Great question! I’d be happy to clarify the differences between Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, as well as their multi-device usage policies.

Multi-Device Usage:

Yes, both plans allow you to install Microsoft apps on up to 5 devices per user, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile phones.
You can sign in on multiple devices simultaneously, but active usage policies may apply (e.g., concurrent editing in OneDrive).

Key Differences:

Feature Microsoft 365 Business Standard Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
Core Office Apps Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only) Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only)
Email Hosting (Outlook + Exchange) Yes (50GB mailbox) No
Business Tools (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc.) Yes No
Web & Mobile Versions Yes Yes
Desktop Versions Yes Yes
Advanced Security & Business Features Yes No
Target Audience Businesses needing email & collaboration tools Businesses needing Office apps only

Which One Should You Choose?

  • If you need professional email (Outlook + Exchange) and collaboration tools like Teams & SharePoint, go with Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
  • If you only need Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) without email hosting, then Microsoft 365 Apps for Business is a more cost-effective choice.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/office365 › difference between microsoft 365 apps for business and microsoft 365 business standard
r/Office365 on Reddit: Difference between Microsoft 365 Apps for business and Microsoft 365 Business Standard
August 21, 2023 -

Hi,

I've take over a small company using Office 365. right now each user have a Microsoft 365 Apps for business + Exchange (Plan 1).

I don't understand why they choose these 2 licences over Microsoft 365 Business Standard ?

Except for the email and Microsoft Teams, what is the difference between Microsoft 365 Apps for business and Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Top answer
1 of 3
4

Great question! I’d be happy to clarify the differences between Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, as well as their multi-device usage policies.

Multi-Device Usage:

Yes, both plans allow you to install Microsoft apps on up to 5 devices per user, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile phones.
You can sign in on multiple devices simultaneously, but active usage policies may apply (e.g., concurrent editing in OneDrive).

Key Differences:

Feature Microsoft 365 Business Standard Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
Core Office Apps Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only) Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only)
Email Hosting (Outlook + Exchange) Yes (50GB mailbox) No
Business Tools (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc.) Yes No
Web & Mobile Versions Yes Yes
Desktop Versions Yes Yes
Advanced Security & Business Features Yes No
Target Audience Businesses needing email & collaboration tools Businesses needing Office apps only

Which One Should You Choose?

  • If you need professional email (Outlook + Exchange) and collaboration tools like Teams & SharePoint, go with Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
  • If you only need Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) without email hosting, then Microsoft 365 Apps for Business is a more cost-effective choice.
2 of 3
2

Hello Saumya Setia

Good morning and thanks for posting Microsoft community. I read your thread and got some background information about your script. It seems you need clarification on Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Apps for Business; let me help you to clarify this:

Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Apps for Business **** Both Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Apps for Business allow you to use a single subscription on up to five mobile devices, five tablets, and five PCs or Macs per user

Here are the key differences between the two plans:

  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard:
    • Includes desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote (plus Access and Publisher for PC only).
    • Offers hosted email with a 50 GB mailbox and custom email domain.
    • Provides a hub for teamwork with Microsoft Teams.
    • Includes 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user.
    • Offers around-the-clock phone and web support from Microsoft.
    • Includes additional apps like Microsoft Clipchamp for video creation
  • Microsoft 365 Apps for Business:
    • Includes desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
    • Provides 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user.
    • Offers around-the-clock phone and web support from Microsoft

Microsoft 365 Business Standard combines powerful desktop, web, and mobile versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and additional apps such as Clipchamp, along with the same services as those in Business Basic.

If this information was helpful, we also invite you to submit your feedback and vote for the answer so that others can find it more easily.

If there is anything we can do or if you have any other concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're here to support you in any way we can.

Your kind understanding is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

Shajia Afrin | Community Moderator

Discussions

How can I use my MS365 Business Standard's app benefits, if there is another MS account logged into my Windows?
After downloading Office and logging ... desktop apps. I tried removing the primary accout from my Windows, but I was warned that certain files will get removed with it. Which I obviously want to avoid, as I need the files this primary user created and worked with. I was thinking to upgrade it's license to Standard, but I hope there are other ways to solve this... ... Any suggestions are welcome! Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For business | ... More on learn.microsoft.com
🌐 learn.microsoft.com
1
0
May 8, 2024
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise vs Microsoft 365 Business Standard ??
Apps for Enterprise also responds to on-prem AD group policies but apps for business does not. Enterprise also includes OneDrive storage but nothing else, unlike Standard which is the cheapest subscription which includes installable Office software and a plethora of other tools More on reddit.com
🌐 r/microsoft
13
3
October 11, 2023
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise vs Microsoft 365 Business Standard ?? : microsoft
What is the difference between these two?? There is only a .50 cent price difference. More on old.reddit.com
🌐 r/microsoft
Difference between Microsoft 365 Apps for business and Microsoft 365 Business Standard : Office365
Hi, I've take over a small company using Office 365. right now each user have a Microsoft 365 Apps for business + Exchange (Plan 1). I don't... More on old.reddit.com
🌐 r/Office365
People also ask

What are the security features of Microsoft 365 Business Standard?
The suite offers advanced threat protection, file encryption, two-factor authentication, and tools for data policy management to secure sensitive business information.
🌐
dev4side.com
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-365-business-standard
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: What's included and pricing
How does Microsoft 365 Business Standard compare to Business Premium?
Business Premium includes all features of Business Standard plus advanced security and device management tools like Intune and Defender, suitable for businesses handling sensitive data.
🌐
dev4side.com
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-365-business-standard
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: What's included and pricing
What does Microsoft 365 Business Standard include?
It includes Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook for email, Teams for communication, 1TB of OneDrive storage, and additional tools like SharePoint, Power Automate, and Power Apps.
🌐
dev4side.com
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-365-business-standard
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: What's included and pricing
🌐
Dev4Side
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-365-business-standard
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: What's included and pricing
Microsoft Teams, in addition to instant messaging features, allows you to create channels dedicated to specific projects or departments, facilitating communication and collaboration between team members.
🌐
Apple
apple.com › all accessories › software › microsoft 365 business standard (one-year subscription)
Microsoft Office 365 Business Standard (One-year Subscription) - Apple
Microsoft 365 Business Standard (One-Year Subscription)
Microsoft Office 365 Business Standard is built for your organization. It's the Office you know, plus tools to help you work better together. Buy online now at apple.com.
Price   $149.95
🌐
MyChoiceSoftware
mychoicesoftware.com › pages › microsoft-office-365-business
Microsoft 365 Apps for Business MyChoiceSoftware.com | MyChoiceSoftware.com
Exp 11/26 *Exclusions apply. The latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote with enhanced reliability, security and administration options that require zero IT expertise.
Find elsewhere
🌐
Amazon
amazon.com › Microsoft-Business-12-month-subscription-Download › dp › B07H5C1X31
Amazon.com: Microsoft 365 Business Standard | 12-Month Subscription, 1 person | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive | 1TB OneDrive Cloud Storage | PC/Mac Instant Download : Software
Business services: Exchange Online with 50 GB mailbox and custom email domain address, Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online · Premium support via chat or phone with Microsoft expert.
🌐
Microsoft
microsoft.com › en-us › d › microsoft-365-business-standard-1-year-subscription › 90fw0krplhqt
Microsoft 365 Business Standard (1-Year Subscription)
• 12-month subscription for one ... services: Exchange Online with 50 GB mailbox and custom email domain address, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online • Premium support via chat or phone with Microsoft experts • FPP ...
🌐
Interstellarng
interstellarng.com › home › blog › microsoft 365 apps and microsoft 365 business standard
Microsoft 365 Apps And Microsoft 365 Business Standard - Interstellar Business Solutions Limited
January 30, 2024 - On the other hand, Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes everything in Apps for Business plus desktop versions of Office apps, Yammer, 1 TB OneDrive storage, and limited use rights to Power Apps and Power Automate.
🌐
Exinent
exinent.com › microsoft-365-business-standard-desktop-apps
Does Microsoft 365 Business Standard Include Desktop Apps?
September 19, 2024 - With Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you get access to the full suite of desktop apps, including: Word: Create, edit, and share professional documents with ease. Excel: Analyze data, create spreadsheets, and generate reports.
🌐
Syskit
syskit.com › blog › the-microsoft-365-apps-decision-business-or-enterprise
Decision: Microsoft 365 Apps For Business Or Enterprise
November 13, 2024 - Microsoft 365 Apps for Business was formerly known as Office 365 Business and offers us four different plans. You can choose between Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, and finally, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business.
Address   Krste Pavletića 1, 10000, Zagreb
🌐
O365CloudExperts
o365cloudexperts.com › home › microsoft 365 business standard plan
Microsoft 365 Business Standard Plan | O365CloudExperts
September 13, 2023 - Always work with the most updated versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Publisher. The new Office Apps in Microsoft 365 Business Standard for PC and Mac allow you to use a regular keyboard, stylus pen or touchscreen.
🌐
North Carolina Bar Association
ncbar.org › home › from the center blog › a sweet suite: exploring all the ms 365 business standard apps
A Sweet Suite: Exploring All the MS 365 Business Standard Apps - North Carolina Bar Association
April 15, 2025 - Project appears on your list of available apps in the MS 365 Business Standard subscription but actually requires an additional license. To Do – A simple task management app that helps keep track of daily tasks and deadlines. To Do and Planner recently became more integrated, and To Do integrates with and replaces Tasks in MS Outlook. Teams – A collaboration platform that includes chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft 365 apps. It’s great for remote work and team collaboration.