Start with the plan name
Start with the apps your team needs. Business Basic uses web and mobile apps. The displayed Standard and Premium bundles add desktop apps and Copilot, with an annual subscription.
Microsoft 365 is a family of business subscriptions rather than one fixed package. Microsoft sells offers with different app access, administration features and AI entitlements. Its US comparison also distinguishes versions with and without Teams. This makes the product useful to compare for teams that work in Office applications, but it requires careful plan selection. Read the complete offer name, billing commitment and included services before treating two prices as equivalent.
Four differences to compare
These distinctions come from Microsoft’s US business comparison, checked November 2, 2026.
Web or desktop apps
App access depends on the plan.
Basic uses web and mobile apps. The shown Standard and Premium Copilot bundles also include desktop Office apps.
Storage per user
The displayed offers list 1 TB per user.
Basic and the shown Standard and Premium Copilot offers list this storage allowance. Check the storage terms for your selected subscription.
Premium security tools
Premium adds device and threat controls.
Compare those controls with your device-management and protection requirements before paying for the higher tier.
Different AI packages
Copilot Chat and full Copilot are different.
Check which app-based features the offer includes. Some advanced AI features can add usage-based charges.
Pros & cons
Pros
- A choice between web/mobile access and desktop Office apps.
- The displayed business offers list 1 TB of cloud storage per user.
- Premium adds device management and threat protection.
- The offer range separates app needs from more advanced security and AI packages.
Cons
- Similar plan names can refer to different Teams and Copilot entitlements.
- The displayed rates require an annual subscription that renews automatically.
- Some advanced AI use can create charges beyond the subscription price.
- The business plan family has a combined limit of 300 provisioned licenses.
Displayed annual offers
Prices are per user per month, paid yearly. These are the offers displayed on Microsoft’s US page on November 2, 2026. Keep the bundle names intact when comparing quotes.
Microsoft 365 plans at a glance
| Plan | Price (USD) | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | $7/ user/mo | Web and mobile apps. Annual subscription. Check the Teams version. |
| Standard + Copilot | $23.50/ user/mo | Business Standard with Copilot. Desktop, web and mobile apps. Paid yearly. |
| Premium + Copilot | $32/ user/mo | Business Premium with Copilot. Adds device management and threat protection. Paid yearly. |
| Apps for business | $10/ user/mo | Desktop and web Office apps with 1 TB storage. Do not assume business email or Teams is included. |
Business Basic
Web and mobile apps. Annual subscription. Check the Teams version.
Standard + Copilot
Business Standard with Copilot. Desktop, web and mobile apps. Paid yearly.
Premium + Copilot
Business Premium with Copilot. Adds device management and threat protection. Paid yearly.
Apps for business
Desktop and web Office apps with 1 TB storage. Do not assume business email or Teams is included.
Microsoft 365 at a glance
| Decision | What to check |
|---|---|
| App access | Basic: web/mobile. The displayed Standard and Premium Copilot bundles add desktop apps. |
| Teams | Choose the appropriate offer with or without Teams. |
| Copilot | Confirm the full bundle name. Copilot Chat is not the same as full app-based Copilot. |
| Cloud storage | 1 TB per user on Basic and the displayed Standard/Premium Copilot offers. |
| Business license limit | Up to 300 total provisioned licenses across the business plan family. |
| Subscription | Displayed rates use an annual subscription, paid yearly, with automatic renewal. |
| Advanced AI | Some features can use separate usage-based billing. |
Build a plan around the work
List essential apps
Decide whether browser access is sufficient or desktop Office apps are required. Test representative files before selecting a package.
Check collaboration needs
Read the Teams entitlement on the exact offer. Do not infer it from the Microsoft 365 name alone.
Choose security and AI
Separate necessary device controls from optional AI features. Confirm which features have subscription or usage-based charges.
Count licenses and confirm terms
Build the quote from the users who need licenses. Check the annual charge, renewal date and rules for later changes.
Budget for the annual commitment
This illustration assumes ten users keep the same subscriptions for a full year. It compares the displayed offers, not an individual quote.
- Licenses10 users × $7 per month × 12 months
- $840
- Standard with Copilot10 users × $23.50 per month × 12 months
- $2,820
- DifferenceThe displayed Standard bundle versus Basic
- $1,980
$840 / year
Basic · 10 usersPaid yearly at the displayed US rates checked November 2, 2026. Excludes taxes, add-ons, usage-based AI charges, domain registration and migration work. This is a subscription illustration, not a guaranteed renewal quote.
The higher total buys a different package. It is not simply a higher price for the same access. Compare the desktop apps and bundled Copilot features with what employees will actually use.
Which offer fits the team?
Compare the package, not just the price
Microsoft 365
- Basic uses web and mobile apps
- Desktop access on the shown Standard/Premium bundles
- Check Teams and Copilot entitlements
- Displayed offers paid yearly
Google Workspace
- Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Drive
- Browser-based collaborative editing
- Business Starter standard rate: $7 per user/month
- One-year commitment, billed monthly
Zoho Workplace
- Mail and collaborative office tools
- Standard and Professional suites
- Request the applicable US quote
- Do not confuse mail-only plans with the full suite
Prices and package contents are not interchangeable. Compare the same users, apps, billing commitment and migration needs. Official pages checked November 2, 2026.
Before you subscribe
Sources and editorial notes
We compared published information. We did not purchase or test this product. Ratings are editorial estimates. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Microsoft 365 business pricing — Displayed business offers, app access, storage and annual subscriptions. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Google Workspace pricing — Standard Business Starter price, annual commitment and monthly billing. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Zoho Workplace editions — Workplace suites and mail-only plan distinctions. Checked November 2, 2026.
Alternatives
Google Workspace
Zoho WorkplaceFrequently asked questions
Does every Microsoft 365 business plan include Teams?
No. Microsoft offers versions with and without Teams. Read the exact offer name and included-service list before you order.
Does Business Basic include desktop Office apps?
Business Basic uses web and mobile apps. The displayed Standard and Premium Copilot bundles include desktop apps. Apps for business is a separate apps-focused option.
Is Copilot Chat the same as full Copilot in Office apps?
No. These are different entitlements. Check the full package description and whether advanced features can create usage-based charges.
How should a small team compare the price?
Multiply the applicable per-user rate by the paid licenses and billing period. Then add taxes, optional services and any migration costs. Keep the subscription commitment alongside the total.