Many organisations are utilising Office 365 for their daily tasks. It provides different features that allows us to monitor tasks and analyse the daily activities of the enterprise. Microsoft Office 365 offers different plans as per the requirement like Basic, Family, and Business. For enterprises, there is an E3 and E5 plan. Both are used heavily in the Organization. There are several Benefits of Microsoft 365 to handle your data easily and reduce the burden of the Organization to manage a large data set. Let’s discuss Microsoft E3 vs. E5 in detail.
Comparison of Microsoft E3 Vs. E5
There are several features that are in common. However, there are some advanced features that are available in the Microsoft 365 E5 plan only. Let’s explore the difference between Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 in detail using the feature comparison table.
| Features | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $ 36.00 | $ 57.00 |
| Seat Cap | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Office Apps | Install Office on 5 devices | Install Office on 5 devices |
| Office Online | Yes | Yes |
| Excel Power Query | Yes | Yes |
| Sway | Yes | Yes |
| Infopath | Yes | Yes |
| Use Office on Remote Desktop | Yes | Yes |
| OneDrive Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Core Productivity Apps
Both the plans include every core productivity app offered. The Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and many more. These all are used to provide a better experience to the users.
PowerBI is only included in the E5 plan. This software is compatible with all data-storing software. It is used to provide the required insights to the leaders. So that they can take the relevant actions to increase their market values.
Microsoft E3 vs. E5 Comparison Based on Security
The E3 as well as the E5 plan are completely secured. Both are using multifactor authentication for data security.
However, after the E3 security features, there is an advancement in the security that is used in the E5 plan. The new security feature supports the customer lockbox and advanced eDiscovery as well.
Important Note:- We are discussing the difference between Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 plans. There are some key points.
- There are a similar set of core productivity apps in both the E3 and E5 plans.
- There are some better security features in E5 as compared to E3.
- E5 used its PowerBI for the data analysis process.
Some Add-ons in E3 and E5 Plans
Microsoft 365 offers distinct functionalities. There are also some additional features that can be added to your plan according to your needs. Some of these additional features are as follows.
- Audio Conferencing – There can be numerous cases when you need to connect with the Audio. You can use that feature in the Office 365 E5 Plan only. It is not supported in the E3 plan.
- Azure Information Protection – The Azure is used as the cloud for the Microsoft. It has having Azure protection system to keep the data secure.
- Calling Plan – It is available in the E5 plan only. It helps to send or receive calls for the Teams platform.
- Power Apps – It is available on both E3 and E5 plans. Due to this, you can make customized apps for the organization without coding.
- Power Automate – The users can automate their regular tasks with the help of Power Automate in the E3 and E5 plans.
- PowerBI Pro – Enable it for better data analysis from any database in the E5 plan.
- Online Project – Enable the online project and collaboration. Supports in both the plans E3 and E5.
- Stream – Streaming the video online securely. Add it to E3 and E5 plans.
- Yammer Enterprise – Social networking and collaboration for E3 and E5 plans.
Microsoft E3 vs. E5 Comparison Using the Microsoft Syntex
It is also an additional feature of Microsoft 365. It is an AI-based feature use in the Office 365 to automate the tasks. There are several features to compare Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 plans.
- It helps to reduce human effort and provides suggestions.
- You can use it to handle a large amount of data without any issues to generate better insights from it.
- This is used as a translator for the data.
- You can summarize the large document to get useful insights from it.
- Easily generate the templates, which saves a lot of time while doing any documentation work.
- Supports eSignature to sign the documents and send them to the clients and stakeholders.
Pricing – Microsoft E3 vs. E5
| Microsoft 365 Plans | Monthly Cost Per User |
|---|---|
| Enterprise E3 | $ 36.00 |
| Enterprise E5 | $ 57.00 |
The Microsoft 365 E3 plan costs $ 36.00 per user per month. The E5 plan costs $ 57.00 per user per month. As per the requirement you can choose any plan either it is E3 or E5.
Some Useful Insights of the E3 Plan
- Low cost per user.
- Full-fledged with the required Productive apps.
- Provides essential features for security.
- No need to maintain the on-premise server.
Some Useful Insights of the E5 Plan
- Include all productive apps for better efficiency.
- Supports all the AI features, that are using in the multi-tasks. It makes the user able to automate several tasks with efficiency or accuracy. This helps to compare Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 plans.
- The better security features, to protect the data from upcoming threats.
- The Voice and Audio Conferencing is there to collaborate easily. You can join with the help of a Phone.
Advanced AI and Analytics Feature
Microsoft 365 has analytics and AI tools in the E5 plan which are not available in the E3 plan. It allows the users to make decisions based on the data. E5 also offers AI capabilities such as workplace analytics and MyAnalytics that give insights for the productivity in the organsisation. these features can prove to be beneficial to the productivity of the team and helps you achieve the business objectives in an efficient way.
Calculating the True Cost in Microsoft E3 vs. E5
When we compare the pricing of Microsoft E3 and the pricing of Microsoft E5 plans, it is important that you consider the total cost of owning the plan. This not only includes the subscription fees, but also the implementation costs such as:
- The added security measures needed.
- The training of the users.
- Support required for these plans.
In some cases, the tools in the E5 plan and also the additional features can lead to a lot of savings by reducing the requirement of third party security or the need to streamline the processes of the business.
Conclusion
Choosing Microsoft E3 vs. E5 plans is difficult because both are powerful plans for the Organization. However, they can find the difference between Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 in terms of productive apps, data security, data analysis, audio/video conferencing, and many more. The best plan among both will depend on your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I upgrade the E3 plan to E5 plan at any time?
Yes, you can upgrade from the E3 plan to the E5 plan. To upgrade, you will have to purchase the needed number of E5 licenses. After getting the licences, you can assign these licenses to the users which will allow them to get access to the advanced features of E5.
- Is there any discounts for non-profit or educational institutes?
Microsoft offers a discounted pricing for non profit and educational institutions. You can find more about these discounts on their non profit and education program pages.
- Can I mix and match my licenses?
Yes, you can mix and match your licenses within your organisation. This allows you to assign the appropriate plan to the right user according to their needs and roles. This will ensure that you pay only for the features that a user needs.