Octobits Blog – Microsoft 365 price structure is pretty complex, just like the platform itself. That’s why knowing what different Microsoft 365 plans cost is important for picking the cheapest option that still meets your needs.
This knowledge means you can be sure your chosen plan will meet your needs and get the most out of this essential set of tools.
So, let’s take a closer look at the different pricing options for Microsoft 365 to find the best value for your needs and goals.
Overview of Microsoft 365 Plans
Microsoft 365, which used to be called Office 365, has a bunch of subscription plans that are tailored to different types of users and what their organizations need.
There are four main types of plans: Personal, Family, Business, and Enterprise. Each one is designed to meet different needs and use cases.
Each category has a bunch of different plans, with different features and price points.
With all these options, Microsoft 365 has something for everyone. Whether you’re an individual, a family, a small business, or a large enterprise, there’s a plan that fits your needs.
Now, it is our time to compare all Microsoft 365 products.
Detailed Pricing of Microsoft 365 Plans
Microsoft 365 Personal
Microsoft 365 Personal is for individual users who need all the tools they need for personal use.
It’s $69.99 a year or $6.99 a month, and you get access to premium Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Microsoft 365 Family
The Microsoft 365 Family plan is perfect for households, letting up to six users share a subscription.
This plan is priced at $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month and includes all the features of the Personal plan, extended to each family member.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
Microsoft 365 Business Basic is for small businesses that need the essential productivity tools without the added cost of desktop applications.
For just $6.00 per user per month (annual commitment), this plan gives you web and mobile versions of Office apps, 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user, business-class email through Outlook, and collaborative tools like Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
If you need more advanced features, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available at $12.50 per user per month (annual commitment).
With this plan, you get everything in Business Basic plus desktop versions of Office apps, advanced collaboration tools, and business productivity features like webinars with attendee registration and reporting.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
This plan is for businesses that need advanced security and management capabilities.
It’s $22.00 per user per month (annual commitment) and includes all the features in Business Standard, plus enhanced security features, device management with Intune, and advanced threat protection.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
The price for Microsoft 365 Apps for Business is $8.25 per user per month (annual commitment).
This plan gives you desktop versions of Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, plus 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user.
Microsoft 365 E3, E5, and F3
Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans (E3, E5, F3) are for large organizations that need lots of productivity and security features. The E3 plan starts at $33.75 per user per month.
Then, for E5, you’ll pay $54.75 per user per month. With Microsoft 365 F3, you’ll pay $8.00 per user per month.
They include all the tools you need to be productive, plus advanced security features, compliance solutions, and enterprise-grade device and endpoint protection.
Microsoft 365 for Education
Microsoft 365 for Education is free for qualifying institutions, which means you can use it to collaborate and learn in the classroom.
This plan gives you access to Office apps, Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and other educational tools.
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Features Included in Microsoft 365 Plans
Office Applications
Microsoft 365 plans include a bunch of Office apps designed to help you get more done across different platforms.
You’ve got Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, which you can use on all kinds of devices. Just a heads-up: Access and Publisher are only available on PCs.
These apps make it easy to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and manage emails.
For instance, Word has built-in smart features to help you write better, while Excel makes it easier to analyze data with powerful functions and visualizations.
Cloud Services
Microsoft 365 has some pretty solid cloud services, mainly through OneDrive and Outlook.
OneDrive offers cloud storage, with plans starting at 100 GB in the Basic plan and going up to 1 TB per user in most business plans. This lets users store, access, and share files from anywhere safely.
Outlook is all about business-class email and calendaring, so you can be sure you’re communicating and organizing your work efficiently.
The combination of these services makes it easier for teams to work together and get more done, especially in remote and hybrid work environments.
Security Features
Security is a big deal when it comes to Microsoft 365. Microsoft Defender offers some pretty advanced protection against malware, phishing attacks, and other cyber threats.
Plus, Conditional Access has identity and access management features, so only the right people can access sensitive data.
These security measures help keep user data safe and make sure we’re all playing by the same rules, which is great for everyone.
Collaboration Tools
Microsoft 365 has a bunch of collaboration tools built in to help teams work together more easily and get their work done faster.
Microsoft Teams is a one-stop shop for chat, meetings, and collaboration, giving teams a central hub for communication and collaboration.
SharePoint lets you create team sites for sharing information and managing projects, while OneNote works with other Office apps for note-taking and organization.
These tools help teams work together more effectively, no matter where they are.
Can I get Microsoft 365 for free?
Absolutely, yes! You can get Microsoft 365 for free in a few different ways. One best way to get started is to take advantage of the free trial period.
Microsoft offers a free trial for Microsoft 365 Family, which includes premium Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user, and advanced security features.
You can sign up for the trial on the Microsoft Store website. You’ll need to provide a payment method, but you won’t be charged if you cancel before the trial period ends.
Also, Microsoft offers free versions of its Office apps through Office Online. These web-based apps include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and they offer basic functionalities that are perfect for everyday tasks.
If you’re a developer, Microsoft has a free Microsoft 365 E5 developer subscription through the Microsoft 365 Developer Program.
This subscription gives you access to Microsoft 365 apps and services for development purposes, and it’s renewable as long as you’re actively using it for development.
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Factors Affecting Microsoft 365 Pricing
Number of Users
The price of Microsoft 365 goes up as the number of users goes up, especially with the business and enterprise plans.
For example, a small business with fewer than 300 employees might go for the Business Basic plan at $6.00 per user per month, while larger enterprises might need the Enterprise E3 plan, which starts at $32.00 per user per month.
Also, think about how volume discounts can cut the cost per user as the number of users goes up, making it more affordable for larger companies.
Storage Requirements
Storage needs really affect how much Microsoft 365 costs. The basic plans give you 100 GB of cloud storage, while most business plans give you 1 TB per user.
If you need more storage, you can buy more OneDrive storage, which will add to the overall cost.
Good storage management and knowing what you need can help businesses choose the most cost-effective plan without spending more than you need to.
Additional Features and Add-ons
Optional features like advanced security, compliance tools, and additional storage can also affect the overall cost of Microsoft 365.
Plans like Business Premium, which costs $22 per user per month, include enhanced security measures, device management, and advanced threat protection.
These extras are worth the extra cash for businesses that need to keep their data safe or have to comply with strict security rules.
If you want to double-check our info or buy a product, just head over to the Microsoft 365 product comparison page here.
Just so you know, we don’t get any affiliate perks or the like by asking you to visit the Microsoft 365 page.
At Octobits, our goal is simply to help you identify which products are reliable and worth your investment.
Microsoft 365 has consistently impressed us when it comes to reliability, which is why we built Octobits as a SaaS management platform to streamline operations for your business.
Octobits has tools to help you keep track of how your software is being used, make sure everyone is following the rules, and get a better understanding of how your software is being used.
If you want to know more about how Octobits can help your company manage SaaS solutions, kindly visit Octobits website. The good news is, we are free-to-use until the end of June 2024.
Conclusion
It’s a good idea to review your subscription from time to time to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.
Just a heads-up: Microsoft 365 has a flexible pricing model with different plans to suit different needs and budgets.
So, it’s worth taking the time to analyze your options to save money while getting the most out of your Microsoft 365 price.
