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Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium: Clear Comparison Guide

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CyberDuo

Choosing the right Microsoft 365 subscription significantly impacts productivity and security. Here is a direct and comprehensive comparison of Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium.

1. User Limit and Target Audience

  • Standard: Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses (up to 300 users) seeking productivity and collaboration tools.
  • Premium: Also supports up to 300 users but adds advanced security and device management tools crucial for businesses with more comprehensive compliance needs.

2. Included Productivity Tools

Both Standard and Premium provide:

  • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint.
  • Web and desktop versions, regular feature updates, and 1 TB of cloud storage per user.

3. Email Hosting

  • Standard & Premium: 50 GB mailbox with custom email domain support through Exchange Online.

4. Security and Compliance

  • Standard: Basic security, including Exchange Online Protection and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Premium: Advanced threat protection, data loss prevention (DLP), Azure Information Protection (AIP), conditional access, Defender for Business endpoint protection, and enhanced compliance tools.

5. Device and App Management

  • Standard: Limited to basic device management and app deployment.
  • Premium: Comprehensive mobile and PC management, including Intune for full device and application management, app protection policies, and advanced endpoint analytics.

6. Additional Premium Features

  • Premium Only:
    • Microsoft Defender for Business (advanced cybersecurity)
    • Conditional Access
    • Azure AD Premium (enhanced identity protection)
    • Advanced compliance reporting
    • Mobile Device Management (MDM) via Intune
    • Mobile Application Management (MAM)

7. Collaboration and Communication

Both plans:

  • Offer advanced collaboration through Teams.
  • Enable web conferencing and video calling with shared calendars, documents, and tasks.

8. Pricing (as of June 2025)

  • Standard: Approximately $12.50 per user/month.
  • Premium: Approximately $22.00 per user/month.

9. Best For:

  • Standard: Businesses needing robust productivity, basic security, and mostly office-based collaboration.
  • Premium: Businesses requiring advanced security features, compliance, and extensive remote device management capabilities.

Bottom Line

Choose Business Standard for straightforward collaboration and productivity. Opt for Business Premium if advanced security, compliance, and device management are priorities, especially for organizations with mobile or hybrid workforces.

Evaluate your specific business needs carefully to select the right subscription.