If you need the desktop apps, you will need to use the Business Standard license, which is $3 per user per month, or $36 per year. If the only reason you are using the Business Premium license is for the desktop apps, then you could keep what you have now for $360 per year instead of $660 for the 10 licenses that used to be free.
While free, the 10 Business Premium licenses offered a lot of features many nonprofits were not using anyway. For maximum savings, we have always recommended that you only license what features you need beyond the grant. Not every user needs to have the same license; so, now that those 10 free Business Premium licenses are no longer free, it would be wise to evaluate who has what license, and why.
The worst-case/best-case scenarios
If you are using the features in the Business Premium license for 10 users, those would now cost an additional $660 per year. Conversely, the best-case scenario would be paying $360 per year if those 10 users don’t need the advanced features of Business Premium.
A quick note on strategy:
I’ve seen many users discussing jumping ship and leaving Microsoft for Google Workspace or Open Office. It’s understandable; depending on your organization, $360 or $660 per year might be a significant consideration. However, that’s inexpensive in comparison to making a hasty decision to change platforms.
RELATED: The Difference Between Google and Microsoft Platforms
Nonprofits have enjoyed generous use of these platforms for decades. As these grants change, I encourage your ministry to be strategic, not reactionary. Today it’s Microsoft; tomorrow it might be Google.
I encourage you to be thankful for what God has provided — and strategic as you move forward. Licensing needs are unique, and MBS is here to help you prepare for your next renewal.
