Microsoft continues to roll out impressive improvements to the Windows 10 OS, Server Products for businesses, the cloud platform Azure, and collaboration tools as a part of Microsoft 365.
Once again though, Microsoft confusingly fumbles the name(s) of productivity and collaboration software licensing. This goes way back to when customers weren’t sure if they were talking about their Microsoft Office and/or Windows Operating System names, versions, and numbers.
On April 21st, 2020, Microsoft Office 365 becomes Microsoft 365! Well, not entirely.
Previous to this announcement, business customer subscribed to more robust and secure version of Microsoft Office 365 by upgrading to Microsoft 365, which upgraded to include Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS). WAIT! That all changed April 21st.
Personal Plans
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 stays the same: Individuals and Small Businesses can still buy and install software on their PC’s. Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 is $149.99 as a one-time purchase…then re-buy again if you want a future version. You do not get Outlook (email client), Skype or cloud document or mail storage. Perpetual upgrades included.
Microsoft Office 365 Home is good for a family of up to 6 people (all of each person’s device) for 99.99 per year, every year. You get the full Office suite including email, Skype and cloud storage. Perpetual upgrades included.
Microsoft Office 365 Personal is good for ONE Person (all devices) for 69.99 per year, every year. Same benefits as above, “Home.”
Small & Medium Business Plans
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus is a perpetual per user business subscription good for all devices; for 12.00 per month. Always up to date Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams; and 1 TB cloud Storage. This is a software license but not a service license. (No business Exchange email provided; customer provisions own mail service.)
Microsoft Office 365 Business becomes Microsoft 365 Business Apps for $8.25 per month. This is free for startups for 6 months. But, while Microsoft gives you the Outlook Client, they do not host (hold, provide, or manage) your mail.
More established businesses typically mix and match plans. For example, your business management employees may all need a robust subscription but your “Firstline” workers may only need company email and calendar.
