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.
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
Videos
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.
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
Hello,
I have google business standard, office 365 business standard, calendly, zoho one.
I see office standard include a lot of other software like viva, Booking but some software are very similar.
Like outlook and exchange are the same? What is the different? What about sharepoint and OneDrive?
I'm looking into purchasing Microsoft 365 Apps for business licenses. I need the desktop apps (Word and Excel) and OneDrive. (I don't need Business Standard because I can't give up Gmail, so my Google Workspace account handles my email and video conferencing needs.)
Can someone explain why, on the feature comparison chart under "File storage and sharing," Apps for business won't "Keep your files securely stored, up to date, and accessible across devices"? (Screenshot below. Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/compare-all-microsoft-365-business-products)
Is this a limitation of the OneDrive version that comes with apps for business? I've tried to figure it out in any documentation I could find. I even contacted sales through a chat. I didn't get a satisfactory answer.
Help would be appreciated.