Microsoft is well known for providing a suite of software applications for home and business use. Microsoft 365 is the latest iteration of these packages, offering a cloud-based platform that includes various software packages. Unfortunately, things can get quite confusing as Microsoft 365 is very similar to Office 365, but they are pretty different.
Office 365 is integrated into Microsoft 365 as a bundle of services that includes Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility and Security. In essence, you can purchase your operating system, as well as the Office suite and network security, all at once with Microsoft 365.
There are more differences between Office 365 and Microsoft 365 than just that, though. This article will look at the differences between these two application suites, from pricing to how useful these packages are for businesses.
What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365?
As we have touched on, Office 365 is incorporated into Microsoft 365, so straight away, the most significant difference is that Office 365 does not include an operating system and security tools. Digging a little deeper, it is worth inspecting two plans offered by Microsoft – Office 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Business.
Office 365 is available in several different plans, with Office 365 Business Premium best suited for companies with under 300 users. It provides users with a full Office suite including Word, Teams and all of the usual trappings of Office and email. For businesses that use over 300 users, the Enterprise plan will best serve them.
Office 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Business are closely aligned in terms of what they offer, so they are an ideal way to compare the two suites.
Pricing for Office 365 starts at £9.40 per month per user, with Microsoft 365 Business coming in at £15.10 per user per month. The additional cost includes the Windows 10 operating system and Enterprise Mobility plus Security. If you have a use for these additions, the extra monthly fee is well worth it. To buy all three packages individually would cost you more than £20 per month per user, so the savings are significant.
What is included in Microsoft 365 that Office 365 lacks?
To start off, both products offer the entire Office 365 Business Premium suite that includes personal cloud storage and enterprise email services. The differences start to emerge when you look at device management. Microsoft 365 is pre-loaded with a single console that lets you manage users and devices. Office applications can also be automatically rolled out to other Windows 10 computers. Finally, the operating system is missing entirely from Office 365.
Although they have similar names, the functionality of Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are inherently different. Microsoft 365 offers a lot more value overall, but only if you need a new operating system and security tools.
