Does my Microsoft 365 plan include Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is available in a Paid and Free model. Most Microsoft 365 for business plans and some Microsoft 365 for enterprise plans, include the Microsoft Teams paid version. However, the Microsoft 365 for home plan (Family and Personal) does not include Microsoft Teams (paid).

Important: Since April 1st, 2024, Microsoft Teams is offered as a separate product alongside the core Microsoft 365 for enterprise suite. This means you can choose to purchase them together or Teams on its own. Below are the products included without modifications. Subscriptions to Microsoft 365 for enterprise plans purchased before April 1, 2024, likely included Teams and will continue to do so.

What is Microsoft Teams Essentials?

Microsoft Teams Essentials is a standalone subscription specifically designed for small businesses. It essentially offers a subset of the full Microsoft Teams experience, focusing on the core functionalities needed for communication and collaboration within a small team.

Here’s a breakdown of what Microsoft Teams Essentials offers:

• Meetings: Host professional video meetings with features like meeting lobbies, virtual backgrounds, live captions, and integrations with your calendar (Outlook or Google Calendar).
• Chat: Communicate and collaborate with colleagues through instant messaging.
• File sharing: Share and co-author documents within your team.
• Security: Encrypted communication and data storage to keep your conversations and files secure.
• Affordability: Offered at a fixed monthly rate per user, making it a budget-friendly option for small businesses.

However, there are some limitations compared to the full Microsoft Teams included in some Microsoft 365 plans:

• Limited storage: Compared to some Microsoft 365 plans, Teams Essentials may have less cloud storage available.
• Fewer integrations: You might not be able to integrate as many third-party apps as with the full Teams version.
• No advanced features: Features like breakout rooms, webinars, and advanced analytics are likely not available in Teams Essentials.

Overall, Microsoft Teams Essentials is a good option for small businesses that need a secure and easy-to-use platform for communication and collaboration without the need for the full suite of features offered in some Microsoft 365 plans.

What is Microsoft Teams (free)?

Users without Microsoft Teams (paid), can download and use Microsoft Teams (free). It’s important to note that Microsoft Teams (free) comes with limitations in meetings lengths, storage, collaboration features, and other features. To learn about the limitations of Microsoft Teams Free, please visit Differences between Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Teams free.

To learn how to sign-up for Microsoft Teams (free), please visit Is Microsoft Teams free? How do I download Microsoft Teams for free?

Get Started with Microsoft 365 Today!

Contact TCSP today to learn more about Microsoft 365 for business and how it can transform your business operations. Call us at (203) 653-4643 or email us to discuss your requirements.