Project 2016 Standard is Microsoft’s desktop project-management software for individuals and teams that need to plan, schedule and monitor projects locally. It helps users create task lists, define milestones, link task dependencies, assign resources, set working calendars and visualise delivery plans through Gantt charts and timeline views. Baseline and progress-tracking tools help compare actual performance against the original schedule. Project 2016 Standard is a perpetual installed-software licence rather than a subscription, so activated software can continue to run without monthly or annual renewal. It is intended for standalone use and does not provide the enterprise connection features available with Project Professional for Project Server or Project Online. Microsoft ended support for Project 2016 on 14 October 2025, so it no longer receives security updates, bug fixes or technical support. Compare Project 2016 Standard key prices from verified third-party retailers before buying.
Creates project schedules with tasks, durations, milestones and dependencies.
Uses Gantt charts and Timeline views to present schedules and key dates clearly.
Supports resource assignment for people, materials and costs.
Provides project calendars and working-time settings for more accurate scheduling.
Lets users save baselines and compare planned work against actual progress.
Includes views, tables and reports for reviewing task, resource and schedule data.
Supports large project schedules; Microsoft lists a maximum of 400,000 tasks per project. 1296
Uses a one-time-purchase desktop licence rather than a recurring subscription.
Does not include Project Server or Project Online connectivity features available with Project Professional.
Is no longer supported by Microsoft. 1297
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