Which Microsoft 365 subscription is right for your business?

16.01.2023

Microsoft 365 for Business can provide a ton of benefits. In fact, it has the power to be transformative for your organisation by allowing increased productivity, efficiency and cost savings.

The thing is, there are many different subscription options available, so it can be difficult to understand which is right for your business.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the key differences between the common products, so you can find the perfect subscription package.*

Read on to learn more.

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Microsoft 365 plans for business: an overview

There are several subscription levels for Microsoft 365, with varying levels of access to the platform’s suite of apps, features and products. Below we’ve highlighted the Microsoft 365 Business licence packages with an overview of what’s included, who it’s for and the costs associated.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Who’s it ideal for?

Ideal for small businesses requiring access to basic Office apps.

What’s included?

  • Web and mobile versions of Office apps
  • Microsoft Teams with up to 300 attendees
  • 1 TB of cloud storage per user (Microsoft OneDrive)
  • Business class email - Host email with a 50 GB mailbox and custom email domain address
  • Facilitate online meetings and video conferencing for up to 300 users
  • Access to Microsoft Sharepoint
  • Standard security

What’s the cost?

£5.40+VAT per user, per month (£4.40+VAT with 12 month commitment)

Microsoft 365 Apps for business

Who’s it ideal for?

SMEs that need added functionality such as desktop apps.

What’s included?

  • Desktop versions of Office apps with premium features
  • 1 TB of cloud storage per user (Microsoft OneDrive)
  • Standard security
  • One licence covers fully installed Office apps on up to 5 phones, 5 tablets and 5 PCs or Macs for the same user

What’s the cost?

£9.48+VAT per user, per month (£7.90+VAT with 12 month commitment)

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Who’s it ideal for?

Medium-sized businesses that need to service customers digitally.

What’s included?

  • Everything in Business Basic, plus;
  • Desktop versions of Office apps with premium features
  • One licence covers fully installed Office apps on up to 5 phones, 5 tablets and 5 PCs or Macs for the same user
  • 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user
  • Web and mobile app development with no coding required

What’s the cost?

£11.28+VAT per user, per month (£9.40+VAT with 12 month commitment)

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Who’s it ideal for?

Larger or growing businesses that require added security layers.

What’s included?

  • Everything in Business Standard, plus;
  • Advanced security
  • Access and data control
  • Increased cyber threat protection
  • Mobile device management

What’s the cost?

£19.92+VAT per user, per month (£16.60+VAT with 12 month commitment)

Microsoft 365 Enterprise (E-type) licences

For larger organisations (over 300 users) that require added functionality and flexibility, Microsoft also offers Enterprise (E-type) licences. Again, we’ve provided an overview of these below.

Office 365 E1

Who’s it ideal for?

Users that don't need desktop versions of Outlook or Office apps but still require eDiscovery and data governance.

What’s included?

  • Office web and mobile apps
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Enterprise class-email - up to 100GB mailbox
  • Microsoft Sharepoint
  • Intranet and social apps
  • You can license over 300 users

What’s the cost?

£9.00+VAT per user, per month (£7.50 with 12 month commitment)

Office 365 E3

Who’s it ideal for?

Digital-driven businesses that require apps, email, archiving and security.

What’s included?

  • Everything in Microsoft Office 365 E1, plus;
  • Desktop versions of Office apps with premium features
  • One licence covers fully installed Office apps on up to 5 phones, 5 tablets and 5 PCs or Macs for the same user
  • Added security and compliance features
  • You can license over 300 users

What’s the cost?

£24.24+VAT per user, per month (£20.20 with 12 month commitment)

Office 365 E5

Who’s it ideal for?

Businesses that require audio conferencing and cloud-based business phone systems.

What’s included?

  • Everything in Office 365 E3, plus;
  • Advanced security
  • Analytics
  • Voice capabilities
  • You can license over 300 users

What’s the cost?

£40.08+VAT per user, per month (£33.49 with 12 month commitment)

Microsoft 365 E3

Who’s it ideal for?

Organisations where collaboration is key, and can be performed in a secure and compliant environment.

What’s included?

  • Everything in Office 365 E3, plus;
  • Device and app management
  • Advanced identity and access management
  • Security management
  • Compliance management

What’s the cost?

£38.04+VAT per user, per month (£31.70+VAT with 12 month commitment)

Microsoft 365 E5

Who’s it ideal for?

Organisations looking for the most complete productivity and security solution available.

What’s included?

  • Everything in Microsoft 365 E3, plus;
  • Enhanced security
  • Enhanced compliance management

What’s the cost?

£57.72+VAT per user, per month (£48.10+VAT with 12 month commitment)

Which Microsoft 365 plan do you need?

As you can see, there are many different subscription options (and we haven’t even covered them all!) when it comes to choosing your Microsoft 365 package. The one you opt for will depend heavily on how many employees you have, how many of them are desk-based, the level of security you’re willing to pay for and manage, and what you need them to achieve in their day-to-day roles.

Budget will of course come into the equation, so think carefully about the costs involved - but do remember that a Microsoft 365 subscription can mean a more productive workplace, which leads to spending efficiencies elsewhere.

For more information on the Microsoft 365 platform, download our free guide:

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Ready to make the move? Get in touch with our Microsoft experts to discuss your project; we’d be delighted to help you on your journey to being a more productive business.

*Information is correct as of November 2022 and doesn't cover every available option.