Best Alternatives After Microsoft 365 E2 Licenses Are Discontinued
Question details
Organizations need to find suitable replacement plans as Microsoft 365 E2 licenses reach their end-of-life date.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Planning for software license transition and finding replacements for discontinued E2 plans.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 E2 licenses are being discontinued, prompting organizations to seek new licensing plans or alternative office suites.
Before transitioning, audit your organization's current software usage, including the number of users, required cloud services, and your official nonprofit status.
Consult Microsoft Nonprofit Support for New Plans
Reach out to Microsoft licensing specialists to review available nonprofit plans and recommend a suitable replacement for E2.
Since legacy plans like E2 are being phased out, Microsoft offers tailored transition paths. Nonprofit organizations have access to specific grants and discounted tiers that are not publicly available to commercial entities.
Navigate to the official Microsoft nonprofit getting started page (https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/en-us/getting-started).
Sign in using your organization's Microsoft 365 global administrator account.
Submit a request to contact a Microsoft licensing specialist to discuss transitioning your expiring E2 licenses to a new, supported nonprofit plan.
Evaluate Alternative Microsoft 365 Licensing Tiers Internally
Assess other Microsoft 365 tiers like Business Basic, Business Premium, or E3 depending on your organization's needs.
Switch to WPS Office to Save on Organization Licensing Costs
If your organization is affected by the discontinuation of Microsoft 365 E2 licenses and you want to avoid high recurring subscription fees, consider WPS Office. It provides powerful tools for document processing, spreadsheets, and presentations without the heavy financial burden.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installer tailored for your operating system.
- 2. Install and deploy: Run the installer. For organizations, WPS Office can be deployed across multiple machines quickly.
- 3. Open existing files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files directly without needing conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Microsoft 365 E2 licenses reach their end-of-life?
Microsoft phases out legacy plans at different times depending on your specific contract and renewal cycle. You should check your Microsoft 365 Admin Center under the Billing section for specific expiration dates related to your tenant.
Are nonprofits eligible for free Microsoft 365 licenses?
Yes, Microsoft offers specific nonprofit grants. For example, eligible nonprofits can get Microsoft 365 Business Basic for free for up to 300 users. Upgraded plans with desktop apps are available at heavily discounted rates.
Will my organization lose data when transitioning from Microsoft 365 E2?
No, user data, OneDrive files, and Exchange mailboxes will remain completely intact as long as you assign a new, valid Microsoft 365 license to your users before the E2 license is completely deactivated.
Can I use third-party alternatives if I don't want to renew Microsoft 365?
Yes. If your organization relies primarily on local document editing rather than Microsoft's proprietary cloud services, switching to a free alternative like WPS Office can easily fulfill your daily document, spreadsheet, and presentation needs.
