Microsoft 365 Basic



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A Microsoft 365 global admin must complete the following steps to activate and set up Basic Mobility and Security. For detailed steps, follow the guidance in Set up Basic Mobility and Security. Here's a summary of the steps. Microsoft 365 Family subscription unlocks location alerts and driving safety features in mobile app. Location permissions must be active to receive alerts. Drive safety only available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Now available for Android. Coming soon for iOS.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic supports a maximum of 300 users. If you have more than 300 users or think you will soon, take a look at our other plan options. What forms of payment can I use? You can pay with all major credit cards, and your subscription.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the Microsoft best-in-class offering for small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is an integrated solution that brings together the productivity of Microsoft 365 with advanced security and device management.

This article compares licensing options for SMBs, with a special emphasis on Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Service areaFeatureMicrosoft 365 Business StandardMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Licenses availableMaximum number of users300300
Office appsInstall Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office OnlineBusinessBusiness
Email & calendarOutlook, Exchange Online50 GB50 GB
Hub for teamworkChat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft TeamsYesYes
File storageOneDrive for Business1 TB per user1 TB per user
Social, video, sitesStream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online, PowerApps, Power AutomateYesYes
Business appsScheduling apps – Bookings1YesYes
Business apps – MileIQ1YesYes
Threat protectionMicrosoft Defender for Office 365NoYes
Windows Exploit Guard enforcementNoYes
Identity managementSelf-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accountsNoYes
Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, conditional access policiesNoYes
Device & app managementMicrosoft IntuneNoYes
Shared computer activationNoYes
Windows AutoPilot, Windows Pro managementNoYes
Upgrade rights to Windows 10 Pro for Win 7/8.1 Pro licensesNoYes
Windows Virtual DesktopNoYes
Information ProtectionMicrosoft data loss preventionNoYes
Azure Information Protection Plan 1, BitLocker enforcementNoYes
ComplianceUnlimited email archiving2NoYes

Notes

1 Available in US, UK, Canada.

2 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.

Microsoft

Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E3

Service areaFeatureOffice 365 E3Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Licenses availableMaximum number of usersUnlimited300
Office appsInstall Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office OnlineProPlusBusiness
Email & calendarOutlook, Exchange Online100 GB50 GB
Hub for teamworkChat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft TeamsYesYes
File storageOneDrive for BusinessUnlimited1 TB per user
Social, video, sitesStream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online1, PowerApps1, Power Automate1YesYes
Business appsScheduling apps – Bookings2YesYes
Business apps – MileIQ2NoYes
Threat protectionMicrosoft Defender for Office 365NoYes
Windows Exploit Guard enforcementNoYes
Identity managementSelf-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accountsNoYes
Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, conditional access policiesNoYes
Device & app managementMicrosoft Intune, Windows AutoPilot, Windows Pro managementNoYes
Shared computer activationYesYes
Upgrade rights to Windows 10 Pro for Win 7/8.1 ProNoYes
Windows Virtual DesktopNoYes
Information protectionMicrosoft data loss preventionYesYes
Azure Information Protection Plan 1, BitLocker enforcementNoYes
On-premises CAL rightsECAL Suite (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype)YesNo
ComplianceUnlimited email archiving3YesYes

Notes

1 Indicates Microsoft 365 Business Standard has Plan 1 of the functionality and Office 365 E3 has Plan 2.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Microsoft 365 Basic

2 Available in US, UK, Canada.

3 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.

Microsoft 365 business basic

Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, and Office 365 E3

Microsoft 365 basic vs standard
Service areaFeatureMicrosoft 365 Business StandardMicrosoft 365 Business PremiumOffice 365 E3
Licenses availableMaximum number of users300300Unlimited
Office appsInstall Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office OnlineBusinessBusinessProPlus
Email & calendarOutlook, Exchange Online50 GB50 GB100 GB
Hub for teamworkChat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft TeamsYesYesYes
File storageOneDrive for Business1 TB per user1 TB per userUnlimited
Social, video, sitesStream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online1, PowerApps1, Power Automate1YesYesYes
Business appsScheduling apps – Bookings2YesYesYes
Business apps – MileIQ2YesYesNo
Threat protectionMicrosoft Defender for Office 365NoYesNo
Windows Exploit Guard enforcementNoYesNo
Identity managementSelf-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accountsNoYesNo
Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, conditional access policiesNoYesNo
Device & app managementMicrosoft Intune, Windows AutoPilot, Windows Pro ManagementNoYesNo
Shared computer activationNoYesYes
Upgrade rights to Windows 10 Pro for Win 7/8.1 Pro licensesNoYesNo
Windows Virtual DesktopNoYesNo
Information protectionMicrosoft data loss preventionNoYesYes
Azure Information Protection Plan 1, BitLocker enforcementNoYesNo
On-premises CAL rightsECAL Suite (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype)NoNoYes
ComplianceUnlimited email archiving3NoYesYes

Notes

1 Indicates Microsoft 365 Business Standard has Plan 1 of the functionality and Office 365 E3 has Plan 2.

Microsoft 365 Basic Plan

2 Available in US, UK, Canada.

3 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.

Subscription

Feature comparison: Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 for business plans

Service areaFeatureMicrosoft 365 Business StandardMicrosoft 365 Business PremiumMicrosoft 365 E3Microsoft 365 E5
Licenses availableMaximum number of users300300UnlimitedUnlimited
Office appsInstall Office on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 smartphones per user (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access), Office OnlineBusinessBusinessProPlusProPlus
Email & calendarOutlook, Exchange Online50 GB50 GBunlimitedunlimited
Hub for teamworkChat-based workspace, online meetings, and more in Microsoft TeamsYesYesYesYes
File storageOneDrive for Business1 TB per user1 TB per userunlimitedunlimited
Social, video, sitesYammer, SharePoint Online, PlannerYesYesYesYes
StreamYesYesYes
Business appsScheduling apps – Bookings1YesYesYesYes
Business apps – MileIQ1YesYesNoNo
Threat protectionMicrosoft Advanced Threat Analytics, Device Guard, Credential Guard, AppLocker, Enterprise Data ProtectionNoNoYesYes
Microsoft Defender for Office 365NoYesNoYes
Microsoft Defender for EndpointNoNoNoYes
Office 365 Threat IntelligenceNoNoNoYes
Identity managementSelf-service password reset for hybrid Azure Active Directory accounts, Azure MFA, Conditional AccessNoYesYesYes
Azure AD: Cloud App Discovery, Azure AD Connect Health, SSO for more than 10 appsYesYesYesYes
Azure Active Directory Plan 2NoNoNoYes
Device & app managementMicrosoft Intune, Windows AutoPilotNoYesYesYes
Shared computer activation, Windows Virtual DesktopNoYesYesYes
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, VDANoNoYesYes
Information protectionMicrosoft data loss prevention, Azure Information Protection Plan 1NoYesYesYes
Azure Information Protection Plan 2, Microsoft Cloud App Security, Office 365 Cloud App SecurityNoNoNoYes
On-premises CAL rightsECAL Suite (Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, Windows, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, Windows Rights Management)NoNoYesYes
ComplianceUnlimited email archiving2NoYesYesYes
Advanced eDiscovery, Customer Lockbox, Advanced Data GovernanceNoNoNoYes
AnalyticsPower BI Pro, MyAnalyticsNoNoNoYes
Insights by MyAnalyticsYesYesYesYes
AssistanceBriefing emailYesYesYesYes
VoicePSTN conferencing, Cloud PBXNoNoNoYes

Notes

1 Available in US, UK, Canada.

2 Unlimited archiving when auto-expansion is turned on.

Office client commercial plans

ApplicationsMicrosoft 365 Apps for businessMicrosoft 365 Apps for enterprise
WordYesYes
ExcelYesYes
PowerPointYesYes
OneNoteYesYes
OutlookYesYes
PublisherYesYes
AccessYesYes
Microsoft TeamsYesYes
Premium valueMicrosoft 365 Apps for businessMicrosoft 365 Apps for enterprise
Volume activationNoNo
Group policy1NoYes
Shared computer activationYes7Yes
App telemetryNoYes
Update controls2NoYes
Apply personal retention policies3YesYes5
Access site mailboxes3YesYes5
Access in-place archive folder3,4YesYes5
Spreadsheet compare & inquireNoYes5
Business intelligenceNoYes5
Create IRM3Yes7Yes
Data loss prevention3Yes7Yes5
Cloud valueMicrosoft 365 Apps for businessMicrosoft 365 Apps for enterprise
GroupsYesYes
Office Deployment ToolYesYes
Roaming documents & settingsYesYes
1 TB OneDrive for BusinessYesYes
LicensingMicrosoft 365 Apps for businessMicrosoft 365 Apps for enterprise
Licensing modelPer userPer user
License typeSubscriptionSubscription
PC/Mac installs655
iOS/Android smartphone installs655
Tablet installs655
Office RT commercial rightsYesYes
Office Online/web appsYesYes
Commercial use rightsYesYes

Notes

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes the Microsoft 365 Apps for business client, which has some differences from Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

1 Allows the organization to push certain configuration settings (security settings, app settings, Active Directory roaming, and so on) for Office to machines logging on to the corporate network.

2 With Office Standard 2016 and Office Professional Plus 2016, IT has full control of updates using the MSI model. With Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Microsoft 365 Apps for business, installation and updates are managed via Click-to-Run.

3 The suites provide different levels of integration with business productivity servers.

4 Archive email from Outlook—no .pst files needed—and set retention policies that automatically archive or delete email. IT admins can centrally manage the In-Place Archive.

5 Requires additional online service(s).

6 Permits local installation via click-to-run of the licensed Microsoft 365 apps included with the service. Does not include rights to install Office 2016 on-premises versions. Office supports PCs and Windows tablets running Windows 7 or higher, and Macs running MAC OS X 10.6 or higher. Office for iPad can be installed on iPads running version 7 or higher.

Microsoft 365 Basic Teams

7 This premium feature is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, but not in other Microsoft 365 Apps for business offerings.