To provide customers with the greatest amount of flexibility, different payment options are available. Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Apps for business, Business Standard, and Business Premium plans are available for monthly commitment payment or annual commitment payment. M365 Business just received full AAD P1 this month. I would get M365 Business plus Microsoft Defender ATP Standalone and Cloud App Security for everyone. Pickup one or two seats of full Microsoft 365 E5 to get automated threat responses and Power BI for the tenant. Microsoft 365 Business Standard combines best-in-class Office apps and powerful cloud services like business-class email, cloud file storage, and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes all the same apps and services plus advanced cyber threat protection and device management capabilities.
Since April 21, 2020, Microsoft has officially renamed all ‘Office 365 Business’ plans to ‘Microsoft 365 Business’. Here’s the table of feature comparison of Microsoft 365 Business plans:
Microsoft 365 | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | $12.50 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | $20.00 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | $8.25 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | ||
| Office applications included | |||||
| Services included | |||||
| Support & Deployment | |||||
| Money-back guarantee | 15 days | 15 days | 15 days | 15 days | |
| Maximum number of users | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | |
| 24/7 Support for end users via phone, chat, and email | |||||
| 99.9% uptime guarantee | |||||
| Licensed for commercial use | |||||
| Desktop versions of Office apps for PC & Mac | |||||
| Lastest desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint for Windows or Mac (plus Access and Publisher for PC only) | |||||
| Access to the document simultaneously by all users in real-time | |||||
| Available on 5 phones, 5 tablets, 5 PC/Macs per user | |||||
| Web & mobile versions of Office apps | |||||
| Word Online, Excel Online and PowerPoint Online | |||||
| Lastest desktop versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint for iOS, Android devices (upto 5 phones and 5 tablets) | |||||
| Access to the document simultaneously by all users in real-time | |||||
| Teamwork & communication | |||||
| Online meetings and video conferencing up to 250 people with Microsoft Teams | |||||
| Microsoft Teams – Desktop and mobile versions | |||||
| Hub for connecting people to Microsoft Teams | |||||
| SharePoint for team sites and intranet | |||||
| Email & calendaring | |||||
| 50 GB mailbox for email hosting with custom email domain address | |||||
| Microsoft Exchange – Business-class emails – Desktop and mobile versions | |||||
| Schedule meetings and respond to invitations with ease using shared calendars | |||||
| Set up new user emails, restore deleted accounts, and more from anywhere | |||||
| File storage & sharing | |||||
| 1 TB OneDrive for Business file storage and sharing | |||||
| Get OneDrive for Business and SharePoint synchronized across all devices for every work file saved | OneDrive only | ||||
| File sharing with people outside your organization | |||||
| Control of permission and access rights for file sharing | |||||
| Access and sync files on PC or Mac and mobile devices | |||||
| Security & compliance | |||||
| Exchange Online Protection – from spam, malware, and other threats | |||||
| Over 1,000 security and privacy controls meeting all globally accepted standards | |||||
| Custom permission for accessing crucial business information | |||||
| Password policy creation | |||||
| Popular productivity tools included | |||||
| Microsoft Teams for scheduling and planning | |||||
| Microsoft Bookings for managing appointments | |||||
| MileIQ for real-time precise on-the-go mileage tracking | |||||
| Features related to Advanced Threat Protection | |||||
| Advanced Threat Protection from ransomware, malware, and zero-day threats | |||||
| Erase the company data remotely from lost devices with Intune | |||||
| Inhibit copy/saving of company data ton unauthorized apps with app protection | |||||
| Information Rights Management to control use access (Do not copy/forward) | |||||
| Windows Defender Exploit Guard for prebreach threat resistance | |||||
| Windows Defender for malware protection for Windows 10 | |||||
| Exchange Online Archiving to enable unlimited cloud archive | |||||
| Features related to managing devices | |||||
| Easy-to-use setup wizard for configuration of security features | |||||
| Manage Windows 10 PC policies with simplified controls | |||||
| Automatic deployment of Office 365 apps to Windows 10 PC | |||||
| Automatic configuration of Office and Windows 10 upgrades | |||||
| Intune for mobile device management (Includes iOS, Android, and Windows PC devices) | |||||
| $5.00 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | $12.50 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | $20.00 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | $8.25 user/month Based on Annual Commitment Start Trial | ||
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All Our Microsoft 365 Business Plans Include
FAQs on M365 Business Plans
WHY MICROSOFT CHANGED NAME FROM OFFICE 365 to M365?
Name changes are not unconventional at Microsoft. The tech giant changes the names of its popular products and services from time to time. The reason behind this name change is cited as a more holistic approach which appeals to a wider base, rather than just the ‘office’ sphere.
What plan should I choose if I do not need Microsoft Office apps?
If you do not need Microsoft Office applications, go with the most basic plan – Microsoft 365 Business Basic (earlier called as Office 365 Business Essentials). This plan is priced at only $5 user/month. At $8.25 user/month, 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, Microsoft Business Standard has more advanced features priced at $12.50 user/month.
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 MICROSOFT 365?
Yes, you can add the domain name you own to your Microsoft 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.
WHAT OFFICE VERSIONS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS BASIC?
Microsoft 365 Business Basic, earlier known as Office 365 Business Essentials, is most compatible with the latest version of Office, Office 2016, and Office 2011 for Mac. The ancient versions of MS Office before 2013 may work with the plan, but with reduced functionality.
HOW EXACTLY WILL APPS4RENT HELP ME WITH THE PLANS?
As your Cloud Solution Provider for Office 365, we will provide free migration and 24/7/365 support to end-users for issues that take up your time, such as email configuration accounts, password resets, setting up aliases and contacts, creating groups, configuring MS Teams, synchronizing OneDrive, exploring search features, and optimizing browser settings. We will also help you with installing and configuring the latest Office version on your devices and handling DNS records.
IS A DESKTOP VERSION OF OFFICE REQUIRED TO USE MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS BASIC?
No. You do not need to have a desktop version of Office to use Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan. However, you will have a richer experience and also be able to work offline when you connect a desktop version of Office to the Microsoft 365 services and get it in sync.
WILL BY MS OFFICE BE AUTOMATICALLY UPDATES TO THE LATEST VERSION IF I HAVE MICROSOFT 365 PLANS?
Yes. MS Office apps are always up to date on Microsoft 365. If you already had subscription of erstwhile Office 365 plans which is now Microsoft 365, you already have a version of Office that has all the functions of the latest MS Office version.
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Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the Microsoft best-in-class offering for small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is an integrated solution that brings together the productivity of Microsoft 365 with advanced security and device management.
This article compares licensing options for SMBs, with a special emphasis on Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Business Premium
| Service area | Feature | Microsoft 365 Business Standard | Microsoft 365 Business Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licenses available | Maximum number of users | 300 | 300 |
| Office apps | Install Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office Online | Business | Business |
| Email & calendar | Outlook, Exchange Online | 50 GB | 50 GB |
| Hub for teamwork | Chat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes |
| File storage | OneDrive for Business | 1 TB per user | 1 TB per user |
| Social, video, sites | Stream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online, PowerApps, Power Automate | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps | Scheduling apps – Bookings1 | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps – MileIQ1 | Yes | Yes | |
| Threat protection | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | No | Yes |
| Windows Exploit Guard enforcement | No | Yes | |
| Identity management | Self-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accounts | No | Yes |
| Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, conditional access policies | No | Yes | |
| Device & app management | Microsoft Intune | No | Yes |
| Shared computer activation | No | Yes | |
| Windows AutoPilot, Windows Pro management | No | Yes | |
| Upgrade rights to Windows 10 Pro for Win 7/8.1 Pro licenses | No | Yes | |
| Windows Virtual Desktop | No | Yes | |
| Information Protection | Microsoft data loss prevention | No | Yes |
| Azure Information Protection Plan 1, BitLocker enforcement | No | Yes | |
| Compliance | Unlimited email archiving2 | No | Yes |
Notes
1 Available in US, UK, Canada.
2 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.
Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E3
| Service area | Feature | Office 365 E3 | Microsoft 365 Business Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licenses available | Maximum number of users | Unlimited | 300 |
| Office apps | Install Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office Online | ProPlus | Business |
| Email & calendar | Outlook, Exchange Online | 100 GB | 50 GB |
| Hub for teamwork | Chat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes |
| File storage | OneDrive for Business | Unlimited | 1 TB per user |
| Social, video, sites | Stream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online1, PowerApps1, Power Automate1 | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps | Scheduling apps – Bookings2 | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps – MileIQ2 | No | Yes | |
| Threat protection | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | No | Yes |
| Windows Exploit Guard enforcement | No | Yes | |
| Identity management | Self-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accounts | No | Yes |
| Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, conditional access policies | No | Yes | |
| Device & app management | Microsoft Intune, Windows AutoPilot, Windows Pro management | No | Yes |
| Shared computer activation | Yes | Yes | |
| Upgrade rights to Windows 10 Pro for Win 7/8.1 Pro | No | Yes | |
| Windows Virtual Desktop | No | Yes | |
| Information protection | Microsoft data loss prevention | Yes | Yes |
| Azure Information Protection Plan 1, BitLocker enforcement | No | Yes | |
| On-premises CAL rights | ECAL Suite (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype) | Yes | No |
| Compliance | Unlimited email archiving3 | Yes | Yes |
M365 Business Basic
Notes
1 Indicates Microsoft 365 Business Standard has Plan 1 of the functionality and Office 365 E3 has Plan 2.
2 Available in US, UK, Canada.
3 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.
Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, and Office 365 E3
| Service area | Feature | Microsoft 365 Business Standard | Microsoft 365 Business Premium | Office 365 E3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licenses available | Maximum number of users | 300 | 300 | Unlimited |
| Office apps | Install Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office Online | Business | Business | ProPlus |
| Email & calendar | Outlook, Exchange Online | 50 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB |
| Hub for teamwork | Chat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File storage | OneDrive for Business | 1 TB per user | 1 TB per user | Unlimited |
| Social, video, sites | Stream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online1, PowerApps1, Power Automate1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps | Scheduling apps – Bookings2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps – MileIQ2 | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Threat protection | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | No | Yes | No |
| Windows Exploit Guard enforcement | No | Yes | No | |
| Identity management | Self-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accounts | No | Yes | No |
| Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, conditional access policies | No | Yes | No | |
| Device & app management | Microsoft Intune, Windows AutoPilot, Windows Pro Management | No | Yes | No |
| Shared computer activation | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Upgrade rights to Windows 10 Pro for Win 7/8.1 Pro licenses | No | Yes | No | |
| Windows Virtual Desktop | No | Yes | No | |
| Information protection | Microsoft data loss prevention | No | Yes | Yes |
| Azure Information Protection Plan 1, BitLocker enforcement | No | Yes | No | |
| On-premises CAL rights | ECAL Suite (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype) | No | No | Yes |
| Compliance | Unlimited email archiving3 | No | Yes | Yes |
Notes
1 Indicates Microsoft 365 Business Standard has Plan 1 of the functionality and Office 365 E3 has Plan 2.
2 Available in US, UK, Canada.
3 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.
Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 for business plans
| Service area | Feature | Microsoft 365 Business Standard | Microsoft 365 Business Premium | Microsoft 365 E3 | Microsoft 365 E5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licenses available | Maximum number of users | 300 | 300 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Office apps | Install Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office Online | Business | Business | ProPlus | ProPlus |
| Email & calendar | Outlook, Exchange Online | 50 GB | 50 GB | unlimited | unlimited |
| Hub for teamwork | Chat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File storage | OneDrive for Business | 1 TB per user | 1 TB per user | unlimited | unlimited |
| Social, video, sites | Yammer, SharePoint Online, Planner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stream | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Business apps | Scheduling apps – Bookings1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Business apps – MileIQ1 | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Threat protection | Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics, Device Guard, Credential Guard, AppLocker, Enterprise Data Protection | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Office 365 Threat Intelligence | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Identity management | Self-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accounts, Azure MFA, Conditional Access | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Azure AD: Cloud App Discovery, Azure AD Connect Health, SSO for more than 10 apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Azure Active Directory Plan 2 | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Device & app management | Microsoft Intune, Windows AutoPilot | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shared computer activation, Windows Virtual Desktop | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, VDA | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Information protection | Microsoft data loss prevention, Azure Information Protection Plan 1 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Azure Information Protection Plan 2, Microsoft Cloud App Security, Office 365 Cloud App Security | No | No | No | Yes | |
| On-premises CAL rights | ECAL Suite (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, Windows, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, Windows Rights Management) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance | Unlimited email archiving2 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced eDiscovery, Customer Lockbox, Advanced Data Governance | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Analytics | Power BI Pro, MyAnalytics | No | No | No | Yes |
| Insights by MyAnalytics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Assistance | Briefing email | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voice | PSTN conferencing, Cloud PBX | No | No | No | Yes |
M365 Business Login
Notes
1 Available in US, UK, Canada.
2 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.
Office client commercial plans
M365 Business Voice
| Applications | Microsoft 365 Apps for business | Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Word | Yes | Yes |
| Excel | Yes | Yes |
| PowerPoint | Yes | Yes |
| OneNote | Yes | Yes |
| Outlook | Yes | Yes |
| Publisher | Yes | Yes |
| Access | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes |
| Premium value | Microsoft 365 Apps for business | Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
| Volume activation | No | No |
| Group policy1 | No | Yes |
| Shared computer activation | Yes7 | Yes |
| App telemetry | No | Yes |
| Update controls2 | No | Yes |
| Apply personal retention policies3 | Yes | Yes5 |
| Access site mailboxes3 | Yes | Yes5 |
| Access in-place archive folder3,4 | Yes | Yes5 |
| Spreadsheet compare & inquire | No | Yes5 |
| Business intelligence | No | Yes5 |
| Create IRM3 | Yes7 | Yes |
| Data loss prevention3 | Yes7 | Yes5 |
| Cloud value | Microsoft 365 Apps for business | Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
| Groups | Yes | Yes |
| Office Deployment Tool | Yes | Yes |
| Roaming documents & settings | Yes | Yes |
| 1 TB OneDrive for Business | Yes | Yes |
| Licensing | Microsoft 365 Apps for business | Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
| Licensing model | Per user | Per user |
| License type | Subscription | Subscription |
| PC/Mac installs6 | 5 | 5 |
| iOS/Android smartphone installs6 | 5 | 5 |
| Tablet installs6 | 5 | 5 |
| Office RT commercial rights | Yes | Yes |
| Office Online/web apps | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial use rights | Yes | Yes |
Notes
Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes the Microsoft 365 Apps for business client, which has some differences from Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.
1 Allows the organization to push certain configuration settings (security settings, app settings, Active Directory roaming, and so on) for Office to machines logging on to the corporate network.
2 With Office Standard 2016 and Office Professional Plus 2016, IT has full control of updates using the MSI model. With Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Microsoft 365 Apps for business, installation and updates are managed via Click-to-Run.
3 The suites provide different levels of integration with business productivity servers.
4 Archive email from Outlook—no .pst files needed—and set retention policies that automatically archive or delete email. IT admins can centrally manage the In-Place Archive.
M365 Business Vs O365 Comparison
5 Requires additional online service(s).
6 Permits local installation via click-to-run of the licensed Microsoft 365 apps included with the service. Does not include rights to install Office 2016 on-premises versions. Office supports PCs and Windows tablets running Windows 7 or higher, and Macs running MAC OS X 10.6 or higher. Office for iPad can be installed on iPads running version 7 or higher.
M365 Business Vs O365 Comparison
7 This premium feature is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, but not in other Microsoft 365 Apps for business offerings.