Microsoft 365 offers a variety of plans that are customised to cater to the diverse needs of businesses. The right Microsoft 365 plan can enhance productivity, collaboration and communication among teams, enabling users to work smarter and more efficiently. Navigating and thoroughly understanding what Microsoft 365 plans offer can be a challenge without the right knowledge. Let us also note that right from the needs of SMEs to large enterprises, from a frontline worker to a stakeholder, there is a suitable plan for everyone. As we progress, we will present to you a detailed breakdown of Microsoft 365 plans for businesses and enterprises.
What is Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based, comprehensive platform that offers a simplified user experience, collaboration capabilities, and accessibility designed to function from anywhere and everywhere. To facilitate this, Microsoft 365 encompasses a suite of security and compliance tools that help create a complete, cohesive modern workplace.
The demand for every business today is a set of fool proof applications that unite team efforts with reduced barriers that can hinder productivity without location barriers. Any Microsoft 365 plan is the perfect package that empowers team functions, secures data and helps easily manage the complete IT infrastructure. This includes:
- Up-to-date versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, etc. enable users to create, share and collaborate on documents in real-time.
- Cloud-based applications like Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business and Teams for better and more efficient collaboration.
- Microsoft Intune mobile device management enables administrators to enrol new devices, deploy required applications, and configure relevant settings.
- Advanced security features that include Windows Hello, Microsoft Advanced threat protection, and Azure information protection as well.
- Power Automate and Power Apps help build custom applications for businesses and automate workflows to overcome any internal hurdles that can bring M365 closer to business needs.
- It is a highly scalable platform, which can evolve with your business needs and deploys bi-yearly updates to the platform.
Microsoft 365 Plans for Business
Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plans range from Business Basic to Enterprise E5 designed to suit the size of the organisation, such as the required office applications, cloud storage needed, security grade, data protection, analytics and compliance demands.
An overview of plans for users up to 300 users:
| Plan | Features |
| Business Basic | Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, web/mobile Office apps |
| Business Standard | Basic + desktop Office apps, Bookings, webinars |
| Business Premium | Standard features and added advanced security, Intune, device management |
| Apps for Business | Desktop Office applications, 1 TB OneDrive, no Teams/email |
Detailed comparison for SMBs
| Plan | Price /user/month (USD) | Features | Ideal for |
| Basic | 6 | Web/mobile Office, Teams, 1 TB OneDrive, 24/7 support | Small businesses with essential tools |
| Standard | 12.50 | Adds desktop Office apps, webinars, Microsoft Loop, Clipchamp | Growing teams that need collaboration tools |
| Premium | 22 | Adds advanced identity, threat protection, endpoint security | Businesses that need advanced security |
| Apps for Business | 8.25 | Only Office desktop apps, 1 TB OneDrive, no Teams/email | Teams who require the core apps |
For Frontline workers up to 300 users:
| Plan | Features |
| Microsoft 365 F1 | Teams, SharePoint, Yammer, limited mailbox, web access only |
| Microsoft 365 F3 | Everything in F1 + web/mobile Office apps, advanced security, Windows Enterprise |
| Plan | Price /user/month (USD) | Features | Ideal for |
| F1 | 2.25 | Teams, limited mailbox (2GB), web access, minimal Viva features | Basic frontline collaboration |
| F3 | 8 | Full Teams, OneDrive, Windows Enterprise E3, enhanced Viva, advanced management | Robust frontline workforce needs |
Microsoft 365 Plans for Enterprise- Unlimited users
| Plan | Features |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | Office apps, 100GB mailbox, 1TB OneDrive, Teams, DLP, Intune, basic compliance |
| Microsoft 365 E5 | All E3 features + advanced security, Power BI Pro, advanced compliance, Teams Phone, audio conferencing |
Detailed comparison for Enterprises
| Plan | Price /user/month (USD) | Features | Ideal for |
| E3 | 32 | Desktop Office apps, 100GB mailbox, Teams, 1TB OneDrive, DLP, Intune | medium/large businesses with moderate security needs |
| E5 | 57 | Everything in E3 + Defender for Office 365, Power BI Pro, advanced eDiscovery, Teams Phone | Highly regulated industries and advanced security needs |
What are the basic differences between Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Business plans?
- The Microsoft 365 Business plan works best for businesses with a strength of 300 employees; for business users with more users, the Enterprise plan may be more suitable.
- With respect to pricing, a basic Enterprise plan is more expensive than the premium Business plan.
- Business plans allow users to additionally purchase Microsoft Teams; this is not so with Enterprise plans, where it is mandatory to buy this separately.
- Enterprise plans offer more services as compared to Business plans; they suit larger operational environments with more demands.
- Please note that the Enterprise F plans are more affordable for frontline workers. It comes with premium Teams suitable for communication-focused roles.
Conclusion:
Microsoft always ensures that users have access to the latest features and resources, proving Microsoft 365 is an integrated part of the modern digital workspace. Businesses need to explore understand plans clearly before attempting to harness its potential for favourable outcomes. At Kloudify, we understand the complexities of adopting and optimising Microsoft 365 for your modern workplace. With Kloudify, you can transform the way your teams collaborate and work and easily maximise the value of every Microsoft 365 feature in a manner that is future-proof. Let us discuss!
