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Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plan options

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Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are available in a variety of plans to best meet the needs of your organization.

Service families and plans

The following table lists the different service families and plans available in Microsoft 365 and Office 365. For a high-level overview of features and pricing information, or to chat with an online representative, select any of the links in the Plans column.

Service availability within each Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plan

Each Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plan includes a number of individual services, such as Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. The following table shows the services that are available in each plan.

While a service may be available across Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, the features available in each plan may differ. To see the details of features that are available for each plan, refer to the individual service description or contact your Reseller or Microsoft sales representative for more information. Several of the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans have add-ons that you can buy for your subscription. An add-on provides additional functionality to the subscription. For more information, see Buy or edit an add-on for Office 365 for business .

1 Office 365 E5 and Microsoft 365 E5 contain Phone System and Audio Conferencing. To implement a Calling Plan requires an additional plan purchase (either Domestic or International). 2  Includes Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance, which provides automatic classification and retention, Microsoft Purview Customer Key, Microsoft Purview Advanced Message Encryption, Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management, Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance, Microsoft Purview Information Barriers, Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox, Microsoft Purview Privileged Access Management, Microsoft Purview Audit (Premium), Records Management, Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Premium) capabilities; and Microsoft 365 E5 Security, which includes Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, and Safe Documents. 3 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1. 4 Includes Exchange Online Plan 2. 5 Viva Engage core functionality is included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, and Office 365 F3. Premium functionality such as leadership corner, campaigns, advanced analytics, and more are included in Viva Suite license. 6 To learn more about which Azure Information Protection features are included with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, see Azure Information Protection . 7 Azure Information Protection isn't included, but can be purchased as a separate add-on and will enable the supported Information Rights Management (IRM) features. Some Azure Information Protection features require a subscription to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, which isn't included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, or Office 365 F3.

1 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1. 2 Includes Exchange Online Kiosk. 3 Microsoft 365 F1 doesn't include rights to an Exchange mailbox. To enable a full Teams experience, Microsoft 365 F1 licenses may come with the Exchange Online K1 service plan enabled. Although the Exchange Online K1 service plan will provision a mailbox for the user, Microsoft 365 F1 users aren't entitled to use the mailbox. We recommend that your customers disable Outlook on the web via these steps and ask users not to access the Exchange mailbox via any other methods. 4 Includes 2 GB storage. 5 Microsoft 365 F1 users can read files using Office for the web, but don't have create/edit/save rights. 6 Viva Engage core functionality is included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, and Office 365 F3. Premium functionality such as leadership corner, campaigns, advanced analytics, and more are included in Viva Suite license. 7 To learn more about which Azure Information Protection features are included with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, see Azure Information Protection . 8 Azure Information Protection isn't included, but can be purchased as a separate add-on and will enable the supported Information Rights Management (IRM) features. Some Azure Information Protection features require a subscription to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, which isn't included with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Office 365 E1, Office 365 A1, or Office 365 F3.

Changing or mixing plans

As the needs of your organization change, you may need to change your Microsoft 365 plan. You can switch from your current subscription to another subscription:

• In the same service family: For example, you can move from Microsoft 365 Business Basic to Microsoft 365 Business Standard, or from Office 365 E1 to Office 365 E3.
• From a standalone plan: For example, you can move from Exchange Online Plan 1 to Office 365 E1.
• To a different service family: For example, you can move from Microsoft 365 Business Basic to Office 365 E3. For information about how to change subscriptions, including how to move from a trial to a paid subscription, see Switch to a different Microsoft 365 plan or subscription .

You can combine Enterprise, Business, and standalone plans (for example, Exchange Online Plan 1) within a single account.

Standalone services

The following online services are available on their own, as standalone plans. They can also be added to Business and Enterprise service family plans that don't already include them. For pricing information, or to chat with an online representative, select any of the plans listed in the following table.

Feature availability

To view feature availability across Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans, see Microsoft 365 and Office 365 platform service description .

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Additional resources

Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now available for enterprise customers.

Compare Office 365 and Microsoft 365 for enterprise

Get best-in-class productivity apps with Office 365 or upgrade to additional security and compliance capabilities with Microsoft 365.

Which is right for you?

Prepare for ai with microsoft 365.

Get the AI-powered productivity suite:

• Best-in-class productivity apps
• Zero Trust security
• Enterprise-grade device and app management
• Robust collaboration capabilities

Or, access core productivity with Office 365

Get foundational productivity apps and services such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and SharePoint.

Compare plans in detail

Office 365 e3.

Originally starting from $23.00 now starting from $23.00

$23.00 $23.00

(Annual subscription—auto renews) 1

100 GB of mailbox and 1.5 TB of archive storage

Always up-to-date productivity apps

Up to five PCs or Macs, five tablets, and five phones per user

Meetings for up to 1,000 attendees

Unlimited cloud storage for five or more users 3

Standard security

Anytime phone and web support

Microsoft 365 E3

Originally starting from $36.00 now starting from $36.00

$36.00 $36.00

(Annual commitment)

See trial terms 2

Everything in Office 365 E3 plus:

Windows Enterprise

Core security, identity, and access management capabilities

Information protection

Cyberthreat protection

Device and application management

Download the full enterprise plans comparison table

See all plans in detail, frequently asked questions, what's the difference between microsoft 365 and office 365.

The difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 is that Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based service that brings together best-in-class productivity apps with advanced device management, intelligent security, and innovative online services. Office 365 includes apps such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with services such as Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.

What’s included in Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365—which includes Microsoft 365 apps, Windows Enterprise, and Enterprise Mobility + Security—is more than just a licensing construct or a group of products. Microsoft 365 brings interconnectivity and intelligence that helps customers innovate and compete more effectively on their digital transformation journey.

Are there free deployment resources available?

Microsoft FastTrack is the customer success service that helps you move smoothly and confidently to Microsoft 365 and deliver business value faster. Customers with eligible subscriptions to Microsoft 365 can use FastTrack at no additional cost for the life of their subscription. Sign in to Microsoft FastTrack to request assistance and get started.

Do you offer volume discounts to businesses?

Discounts are available for Enterprise Agreement customers (typically more than 250 licenses) who want to purchase through volume licensing. A Microsoft partner can help you explore the purchasing options for large enterprises and help you determine which is best for you. Learn more about volume licensing . Find a Microsoft partner .

How do I upgrade to another Microsoft 365 plan?

Customers with Microsoft 365 E3 subscriptions are eligible to purchase Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance and Microsoft 365 E5 Security as add-ons to their Microsoft 365 E3 subscriptions. Depending on the subscription level, customers can also combine their Microsoft 365 Enterprise subscriptions with plans and add-ons from Microsoft Entra ID, Dynamics 365, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Microsoft 365.

Can I have different types of Microsoft 365 plans within my organization?

Yes, your organization can use any combination of plans as long as you meet plan prerequisites. Prerequisites vary by plan. Learn more and  compare Microsoft 365 plans .

What happens to my data if I cancel my subscription?

Microsoft has a data retention period that is typically set to 90 days for most subscriptions. This period begins upon subscription cancellation. You may retrieve your data in this period even though your subscription is disabled.

• [1] Once your paid subscription begins, cancellation policies vary based on your status as a new customer and your product and domain selections on Microsof.  Learn more . Cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription any time by going to the Microsoft 365 admin center. When a subscription is canceled, all associated data will be deleted.  Learn more about data retention, deletion, and destruction in Microsoft 365 .
• [2] After your one-month free trial ends, your subscription will automatically convert into a 12-month paid subscription and you will be charged the applicable subscription fee. Cancel anytime during your free trial to stop future charges. Credit card required to sign-up.  Learn more .​
• [3] Unlimited OneDrive storage for E3 or E5 subscriptions of five or more users. Microsoft will provide an initial 5 TB of OneDrive storage per user. Customers who want additional OneDrive storage can request it as needed by contacting Microsoft Support. Subscriptions for fewer than five users receive 1 TB OneDrive storage per user. F3 plans include 2 GB OneDrive storage per user.
• [4] Productivity Server Rights – SharePoint, Exchange productivity server rights for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 customers (Hybrid Rights unavailable in CSP Channel).
• [5] Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Also includes Publisher and Access for PC only.
• [6] Available via the no-cost add-on license for Microsoft Teams Audio Conferencing with dial-out to US and Canada. Includes unlimited toll dial-in, 60 minutes per user per month dial-out to phone numbers in the US and Canada, and Operator Connect Conferencing.
• [7] Premium features require a Microsoft Viva license.  Learn more .
• [8] Microsoft will provide an initial 5 TB of OneDrive storage per user. Customers who want additional OneDrive storage can request it as needed by contacting Microsoft support. Subscriptions for fewer than five users receive 1 TB OneDrive storage per user.
• [9] Sway is not currently available for Government Community Cloud (GCC) customers and customers in certain geographic locations. Some legacy Office 365 plans that are no longer in market as of August 2015 may also not have access to Sway.
• [10] Power Automate is limited to 2,000 steps per day.
• [11] Licensed users can create, share, and manage forms. Completing does not require a Forms license.  
• [12] Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) ended mainstream support on January 12, 2021. Extended support will continue until January 2026.  Learn more .

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Compare all Microsoft Office 365 Plans in one Overview

The Microsoft Office 365 plans offer great tools for businesses and enterprises to fully work in the cloud. Microsoft has changed the names of most plans to Microsoft 365 but also kept partially the Office 365 label. Comparing all the plans together on the Microsoft site can sometimes be a bit challenging, so to help you out I have created an overview to compare all office 365 plans.

If you have a small business with less than 300 users, then the most interesting plans are the Microsoft 365 Business plans. Large organizations will have to look at the Office 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 plans.

I have also written a couple of articles where I go more into detail between the different plans, you can find the links further down in the article.

Microsoft Office 365 Comparison Chart

The table below will help you to compare the Office 365 plans. The prices are based on an annual subscription model. Enterprise plans are only available in a yearly agreement.

Note Microsoft added new plans without Teams wich are only available in the European Union. These plans are less expensive. Read everything about it in this article

Microsoft 365 Business plans

For most small businesses is the Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan the best choice. With a price of $12.50 per user per month, you get the full Office 365 suite, with the desktop apps, Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc. Everything you need to get your business started in the cloud. If you also want to fully manage your devices (computers, mobile phones) or make use of advanced threat protection, then take a look at the Business Premium plan.

Office 365 Enterprise plans

The Enterprise plans can also be used by companies with less than 300 users, but they are more meant for companies that also need Active Directory integration or features like Litigation Hold and eDiscovery. You get more storage for Exchange Online, OneDrive, and SharePoint with the Enterprise plans.

You can check the prices for your country or buy one of the Office 365 plans here at Office.com

Microsoft Office 365 license comparison

Start with an microsoft office 365 trial.

It can be difficult to select the right plan for your business with the many options that are available for Office 365. It’s good to start with the comparison of Office 365 plans, but keep in mind that you can also start with an Office 365 Trial . This way you can see what will work for your organization.

You can use your own domain for the trial, but only do that when you are really sure you are going to proceed with Office 365. Otherwise use a temporary domain, like Contoso-lab01, to test out Office 365.

There are a couple of trails available, Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium and Office 365 Enterprise E3 and E5 . If you have a small company, with less than 50 employees I recommend starting with a Microsoft 365 Business Premium trial. The business plans give you some nice features like Invoicing and Outlook Customer Manager which can be really useful in smaller companies.

If you have more than 50 employees I would recommend going for the Enterprise solution. It’s more expensive, but the Compliance and Information Protection services will help you protect your data and make it easier for you to comply with Business regulations and industry standards.

Comparing the plans side-by-side

I have written multiple in-depth articles about the differences between specific plans. These articles will help you when you can’t choose between E3 and E5 for example.

Microsoft 365 F1 vs Office 365 E1

I got a lot of questions on what the differences are between the Microsoft 365 F1 plan and the existing Office E1 plan. I worked out the details between them, you can read more about it in the in-depth article Microsoft 365 F1 vs Office 365 E1

Office 365 E1 vs E3

Do you want to know when Office 365 E1 is sufficient and what the differences are with Office 365 E3? Check out this article where we go into the differences between the two.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs Office E3

They look almost the same, but there is a huge price difference between these two plans. Want to know what these differences are and if E3 is worth the extra money? You can read all the details here in this article .

Microsoft 365 Business Plans

Are you a small business and do you want to know which Microsoft 365 Business Plan is the best fit for you? Then you should check out this article with all the details you need to know about the Business Plans.

Microsoft 365 Plans

Interested in Microsoft 365 as well? Take a look at this article where I explain the differences between Office 365 and Microsoft 365

Wrapping Up

Microsoft offers a lot of different plans, but in general, they offer you a lot of flexibility and can really help your business to grow. I hope this article helped you to compare Office 365 plans. If you have any questions, then just drop a comment below.

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COMPARISON OF Microsoft 365 BUSINESS PLANS AND PRICING

Since April 21, 2020, Microsoft has officially renamed all ‘Office 365 Business’ plans to ‘Microsoft 365 Business’. Here’s the table of feature comparison of Microsoft 365 Business plans:

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All Our Microsoft 365 Business Plans Include

Free end-user support, free migration help, 24 x 7 phone, chat, & email, online knowledge base, savings on it costs, fully automatic updates, regular data backup, 1 tb of online storage, business email service, tier-1 partner expertise, faqs on m365 business plans, why microsoft changed name from office 365 to m365.

Name changes are not unconventional at Microsoft. The tech giant changes the names of its popular products and services from time to time. The reason behind this name change is cited as a more holistic approach which appeals to a wider base, rather than just the ‘office’ sphere.

What plan should I choose if I do not need Microsoft Office apps?

If you do not need Microsoft Office applications, go with the most basic plan – Microsoft 365 Business Basic (earlier called as Office 365 Business Essentials). This plan is priced at only $6 user/month. At $8.30 user/month, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business is a standard plan includes Microsoft Office applications along with OneDrive for Business. In addition to all the features of the above plans, Microsoft Business Standard has more advanced features priced at $12.50 user/month.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OFFICE 365 AND MICROSOFT 365?

Microsoft 365 is a bundle of services including Office 365, comprising of Microsoft services including Windows 10 Enterprise. Office 365 is a cloud-based productivity suite which is a bundle of popular Microsoft apps.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE MY OWN DOMAIN NAME FOR THE EMAILS IN MICROSOFT 365?

Yes, you can add the domain name you own to your Microsoft 365 account and set up your domain-based email addresses. You can even add multiple domains and sub-domains to Office 365 and host any of the services, including email, on any of the domains that you add. You must own a domain name and as an admin, you will have to make some changes on the DNS records of your domain – we will guide you for this.

WHAT OFFICE VERSIONS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS BASIC?

Microsoft 365 Business Basic, earlier known as Office 365 Business Essentials, is most compatible with the latest version of Office, Office 2016, and Office 2011 for Mac. The ancient versions of MS Office before 2013 may work with the plan, but with reduced functionality.

HOW EXACTLY WILL APPS4RENT HELP ME WITH THE PLANS?

As your Cloud Solution Provider for Office 365, we will provide free migration and 24/7/365 support to end-users for issues that take up your time, such as email configuration accounts, password resets, setting up aliases and contacts, creating groups, configuring MS Teams, synchronizing OneDrive, exploring search features, and optimizing browser settings. We will also help you with installing and configuring the latest Office version on your devices and handling DNS records.

IS A DESKTOP VERSION OF OFFICE REQUIRED TO USE MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS BASIC?

No. You do not need to have a desktop version of Office to use Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan. However, you will have a richer experience and also be able to work offline when you connect a desktop version of Office to the Microsoft 365 services and get it in sync.

WILL BY MS OFFICE BE AUTOMATICALLY UPDATES TO THE LATEST VERSION IF I HAVE MICROSOFT 365 PLANS?

Yes. MS Office apps are always up to date on Microsoft 365. If you already had subscription of erstwhile Office 365 plans which is now Microsoft 365, you already have a version of Office that has all the functions of the latest MS Office version.

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Compare Microsoft Office 365 Business Plans: Apps, Features and Pricing

Microsoft 365 for Business (previously known as Office 365 for Business) is a cloud productivity subscription-based service geared towards small to medium-sized businesses. With a Microsoft 365 for Business subscription, your organization gets access to the most up-to-date Office applications as well as Microsoft’s flagship collaborative online services.

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Microsoft Office 365 Plans for Business Overview

Microsoft Office 365 for Business is a complete solution that brings together the best-in-class productivity of Office 365, advanced security, and device management tools. Within your organization, you and your co-workers can be more productive and work better together with Office apps, email, cloud storage, and a hub for teamwork. Microsoft Office 365 plans for business come with building tools that let you manage access to your data, keep sensitive data safe, and keep your business compliant and protected against most (but not all) security threats.

Microsoft currently offers four business plans to choose from, depending on an organization’s needs. The Microsoft 365 plans for businesses are:

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Microsoft 365 apps for business, microsoft 365 business standard, microsoft 365 business premium.

Note that all Microsoft 365 plans for business have a limit of 300 users per license. If your organization requires more users, you may want to consider subscribing to a Microsoft Office 365 enterprise plan.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the Microsoft 365 plans for businesses and see what they have to offer in terms of features and pricing.

For a subscription fee of $5.00 per user/month, Microsoft 365 Business Basic (formerly known as Office 365 Business Essentials) offers web and mobile versions only of Office apps. These apps include Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote. This entry-level plan also gives your organization access to collaborative services like Exchange Online with 50 GB of mailbox storage, SharePoint Online, Yammer, Skype for Business Online, and Microsoft Teams. Also included with this subscription is 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user.

This Microsoft Office 365 plan is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses that want to unlock the benefits of cloud integration and remote work using the Office for the web suite and online communication services.

For a subscription fee of $8.25 per user/month, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business (formerly known as Office 365 Business) gives your organization access to the most up-to-date desktop versions of Office applications. These include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, Access, and Publisher. The Office suite in this plan can be installed on up to 5 devices per user. None of the collaborative tools and services are available in this plan but the 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user feature and the Office for the web suite are still present.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business provides both cloud-based and on-premises Office suites to deliver the right set of capabilities to your organization. This plan is ideal for organizations whose computing workload heavily revolves around Office applications.

Priced at $12.50 per user/month, the Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan  (formerly known as Office 365 Business Premium) combines in one package the features available in both Business Basic and Apps for Business plans. In addition to the cloud-based and on-premises Office suites, Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes a complete set of collaborative tools thus making this Microsoft Office 365 plan ideal for organizations looking to expand their remote work capabilities.

Priced at $20.00 per user/month, Microsoft 365 Business Premium (formerly known as Microsoft 365 Business) includes all the features available in the lower Business tiers in addition to an advanced security infrastructure and device management tools. The Business Premium plan is ideal for organizations that require a comprehensive remote work solution with cyber threat protection and a powerful mobile management system.

Microsoft Office 365 Comparison of Plans

Here is a comparison of pricing and available apps and collaboration services between all four Microsoft 365 plans for business:

Microsoft 365 suite apps comparison

Along with the traditional Office applications and online collaborative services, Microsoft 365 plans for businesses include applications used for knowledge, insights, content, project and task management, automation, and app building.

Business plans security and management options

As stated before, when it comes to advanced security options and management tools, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the most feature-packed plan. The other Microsoft 365 plans do include basic security tools, but they pale in comparison to the Business plan’s features, as shown below:

Despite the advanced security features available in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, third-party Office 365 backup solutions is necessary to ensure that your SaaS data is safe and recoverable.

Your Microsoft 365 data can be compromised by human error or malicious cyber threats like ransomware. Files can be deleted or encrypted even when stored in the cloud. To keep your data safe, NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers full backup and recovery functionality for Exchange Online, OneDrives for Business, and SharePoint Online.

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Office 365 License Comparison: Business Plans Vs. E5, E3, and E1

Microsoft 365 business basic (formerly office 365 business essentials), microsoft 365 apps for business (formerly office 365 business), microsoft 365 business standard (formerly office 365 business premium), microsoft 365 business premium, office 365 enterprise f3, office 365 enterprise e1.

• Here’s how Office 365 Enterprise E1 differs from Business Premium:

Office 365 Enterprise E3

• Unlike Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Office 365 E3 includes: 

Office 365 Enterprise E5

Microsoft 365 apps for enterprise (previously office 365 proplus):, microsoft 365 enterprise licenses, microsoft 365 f1, microsoft 365 f3, microsoft 365 e3, microsoft 365 e5, have questions about which office 365 license is right for your organization request a quote to see how much you can save..

Updated September 2022 Choosing an Office 365 license is a critical step before migrating to the cloud. With multiple options for small, medium, and enterprise businesses, navigating the differences can get overwhelming. This Office 365 license comparison will reveal the options available within Business and Enterprise options to help you make the correct choice for your organization. Learn more about:

• Microsoft Licensing Changes in 2022 - The New Commerce Experience
• Microsoft Government Licensing
• Office 365 Educational Licensing
• Microsoft GCC and GCC High Licensing
• Microsoft First Line Worker (F1 & F3) Licensing

Price Comparison for Office 365 Business Plans and Enterprise Licenses

When comparing Office 365 licenses, price is one of the first questions decision-makers ask. Here are the prices of each Office 365 Business and Enterprise license:

The base price per user for Office 365 Business and Enterprise Plans ranges from $6 to $35, and this cost can quickly add up for larger organizations. On the other hand, if you rely on certain functionalities like Rights Management or cloud PBX, bundling these services into your license can actually save your organization money. If you have third party tools for Anti-Virus, eDiscovery, MFA, SIEM etc, these savings can become immense.

It is important to know that Microsoft now requires an annual term for all licensing. Under “The New Commerce Experience” licensing can be accquired as P1Y (Pay One Year) or P1M (Pay One Month) licensing. Month-to-Month pricing is available at a 10% premium. To learn more read our run down on Microsoft New Commerce Experience. To better weigh the costs to your organization, let’s compare the features of the Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans.

How Office 365 Enterprise and Business Plans Differ

Both the Microsoft 365 Business plans and Enterprise plans are available for organizations with fewer than 300 employees.

Because larger companies are more likely to be using Office 365 , you might be contemplating whether to go with a Business or Enterprise option.

Here are some major features you gain with Office 365 Enterprise plans:

• Microsoft Teams PBX and PSTN conferencing (PSTN calling is available as an add-on in E3 and E5)
• Advanced Information Protection
• Advanced Threat Protection
• Active Directory integration
• Viva Insights
• Litigation Hold
• Unlimited archive and mail storage
• Enterprise app management

Enterprise plans are only available when purchased as a one-year commitment.

Here’s a breakdown of all Microsoft 365 Business plans so you can better understand how they differ.

Microsoft 365 Business Plans

Microsoft 365 Business plans were created for small businesses with fewer than 300 employees that might not need all the bells and whistles Enterprise Microsoft 365 and Office 365 offer.

Here’s what’s included in each Microsoft 365 Business plan for small companies.

Looking to get basic Microsoft 365 functionality? Microsoft 365 Business Basic offers business email with 50 GB mailbox storage, custom email domain, and web versions of essential Office 365 applications like Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Here’s what you need to know about the Business Essentials license:

Next is the Office 365 Business plan. Here are the price and specs for this license option:

Microsoft 365 Business Standard adds critical small business tools such as Microsoft Bookings to allows customers to schedule appointments, and Mile IQ for real-time mileage tracking from your mobile devices.

The most powerful Microsoft Business Suite without going for full enterprise plans, Microsoft 365 Business premium takes all of the features of Microsoft 365 Business Standard and rolls in industry leading advanced security features, including Advance Threat Protection against zero-days, ransomware, malware, the ability to selectively wipe company data from mobile devices with Intune, Restrict copying and saving of company information on mobile devices, apply document restrictions and provide unlimited archiving.

Note on GoDaddy’s Microsoft 365

We strongly suggest against purchasing Office 365 or Microsoft 365 from GoDaddy due to both hidden costs, and lack of feature availability. To learn more, read our blog on Migrating from GoDaddy Office 365 to Microsoft Office 365 .

Office 365 Enterprise Plans

Office 365 Business plans are great for companies just starting out or that only require limited functionality. For organizations looking for a more robust solution, Office 365 Enterprise plans are available. With Enterprise plans, your can choose from Office 365 and Microsoft 365 plans. Office 365 only includes Office, while Microsoft 365 is a full suite that includes Office 365, Enterprise Mobility and Security, and Windows 10 Enterprise. These licenses are broken up into E1, E3, and E5 enterprise plans, and F1 and F3 first line worker plans. (Learn all about Microsoft First Line Worker licensing )

Ideal for line workers, drivers, retail staff, Office 365 F3 is focused on workers who do not spend much time in front of a computer. Including popular office apps for web and mobile devices, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Bring every employee into the fold with Teams collaboration including Task and Shift Management and the unique Walkie Talkie voice mode on mobile.

E1 is the least expensive Enterprise plan. Here’s what you get with the E1 license:

Here’s how Office 365 Enterprise E1 differs from Business Premium :

• With E1, you can only access email via the online application.
• With E1, you lose desktop versions of Office applications. You must use the online versions of Outlook and other Office applications like Word or PowerPoint online.

The E3 license is one of the more popular options for digital-driven businesses. With E3, you gain desktop apps, You gain email, archiving, information protection and more storage options. Additionally, you gain Intune for device management and Azure Information Protection (plan 1) for data loss protection.

Here’s what’s included in E3:

The Microsoft 365 Business Premium plan is most comparable to the Enterprise E3 plan in terms of base features.

Unlike Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Office 365 E3 includes:  

• Exchange Online Archiving (EOA) and Legal Hold
• Unified eDiscovery Center
• Rights management, data loss prevention and encryption
• Ability to add on PSTN

Building off the E1 and E3 business plans, Office 365 E5 is the highest tier Microsoft offers. With this license, you gain Audio Conferencing, Phone System, Power BI pro, Customer Lockbox, and Microsoft Cloud App Security: 

Next, we look at Office 365 Enterprise ProPlus. It is the last Enterprise plan offering.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise offers a option for users who don’t need email but want Office 365 applications.

Unlike the consumer branded Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Enterprise  is a suite that includes Office 365, Enterprise Mobility and Security, and Windows Enterprise. M365 Enterprise gives you the enterprise security and compliance features you need, while providing cost savings through vendor consolodation and reduced management and training overhead.

While Office 365 F1 was retired in April 2020, Microsoft 365 F1 remains. A cost effective way to give first line workers collaboration tools including Teams, Sharepoint and Yammer, M365 F1 lacks email and while it includes Office apps for Web and Mobile devices, that access is just read only. This gives desk-less workers the ability read documentation no matter where they are. While this license is incredibly cost effective, you should consider if users may have a need to edit for tasks such as inventories, security logging, etc. before settling on F1 licensing.

M365 F3 bring email into the fold for desk-less workers, but also gives workers the ability to edit documents with mobile and web Office applications, while providing Windows 10 Enterprise features for users with existing Win 10 Pro installs. Enabling M365 enterprise security features including Device and Credential Guard, Windows Hello for Passwordless sign on, Secure Score, and Windows Virtual Desktop (Additional licensing needed)

M365 E3 brings together best in productivity and collaboration with Office 365 Enterprise E3, Enterprise Mobility and Security E3. and Windows 10 E3

E5 is the most feature packed of the suites, bringing an integrated phone system and audio conferencing into the mix, as well as advanced security tools such as Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat protection, and Microsoft Cloud App Security.

If any license doesn’t suit your needs, you can also add on specific features via add-on licensing. But often, the cost of upgrading is cheaper than ballooning a license with monthly add-on charges. (Read more about add-ons here .) You can also mix and match licenses depending on user needs to better control costs.

Agile IT’s cloud licensing services make it easy to purchase, transfer, and manage your licenses. As your cloud solutions provider, Agile IT handles all billing and subscriptions for your Office 365 products. You continue paying Microsoft the monthly license fee, and we take care of the rest.

Published on: Sep 26, 2022 .

Microsoft 365 Family vs Microsoft 365 Business: which is better for work?

Not sure whether to spend extra on corporate software? We weigh up Microsoft’s productivity possibilities

Most of us have been using apps like Word and Excel for decades, so it’s no surprise that productivity suites like Microsoft 365 are popular – they combine top tools and security features into easy, accessible packages.

If you’re not familiar with the range of Microsoft 365 options on the market, though, the range of options can be extremely confusing. It’s even trickier if you’re weighing up Microsoft’s various family and business plans.

And while it might seem odd to compare home and work products, the rise in freelancing and hybrid working means more people and companies are trying to figure out if they can use Microsoft 365 home products instead of a pricier business package.

Whether you’re a freelancer, an IT manager or a business owner, it’s worth weighing up Microsoft 365 Family and Microsoft 365 Business to find the best option for you – and that’s exactly what we’ve done.   

That’s not the end of our software support, either. We’ve delved into the best photo recovery apps and explored the best apps for managing your money .

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Microsoft 365 Family: what do you get?

There’s no denying that Microsoft 365 Family offers great value. Pay $99.99 per year in the US or £79.99 in the UK and you get Word , Excel , PowerPoint , OneNote , Outlook and OneDrive . Users can run those apps on PCs, Macs, Android and iOS devices and on the web. Access and Publisher are available for PC users, too.

It’s huge versatility, and the impressive set of features doesn’t stop there. Each user gets 1TB of cloud storage so you can sync files across devices. Each user gets 50GB of space with their Outlook email address, and Family users can enjoy Microsoft Teams and Skype for easy communication.

Elsewhere, conventional data protection comes from Microsoft Defender, and OneDrive incorporates ransomware detection and recovery services. There’s even a basic free video editing software and royalty-free templates, stock photos and stock videos.

If you need reliable, synchronized access to productivity tools, then the Home product makes loads of sense – especially if you want productivity software that your family can use. And with support for six users, the Family package is ideal for small businesses with relatively basic productivity needs.

There’s a great option if you’re self-employed, too: the Microsoft 365 Personal product only supports one user, but it only costs $69.99 or £59.99 per year.

Microsoft 365 Business: a better option?

There’s no doubt that Microsoft 365 Family is well-suited to anyone who needs relatively straightforward productivity and email tools, but if you run a business or handle corporate IT systems then you’ll find its limits very quickly.

If that’s the case, then you should consider Microsoft 365 Business instead. These products are more expensive, but they’re far more powerful.

Let’s start with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which costs $6 or £4.50 per user per month. You get web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook. You get Exchange, too, so you can use your domain name rather than Outlook. Each user gets 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage space alongside 50GB of email capacity.

The Basic product has more collaboration options, in-depth calendaring capabilities and a solid range of admin settings, and its tools also work on Android and iOS – just like in Microsoft 365 Family.

If you’d like to switch your business to downloadable apps rather than online versions, you can pay $8.25 or £7.90 for Microsoft 365 Apps for Business.

Upgrade to Microsoft 365 Business Standard and you get everything in Business Basic alongside downloadable apps and the ability to host webinars . You’ll also get more detailed options about how Microsoft controls and processes your data, which is perfect if you want to retain your existing domain.

Microsoft’s top option, 365 Business Premium, costs $22 or £16.60 per user per month. That’s pricey, but you get class-leading security and management features that you simply won’t find on any other Microsoft 365 product. It’s the best product here if you have a wider network that you need to manage and sensitive data that you have to protect.

The various Microsoft 365 Business products offer more than the Family and Personal tools. Even at the Basic level you get Exchange, and as you upgrade through the tiers then Microsoft adds enterprise-grade management and security abilities.

And, no matter which Microsoft 365 Business tool you purchase, you’ll be able to add 300 users to your system and allow each user to use Microsoft’s products across five different devices.

We can’t deny the increase in cost, though. When all the Business products charge per user and per month, those products will quickly become pricier than Microsoft 365 Family or Personal.

Which should you use?

The relatively high costs means that there are plenty of situations where Microsoft 365 Family will be your best option – even if you’re buying software for business use.

If you’re a small company that only has relatively basic productivity needs, for instance, then you can easily buy Microsoft 365 Family, grant access to five other employees, and enjoy web, mobile and PC-based access to crucial apps.

It’s also ideal for freelancers, people who need a product for their family, and many people who work from home.

Pretty soon, though, you’re going to hit the limits of Microsoft 365 Family, especially if you’re part of a growing business or if you operate in a larger team. If that’s the case, then you or your business should stump up for a Microsoft 365 Business product.

Exchange compatibility means you can use corporate email addresses, those tools support a broader number of users, and as you progress through the tiers you get better security and management options. In terms of protection, deployment and administration, there’s really no competition.

Ultimately, freelancers, sole traders and people who need basic productivity tools can certainly save money with Microsoft 365 Family, and that’s a great option if you want one package to cover home and work use. But if you have a larger business then you’ll almost certainly need the more robust security and management tools available from Microsoft’s proper corporate software. 

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Mike has worked as a technology journalist for more than a decade and has written for most of the UK’s big technology titles alongside numerous global outlets. He loves PCs, laptops and any new hardware, and covers everything from the latest business trends to high-end gaming gear.

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Which Microsoft 365 plan is right for your business?

Your business has unique needs, which is why there are several Microsoft 365 plans to choose from, so you get the apps and features you need. Many of the plans sound similar, so we'll guide you through the options to help you find the plan that will best support you to run your business.

If you want a full breakdown and comparison of features in each plan, check out more here .

You can also take a quick 2-minute assessment to get a recommendation on which plan is best for you.

Microsoft 365 for business  is a subscription service that lets you run your organization in the cloud while Microsoft takes care of the IT for you. It connects employees to the people, information, and content they need to do their best work, from any device.

The most popular plan and what is recommended for most businesses is Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

If you have other needs, choose one of the options below:

We already have Word and Excel, but we're interested in email and Microsoft Teams

If your business already has licenses of Microsoft Office, you might only want to get business-class email that gives you a custom email domain address and Microsoft Teams for online meetings. If this is the case, then Microsoft 365 Business Basic would be your best option. 

Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Host email with a 50GB mailbox and custom email domain address.

1TB of cloud storage to store and share files.

Facilitate online meetings and video calls for up to 300 users and create a hub for teamwork using Microsoft Teams.

Manage appointments with Bookings and manage projects with Forms, Lists, and Planner.

Click here if Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the right option.

My business and employees just need apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

If your business only needs desktop apps like Word or Excel, Microsoft 365 Apps for business will be your best option.

The latest desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote (plus Access and Publisher for PC only).

Automatic updates to your apps with the latest features and capabilities.

1 TB of cloud storage to store and share files.

Each license lets you install Microsoft 365 apps on five mobile devices, five tablets and five PCs or Macs per user.

Click here if Microsoft 365 Apps for business is the right option.

What add-ons are there for my business plan?

There are a plenty of add-ons to choose from, but two that we recommend you consider are Microsoft Defender for Business and Teams Phone.

Help keep your devices and servers secure from online threats such as ransomware and malware. Defender for Business is an easy-to-use cybersecurity solution to help protect against, detect, and respond to cyberattacks.

Learn more about Microsoft Defender for Business

Help administrators keep your organization connected with Microsoft Teams calling solutions. Empower employees in remote, in-office, or hybrid work environments with the flexibility of Teams Phone and devices that fit the way you work.

Learn more about Microsoft Teams Phone

Check out  Buy or manage add-ons for Microsoft 365 business plans to learn how to add new features to enhance your subscription.

How do I change subscriptions?

If you chose a plan for your business, but later want to change it, check out Upgrade or change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan to read how you can switch your plan.

Buy Microsoft 365 for your small business

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What is the pricing for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)? Subscription plans briefly

Microsoft 365 includes not only the popular Microsoft Office programs, but cloud-based services that also enable you to work efficiently. Different license models called “plans” are offered with different functionality for different target groups at corresponding prices.

Pros of the Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) subscription model

Microsoft 365 from ionos is designed for smes, for private users, for small and medium-sized businesses, for large companies, for pupils, students and teachers, for nonprofit organizations (business), for nonprofit organizations (enterprise).

All data in this article is up to date as of June 2023.

Microsoft 365 for Business with IONOS!

Powerful Exchange email and the latest versions of your favorite Office apps on any device - get started with our free setup assistance.

In addition to classic office software, Microsoft 365 also offers you services for centralized data storage and web-supported teamwork . Text documents, spreadsheets and presentations can be shared at the click of a mouse and worked on together as a team.

This is made possible by the integration of the Office suite into Microsoft’s cloud services OneDrive, Exchange Online or SharePoint .

Unlike Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365 is not purchased once, but is available exclusively as a subscription. In return, users with all plans always secure the latest version of the office software as well as 1 TB of cloud storage in Microsoft data centers. Comparisons of the various license models with prices for Microsoft 365 and performance features can be found in the tables below.

IONOS offers Microsoft 365 Business  in two plans made specially for small and medium-sized businesses of up to 20 employees.

Overview of all Microsoft 365 plans and their costs

The Microsoft 365 Single and Microsoft 365 Family plans are intended for private use and offer subscription models for individuals and families. Users can choose between monthly installments and a discounted annual subscription. Business use is not provided. In addition to PC and Mac versions, there are also apps for tablets and smartphones.

The Microsoft 365 plans Business Basic, Apps for Business, Business Standard and Business Premium are aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Subscription is limited to a maximum of 300 users.

There’s a clear comparison of Microsoft 365 Business Plans here: “ Microsoft 365 for Business: Microsoft Plans for SMEs ”.

With its Apps for Enterprise, Enterprise F3, Enterprise E3 and Enterprise E5 plans, Microsoft is targeting large enterprises with more than 300 employees .

The Office 365 A1, Office 365 A3 and Office 365 A5 plans are aimed at school pupils, enrolled students at universities, technical colleges, universities of applied sciences and vocational colleges as well as teachers. A subscription to these particular Microsoft 365 solutions requires proof of eligibility .

The Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard and Business Premium plans for non-profit organizations are aimed at small non-profit organizations with up to 300 employees . Organizations wishing to use one of the non-profit plans must demonstrate that they meet the eligibility requirements for non-profit organizations.

Microsoft 365 plans E3 and E5 also target large nonprofits with more than 300 employees .

Interested in a Microsoft plan for SMEs? IONOS also offers Microsoft 365 Business  as a complete Office solution. One of the pros is that your data is securely stored in one of our data centers.

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When you’re buying Microsoft 365 online, you get all the important Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) as well as practical cloud functions. Microsoft provides a range of subscription models to choose from to cover different requirements, allowing individuals and businesses to select the plans that suit them best. Find out more about the options and how you can get all the features…

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Windows Cloud PC

On August 2, 2021, Windows introduced Windows 365 Cloud PC. This means that Windows is now offering completely virtual PCs. Users have access to all Microsoft apps from the browser, whatever the device, and regardless of whether they are accessing the PC from home, on the road, or from the office. All processes run via the cloud. Let’s take a closer look at the new Cloud PC.

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Email has become a primary communication method for individuals and businesses, replacing everything from paper bills to channels for customer support. 

The number of email users worldwide has been steadily growing year by year. If you want to go beyond the free email offerings, present a professional email address, and have some level of control over your corporate email communications, you'll want to sign up with an email hosting provider.

Also:  Cloud-based email services: Everything you need to know

What is the best email hosting service right now?

Our favorite email hosting provider is Google Workspace . If you want an email hosting provider that is familiar, offers ample storage, and gives customers a direct and easy-to-understand pricing structure, this is the right host for you. 

ZDNET has tested many email hosting providers over the years and we keep an eye on market trends, changes in pricing, and improvements in the market. Below, we have compiled our recommendations for excellent email hosting providers specializing in email and office productivity, as well as solid web hosts offering email packages with a personalized touch.

Best email hosting services of 2024

Google workspace, best email hosting service overall.

• Up to 5TB of storage
• Flexible pricing
• Familiar to free Gmail users
• Doesn't offer unlimited storage for enterprises

Google Workspace features: Your own domain name: Yes |  Mailbox size: 30GB, 2TB, and 5TB |  Spam and virus protection: Yes |  Aliases: Yes |  24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone |  Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | Free trial

Formerly known as G-Suite, Google Workspace integrates an enterprise-level Gmail management interface with Google Docs, Meet, Calendar, and various other tools. However, it's not just for the enterprise level -- far from it. 

Pricing is easier to understand with Workspace than with Microsoft Office 365. Microsoft offers a wide variety of plans and options that also integrate into its other licensing pricing structures. 

Google gives you three simple choices: $6 per month, $12 per month, or $18 per month per user on a yearly contract, depending on your desired management features. Features include custom and secure email, pooled storage ranging from 30GB to 5TB, and support. Enterprise clients can contact Google for tailored solutions. 

You can also test out the service for 14 days for free. Customers say Google Workspace is a powerful, reliable host, although there are some customer support issues that should be ironed out. 

Microsoft 365 Business

Best email hosting service for microsoft customers.

• Starts at 1TB cloud storage
• Spam and virus protection
• 24/7 support
• Advanced security only included in Premium plans

Microsoft 365 Business features :  Your domain name: Yes |  Cloud storage size: 1TB |  Spam and virus protection: Yes |  Aliases: Yes |  24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone |  Archiving and storage:  Depending on the plan | One-month free trial

Microsoft 365 encompasses all the Office desktop apps, Office online apps, Microsoft Teams, all the benefits of Exchange, calendaring, mobile apps, and more. If you are comfortable with the Outlook email client and Microsoft software, you will want to consider Microsoft 365 Business for your email hosting solution. 

Available in Basic, Standard, and Premium packages -- with prices starting at $6 per month, per user -- customers can opt for business-class email, security packages, webinar and large meeting virtual solutions, and access control, among other features. 

Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available for $12.50/month per user, and this may be a better option if you want Loop workspaces. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, priced at $22/month, per user, includes enterprise-grade device protection. Customer feedback indicates that this option is great for businesses of all sizes, although some users would prefer more control over update mechanisms. 

A one-month free trial is available. Individual home users can also opt for Microsoft 365 Personal, with subscriptions set at $69.99/year.

Best email and web hosting combination

• Email hosting included in web hosting plans
• No archiving options
• No spam detection

Hostinger features: Your domain name: Yes |  Mailbox size: 10GB or 50GB |  Spam and virus protection: Yes |  Aliases: Yes |  24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone (surcharge for priority support) |  Archiving and storage: No

We reviewed Hostinger positively when looking at website hosting providers. It should be noted that the company's shared web hosting plan does include email accounts and mailboxes.

Also:  Hostinger web hosting review: Good support and a killer entry-level price

The dedicated hosting service provided by Hostinger goes a step further by using the customer-centric  Titan email hosting service . Titan email hosting services offer integrated calendars alongside email management and scheduling features.

Business plans begin at $2.99 per user monthly, or Enterprise plans are priced at $3.99 per user every month. Basic plans provide 10GB of inbox storage, whereas premium plans offer users 50GB of storage. Android and iOS apps are available, alongside read receipts, email templates, inbuilt calendars and contacts, two-factor authentication, and more. Customers find this host provides the whole package with excellent support. 

A2 web hosting

Best affordable email hosting for small businesses.

• Long-term, simple plans
• Storage relatively low on basic plans
• Email sending limits

A2 features :  Your domain name:  Yes  | Inbox  storage size: Up to 30GB |  Spam and virus protection:  Yes |  Aliases: Yes |  24/7 support:  Chat, ticket, or phone, Guru Crew Support |  Archiving and storage : Depending on plan | Money-back guarantee

A2 web hosting is an excellent option if you run a small business. A2 offers customers multi-account access, 24/7 support, a variety of migration tools, anti-spam filters, administrator tools, useful email templates, and between 10GB and 30GB of storage per account.

As a bonus, this email hosting service is cheap, with plans starting at only $1.59 per month (10GB storage, up to 200 emails sent per hour limit, or 500 per day), as long as you agree to a 36-month contract. Premium plans begin at $2.59 every month (30GB storage, up to 300 emails sent per hour limit, or 1000 per day). 

This email hosting service could be your best bet for a new business venture. Customers enjoy the speed and reliability of this host but some express frustration at the levels of emergency support on offer.

Best email hosting service for cloud servers

• Collaborative document editing
• Long test period
• 10 users minimum for business plans

IceWarp features: Your domain name: Yes |  Mailbox size: 200GB + 1TB file storage |  Spam and virus protection: Yes |  Aliases: Yes |  24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone |  Archiving and storage: Included.

A great name aside, IceWarp is an excellent browser-based email hosting option that combines cloud and on-premise technologies.

Its offerings, in particular, are worth highlighting as they include shared contacts and calendars, collaborative document editing, mailing list management, web meetings, ChatGPT integration, audio and video calls, mobile apps and synchronization, and archiving. The dashboard, too, is an attractive interface for accessing emails, calendars, meetings, and files.

Regarding subscriptions, IceWarp offers a variety, with the basic plan for startups and small businesses (up to ten user accounts) priced at only $15/month, with 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user.

Starting at $3.50/month per user, business plans are the next step up, but you will need to agree to 10 user accounts, at minimum. This plan covers up to 500 users with 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user. Custom plans are also available.

If you decide you would rather go elsewhere within three months, IceWarp says you will not be charged. Customers find this service reliable and easy to use, although migration can take a while. 

Best email hosting service for migration assistance

• Unlimited mailbox size
• Microsoft integration
• Migration assistance
• Short trial

Rackspace features: Your domain name: Yes |  Mailbox size: 25GB mailboxes, 30GB storage, or unlimited |  Spam and virus protection: Yes |  Aliases: Yes |  24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone |  Archiving and storage: Depending on plan, additional fee | 14-day free trial

Rackspace is one of the original cloud infrastructure providers. The company offers a wide range of infrastructure-as-a-service options, including full Exchange hosting, Microsoft 365 management, and traditional email hosting suitable for small to medium-sized businesses and beyond.

The company offers migration assistance from other hosts, a large team of MCSA-certified staff, and the ability to support an existing Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. Free migration is provided on all plans. 

Subscriptions start at $2.99 per month per user and increase to $3.99 per month for premium service. If you want unlimited archiving, prices begin at $6.99/month. A trial is available, although you have to make up your mind within 14 days. Customer feedback indicates that Rackspace's migration help is notable, as well as its uptime, but customer support can be lackluster. 

What is the best email hosting service?

If you want a no-brainer decision, choose either Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, depending on whether you're more tied to the Google or Microsoft ecosystem. That's it. Both are excellent offerings that provide solid, if sometimes frustrating support, and will get you where you need to go. Full stop.

However, there are other worthy options on the market. To help you make your decision, we've highlighted each email hosting provider's noteworthy features below.

Which is the best email hosting service?

There are an absolute ton of email hosting providers, and we've done our best to highlight the top picks in the market. The best email hosting providers are listed below, depending on your need and particular use case.

Factors to consider when choosing an email hosting service

When you are on the hunt for a new email hosting provider, consider the factors below. 

• Features : Flexibility and different features are paramount when you select an email hosting service. Software bundles, sending tools, custom domains, billing options, and more could sway your choice, so you need to decide what features are the most important to you.
• Affordability : As the majority of email hosting providers will require customers to sign up to at least a year, or more, you need to take into account the rolling fees over time and match your budget with the right host. 
• Reliability : Ensure you pick an email hosting provider with minimal downtime, as there's no point in paying for a host that is unreliable and could impact your access to the services you have signed up for.
• Scalability : If you are a small to mid-size business owner, you may need to scale up your operation in the future. Consider choosing a provider that can easily scale to match your evolving needs. 

How did we choose these email hosting providers?

Many of us at ZDNET have decades of experience with email hosting providers. In making recommendations, we take this experience and combine it with crucial factors, including:

• Familiarity : We have included vendors that ZDNET authors are personally familiar with and feel comfortable recommending. After all, if we wouldn't use the service, it's probably not worth consideration.
• Pricing : We have included a range of email hosting providers that offer services and price points suitable for different clients. There's no point in paying for multiple inboxes or advanced features if you are unlikely to use them.
• Security : In today's world, filled with data breaches and cyberattacks, security must be at the forefront of your online communication channels. We selected providers known for their robust security practices and frequent upgrades, improvements, and audits. 
• Customer support : Signing up to a new email hosting service or switching provider can be a stressful experience. We prefer to showcase companies known for providing solid customer support over email, phone, and chat. 

Should I host my email?

While it is certainly possible to self-host your email and local backup options seem attractive, you will need some technological acumen and be willing to undergo the setup process, whether at home or by renting a server. For most users, signing up for an email hosting service is the easier and quicker option. 

Do you get free email with a GoDaddy domain?

Domain purchases alone will not net you free email services. Instead, you will need to sign up for hosting, of which some plans will grant you free, professional email hosting for a year. 

How do I properly recover a stolen email account with a Google server?

This doesn't just apply if you're using Google for your email. If you're using another hosting provider, but also using Gmail, you might need to get this answered. It's obviously easiest if you can still log in. But even if you can't, Google offers a set of steps for you to follow.  Here's Google's page  to get you started. 

But keep in mind that the best way to avoid having to recover a stolen email account is to protect it properly. Be sure to set up  multi-factor authentication  and  get your recovery codes from Google .

What free email service ends in org?

There are free email services, but be careful: free services often come with other costs, including privacy. Since it's costly to maintain an email hosting service, those using free services may not get much support or may find the service just disappears one day. Or, you may be bombarded with adverts every time you access your inbox.

Also, be careful of free services that are essentially phishing sites, capturing all the emails you get, including personal identifying information. That said,  mail.com  is a fairly safe service that offers email addresses with the linuxmail.org and musician.org domains. Other free services, like Yahoo and Google, allow you to set up email aliases, so if you have another mailer that supports .org, you can get that email at your Yahoo or Gmail account.

My web-hosted email stopped forwarding to my phone. How do I fix it?

There's not one single answer for that. It generally depends on your email provider and phone OS. That said, if you use any of the common email providers, you can go to  this troubleshooting page  for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and  this troubleshooter for the Google Android email app . Sometimes, you may need to either update your app or reinstall it completely.

Are there alternative email hosting services worth considering?

There are a tremendous number of hosting providers on the market. As we said, just about every web hosting provider also offers email. But here are more providers that provide excellent email hosting services and support.

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