What Is the Difference Between a Personal and a Business Microsoft Account?
Are you considering signing up for Microsoft 365 but unsure which account type to choose? Many potential subscribers wonder what the difference between a personal and a business Microsoft account might be and how they can be effectively used.
A Microsoft account is a single sign-in account that allows you to access Microsoft 365 services and products. Statista reports that Microsoft Office 365 is used by over a million companies globally, with 145,844 users in the United States alone using the suite.
With this large user base, it has become essential for you to understand the difference between personal and business Microsoft 365 accounts so that you get the best out of your subscription.
While both the personal and business versions of the Suite share similarities, significant differences must be noted to utilize it for the right course adequately. This article will explore the vital differences between Personal and Business Microsoft 365 accounts. At the end of your read, you can make informed decisions on the account you should subscribe to.
What Is a Personal Microsoft 365 Account?
The personal Microsoft account, as its name implies, is designed for individuals who want to use the suite’s applications and services for personal use. It is primarily used for personal productivity, communication, and collaboration.
The account is available in different subscription plans like Microsoft 365 Family, which allows up to six people, and Microsoft 365 Personal, designed for a single user.
What Is a Business Microsoft Account?
The Business Microsoft account is designed to provide businesses and organizations with suites of applications for business productivity, communication, and collaboration. It has additional features and benefits catering to business needs, including SharePoint, Teams, and Exchange.
Business plans are available in four subscription plans, which are:
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic
- Microsoft 365 Apps for business
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Personal Microsoft Account Versus Business Microsoft Account.
Though they provide similar services, the two accounts have key differences in features, administration, support, regulations, etc. The key differences are explained below:
Differences in Features
One primary difference between the two accounts is the features they offer. The personal account provides basic features that cater to individual needs, such as creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
The Business account, on the other hand, provides advanced features and tools that cater to business operations like advanced security and device management, email hosting, and collaboration tools like SharePoint and Teams
Differences in User Management
Personal Microsoft accounts are managed by individual users/owners, while Business Microsoft accounts offer powerful user management that allows administrators to manage user access, add or remove users, assign roles and permissions, and manage licenses and subscriptions. Business accounts are typically managed by a company’s IT department or their outsourced IT service provider. One important tip for business that manage their own Microsoft business accounts: make sure that the admin user is not the same account that is used for day-to-day operations and email as that can have serious security implications.
Differences in Support
Personal Microsoft accounts come with basic support available through online resources such as the Microsoft Support website. In contrast, Business accounts come with more advanced and dedicated service support available 24/7. The business supports include phone and email support, and access to Microsoft experts and engineers
Differences in Storage
Personal Microsoft 365 accounts have limited cloud storage for personal files and documents. For example, Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans offer 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user (6TB storage capacity for Microsoft 365 Family).
Business Microsoft 365 accounts, however, come with significantly more storage and additional data backup and recovery options. For instance, the account allows more users and provides each user 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage each, unlimited email storage, and additional backup and recovery features.
Differences in Compliance and Regulation
The business accounts have many compliance and regulation features that cater to specific industry requirements and government regulations.
These features include advanced security and data loss protection, insider risk management, data lifecycle management, etc. Personal Microsoft 365 accounts do not come with these features, as they are not intended for use in regulated industries or businesses.
Which Account Should You Choose?
When choosing between a personal and business Microsoft 365 account, you must carefully evaluate your needs and goals. Consider the number of users, collaboration needs, compliance requirements, etc.
If you are a user who needs a basic productivity tool like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, a personal account would be the right choice, it is cheaper and easier to use. On the other hand, if you run a business and need advanced features, a business account is likely the best choice. For example, you need to have a Microsoft Business account to use email that is attached to your business website domain.
Get Microsoft 365 Help from Skyline IT Management
By knowing the difference between personal and business Microsoft accounts, you can confidently decide which is right for you in terms of productivity.
Skyline IT Management can help you get the most out of your subscription on whichever account you choose. We offer support and guidance for individuals and businesses looking to leverage the power of Microsoft 365, including management services, setup, and network services. Book a Call.
