Microsoft 365 plans are easiest to compare once you know what you're actually deciding between: collaboration tools, or collaboration tools plus security and device management.
Business Basic
Web and mobile versions of Office apps, Exchange email, Teams, and SharePoint. A reasonable starting point for organizations that mostly need email and file sharing, but it doesn't include the desktop apps or most security features.
Business Standard
Adds the installed desktop apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, and the rest). The right fit for staff who need full offline functionality, without additional security requirements.
Business Premium
Everything in Standard, plus Intune for device management, Microsoft Entra features for identity protection, and advanced threat protection for email. If your organization handles sensitive client, patient, or donor data, this tier usually pays for itself the first time it prevents an incident.
| Included | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email, Teams, SharePoint | Included | Included | Included |
| Web and mobile Office apps | Included | Included | Included |
| Installed desktop Office apps | Not included | Included | Included |
| Intune device management | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Entra identity protection | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Advanced email threat protection | Not included | Not included | Included |
A simple rule of thumb
If nobody has looked at your licensing tier in the last two years, it's worth checking — many organizations are paying for Premium features they've never turned on, or paying for Basic when Premium would close real security gaps.
If you're not sure which tier your organization is on or what it includes, that's a five-minute conversation, not a research project.