Business Premium vs E3: the short answer
Choose Microsoft 365 Business Premium if you have 300 users or fewer: it already includes desktop Office, Intune device management, Defender and Purview data protection at a lower price per user. Choose Microsoft 365 E3 if you have more than 300 users, or you need Windows 11 Enterprise, Exchange Plan 2 and more than 1 TB of cloud storage per user.
For most Kenyan SMEs, NGOs, schools, clinics and law firms under 300 staff, Business Premium is enough. E3 earns its place in organisations that are past 300 users or heading there, and in IT teams that standardise on Windows Enterprise across their PCs.
| Plan | Priori price (KES) | Priori price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | KES 2,717 | USD 20.90 |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | KES 4,817 | USD 37.05 |
| Microsoft 365 E3 (no Teams) | KES 3,761 | USD 28.93 |
Per user per month, annual commitment. Excludes VAT (16%). Converted at KES 130 to the US dollar. Prices checked 3 October 2026.
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Prices are per user per month on an annual commitment, excluding VAT, and 5% below the standard price. Microsoft 365 E3 (no Teams) is the same plan without Microsoft Teams, for organisations that license Microsoft Teams Enterprise separately. Compare every plan on our Microsoft 365 pricing page in KES, or see how ordering and invoicing work on buying Microsoft 365 in Kenya.
Business Premium vs Microsoft 365 E3, feature by feature
The real differences are the user cap, the Windows edition, the Exchange and SharePoint plans and the device protection product. On mailbox size, device management and email protection, the two plans match.
| Feature | Business Premium | Microsoft 365 E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum users | 300 | No limit |
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook | Desktop, web and mobile | Desktop, web and mobile |
| Business email | Exchange Plan 1 | Exchange Plan 2 |
| Mailbox size | 100 GB primary, 1.5 TB archive | 100 GB primary, 1.5 TB archive |
| Cloud storage | 1 TB per user | 1 to 5+ TB per user (SharePoint Plan 2) |
| Microsoft Teams | Chat, calls, meetings and webinars | Chat, calls, meetings and webinars (or E3 no Teams) |
| Windows | Windows 11 Pro upgrade | Windows 11 Enterprise E3 |
| Device management | Intune Plan 1 | Intune Plan 1 |
| Identity and access | Advanced, policy-based Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Entra ID Plan 1 |
| Device protection | Microsoft Defender for Business | Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 |
| Email threat protection | Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 | Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 |
| Information protection | Purview Information Protection Plan 1 | Purview Information Protection Plan 1 |
| Audit | Purview Audit Standard | Purview Audit Standard |
| eDiscovery | Not listed for this plan | eDiscovery Standard |
| Copilot Chat | Included | Included |
Mailbox size is a common reason people look at E3, but on paper the sizes match: both plans give each user a 100 GB mailbox and a 1.5 TB archive. The difference is that E3 runs on Exchange Plan 2 and Business Premium on Exchange Plan 1. Microsoft’s comparison describes Business Premium’s identity tier as advanced, policy-based Microsoft Entra ID without naming the plan, while E3 is listed as Entra ID Plan 1. Features are as Microsoft lists them for each plan, checked on 3 October 2026.
Which plan fits your organisation?
The deciding questions are how many people you license and whether your IT team needs the enterprise extras.
Choose Business Premium if…
- You have 300 users or fewer and don’t expect to pass 300 soon.
- Windows 11 Pro is fine for your PCs.
- 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user covers your files.
- You want Intune, Defender and data loss prevention for email and files without paying for enterprise extras you won’t use.
Choose Microsoft 365 E3 if…
- You have, or will soon have, more than 300 users.
- Your IT team standardises on Windows 11 Enterprise.
- Some users need more than 1 TB of cloud storage; E3 lists 1 to 5+ TB per user.
- You want Exchange Plan 2, eDiscovery Standard and Defender for Endpoint Plan 1.
What Business Premium leaves out
Compared with E3, Business Premium leaves out unlimited seats, Windows 11 Enterprise E3, Exchange Plan 2, SharePoint Plan 2 storage beyond 1 TB and eDiscovery Standard.
- The 300-user cap. Business Premium is for organisations of up to 300 users. E3 has no user limit.
- Windows Enterprise. Premium includes a Windows 11 Pro upgrade; E3 includes Windows 11 Enterprise E3.
- Exchange and SharePoint plans. E3 runs on Exchange Plan 2 and SharePoint Plan 2, with 1 to 5+ TB of cloud storage per user.
- Endpoint and eDiscovery. E3 uses Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 for devices and adds eDiscovery Standard.
Where Business Premium is enough
Business Premium matches E3 on much of what protects your data day to day. Both give each user the same 100 GB mailbox and 1.5 TB archive, Intune Plan 1, Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, Purview Information Protection Plan 1, Purview Audit Standard and Copilot Chat. Premium also lists data loss prevention for email and files, and with audit logs and sensitivity labels it gives you controls that help you meet the Data Protection Act 2019; compliance also needs your own policies and processes. If none of E3’s extras would change how your organisation works, Business Premium is the better use of your budget. Read more on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, or see whether Business Premium is worth it over Business Standard.
Comparing Business Premium vs E3 vs E5? Microsoft 365 E5 is the step up in security, not E3. It adds Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, Defender for Identity, Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2, Purview Insider Risk Management, Power BI Pro and Teams Phone. Our Microsoft 365 E3 vs E5 comparison sets out the difference between those two licences.
Growing past 300 users
Plan your move to an enterprise plan before you reach 300 users, because Business Premium stops there. A Kenyan logistics firm, SACCO or university that adds branches or staff each year can hit the cap sooner than expected, and a licence change is easier to plan than to rush.
Two Microsoft rules shape the move. First, the 300-user cap counts across all your Business plans together, so Business Basic and Standard users use up Premium headroom too. Second, Microsoft allows Enterprise, Business and standalone plans to be combined in one account (Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plan options, Microsoft Learn, checked 4 October 2026). So you can keep up to 300 staff on Business Premium and license everyone above that on E3, or move everyone at once.
Which path is better depends on your renewal date and on whether you want one set of policies for everyone. We check both for your case and recommend the path that keeps your security settings in place. For the full range of larger-organisation plans, see Microsoft 365 for enterprise.
Already on E3 with fewer than 300 users?
Check whether you still use what E3 adds. If nobody relies on Windows 11 Enterprise, more than 1 TB of storage or eDiscovery Standard, Business Premium may give similar day-to-day protection for less. Moving to a plan with fewer services needs care, because Microsoft asks you to back up data tied to services you drop before you change (Microsoft Learn, checked 4 October 2026), so we plan it with you ahead of your renewal.
How Priori helps you decide and set up
We start from your headcount, growth plans and IT setup, and only recommend E3 where it changes something for you. Then we stay with you to make sure every feature you pay for is switched on.
- Licence review. We look at your user count, expected growth, devices, storage use and current security tools.
- Recommendation in KES. You get a plan recommendation priced in KES or USD, with the reasons in plain terms.
- Security and device setup. We configure Intune, Defender, conditional access and Purview labels, so the protection you pay for works. Microsoft 365 security.
- Migration. We move email and files from Google Workspace, Zimbra, cPanel or another tenant. How Microsoft 365 migration works.
- Training and support. Staff training, then our Nairobi team stays on hand for changes, new starters and renewals. Training and advisory.
Questions
Business Premium vs E3 questions
Price, the user cap, mailbox size and security: what E3 adds over Business Premium.
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How much is Business Premium vs E3 in Kenya?
Through Priori, Business Premium is KES 2,717 (USD 20.90) and Microsoft 365 E3 is KES 4,817 (USD 37.05) per user per month on an annual commitment, excluding VAT.
E3 (no Teams) is KES 3,761. All are 5% below the standard price. See the Microsoft 365 pricing page for every plan.
What do you set up when we choose Business Premium or E3?
We configure Intune device policies, Defender, conditional access and Purview labels, so the security you pay for works from day one.
We also move email and files from your current system and train your staff. How migration works.
Is Microsoft 365 E3 more secure than Business Premium?
Their security is broadly similar: both include Intune Plan 1, Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 and Purview Information Protection Plan 1.
For devices, E3 uses Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 and Business Premium uses Defender for Business. For a clear step up in security, look at E5. Microsoft 365 E5.
What happens when we pass 300 users on Business Premium?
Business Premium is for up to 300 users, so beyond that you need an enterprise plan such as Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, which have no user limit.
We help you plan the change ahead of your renewal. Microsoft 365 E3.
Does E3 have a bigger mailbox than Business Premium?
No, both give each user a 100 GB mailbox and a 1.5 TB archive.
E3 runs on Exchange Plan 2 and Business Premium on Exchange Plan 1. E3 does offer more cloud storage: 1 to 5+ TB per user against 1 TB. Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium the same as E5?
No, Business Premium is a business plan for up to 300 users, while Microsoft 365 E5 is Microsoft’s top enterprise plan with no user limit.
E5 adds Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, Entra ID Plan 2, advanced Purview compliance, Power BI Pro and Teams Phone. E3 sits between the two. Microsoft 365 E5.
What are E1, E2 and E3 in Office 365?
They are enterprise plan tiers: Microsoft currently lists Office 365 E1, E3 and E5, and there is no E2 on its pricing pages today.
Office 365 E1 gives web and mobile apps with basic security; Office 365 E3 adds the desktop apps. Neither includes Windows, Intune or Defender for devices, which Business Premium does. Office 365 E3 vs Microsoft 365 E3.
What is Microsoft 365 E3 (no Teams)?
It is the same plan as Microsoft 365 E3 without Microsoft Teams included.
It suits organisations that license Teams separately. Microsoft Teams Enterprise.
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