Managed IT Services • 11th July 2019

Office 365 Vs. Microsoft 365: Comparing Prices, Features and More

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It’s easy to get Office 365 and Microsoft 365 confused with one another. And it gets even more confusing when you learn Microsoft 365 includes Office 365. Understanding the differences is essential for determining which capabilities, features and pricing your business needs.

Office 365 is a platform that holds Microsoft’s most sought-after applications, such as Word, Outlook and SharePoint. Microsoft 365, on the other hand, consists of a few different products packaged together under one license.

Microsoft 365 meant for mid-size businesses and enterprises because it includes not only Office 365, but also Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise Mobility + Security to round out all the needs an organization might have.

But these aren’t the only variances. The rest of this blog will break down the products, prices and features of Office 365 vs. Microsoft 365 so you can make the best decision for your organization.

What Is Office 365?

Office 365 is a cloud services platform that combines Microsoft products into a monthly or annual subscription plan. You can use the products online, on-premises or a combination of the two, depending on your needs.

You’re most likely familiar with the productivity-based applications included with Office 365. Here are a few that you’ll find with your subscription:

  • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher and Access
  • Outlook and Exchange
  • OneDrive and SharePoint
  • Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business
  • Yammer

Depending on the plan you choose, you may also have access to additional products — it all depends on your organization’s specific needs. As a monthly, per-user subscription, prices range from $5 per user per month up to $35 per user per month. You can also mix and match plans, and you can change your plans when needed.

Office 365 is ideal for small businesses on a more modest budget.

What Is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is a bundle of services that includes Office 365, along with Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security. It also has some machine learning capabilities that make combining the separate licenses more appealing than purchasing each one separately.

Similar to Office 365, you can choose from multiple plans depending on your company’s requirements. Microsoft 365 is split up into different licenses — Microsoft 365 Business, Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Education. The per user, per month subscription plans start at about $20.

Here are the main differences between Business and Enterprise, the two most popular licenses:

Microsoft 365 Business is designed for SMBs with less than 300 users. It’s comprised of:

  • Office 365 suite
  • 1 TB of storage
  • Device management capabilities via Microsoft Intune
  • Fundamental data and app security

Microsoft 365 Enterprise is meant for larger organizations that desire more robust security and device management functionality. It’s broken into three tiers:

  • F1 (for Firstline Workers): Includes Office 365 (minus Access) and basic threat protection
  • E3 (Basic tier): Includes Office 365, basic threat protection and Office 365 Data Loss Prevention
  • E5 (Premium tier): Includes Office 365, advanced threat protection, Office 365 Data Loss Prevention, audio conferencing/phone system, advanced compliance tools and analytics tools

If you’re unsure whether Office 365 or Microsoft 365 is right for you, first ask yourself: do you need all the components included in Microsoft 365? It’s a bundle of existing services, so if you don’t need everything in it, you may be better off buying the services you need separately.

Need Help Moving to Your New Office 365 or Microsoft 365 License?

The more Microsoft comes out with new features and platforms to help businesses thrive, the better off your organization will be. That doesn’t mean choosing the best platform will be easy, however.

Moving to Office 365 or Microsoft 365 isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. You need to consider setup costs, migration requirements and the time it’ll take to make the move.

If you’re not technically savvy or don’t have the resources to handle a migration internally, give KMicro a call.

Our team has the expertise to help you determine which Microsoft products and platforms work best for you. Once you’ve made your decision, we can also step in to help your company migrate to the platform so that you can focus on running your business.

Schedule a meeting with us or dial our number now for more information: 949-284-7264.

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