Education A1 vs A3 vs A5
The education plans mirror the enterprise ladder, at education pricing. A1 is free, A3 and A5 step up management and security. Most schools mix them by role.
How the education ladder works
Microsoft 365 Education A1, A3, and A5 line up with the enterprise E1, E3, and E5 tiers, but with education-specific pricing and terms. A1 is provided at no cost to qualifying institutions. A3 and A5 are low-cost per-user plans, and Microsoft offers student pricing that is cheaper than faculty pricing.
Because the plans stack, you can mix them across your institution instead of buying one level for everyone.
What each tier adds
| A1 | A3 | A5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web and mobile Office apps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Installed desktop Office apps (Microsoft 365 Apps) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Teams for Education and school email | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Device management (Intune for Education) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Identity protection (Microsoft Entra ID P1) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Identity protection (Microsoft Entra ID P2) | No | No | Yes |
| Windows Enterprise | No | Yes | Yes |
| Purview eDiscovery (Standard) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Purview eDiscovery (Premium) | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (Plan 2) | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Plan 2) | No | No | Yes |
| Analytics with Power BI Pro | No | No | Yes |
| Teams Phone and Audio Conferencing | No | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | Low per-user | Higher per-user |
Source: Microsoft 365 Education and Office 365 Education service descriptions, verified September 23, 2026. Education pricing is set through an education agreement, not a public list price, and depends on institution eligibility and whether the user is a student or a faculty member. Confirm current pricing with your Microsoft education partner.
Office 365 Education and Microsoft 365 Education
There are two education families with the same A1, A3, and A5 names. Office 365 Education covers the apps and services (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and the Office apps). Microsoft 365 Education A3 and A5 bundle more on top: Windows Enterprise and the management and security layer, which adds Intune for Education, Microsoft Entra ID, and the Defender and Purview suites. The table above reflects the Microsoft 365 Education bundles, which is what most institutions compare. A5 also includes the advanced compliance and analytics that A3 does not.
Who each plan fits
A1 suits students and general classroom use where browser-based Office and Teams are enough, and it costs nothing. A3 fits staff, faculty, and shared or managed devices that need the installed apps plus proper device and identity management. A5 fits institutions with serious security and compliance obligations, or that want advanced analytics and Teams calling, often for staff and administration rather than every student.
A common setup
A frequent pattern: students on free A1, teaching and admin staff on A3 for the desktop apps and management, and a smaller group on A5 where advanced security, compliance, or voice is required. That keeps cost down while protecting the accounts and data that need it most.
Answer five questions and get an education plan recommendationFree. No sign-up. Education pricing is set through your education agreement, so confirm the figure with your partner.Common questions
Is Microsoft 365 Education A1 free?
Yes. A1 is provided at no cost to qualifying educational institutions and includes web-based Office apps, Teams, and school email. A3 and A5 are paid, low-cost per-user plans.
What is the difference between A3 and A5?
A3 adds the installed desktop Office apps and full device and identity management. A5 adds advanced security and compliance, analytics with Power BI Pro, and Teams Phone on top of everything in A3.
Can we mix A1, A3, and A5 in one school?
Yes, and most schools do. A common setup is students on free A1, staff on A3, and a smaller group on A5 where advanced security or compliance is required.
How much do A3 and A5 cost?
Both are low-cost per-user plans with education pricing, and student pricing is cheaper than faculty pricing. Exact figures depend on eligibility, so confirm with your Microsoft education partner.