Are you having a hard time choosing which Microsoft 365 plan is right for your business? You are not alone. Many business owners often find it perplexing to choose the ideal plan because of the wide variety of features available. Here’s an overview of the different Microsoft 365 plans to help you decide.
Microsoft 365 plans for businesses
Microsoft 365 for businesses comes in four different plans: Business Basic, Apps for business, Business Standard, and Business Premium.
| Plan | Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft 365 Business Standard | Microsoft 365 Business Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.00 user/month | $8.25 user/month | $12.50 user/month | $22.00 user/month |
| Web-based and mobile versions of Microsoft apps | Yes | Yes, excluding Outlook | Yes | Yes |
| 50GB email storage | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 1TB cloud storage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standard online security | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 online and phone support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Bookings | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| MileIQ | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Information Rights Management | No | No | No | Yes |
| Manage and wipe company devices remotely with Intune | No | No | No | Yes |
How to choose the right Microsoft 365 plan for your business
Now that you have an idea of how much each Microsoft 365 plan costs and what features are included with each plan, it’s time to determine which one is right for your business. Here's what you should do:
Assess your current hardware and software
It's important to make sure your employees' computers are capable of running Microsoft 365 applications before subscribing to a plan. Some features might not work as expected or have limited functionality if their hardware does not meet specific system requirements.
Likewise, assessing your current software and apps is crucial to determining whether they will work effectively with Microsoft 365. Some third-party apps may not be compatible, limiting the usefulness of your subscription.
Consider your needs
When choosing a Microsoft 365 plan, consider your company's needs and determine which features will offer you the most value. Try answering these questions to get an idea of your requirements:
- Are you looking for ways to improve collaboration and communication?
- Will your business benefit by shifting to the cloud?
- Are you looking for advanced protection from various threats?
Asking questions like these can help you narrow down your options and find a plan that's tailored to your business.
Plan your budget
When planning a budget for the Microsoft 365 plan of your choice, there are two things to consider: the number of users and the migration cost. For the number of users, try to overshoot your budget slightly to account for new employees. If you have in-house IT staff, you can let them handle the migration process to avoid additional expenses. By taking these factors into account, you can choose a subscription plan that fits well within your budget.
If you’re still unsure about what Microsoft 365 plan you need, you can call our experts for advice or you can answer this questionnaire.