From 1st July 2025, Microsoft is discontinuing its long-standing offer of 10 free Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences for eligible charities.
This change may affect how your non-profit manages email, files, and Microsoft Office apps like Word and Excel.
What’s Changing?
Currently, many charities benefit from up to 10 free Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences. After your next renewal date following 1 July 2025, these licences will no longer be available free of charge.
Instead, Microsoft is offering:
- Up to 300 free licences of Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
- A 75% discount on both Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium licences (that means just £2.50+VAT/month per user for Business Standard, and £4.50+VAT/month per user for Business Premium).
Which licence is right for your users?
| License | Key Features | Price for Charities |
|---|---|---|
| Business Basic | 50GB Email Account Teams 1TB OneDrive Web-based versions of Office apps (Word, Excel etc.) | Free (up to 300 users) |
| Business Standard | All Business Basic features plus downloadable Office apps for PC/Mac | £2.50+VAT/month per user |
| Business Premium | All Business Standard features plus advanced security and device management | £4.50+VAT/month per user |
If your users do not need the full desktop versions of Microsoft Office, Business Basic may be sufficient and remains free.
What should you do now?
If your charity is currently using free Business Premium licences, you’ll need to plan your transition before your next renewal date.
We’re here to help you choose the most cost-effective and suitable licence options based on how your team uses Microsoft 365.
📞 Book a quick call with Andrew to review your setup and explore the best options.
