Question 1

Where do the numbers come from?

Accepted Answer

A deterministic cost engine runs on 10 inputs you provide. Each of six cost categories uses a low/high coefficient range derived from common migration programs at similar PMO sizes. Everything is documented — view the open-source calculator logic at github.com/onplana (coming soon) or inspect the PDF report for the per-category reasoning.

Question 2

Why a range instead of a single number?

Accepted Answer

Because migration costs legitimately swing by 2-3× depending on factors like data quality, integration complexity, and change-readiness. A single number would be false precision. The range you see reflects the tool's honest uncertainty; the sensitivity analysis shows which of your inputs, if you tighten them, will most reduce that range.

Question 3

The Onplana comparison feels convenient — how objective is it?

Accepted Answer

We're up front about where we help and where we don't. License-delta gets zero Onplana reduction — we have our own pricing. Cleanup-work gets only a ~20% reduction. Categories like data-migration (native .mpp import), parallel-operation (ingest mid-flight), and integration-rework get larger reductions because they genuinely map to Onplana capabilities. You can verify all of this against the PDF breakdown.

Question 4

Why a 3-year horizon?

Accepted Answer

Most PPM migrations amortize across 2-4 years. Three is the common planning-cycle length and keeps license-delta comparable with typical vendor quotes. If you need a different horizon (1-year sticker shock, 5-year strategic plan), scale the license-delta category linearly — the rest is one-time migration cost regardless of horizon.

Question 5

What does the calculator NOT include?

Accepted Answer

Risk-adjusted contingency (add 15-25% of your own). Legal/procurement cycle time. Any bespoke integrations we didn't ask about. Lost-productivity cost during the cut-over (some teams price this explicitly; we bake a modest version into parallel-operation). Soft benefits like faster reporting cycles aren't quantified either — those typically go in the return-on-investment column, not the cost column.

Question 6

How can I refine the estimate?

Accepted Answer

Start with your actual current annual spend (check procurement invoices — not the list price). Do a 1-day discovery with IT to resolve any "don't know" integration answers — the tool flags this as the highest-impact tightening action when all three are unknown. Use your internal blended PM rate instead of the $100/hr default. Re-run the tool; the range will narrow considerably.

Question 7

What happens to my inputs?

Accepted Answer

We store your inputs + derived estimate for 90 days, associated with a random estimate ID. If you enter your email to unlock the PDF, we also store your email (AES-256-GCM encrypted) for report delivery. Nothing is shared with third parties or used for training. Inputs aren't linked to your identity unless you unlock the PDF.

Question 8

Is this really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Take the calculator, see the inline results, read the full breakdown. No credit card, no trial. We ask for your email only to send the downloadable PDF and occasional updates tied to the 2026 Microsoft Project Online retirement — unsubscribe any time.

Question 9

Are there any usage limits?

Accepted Answer

Yes — to keep these tools free and fast for everyone, we apply reasonable limits: up to 5 uploads per day, and up to 10 email unlocks per email per day. Limits reset on a rolling 24-hour window. If you hit a limit, we'll tell you when you can retry. For higher-volume needs, email support@onplana.com.

Migration Cost Calculator

What you get

Six cost categories

Onplana comparison

Sensitivity analysis

Business case framework

How it works

Answer 10 questions

See the estimate inline

Unlock the PDF

Frequently asked questions

Compare against Onplana directly.