Microsoft will launch a new, budget-friendly version of its productivity software package Microsoft 365 called Microsoft 365 Basic.
The plan will debut on January 30th and will be priced at $1.99 monthly or $19.99 annually.
It will offer 100 GB of storage, Outlook email, and access to support specialists for assistance with Microsoft 365 and Windows 11.
According to Microsoft, current OneDrive 100 GB subscribers will also be moved to the Microsoft 365 Basic plan starting on January 30th.
Additionally, Microsoft 365 Basic plan members will receive “advanced security features” such as ransomware recovery and password-protected sharing links in OneDrive in the upcoming months.
How about free-tier MS 365 and pricing?
It’s worth noting that Microsoft 365 Basic will not replace the existing free tier of Microsoft 365, which will continue to be available with the same perks, including access to web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, OneDrive, Clipchamp, and more, as well as 5 GB of cloud storage.
The Microsoft 365 Personal plan will also continue to be offered at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year.
In terms of pricing, Microsoft 365 Basic is more affordable than its competitors, such as Google Workspace’s Individual plan which starts at $9.99 per month for 1 TB of storage, professional support, and standard productivity software like Google Drive, Calendar, Meet, and Gmail.
It is also cheaper than Zoho’s Standard Workplace plan, which costs $3 per user per month when billed annually and offers a maximum of 10 GB of storage.
Office app will be replaced by Microsoft 365 app
Microsoft also announced the official release of the Microsoft 365 app, which replaces the Microsoft Office app with a new design and additional features.
As previously previewed during Microsoft’s Ignite conference, the Microsoft 365 app, which is now available on the web, provides easy access to apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as file templates, smart recommendations, to-do list functionality, and syncing across different devices.
Microsoft says the app will be available on Windows, Android, and iOS later this month.
