microsoft 365 compare business plans

Compare Microsoft 365 Business Plans

Microsoft 365 business plans comparison, microsoft 365 basic vs business standard vs business premium vs apps for business, 1] microsoft 365 business basics, 2] microsoft 365 business standard, 3] microsoft 365 business premium, microsoft 365 apps for business.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the right choice for you if you are getting started and don’t mind the limitations. But if the limitations bother you, the Premium version of it will offer you more advanced feature sets and better facilities than the other editions.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs Standard vs Premium: what are the differences?

Not sure which Microsoft 365 product your business needs? We explore the three main options

It doesn’t matter if you use your PC or laptop for work, everyday home use or entertainment – at some point you’ll need productivity tools . And if you find yourself in that position, you’ll undoubtedly take a look at Microsoft 365.

While there’s no doubting the quality on offer from Microsoft’s suite of productivity apps, though, it can be difficult to figure out exactly which version of the product you need.

That’s true enough if you’re just buying for your home or family computer, but there’s even more pressure on the decision if you want to buy Microsoft 365 for corporate use.

To save you a headache, we’ve examined Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard and Premium to see how the three products differ – and to help you figure out which one to buy. Don’t worry if you need more software help, either, because we’ve also explored the best secure file hosting and key methods if you need to choose business antivirus software .

Microsoft for Business can help identify your company's specific tech needs. Connect one-on-one with a business product expert by video chat or audio call. Book a consultation today.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic Explained

As the name suggests, Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the firm’s entry-level productivity suite. And while that does mean you get fewer features, it also brings the cost down: in the US it costs just $6 per user per month, and in the UK it’s £4.50. All the prices here are based on an annual subscription purchase, and all the prices we’ve mentioned here don’t include sales taxes.

For that money you get access to a host of popular apps. You can use web, Android and iOS versions of Word , Excel , PowerPoint , OneNote and Outlook , and you also get access to Exchange so you can use your domain name for emails.

Collaborative working is possible in documents and spreadsheets, and files are saved and synced across all of your devices with OneDrive and SharePoint.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

If you want these apps as desktop versions, you can pay $8.25 or £7.90 for Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, which gives you downloadable office apps instead of web versions but without Teams.

Beyond that, the Basic tier includes 1TB of cloud storage for each user, business-class email with 50GB of space per mailbox, custom domain names and full calendar capabilities. You can use Teams to plan schedules, track information with Lists, interact with customers through Bookings and get feedback with Forms.

Security comes from Exchange Online Protection, and Microsoft’s software adheres to critical international and industry-standard security and privacy protocols. Admins can deploy custom permissions and groups to restrict access to sensitive data. The Basic product supports 300 users.

That’s a solid start that’ll sate many small and medium-sized businesses, but the Basic tier lacks many advanced features.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard explored 

You’ll get more versatility if you upgrade to Microsoft 365 Standard, which costs $12.50 per user per month in the US and £9.40 in the UK.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard gets off to a good start by including the same range of features as the Basic tier, including web apps, support for 300 users and 1TB of cloud storage per user.

This product justifies the higher cost in a handful of important ways. The key addition is the ability to download and install desktop versions of Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and OneNote on your PC or Mac hardware – so you don’t have to rely on online versions. PC users also get Access and Publisher, and each user can install these tools on five devices. Beyond that, Microsoft 365 Business Standard allows users to host webinars.

There’s one more key difference. With Business Standard, firms can choose how much control Microsoft has over your data. There’s a more in-depth option that’s ideal for any company that already has its own domain, but you’ll need more tech know-how to get going.

If that’s not suitable for your business, you can access Microsoft 365 Business Standard with email accounts from different providers instead, but you won’t get as many advanced customization options. That’s a process that Microsoft calls Simplified Sign-Up.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium – the best option?

Head to Microsoft 365 Business Premium and you don’t get Simplified Sign-Up, but at this level your firm should have its own domain and the knowledge to manage it properly.

With Microsoft 365 Business Premium you get every other feature we’ve already mentioned here – including the full suite of desktop apps – alongside loads of extra security and management tools from Azure and Intune.

Business Premium users get enterprise-grade security that protects all your devices from malware and ransomware, and you can deploy Microsoft’s best email protection tools to prevent your employees from falling foul of phishing messages.

You’re able to restrict data sharing, prevent unauthorized users from accessing company information, and give trusted employees elevated levels of access no matter where they work, which means you get maximum versatility for hybrid staff.

Business Premium also includes wizards to help admins apply security and access changes to wide swathes of mobile and desktop devices, and apps can be automatically deployed across your organization. Updates can be applied automatically, and you can remotely wipe data from company devices in case of breaches or theft.

That’s a great slate of features for any business needing better security and more control over its devices, but remember that Microsoft 365 Business Premium still only supports 300 users. And be prepared to pay more for this product, too: it costs $22 or £16.60 per user per month.

Which Microsoft 365 Business package should you choose?

There are stark differences between the three different Microsoft 365 Business offerings, which makes it a little easier for companies and IT managers to figure out which option is best for their organization.

The Microsoft 365 Business Basic product is ideal for smaller companies who need reliable web-based productivity tools alongside trustworthy, capable corporate email.

You get cloud storage, calendar functionality and decent security, and this product could be worth a purchase if you already use external products to provide more robust security and management tools – or if your small business just doesn’t need them.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard adds the ability to download and install apps, so that’s worthwhile if you’d prefer to use Windows and Mac software rather than web-based tools. If your employees don’t always have internet access, that’s a worthwhile upgrade.

Elsewhere, Business Standard also gives you the option to retain more control over your data and domains, so it’s ideal if you’ve already got your own domain.

Business Premium is only worthwhile if you need granular control over your devices and if you need stronger security settings to protect sensitive data and regulate access across your company’s range of devices.  

Ultimately, it depends on your needs: Business Basic is suitable for reliable, web-based productivity, Business Standard adds downloadable tools, and the Premium product deploys advanced security and management.

We've featured the best Microsoft Office alternatives .

Mike has worked as a technology journalist for more than a decade and has written for most of the UK’s big technology titles alongside numerous global outlets. He loves PCs, laptops and any new hardware, and covers everything from the latest business trends to high-end gaming gear.

Conductor SEO tool review

Hasleo Backup Suite review

Storage, not GPUs, is the biggest challenge to AI says influential report — lack of bits and bytes is what could make or break your AI/ML project

Most Popular

• 2 The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic falls to a record-low price
• 3 Netflix pushes The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep movie's release date into early 2025, and I think it's for the best
• 4 Record-low price: Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Plus is $300 off at Amazon
• 5 Intellexa hit by additional sanctions by US government

This browser is no longer supported.

Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.

Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plan options

• 11 contributors

Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are available in a variety of plans to best meet the needs of your organization.

Service families and plans

The following table lists the different service families and plans available in Microsoft 365 and Office 365. For a high-level overview of features and pricing information, or to chat with an online representative, select any of the links in the Plans column.

Service availability within each Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plan

Each Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plan includes a number of individual services, such as Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. The following table shows the services that are available in each plan.

While a service may be available across Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, the features available in each plan may differ. To see the details of features that are available for each plan, refer to the individual service description or contact your Reseller or Microsoft sales representative for more information. Several of the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans have add-ons that you can buy for your subscription. An add-on provides additional functionality to the subscription. For more information, see Buy or edit an add-on for Office 365 for business .

1 Office 365 E5 and Microsoft 365 E5 contain Phone System and Audio Conferencing. To implement a Calling Plan requires an additional plan purchase (either Domestic or International). 2  Includes Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance, which provides automatic classification and retention, Microsoft Purview Customer Key, Microsoft Purview Advanced Message Encryption, Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management, Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance, Microsoft Purview Information Barriers, Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox, Microsoft Purview Privileged Access Management, Microsoft Purview Audit (Premium), Records Management, Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Premium) capabilities; and Microsoft 365 E5 Security, which includes Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, and Safe Documents. 3 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1. 4 Includes Exchange Online Plan 2. 5 Viva Engage core functionality is included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, and Office 365 F3. Premium functionality such as leadership corner, campaigns, advanced analytics, and more are included in Viva Suite license. 6 To learn more about which Azure Information Protection features are included with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, see Azure Information Protection . 7 Azure Information Protection isn't included, but can be purchased as a separate add-on and will enable the supported Information Rights Management (IRM) features. Some Azure Information Protection features require a subscription to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, which isn't included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, or Office 365 F3.

1 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1. 2 Includes Exchange Online Kiosk. 3 Microsoft 365 F1 doesn't include rights to an Exchange mailbox. To enable a full Teams experience, Microsoft 365 F1 licenses may come with the Exchange Online K1 service plan enabled. Although the Exchange Online K1 service plan will provision a mailbox for the user, Microsoft 365 F1 users aren't entitled to use the mailbox. We recommend that your customers disable Outlook on the web via these steps and ask users not to access the Exchange mailbox via any other methods. 4 Includes 2 GB storage. 5 Microsoft 365 F1 users can read files using Office for the web, but don't have create/edit/save rights. 6 Viva Engage core functionality is included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, and Office 365 F3. Premium functionality such as leadership corner, campaigns, advanced analytics, and more are included in Viva Suite license. 7 To learn more about which Azure Information Protection features are included with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, see Azure Information Protection . 8 Azure Information Protection isn't included, but can be purchased as a separate add-on and will enable the supported Information Rights Management (IRM) features. Some Azure Information Protection features require a subscription to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, which isn't included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, or Office 365 F3.

Changing or mixing plans

As the needs of your organization change, you may need to change your Microsoft 365 plan. You can switch from your current subscription to another subscription:

• In the same service family: For example, you can move from Microsoft 365 Business Basic to Microsoft 365 Business Standard, or from Office 365 E1 to Office 365 E3.
• From a standalone plan: For example, you can move from Exchange Online Plan 1 to Office 365 E1.
• To a different service family: For example, you can move from Microsoft 365 Business Basic to Office 365 E3. For information about how to change subscriptions, including how to move from a trial to a paid subscription, see Switch to a different Microsoft 365 plan or subscription .

You can combine Enterprise, Business, and standalone plans (for example, Exchange Online Plan 1) within a single account.

Standalone services

The following online services are available on their own, as standalone plans. They can also be added to Business and Enterprise service family plans that don't already include them. For pricing information, or to chat with an online representative, select any of the plans listed in the following table.

Feature availability

To view feature availability across Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, see Microsoft 365 and Office 365 platform service description .

Was this page helpful?

Additional resources

Explore top-rated data protection at an affordable price

• Customer stories

Learn how organizations of all sizes and industries successfully protect data with NAKIVO

• Product Datasheet
• Backup Solution for MSPs
• VMware Backup
• Microsoft 365 Backup
• Ransomware Protection
• Real-Time Replication BETA

Enterprise Backup and Recovery Solution

• Virtual: VMware | Hyper-V | Nutanix AHV | Proxmox
• Physical server: Windows | Linux
• Workstations: Windows | Linux
• SaaS: Microsoft 365
• Cloud: Amazon EC2
• File Share: NAS | File Server
• Apps: SQL | Active Directory | Exchange | Oracle DB
• Virtual: VMware | Hyper-V
• MSP SOLUTION
• DISASTER RECOVERY
• VMware Disaster Recovery
• REAL-TIME REPLICATION beta
• IT MONITORING
• Backup Malware Scan
• SMB | Enterprise | Education Remote Office Backup Hybrid Cloud Backup
• Raspberry Pi
• Western Digital
• Backblaze B2
• S3-Compatible Storage
• EMC Data Domain
• HPE StoreOnce
• NEC HYDRAstor
• Backup from HPE Storage Snapshots
• Pricing and Editions
• Pricing Calculator
• Get a Quote
• Find a Reseller
• Find an MSP
• Renew License

More growth opportunities with the NAKIVO Partner Program

• Why Partner
• Solution Partner Signup
• Deal Registration

Grow your customer base with powerful BaaS and DRaaS

• MSP Partner Signup
• Technology Partners
• Storage Certification Program
• Log In to the Partner Portal
• SUPPORT RESOURCES

Find answers to your questions in our technical documentation

• Knowledge Base
• Release Notes
• API Reference Guide
• SUPPORT CENTER

Reach out to our highly-rated support team about any issues

• Send Support Bundle
• How-to Videos

Microsoft 365 vs Office 365: Key Differences Explained

It is no secret that Microsoft provides one of the most popular productivity suites on the market today. More than one million companies , including 70% of Fortune 500 firms, rely on Office 365 to complete numerous day-to-day tasks within various departments of their organizations.

Even with this widespread popularity, confusion persists around the naming conventions for the online subscription plans for Microsoft 365 and Office 365. Simply put, Office 365 and all its collaborative tools represent just one part of Microsoft 365, which also includes the Windows operating system and Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS).

This blog details the features and pricing of Microsoft 365 and Office 365 packages and highlights the key differences between the two products.

Backup for Microsoft 365 Data

Use the NAKIVO solution to back up Microsoft 365 data in Exchange Online, Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint Online for uninterrupted workflows and zero downtime.

What Is Office 365?

Office 365 is a cloud service platform that combines several productivity, collaboration and communication applications, including email and the Office suite. Users can subscribe to one of the available monthly plans to access these Microsoft products online or on-premises using a desktop, laptop, tablet and phone.

The main applications in Office 365 packages are:

• Office suite : These are the known Microsoft productivity tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
• Outlook and Exchange Online : Business-class email with shared calendars to streamline communication within and beyond your organization.
• OneDrive : Personal cloud storage that allows you to sync different versions of a document and share them with other users.
• Teams : A communication and collaboration software that provides a virtual workspace in which you can share documents and conduct meetings with your coworkers.
• Editor : An AI-powered writing assistant with a grammar and spell checker for Word and Outlook.
• SharePoint Online : An intranet and web hosting tool for simplified file access and management.
• Skype for Business : Another communication app with instant messaging and video conferencing.
• Planner : An app that helps organize different tasks or projects and keep track of your team’s progress.
• Yammer : An internal social media network allowing you to communicate with members of your company.

All of these applications are always up to date since new versions are automatically downloaded and installed once you have an active Office 365 subscription.

Office 365 Version Comparison

The current Office 365 plans are dedicated to enterprises looking to create and share documents across multiple devices and from different locations. Below are the available Office 365 packages :

Microsoft also provides three Office 365 Government plans specifically designed for governmental institutions. These packages include all the features and capabilities of Office 365 services with advanced compliance and security features to help government entities meet regulatory requirements.

It is important to note that in 2020, most of Office 365 was unified with Microsoft 365 and all the plans were merged to create more comprehensive offerings. Read on to learn about the latest Microsoft subscriptions.

What Is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is an all-in-one bundle that merges Office 365, Windows OS and Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS). It is a subscription-based offering that includes all the applications in the Office suite in addition to Microsoft’s flagship operating system and threat protection features.

Windows OS incorporates security tools like Windows Defender antivirus and BitLocker in addition to the new Microsoft Edge web browser and the digital assistant, Cortana. EMS is a collection of tools that combine identity, access and endpoint management with information protection and identity security.

The Microsoft 365 packages are arranged according to their intended users:

The plans are designed to provide distinct sets of products for personal, educational and professional use. Business and Enterprise plans even offer identity management and device management tools such as Azure Active Directory , Azure Information Protection and Cloud App Security to help you safeguard your data and simplify control.

Microsoft 365 for Home

This package is designed for personal use and provides the needed tools to help you create high-quality essays, reports and presentations. There are two subscription types available:

Microsoft 365 for Business

Small and medium businesses with up to 300 users can choose from three different tiers:

Microsoft 365 for Enterprise

Large organizations that require robust data security, powerful device management and strict user control can pick one of the three plans below:

Microsoft 365 Education

Microsoft created plans specifically for educators and students to empower and streamline the learning process. Schools have three dedicated packages:

Office 365 vs Microsoft 365: Comparison

While both products offer Office 365 packages, Microsoft 365 plans also include device management tools, advanced security features and the Windows operating system.

The table below highlights the differences between the business plans of these two offerings.

Wrapping Up

Office 365 packages are designed to provide individual users and businesses with various productivity and collaboration applications. These tools are also found in Microsoft 365, but they are combined with Windows OS in addition to different security, management and compliance features.

Choosing either one of these offerings depends entirely on your needs. It is important that you pick the right plan to avoid paying additional costs for a solution that you might never use.

Try NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Get a free trial to explore all the solution’s data protection capabilities. 15 days for free. Zero feature or capacity limitations. No credit card required.

People also read

Which Microsoft 365 plan is right for your business?

Your business has unique needs, which is why there are several Microsoft 365 plans to choose from, so you get the apps and features you need. Many of the plans sound similar, so we'll guide you through the options to help you find the plan that will best support you to run your business.

If you want a full breakdown and comparison of features in each plan, check out more here .

You can also take a quick 2-minute assessment to get a recommendation on which plan is best for you.

Microsoft 365 for business  is a subscription service that lets you run your organization in the cloud while Microsoft takes care of the IT for you. It connects employees to the people, information, and content they need to do their best work, from any device.

The most popular plan and what is recommended for most businesses is Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

If you have other needs, choose one of the options below:

We already have Word and Excel, but we're interested in email and Microsoft Teams

If your business already has licenses of Microsoft Office, you might only want to get business-class email that gives you a custom email domain address and Microsoft Teams for online meetings. If this is the case, then Microsoft 365 Business Basic would be your best option. 

Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Host email with a 50GB mailbox and custom email domain address.

1TB of cloud storage to store and share files.

Facilitate online meetings and video calls for up to 300 users and create a hub for teamwork using Microsoft Teams.

Manage appointments with Bookings and manage projects with Forms, Lists, and Planner.

Click here if Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the right option.

My business and employees just need apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

If your business only needs desktop apps like Word or Excel, Microsoft 365 Apps for business will be your best option.

The latest desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote (plus Access and Publisher for PC only).

Automatic updates to your apps with the latest features and capabilities.

1 TB of cloud storage to store and share files.

Each license lets you install Microsoft 365 apps on five mobile devices, five tablets and five PCs or Macs per user.

Click here if Microsoft 365 Apps for business is the right option.

What add-ons are there for my business plan?

There are a plenty of add-ons to choose from, but two that we recommend you consider are Microsoft Defender for Business and Teams Phone.

Help keep your devices and servers secure from online threats such as ransomware and malware. Defender for Business is an easy-to-use cybersecurity solution to help protect against, detect, and respond to cyberattacks.

Learn more about Microsoft Defender for Business

Help administrators keep your organization connected with Microsoft Teams calling solutions. Empower employees in remote, in-office, or hybrid work environments with the flexibility of Teams Phone and devices that fit the way you work.

Learn more about Microsoft Teams Phone

Check out  Buy or manage add-ons for Microsoft 365 business plans to learn how to add new features to enhance your subscription.

How do I change subscriptions?

If you chose a plan for your business, but later want to change it, check out Upgrade or change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan to read how you can switch your plan.

Buy Microsoft 365 for your small business

Payment information and billing

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Microsoft 365 vs Office 365

Microsoft 365 was released in Aug 2017 as a bundle that combines the well-known Office 365 with Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) features. Microsoft 365 comes in two flavors, Business or Enterprise, and with 4 different plans between the two. But what is Microsoft 365 now exactly? What do you get for your money and how does Microsoft 365 compare to Office 365?

Office 365 and Windows 10 we can understand, but there is so much more you get (or not) with Microsoft 365. What are the benefits, why would you go for M365? In this article, I will explain what the differences are and compare them against Office 365.

Office 365 is becoming Microsoft 365. The names of some Office 365 plans will change to Microsoft 365 after April 21, 2020. This article is updated accordingly. Read more about it here Microsoft 365 Business Premium was formally know as Microsoft 365 Business

What is Microsoft 365?

Before we start comparing the two, let’s first start by explaining what Microsoft 365 is. Basically, it’s a bundle with a couple of Microsoft Products. What is included depends on the version and plan you choose, but in short, the following products are included:

• Office 365 (Business Premium or Enterprise F1, E3 or E5)
• Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (E5 only)
• Microsoft Intune
• Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics
• Identity and Threat Protection
• Information Protection and Compliance
• Azure Active Directory
• Azure Information Protection
• Azure Advanced Threat Protection
• Windows 10 Pro Upgrade or Windows 10 Enterprise

So as you can see Microsoft 365 is a bit more than only Windows 10 and Office 365 combined. Another advantage is that you can manage all your devices and security settings from the cloud with the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Office 365 in Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is available in different plans, and starting ad April 21, 2020, the Office 365 business plans are renamed to Microsoft 365. So we know have a lot more Microsoft 365 plans to choose from.

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic (formerly know as Office 365 Business Essentials)
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard (formerly know as Office 365 Business Premium)
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium (formerly know as Microsoft 365 Business)
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Busines (formerly know as Office 365 Business)
• Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (formerly know as Office 365 ProPlus)
• Microsoft 365 Enterprise F1
• Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3
• Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5

Microsoft 365 Business plans include the “old” Office 365 business. The Enterprise plans contain their Office 365 counterpart. So with Microsoft Enterprise E3, you get exactly the same apps and services as with Office 365 Enterprise E3 (with the addition of Windows 10 Enterprise and the security products of course)

If you want to know more about the Business plans, make sure you read the article Microsoft 365 Business Plans compared where I got more into detail about the differences.

So the Office part is easy, not much to compare there. But what about all the security features and Windows 10?

Windows 10 in Microsoft 365

A simple difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 is the Windows 10 license. With Microsoft 365 you get a Windows 10 Pro upgrade or Windows 10 Enterprise (E3 or E5) license.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

With the Business Premium plan , you get only an upgrade license for Win 10 Pro. This simply means you must have a valid Windows 7 or 8 license from which you can upgrade. In my opinion, not a real added value compared to Office 365.

Windows 10 was released in 2015, so almost every computer has already a valid Windows 10 Pro OEM license. If you are still running Windows 7 then your hardware is probably due to be replaced soon. So the Windows 10 Pro upgrade license is not a real added value.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise

For the Enterprise plans, it’s more interesting when it comes to Windows 10. With the M365 Enterprise F1 or E3 plan, you will get a Windows 10 Enterprise E3 license. (F1 is limited to local only). The E5 plan gets, of course, a Windows 10 Enterprise E5 license.

The features you get are the same, so what makes it interesting is the price. Now Microsoft 365 Enterprise prices are not listed prices. You will have to contact a Microsoft Partner to get a quote, but there is an estimate of the cost.

In general Microsoft 365, E3 will cost you around $ 32 per user per month. The E5 version will be around $ 57.50 per user per month. If we look at the normal Windows 10 Enterprise plans and combine them with a separated Office 365 plan you will get the following result:

Microsoft 365 E3

Microsoft 365 E5

Keep in mind that we haven’t taken a look at the Device Management and Security products yet. This is only Office 365 and Windows 10.

Device and Application Management with Microsoft 365

Device and Application Management is one of the tools to protect and secure your organization’s resources and data. This is what Microsoft 365 is all about. Giving you the tools in one environment to keep the data safe.

With Office 365 alone you have some options to manage and protect your data. We can wipe mobile devices when they are lost with Exchange Online, create content policy rules and Data Loss Prevention policies in the Security and Compliance center , but we can’t manage the device itself.

Mobile device management

With Microsoft 365 you get Microsoft Intune to manage mobile devices. Intune allows us to control multiple factors of the mobile devices and business apps on it. You can set device policies (prevent rooted phones, require a password or pin code, etc) and application policies (Intune Application Protection Policy (APP)).

Using the APP you don’t need to control the device itself. You can simply apply the policy to the application itself, for example, Outlook. When a user is using Outlook we could for example require a pin code to access the corporate data, check if the device is not jailbroken or prevent them from copying corporate data to other apps (personal mail for example)

Also, the Selective Wipe is a welcome option when your users are using their own devices (BYOD). You can just remove the managed apps and data while keeping the personal data intact.

Managing Windows devices

Not only mobile devices can be managed with M365 , but you can also manage and even deploy your Windows 10 devices. Don’t expect a full SCCM replacement, you can’t install third parity apps with it. But what you can do is pre-configure Windows 10 and make sure the required Office applications are installed and kept up-to-date.

But it doesn’t stop there, you can also configure your Windows Defender, update management and firewall policies with Microsoft 365.

Advanced Security Features

Keeping your data safe is one part of managing your devices (keeping them up to date and compliant) and on the other hand, protecting actually your data. Microsoft 365 gives you access to multiple tools to help protect your data.

Azure Information Protection is one of these tools. It is designed to protect your data at all times. Based on classifications and protection information it will protect your data no matter where it’s stored. Pretty much in the same way as you can do with most PDF files. You can prevent printing, sharing, editing, or copying of those files.

With Azure Information Protection you can put similar security rules on your files. Not every file type is supported (mainly Office files, images, and pdf, check here for more details), but the most important files are of course.

Other features that are included in Microsoft 365 are Windows Hello, Device Guard, and Credential Guard. These features are aimed to strengthen the security of your devices by using virtualization-based security features to isolate your secrets and Configurable code integrity policies to protect your devices against unwanted apps or code.

So I have given your an overview of the most important features and the differences between them in Office 365 and Microsoft 365. But how does all translate to price per user? Prices for Microsoft 365 Enterprise are not listed, you will need to contact a Microsoft Partner to get exact user prices.

But I can give you an estimate based on prices other IT Pro’s got from Microsoft. If you have new prices or examples, just drop a comment below and I will update the article if necessary.

Price built-up of Microsoft 365 E3

We can compare the Microsoft 365 bundle with three separate Microsoft products. As mentioned in the beginning, M365 is a bundle of Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility and Security. If you buy those products separate you will get the following result:

Price built-up of Microsoft 365 E5

For the E5 plans, we will get a similar result. The savings per user per month is a little bit bigger compared to the E3 plan. Even if you can do it with Windows 10 E3, it is still cheaper to go for the Microsoft 365 E5.

This is the first article about Microsoft 365 vs Office 365. In the coming weeks, I will review and compare the different plans to help you select the right product for your organization.

If you need Windows 10 Enterprise and you want to buy Office 365 then I really recommend spending a few extra dollars and going for Microsoft 365. The addition of EMS, the ability to centrally manage your whole environment is definitely worth the few dollars extra per user per month.

But if you don’t need Windows 10 Enterprise, then buying the Office 365 and EMS separately makes much more sense.

Comparison Table Microsoft 365 vs Office 365

Below you will find a comparison chart for the E3 plans. I have built it up the same way as to Office 365 plans so you can easily compare it. You can also download the PDF version of the comparison here: Microsoft 365 vs Office 365 PDF version

* Microsoft Enterprise E3 and E5 prices are based on quotes other IT Pro’s got from Microsoft Reps. The prices may vary depending on your seat size and county. Use these prices as an indication.

Take also a look at these comparisons if you are more interested in Office 365:

• Office 365 Enterpris e E1 vs E3
• All Microsoft Office 365 plans compared
• Microsoft 365 Business plans compared

Sources used:

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/microsoft-365-business-service-description
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/deploy-m365

You may also like the following articles

How to Reset MFA Office 365

Exchange Online Message Recall Update

Creating an Asset Library in SharePoint

10 thoughts on “microsoft 365 vs office 365”.

What impact will you have when you move a user from O365 E5 + EMS E5 to M365 E5? Is there any article explaining it?

According to the Microsoft docs url below, MDM for Office 365 includes the ‘selective wipe’ and security policies(like jailbroken) already. These features therefor are not key differences in favor for Microsoft 365. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/basic-mobility-security/capabilities?redirectSourcePath=%252fen-ie%252farticle%252fcapabilities-of-built-in-mobile-device-management-for-office-365-a1da44e5-7475-4992-be91-9ccec25905b0&view=o365-worldwide

Very good O365 and M365 mapping relationship!

What does a version mean with respect to 0365, does version means an update? For example, o365 version 2002, what is 2002 signifies?

That is indeed a version (build number) of Office 365.

What about the Microsoft 365 Business Premium. You stated that Microsoft 365 includes windows 10, but is that so for the Microsoft 365 Business packages?

With the name change, it’s a bit confusing maybe. But with Microsoft 365 Business Premium you get indeed a Windows 10 Pro license. You can read more about it in this article .

very helpful comparison :_)

Hey Mate, Just clarifying on Azure AD plan 1, is this not also included in m365 E1 & E3, with plan 2 being included on E5?

It’s indeed included in M365 E3 as listed in the table and in M365 F 1. The Azure AD plan 2 is indeed included in the E5 plan.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

So, about that AdBlocker... Will you consider disabling it?

Yes, ads can be annoying. But they allow me to keep writing content like this. You can also support me by Buying Me a Coffee ☕ or visit the shop to get some Tech-Inspired merchandise | Read more about disabling AdBlockers

• Need help? Real people, not bots. 24/7/365.
• 1-866-716-2040

COMPARISON OF OFFICE 365 BUSINESS PLANS AND PRICING

Office 365 plans.

Office 365 Business plans are suitable for businesses that have less than 300 users. There are three business plans: Office 365 Business Essentials, Office 365 Business, Office 365 Business Premium. They have been now renamed as Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Apps for business, and Microsoft 365 Business Standard respectively.

If you don’t need Microsoft Office applications, go with the most basic plan – Office 365 Business Essentials (now called as Microsoft 365 Business Basic). This plan is priced at only $6 user/month. At $8.25 user/month, Office 365 Business (now called as Microsoft 365 Apps for business) is a standard plan includes Microsoft Office applications along with OneDrive for Business. In addition to all the features of the above plans, Office 365 Business Premium (now called as Microsoft 365 Business Standard) has more advanced features priced at $12.50 user/month.

Business Plans without Teams

Business plans with teams.

• ✓ Free consultation call
• ✓ 24/7 expert support
• ✓ Talk to Microsoft-certified experts

All Our Office 365 Business plans include

Free end-user support, free migration help, 24 x 7 phone, chat, & email, online knowledge base, savings on it costs, fully automatic updates, regular data backup, 1 tb of online storage, business email service, tier-1 partner expertise, faq - your questions we got answers, how exactly will apps4rent help me with these plans.

As your Cloud Solution Provider for Office 365, we will provide free migration and 24 x 7 x 365 support to end-users for issues that take up your time, e.g., configuring email accounts, password resets, setting up aliases and contacts, creating groups, configuring Skype, synchronizing OneDrive, exploring search features, and optimizing browser settings. We will also help you with installing and configuring Office 2016 on your devices and handling DNS records.

What Office versions are compatible with Office 365 Business Essentials?

Office 365 Business Essentials is most compatible with the latest version of Office, Office 2013, and Office 2011 for Mac. Previous versions of Office, such as Office 2010 and Office 2007, may work with Office 365 but with reduced functionality.

What is the difference between Office 365 and Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is a bundle of services including Office 365, comprising of Microsoft services including Windows 10 Enterprise. Office 365 is a cloud-based productivity suite which is a bundle of popular Microsoft apps.

Is it possible to use my own domain name for the emails in Office 365?

Yes, you can add the domain name you own to your Office 365 account and set up your domain-based email addresses. You can even add multiple domains and sub-domains to Office 365 and host any of the services, including email, on any of the domains that you add. You must own a domain name and as an admin, you will have to make some changes on the DNS records of your domain – we will guide you for this.

Is a desktop version of Office required to use Office 365 Business Essentials? 

No. You do not need to have a desktop version of Office to use Office 365 Business Essentials . However, you will have a richer experience and also be able to work offline when you connect a desktop version of Office to the Office 365 services and get it in sync.

Will by MS Office be automatically updates to the latest version if I have Office 365 plans?

Yes. MS Office apps are always up to date on Office 365. If you already have a subscription of Office 365 plans, you already have a version of Office that has all the functions of Office 2019.

Submit Your Requirements

Apps4Rent – Tier 1 Office 365 Cloud Solution Provider

Get FREE migration to Office 365

Migrating From? Exchange POP3/IMAP G Suite GoDaddy Rackspace Office 365 Mozilla Thunderbird Lotus Notes Outlook.com Kerio GroupWise SharePoint Zimbra cPanel Intermedia AOL ZOHO Yahoo AWS WorkMail MDaemon PST iCloud Liquid Web FastMail SmarterMail ProtonMail Google Vault Commvault Barracuda Mimecast Enterprise Vault 1&1 Bluehost Mail.com Enterprise Vault GMX Others

CLICK TO CALL

Your current User-Agent string appears to be from an automated process, if this is incorrect, please click this link: