Octobits Blog – Those looking for a reliable, feature-rich, and secure email solution should consider a Microsoft 365 email account cost.
Microsoft 365, previously Office 365, offers a range of productivity tools, with email being a key part of the package.
Having a professional email address linked to your domain can help to build credibility and trust with clients and colleagues.
Microsoft 365 email works well with other productivity tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which makes work easier and more efficient.
How Much is a Microsoft Email Account?
The price of a Microsoft email account can vary quite a bit depending on which plan you choose and what you need it for.
Just to give you an idea, the Microsoft 365 Personal plan is $69.99 a year for individuals.
If you need more extensive services, Microsoft has various business plans for you. These range from $6 to $22 per user per month.
For an annual Microsoft plan, kindly read “How Much Does Microsoft 365 Cost per Year; Your Friendly Wallet’s Guide.”
With so many different pricing plans out there, it’s vital to evaluate each one to see which one best suits your needs and goals.
By looking at the features and costs of each plan, you can find the best Microsoft 365 plan for you. This way, you’ll get the most out of your investment and have the right functionality for your needs.
So, let’s take a closer look at each pricing plan.
Microsoft 365 Email Plans
Personal and Family Plans
Microsoft 365 offers plans tailored to individuals and families. Both plan gives you access to the tools you need to be productive and plenty of cloud storage.
First is the Microsoft 365 Personal plan, which costs $69.99 a year for individuals. This plan includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage and 50 GB of mailbox storage.
This plan also includes a single user license, which gives you access to premium Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
For families or small groups, Microsoft offers the Microsoft 365 Family plan at $99.99 per year.
This plan lets up to six users enjoy the same benefits, with each one getting 1 TB of OneDrive storage and 50 GB of mailbox storage.
The Family plan is a great deal because it lets you share access to the Office suite, which is perfect for households or small teams that need both collaborative and individual productivity tools.
Business Plans
There are lots of different Microsoft 365 plans for businesses to choose from. First up is the Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan.
This plan is a great, cost-effective option at just $6 per user per month. It’s got web and mobile versions of Office apps, 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user, and 50 GB of mailbox storage.
This plan is perfect for small businesses that just need the basics, like email and cloud storage, without the extra cost of desktop apps.
If you need more than just email and cloud storage, the Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan is $12.50 per user per month.
This plan includes desktop versions of Office applications and web and mobile versions, so it’s great for businesses that need offline access to their productivity tools.
Plus, it gives you the same 1 TB of OneDrive storage and 50 GB of mailbox storage per user.
If you need all the bells and whistles, the Microsoft 365 Business Premium plan is the way to go. It’s priced at $22 per monthly user.
This plan includes all the features of the Business Standard plan, plus advanced security measures, device management capabilities, and extensive support for remote work environments.
It’s perfect for businesses that need to keep their data super secure and manage a distributed team easily.
Enterprise Plans
For larger companies, Microsoft 365 offers two scalable and comprehensive solutions.
First, we got the Microsoft 365 E3 plan, which is about $33.75 per user per month. It builds on the features of the Business Premium plan.
It also gives you more security and compliance tools, plus it has some pretty cool analytics capabilities that are essential for enterprise-level operations.
This plan is perfect for companies that need a solid set of productivity tools along with top-notch security and compliance features to manage their data and operations like a pro.
If you’re looking for something even more secure and compliant, the Microsoft 365 E5 plan is available at about $54.75 per user per month.
This plan includes all the features of the E3 plan but goes even further by providing the most advanced security measures, compliance tools, and voice capabilities.
It’s perfect for companies that have to stick to high regulatory standards and need top-tier security to protect sensitive information.
Plus, the E5 plan comes with top-notch analytics tools that give you deep insights and help you make better decisions.
Standalone Exchange Online Plans
Microsoft has Exchange Online plans that are all you need for email without any extra Office apps.
These plans are perfect for businesses or individuals who want to manage their emails easily and have lots of storage space.
The Exchange Online Plan 1 costs $4 per user per month. It includes 50 GB of mailbox storage and lets you access your email from any web browser, so it’s a great option for users who need reliable email services without the extras.
This plan gives users plenty of storage for their messages and lets them access their email through a web interface.
If you need more email storage and extra features, the Exchange Online Plan 2 is available at $8 per user per month.
This plan gives you 100 GB of mailbox storage and some pretty cool features, like in-place hold and data loss prevention.
You can also get Microsoft 365 Business Standard for $12.50 per user per month.
This plan includes all the services in Exchange Online Plan 1 and goes even further by offering desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
It also includes features for hosting webinars, with tools for registering attendees and keeping track of who’s attending and who’s not.
Plus, users get to enjoy the benefits of collaborative workspaces made possible by Microsoft Loop, which makes it easy to work together on projects.
Factors Influencing the Cost
The price of a Microsoft 365 email account depends on a few things.
The type of plan you choose—personal, business, or enterprise—makes a big difference. Personal plans are usually more affordable, while enterprise plans cost more because they have more advanced features and support.
Storage needs also affect the cost. Plans range from 50 GB to over 1 TB per user, with higher storage capacities requiring more expensive plans.
Security features are another big factor. Plans with extra security features like encryption, threat protection, and compliance tools cost more.
These features are a must for businesses that handle sensitive information, offering robust protection and regulatory compliance.
The number of users covered by the plan also affects the cost.
Family and enterprise plans, which are designed for multiple users, often provide more cost-effective solutions per user compared to individual subscriptions. This makes them ideal for larger groups or organizations.
The price also depends on access to extra apps, such as desktop versions of Office apps, OneDrive storage, and collaboration tools like Teams.
Plans that let you access lots of apps are usually more expensive because they offer more value and functionality.
Finally, the billing cycle—monthly or annual—can affect the overall cost. If you’re willing to stick with a plan for a year, you’ll often get a discount with annual billing, which makes it a more economical choice.
To get up to speed on Dynamics 365, you can read “Your Guide to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Cost Savings.”
Cost Comparison with Other Email Solutions
Comparison with Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a direct competitor to Microsoft 365. It offers similar services, but at different price points.
Google Workspace plans start at $3.60 for Business Starter, $8.40 for Business Standard, and $18 for Business Plus.
Please be aware that the pricing plan is per user per month with a one-year commitment.
These plans include all the same features as Microsoft 365, like email, cloud storage, and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
However, Microsoft 365 often offers more comprehensive desktop application support, which can be really important for businesses that rely a lot on offline access to things like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
On top of that, Google Workspace’s real-time collaboration tools and integration are a big plus for teams that want to interact online without any hiccups.
Comparison with Zoho Mail
Zoho Mail is a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft 365. Maillite plans start at just $1 per user per month.
You’ll also see the most popular Zoho pricing plan, the Premium Mail plan, at $4 per user per month.
Finally, the Workplace plan is $3 per user per month. Please note that those 3 pricing plans are for a one-year commitment.
Zoho Mail is a great choice for small businesses or individuals who just need the basics.
However, it doesn’t have the same range of integrated productivity tools as Microsoft 365.
This limits Zoho Mail’s suitability for organizations that require a full-featured solution with advanced collaboration tools and robust office applications.
For instance, while Zoho offers tools like Zoho Writer and Zoho Sheets, they don’t quite match the depth and integration of Microsoft’s Office apps, which can be crucial for larger businesses or more complex workflows.
Comparison with ProtonMail
ProtonMail is all about privacy and security, with end-to-end encryption as its main selling point.
ProtonMail’s pricing plans range from free to €9.99 per user/month, with a one-year commitment.
Please be aware that there are a lot of different pricing plans for individuals, families, and businesses.
These different pricing plans make ProtonMail a great option for users who want to prioritize security over integrated productivity tools.
ProtonMail is great at keeping your emails secure, but it doesn’t have the same range of productivity tools and seamless integrations as Microsoft 365.
This makes it less appealing for businesses that need a full office suite and collaboration tools.
ProtonMail is great for organizations that need to keep their data super secure, but it might not be the best fit for businesses that need a full suite of business apps.
Just in case you need to double-check any of the info we’ve given you or want to buy something, you can read the Microsoft 365 pricing plan page here.
And to be clear, we don’t get any affiliate benefits or other incentives for sending you to the Microsoft 365 page.
At Octobits, we’re here to help you find products you can rely on, and that are worth your money.
As we know, Microsoft 365 has always been reliable, which inspired us to develop Octobits as a SaaS management platform to help streamline business operations.
Octobits has tools to help you keep track of how your software is being used, make sure you’re following the rules, and get a better understanding of it.
Kindly visit Octobits website to learn more about how we can help your company manage SaaS solutions. The good news is that we’re free to use until the end of December 2024.
In Closing
Microsoft 365 has a bunch of different email account plans that are designed to fit different user needs.
Looking at these plans alongside other email solutions helps identify which is the best and most cost-effective option.
If you want to get the most out of your SaaS management, like Microsoft 365 subscriptions, using Octobits is a great option.
Now, after carefully examining the Microsoft 365 email account cost, it is your turn to choose.
