Microsoft offers some of the most popular productivity tools for enterprises. But choosing between the different Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans can be a challenge because they have overlapping features. Microsoft’s rebranding of Office 365 also adds to the confusion and raises questions around the difference between both solutions. Both Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans include widely used apps like Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. But Microsoft 365 provides more robust compliance and security features. Understanding the different Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365 enterprise plans is key to choosing one that’s right for your business’ size, budget, workplace requirements, and compliance needs.
So, in this blog post, we will go over the differences between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 for enterprise, including available plans, features, and pricing, so you can make an informed choice for your business.

has Office 365 changed to Microsoft 365?
In April 2020, Office 365 was rebranded to Microsoft 365. As part of the rebrand, the company renamed its Office 365 plans for small to medium-sized businesses.
- Office 365 Business Essentials became Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
- Office 365 Business Premium became Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
- Office 365 Business and Office 365 ProPlus both became Microsoft 365 Apps.
Explaining the reasoning behind the rebrand, Microsoft said that its “cloud productivity offering has grown well beyond what people traditionally think of as ‘Office.’” They wanted the new Microsoft 365 brand to reflect the company’s growing expansion into cloud and AI.
However, Office 365 plans for enterprise did not receive updated names, and this adds to the confusion around the rebranding. Microsoft 365 and Office 365 for enterprise are related but not the same. Since Microsoft 365 plans include Office 365 apps, many companies assume there are no major differences between both solutions. However, Microsoft 365 includes more features that could be valuable for enterprises looking for greater security and licensing capabilities.

comparing Microsoft 365 & Office 365 enterprise licenses: what’s included??
Here are the plans available under Microsoft 365 and Office 365 for enterprise.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans
- Microsoft 365 E3 – $33.75 user/month
- Microsoft 365 E5 – $54.75 user/month
Both plans come with Microsoft 365 apps for desktop and mobile, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, as well as Windows 11 Enterprise. Microsoft 365 CoPilot is available as an add-on. The plans also include robust device management and data protection services.
The Microsoft 365 E5 plan also provides more advanced security, reporting, and compliance features through Power BI Pro, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Microsoft Defender for Identity.
Office 365 Enterprise Plans
- Office 365 E1 – $7.75 user/month
- Office 365 E3 – $20.75 user/ month
- Office 365 E5 – $35.75 user/ month
Office 365 plans include core productivity apps and services such as Outlook, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive. The plans also include security features for data protection. Microsoft 365 CoPilot is available as an add-on. The Office 365E E3 plan also comes with Power BI Pro and Microsoft Defender for Office 365, offering more robust data analytics and cybersecurity services.
For more details on what’s included under the different Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans, check out the Microsoft website.

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365 for enterprise: what are the differences?
Some key differences between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 for enterprise include:
Windows OS
Microsoft 365 enterprise plans include Window 11 Enterprise E3 licenses, ensuring that all apps run seamlessly on a powerful operating system.
Security features
Microsoft 365 includes a much broader range of security tools than Office 365, making it ideal for enterprises that are looking to boost cybersecurity and compliance. The platform comes with a variety of security and compliance tools for enhanced endpoint and identity protection, device management, threat detection, and data security. Here is a quick look at some of the cybersecurity services included in Microsoft 365.
- Microsoft Defender XDR: AI-powered capabilities to proactively mitigate advanced cyber threats and ensure rapid response across endpoints, identities, SaaS apps, as well as email and collaboration tools.
- Windows Hello/ Microsoft Entra: Enables passwordless authentication for seamless access and identity security.
- Microsoft Intune: Built-in, unified tool to protect and manage any device. Helps safeguard data and deliver a better endpoint experience to a hybrid workforce.
- Microsoft Secure Score: Centralized dashboard measuring your organization’s security posture.
Compared to Microsoft 365, Office 365 offers limited security features. The scope of its cybersecurity and data loss prevention services is primarily focused on email and collaboration tools. Further, Office 365 does not come with built-in device management or endpoint security.

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365 for enterprise: which one should you choose?
Once you understand the components of each Microsoft 365 and office 365 subscription plan, the next question becomes: which one should your business choose?
If security, compliance, and device management are important to your business, Microsoft 365 is the better investment. But for businesses that are primarily looking for productivity tools, Office 365 remains a strong choice.
Choose Microsoft 365 If:
Choose Office 365 If:

is your business looking for Office 365 and Microsoft 365 consulting services?
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