microsoft 365 for business plans

Grow your business with Microsoft 365

Bring your business ideas to life with the tools you need to create, connect, and get more done from anywhere.

A retail employee and customer looking at furniture and a tablet in a showroom

Bring your business ideas to life

Reach and exceed your company goals with Microsoft 365. Manage your content and tools—like productivity apps, email, appointment scheduling, video meetings, chat, and enterprise-grade security—all in one place.

Grow your customer base

Stay focused on your business and team using the easy-to-use, intelligent, and integrated tools in Microsoft 365.

Connect and collaborate

Simplify how you run your business with a single solution that helps you connect, collaborate, and create from anywhere.

Stand out from your competition

Personalize your business by creating branded documents and meeting backgrounds, and set up a business email with your own custom domain.

Help protect what matters most

Safeguard your business with integrated, end-to-end identity, security, compliance, device management, and privacy protection.

Find the Microsoft 365 plan that’s right for you

Microsoft 365 business basic.

Originally starting from £4.90 now starting from £4.90

£4.90 £4.90

(Annual subscription—auto renews) 1

Apps and services to kick-start your business, including:

Identity, access, and user management for up to 300 employees

Custom business email ([email protected])

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

Chat, call, and video conference with Teams

1 TB of cloud storage per employee

10+ additional apps for your business needs (Bookings, Planner, Forms, and others)

Automatic spam and malware filtering

Anytime phone and web support

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Originally starting from £10.30 now starting from £10.30

£10.30 £10.30

Everything in Business Basic, plus:

Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 

Webinars with attendee registration and reporting

New: Collaborative workspaces to co-create using Loop

New: Video editing and design tools with Clipchamp

Copilot for Microsoft 365 available as an add-on. *

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Originally starting from £18.10 now starting from £18.10

£18.10 £18.10

Everything in Business Standard, plus:

Advanced identity and access management

Enhanced cyberthreat protection against viruses and phishing attacks

Enterprise-grade device and endpoint protection

Discover, classify, and protect sensitive information

Microsoft 365 Apps for business

Originally starting from £8.60 now starting from £8.60

£8.60 £8.60

1 TB of cloud storage per user

Anytime phone and web support

Find out which plan is right for you

Take a short assessment to find your perfect match.

Add Copilot to your Microsoft plan

Sign in to add Copilot to your existing Microsoft 365 business plan. *

If you’re not an existing customer, buy a Microsoft 365 plan to get started. *

copilot-visual

See more options for Microsoft 365

What small businesses are saying about microsoft 365.

microsoft 365 for business plans

“Teams as a single tool for communication and collaboration made work much more convenient. We needed standardized tools to communicate well with each other across the business.”

microsoft 365 for business plans

EyeMail Inc.

"By adopting Microsoft 365, EyeMail established a more efficient and collaborative work environment. This helped us increase productivity, reduce errors, establish a robust security framework, and improve communication among employees."

microsoft 365 for business plans

Zöllner Fensterbau GmbH

"With Microsoft 365 tools, we’ve found a way to maintain the quality of a small manufacturing business while scaling like a much larger business."

microsoft 365 for business plans

The AMAAD Institute

“With Microsoft 365, we are positioned to grow our programs confidently in the future. We have the digital platform, collaboration tools, and security we need to focus on our mission.”

Articles and resources

Build your brand.

Learn how to elevate your brand with Microsoft 365 and explore related news for small and medium businesses.

Two person are smiling and discussing while one of them is using a laptop.

Achieve your business’s full potential with powerful AI

Learn how to take productivity and creativity to the next level at your small or medium business with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.

An abstract image showing a shape having multiple shades of color.

Help safeguard your business

Learn how to improve your business’s security with Microsoft 365.

Two women are discussing while walking and one of them holding laptop in her hand.

Built-in apps

Use your favorite apps seamlessly within Microsoft 365.

Get started with Microsoft 365

Sized your way.

Microsoft 365 has solutions tailored to your business’s needs, whatever the size of your company.

  • Small business

Additional resources

Find self-help and support options to help you make the best choice.

  • Help me choose
  • Schedule a demo
  • Get free product training
  • Contact Sales

Make it yours

Customize your plan for what you need with Microsoft 365 add-ons. 4

  • Audio conferencing
  • Microsoft Teams Phone
  • Endpoint security

Frequently asked questions

What is microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based suite of software tools designed to help you do more—with best-in-class communication, design, and data management apps, intelligent cloud services, and advanced security. Access your data from anywhere, collaborate with team members in real time, meet with people virtually, and use thousands of predesigned templates to better communicate with customers and manage your business—all with built-in security technology that safeguards your data and devices from anywhere.

How do I choose the right Microsoft 365 plan for my business?

Use the Microsoft 365 plan chooser to find the right plan for your business.

Where can I learn more about the value I get with Microsoft 365?

Download the full plan comparison table .

What is Microsoft Defender for Business?

Microsoft Defender for Business is an endpoint security solution designed to help businesses with up to 300 employees. It helps protect against cybersecurity threats, including malware and ransomware, in an easy-to-use, cost-effective package. Microsoft Defender for Business is included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and is available as a standalone product. Learn more .

  • [1] Cancellation policies vary based on your status as a new customer and your product and domain selections on Microsoft.  Learn more . Cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription any time by going to the Microsoft 365 admin center. When a subscription is canceled, all associated data will be deleted.  Learn more about data retention, deletion, and destruction in Microsoft 365 .​
  • [2] After your one-month free trial ends, your subscription will automatically convert into a 12-month paid subscription, and you will be charged the applicable subscription fee. Cancel anytime during your free trial to stop future charges. A credit card is required to sign up.  Learn more .
  • [3] Availability of mobile apps varies by country/region.
  • [4] Availability of Audio Conferencing and Calling plans varies by country/region. See countries and regions that are supported for more information.
  • [*] Copilot for Microsoft 365 may not be available for all markets and languages. To purchase,  enterprise customers  must have a license for Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 or Office 365 E3 or E5, and  business customers  must have a license for Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium. 

Connect with Microsoft 365 :

Support icon

  • Chat with sales
  • Contact sales

Sales support for commercial products Available M-F 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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

COMPARISON OF Microsoft 365 BUSINESS PLANS AND PRICING

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:

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

All Our Microsoft 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, 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 $6 user/month. At $8.30 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.

Submit Your Requirements

Office 365 Migration

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

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

Microsoft 365 website screenshot

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

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.

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 .

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!

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.

PDFgear review

CyberLink PowerDirector Mobile review

Nvidia could keep making gaming GPUs thanks to Microsoft and Intel's new deal

Most Popular

By Rhys Wood February 20, 2024

By Alex Walker-Todd February 19, 2024

By Ruth Jones February 19, 2024

By Khee Hoon Chan February 19, 2024

By Matt Evans February 18, 2024

By Al Griffin February 18, 2024

By Alex Blake February 18, 2024

By Timothy Coleman February 18, 2024

By Paul Hatton February 17, 2024

By Timothy Coleman February 17, 2024

By Hamish Hector February 17, 2024

  • 2 16-pin connectors could be mandatory for all Nvidia RTX 5000 graphics cards – here’s why that’d be bad news for some GPUs
  • 3 Windows 11 with no taskbar? A crucial part of Microsoft’s OS has gone missing for some thanks to new update
  • 4 First Ryzen 8000 mini PC goes on sale with an affordable price tag for an AI PC - and it is surprisingly good value for money
  • 5 We just got another hint that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are launching soon
  • 2 I've kept a diary for 12 years, and I forgot about Apple's Journal app after using it for just a week
  • 3 Discover what the future folds with the magic of HONOR
  • 4 Yes, Apple Vision Pro is being returned to stores - but this could actually be a good thing
  • 5 Foundation season 3 no longer in limbo as flagship Apple TV Plus sci-fi show gets filming restart date
  • Domain Names
  • Domain Name Search
  • Free Domain Transfer
  • .com Domain
  • 1 Dollar Domain
  • Cheap Domain
  • Free Domain
  • Buy SSL Certificate
  • Website Builder
  • Website Platforms
  • Website Templates
  • Web Design Services
  • eCommerce Website Builder
  • Local Business Listing
  • Web Hosting
  • WordPress Hosting
  • 1 Dollar Hosting
  • Windows Hosting
  • Free Website Hosting
  • Create Business Email
  • HiDrive Cloud Storage
  • Microsoft 365 Business
  • Cloud Server
  • VPS Hosting
  • Dedicated Servers
  • Rent a Server
  • IONOS Cloud
  • Business Name Generator
  • Logo Creator
  • Favicon Generator
  • Whois Lookup
  • Website Checker
  • SSL Checker
  • IP Address Check
  • Technical matters

How to choose the right Microsoft 365 for Business plan

Microsoft’s business plans are aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) . The Microsoft business plans are called Business Basic, Apps for Business, Business Standard and Business Premium. Included in all four business plans are Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive applications.

  • Microsoft business plans vs. Office home plans
  • What are the 4 Microsoft business plans?
  • The essentials in a nutshell
  • Business Basic in detail
  • Apps for Business in detail
  • Business Standard in detail
  • Business Premium in detail
  • Microsoft 365 Business solutions from IONOS

All information in this article is correct as of August 2023.

Microsoft business plans vs. Office home plans ¶

The difference between Office plans for individuals and those for SMBs is what you get with them. For the the private sector , Microsoft offers plans that include the usual programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. For companies, the plans include additional or business-optimized services that simplify collaborative work processes.

Microsoft 365 small business plans offer you familiar and trusted Microsoft applications as an online app or installable component. Microsoft also grants you access to useful tools and programs that primarily help you to develop, manage and advance collaborative projects as well as facilitate internal and external communication.

What are the 4 Microsoft business plans? ¶

Microsoft 365 is available for small and medium-sized businesses in four different plans for up to 300 people:

  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium

All of the small business solutions require you to sign up for a subscription, and you can choose between the slightly more expensive monthly subscription and an annual subscription . You pay for the former on a monthly basis, and you can cancel it at any time without incurring any additional costs. On the other hand, early cancellation of the annual subscription, which can be paid both monthly and annually, usually results in additional costs. You will not receive a refund for payments already made for annual subscriptions.

There are special solutions such as Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise for businesses with over 300 employees. Exchange Online Plan 1 offers a professional email server solution with Outlook support.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic ¶

The essentials in a nutshell ¶.

Among Microsoft business plans, Business Basic is the ideal office suite for any company whose employees travel extensively or work from home but need access to project files and emails at all times . The plan provides your company’s data with a secure storage platform and your employees with access to the most important Office applications via their browser . In addition, communication features such as shared inboxes, web conferences or team websites facilitate project collaboration.

Costs : $6.00 (per user per month) with an annual subscription or $7.20 (per user per month) with a monthly subscription.

Business Basic in detail ¶

Business Basic is the most affordable model for small and medium-sized businesses. It gives you access to the online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote via any standard web browser.

All employees can work on files from the above programs in real time at any time and from anywhere as long as they have internet access. Files created with the online programs are compatible with the latest versions of the desktop applications, so you can send your own documents or open and edit external documents.

However, the focus of the Business Basic plan is to help you and your company communicate and collaborate. To that end, the plan includes useful online services, which is where Exchange really stands out. Protected from viruses, spam and phishing attacks, the email system provides a central hosting platform for your company’s entire email traffic . Access messages at any time from any device via the Outlook Web app.

What’s more, every user gets an inbox with 50 GB of storage space , as well as the ability to send attachments up to 150 MB in size. If you also purchase an installable Outlook version, you can retrieve your mails as usual via the client application interface. You can set up shared inboxes and calendars too.

Get Microsoft 365 Business Basic from IONOS and benefit from all the features that come with it.

The other services of Microsoft 365 Business Basic at a glance:

Skype for Business

With the help of the business version of the well-known video conferencing software Skype, you can communicate comfortably by voice, chat or video – internally or with business partners. With Outlook integration, schedule your online meetings in advance and send personalized links for participation . Hold video conferences with up to 250 participants and up to HD 1080p quality. If you want to use Skype for Business, you need to download it from the Microsoft 365 portal beforehand.

OneDrive for Business

Microsoft’s secure cloud storage OneDrive is the perfect solution to store and manage your company’s data. Create custom directory structures and specify which people can view, create or edit files. All files are available online, can be accessed from anywhere and with any device, and are always up to date thanks to synchronization. In Business Basic, 1 TB of storage space is available per person.

In addition to the Google Drive alternative OneDrive, you can use the SharePoint application. Create team websites , which – simply put – are folders where you can store files of a specific project. All users involved can access the team documents and share files, info, etc. with each other.

With Sway, Microsoft offers you an application that lets you easily create a presentation of your latest products, an informative newsletter or an online training. Interactive and web-based , the created “Sways” can be easily shared and displayed on various display sizes.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business ¶

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business is the right choice if you’re happy with the digital information and work structure within your company but are looking for a feature-rich and versatile office suite. This Microsoft business plan, unlike the other Business offerings, only offers OneDrive by itself and does not include SharePoint. The plan also assumes you already run an email server and rely on your own communications software, as Exchange is also not available. In return, however, you get access to the desktop versions of the Office apps, including Premium features , as well as the handy Access and Publisher apps when you sign up for a subscription.

Costs : $8.25 (per user per month) with an annual subscription or $9.90 (per user per month) with a monthly subscription.

Apps for Business in detail ¶

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business also allows you to use the online applications of Word, OneNote, PowerPoint and Excel via a browser or mobile app (iOS and Android). Users can install the suite on up to five Windows or macOS devices, as well as five mobile devices and five tablets, for a maximum of fifteen devices.

Since Apps for Business has a link to the OneDrive for Business cloud , it is possible to share and collaborate on all files in real time. If you have been working offline, the cloud service will synchronize your documents as soon as you have an internet connection again. Microsoft also provides 1 TB of OneDrive storage per person in this business plan.

While the Sway presentation tool is also part of Apps for Business, Skype for Business and SharePoint team websites are not included. So, when it comes to project and corporate communications, it’s a matter of setting up alternative solutions. The Exchange mail hosting environment is also not included in Microsoft 365 Apps for Business. You therefore need your own mail server solution for email communication and archiving.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard ¶

Microsoft’s Business Standard plan is the right choice for users who want to use the Apps for Business features, but also need email hosting in the form of the Exchange application . Business Standard offers you the usual Office programs like Word, Excel and Powerpoint, but also scores points with practical tools such as Teams and SharePoint, which optimize collaboration.

Costs : $12.50 (per user per month) with an annual subscription or $15.00 (per user per month) with a monthly subscription.

Business Standard in detail ¶

With the Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan, you get all the apps and services from Business Basic , such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneDrive. Just as with Apps for Business, the desktop versions of the apps are available here, including premium features.

Other applications in Business Standard are Access and Publisher , but these can only be used via a PC. Access allows you to create and manage databases, while Publisher is used, for example, to design layouts for print publications and contains numerous templates.

You can promote your teamwork in Business Standard with the help of the Teams application , which enables online meetings with up to 300 people. Unlike Business Basic and Apps for Business, the Business Standard version gives you the option of holding webinars , which users can register for.

Finally, benefit from email hosting thanks to Microsoft’s cloud solution Exchange . The application gives you access to an inbox with 50 GB of storage and a personal calendar for professional scheduling.

You can get Microsoft 365 Business Standard from IONOS at an affordable price. This plan comes with many features for effective collaboration with your team.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium ¶

With the Microsoft 365 Business Premium plan, you acquire the all-in-one solution for your company’s everyday office life, which not only presents a cross-company email solution (including calendar and 50 GB of storage per person) , but also offers more security as well as protection against ransomware and other cyber threats.

Costs : $22.00 (per user per month) with an annual subscription or $26.40 (per user per month) with a monthly subscription

Business Premium in detail ¶

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes all the features of Business Standard . This means that the plan includes both the latest Microsoft Office products (online and desktop version) and access to the powerful communication platforms Exchange and Teams.

Business Premium offers you all the tools you need as a modern small business for structuring and collaborating on projects in one place. You are not dependent on additional hardware or software to operate an email server or a file server.

Unlike the other Microsoft business plans, the Exchange application gives you an additional archiving option that lets you customize policies around cloud archiving, for example. Your email hosting inbox includes 50 GB, as with the other plans.

Another benefit that sets Business Premium apart from the rest of the Microsoft business plans is Advanced Threat Protection. With various protections like Defender, App Protection, and Information Rights Management, your company’s devices and data are secure.

Microsoft 365 for Business with IONOS!

Powerful Exchange email and the latest versions of your favorite Office apps on any device - get started with our free setup assistance.

Microsoft 365 Business solutions from IONOS ¶

If you are interested in one of the Microsoft 365 Business Plans we have shown you, you can also take out a subscription directly with IONOS . In addition to the standard Microsoft features, this includes an optional setup service that guides you step by step through the installation and configuration of the applications.

To protect your data in the best possible way, IONOS offers you spam filtering and virus protection in addition to backups in certified data centers . In case of problems or questions about software, subscription or similar issues, support is available around the clock.

A great pro of these office solutions is that they combine IONOS hosting products with powerful Microsoft applications . If you have questions about your invoice, require technical support or need help logging into the Control Center, you only need to contact one person.

If you want to purchase a Microsoft business plan or another Office offering, you can find more relevant information on subscriptions and licensing models in our dedicated articles:

  • Microsoft 365 in subscription model
  • Microsoft 365 license models

Related articles

Buy Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365): How to find the right Microsoft 365 plan

Buy Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365): How to find the right Microsoft 365 plan

When you’re buying Microsoft 365 online, you get all the important Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) as well as practical cloud functions. Microsoft provides a range of subscription models to choose from to cover different requirements, allowing individuals and businesses to select the plans that suit them best. Find out more about the options and how you can get all the features…

What is the pricing for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)? Subscription plans briefly

What is the pricing for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)? Subscription plans briefly

Microsoft offers its popular Office programs together with cloud-based services as Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) in a subscription model. The software-as-a-service solution is available in different variants. But what does Microsoft 365 cost? You can find the different plans for each purpose in our large Microsoft 365 subscription cost overview.

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) vs. Office 2016: a comparison of both models

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) vs. Office 2016: a comparison of both models

With Microsoft 365, the company launched a subscription model for its popular software. Instead of paying a one-off fee for the license, as with Office 2016, you pay a monthly or annual fee for the use of the included programs such as Word or Excel. The pros and cons of both models are shown in our comprehensive comparison: Office 365 vs. Office 2016. So which plan is the winner?

Windows Cloud PC

Windows Cloud PC

On August 2, 2021, Windows introduced Windows 365 Cloud PC. This means that Windows is now offering completely virtual PCs. Users have access to all Microsoft apps from the browser, whatever the device, and regardless of whether they are accessing the PC from home, on the road, or from the office. All processes run via the cloud. Let’s take a closer look at the new Cloud PC.

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365: What’s the difference?

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365: What’s the difference?

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365 – what exactly are the differences? Since the rebranding of Office 365 to Microsoft 365, this question comes up regularly. Microsoft 365, like Office 365, combines applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, but also offers several innovations. We explain what has changed as a result of the rebranding.

Build or host a website, launch a server, or store your data and more with our most popular products for less.

microsoft 365 for business plans

Microsoft 365 for Business Plans Compared

In the table below you will find all the details of the Microsoft 365 business plans compared. You can find the prices for your country here at Microsoft.com . Keep in mind that all Business plans are limited to 300 users.

Note Microsoft added new plans without Teams wich are only available in the European Union. These plans are less expensive. Read everything about it in this article
Tip You can mix Microsoft 365 Business plans with Enterprise plans, so if you have more than 300 users, you buy Office 365 E3 plans for the other users.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

The Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan, formerly known as Office 365 Business Essentials, is the perfect plan if you don’t work a lot in Word, Excel, or Outlook.

In the Business Basic plan, you don’t get the desktop apps , so you can’t install Word, Excel, Outlook, etc on your desktop. But you can use those applications online in your browser.

Microsoft 365 plans

The browser versions of these apps work perfectly for light usage. Outlook Online is great to work with, it has all the important features just like the Outlook app. Word and Excel Online also work fine if you need to write an occasional letter or spreadsheet.

What makes the Business Basic plan so great is that you get Exchange Online with 50Gb mailboxes OneDrive and SharePoint. So you can use all the benefits of Office 365 (safely storing your data in the cloud, easily working together and sharing documents, etc.), for only $5 per month.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

This is basically the default Microsoft 365 plan for small businesses ( hence the name 😉 ). Microsoft 365 Business Standard , formerly known as Office 365 Business Premium, contains everything a small business needs.

It comes with desktop apps so that you can install Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. on your desktops, and it comes with a lot of online business apps.

The desktop apps have of course a lot of advantages over the online versions, but the most important ones are that you can use add-ins (for your business applications for example) and macros . Something that is not possible with the online versions.

microsoft 365 business plans

Business Standard comes with a couple of Online Business Applications that are only available in Standard and Premium.

  • Outlook Customer Manager – a Lite CRM system based on Outlook
  • Microsoft Teams Shifts – Built-in Microsoft Teams to plan shifts and tasks
  • Microsoft Bookings
  • Microsoft Invoicing

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Business Premium is an original Microsoft 36 plan, it was formerly known as Microsoft 365 Business. It comes with everything that Business Standard has with the addition of a couple of security features/services and a Windows 10 Pro license.

Windows 10 Pro License

The Windows 10 Pro license is a pretty strange one compared to the other plans, so let me explain it a bit. Some of the advanced security features that come with Business Premium don’t work on older versions of Windows or on Windows 10 Home.

So to make full use of the security features, you get a Windows 10 Pro license. Now to be clear, you can only upgrade Windows 7 or 8 Pro to Windows 10 Pro. You can’t upgrade Windows 10 Home to Pro.

Advanced Security Features

The advanced security features help you to stay protected against cybersecurity threats. It protects you from phishing emails and ransomware.

Another important feature is the Azure Information Protection. If you are working with a lot of sensitive data, then you absolutely don’t want the data to be accidentally shared with others. With Information Protection you can classify, label, and encrypt data so it can’t be shared accidentally.

Keep in mind that settings up these features require some knowledge about Office 365, so it might be a good idea to get an IT/Office 365 Consultant to help you set it up correctly.

Microsoft Intune

The last important addition to this Premium Microsoft 365 Business plan is Intune. With Microsoft Intune, you can manage and protect your mobile devices. Keep in mind data mobile devices are easily getting lost or stolen, so you want to make sure that those are fully protected and easily can be wiped clean when lost.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business

This plan doesn’t really belong here in this comparison, but I have put it in because of the name and the confusion it might cause. You should actually really compare this plan with just buying Office 2019 in my opinion.

Basically, Apps for Business is only the Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) with the advantage that you also get Online versions, continuous updates, and 1Tb OneDrive storage. But you don’t get SharePoint or Exchange Online.

So you will have to host your email somewhere else, store your files locally (or in OneDrive) and you won’t get any of the advantages of Office 365.

The Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan is for most businesses the best plan to choose. It comes with the Office apps, and all the cloud features and it’s reasonably priced. If you are still in doubt, you can always start with a trial of Business Standard .

Make sure you also check the following articles:

  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Office 365 E3
  • Office 365 Branding
  • Setup Multi-Factor Authentication in Office 365

You may also like the following articles

Backup Microsoft 365

How to set up Microsoft 365 Backup

Microsoft 365 Archive

How to Setup Microsoft 365 Archive

MFA Status Entra

How to get MFA Status from Microsoft Entra

5 thoughts on “microsoft 365 business plans compared”.

M365 Business Premium comes with Windows 10 Business, not Pro. Win 10 Pro is a requirement for Business.

Hi Can M365BP be combine with M365Standard or basic after BP has exceed the 300 limit ?

So 300MBP and 50MBS and so on.

Yes, that is possible.

your statement on Win 10 pro is wrong. Premium CANNOT upgrade a home to pro. I asked microsoft directly to confirm.

“Windows 10 Pro License The Windows 10 Pro license is a pretty strange one compared to the other plans, so let me explain it a bit. Some of the advanced security features that come with Business Premium don’t work on Windows 10 Home. In small companies, you see more Windows 10 Home devices, because people are using a (former) personal device or buy the more affordable computers with Windows 10 Home on it.

So to make full use of the security features, you get a Windows 10 Pro license. Installing it is pretty simple, all you need to do is change the license key and your Windows 10 Home installation will be upgraded to Pro.”

You are correct. I have updated the article.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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

microsoft 365 for business plans

  • Manage your subscription
  • Manage payment method
  • Renew your subscription
  • Turn recurring billing on or off
  • When subscription expires
  • Cancel Microsoft 365
  • Share Microsoft 365 Family
  • Stop sharing Microsoft 365 Family
  • You received an invitation to share
  • Switch between Microsoft 365 subscriptions
  • Switch to a business subscription
  • Transfer to a different Microsoft account
  • About accounts
  • Sign in to Microsoft 365
  • Why you need to sign in
  • Forgot account or password
  • Get started at Microsoft 365.com
  • Meet the Microsoft 365 app launcher
  • Check version
  • Microsoft 365 for home or business
  • What business product do I have?
  • Difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021
  • Difference between home and business plans
  • Difference between Microsoft 365 and free web apps
  • Can't install or manage Office or Microsoft 365
  • Parental permission when signing in to Office or Microsoft 365

microsoft 365 for business plans

Switch to a Microsoft 365 for business subscription

Microsoft plans are designed to make things easier for you whether at home or in your business. This article will walk you through when and how to move from your Microsoft 365 Family or Microsoft 365 Personal subscription to a Microsoft 365 for business subscription. With a Microsoft 365 for business subscription:

Get a branded email address for your business or bring an existing one .

Create branded templates in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint .

Let customers schedule appointments with you online and share calendars across employees .

Use a central location for all work files to save time and collaborate quickly with clients and partners .

Protect your business with advanced security .

Before you begin

Before you start the switch, it’ll be helpful to understand some key differences between the home and family subscriptions and the business ones.

Watch: Understanding the key differences between home and business plans

Your browser does not support video. Install Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash Player, or Internet Explorer 9.

Understanding the key differences between home and business plans

Switch to microsoft 365 for business, step 1: decide which subscription you want.

Deciding which subscription you want can depend on your specific business needs. The Microsoft 365 plan chooser is designed to help you with this. The chooser will make recommendations based on your answers to questions such as the size of your business, your field of work, the devices you use, and what kind of features, IT support, and security you're looking for. See Find the right plan for your business .

One the Results page, select the recommendation that fits your business needs and choose Buy now . For help with the sign up process, read the article below for the steps that correspond with your selected subscription.

Sign up for Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Sign up for Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Sign up for Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Step 2: Set up your Microsoft 365 for business subscription

After you’ve purchased your new Microsoft 365 for business subscription, the next step is to set up your Microsoft 365 for business subscription. Follow the article below for the steps that correspond to with your subscription.

Set up Microsoft 365 for Business Standard

Set up Microsoft 365 for Business Premium

Set up Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Step 3: Migrate Outlook information to new Microsoft 365 for business email account

Because emails are stored in different places in Microsoft 365 for home and Microsoft 365 for business subscriptions, you’ll probably want to migrate some, or all of your email to the  Microsoft 365 for business  subscription that you choose.  Use the Microsoft Outlook desktop app that comes with Microsoft 365 to save email, calendar, tasks, and contacts to an Outlook Data File (PST) that you can move into your business email account. Follow the steps in Migrate Outlook content using a .pst file  and Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file . You don't have to migrate any content if you don't want to. You can start with the new Outlook email account if you wish.

If you don't have Outlook installed, follow the steps in the  Download and install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 on a PC or Mac topic.

Tip:  You can't use Outlook Web App to do these. Each user who wants to migrate their Outlook information must use the full downloadable Microsoft Outlook app.

Step 4: Migrate OneDrive files to OneDrive for Business

Because OneDrive files stored in different places in Microsoft 365 for home and Microsoft 365 for business subscriptions, you’ll probably want to migrate some, or all of your files stored in OneDrive to the  Microsoft 365 for business  subscription that you choose. All Microsoft 365 for business plans include OneDrive for business, which provides 1 terabyte of online file storage for each user. For the steps on how to migrate the files from OneDrive personal to OneDrive for business that’s included with the Microsoft 365 for business subscription, see Move files from OneDrive to OneDrive for work or school . You don't have to migrate any content if you don't want to. You can start with a new OneDrive if you wish.

Step 5 Migrate OneNote files

Follow the steps in this topic to migrate your OneNote files to Microsoft 365 for business: Export and import OneNote notebooks - Microsoft Support . You don't have to migrate any content if you don't want to. You can start with the new OneNote account if you wish.

Step 6: Do you need both a business plan and a personal plan?

In some cases, a single Microsoft 365 plan will suit all your needs, but there might be instances when having both plans is the correct decision for you.

For example, you may want to keep your personal files, photos, and other documents separate from your business and having two plans will allow you to do this.

Additionally, if you already have Microsoft 365 Family that you're sharing with friends and family who aren't part of your business, keeping that personal subscription might be the best thing for everyone. This means you don't have to move anyone off that plan, and you don't have to worry about any personal files you already have associated with that subscription and your personal account.

If you decide that you don't need both, you can cancel or turn off recurring billing for a Microsoft subscription .

If you have compliance or regulatory requirements for your business and you want to help with the switch, contact a partner or Microsoft support services to help you with the steps in this document.

Work with a Microsoft 365 business partner in your area: Find the right partner for you .

Microsoft Store business consultants are available to help you with this free of charge:  Contact Microsoft Stores online . (Note: Help from Microsoft business consultants isn't available in all markets.)

Leave us a comment

Were these steps helpful? If so, please let us know at the bottom of this topic. If they weren't, and you're still having trouble, tell us what you were trying to do, and what problems you encountered.

Facebook

Need more help?

Want more options.

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

microsoft 365 for business plans

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

microsoft 365 for business plans

Microsoft 365 training

microsoft 365 for business plans

Microsoft security

microsoft 365 for business plans

Accessibility center

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

microsoft 365 for business plans

Ask the Microsoft Community

microsoft 365 for business plans

Microsoft Tech Community

microsoft 365 for business plans

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

microsoft 365 for business plans

Online support

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

This browser is no longer supported.

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

Upgrade or change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan

  • 9 contributors

When your business needs change, or you want more features, you can change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan. Most of the time, you can change plans automatically. An automatic change walks you through the entire process from beginning to end. After you buy a new plan, all users are automatically assigned licenses in the new plan, and your old plan is canceled for you. In some cases, you can't automatically change to a new plan, and instead must change plans manually .

Before you begin

  • Find out what type of billing account you have.
  • If you have a Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) billing account type, you must be a billing account owner or contributor, or a billing profile owner or contributor to do the tasks in this article. For information about billing account and billing profile roles, see Understand your Microsoft business billing account and Manage your Microsoft business billing profiles .
  • If you have a Microsoft Online Services Agreement (MOSA) billing account type, you must be a Global or Billing admin to do the tasks in this article. For more information, see About admin roles in the Microsoft 365 admin center .

If you’re the person who signed up for the subscription, you’re automatically a billing account owner or global admin.

When should I change plans?

Changing plans is the right choice when you want to move all users assigned to a single plan. When you change plans, all users in the current plan are assigned licenses for the new plan at the same time. If you only want to move some users to a new plan, buy a new plan with the number of licenses you need, and assign those licenses to the users that you want to move. For more information, see Move users to a different subscription .

Automatically change your subscription to a new plan

If you have an mca billing account type.

If you're using Microsoft 365 operated by 21Vianet in China, use the following link to access the admin center: https://portal.partner.microsoftonline.cn/

  • If you’re using the Simplified view , select Subscriptions .
  • If you’re using the Dashboard view , go to the Billing > Your products page.
  • Select the subscription that you want to manage.
  • On the subscription details page, in the Other subscription options section, select Change to a different subscription option .
  • On the Compare products and select another option page, select a different plan to compare with your current plan. When you find the one that you want to buy, select Next .
  • Choose when to schedule the change, enter the number of licenses that you want, select a subscription length and a billing frequency, then select Next .
  • Review your selections, then select Save changes .

If you have an MOSA billing account type

If the View upgrades recommended for your org link is grayed out, see Why can't I change plans?

  • On the Available upgrades page, find a new product, then select Upgrade .
  • On the Checkout page, select or add a payment method, then select Place order .

After you place the order, it might take a few minutes to finalize the change. You can start using your new subscription right away.

Why can't I change plans?

The information in this section only applies if you have an MOSA billing account type.

If you can't select the View upgrades recommended for your org link, it means that you can't automatically change your plan right now. In some cases, you can resolve the issue so that you can view available plans. In other cases, you can change plans manually , instead. The following table lists issues you might encounter when you try to change your plan, and tells how to resolve them.

What does automatically changing plans do to my service and billing?

When you change plans automatically, your services and billing are affected in the following ways.

Access to services

  • Admins: Admins can't make changes to the subscription details page while the change is in process, but you can use the rest of the admin center. The change between plans can take up to an hour.
  • Users: Users experience no interruption of service during the plan change. They continue to have the existing service until the change is finished.

Users and licenses

  • Users: Users on the old subscription are automatically moved to the new subscription.
  • Services: If your old subscription includes multiple services, and if you changed which of these services your users are assigned to, make note of these changes before you change plans. Your notes can help you can recreate these changes afterwards. All users are given access to all services in the new subscription. For example, if you previously bought Microsoft 365 Business Premium for all 10 of your users, but you unassigned the SharePoint Online service from five of them, this change isn't kept after you change plans.
  • License assignments: If you have more than one subscription before you change plans, and users have licenses to more than one subscription, this assignment pattern is kept as much as possible in the new subscription.
  • Data: All user data is retained during the change, including Exchange mailboxes and SharePoint Online documents, lists, and other information.

The day your plan change is complete, the billing on your old subscription is turned off and the billing on your new subscription is turned on. Depending on the new plan you selected, you might receive a prorated credit. You receive a new invoice that includes the credit for your old subscription within 30 days of changing to the new subscription.

The length of time it takes to receive your prorated credit depends on the payment method used for the old subscription.

Change plans manually

Most of the time, you can change plans automatically. However, sometimes this isn't possible. You can change plans manually if:

  • You can't select the View upgrades recommended for your org link.
  • When you select the View upgrades recommended for your org link, the plan you want isn't listed.
  • You don't want to move all your users to the same plan. Some businesses need different users licensed for different plans.

If you're changing to a plan with fewer data-related services than your current plan, you must manually back up any data that you want to keep. For more information, see Back up data before changing Microsoft 365 for business plans .

Step 1: Buy a new subscription

Already bought a new subscription? If you already have the subscription that you want to move users to, skip this step and go to Step 2: Check your new subscription and licenses .

Need to buy a new subscription and licenses? Follow the steps in Buy a different subscription .

Make sure that you buy a subscription for the same organization that the users are in now. For example, check the email addresses for the users that you want to move. If their email addresses include @contoso.com , you must buy a new subscription for contoso.com. Buy a license for each user that you want to move.

Step 2: Check your new subscription and licenses

In the Microsoft 365 admin center , go to the Billing > Your products page, then do the following:

  • Verify that both the old and new subscriptions are listed and active. The subscription that you're moving users from and the subscription that you're moving users to must be listed together. If the new subscription isn't there when you first check, try again later. Verify that both subscriptions are listed as Active .
  • Check that you have enough licenses for each user. Each user needs a license that matches their subscription. If you want to move 10 users to Microsoft 365 Business Premium, make sure 10 unassigned licenses are available in that subscription.
  • Need more licenses for the new subscription? Go to the Your products page, select the subscription, and buy more licenses .

The new subscription isn't listed, or isn't active

If you bought two subscriptions and they aren't both listed on the Your products page, you might have bought them for different organizations (for different domains). Subscriptions can't cross organization boundaries.

If you know you have another subscription, and it isn't listed here, or isn't active, contact support .

What about old licenses?

The licenses for the current subscription are removed in Step 4: Cancel subscriptions or remove licenses that you no longer need (Optional) . After that, you only pay for the new licenses.

Step 3: Move users to the new subscription

After you confirm the number of licenses in your new subscription, you can move users from the old subscription to the new one .

Step 4: Cancel subscriptions or remove licenses that you no longer need (Optional)

If you moved all users from one subscription to another, and you don't need the original subscription anymore, just cancel the subscription .

If you have an MCA billing account type, you can only cancel and receive a prorated credit or refund if you cancel within seven days after the start or renewal of your subscription. If you cancel during this limited time window, the prorated amount is either credited towards your next invoice or returned to you in the next billing cycle. For details, see Determine your cancellation option .

If you moved only some users to a different subscription, remove licenses that you no longer need .

If you upgraded to Microsoft 365 Business Premium, use the steps in the Business Premium library to set up your new security capabilities.

Visit the Microsoft 365 Business Premium library

Related content

Move users to a different subscription (article) Try or buy a Microsoft 365 for business subscription (article)

Was this page helpful?

Coming soon: Throughout 2024 we will be phasing out GitHub Issues as the feedback mechanism for content and replacing it with a new feedback system. For more information see: https://aka.ms/ContentUserFeedback .

Submit and view feedback for

Additional resources

Two retail workers using a computer to help take inventory, accompanied by the Business Central icon

  • Business Decision Makers
  • Thought leadership

Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft dynamics 365 business central and microsoft 365: connect data to the tools where work is done.

  • By Mike Morton, Vice President, Microsoft Dynamics Business Central
  • Microsoft Teams

The pace of business operations continues to accelerate daily, presenting an ongoing challenge for employees who increasingly struggle to keep up. They often find themselves overwhelmed by the very tools designed to enhance their work, leading to frequent switching between various documents, apps, and websites as they hunt for data.  

a remote sales worker uses productivity apps to get work done on his tablet

Realize the power of a connected workplace

Harvard Business Review addresses this issue in its article How Much Time and Energy Do We Waste Toggling Between Applications? , where it describes the prevalent “swivel chair” approach to work, which has become the norm for most employees. This is primarily because many software applications weren’t originally designed to connect with each other. Consequently, employees often serve as the connective tissue bridging the gap between these disparate applications. They engage in manual processes of fetching, transforming, and submitting data from one system to another, constantly shifting between apps. This practice is both time-consuming and mentally draining. 

The true cost of this constant app-switching becomes apparent when we consider that the average user toggles between different apps nearly 1,200 times each day, spending approximately four hours per week reorienting themselves after switching to a new application. Annually, this adds up to a staggering five working weeks, accounting for a significant 9% of their total work time. 1   

What’s the solution to this productivity-sapping dilemma? The answer lies in connecting business systems and productivity tools, providing employees with easy access to the information they need without switching between applications. Seamless sharing of data across tools and applications not only simplifies access for employees but also lays the foundation for AI and Microsoft Copilot to offer proactive insights and assistance within their everyday tools. 

With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft 365, businesses can establish a unified experience where data seamlessly connects with productivity apps including Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams. This connectivity ensures that employees can access timely information, gain valuable insights, and collaborate directly within the tools they use daily—all without the need to switch between applications. 

By harnessing connected solutions powered by real-time data, businesses can begin to unlock the full potential of AI-enabled productivity with Microsoft Copilot. With Copilot, businesses can automate tasks and guide users through assisted workflows—saving them time, improving collaboration, enhancing decision-making, and allowing employees to focus on what truly matters—driving business success. 

More collaboration with Business Central and Teams 

Modern workplaces are challenged by fragmented data and communication tools—employees often find themselves juggling various apps and struggling to disseminate timely information, making collaboration difficult. With Teams connected to Business Central, your organization can efficiently share and interact with real-time data, transforming Teams into a centralized hub for your daily operations.  

graphical user interface, application, Teams

With Business Central and Teams, employees can: 

  • Make data accessible and collaborative. With Teams connected to Business Central, timely data can be shared in group chats or channels, transforming Teams into the hub for all and daily operations that unite employees, processes, and the data they need to work together. 
  • Take action from the app they prefer. From Business Central, quickly share data to jumpstart conversations in Teams. From Teams, stay in the flow of work by viewing and editing business data without having to switch apps. 
  •  Streamline collaboration across departments. Empower each department to self-serve by unlocking the data they need to work better together—even without a Business Central license. Get read-only access to Business Central data in Teams at no additional cost with your Microsoft 365 license. 

More productivity with Business Central and Excel 

Employees often find themselves working in specific applications that align with their roles and responsibilities. For finance and operations teams, Excel is a fundamental tool that plays a pivotal role in their daily tasks. Enabling these teams to maximize their productivity within their preferred application can lead to significant productivity gains. 

With Business Central and Excel, employees can: 

  • Simplify daily tasks. Export any Business Central data to an Excel worksheet to capture data snapshots or share for review. Save time by updating records in bulk in Excel and uploading the revised records to Business Central with just a few clicks.  
  •  Go from raw data to insights faster. Get timely operational insights from Business Central as Excel reports and adapt quickly by customizing report layouts as Excel worksheets. Easily analyze transactions and business data using pivot tables, charts, and calculations to get answers quickly. 
  • Collaborate in the tools where teams work best. Streamline team-based activities like budgeting and planning with multi-player co-authorship and functionality. Create, edit, and access Excel documents as a team, then publish the final outcomes back to Business Central. 

More impact with Business Central and Outlook 

At the core of most businesses lies the unwavering commitment to deliver exceptional products and services to its customers. To achieve this goal, businesses must foster strong and meaningful relationships with their clients, vendors, and stakeholders. With Business Central and Outlook working together, employees gain valuable business insights delivered directly to their inbox, so they can save time while staying focused on delivering extraordinary experiences.  

With Business Central and Outlook, employees can: 

  • Enhance customer experience directly from their inbox. Connect real-time data from Business Central to Outlook. Save time with visibility into customer and vendor information like sales, purchase details, and more without leaving their inbox.   
  • Stay in the flow of work. Use templates to quickly send payment reminders, order confirmations, and other emails directly from Business Central connected to a shared mailbox. 
  • Go from quote to cash without leaving Outlook. Set up customers or vendors, create quotes, submit invoices, and more from within Outlook so employees can focus on the task at hand. 

Embrace the future of work with AI and Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft 365 

When Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft 365 work together, small and medium-sized businesses can boost productivity and redefine how work gets done. With data delivered directly to familiar apps like Excel, Outlook, and Teams, employees get the information they need without switching between applications. Using next-generation AI with Microsoft Copilot, employees can further streamline routine tasks like drafting content, summarizing meetings, providing email follow up, and quickly finding answers to questions—all within the tools where they work best. 

Learn more about connecting your data with Business Central.

1 Harvard Business Re view, How Much Time and Energy Do We Waste Toggling Between Applications , 2022 

Mike Morton HeadShot

Related posts

Abstract graphic design incorporating a photograph of two coworkers talking in a studio.

2024 release wave 1 plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform now available  

a Chief Information Security Officer sitting in a meeting with his computer open

Embrace cloud migration with Microsoft Dynamics 365  

Three people working together at a conference table. Image includes the logos for Business Central and Copilot.

Transform the way work gets done with Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central  

Engineer working at her desk; multi-screen workstation.

The early reviews are in: Dynamics 365 Copilot helps to reclaim time, drive innovation, and engage customers     

microsoft 365 for business plans

Enhancing AI readiness with Microsoft Defender for Cloud: a 10-step guide

  • AI , Microsoft , MSPs , Reduce risk
  • February 22, 2024

Pax8 Microsoft Defender for Cloud Blog

For organizations to make the most of artificial intelligence (AI), they need to start with a foundation of data security. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) leveraging AI tools like Microsoft Copilot need to ensure these tools have access to necessary data without exposing it to cyberthreats, and managed service providers (MSPs) can play a pivotal role in getting them there. To help your clients migrate and secure their data before they enable Copilot, you can leverage Microsoft Defender for Cloud to not only secure their data but also pave the way for a successful AI integration and future growth. Read on to learn more about Defender for Cloud and all the benefits it can offer SMBs and the MSPs serving them.

The role of data in AI

AI tools like Microsoft Copilot thrive on data. They analyze patterns, learn from interactions, and provide insights based on the greater data set they’ve been fed. But for AI tools like Copilot to be truly effective, they need the person or client using them to provide secure, reliable, and trustworthy data of their own.

That’s why it’s important to migrate any on-premises or legacy data that may be siloed or not connected into your customer’s cloud ecosystem. Once that data is migrated, this is where Microsoft Defender for Cloud steps in, ensuring data integrity and security.

Understanding Defender for Cloud

Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a comprehensive cloud security solution that offers advanced threat protection and compliance assurance that’s crucial for AI integration in business environments. The key features of Defender for Cloud are:

  • Continuous security assessment and recommendations
  • Advanced threat protection with AI and machine learning
  • Compliance insights

Integrating Defender for Cloud with Microsoft 365 Plans

Defender for Cloud enhances the security of Microsoft 365 Business Premium , E3, and E5 subscriptions , by ensuring a robust, unified security posture that encompasses user devices, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise data. The key benefits of integrating Defender for Cloud with Microsoft 365 plans are:

  • Unified security management
  • Comprehensive compliance across platforms

Real-world success

The Forrester report “ The Total Economic Impact Of Microsoft Defender for Cloud ” highlights Defender for Cloud’s impact on cybersecurity in the real world. Some of the report’s key findings are that Defender for Cloud leads to:

  • A significant reduction in security events, with up to a 25% decrease in the risk of cloud security breaches
  • Enhanced threat mitigation, with a 50% reduction in time needed to address threats.
  • Cost savings of more than $200,000 annually from consolidating security tools and services
  • A return on investment (ROI) of 219%, with a net present value (NPV) of $2.44 million over three years
  • Improved compliance posture
  • Seamless integration with Azure
  • Enhanced threat intelligence and automation capabilities

Your 10-step guide to implementing Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Defender for Cloud is a pivotal cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) crafted to fortify cloud-based applications against cyber threats. Seamlessly integrating into your existing security framework, it encompasses a broad spectrum of solutions, from DevSecOps to Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP). To get you started on your Defender for Cloud journey, use the following 10-step guide:

1. Educate yourself on Defender for Cloud’s features:

  • DevSecOps integration: Embed security management within your code across diverse cloud environments.
  • Cloud security posture management (CSPM): Identify the steps and take action to avert potential breaches.
  • Cloud workload protection program (CWPP): Tailor protections for various components like servers, containers, databases, and storage systems.

2. Activate Defender for Cloud:

  • Gain access to Microsoft 365 Defender upon activation, enhancing your capability to investigate multi-resource attacks.
  • Consult the Defender for Cloud pricing page for financial planning.

3. Enhance your security stance:

  • Embed sound security practices from the early stages of software development.
  • Safeguard your code management systems and pipelines, while gaining security posture insights.

4, Enhance your security stance:

  • Apply Defender for Cloud’s recommendations to fortify your environment.
  • Activate CSPM tools for a comprehensive overview of your security landscape.

5. Safeguard cloud workloads:

  • Implement proactive security strategies to defend against threats.
  • Stay alert with timely security notifications regarding threat severity and nature.

6. Plan for a successful Defender for Cloud integration:

  • Define roles and access controls to determine user permissions.
  • Craft security policies tailored to the sensitivity of your workloads and data.

7. Enable d ata c ollection and m anagement :

  • Employ Log Analytics and Azure Monitor Agents for data collection from VMs.

8. Onboard any non-Azure resources:

  • Extend your security monitoring to include non-Azure computers.

9. Employ continuous security monitoring:

  • Consistently evaluate Defender for Cloud’s recommendations and intelligence to stay ahead of threats.

10. Prepare your incident response program:

  • Develop and implement an incident response strategy incorporating Defender for Cloud alerts.

Protecting data while leveraging it for AI transformation

Embracing Microsoft Defender for Cloud helps you go beyond providing your clients conventional data protection, setting the stage for you to deliver AI-driven innovation and become your clients’ trusted security advisor. Integrating seamlessly with Microsoft 365 plans, Defender for Cloud lets you offer a fortified security framework that’s essential for safe and successful AI implementation. The powerful combination of Copilot and Defender for Cloud helps you empower your clients to unlock new potential while keeping their data secure — helping them transform their businesses with AI.

Get started

stay ahead with Pax8 cybersecurity

Latest articles

Enabling copilot for microsoft 365: critical security measures to take, pax8 february microsoft update, 4 msp trends to help you grow your business in 2024, pax8 regions.

Americas/All posts

Asia-Pacific

Pax8 Microsoft AI Readiness Opt 1 Blog

microsoft 365 for business plans

microsoft 365 for business plans

Top Contributors in Other: Dillon Silzer  -  NoOneCan  -  Stefan Blom  -  RonBarker   ✅

February 14, 2024

Top Contributors in Other:

Dillon Silzer  -  NoOneCan  -  Stefan Blom  -  RonBarker   ✅

  • Search the community and support articles
  • Microsoft 365 and Office
  • Search Community member

Ask a new question

Best Microsoft 365 plan for a small UK community interest company

My company is a registered community interest company (CIC) in UK and looking to purchase a Microsoft plan.

Microsoft 365 provides offers for Nonprofit, however my organisation doesn't seem to meet the criteria regarding the eligibility (Cited from their website, an organisation "must be recognised legal status in their respective country equal to 501(c)(3) status under the United States Internal Revenue Code" to be eligible, or a public library or museum). I read some comments saying that social enterprise (which is closer to the definition of CIC in the UK) doesn't count.

Unfortunately all Business plans are beyond our budget. The most basic plan charges £4.90 per user per month.

The company has 8 people and hope to use Outlook, Exchange, OneDrive and Team(optional). Currently the email accounts are hosted with Bluehost.

Not sure if my question is appropriate in this community forum, but I've searched for recommendations for a while and wasn't able to find anything useful.

Would really appreciate your advice and experience sharing.

  • Subscribe to RSS feed

Report abuse

Replies (3) .

Palcouk

It is the MS UK site you are using?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/nonprofit/

Was this reply helpful? Yes No

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes it's the page I referred to.

Kerry Chen MSFT

  • Microsoft Agent |

Dear Sue_185

Good day! Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community. We'll be happy to help!

First of all, we regret for the inconvenience and inconvenience caused to your work. Based on your description, I have a general understanding of your issue, for a small company in the UK, the most cost-effective Microsoft 365 plan would be the Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan. This plan includes Exchange Online for email hosting, outlook web app, OneDrive for Business for cloud storage, and Microsoft Teams for collaboration. The cost is $1.99/month, which is cheaper than the Business plan you mentioned. For your reference Microsoft 365 Basic Plan & Pricing (Includes OneDrive 100gb Storage, Outlook) - Microsoft Store

Alternatively, you could consider using the free version of Microsoft Teams, which includes chat, video conferencing, and file sharing. For your reference Introducing Microsoft Teams (free) - Microsoft Support

Meanwhile, if you still need further help, to better help you and not waste your more time, please kindly contact our sales team Microsoft 365 Sales and Support | Microsoft 365

Thank you in advance for your understanding. Your patience and cooperation will be greatly appreciated. I hope for all the best!

Kerry Chen | Community Moderator

Question Info

  • For business
  • Norsk Bokmål
  • Ελληνικά
  • Русский
  • עברית
  • العربية
  • ไทย
  • 한국어
  • 中文(简体)
  • 中文(繁體)
  • 日本語

IMAGES

  1. Microsoft 365 Plans Explained: SMB, Frontline Worker & Enterprise User

    microsoft 365 for business plans

  2. Office 365 is now Microsoft 365

    microsoft 365 for business plans

  3. Benefits of Office 365 for Business

    microsoft 365 for business plans

  4. Compare_office_365_plans

    microsoft 365 for business plans

  5. What is Microsoft Office 365? And what are its plans and features?

    microsoft 365 for business plans

  6. The Right Microsoft 365 Plan for Your Business?

    microsoft 365 for business plans

COMMENTS

  1. Compare All Microsoft 365 Plans

    Find the best Microsoft 365 plan for your business with a custom email, cloud storage, apps, and security features. Compare the differences between Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, Premium, and Apps for business plans and see trial terms and prices.

  2. Microsoft 365 for Business

    Compare and choose from four Microsoft 365 plans for small business, including apps, services, storage, and security features. Try free for one month or buy now with annual subscription and auto-renewal options.

  3. Compare Microsoft 365 Business Subscription Plans

    Find the best Microsoft 365 plan for your business with features, prices, and benefits. Compare the apps, services, and add-ons of Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Business Premium, and Apps for business.

  4. Microsoft 365 for Business Plans—Free Trial

    $8.25 user/month (Annual subscription-auto renews) 1 Try for free See trial terms 2 Or buy now Available for up to 300 employees Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 1 TB of cloud storage per user Anytime phone and web support Desktop, web, and mobile apps and services: Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook OneDrive

  5. Compare Microsoft 365 Plans

    Find the best Microsoft 365 plan for your business For home For business Microsoft 365 Business Basic $6.00 user/month (Annual subscription-auto renews) 1 Buy now Try free for one month See trial terms 2 Apps and services to kick-start your business, including: Identity, access, and user management for up to 300 employees

  6. Microsoft 365 for Business

    £4.90 user/month (Annual subscription—auto renews) 1 Price does not include VAT. Buy now Try free for one month See trial terms 2 Apps and services to kick-start your business, including: Identity, access, and user management for up to 300 employees Custom business email ([email protected])

  7. Which Microsoft 365 plan is right for your business?

    Compare the features and benefits of different Microsoft 365 plans for your business needs. Learn how to choose the plan that suits your organization, budget, and preferences.

  8. Try or buy a Microsoft 365 for business subscription

    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. We manage your devices, protect against real-world threats, and provide your organization with the latest in business software.

  9. Welcome to Microsoft 365 for business

    Step 1 - Sign up for a Microsoft 365 business plan If you haven't already purchased a subscription, the first step in getting started with Microsoft 365 is to sign up for a business plan. Visit the Microsoft 365 for business website and choose a plan that meets the needs of your business. Need help choosing a plan?

  10. Buy Microsoft 365 for your small business

    Go to the Microsoft 365 business plans page, and select the For business tab. Choose the plan you want and select Buy now. Confirm the plan you're buying, choose the number of people this is for, and then choose if you want to pay monthly or yearly. Depending on what you choose, you'll see what the amount for Payment due today. Then select Next.

  11. Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plan options

    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. Expand table 1 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1.

  12. What's the difference between Microsoft 365 plans for home or business

    Microsoft 365 business subscriptions can help you grow your business, no matter if you're a team of one or more. Microsoft 365 Family and Personal Personal and family subscriptions are ideal for personal use like home, personal, or family projects and school related activities. The right plan for you will depend on what your needs are.

  13. Microsoft 365 Business Premium frequently asked questions

    Microsoft 365 Business Premium is generally offered at $22 (USD) per user/month based on an annual contract if purchased directly from Microsoft. When purchased through a Microsoft Partner, pricing can vary based on the services the partner provides and their pricing model for Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

  14. COMPARISON OF Microsoft 365 BUSINESS PLANS AND PRICING

    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: Looking for Free Migration to Microsoft 365? Submit an enquiry. Schedule a call back right away! Free Migration 24/7 expert support

  15. Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs Standard vs Premium: what are the

    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.

  16. How to pick the right Microsoft 365 for Business plan

    Microsoft 365 Business Premium¶ The essentials in a nutshell¶. With the Microsoft 365 Business Premium plan, you acquire the all-in-one solution for your company's everyday office life, which not only presents a cross-company email solution (including calendar and 50 GB of storage per person), but also offers more security as well as protection against ransomware and other cyber threats.

  17. Compare Microsoft 365 Business Plans

    The Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan, formerly known as Office 365 Business Essentials, is the perfect plan if you don't work a lot in Word, Excel, or Outlook. In the Business Basic plan, you don't get the desktop apps, so you can't install Word, Excel, Outlook, etc on your desktop. But you can use those applications online in your browser.

  18. Plan your setup of Microsoft 365 for business

    Plan to move your existing email, contacts, and calendar. If you're going to use Microsoft 365 for your email account, you can bring your existing email, contacts, and calendar with you. The Setup page helps you move your existing email and contacts for most scenarios. We also have step-by-step guides to move one or many mailboxes.

  19. Sign up for a Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription

    On the Microsoft 365 for business page, select See plans & pricing.. On the next page, find out the monthly cost, and then scroll down the page to find out more about what's included in Microsoft 365. Under Microsoft 365 Business Standard, select Buy now.. On the Thank you for choosing Microsoft 365 Business Standard page, enter your information to get started.

  20. Switch to a Microsoft 365 for business subscription

    Step 1: Decide which subscription you want Step 2: Set up your Microsoft 365 for business subscription Step 3: Migrate Outlook information to new Microsoft 365 for business email account Step 4: Migrate OneDrive files to OneDrive for Business Step 5 Migrate OneNote files Step 6: Do you need both a business plan and a personal plan? Need help?

  21. Understand subscriptions and licenses in Microsoft 365 for business

    You can see what comes with each product on the Microsoft 365 for small and medium-sized businesses page. When you buy a subscription, you specify the number of licenses that you need, based on how many people you have in your organization. After you buy a subscription, you create accounts for people in your organization, and then assign a ...

  22. Upgrade or change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan

    9 contributors Feedback In this article Before you begin When should I change plans? Automatically change your subscription to a new plan Why can't I change plans? Show 4 more When your business needs change, or you want more features, you can change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan.

  23. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft 365: Connect data

    When Dynamics 365 Business Central and Microsoft 365 work together, small and medium-sized businesses can boost productivity and redefine how work gets done. With data delivered directly to familiar apps like Excel, Outlook, and Teams, employees get the information they need without switching between applications.

  24. Delivering Copilot for everyone

    Copilot is free to use and works on Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Or download the Copilot mobile app on iOS or Android. AI is the defining technology of our time. Microsoft's advancements in AI align with our company mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more.

  25. Prep for AI with Microsoft Defender for Cloud

    Defender for Cloud enhances the security of Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5 subscriptions, by ensuring a robust, unified security posture that encompasses user devices, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise data. The key benefits of integrating Defender for Cloud with Microsoft 365 plans are: Unified security management

  26. Re: Business Licenses

    In new commerce (NCE) a customer may only have a combined total of 300 Microsoft 365 Business licenses. Not 300 of each SKU. Also, if another partner is providing say 100 M365 Business licenses, you can only provide 200 to the customer. ... Microsoft 365 Now Can Buy Mix Plan Over 300 Lic ? - Microsoft Community Hub. 0 Likes . Reply ...

  27. Best Microsoft 365 plan for a small UK community interest company

    Based on your description, I have a general understanding of your issue, for a small company in the UK, the most cost-effective Microsoft 365 plan would be the Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan. This plan includes Exchange Online for email hosting, outlook web app, OneDrive for Business for cloud storage, and Microsoft Teams for collaboration.