Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5 Plans:
- E1: Web versions of Office apps, Teams, Exchange, and OneDrive.
- E3: Full desktop apps, data loss prevention, Azure Information Protection.
- E5: Advanced security, Microsoft Defender, Power BI Pro, enhanced compliance.
- Ideal Uses: E1 for basic collaboration, E3 for enhanced productivity, E5 for advanced security.
Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5 Plans Explained
Microsoft 365 provides a suite of productivity and collaboration tools tailored to businesses of all sizes.
The Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5 plans offer different features and service levels, making it crucial for decision-makers to understand their unique offerings.
Choosing the right plan can mean the difference between getting the optimal tools for your workforce and spending unnecessarily on features you may not need.
In this article, we will break down the features of each of these plans, E1, E3, and E5, and help you understand which is most suitable for your organization based on productivity needs, security requirements, and budget constraints.
Overview of Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5 Plans
Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans are tailored to the needs of medium to large enterprises. They offer a range of capabilities, from basic productivity applications to advanced communication, security, and data analytics tools.
The E1, E3, and E5 plans are designed to meet the needs of businesses at different levels of complexity and regulatory requirements.
- E1: Entry-level, web-based tools ideal for basic collaboration and communication.
- E3: A full-featured productivity suite with added compliance and security features.
- E5: Most comprehensive plan, providing advanced security, analytics, and voice capabilities.
Microsoft 365 E1 Plan
The E1 plan is Microsoft 365’s most basic enterprise plan. It is designed for organizations looking for cloud-based solutions for productivity and collaboration with minimal need for desktop apps.
Features
- Web and Mobile Versions of Office Apps: Users can access web-based versions of popular apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as mobile versions.
- Microsoft Teams: The E1 plan includes access to Microsoft Teams, allowing for video conferencing, chats, and collaboration across the organization.
- Email and Calendar: Exchange Online provides users with a 50 GB mailbox per user, which they can access through Outlook on the web.
- OneDrive for Business: Users receive 1 TB of OneDrive storage for personal document storage and sharing.
- SharePoint Online: Access to SharePoint for team collaboration, document sharing, and internal communication portals.
- Basic Security: The E1 plan includes security features such as Exchange Online Protection to guard against malware and spam.
Pricing
- The E1 plan is available for approximately $10 per user per month (when billed annually). Pricing can vary based on location and specific business agreements.
Ideal Use Cases
- Basic Collaboration: Best suited for organizations with basic communication and document-sharing needs.
- Frontline Workers: Ideal for employees who require email, cloud storage, and communication tools but do not need full desktop versions of Office applications.
Microsoft 365 E3 Plan
The E3 plan offers a full-featured productivity suite with enhanced capabilities for compliance and security, providing greater flexibility and features than E1.
Features
- Desktop Versions of Office Apps: Unlike E1, the E3 plan includes full desktop versions of Office apps, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher. This allows for offline editing and advanced capabilities.
- Microsoft Teams and Exchange Online: Includes all the collaboration tools available in E1, including Teams and Exchange, but with enhanced features such as larger mailbox sizes.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): This product offers DLP capabilities to protect sensitive information. This is particularly beneficial for industries that must comply with regulations like GDPR.
- Azure Information Protection helps label and protect sensitive documents, ensuring that business data remains secure both inside and outside the organization.
- Advanced Compliance: Includes eDiscovery, legal hold, and audit logs, essential for compliance management.
- OneDrive for Business: This service still offers 1 TB of cloud storage per user, but organizations can extend this limit for power users.
- Microsoft Intune: Provides support for device management, allowing administrators to enforce security policies and manage company devices.
Pricing
- When billed annually, the E3 plan costs roughly $23 per user per month. It provides a significant step up in features from E1, particularly for businesses with security and compliance requirements.
Ideal Use Cases
- Organizations Needing Offline Capabilities: Teams that need full versions of Office apps for offline work or advanced functionalities.
- Compliance and Data Protection: Businesses in regulated sectors require DLP, legal hold, or other compliance tools.
- Mid-Sized Enterprises: Perfect for mid-sized companies needing comprehensive tools for productivity and compliance without the complexity of E5.
Microsoft 365 E5 Plan
The E5 plan is the most advanced offering in the Microsoft 365 suite. It includes all features in the E3 plan, plus a range of advanced security, analytics, and voice capabilities.
Features
- Advanced Security: The E5 plan includes Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, providing advanced threat protection against malware and ransomware. It also includes Azure Active Directory Premium P2, which offers advanced identity and access management capabilities like Privileged Identity Management (PIM) and Conditional Access.
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Protects against sophisticated phishing, malware, and zero-day attacks that could target emails, files, and collaborative tools.
- Advanced Compliance: E5 includes Advanced eDiscovery, Customer Lockbox, and Insider Risk Management, which are critical for maintaining compliance in industries requiring high data protection and auditing standards.
- Microsoft Power BI Pro: Provides business intelligence tools that help organizations analyze data, share insights, and make informed decisions.
- Phone System and Audio Conferencing: E5 includes Microsoft Teams Phone System and Audio Conferencing, allowing for cloud-based call management, integrated PBX capabilities, and dial-in conferencing options.
Pricing
- The E5 plan is approximately $38 per user per month when billed annually. It targets organizations that need a comprehensive solution for productivity, advanced analytics, security, and voice communication.
Ideal Use Cases
- Enterprises Needing Maximum Security: Organizations at high risk of cyber threats or require advanced security and compliance features.
- Data-Driven Companies: Businesses that want to leverage Power BI Pro for business analytics and insights.
- Complex Communication Requirements: Organizations looking for a fully integrated solution for VoIP, conferencing, and collaboration tools.
Key Differences Between E1, E3, and E5 Plans
Understanding how these three plans differ is essential to determine which one best fits your business needs.
- Productivity Tools:
- E1: Offers web-based Office apps only.
- E3: Provides desktop apps in addition to web-based versions.
- E5: Includes all desktop apps plus advanced analytics tools.
- Security and Compliance:
- E1: Basic security with no advanced compliance features.
- E3: Includes Data Loss Prevention and Azure Information Protection.
- E5: Adds Microsoft Defender and Advanced Threat Protection for comprehensive security.
- Collaboration and Communication:
- E1: Basic Teams features for communication.
- E3: Adds Teams Voice for audio conferencing.
- E5: Expands with calling plans and the full phone system.
- Analytics:
- E1 and E3: No advanced analytics tools.
- E5: Includes Power BI Pro for business intelligence.
Choosing the Right Plan for Your Business
Choosing between Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5 depends heavily on the needs of your business.
Here are some guiding considerations:
- Budget:
- E1 is the most budget-friendly and is ideal for organizations with minimal needs.
- E3 offers the best balance of features for its cost, making it a popular choice for medium-sized businesses.
- E5 is the most expensive, but its features justify its price for businesses requiring top-notch security and analytics.
- Security Requirements:
- If your business handles sensitive information and needs advanced security, E5 would be a better fit due to features like Microsoft Defender and Customer Lockbox.
- For businesses that need a moderate level of security, E3’s Azure Information Protection is often sufficient.
- Productivity Tools:
- Consider whether your employees need desktop versions of Office apps. If yes, both E3 and E5 are suitable.
- If web versions suffice, E1 is a cost-effective option.
- Compliance:
- E3 and E5 are best for organizations needing to comply with industry regulations due to their advanced compliance tools.
- For a business that does not need these features, E1 provides standard compliance.
Real-World Example: Comparing Two Organizations
Consider two businesses: Company A, a small startup, and Company B, a well-established financial firm.
- Company A is a 10-person startup focused on collaboration and general productivity. Since the team only needs web-based Office apps, Microsoft Teams, and basic email, the E1 plan is ideal, keeping costs low while providing essential tools.
- Company B is a 200-employee financial services firm that requires strong compliance features, advanced security, and in-depth data analysis. The E5 plan is the best fit for them, providing Power BI, Microsoft Defender, and full telephony features, ensuring all their needs are met comprehensively.
Upgrading and Flexibility
One of the great features of Microsoft 365 is the ability to upgrade or switch plans as your organization grows or your needs change:
- Scalable Solutions: A business can start with E1 and upgrade to E3 or E5 if it needs additional capabilities, ensuring flexibility.
- Hybrid Licensing: A company can also have different plans for different users. For example, frontline workers can use E1, while managerial staff can benefit from E3 or E5. This provides a cost-efficient way to ensure everyone can access the necessary tools without overspending.
Microsoft 365 E1, E3, and E5 Plans FAQ
What is included in the Microsoft 365 E1 plan?
E1 offers web-based Office apps, email, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams, ideal for basic business needs.
How does the E3 plan differ from E1?
E3 includes desktop versions of Office apps, advanced security, and additional compliance tools not available in E1.
What extra features come with the E5 plan?
E5 provides advanced threat protection, data analytics, and voice capabilities like Microsoft Teams Phone.
Who should choose the E1 plan?
E1 suits organizations needing web-based apps and essential cloud services without desktop installations.
Which plan offers the best security features?
E5 has the most advanced security features, including threat protection, encryption, and compliance tools.
Can users install Office apps with the E1 plan?
The E1 plan only provides access to web-based apps, while E3 and E5 allow full installation of desktop apps.
How does the E5 plan support data analytics?
E5 includes Microsoft Power BI for comprehensive data analysis and visualization, making it ideal for data-driven organizations.
What compliance tools are available in the E3 and E5 plans?
E3 and E5 offer tools like eDiscovery, archiving, and legal hold, helping organizations meet regulatory compliance.
Is the E1 plan suitable for remote work?
Yes, E1 includes cloud-based apps and services that support remote collaboration but without desktop app access.
Does the E3 plan include phone capabilities?
No, phone system features are only available in the E5 plan, which includes Microsoft Teams Phone for calls and conferencing.
How does licensing work across E1, E3, and E5 plans?
Licenses are assigned per user, allowing access to the services included in their specific plan across multiple devices.
Can organizations upgrade from E1 to E3 or E5 plans?
Yes, upgrades between plans are easily managed through the Microsoft admin center.
What type of businesses should choose the E5 plan?
The E5 plan is ideal for large enterprises or organizations needing advanced security, analytics, and communication tools.
What cloud services are included in all three plans?
All plans include cloud services like OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams for collaboration and storage.
How does the E3 plan support compliance needs?
E3 offers advanced compliance tools like data loss prevention, legal hold, and information protection for regulatory adherence.
