Microsoft 365 special offers

Verified: May 8, 2026

Starting at

Business Basic $6/user/mo (annual) — web and mobile apps only no desktop installs. Business Standard $12.50/user/mo (annual) — adds desktop Office apps and Teams recordings. Business Premium $22/user/mo (annual) — adds Defender for Business and Intune device management. Monthly billing is 20% higher. Copilot add-on $30/user/mo extra.

1-month free trial available for new customers

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Software Specs

Free Trial: 1-month free trial available for new customers
Learning Curve: easy

What We Like

Desktop versions of Word Excel PowerPoint and Outlook included from Business Standard — the productivity apps most business workflows already depend on
1TB OneDrive storage per user on all plans with SharePoint for team document management included from day one
Business Premium bundles Defender for Business and Intune device management — replacing tools that would otherwise cost $10–$20/user/month as separate subscriptions
Over 90% of Fortune 500 companies run on Microsoft 365 — compatibility with clients suppliers and partners is near-universal

Considerations

Business Basic at $6/user/month includes only web and mobile Office apps — no desktop installs means team members cannot use Word or Excel offline without upgrading
Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant not included in any Business plan — requires $30/user/month add-on on top of base subscription
Monthly billing costs 20% more than annual — teams on month-to-month billing are paying a material premium
License waste averages 10–20% at most organizations — unused or oversized licenses are a consistent cost management opportunity at renewal

Expert Verdict

Microsoft 365 Business Standard is the right plan for most teams — it covers every productivity tool an office-based workforce needs at $12.50/user/month. Business Premium is worth the premium for any organization handling sensitive data or operating without a dedicated IT security team. The July 2026 price increase is modest in absolute terms but signals continued annual escalation — review license utilization before renewal and right-size to Basic for users who only need email and Teams.

Top Alternative

Google Workspace →

Google Workspace starts at $6/user/month with a stronger collaborative editing model and simpler admin — often better value for teams that live in the browser rather than desktop Office apps.

More Alternatives

Slack →

Notion →

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity suite launched in 2011, combining Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint in one subscription. As of early 2026, over 430 million people use Microsoft 365 apps globally with more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies using the platform. The Business plans are capped at 300 users; larger organizations use the Enterprise tier.

Three core Business plans are relevant for SMBs and teams. Business Basic at $6/user/month (annual) covers web and mobile versions of Office apps only — no desktop installs — plus Exchange email with 50GB mailbox, Teams, SharePoint, and 1TB OneDrive storage per user. This is the entry point for teams that primarily need email hosting and collaboration without desktop Office. Business Standard at $12.50/user/month (annual) adds desktop versions of all Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access on PC) and Microsoft Teams with meeting recordings and transcription. Business Premium at $22/user/month (annual) adds advanced security via Microsoft Defender for Business, Intune device management, and Azure AD Premium P1 — the recommended tier for any organization handling sensitive data, healthcare records, or operating in regulated industries. All Business plans are capped at 300 users.

Microsoft announced global pricing updates effective July 1, 2026. Business Basic increases from $6 to $7/user/month and Business Standard increases from $12.50 to $14/user/month. Business Premium remains unchanged at $22/user/month. The increases are attributed to new bundled capabilities including expanded Copilot Chat features, additional mailbox storage, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, and enhanced Intune management tools. Existing customers on active annual agreements remain on current pricing until their renewal date after July 1 2026.

Microsoft 365 Copilot — the AI assistant that integrates with Office apps — is not included in any Business plan. It is available as a separate add-on at $30/user/month for qualifying plans. Monthly billing is 20% more expensive than annual commitment pricing across all tiers. An independent audit typically surfaces 10–20% in unused or oversized licenses at most organizations — a review before renewal can reduce costs meaningfully.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Microsoft 365 Business cost in 2026?

Microsoft 365 Business has three plans on annual billing: Business Basic at $6/user/month (web and mobile apps only) Business Standard at $12.50/user/month (adds desktop Office apps) and Business Premium at $22/user/month (adds enterprise security and device management). Monthly billing costs 20% more. A July 1 2026 price increase raises Basic to $7 and Standard to $14 per user/month — Business Premium remains unchanged.

What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium?

Business Standard ($12.50/user/month) includes desktop Office apps Teams SharePoint and 1TB OneDrive. Business Premium ($22/user/month) adds Microsoft Defender for Business ransomware protection Intune mobile device management Azure AD Premium P1 for identity and access management and advanced compliance tools. For organizations handling sensitive client data regulated information or remote device fleets Business Premium's security additions are worth the $9.50/user premium.

Is Microsoft 365 Copilot included in Business plans?

No. Microsoft 365 Copilot — the AI assistant that integrates with Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook and Teams — is a separate add-on at $30/user/month. It requires a qualifying Business Standard or Premium subscription and is not included in any base plan at any price tier.

What happens to my pricing in July 2026?

If you are on an active annual agreement signed before July 1 2026 your current pricing is locked until your next renewal date after July 1. New customers and customers renewing after July 1 will pay the new rates: Basic at $7 and Standard at $14 per user/month. Business Premium remains at $22/user/month.

What is Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs Business Standard?

Business Basic ($6/user/month) includes web and mobile versions of Office apps only — you cannot install Word Excel or PowerPoint on a desktop computer. Business Standard ($12.50/user/month) adds full desktop installations of all Office apps including Outlook on Windows and Mac. For any team member who needs to use Office apps offline or needs desktop-grade Excel functionality Business Standard is required.

Advertiser Disclosure: Pricing verified May 2026 from Microsoft's official licensing page. July 2026 pricing announced December 2025.

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