In this Pragmatic Works training video, Yasmine Brooks guides users through the different Microsoft Project plans—Standard, Professional, Plan 1, Plan 3, and Plan 5—and how to download Project Desktop. This blog post summarizes the key points she discussed to help users decide which plan best fits their needs.
🖥️ On-Premises Plans: Project Standard vs. Project Professional
- Project Standard:
- One-time purchase.
- Provides access to Project Desktop only.
- No collaboration or online sharing features.
- Project Professional:
- Includes Project Desktop + Project Online features.
- Allows collaboration via SharePoint site creation.
- Supports enterprise resources and shared custom fields.
- Tracks time-off and timesheets across the organization.
☁️ Cloud-Based Plans: Plan 1, Plan 3, and Plan 5
- Project Plan 1:
- Access to Project for the Web only.
- Team collaboration features: edit tasks, mark complete, etc.
- Limitations: No access to the critical path or desktop app.
- Project Plan 3:
- Access to Project for the Web + Project Online.
- Includes Project Desktop download.
- Supports critical path tracking.
- Project Plan 5:
- All features of Plan 3, with added enterprise-grade capabilities.
- Full access to Project Desktop, Online, and Web.
📥 How to Download Microsoft Project Desktop
If you've subscribed to Plan 3 or Plan 5, here's how to access and install the Project Desktop app:
- Visit account.microsoft.com and sign in.
- Click on “Subscriptions” to confirm your plan (Plan 3 or 5 required).
- Navigate to “Apps and Devices”.
- Scroll to find the option to Download Project Desktop and click the link.
- Note: There is no direct public download link—access is tied to your subscription.
🎯 Summary
Choosing the right Microsoft Project plan depends on your needs:
- For individual, offline work: Project Standard
- For collaborative, enterprise-level management: Project Professional or Plan 3/5
- For lightweight, team-based web planning: Plan 1
Once you confirm your subscription, follow the guided steps to download Project Desktop and begin your project planning journey. For deeper insights and tutorials, stay tuned for the next videos in our Microsoft Project series.
Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Microsoft Project and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.