Choosing a Microsoft 365 Plan for your business is similar to going shopping. Both processes require you to assess your needs, item features, and pricing based on your preferences, research and comparisons. You probably know what type of clothing best suits you, but do you know which Microsoft 365 plan is perfect for your business?
Why Choose Microsoft 365 For Business
From communication and collaboration to cloud storage and advanced security, Microsoft 365 offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help you successfully run your business. Microsoft’s business plans are particularly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It provides four different plans: Basic, Apps for Business, Standard, and Premium. Understanding the specific features that your business needs not only amplifies productivity and creativity but also saves you from overpaying for services.
Understand Your Business Needs
Before purchasing a Microsoft 365 plan for your business, it’s important to assess your business requirements and priorities. If your business is a startup that needs basic email, cloud, storage, and collaboration tools, the Basic plan is likely the best choice for you. This tier provides access to web and mobile versions of Office apps, 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user, a custom business email, web support from Microsoft, and other benefits.
Consider Your Team Size
Microsoft 365 is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Its plans offer different features and benefits based on the number of users. Unlike the Basic plan, the Apps for Business plan allows users to access applications across multiple devices, including installation on up to five mobile devices, five tablets, and five PCs per user. Apps for Business is designed to provide small businesses with essential productivity tools. Therefore, it’s important to consider the size of your team when selecting a Microsoft 365 plan for your business.
The Possibility of Remote Work
All Microsoft 365 plans support collaboration, but the Basic plan is particularly well-suited for companies with employees who travel frequently or work from home and need seamless access to project files. This plan provides access to essential programs, enabling employees to work on files in real time, anytime and anywhere, as long as they are connected to the internet. Files created using the online applications are compatible with the latest versions of desktop applications, allowing for easy sharing across devices.
Bigger is Better
Are the features and tools in the Basic and Apps plans insufficient for your business needs? Don’t worry. Microsoft 365 Business Standard is the ideal plan to enhance your team’s productivity. In addition to the applications and services offered in Basic and Apps for Business, the Standard plan provides access to 10 additional apps, including Microsoft Loop, Clipchamp, Planner, and Forms. Businesses can also hold webinars, which can be used for internal training sessions or customer events.
What is in Your Pocket?
Although all Microsoft 365 plans offer security capabilities, Premium goes above and beyond to keep your business information safe. It has advanced security features and device management that help discover, classify, and protect sensitive information. Unlike the other Microsoft Business plans, the Premium plan provides business-class email hosting through Exchange Online, which comes with a custom domain name. Microsoft 365’s priciest tier equips your business with all the necessary tools to structure and collaborate on projects in one place.
Preta is a lawyer with over five years of experience in writing, editing, and research. She specializes in the intersection of technology, policy, economics, politics, and gender. She is a 2025 Free Market Fellow, a 2022 Lead(H)er Fellow, and a 2021 African Liberty Writing Fellow. Her work has been featured in prominent publications such as The Daily Monitor, The New Vision, Qiraat Africa, The Rational Standard, and others.
