Microsoft 365 licensing guide and plan comparisons
Start here to compare Microsoft 365 Business, Enterprise, Frontline, Copilot, nonprofit, education, and government licensing options in plain language.
Browse the guides for a specific decision. If you do not know which plan family to start with, the Microsoft 365 License Advisor gives you a reviewable starting point in four questions.
Business Standard vs Business Premium
Same apps, different security. What Premium adds and when it's worth it.
Business Premium vs E3
The 300-user cap, and why the choice is about size and Windows, not "more."
Microsoft 365 E3 vs E5
What E5 adds: advanced security, compliance, analytics, and voice.
Microsoft 365 E5 vs E7
Whether the E7 bundle is worth it over E5 plus add-ons.
Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing and pricing
Eligible base plans, the paid seat, what's included, and how Cowork credits are billed.
Office 365 vs Microsoft 365
Why they're not the same, and which one you actually need.
Frontline F1 vs F3
The deskless-worker plans: mailbox, apps, and which fits.
The 300-user limit explained
What the Business-plan cap means and how to plan the move to Enterprise.
Business Basic vs Business Standard
The one real difference is the installed desktop Office apps.
Business Premium vs E5
The 300-user cap, what E5 really adds, and why the price gap is large.
Copilot Chat vs Microsoft 365 Copilot
What's free, what the paid seat adds, and how agents are billed.
Do you need a Teams license?
Teams is unbundled from many plans now. When you actually pay for it.
Entra ID P1 vs P2
P1 is conditional access. P2 adds risk-based and privileged access controls.
Defender for Business vs Defender for Endpoint
The SMB suite versus the enterprise plans, and which you need.
Intune Plan 1 vs Intune Suite
The device management you already have, and what the add-on adds.
Microsoft 365 nonprofit pricing
What's free, what's discounted, and what changed with the grant.
Education A1 vs A3 vs A5
A1 is free. A3 adds desktop apps and management. A5 adds security.
GCC vs GCC High vs DoD
The three US government clouds and who belongs in which.
Each plan explained
What each Microsoft 365 plan includes, the price, who it fits, and when to move up.
Quick answers
Straight answers to the "does this plan include that" questions.
Use the Microsoft 365 License AdvisorAnswer four focused questions, then review the recommendation, trade-offs, and Microsoft sources.