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Microsoft 365 pricing Changes July 2026. What it means for your business

4 min read

Microsoft has announced pricing and packaging updates for selected Microsoft 365 commercial suites and standalone components, with pricing changes taking effect from 1 July 2026. Existing customers will stay on their current pricing until renewal.

For many organisations this is a good opportunity to review whether current licensing is still the right fit, whether users are on the right plans, and whether the business is getting full value from what it is already paying for.

What is changing?

From 1 July 2026, Microsoft is updating pricing across selected Microsoft 365 commercial suites and standalone components. Microsoft has said pricing may vary by country and currency, so local rates should be checked at renewal.

Alongside the pricing changes, Microsoft is also expanding what is included in a number of plans. The rollout begins in June 2026 and includes:

  • Copilot Chat enhancements across selected plans
  • Additional security capabilities for some Microsoft 365 licences
  • More Intune functionality for selected Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 plans
  • An additional 50GB of email storage for some Business plans

When will this affect your business?

For most organisations, this will not mean an immediate increase on 1 July.

If you are purchasing new licences after 1 July 2026, the updated pricing will apply from that point. If you are an existing customer, Microsoft says you will remain on your current pricing until your next renewal. Microsoft also says customers will receive at least 30 days’ notice in Message Center before packaging changes become available in their tenant.

That means there is still time to prepare.

Why this matters

Although price rises naturally get attention, the bigger issue for many businesses is whether their Microsoft licensing is properly aligned to how people actually work.

It is common to see organisations paying for licences that are underused, assigning higher-tier plans where they are not needed, or keeping third-party tools in place that now overlap with capabilities already included within Microsoft 365. When pricing moves up, those inefficiencies become more visible and more expensive.

That is why the months before renewal matter. They provide a chance to review what is in place, remove unnecessary spend, and make better use of the capabilities already included in the licensing estate. 

What businesses should review before renewal

Before your next renewal, it is worth taking a closer look at a few key areas:

  • Whether licences are still assigned to inactive users or leavers
  • Whether users are on the right plans for their role and requirements
  • Whether there are third-party tools that duplicate Microsoft capabilities
  • Whether built-in security, management and collaboration features are being fully used
  • Whether the current licensing setup still supports your wider business goals

In many cases, a careful review can help offset some of the impact of the upcoming price changes.

How BCN can help

Microsoft licensing types aren’t straightforward, especially as pricing, packaging and included capabilities continue to evolve.

 

As a leading Microsoft Partner, BCN supports organisations across the UK and internationally to review, optimise and manage their Microsoft 365 licensing with confidence.

 

Our experts work closely with businesses to:

  • Identify unnecessary licence spend and reduce wastage
  • Ensure users are on the right plans for how they work
  • Uncover overlapping tools and consolidate where possible
  • Help you adopt the features you are already paying for
  • Rather than simply absorbing price increases at renewal, BCN helps ensure your Microsoft investment is aligned to your business and delivering real value.

 

Our customers trust us to provide clear, practical guidance and long-term support, helping them maximise productivity, strengthen security and make smarter licensing decisions as Microsoft continues to evolve its platform.

 

Book your free Microsoft licensing review today and make sure you are ready ahead of your next renewal.

Gey your free Microsoft licence review.

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