Microsoft 365 plans are extremely popular amongst users mostly because of the comprehensive set of productivity apps these plans provide and top-notch security features. However, for someone who is not familiar with the Microsoft 365 plans, choosing the right one for them can be really confusing. Now, with the increased demand for remote and hybrid work, more and more small-scale businesses are considering taking up a less-priced Microsoft 365 Family plan instead of Microsoft 365 Business. Although it might be tempting to buy the family plan for small businesses, it is not the ideal choice because you might end up paying even more to buy third-party services. In this article, we will highlight the differences between Microsoft 365 Business and Family to help you make the right choice between these two.
Microsoft 365 Business vs Microsoft 365 Family.
No. of applications:
One major deciding factor when choosing between the Family or Business Plan is the number of services or applications the users will be getting with these two plans. Therefore, let us discuss the suite of productivity applications users can benefit from when they purchase Microsoft 365 Business and Microsoft 365 Family.
The Family package includes the following apps:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- OneDrive
- Skype
- OneNote
Individuals can use Microsoft Teams with the Family package only if they are using the free version. However, the free version has less storage capacity and lacks additional features such as meeting recording, audio calls, and configurable user settings.
The Business package includes:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- OneDrive
- Skype
- OneNote
- Microsoft Teams
- Exchange
- SharePoint
- Microsoft Lists
- Microsoft Bookings
What makes Microsoft 365 Business the best deal for businesses?
- Business Email
A business email account that has your website domain name is largely beneficial for companies. If your email address is attached to @yahoo or @gmail, it gives an unprofessional look and can negatively impact your business. Microsoft 365 Business offers Exchange, which lets users host their business email in Microsoft 365. Users can attach their domain to Exchange and simply use that as their main email cloud server. On the other hand, Microsoft 365 Family does not offer any such tools; therefore, you might need to pay an extra amount to host agencies to administer your business email account.
- Additional apps:
Microsoft 365 Business offers additional apps that increase productivity and help you run business operations in less time.
Bookings: This tool enables clients to book an online meeting with your company or vice versa via an online link. It also integrates well with Outlook, allowing users to book appointments that match their calendars.
Lists: it is a comprehensive management and organizing tool that lets you handle business operations such as:
- Ticket tracking
- Asset management
- Customer support tracking
- Project management
SharePoint and Teams:
The integration of SharePoint and Teams serves as a powerful environment for securely sharing data among team members. Microsoft 365 Business offers SharePoint and Teams that enable you to create a virtual office for your remote workers to collaborate seamlessly and share important files and documents safely. These apps also ensure that certain files are accessible only to a specific group or department.
Conclusion:
If you are a small business owner using the Microsoft 365 family, you are soon going to reach your limits, as it can only accommodate six users and lacks a variety of business productivity tools. If you are part of a growing business, it’s best to subscribe to a Microsoft 365 Business plan Basic of your choice.