# Microsoft Project vs Jira

> Microsoft Project and Jira both began as installed software, but their cloud transitions reveal different definitions of completion. Atlassian launched Jira in 2002, shipped cloud versions in 2011, ended Server support in 2024 and now directs feature development toward Cloud while giving Data Center customers a runway to 2029. Microsoft launched Project in 1984, built a lighter web successor, then retired the Project for the web endpoint into Planner in 2025 while continuing to sell and support Project desktop. Planner Premium has gained Gantt timelines, dependencies, critical path, sprints and workload views, yet Microsoft still documents gaps and separate plan architectures. The useful lesson for software leaders is that cloud migration finishes when the cloud product becomes the default destination for demanding users, not when a browser version merely exists.

## Achievements

- Jira grew from a software issue tracker into a work-management platform used by software, business and service teams.
- Atlassian provides a Jira Cloud Migration Assistant with app assessments, user checks, selective migration and pre-migration reports.
- Jira Cloud Premium and Enterprise include financially backed uptime commitments of 99.90% and 99.95%, respectively.
- Microsoft brought Project for the web capabilities into Planner Premium, including timeline, dependencies, critical path, milestones, sprints and workload views.
- Microsoft continues to support Project desktop for specialist scheduling tasks such as network diagrams and automatic resource leveling.

## Latest updates

- **2024-02** — Atlassian support for Jira Server ended on February 15, 2024.
- **2025-08** — Project for the web was retired as a separate endpoint and users were redirected to Microsoft Planner.
- **2026-08** — Microsoft's current Planner documentation says updates continue to close critical gaps in premium plans; Project desktop remains documented and supported.
- **2029-03** — Atlassian's announced end-of-life date for Data Center is March 28, 2029.

## Links

- Website: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-24