If you’re a business owner looking for an all-in-one productivity tool, you’ve probably heard of Microsoft Office 365. It’s a cloud-based suite of applications that includes everything from email and calendar tools to word processors, spreadsheets, and more. But with two main plans available, how do you know which one is right for your business? In this article, we’ll compare Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium plans to help you make an informed decision.
Microsoft Office 365 Essentials
Microsoft Office 365 Essentials is the basic plan that includes all the essential apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive. It’s ideal for businesses that need access to the core set of applications and cloud services but don’t require advanced features.
Features and Benefits
With Microsoft Office 365 Essentials, you get access to the following features:
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of storage
- Skype for Business
- Microsoft Teams
- Sharepoint
The benefits of using Microsoft Office 365 Essentials include:
- Access to the essential apps for productivity
- 1 TB of storage space for OneDrive
- Cloud-based solution, allowing for easy collaboration between team members
- Secure and reliable, with regular updates and support
Price Comparison
Microsoft Office 365 Essentials is priced at $5 per user per month, making it an affordable option for small businesses.
Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of using Microsoft Office 365 Essentials:
Pros
- Affordable price
- Access to essential apps and cloud services
- Reliable and secure
Cons
- Limited advanced features
- No desktop versions of the apps
Microsoft Office 365 Premium
Microsoft Office 365 Premium is the more advanced plan that includes all the features of the Essentials plan plus additional advanced features. It’s suitable for businesses that need more advanced tools for productivity and collaboration.
Features and Benefits
With Microsoft Office 365 Premium, you get access to the following features:
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher
- OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of storage
- Skype for Business
- Microsoft Teams
- Sharepoint
- Exchange
- Yammer
The benefits of using Microsoft Office 365 Premium include:
- Access to a broader range of applications
- Advanced features for productivity and collaboration
- 1 TB of storage space for OneDrive
- Cloud-based solution, allowing for easy collaboration between team members
- Secure and reliable, with regular updates and support
Price Comparison
Microsoft Office 365 Premium is priced at $12.50 per user per month, making it a more expensive option than Microsoft Office 365 Essentials.
Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of using Microsoft Office 365 Premium:
Pros
- Access to a broader range of applications and advanced features
- 1 TB of storage space for OneDrive
- Cloud-based solution, allowing for easy collaboration between team members
- Secure and reliable, with regular updates and support
Cons
- More expensive than Microsoft Office 365 Essentials
- May have advanced features that aren’t necessary for all businesses
Comparison of Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium Plans
Now that we’ve looked at the features, benefits, and pricing of both Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium plans, let’s compare them side by side.
Features and Benefits Comparison
Here’s a comparison of the features and benefits of both plans:
| Features/Benefits | Microsoft Office 365 Essentials | Microsoft Office 365 Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Access, Publisher | ❌ | ✔️ |
| OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of storage | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Skype for Business | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Microsoft Teams | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Sharepoint | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Exchange | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Yammer | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Advanced Features | ❌ | ✔️ |
As you can see, Microsoft Office 365 Premium offers more applications and advanced features than Microsoft Office 365 Essentials. If your business requires advanced features such as Access and Publisher, then Microsoft Office 365 Premium might be the better option for you.
Price Comparison
Here’s a comparison of the pricing for both plans:
| Pricing | Microsoft Office 365 Essentials | Microsoft Office 365 Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user per month | $5 | $12.50 |
As you can see, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials is significantly cheaper than Microsoft Office 365 Premium. However, you should consider your business’s needs and whether the advanced features offered by Microsoft Office 365 Premium are worth the extra cost.
Pros and Cons Comparison
Here’s a comparison of the pros and cons of both plans:
| Pros/Cons | Microsoft Office 365 Essentials | Microsoft Office 365 Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | Affordable price, access to essential apps and cloud services, reliable and secure | Access to a broader range of applications and advanced features, 1 TB of storage space for OneDrive, cloud-based solution, secure and reliable |
| Cons | Limited advanced features, no desktop versions of the apps | More expensive than Microsoft Office 365 Essentials, may have advanced features that aren’t necessary for all businesses |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium plans both offer a range of features and benefits for small and large businesses alike. When deciding between the two, you should consider your business’s needs, budget, and whether the advanced features offered by Microsoft Office 365 Premium are worth the extra cost. Regardless of which plan you choose, Microsoft Office 365 is a powerful productivity tool that can help your business operate more efficiently and effectively.
At StarOne Technology, we recommend that small businesses opt for Microsoft Office 365 Essentials, while large businesses may benefit from the additional features offered by Microsoft Office 365 Premium. Whichever plan you choose, our team is here to help you get the most out of your productivity tools and keep your business running smoothly.
Which Plan is Best for Small Businesses?
When it comes to choosing between Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium plans for small businesses, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, it’s important to evaluate your business needs and determine which applications and features are essential for your team’s productivity. If your business only needs access to the essential apps and cloud services, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials can provide the necessary tools at an affordable price. However, if your business requires more advanced features such as Access or Publisher, Microsoft Office 365 Premium may be a better option.
Another factor to consider is the number of users in your business. If you have a small team, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials can be a cost-effective solution. However, if you have a larger team, Microsoft Office 365 Premium may be a better choice as it provides access to a broader range of applications and advanced features, which can enhance collaboration and productivity.
In conclusion, for small businesses, it’s recommended to evaluate your business needs and the number of users to determine which plan is best suited for your team’s requirements. If you have a smaller team and require access to the essential apps, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials is the best choice. However, if your team needs more advanced features, Microsoft Office 365 Premium is recommended.
Which Plan is Best for Large Businesses?
For large businesses, choosing between Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium plans can be challenging. There are several factors to consider, including the number of users, the need for advanced features, and the budget.
If you have a large team, Microsoft Office 365 Premium is recommended as it provides access to a broader range of applications and advanced features, which can enhance collaboration and productivity. Additionally, Microsoft Office 365 Premium provides access to Exchange, which offers advanced email and calendaring features that can be beneficial for larger businesses.
However, if your business has a limited budget, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials can be a viable option as it provides access to the essential apps and cloud services at an affordable price. If your business only requires access to the essential apps, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials can be the best choice for larger businesses.
In conclusion, for larger businesses, it’s recommended to evaluate your business needs, the number of users, and the budget to determine which plan is best suited for your team’s requirements. If you have a larger team and require access to a broader range of applications and advanced features, Microsoft Office 365 Premium is the best choice. However, if your business has a limited budget and requires access to the essential apps only, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials is recommended.
Conclusion
After comparing Microsoft Office 365 Essentials and Premium plans, it’s clear that both have their advantages and disadvantages. If your business only requires the essential productivity tools, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials is an affordable and reliable option. However, if your business needs more advanced features for collaboration and productivity, Microsoft Office 365 Premium is a better choice.
When choosing between the two plans, consider your business needs and budget. If you’re a small business owner with a tight budget, Microsoft Office 365 Essentials may be the better option. However, if you’re a larger business with more advanced needs, Microsoft Office 365 Premium may be worth the investment.
In conclusion, Microsoft Office 365 is an excellent productivity tool for businesses of all sizes. Both plans offer reliable and secure cloud-based solutions that allow for easy collaboration between team members.
References
- Microsoft Office 365. (n.d.). Microsoft. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/all-business-plans
- Microsoft Office 365 Essentials. (n.d.). Microsoft. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/office-365-essentials
- Microsoft Office 365 Premium. (n.d.). Microsoft. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/office-365-premium
- Microsoft Office 365 comparison chart. (n.d.). Sherweb. Retrieved from https://www.sherweb.com/office-365/comparison-chart/
