Nikoo Samadi
Microsoft rebranded Office 365 to Microsoft 365, but many organizations still may confuse the names. This has created ongoing confusion about whether the platforms are different products, updated versions, or simply renamed services.
Understanding the difference between Microsoft 365 vs Office 365 is important for businesses evaluating licensing, security capabilities, and long-term IT strategy. While both include familiar productivity applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, Microsoft 365 expands the offering to include advanced security, identity management, and device management capabilities.
In this guide, we explain what changed, what stayed the same, and which option is most appropriate for modern organizations.
What Was Office 365?
Microsoft’s first cloud-based subscription for business productivity was called Office 365. It replaced an ongoing subscription model for one-time Office licenses. Organizations could use Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure to access services rather than setting up on-premises servers and installing software on local computers. Microsoft managed platform service, availability, and updates. Version control was made simpler and the internal IT workload was decreased.
Office 365 business plans consist of
- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Outlook with Exchange Online
- SharePoint Online
- OneDrive for Business
- Microsoft Teams
Organizations had the ability to centralize document management and communication thanks to these tools. Workers could use hosted email, access files remotely, and collaborate in real time without having to manage their own servers. Users were guaranteed to always have the most recent versions of the applications thanks to automatic updates.
Office 365’s main goals were teamwork and productivity. It aided businesses in supporting remote work settings and shifting workloads to the cloud. It did not, however, market itself as a platform for complete security or device management. In contrast to what subsequently became available under Microsoft 365, advanced endpoint protection, identity governance, and compliance management were restricted.
When comparing Office 365 and Microsoft 365, it is necessary to understand this foundation. Office 365 updated Office programs, but it didn’t go far enough in enterprise security and IT governance. Today, Microsoft 365 is defined by that expansion.
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What Is Microsoft 365?
Based on Office 365, Microsoft 365 is an improved cloud platform. It adds device management, identity management, and security features along with the same productivity apps. This wider reach was reflected in the rebranding from Office 365 to Microsoft 365. Microsoft changed the platform from a suite of productivity tools to a more comprehensive business environment. This shift is necessary to understand the concept of Microsoft 365 vs Office 365.
Microsoft 365 includes everything that was part of Office 365, such as
- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Outlook with Exchange Online
- SharePoint Online
- OneDrive for Business
- Microsoft Teams
In addition to these services, Microsoft 365 adds:
- Advanced security features
- Endpoint protection
- Mobile device management
- Identity and access management
- Compliance and governance tools
Organizations can manage users, devices, and data from a single platform thanks to these extra features. IT teams are able to control access across environments, implement multi-factor authentication, and enforce security policies. Endpoint security and device compliance guidelines lower risk in remote and hybrid work models. Under Office 365, this more comprehensive management layer did not exist in the same manner.
The main difference between Office 365 and Microsoft 365 is scope. Office 365 prioritized teamwork and productivity. Microsoft 365 integrates IT governance, security, and compliance with productivity. It is made to help modern companies that need organized control over users and devices in addition to collaboration tools.
Microsoft 365 vs Office 365: Key Differences
The difference of services offered in the concept of Microsoft 365 vs Office 365 is noticeable. Office 365 is centered around tools for collaboration and productivity. These same tools are included in Microsoft 365, which also offers advanced compliance features, device management, and security.
In terms of apps, Office 365 cannot be replaced by Microsoft 365. Building upon Office 365 services, it is a broader set. Today, Microsoft 365 is the more complete choice in the majority of business scenarios.
A direct comparison can be found below.
There are still Office 365 plans available, including Office 365 E1, E3, and E5. These plans provide productivity services and some security capabilities. But they do not include device management tools like Microsoft Intune. Only if they are bundled under Microsoft 365.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans combine:
- Office 365 services
- Windows licensing (in some enterprise plans)
- Microsoft Intune
- Microsoft Defender
- Advanced identity and compliance features
The security and device control come from the Microsoft 365 vs Office 365 decision.
Organizations that just need tools to get work done may still pick Office 365 plans, while the ones that need to manage all devices from one place and have stronger security controls usually go for Microsoft 365.
This difference is important for IT leaders to know so they can match the licenses with their security plans and what they need to run smoothly.
Why Did Microsoft Change the Name?
Microsoft changed the Office 365 name to Microsoft 365 in 2020. The goal was to show that Microsoft 365 is more than a set of productivity tools. It now includes security, device management, and identity tools that go beyond the Office software.
The new name helps show that Microsoft 365 has grown. Back then Office 365 was a set of applications, but Microsoft 365 is a full cloud ecosystem.
The name change also helps avoid confusion between buying Office software and subscribing to Microsoft 365. Some customers thought “Office” only meant Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. But now Microsoft 365 includes extra services like collaboration, security, and compliance.
The change was mostly a rebranding and packaging update. The core applications, like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, are still there. What changed was how Microsoft grouped and positioned Microsoft 365 services. Microsoft 365 is now a platform that includes all these services.
Under the new structure:
- Most Office 365 Business plans were renamed to Microsoft 365 Business
- Consumer Office 365 plans became Microsoft 365 Personal and Family
- Enterprise Office 365 plans such as E1, E3, and E5 continued under the Office 365 name
Office 365 is still available in some enterprise licensing models, but Microsoft 365 is the primary brand. When we talk about Microsoft 365 vs Office 365, it is about having a plan for how all these tools work without creating confusion for new users.
Is Office 365 Still Available?
Yes, Office 365 is still available, and it has been rebranded, and now it is called Microsoft 365.
Today, plans such as Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, and Office 365 E5 still exist under the same brand name. If you are looking for Office 365 Personal or Home, they are now called Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family.
The Office 365 Business plans were rebranded. What was previously Office 365 Business Premium is now Microsoft 365 Business Premium. These newer Microsoft 365 plans combine productivity tools with security and device management features.
The difference can create confusion when comparing Microsoft 365 vs Office 365. In practice, many organizations use Microsoft 365 even if they still refer to it as Office 365 internally.
Final Thoughts
Understanding Microsoft 365 vs Office 365 is necessary when reviewing your organization’s cloud strategy. While both include the same core productivity applications, the scope of each offering is different. Office 365 focuses on collaboration tools and cloud-based Office services. Microsoft 365 builds on that foundation by adding security, device management, and compliance capabilities.
For organizations that only require email, file sharing, and Office applications, certain Office 365 enterprise plans may still meet their needs. However, most modern businesses require stronger identity control, endpoint protection, and centralized device management. In those cases, Microsoft 365 provides a more complete solution.
The name change from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 reflects this broader direction. Microsoft shifted from offering cloud productivity alone to delivering an integrated environment for managing users, devices, and data. The difference is not about replacing Office applications. It is about expanding governance and security within the same ecosystem.
When evaluating Microsoft 365 vs Office 365, the decision should align with your security requirements, compliance obligations, and IT management model. Reviewing the specific license features is more important than focusing only on branding. The right choice depends on how much control and protection your organization requires.
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