Microsoft 365 business plans in Canada are priced in Canadian dollars, with significant differences between tiers. Choosing the wrong plan means paying for features you do not need or missing critical security tools that would cost far more to add separately. Here is the current breakdown and the honest recommendation for most Northern BC businesses.
Prices are approximate CAD and are updated periodically by Microsoft. North Star can confirm current pricing and any promotions at time of purchase.
All plans are per user per month, billed annually. Month-to-month billing is available at a higher rate (approximately 20% more).
Business Basic: For businesses where staff work primarily in a browser and do not need installed Word/Excel/PowerPoint. Good for light users, reception, or warehouse roles.
Apps for Business: If you need installed Office apps but have email handled elsewhere (rare scenario). Most businesses should skip this tier.
Business Standard: The minimum for a full-featured office environment. Good for businesses that do not need advanced security features and are not in regulated industries.
Business Premium: The recommended default for most Northern BC SMBs. The additional cost over Standard pays for:
If you are comparing Standard + a third-party EDR + an MDM solution, Business Premium almost always comes out cheaper.
Microsoft 365 offers a 30-day free trial for business plans. Office on the Web (free, no sign-up) gives basic browser-based Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without email, OneDrive storage, or Teams.
For registered non-profit organisations, Microsoft 365 Business Basic is available at no cost (up to 300 licences), and other plans are available at significant discounts. North Star can help verify eligibility.
Yes. Microsoft 365 licences are per user, so you can assign Business Premium to staff who need security tools and Business Basic to light users. North Star designs mixed licence models to balance cost and coverage.
How much is Microsoft 365 Business Premium in Canada? Approximately $31 CAD per user per month on annual commitment. This is significantly less than building the equivalent stack from separate products.
Can I switch plans without migrating data? Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade a user's licence in the admin centre. Features activate or deactivate immediately; data is preserved.
Does Microsoft 365 include antivirus? Business Premium includes Microsoft Defender for Business, which is a full EDR, not just antivirus. Basic and Standard plans do not include EDR.
Is Microsoft 365 pricing in USD or CAD for Canadian tenants? Microsoft bills Canadian tenants in CAD. Prices are set by Microsoft and updated periodically.
Can North Star IT get us a discount on Microsoft 365? North Star is a Microsoft partner and sources licences competitively across all Microsoft 365 SKUs, including non-profit and academic pricing where eligible.
Need help choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan for your team? Call 672-983-1174 or book a free licensing review at northstarit.ca.
Quick answers.
How much is Microsoft 365 Business Basic in Canada?
Around 7.50 Canadian dollars per user per month. Includes Exchange Online, OneDrive, Teams, and web versions of Office apps. Suitable for staff who do not need installed Office.
How much is Microsoft 365 Business Standard?
Around 17 Canadian dollars per user per month. Adds installed Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) on up to five devices per user.
How much is Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Around 30 Canadian dollars per user per month. Adds Intune device management, Defender for Business EDR, and Entra ID Plan 1 with conditional access.
Is there a free Microsoft 365 plan?
Microsoft 365 has a 30 day trial. Office for the Web (free) gives you basic web apps without email or cloud storage.
Can Northstar IT get us a discount?
North Star is a Microsoft partner and can quote competitively across all SKUs, including non-profit and academic pricing where eligible.
Have a specific situation in mind?
Book a free 30-minute scoping call with a Northstar IT engineer. We will walk through your environment, your questions, and what good looks like for your team.
Get a Free Assessment More guides