Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, what does my SMB actually need?
E3 covers the basics (Office, Exchange, Intune, Entra P1, baseline security). E5 adds Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, Defender for Office Plan 2, Entra ID P2, Purview compliance, and Power BI Pro. For most SMBs, E3 plus targeted add-ons is cheaper than E5.
Try this first
- 1List the E5 features you would actually use. Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 and advanced audit logs are the two SMBs most often genuinely want.
- 2Compare E3 + Defender for Endpoint P2 add-on price with E5 price (Microsoft publishes both; numbers vary by region and currency).
- 3Under 300 staff, also compare with Business Premium plus targeted add-ons. Below that threshold, Business Premium is usually meaningfully cheaper than Enterprise.
- 4Do not count sticker price only: do you need Power BI Pro for everyone or only a handful? For a handful, buy standalone Pro on E3.
When to bring us in
Compliance requirements (NIS2, ISO 27001, NEN 7510) can make specific E5 modules feel obligatory. We help scope before you sign a multi-year contract.
See also
- What does Managed IT actually cost for a 10-person SMBNo fixed number, but an honest breakdown. A full package for ten people is not 50 euros a month and not 5000 either.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard versus Premium, what is extraThe price jump is real but Premium does not add Word features. It adds security and device management.
- Microsoft announces another price hike, what do I doSince NCE Microsoft adjusts pricing structurally. Without action you renew at the new price for a full year.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.