your specific needs.
Supported migration & implementation strategy:
We follow a 6-step approach: Discovery → Implementation planning → Data migration → Configuration → Training & change management → Ongoing support.
All of this makes FluidPPM a bridge: sophisticated enough for portfolio needs, yet comfortable for users moving from Project Online.
Feature Comparison Table
Below is a quick comparison of key features across Microsoft Planner, FluidPPM (with Power Apps), OnePlan, Project Online.
How Project Made Easy Helps You Transition
Switching Portfolio and Project Management tools is not just technical. It’s a transformation in how your teams work. Here’s how we support you end-to-end:
Assessment & roadmap: We audit your existing Project Online setup;
What features you use
Customizations
Integrations
Map that to your desired state
Tool selection guidance: While FluidPPM is often the best next step, some organizations may benefit from Planner or OnePlan. We help you pick based on real use cases.
Data migration & preservation: We bring over your custom fields, workflows, historical data, and more, minimizing the loss of your legacy investments.
Configuration & customization: We tailor dashboards, workflows, Power Automate flows, and UI to match your existing processes (or better ones).
Training & adoption: Users learn via hands-on sessions, documentation, and change interventions. We make sure they adopt, not resist.
Ongoing support & iteration: Once live, we stay with you. We refine, scale, optimize, and evolve your solution as your portfolio and processes grow.
Don’t Wait. The Clock Is Ticking
You still have some runway, but delay increases risk. Waiting until the end of 2025 or 2026 compresses your migration window and raises the chance of disruptions.
Let’s plan now:
Audit your current Project Online setup;
What you use
What’s critical
What can be cleaned up
Map key requirements (resource management, financials, governance) and see which tool covers them.
Begin a pilot or proof-of-concept migration with help from a partner you trust.
At Project Made Easy, we’ve walked this path many times. We’d love to help your team make a confident, smooth transition. No panic, no surprises.
Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation with us today, and let’s map your best path moving forward.
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