Best Email Hosting · pricing · Updated June 2026
Microsoft 365 for Business pricing (2026)
Microsoft 365 for Business starts at $6/mo (Business Basic), across 3 plans. Best for Organizations already using Microsoft desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Every figure links to Microsoft 365 for Business's own page and the date we captured it.
At a glance
- Entry price: $6/mo (Business Basic) · 16% off with annual billing
- Free tier: No · 30-day trial
- Compliance: HIPAA Yes · SOC 2 Yes · GDPR Yes
- Best for: Organizations already using Microsoft desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Healthcare and regulated businesses needing HIPAA BAA with email; Teams requiring tight integration between email, Teams, and SharePoint; Businesses wanting the broadest enterprise compliance portfolio (90+ certifications)
Microsoft 365 for Business plans & pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Billing | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | $6 | −16% | per_seat | Per user/month on annual commitment; custom Exchange business email, 1 TB OneDrive per user, Teams, web/mobile Office apps only. Paid-monthly is $7.20/user/mo. Up to 300 users. Official compare page states 'save up to 16%' with yearly payment. | microsoft.com |
| Business Standard | $12.5 | −16% | per_seat | Per user/month on annual commitment; everything in Basic plus desktop Office apps, custom business email, 1 TB OneDrive, Teams. Paid-monthly is $15/user/mo. Up to 300 users. | microsoft.com |
| Business Premium | $22 | −16% | per_seat | Per user/month on annual commitment; all Standard features plus advanced security with Microsoft Defender, device management and threat protection, 1 TB OneDrive. Paid-monthly is $26.40/user/mo. Up to 300 users. | microsoft.com |
Last verified 2026-06-13. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/compare-all-microsoft-365-business-products (official US compare page, accessed 2026-06-13; prices rendered server-side in USD)
Capabilities
Integrations: outlook, exchange-online, microsoft-teams, onedrive, sharepoint, microsoft-defender, power-automate, power-apps, microsoft-purview.
Key features: Exchange Online business email with custom domain; Microsoft Defender anti-phishing and anti-malware (all plans); Microsoft Purview compliance and eDiscovery tools; HIPAA BAA available via Microsoft Online Services Data Protection Addendum; SOC 2 Type 2 attested annually; ISO/IEC 27001 and HITRUST CSF certified; Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) SSO and MFA; Advanced threat protection with Microsoft Defender (Business Premium); Mobile device management and Intune (Business Premium).
Plan limits: Max 300 users on Business plans (Enterprise required above 300); Business Basic includes web/mobile Office apps only — no desktop apps; 1 TB OneDrive storage per user on all Business plans; HIPAA BAA covers Office 365 Commercial; third-party BAA cannot be substituted.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Microsoft 365 for Business cost?
Microsoft 365 for Business starts at $6/mo (Business Basic); it has 3 published plans. Verified 2026-06-13.
Is Microsoft 365 for Business cheaper billed annually?
Yes. Microsoft 365 for Business publishes a 16% discount for paying annually (on the Business Basic plan). Verified 2026-06-13.
What are cheaper alternatives to Microsoft 365 for Business?
Cheaper email hosting than Microsoft 365 for Business (entry $6/mo) include Zoho Mail at $1/mo, IceWarp at $2.5/mo, Fastmail at $4/mo. Verified 2026-06-13.
Does Microsoft 365 for Business support HIPAA?
Microsoft 365 for Business HIPAA support: Yes. SOC 2: Yes. GDPR: Yes.
Does Microsoft 365 for Business have a free plan?
Microsoft 365 for Business free tier: No; 30-day free trial.