365 apps for business plan

Microsoft 365 Business Plans Compared

In April 2020 Microsoft changed the names of the Office 365 Business plans to Microsoft 365 Business. Before this name change, we had only Microsoft 365 Business, but now we have Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, and Apps for Business.

Only the names have changed, the price and the features of the plans have stayed the same. In this article, we are going to take a look at the differences between the Microsoft 365 Business plans . We are going to start with a comparison table so you can quickly compare the most important details between the different plans.

Microsoft 365 for Business Plans Compared

In the table below you will find all the details of the Microsoft 365 business plans compared. You can find the prices for your country here at Microsoft.com . Keep in mind that all Business plans are limited to 300 users.

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

Tip You can mix Microsoft 365 Business plans with Enterprise plans, so if you have more than 300 users, you buy Office 365 E3 plans for the other users.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

The Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan, formerly known as Office 365 Business Essentials, is the perfect plan if you don’t work a lot in Word, Excel, or Outlook.

In the Business Basic plan, you don’t get the desktop apps , so you can’t install Word, Excel, Outlook, etc on your desktop. But you can use those applications online in your browser.

The browser versions of these apps work perfectly for light usage. Outlook Online is great to work with, it has all the important features just like the Outlook app. Word and Excel Online also work fine if you need to write an occasional letter or spreadsheet.

What makes the Business Basic plan so great is that you get Exchange Online with 50Gb mailboxes OneDrive and SharePoint. So you can use all the benefits of Office 365 (safely storing your data in the cloud, easily working together and sharing documents, etc.), for only $5 per month.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

This is basically the default Microsoft 365 plan for small businesses ( hence the name 😉 ). Microsoft 365 Business Standard , formerly known as Office 365 Business Premium, contains everything a small business needs.

It comes with desktop apps so that you can install Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. on your desktops, and it comes with a lot of online business apps.

The desktop apps have of course a lot of advantages over the online versions, but the most important ones are that you can use add-ins (for your business applications for example) and macros . Something that is not possible with the online versions.

Business Standard comes with a couple of Online Business Applications that are only available in Standard and Premium.

• Outlook Customer Manager – a Lite CRM system based on Outlook
• Microsoft Teams Shifts – Built-in Microsoft Teams to plan shifts and tasks
• Microsoft Bookings
• Microsoft Invoicing

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Business Premium is an original Microsoft 36 plan, it was formerly known as Microsoft 365 Business. It comes with everything that Business Standard has with the addition of a couple of security features/services and a Windows 10 Pro license.

Windows 10 Pro License

The Windows 10 Pro license is a pretty strange one compared to the other plans, so let me explain it a bit. Some of the advanced security features that come with Business Premium don’t work on older versions of Windows or on Windows 10 Home.

So to make full use of the security features, you get a Windows 10 Pro license. Now to be clear, you can only upgrade Windows 7 or 8 Pro to Windows 10 Pro. You can’t upgrade Windows 10 Home to Pro.

Advanced Security Features

The advanced security features help you to stay protected against cybersecurity threats. It protects you from phishing emails and ransomware.

Another important feature is the Azure Information Protection. If you are working with a lot of sensitive data, then you absolutely don’t want the data to be accidentally shared with others. With Information Protection you can classify, label, and encrypt data so it can’t be shared accidentally.

Keep in mind that settings up these features require some knowledge about Office 365, so it might be a good idea to get an IT/Office 365 Consultant to help you set it up correctly.

Microsoft Intune

The last important addition to this Premium Microsoft 365 Business plan is Intune. With Microsoft Intune, you can manage and protect your mobile devices. Keep in mind data mobile devices are easily getting lost or stolen, so you want to make sure that those are fully protected and easily can be wiped clean when lost.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business

This plan doesn’t really belong here in this comparison, but I have put it in because of the name and the confusion it might cause. You should actually really compare this plan with just buying Office 2019 in my opinion.

Basically, Apps for Business is only the Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) with the advantage that you also get Online versions, continuous updates, and 1Tb OneDrive storage. But you don’t get SharePoint or Exchange Online.

So you will have to host your email somewhere else, store your files locally (or in OneDrive) and you won’t get any of the advantages of Office 365.

The Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan is for most businesses the best plan to choose. It comes with the Office apps, and all the cloud features and it’s reasonably priced. If you are still in doubt, you can always start with a trial of Business Standard .

Make sure you also check the following articles:

• Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Office 365 E3
• Office 365 Branding
• Setup Multi-Factor Authentication in Office 365

You may also like the following articles

How to Delay Sending Email in Outlook

How to Prevent QR Code Phishing in Microsoft 365

How to use High Volume Email in Microsoft 365

5 thoughts on “microsoft 365 business plans compared”.

M365 Business Premium comes with Windows 10 Business, not Pro. Win 10 Pro is a requirement for Business.

Hi Can M365BP be combine with M365Standard or basic after BP has exceed the 300 limit ?

So 300MBP and 50MBS and so on.

Yes, that is possible.

your statement on Win 10 pro is wrong. Premium CANNOT upgrade a home to pro. I asked microsoft directly to confirm.

“Windows 10 Pro License The Windows 10 Pro license is a pretty strange one compared to the other plans, so let me explain it a bit. Some of the advanced security features that come with Business Premium don’t work on Windows 10 Home. In small companies, you see more Windows 10 Home devices, because people are using a (former) personal device or buy the more affordable computers with Windows 10 Home on it.

So to make full use of the security features, you get a Windows 10 Pro license. Installing it is pretty simple, all you need to do is change the license key and your Windows 10 Home installation will be upgraded to Pro.”

You are correct. I have updated the article.

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Decision: Microsoft 365 Apps for Business or Enterprise

Last updated: May 19, 2023

10 min read

Table of contents

In this article, you’ll find an in-depth exploration of each plan. Ultimately, you’ll have a clear picture of which version best suits you and your Business (or Enterprise). You’ll also discover what infrastructure you should put in place to ensure everything is secure. 

Two versions of Microsoft 365 Apps, three types of plans

Within the two options of Business and Enterprise, there are three tiers.  

This means you actually have a choice of six plans.  

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business Plans

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business was formerly known as Office 365 Business . That was until Microsoft embarked on a rebrand in early 2020. The company said the changes were made to represent ‘our vision for the future of Microsoft productivity tools – an integrated set of apps and services that puts artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge innovations to work for you.’  

Today, these changes mean you can choose from Basic (formerly Office 365 Business Essentials), Standard (formerly Office 365 Business), and Premium (formerly Office 365 Business Premium).

Microsoft Apps for Enterprise Plans

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise also changed its name and was previously known as Office 365 ProPlus.  

You’ll now find three tiers. Microsoft 365 F3 is the entry-level tier, then Microsoft 365 E3 , and finally Microsoft 365 E5 . People often refer to them as F3, E3, and E5 licenses. 

Microsoft 365 Business  vs. Enterprise: Exploring the familiar Microsoft 365 apps  

Some Microsoft apps, tools, and features are included across all three tiers in both Business and Enterprise.  

Others are partly included, with caps on usage or limits on the types of devices. So first, let’s examine some of the more familiar offerings:

Office apps

All three tiers in Business and Enterprise come with web versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Users can have these apps available on up to 5 phones and five tablets (iOS and Android).  

However, only Standard and Premium (Business) and E3 and E5 (Enterprise Office 365) also include desktop versions. Access and Publisher are only available on desktop, so if you need either of these apps, you’ll need a plan that isn’t Basic or F3.

Email and calendar

The three tiers within Microsoft 365 Apps for Business (Basic, Standard, Premium) offer users a 50GB mailbox. There’s also Exchange for business-class email on the phone, tablet, desktop, and web.  

Users can also manage appointments using a shared calendar. Features include scheduling, availability, and reminders. Admins also benefit from anywhere access to set up new emails, restore deleted accounts, and create custom scripts.  

For Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, E3 and E5 tiers come with a 100GB mailbox, Outlook desktop client, email archiving, Microsoft Bookings, online booking, and scheduling app.  

The F3 tier comes with a 2GB mailbox, Outlook is web-only, and there’s also no integration for Outlook or voicemail.

File storage and sharing

Each Microsoft 365 Apps for Business tier includes 1TB OneDrive cloud storage. OneDrive and SharePoint files are accessible and synced across devices. There are also options for external sharing and sharing permissions to help manage security.  

More significant differences are between Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise tiers. The F3 tier comes with 2GB OneDrive personal storage. However, E3 and E5 plans come with 1TB OneDrive cloud storage plus 10GB storage per license. There’s also unlimited OneDrive personal storage, external sharing capabilities, plus sharing permissions for security.

Naturally, both plans include access to Microsoft Teams.  

You can host online meetings and video calls and chat through mobile or desktop with colleagues. Files and apps are available, so online collaboration is a breeze. However, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business has a limit of 300 users. Plus, if you want to host webinars, you’ll need Standard or Premium.  

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise offers teamwork tools for an unlimited number of users. Also, its top two tiers (E3 and F5) include live event and webinar functionality, with attendee registration, email confirmation, and reporting. E3 and F5 also include a phone system and audio conferencing.

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise vs Business: Exploring the next-generation apps

So far, we’ve looked at some of the more common Microsoft Office 365 features. For example, file sharing storage. Now let’s examine some areas where Business and Enterprise have a more precise separation.

The Business plan includes Exchange Online Protection for guarding email against spam, malware, and known threats. There are also 1,000+ security and privacy controls, security groups, custom permissions, and password reset policies.  

However, only the Premium tier of Microsoft 365 for Business offers what Microsoft classifies as Advanced Security. This covers zero-day threats, ransomware, and other sophisticated forms of malware that can significantly impact day-to-day operations. The Premium tier also offers security policies that can be applied to iOS, Android, and Windows PCs.  

There’s also a setup wizard configuring security features and settings and options to automatically deploy Office apps to Windows 10 PCs. However, these device management tools are only available with Microsoft 365 Business Premium.  

For Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, you’ll find a host of advanced security features. These include:

Endpoint and app management

All Enterprise plans give you Mobile Device Management, Microsoft Endpoint Manager, Endpoint Analytics, and shared computer activation for Microsoft 365 Apps. These apps are built to help you measure employee productivity and customer experience – two areas where many modern businesses compete to gain an advantage.

Threat protection

A similarly comprehensive threat protection list is available to all Enterprise users. These include Microsoft Defender Antimalware, Microsoft Defender Firewall, Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard, BitLocker, and Windows Information Protection. Given how security threats have evolved from the perimeter to end-users, these forms of advanced defense solutions have become business-critical .

Identity and access management

The rise in remote working and dispersed organizations is well documented. That’s why it’s never been more important to make sure only the right people have the proper access at the right time. That’s also why Microsoft 365 Enterprise Apps offers Self Service Password Reset, Advanced Security Reports, Multi-factor Authentication, and Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics.

Information protection

Only E5 offers Machine Learning-based sensitivity labels, Advanced Office Message Encryption , Endpoint DLP. Also, only E5 offers the full suite of retention policies, including Machine Learning-based retention.

Information governance

You have multiple options for applying sensitivity labels for specialized governance, although Machine Learning is only available with E5. Encryption is available in all Enterprise plans, although Advanced Office Message Encryption is limited to E5.

Insider risk management

These features are mostly only available in the E5 plan of Microsoft 365 Enterprise Apps. For example, Communication Compliance, Customer Lockbox, Information Barriers, and Privileged Access Management.

Microsoft 365 Apps: Knowledge, insights, and content

We’ve discussed the features and benefits of each plan. However, the third element to factor in is your long-term strategy.  

Check out how Microsoft describes its Business and Enterprise plans. The words offer a clue into the potential use cases. They also may help you decide from a strategic angle and what you want to achieve with Microsoft 365 apps.  

Here’s the heading for Business: “Pick the right productivity solution for your business.” Notice its focus on productivity.  

And here’s the heading for Enterprise: “Transform your enterprise with Microsoft 365.” Notice its focus on transformation.  

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise includes a range of apps for workplace transformation.  

Microsoft Graph API helps you unlock insights within your data. You can analyze users’ productivity, uncover collaboration patterns, and even build intelligent apps.  

Tier E5 gives you access to Power BI Pro. This self-service tool enables you to build real-time visualizations of enterprise performance. You can then use these insights to inform your strategic decisions. What’s more, all Enterprise plans include Power Apps and Power Automate for Microsoft 365. Users can build applications and automated workflows to transform their business processes.

Cloud-based considerations

The rise of cloud computing partly drove Microsoft’s decision to rebrand Office 365 apps as Microsoft 365 apps. Indeed, the press release refers to a vision of being ‘the world’s productivity cloud.’ So naturally, the cloud should also figure highly in any security considerations.  

The apps are available for desktop and browser. Of course, the cloud is a crucial way to gain a competitive advantage, particularly for early M365 adopters . With potentially up to 15 devices per user to manage, this presents many endpoint security challenges, particularly when your business is scaling and hiring more employees. 

While offering these cloud-based options is essential, putting specific security systems in place is equally essential. To ensure smooth remote management and specialized governance , look at the following:

If you have 300+ users, you’ll need an Enterprise plan. Also, consider how often you have to deploy the hardware. Perhaps if your business is growing and you’re taking on new team members who need devices that you may need to manage remotely.

Connectivity

Will employees always have access to a reliable and fast internet connection? If not, they may need desktop versions of Microsoft Apps. Bear in mind these aren’t available in Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Microsoft 365 Enterprise F3.

Audits and compliance

The rise in data-related directives is constantly asking new questions for those tasked with ensuring cloud-based compliance. Mainly if you’re operating in regions where privacy is a key concern. Only E5 offers Office 365 Cloud App Security and Microsoft Cloud App Security. Basic Audit is available in all Enterprise plans. However, for advanced auditing and advanced eDiscovery, you’d need the E5 tier.

How to have advanced security without Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

You may want the advanced security capabilities of Microsoft, but not want to invest resources in maintaining and monitoring everything. After all, there’s always the risk of over-provisioning. Plus, you may not wish to get locked into Enterprise-level pricing.  

Of course, all plans come with phone and web-based online support and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. However, you’ll need to decide if this level of security is enough and whether you want to spend time troubleshooting.  

For example, take one of Microsoft’s most advanced security add-ons – Microsoft Defender for Identity (formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection). It offers a suite of features for identifying attacks, including learning-based analytics that monitor user behavior and entity behavior. It’s a crucial tool when defending your infrastructure in hybrid environments, where your security is only as strong as your weakest link. And also, only available with Microsoft 365 E5. 

Microsoft for Business offers protection for ‘known’ threats. However, modern cyber threats often have to deal with unknown or emerging threats too.  

Fortunately, there’s another way.

Introducing Syskit Point

Enabling collaboration while enabling security is an ongoing challenge for IT admins. Especially with pressure coming in from multiple angles.  

You’ve got employees’ needs and expectations around hybrid, remote, and flexible work. There’s the wider industry, where new competitors and cyber threats continue to evolve and emerge. And there are also your customers, now used to 24/7 connectivity and on-demand self-service.  

With so many angles to deal with, you need one central point for your app security and governance. In other words, you need Syskit Point. Here are six ways Syskit Point supports you:  

Detect unauthorized changes , permissions, and sharing so you can act on potentially suspicious and malicious activity.  

Schedule periodic access reviews so only the right people have the proper access to the correct files.

Enjoy a single pane view of your Microsoft Office 365 environment and ownership, spanning Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and more.

Syskit Point includes Microsoft 365 provisioning features to keep usage and creation efficient and secure. You can customize approval flows and processes and apply relevant governance policies.

Get in-depth analytics that show user activities, interaction, and more .

Manage policy governance from one central location. Auditors can simplify and automate reporting, while admins can control and ensure security and compliance.

Book a free demo to explore what Syskit can do for your business (or enterprise).

Discover, secure, and control M365

Manage your company’s Microsoft 365 ecosystem with Syskit Point, a scalable platform that will help you govern and secure your environment while giving you deep visibility into your entire inventory.

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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 .

Microsoft for Business can help identify your company's specific tech needs. Connect one-on-one with a business product expert by video chat or audio call. Book a consultation today.

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.

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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. 

L ooking for a new laptop to WFH? Check out our best laptop for working from home

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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• Employee quick setup
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Buy Microsoft 365 for your small business

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.

There are several plans to choose from, but we recommend Business Standard for most small businesses--and that's the setup we'll walk you through.

Go to the Microsoft 365 business plans page , and select the For business tab.

Choose the plan you want and select Buy now .

The number of people this is for is dependent on how many employees you have and if they need a subscription. You can always just add yourself and then  Add more users and licenses when you're ready.

Verify the subscription plan you're purchasing and the quantity of licenses you need.

Select Add a payment method , enter the info requested, and select Save , and then select Place order .

Take a look at an  overview of the Microsoft 365 admin center , where you can download apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, add more users, buy new features, and change settings for your business.

Get expert advice, dedicated support and personalized guidance from business specialists. With Business Assist, get help making Microsoft 365 products work for you and everyone in your business. Learn More

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ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

Microsoft Copilot vs. Copilot Pro: Is the subscription fee worth it?

Microsoft's Copilot tool is already freely available as a dedicated webpage, mobile app, and built-in Windows tool, offering quick and easy access to an AI chatbot that will answer your questions, generate content, and create images. But Microsoft upped its game with a Pro version of Copilot that kicks in more features and better access for $20 per month.

Also: Microsoft adds Copilot Pro support to iPhone and Android apps

The free flavor offers the following features:

• Copilot use on the web and in Windows, MacOS, and iPadOS.
• Access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during non-peak times.
• Upcoming access to GPT-4o .
• Use of text, voice, and images in conversational search.
• Ability to create and edit AI images with 15 boosts (15 images) per day with the Designer tool.
• Ability to use plug-ins and shared GPTs.

Also:  How to use Image Creator from Microsoft Designer

The Pro version kicks in several additional benefits:

• Faster performance and priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during peak times.
• Copilot availability in core Microsoft 365 desktop and web apps (Microsoft account required).
• Faster AI image creation with 100 boosts (100 images) per day using Designer .
• Ability to resize AI-created images between square and landscape formats without leaving Designer.
• Ability to create and share your own custom and tailored Copilot GPTs via a Copilot Builder tool .

Beyond using Copilot Pro at the Copilot website through any browser, you can launch it directly in Windows 10 or 11. Simply click the Copilot icon on the Taskbar. The Pro flavor is also accessible in the iPhone and Android Copilot apps . You can use Copilot Pro with a Microsoft 365 subscription in Windows, MacOS, and iPadOS. And you can even tap into the Pro flavor with the free Microsoft 365 apps on the web .

You should use Copilot free if…

1. you don't use microsoft 365 on the desktop or on the web.

For most people, the main advantage of Copilot Pro is the support for Microsoft 365. This means you're able to use AI to create and edit text and perform other advanced tasks in Word, Excel, and other apps both in the desktop suite and on the web. If you don't use any of the Microsoft 365 apps, then the other benefits by themselves probably aren't enough to justify the $20-per-month price tag.

2. You can get by with GPT-3.5 and non-peak use of GPT-4

GPT-4 offers some clear benefits over GPT-3.5, including faster and more accurate responses, longer prompts, a better understanding of context and nuance, greater creativity, the ability to solve complex problems, and fewer biased responses and hallucinations.

Also: ChatGPT vs ChatGPT Plus: Is it worth the subscription fee?

You can access both GPT models through the free version, though you may not be able to use GPT-4 during peak load times. In that case, Copilot will drop down to GPT-3.5. For many people, however, the sporadic GPT-4 access should suffice.

3. Your image generation needs are modest

Using the built-in Designer tool with DALL-E 3, Copilot is able to generate images based on your text descriptions. The free flavor limits the number of images you can generate, granting you 15 boosts (15 images) per day. If you don't need more, then the free flavor of Copilot will work just fine.

4. You already subscribe to ChatGPT Plus

ChatGPT Plus duplicates some of the benefits of Copilot Pro and throws in extra features such as the GPT Store and the ability to create your own custom chatbots. If you already pay $20 per month to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus , there's not as much reason to also subscribe to Copilot Pro. Save yourself some money and stick with the free Copilot flavor.

You should use Copilot Pro if…

1. you use microsoft 365 and want generative ai assistance for the apps.

With its AI skills, Copilot Pro will help you write and edit text and summarize documents in Word, generate formulas and analyze data in Excel, create presentations in PowerPoint, compose text in OneNote, and draft replies and organize your inbox in Outlook. If you use Microsoft 365 on the desktop or on the web and those AI smarts will help you write, create, and work faster, then Copilot Pro can easily be worth the price.

2. You rely heavily on GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo

With the Pro edition of Copilot, you won't get saddled with GPT 3.5, even during peak times. Instead, you can switch between GPT-4 and the latest GPT-4 Turbo model. 

If you use GPT-4 heavily and frequently throughout the day and require fast and reliable access all the time, then Copilot Pro gets the nod over the free version.

3. You need to generate a lot of images

While the free Copilot limits the number of images you can generate to 15 per day, the Pro version allows as many as 100. Plus, the image creation tends to be much faster. If you need to create batches of artwork, logos, and other images as part of your job, then you won't run into as many roadblocks with the Pro version.

Both the free and paid versions of Copilot let you edit your images inline without leaving the Designer tool. Copilot Pro goes a step further by allowing you to resize and regenerate images between square and landscape formats.

Also: The best AI image generators

4. You don't subscribe to other premium AI services

Depending on your job and workload, a paid AI service can help you be more productive. If you don't already subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, Google's Gemini Advanced , or a similar service, then Copilot Pro could be just what you need. And remember, you can always try it for a month and then decide if you want to continue or cancel.

5. You'd like to create your own custom Copilot GPTs

With Copilot Pro, you're able to create and configure your own Copilot GPT chatbots . You might try this if you want to design a niche and unique GPT devoted to a specific skill or resource. Using the Copilot GPT Builder, you can either chat with Copilot for AI-infused assistance or manually give your GPT a name, description, and instructions. When done, you can preview your GPT to make sure it works and then either restrict access just to yourself or make it available to anyone with whom you share the link.

Now, let's look at how and where to access the free and paid editions of Copilot.

Free version access at the website

To access the free version on the web, browse to the Copilot webpage . Choose a conversation style and then type your question or request at the "Ask me anything" prompt. On the right, you should see specific Copilot GPTs, including Designer for image generation, a vacation planner, a cooking assistant, and a fitness trainer. The website also offers access to Copilot plugins, such as Instacart, Kayak, and Open Table.

Free version access in Windows

More easily, click the Copilot icon on the Windows 10 or 11 toolbar. A similar interface appears where you choose the conversation style and then dive into your questions.

Free version access in the mobile apps

To use Copilot on your mobile device, download the app for iOS or Android. Choose your preferred conversation style and then submit your requests.

Paid version access at the website

To sign up for the paid version of Copilot, browse to Microsoft's Copilot Pro webpage . Click the button for Get Copilot Pro. At the subscription page, confirm your payment method, and then click the Subscribe button. 

Also: This iPhone app fuses AI with web search, saving you time and energy

After the payment process finishes, click the "Get started" button. You're taken to the Copilot webpage where you'll see Pro as part of the Copilot logo. The Copilot GPTs and plugins are all accessible in the Pro model.

Paid version access in Windows

After subscribing on the website, log back into Windows 10 or 11. Click the Copilot Taskbar icon, and the Pro version will pop up.

Paid version access in the mobile apps

Open the iOS or Android Copilot app and you'll see that Pro is now part of the logo, indicating that you're tapping into your Pro subscription.

Artificial Intelligence

Copilot pro vs. chatgpt plus: which is ai chatbot is worth your $20 a month, chatgpt vs. copilot: which ai chatbot is better for you, what is copilot (formerly bing chat) here's everything you need to know.

Microsoft Build 2024

Official microsoft blog, book of news, khan academy, windows omb, full keynote: satya nadella at microsoft build 2024.

Microsoft Build keynote highlights

Keynote Sizzle: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Open Video: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Windows Copilot Runtime: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Infrastructure | Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Foundation Models | Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Conversational Website: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Khan Academy: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Data | Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Real Time Intelligence in Microsoft Fabric: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Toolchain | Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

GitHub Demo: Neha Batra at Microsoft Build 2024

Copilot | Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Copilot Studio: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Closing Video: Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2024

Microsoft build image gallery.

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on stage May 21 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Rajesh Jha, executive vice president, Experiences + Devices, Microsoft, on stage May 21 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Jeff Teper, president, Collaborative Apps & Platform, Microsoft, on stage May 21 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president, Windows + Devices, Microsoft, on stage May 21 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Kevin Scott, chief technology officer and EVP of AI, Microsoft, on stage with Sal Khan, founder and CEO, Khan Academy, May 21 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Kevin Scott, chief technology officer and EVP of AI, Microsoft, on stage May 21 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Cloud+AI, Microsoft, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Charles Lamanna, corporate vice president, Business Applications & Platforms, Microsoft, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Seth Juarez, program manager, Microsoft, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Eric Boyd, corporate vice president, Engineering, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Sarah Bird, CPO, Responsible AI, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Arun Ulagaratchagan, corporate vice president, Azure Data, Microsoft, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Microsoft’s Julia Liuson, president, DevDiv, and John Lambert, corporate vice president, distinguished engineer, Microsoft Security Research, on stage May 22 at Microsoft Build 2024 in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

New Microsoft Fabric workload structure

The new Copilot Studio homepage

Docker Extension for GitHub Copilot

First set of GitHub Copilot Extensions

A peek at the experience of building copilots with agent capabilities using copilot studio.

The startup FROM YOUR EYES has won the 2024 Imagine Cup, taking home the grand prize of $100,000 and a mentorship session with Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella

Students compare notes while learning about abstract chemistry using everyday items, a lesson suggested by Khanmigo for Teachers. (Photo by Scott Eklund for Microsoft )

In less than a minute, teachers can access creative lesson plans from Khanmigo for Teachers that save time and delight students. (Photo by Scott Eklund for Microsoft)

Students use marshmallows and water bottles to understand a chemistry concept, a suggestion from khanmigo for teachers. (photo by scott eklund for microsoft ).

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub new build with AI feature

Paste a permalink, which expands to provide a rich preview from azure devops, microsoft build video gallery.

Introducing Team Copilot

Meeting facilitator in Teams meetings

Meeting facilitator in Teams Rooms

Group collaborator in Teams chats

Project manager in Planner

Introducing Copilot Extensions: GitHub Copilot for Azure

A Day in the Life of Data

Running the World’s Largest AI Supercomputer in the Cloud with Mark Russinovich

Adept is transforming work through AI

Microsoft build news and resources.

• From code to production: New ways Azure helps you build transformational AI experiences
• Unleashing innovation: The new era of compute powering Azure AI solutions
• Introducing GitHub Copilot Extensions: Unlocking unlimited possibilities with our ecosystem of partners
• New ways of development with Copilot and the Power Platform
• Unlock real-time insights with AI-powered analytics in Microsoft Fabric
• Enhancing the future of education with Khan Academy
• Announcing two new tools to streamline startup AI development
• New agent capabilities in Microsoft Copilot unlock business value 
• Unlock a new era of innovation with Windows AI Fabric and Copilot+ PCs
• General availability of .NET Aspire: Simplifying .NET cloud-native development
• Announcing the 2024 Imagine Cup World Champion
• 10 more AI terms everyone should know

Introducing Copilot+ PCs

Security blog, windows experience, windows blog, a new era of ai with copilot from microsoft, copilot+ pcs image gallery.

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president, Consumer chief marketing officer, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Carolina Hernandez, principal product manager, Windows AI Experiences, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Carolina Hernandez, principal product manager, Windows AI Experiences, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington.(Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)g)

Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president, Windows + Devices, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Brett Ostrum, Head of Surface, Microsoft, presents the new Copilot+ PCs on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Brett Ostrum, Head of Surface, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Adrienne Brewbaker, director, Microsoft Surface, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Oyin Shenbanjo, senior product manager, Surface, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Erica Arnold, Senior Product Manager, Surface, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond, Washington. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Erica Arnold, Senior Product Manager, Surface, Microsoft, on stage May 20, 2024, at an event in Redmond. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft)

Surface Pro

Surface Pro Summary Sheet

Surface Pro Flex Keyboard

Surface Pro for Enterprise

Surface Laptop

Surface Laptop Summary Sheet

Surface Laptop for Enterprise

Surface Pro and Surface Laptop

Restyle Image

Neural Processing Unit (NPU)

Live Captions

Copilot+ PCs videos

Meet the new Microsoft Surface Laptop

Meet the new Microsoft Surface Pro

Copilot+ pcs additional resources.

• Surface Laptop Fact Sheet
• Surface Pro Fact Sheet
• Accelerating AI in the workplace with the all-new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro
• New Copilot+ PCs bring partner opportunity
• Introducing Windows 11 Next Gen AI features on Copilot+ PCs
• Windows Next Generation AI device hardware requirements
• Copilot+ PC App Partner Summary

Partner press releases

• Dell press release
• HP press release
• Lenovo press release
• Acer press release
• ASUS press release
• Samsung press release
• Qualcomm press release

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AI + Machine Learning , Announcements , Azure AI Content Safety , Azure AI Studio , Azure OpenAI Service , Partners

Introducing GPT-4o: OpenAI’s new flagship multimodal model now in preview on Azure

By Eric Boyd Corporate Vice President, Azure AI Platform, Microsoft

Posted on May 13, 2024 2 min read

• Tag: Copilot
• Tag: Generative AI

Microsoft is thrilled to announce the launch of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s new flagship model on Azure AI. This groundbreaking multimodal model integrates text, vision, and audio capabilities, setting a new standard for generative and conversational AI experiences. GPT-4o is available now in Azure OpenAI Service, to try in preview , with support for text and image.

Azure OpenAI Service

A step forward in generative AI for Azure OpenAI Service

GPT-4o offers a shift in how AI models interact with multimodal inputs. By seamlessly combining text, images, and audio, GPT-4o provides a richer, more engaging user experience.

Launch highlights: Immediate access and what you can expect

Azure OpenAI Service customers can explore GPT-4o’s extensive capabilities through a preview playground in Azure OpenAI Studio starting today in two regions in the US. This initial release focuses on text and vision inputs to provide a glimpse into the model’s potential, paving the way for further capabilities like audio and video.

Efficiency and cost-effectiveness

GPT-4o is engineered for speed and efficiency. Its advanced ability to handle complex queries with minimal resources can translate into cost savings and performance.

Potential use cases to explore with GPT-4o

The introduction of GPT-4o opens numerous possibilities for businesses in various sectors: 

• Enhanced customer service : By integrating diverse data inputs, GPT-4o enables more dynamic and comprehensive customer support interactions.
• Advanced analytics : Leverage GPT-4o’s capability to process and analyze different types of data to enhance decision-making and uncover deeper insights.
• Content innovation : Use GPT-4o’s generative capabilities to create engaging and diverse content formats, catering to a broad range of consumer preferences.

Exciting future developments: GPT-4o at Microsoft Build 2024 

We are eager to share more about GPT-4o and other Azure AI updates at Microsoft Build 2024 , to help developers further unlock the power of generative AI.

Get started with Azure OpenAI Service

Begin your journey with GPT-4o and Azure OpenAI Service by taking the following steps:

• Try out GPT-4o in Azure OpenAI Service Chat Playground (in preview).
• If you are not a current Azure OpenAI Service customer, apply for access by completing this form .
• Learn more about  Azure OpenAI Service  and the  latest enhancements.  
• Understand responsible AI tooling available in Azure with Azure AI Content Safety .
• Review the OpenAI blog on GPT-4o.

Let us know what you think of Azure and what you would like to see in the future.

Provide feedback

Build your cloud computing and Azure skills with free courses by Microsoft Learn.

Explore Azure learning

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Deployment guide for Microsoft 365 Apps

• 3 contributors

This guide helps IT Pros plan, deploy, and manage Microsoft 365 Apps in their enterprise environments.

What's new for deploying Microsoft 365 Apps

Overview of Cloud Policy

Overview of the Office Customization Tool

Assess your environment and requirements for deploying Microsoft 365 Apps

Plan your enterprise deployment of Microsoft 365 Apps

Remove existing MSI versions of Office when upgrading to Microsoft 365 Apps

Microsoft FastTrack

Learn about your deployment options, how to deploy from a local source, and how to use Microsoft Configuration Manager to deploy Microsoft 365 Apps.

Deploy Microsoft 365 Apps from the cloud

Deploy Microsoft 365 Apps from a local source

Deploy with Configuration Manager (current branch)

Manage updates

Learn about the different update channels available for Microsoft 365 Apps and how to use Configuration Manager to manage updates.

Overview of update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps

Manage updates to Microsoft 365 Apps with Microsoft Configuration Manager

Change the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel for devices in your organization

Release information for updates to Microsoft 365 Apps

Learn about the Office Deployment Tool (ODT), other deployment options, and activation.

Overview of the Office Deployment Tool

Configuration options for the Office Deployment Tool

Overview of deploying languages for Microsoft 365 Apps

Deploy Microsoft 365 Apps by using Remote Desktop Services

Overview of licensing and activation in Microsoft 365 Apps

Overview of shared computer activation for Microsoft 365 Apps

Was this page helpful?

Coming soon: Throughout 2024 we will be phasing out GitHub Issues as the feedback mechanism for content and replacing it with a new feedback system. For more information see: https://aka.ms/ContentUserFeedback .

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Additional resources

Microsoft Planner

Work management in one simple experience

Share, chat, and meet, accomplish more today.

Access work faster

Work the way you want

Manage work together.

Enjoy familiar features

Power your plans—big and small

Focus on the big picture.

Get big picture views

Make a bigger impact

Plan with Copilot

Set goals with Copilot

Stay informed with Copilot

Take your plans with you

Microsoft Loop

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Viva Goals

Feel more accomplished every day

Choose your plan

Planner in microsoft 365.

• Creation and management of content-rich tasks
• My Day, My Tasks and Assigned to Me views
• Basic plan templates
• Microsoft Teams integration
• List, Grid, and Board views

Planner Plan 1

Everything in planner in microsoft 365, plus:.

• Task dependencies
• Premium plan templates
• Timeline (Gantt) view
• Backlogs and sprints
• People management
• Project goals

Project Plan 3

Includes everything in planner plan 1, plus:.

• Copilot in Planner (preview) 2
• Advanced dependencies with lead and lag
• Resource request capabilities
• Task history
• Program management and demand management
• Project Online and Project Online desktop client

Project Plan 5

Includes everything in project plan 3, plus:.

• Portfolio management
• Enterprise resource management and allocation

Security and data privacy built in

Stay up to date with Planner

Explore resources to help improve work management across your organization with Planner.

See updates about Planner in the Tech Community blog.

Learn about the latest Planner features.

See Planner in action in product demos.

Learn more about Planner. 

Learn how customers are improving work management.

“Having a standardized way of working with a cloud solution like the Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) platform we built with Project for the web speaks to the new ways of working.”

“We’re in a highly collaborative environment with small teams, and the work we do is high volume and high impact. Microsoft Project for the web and its integrations are really complementary to how we work.”

“Now that we have a unified system with Project for the web, project managers have one place to manage their projects.”

Frequently asked questions

Why is microsoft launching a new planner experience, how does the announcement of the new planner impact existing project customers, when will the new planner web experience be available, i already moved to project for the web. what will happen to my work, is there any change in pricing with this announcement, what changes should customers currently using project for the web, planner, and the tasks by planner and to do app in teams expect to see.

Tasks by Planner and To Do Teams:

• Starting in April 2024, Tasks by Planner and To Do will be renamed Planner. This app will receive the new Planner experience bringing together your work across plans, projects, and to-do lists.

Planner web app:

• Later in 2024, new Planner capabilities and experiences will become available in the Planner web app, ensuring experiences are aligned across the Planner web app and the Planner app in Teams.

Project for the web:

• Project for the web remains available with no change to its existing functionality. 
• Starting in April 2024, your work in Project for the web will also be accessible in the new Planner app in Microsoft Teams.
• Later in 2024, after the new Planner app is available for the web, you’ll be able to use the new Planner web app to access capabilities available in Project for the web.

Will Microsoft Project be retired?

For customers currently using project for the web, are there added benefits to using the new planner.

• New enterprise work management capabilities.
• Copilot in Planner (preview) - see plans and pricing .
• The simplicity of To Do, the collaboration of Planner, and the versatility of Project for the web in one simple, familiar experience.
• Clean, intuitive design.

Who can install the new Microsoft Planner?

See what’s possible with Microsoft Planner

See plans and pricing

Explore adoption documentation

[ 1 ] A credit card is required to begin a one-month trial. The duration of the trial varies by the month you sign up. The expiration date will appear on the trial subscription details page within the Microsoft 365 admin center. Upon expiration of your one-month trial, you’ll be charged the applicable subscription fee. Cancel any time to stop future charges.

[ 2 ] While final pricing for Copilot in Planner has not been announced, users with a Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5 license will be able to preview Copilot in Planner capabilities once it is rolled out to their organization.

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