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Office 365 E3 vs Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Feature Comparison
Question details
The user needs to understand the specific feature differences between Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 Business Premium before changing their subscription.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Comparing subscription tiers to make an informed decision when migrating from an Enterprise plan to a Business Premium plan.
- Observed behavior
- Seeking a detailed comparison of mailbox size, archive expansion, OneDrive storage limits, compliance tools, Intune, and identity management.
Before switching licenses, review your organization's current mailbox and OneDrive storage usage in the Microsoft 365 admin center to ensure no data exceeds the limits of the new plan.
Compare Mailbox, Archive, and OneDrive Storage Limits
Understand the changes in data storage capacity when transitioning from an Enterprise (E3) plan to a Business Premium plan.
One of the most significant changes when moving from Office 365 E3 to Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the reduction in storage capacities per user. You must ensure users are within these new limits before assigning the new license.
Office 365 E3 provides a 100 GB primary mailbox. In contrast, Microsoft 365 Business Premium provides a smaller 50 GB primary mailbox.
Office 365 E3 includes a 100 GB online archive that features auto-expansion up to 1.5 TB. Business Premium includes a strict 100 GB online archive without auto-expansion capabilities.
E3 plans offer a default 1 TB of OneDrive storage that can be expanded beyond 1 TB (up to 5 TB or more depending on user count). Business Premium is strictly capped at 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user.
Evaluate Security, Compliance, and Identity Features
Analyze the differences in device management and compliance capabilities between the two subscription plans.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the user limit for Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and supports a maximum of 300 users. If your organization has more than 300 users, you must remain on or switch to an Enterprise plan like Office 365 E3.
Do both plans include downloadable desktop applications?
Yes, both Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 Business Premium include the fully installed desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other core Office apps for Windows and Mac.
How do I check my current mailbox usage before downgrading?
You can check mailbox usage by logging into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, navigating to 'Users' > 'Active users', selecting a user, and viewing their 'Mailbox usage' tab under 'Mail'.
Will I lose Azure AD features if I switch to Business Premium?
No. In fact, Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Azure Active Directory Premium P1, which provides robust identity management features like Conditional Access and self-service password reset.
