Microsoft 365 Education offers a suite of powerful tools designed to enhance teaching, learning, and institutional management. Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan is crucial for educational institutions to maximize their investment and empower their staff and students effectively. This guide provides a detailed comparison of Microsoft 365 Education plans, helping you understand the key differences and select the plan that best aligns with your institution’s unique needs.
Understanding Microsoft 365 Education Offerings
Microsoft 365 Education plans are tailored to meet the diverse requirements of educational organizations, from K-12 schools to higher education institutions. These plans build upon the foundation of Office 365 Education, integrating essential components like Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security to create a comprehensive and secure digital learning environment.
The core offerings for educational institutions are categorized into different tiers, primarily A1, A3, and A5. These tiers represent increasing levels of features and functionalities, allowing institutions to choose a plan that matches their budget and technological sophistication. Understanding the nuances between these plans is the first step in making an informed decision.
Key Differentiators: Office 365 Education vs. Microsoft 365 Education
While the terms are often used interchangeably, it’s important to clarify the distinction between Office 365 Education and Microsoft 365 Education. Office 365 Education is a subset of Microsoft 365 Education. Think of Microsoft 365 Education as the broader package, encompassing Office 365 Education along with additional security, management, and operating system features.
Essentially, every Microsoft 365 Education plan includes Office 365 Education. The primary difference lies in the added value services offered within Microsoft 365, such as advanced security features, device management tools, and in some cases, Windows licenses. For institutions prioritizing robust security, comprehensive device management, and a fully integrated ecosystem, Microsoft 365 Education plans offer a more complete solution compared to standalone Office 365 Education plans.
Detailed Feature Comparison: Microsoft 365 Education Plans
The following tables provide a side-by-side comparison of the features available in different Microsoft 365 Education plans. These tables are categorized for clarity, allowing you to easily identify the services and functionalities included in each plan.
Office 365 Feature Availability Across Plans
This table outlines the features within the Office 365 platform that are available in Office 365 Education A1, A3, and A5, as well as the Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit.
| Service | Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office 365 platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 for the web | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange Online | Yes1 | Yes2 | Yes2 | Yes2 |
| SharePoint Online | Yes3 | Yes4 | Yes4 | Yes4 |
| OneDrive for Business | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skype for Business Online | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Project | No5 | No5 | No5 | No5 |
| Viva Engage | Yes15 | Yes15 | Yes15 | Yes15 |
| Microsoft Stream | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Planner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Universal Print | No | No | No | No |
| Classroom tools | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Classroom experiences in Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OneNote Class Notebook | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Sway | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Forms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learning tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viva Learning | No12 | No12 | No12 | No13 |
| Accessibility Checker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minecraft Education Edition with Code Builder | No | No | No | No |
| Take a Test app | No | No | No | No |
| Set up School PCs app | No | No | No | No |
| Voice video and meetings | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Audio Conferencing | No | No | Yes | No |
| Skype Meeting Broadcast | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Bookings | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phone System | No | No | Yes | No |
| Analytics | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Delve | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power BI Pro | No | No | Yes | No |
| My Analytics | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Entra ID | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Microsoft Entra Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Entra ID Plan 1 | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2 | No | No | No | No |
| Compliance | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Office 365 Rights Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Purview Information Protection Plan 1 | No | No | No | No |
| Purview Information Protection Plan 2 | No | No | No | No |
| Litigation Hold | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content search | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Standard) (including Hold and Export) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Premium) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention for email and files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Endpoint data loss prevention or DLP | No | No | No | No |
| Communications DLP (Teams chat) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Customer Key | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Audit (Standard) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Audit (Premium) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Message Encryption (Basic) | Yes8 | Yes | Yes | Yes8 |
| Microsoft Purview Advanced Message Encryption | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Purview Privileged Access Management | No | No | Yes | No |
| Management and security | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 3659 Plan 2 | No | No | No | Yes14 |
| School Data Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intune for Education6 | No | No | No | No |
| Advanced Threat Analytics | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Defender Device Guard | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Defender for Identity10 | No | No | No | No |
| Office 365 Cloud App Security | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender XDR for Cloud Apps | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint11 Plan 1 | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint11 Plan 2 | No | No | No | No |
| Remote Help | No | No | No | No |
| Server and CAL benefits | *Office 365 Education A1 | Office 365 Education A3 | Office 365 Education A5 | Office 365 A3/A5 Student Use Benefit |
| Exchange7 | No | No | No | No |
| SharePoint7 | No | No | No | No |
| Skype for Business7 | No | No | No | No |
| Windows Server CAL | No | No | No | No |
| Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager | No | No | No | No |
| System Center Endpoint Protection | No | No | No | No |
Notes:
1 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1 plus supplemental features. 2 Includes Exchange Online Plan 2. 3 Includes SharePoint Online Plan 1 plus supplemental features. 4 Includes SharePoint Online Plan 2. 5 Microsoft Project is not included in Office 365 but can be acquired separately. Project Online Essentials is free. If you are a student or an educational institution, you may be eligible to purchase Project Plan 3 and Plan 5 at educational prices. 6 Includes Intune. 7 Servers and CALs are included for Exchange, SharePoint, and Skype for Business. 8 Microsoft 365 Apps is required in order to apply protections and send protected emails from the Outlook Desktop. 9 Formerly Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection. 10 Formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection. 11 Formerly Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection. 12 Viva Learning is available as a paid add-on to Office 365 and Microsoft 365 A1, A3, and A5 for Faculty. 13 It is not available for Students or in Student Use Benefits. 14 Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 is not available with Office 365 A3 Student Use Benefit. 15 Viva Engage core functionality is included with these plans. Viva Engage premium capabilities are available to Viva suite customers.
This table highlights that Office 365 Education A1 provides essential online services, while A3 and A5 plans unlock access to desktop applications and more advanced Exchange and SharePoint capabilities. Notably, the Student Use Benefit extends many of the A3/A5 functionalities to students, maximizing the value for institutions.
Microsoft 365 Feature Availability Across Plans
This table details the full spectrum of Microsoft 365 Education features across A1 for devices, A3 Student Use Benefit, A5 Student Use Benefit, A3, and A5 plans.
| Service | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office 365 platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 for the web | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange Online | Yes1 | Yes2 | Yes2 | Yes2 | Yes2 |
| SharePoint Online | Yes3 | Yes4 | Yes4 | Yes4 | Yes4 |
| OneDrive for Business | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skype for Business Online | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Project | No5 | No5 | No5 | No5 | No5 |
| Viva Engage | Yes17 | Yes17 | Yes17 | Yes17 | Yes17 |
| Microsoft Stream | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Clipchamp | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Planner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Universal Print | No | Yes14 | Yes14 | Yes13 | Yes13 |
| Classroom tools | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Classroom experiences in Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OneNote Class Notebook | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Sway | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Forms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learning tools | Yes | No16 | No16 | Yes | Yes |
| Viva Learning | No15 | No16 | No16 | No15 | No15 |
| Accessibility Checker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minecraft Education Edition with Code Builder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Take a Test app | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Set up School PCs app | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Voice video and meetings | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Audio Conferencing | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Skype Meeting Broadcast | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Bookings | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phone System | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Analytics | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Delve | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power BI Pro | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| My Analytics | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Microsoft Entra Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Entra ID Plan 1 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Compliance | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Office 365 Rights Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Purview Information Protection Plan 1 | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Purview Information Protection Plan 2 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Litigation Hold | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Content search | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Standard) (including Hold and Export) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview eDiscovery (Premium) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention for email and files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Endpoint data loss prevention or DLP | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Communications DLP (Teams chat) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Customer Key | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Audit (Standard) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Audit (Premium) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Message Encryption (Basic) | Yes9 | Yes9 | Yes9 | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Advanced Message Encryption | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Purview Privileged Access Management | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Management and security | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 36510 Plan 2 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| School Data Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intune for Education6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Threat Analytics | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender Device Guard | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender for Identity11 | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Office 365 Cloud App Security | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender XDR for Cloud Apps | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint12 Plan 1 | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint12 Plan 2 | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Remote Help | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server and CAL benefits | Microsoft 365 A1 for devices | Microsoft 365 Education A3 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A5 Student Use Benefit | Microsoft 365 Education A3 | Microsoft 365 Education A5 |
| Exchange7 | No | No | No | Yes8 | Yes |
| SharePoint7 | No | No | No | Yes8 | Yes |
| Skype for Business7 | No | No | No | Yes8 | Yes |
| Windows Server CAL | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| System Center Endpoint Protection | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Notes:
1 Includes Exchange Online Plan 1 plus supplemental features. 2 Includes Exchange Online Plan 2. 3 Includes SharePoint Online Plan 1 plus supplemental features. 4 Includes SharePoint Online Plan 2. 5 Microsoft Project is not included in Office 365 but can be acquired separately. Project Online Essentials is free. If you are a student or an educational institution, you may be eligible to purchase Project Plan 3 and Plan 5 at educational prices. 6 Includes Intune. 7 Servers and CALs are included for Exchange, SharePoint, and Skype for Business. 8 Core CAL is included in M365 A3 for Core CAL. ECAL is included in M365 A3 and A5. 9 Microsoft 365 Apps is required in order to apply protections and send protected emails from the Outlook Desktop. 10 Formerly Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection. 11 Formerly Azure Advanced Threat Protection. 12 Formerly Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection. 13 Universal Print included in Windows Education A3 and A5. 14 0 (zero) Print-job included. 15 Viva Learning is available as a paid add-on to Office 365 and Microsoft 365 A1, A3, and A5 for Faculty. 16 It is not available for Students or in Student Use Benefits. 17 Viva Engage core functionality is included with these plans. Viva Engage premium capabilities are available to Viva suite customers.
Analyzing the Microsoft 365 feature table reveals a clear progression in capabilities from A1 to A5. Microsoft 365 A1 for devices is designed as a cost-effective option primarily for device-based licensing, offering core online services and management tools like Intune for Education. Microsoft 365 Education A3 builds upon this by adding desktop applications, enhanced security features like Office 365 Cloud App Security, and more robust compliance and management tools. Microsoft 365 Education A5 represents the most comprehensive offering, incorporating advanced security features like Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, as well as sophisticated analytics with Power BI Pro and MyAnalytics, and voice and meeting features like Audio Conferencing and Phone System.
Choosing the Right Microsoft 365 Education Plan for Your Institution
Selecting the ideal Microsoft 365 Education plan hinges on understanding your institution’s specific requirements and priorities. Here’s a breakdown to guide your decision:
- Microsoft 365 Education A1 for devices: This plan is an excellent entry point for institutions needing a foundational set of online services and device management capabilities, particularly suitable for shared device scenarios. It’s a cost-effective option for institutions prioritizing web-based productivity tools and basic security.
- Microsoft 365 Education A3: A3 is a balanced plan offering a significant step up in functionality. It’s ideal for institutions that require desktop applications, enhanced security and compliance features, and more comprehensive management tools. This plan suits institutions aiming for a robust digital environment without the premium cost of A5.
- Microsoft 365 Education A5: A5 is the premium offering, designed for institutions demanding the highest level of security, advanced analytics, and sophisticated voice and meeting capabilities. This plan is best suited for larger institutions or those with stringent security and compliance requirements, seeking a fully integrated and feature-rich platform.
Consider these questions when evaluating plans:
- What is the size of your institution and the number of users?
- What is your budget for software licensing?
- What are your institution’s security and compliance requirements?
- Do your users require desktop applications, or are web-based apps sufficient?
- What level of IT management and control is necessary?
- Are advanced voice and meeting features like audio conferencing needed?
By carefully assessing your institution’s answers to these questions and comparing them against the feature sets of each Microsoft 365 Education plan, you can confidently choose the plan that will best empower your educators and students and drive your institution’s success in the digital age.
Conclusion
Choosing between Microsoft 365 Education plans requires a thorough understanding of the features and functionalities offered at each tier. By leveraging the detailed comparisons provided in this guide and carefully considering your institution’s unique needs, you can make an informed decision and select the Microsoft 365 Education plan that will best support your educational mission and technological goals. Microsoft 365 Education provides flexible and scalable solutions, ensuring that every institution can find a plan that fits their requirements and budget, ultimately fostering a more effective and secure learning environment.
