Is Microsoft 365 Worth It?
Microsoft 365 is worth it for small businesses, freelancers, teams, and organisations that rely on email, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, meetings, cloud storage, file sharing, security, and day-to-day collaboration. It is more powerful than Google Workspace for businesses that need desktop Office apps, Outlook, Excel, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, admin controls, and stronger security options, but it can feel heavier than simpler cloud-first tools.
Microsoft 365 is worth it if your business needs a serious productivity suite rather than just basic email and documents.
Microsoft 365 is strongest for businesses that use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft security tools as part of everyday work. Business Basic is good for web-based collaboration and email, Business Standard is the best fit for teams that need desktop Office apps, and Business Premium is the stronger choice when security, device management, and business protection matter. It is not the simplest suite, but it is one of the most complete.
Best For
- Small businesses that need business email, shared calendars, cloud storage, meetings, documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in one suite
- Teams that rely on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, or SharePoint every day
- Businesses that need desktop Office apps rather than only browser-based documents
- Excel-heavy teams working with budgets, reports, finance, operations, data, forecasts, and complex spreadsheets
- Companies that want stronger admin controls, identity management, device management, and security options
- Remote and hybrid teams that need Teams meetings, chat, file sharing, document collaboration, and centralised workspaces
- Businesses already using Windows devices, Microsoft accounts, Outlook email, or Office file formats
Pros
- Extremely complete productivity suite covering email, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, meetings, chat, storage, file sharing, and business administration
- Business Standard includes desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and additional apps such as Clipchamp
- Business Basic is a strong entry plan for web and mobile Office apps, business email, Teams, OneDrive, and cloud collaboration
- Excel remains one of the strongest spreadsheet tools for finance, reporting, modelling, operations, and data-heavy business work
- Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, and Office apps work well together when properly configured
Cons
- Can feel more complicated than Google Workspace for very small teams that only need simple email, documents, and file sharing
- SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, permissions, admin settings, and security controls need proper setup to avoid confusion
- The best value depends heavily on whether your team actually uses the desktop Office apps and Microsoft ecosystem
- Business Premium is powerful, but may be more than a small business needs if security and device management are handled elsewhere
- Copilot Business costs extra and requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan, so AI features can increase the total monthly cost
Business email and Outlook
Use professional email, calendars, contacts, and Outlook workflows, with stronger business email features than basic consumer email.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using Microsoft’s core productivity apps, with desktop apps included on Business Standard and Business Premium.
Microsoft Teams
Run meetings, chats, calls, channels, file collaboration, webinars, and internal communication from one team workspace.
OneDrive cloud storage
Store, sync, and share files across devices, with 1 TB of cloud storage per user on the main business plans.
SharePoint
Create shared document libraries, internal sites, team file structures, and more controlled business knowledge spaces.
Business Basic
£4.60/user/month paid yearly, excluding VAT at verificationWeb and mobile apps, business email, Teams and 1 TB storage.
Business Standard
£9.60/user/month paid yearly, excluding VAT at verificationAdds desktop Office applications.
Business Premium
£16.90/user/month paid yearly, excluding VAT at verificationAdds advanced identity, security and device protection.
Enterprise and add-ons
VariesCheck current licensing and Copilot eligibility with Microsoft.
Google Workspace
Better if your business wants simpler cloud-first collaboration, Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and fast browser-based teamwork.
View alternativeSlack
Better if your main need is team messaging and async communication rather than a full productivity suite.
View alternativeNotion
Better if your team wants flexible documents, wikis, notes, databases, lightweight project planning, and internal knowledge management.
View alternativeMicrosoft OneNote
Better if your main need is free note-taking, class notes, meeting notes, handwritten notes, and simple personal organisation.
View alternativeClickUp
Better if your main need is project management, task tracking, dashboards, goals, automations, and team workflows.
View alternativeFinal Verdict
Is Microsoft 365 worth it?
Microsoft 365 is worth it for businesses that need a complete productivity suite rather than separate tools for email, documents, meetings, chat, storage, security, and administration. It is especially strong for teams that rely on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint.
It is not always the easiest choice for very small teams. Google Workspace can feel simpler if your business mainly needs Gmail-style email, shared documents, cloud storage, and quick collaboration. Microsoft 365 makes more sense when Office file compatibility, Excel power, desktop apps, Teams, admin controls, security, and Microsoft ecosystem depth matter.
For most small businesses, Business Basic is the sensible entry point if web apps are enough, Business Standard is the best all-round plan if desktop Office apps matter, and Business Premium is the stronger choice if security, device management, and business protection are part of the buying decision.