About This Article
This article was generated using an automated workflow leveraging generative AI. Based on official Microsoft information for business plans in Japan, Business Basic and Business Standard have been evaluated against practical business decisions regarding whether the desktop version of Office is required.
Verification Status: 📘 Microsoft Official Information Verified / Contract Devices Not Physically Tested
The major dividing line between Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Business Standard is:Whether you need to install and use the desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook on your PC.If your work centers around email, 1 TB of cloud storage, and the web or mobile versions of Office, Basic is the way to go; if you need the desktop version of Office on your PC, it is easier to start by considering Standard.
First, Evaluate Using Three Fictional Users
Let's put the following checks into a table.
| User | Desktop Excel | Outlook Desktop | Web-Centric |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Not Required | Not Required | Yes |
| B | Required | Required | No |
| C | Not Required | Required | No |
What we are looking at here is not whether everyone needs a higher-tier plan, but:Whose job requirements necessitate desktop applications.If it is only user A, Basic may suffice. If the requirements for B and C are mandatory, look into Standard.
Let's Change One Variable
Even if you change B's requirement for "Desktop Excel" to not required, if Outlook Desktop is still mandatory, the choice remains on the Standard side. In other words, breaking down requirements one by one rather than focusing on product names makes it easier to explain the reasoning behind your selection.
Do Not Decide Based on Price Alone
Microsoft's business plans are structured for up to 300 users. Because prices, the inclusion of Teams, and promotional campaigns are subject to change, please recheck the official Japanese product pages at the time of quotation. More importantly, it is critical to avoid backtracking scenarios where you choose Basic thinking the web version would suffice, only to realize later that the desktop version was needed due to existing macros, add-ins, or offline work.
For Professional Use
When IT or general affairs departments create a comparison table, rather than copying a feature list wholesale, recording whether each user requires "Desktop Office," "Email," "Teams," "1 TB Storage," and "Existing Macros/Add-ins" using checkmarks makes it easier to document the rationale for your license selection.
