Microsoft Planner Premium pricing in the US starts at $10.00 per user/month (Plan 1), with Plan 3 at $30.00 and Plan 5 at $55.00, all billed yearly. Planner Basic is included with most Microsoft 365 licences. Most organizations require Plan 3 for structured project delivery and selectively use Plan 5 for advanced portfolio management.
What Is Microsoft Planner Premium?
Microsoft Planner Premium is Microsoft’s latest, browser-based project and portfolio management solution. It sits within Microsoft 365.
The software supports:
- Structured scheduling
- Cross-team collaboration
- Portfolio oversight
- AI-powered assistance via Copilot
Additionally, as Planner Premium runs natively within Microsoft 365, the tool integrates seamlessly with:
- Microsoft Teams
- Outlook
- SharePoint
- Microsoft Power Platform
Integrating with the Microsoft Power Platform, the solution can be extended by the Wellingtone Accelerator+ Power App, transforming the tool into a fully customizable, enterprise AI-ready PPM solution. As the 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year for Project & Portfolio Management, Wellingtone works with organizations globally to implement, extend, and optimize Planner Premium for enterprise use.
Also important to note, Planner Premium is Microsoft’s strategic successor to Project Online, which retires on 30 September 2026.
Why Did Microsoft Rebrand Project for the Web?
Microsoft rebranded Project for the Web to Planner Premium to create a unified work management experience with the three factors below motivating the decision:
- Clarity – Many organizations were confused between Planner and Project for the Web.
- Unified Experience – A single Planner brand simplifies communication and adoption.
- AI-First Strategy – Copilot can now operate across both personal task management and enterprise project delivery under one platform.
Wellingtone has supported hundreds of organizations through this transition and sees the rebrand as a strategic shift toward AI-enabled PPM.
You can learn more through our webinar recording below:
Transitioning from Microsoft Project for the web to Planner
Presented by Baz Khinda, Commercial VP and Senior Microsoft Consultant, Wellingtone Inc.
What’s the difference between Planner basic and Planner Premium?
Microsoft has two tiers of Planner – Basic and Premium.
Planner Basic is included in Microsoft 365. It’s best for:
- Individuals
- Small teams
- Lightweight task management
The key features include:
- Kanban boards
- Buckets and labels
- Task checklists
- Basic reporting
- Microsoft Teams integration
In contrast, Planner Premium requires a paid subscription. It’s best for:
- Structured departmental projects PMOs
- Enterprise portfolio environments
and has more extensive list of key features, including:
- Timeline (Gantt) view
- Task dependencies
- Baselines and critical path (Plan 3+)
- Agile backlogs and sprints
- Resource management (Plan 3+)
- Portfolio and roadmap views (Plan 5)
- Advanced Power BI reporting
- Copilot AI capabilities
Additionally, you can combine Planner Premium with the Wellingtone Accelerator+ Power App to gain:
- Portfolio governance
- Demand management
- RAID management
- Financial tracking
- Cross-project dependencies
- Enterprise resource insights
This is why many Project Online customers are choosing Planner Premium plus Accelerator+ as their strategic migration path.
How Much Does Planner Premium Cost (USD)?
| Plan | Monthly Price (USD) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Planner Basic | Included in Microsoft 365 | Task boards, buckets, checklists, basic views & reporting, Teams integration |
| Planner Plan 1 | $10.00 | All Basic features plus Timeline, dependencies, Agile tools, premium templates, advanced reporting |
| Planner Plan 3 | $30.00 | All Plan 1 features plus history, baselines, critical path, advanced dependencies and resource assignments view. |
| Planner Plan 5 | $55.00 | All Plan 3 features plus portfolio management demand management, advanced enterprise resource allocation, budgeting and financials, program management. |
Prices correct as of February 2026. Always verify with Microsoft before purchase.
Most organizations implementing structured project management require Plan 3 for project managers, with Plan 5 used selectively for portfolio leadership roles.
Microsoft Planner License Decision Matrix
| Requirement | Basic | Plan 1 | Plan 3 | Plan 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task Management | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Kanban boards | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Gantt view | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Task dependencies | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Agile backlogs | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Baselines | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Critical path | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Named resource assignments | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Portfolio reporting | ✖ | Limited | ✔ | ✔ |
| Demand management | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Enterprise resource allocation | ✖ | ✖ | Limited | ✔ |
How to Choose the Right Microsoft Planner License
Choosing the right license is not just a pricing decision. It affects governance maturity, reporting capability and scalability.
At Wellingtone, we regularly see organizations either:
- Under-license and hit capability limits within months
- Over-license and pay for features that are never used
The right decision depends on three core dimensions.
1. Complexity of Your Project Schedules
Planner Basic may be sufficient if:
- Work is task-based
- There are no dependencies
- No baselines are required
Plan 1 is required if:
- You need structured scheduling
- Tasks depend on each other
- You use Agile boards
Plan 3 becomes essential if:
- You require baselines
- Critical path matters
- Named resources are assigned
2. Organizational Scale
Small teams: Basic for contributors, Plan 1 for leads.
Cross-department delivery: Plan 3 for project managers, Basic for wider teams.
Enterprise PMOs: Plan 3 for PMs, Plan 5 for portfolio leads, Basic for contributors.
Wellingtone frequently models blended licence scenarios during Project Online migration planning to ensure cost optimization.
3. Governance & Reporting Expectations
If leadership expects:
- Standardized reporting
- Portfolio dashboards
- Resource heatmaps
- Financial oversight
Plan 3 or Plan 5 is usually required, especially when paired with Power BI and Wellingtone Accelerator+.
Should You Buy Directly from Microsoft?
Many organizations purchase licenses directly through:
- Microsoft CSP partners
- Enterprise Agreements
- Microsoft Online
However, before committing, it is worth validating:
- Whether your license mix is correct
- Whether Plan 5 is genuinely required
- Whether your migration approach impacts licence needs
- Whether governance design requires Power Platform extension
A short validation exercise can prevent unnecessary yearly spend.
Why Work with Wellingtone?
Licensing, governance and migration are interconnected decisions.
Treating them separately often leads to:
- Reconfiguration within 12–18 months
- Reporting limitations
- Unexpected license uplift costs
Wellingtone combines:
- Microsoft Gold Partner expertise
- 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year recognition
- Deep licensing knowledge
- APM Accredited training
- AXELOS P3M3 consulting
- Enterprise Power Platform development
If you are reviewing Planner Premium pricing, planning a Project Online migration, or redesigning your PMO governance model, the next logical step is validating your overall PPM architecture.
A short consultation can clarify:
- Whether your licence mix is correct
- Whether Plan 5 is genuinely required
- How to structure your migration timeline
- Where cost can be optimised without reducing capability
Wellingtone supports organizations at every stage of that journey.
Book a Free Demo
If you’re reviewing licensing, planning a Project Online migration, or exploring how Wellingtone Accelerator+ extends Planner into an enterprise PPM solution, the most effective next step is a tailored demonstration. We’ll walk through your use case, license structure and governance needs.
