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How to Choose a Microsoft 365 Plan for a Small Business

Choose Basic for web and mobile Office apps, Standard for desktop apps, or consider Premium for advanced security and device management. Confirm the bundle and regional price before you buy.
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For a small business, the clearest way to choose is to start with the Office apps employees need: pick Business Basic if web and mobile apps are enough, Business Standard if they need installed desktop apps, and consider Business Premium if its advanced security and device-management features meet a specific need. Then verify the exact bundle, seat count, billing term, and regional price before purchasing.

Compare the three plans

Microsoft presents these Business plans for organizations with 1–300 employees. The comparison below reflects Microsoft’s US pricing page, accessed October 4, 2026; prices are annual-billing amounts, exclude tax, and apply to the listed versions with Teams. Prices and packages can vary by market, billing term, or configuration. Check Microsoft’s current plan comparison and pricing before buying.

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Decision point Business Basic Business Standard Business Premium
Office apps Web and mobile apps Web and mobile apps, plus desktop apps Desktop, web, and mobile apps
Security and device administration Core business capabilities Core business capabilities Adds advanced cyberthreat protection and device-management capabilities
Displayed US price with Teams $7 per user/month $14 per user/month $22 per user/month
Cloud storage shown 1 TB per user 1 TB per user 1 TB per user
Organization size shown 1–300 employees 1–300 employees 1–300 employees

The prices are Microsoft’s displayed US rates for annual billing, captured October 4, 2026—not a global or guaranteed quote. Check the applicable market and billing option on Microsoft’s pricing page.

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Choose based on the apps employees need

Choose Business Basic if browser and mobile apps are sufficient

Basic fits the app requirement when employees can work with the web and mobile versions of Office. If anyone needs installed desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook, compare Standard and Premium instead. Microsoft describes Basic as providing web and mobile apps, while Standard adds desktop apps. Microsoft’s Business plans FAQ explains the distinctions.

#1 Best Overall
Microsoft 365 Business Standard | 12-Month Subscription, 1 person | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive | 1TB OneDrive Cloud Storage | PC/Mac Instant Download
  • 12-month subscription for one person – available for organizations with up to 300 people with additional paid licenses.
  • 1 TB OneDrive for Business cloud storage with ransomware detection and file recovery.
  • One license covers fully-installed Office apps on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user (including Windows, iOS, and Android).
  • Premium versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote (features vary), Outlook, Access, Publisher, (Publisher and Access are for PC only).
  • Business apps: Bookings

Choose Business Standard when installed Office apps matter

Standard adds desktop Office apps to the web and mobile apps. For a business that needs those installed apps but does not have a defined need for Premium’s advanced security or device-management capabilities, Standard is the direct fit to assess.

Consider Business Premium for security and device management

Microsoft distinguishes Premium by adding advanced cyberthreat protection and device-management capabilities. Consider it when those capabilities address your organization’s security or administration requirements; the plan comparison alone does not mean every small business needs Premium. Review the actual features against your needs using Microsoft’s plan FAQ.

Best Value
Microsoft 365 Family | 12-Month Subscription | Up to 6 People | Premium Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more | 2TB Shared Cloud Storage | Windows Laptop or MacBook Instant Download | Activation Required
  • Designed for Your Windows and Apple Devices | Install premium Office apps on your Windows laptop, desktop, MacBook or iMac. Works seamlessly across your devices for home, school, or personal productivity.
  • Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook | Get premium versions of the essential Office apps that help you work, study, create, and stay organized.
  • Up to 2 TB Shared Cloud Storage | Store and access your documents, photos, and files from your Windows, Mac or mobile devices.
  • Premium Tools Across Your Devices | Your subscription lets you work across all of your Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices with apps that sync instantly through the cloud.
  • Share Your Family Subscription | You can share all of your subscription benefits with up to 6 people for use across all their devices.
Rank #4
Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 | Classic Desktop Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote | One-Time Purchase for 1 PC/MAC | Instant Download [PC/Mac Online Code]
  • [Ideal for One Person] — With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
  • [Classic Office Apps] — Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.
  • [Desktop Only & Customer Support] — To install and use on one PC or Mac, on desktop only. Microsoft 365 has your back with readily available technical support through chat or phone.
Rank #3
Microsoft Office Home 2024 | Classic Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint | One-Time Purchase for a single Windows laptop or Mac | Instant Download
  • Classic Office Apps | Includes classic desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ease.
  • Install on a Single Device | Install classic desktop Office Apps for use on a single Windows laptop, Windows desktop, MacBook, or iMac.
  • Ideal for One Person | With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
  • Consider Upgrading to Microsoft 365 | Get premium benefits with a Microsoft 365 subscription, including ongoing updates, advanced security, and access to premium versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, plus 1TB cloud storage per person and multi-device support for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Rank #2
Microsoft 365 Personal | 12-Month Subscription | 1 Person | Premium Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more | 1TB Cloud Storage | Windows Laptop or MacBook Instant Download | Activation Required
  • Designed for Your Windows and Apple Devices | Install premium Office apps on your Windows laptop, desktop, MacBook or iMac. Works seamlessly across your devices for home, school, or personal productivity.
  • Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook | Get premium versions of the essential Office apps that help you work, study, create, and stay organized.
  • 1 TB Secure Cloud Storage | Store and access your documents, photos, and files from your Windows, Mac or mobile devices.
  • Premium Tools Across Your Devices | Your subscription lets you work across all of your Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices with apps that sync instantly through the cloud.
  • Easy Digital Download with Microsoft Account | Product delivered electronically for quick setup. Sign in with your Microsoft account, redeem your code, and download your apps instantly to your Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
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Check the bundle, seats, and commitment before purchase

  1. Confirm the apps. Decide whether web and mobile apps are enough or employees require installed desktop Office apps.
  2. Assess the Premium features. If you are considering Premium, identify the security or device-management need those capabilities would address.
  3. Count the users who need licenses. Microsoft’s comparison shows 1–300 employees and 1 TB of cloud storage per user for these tiers. If your organization is beyond that stated range or has enterprise-level requirements, investigate other licensing options.
  4. Verify the exact plan configuration. Microsoft offers versions with and without Teams and with and without Copilot. Do not assume every Business plan includes the same services; confirm the SKU and included services on Microsoft’s Business plans FAQ.
  5. Compare billing terms and the checkout quote. The listed prices are annual-billing US prices before tax. Check the monthly-billing option, regional price, and final configuration for your market on Microsoft’s pricing page.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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