Overview
Microsoft Teams comes in several tiers, from a free version to paid plans bundled with Microsoft 365. Each adds meeting length, participant limits, storage, and admin features. This guide summarizes the options so you can choose the right one.
Key Takeaways
- Teams has a free tier and several paid tiers.
- Paid plans raise meeting limits, storage, and management features.
- Essentials is a standalone paid plan without the full Office apps.
- Business Standard bundles Teams with the Microsoft 365 apps.
The Tiers at a Glance
- Free — basic chat and meetings with lower limits, good for personal or small use.
- Teams Essentials — an affordable standalone plan with longer meetings and more storage.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic — Teams plus web/mobile Office apps and business services.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard — adds the full desktop Office apps and more capabilities.
How to Choose
1. For casual personal use, the free tier may be enough.
2. For a small business wanting just Teams, choose Essentials.
3. If you also need Office apps and email, pick a Microsoft 365 Business plan.
4. Match participant, storage, and admin needs to the tier that covers them.
Note: Exact limits, features, and pricing change over time; check Microsoft’s official Teams pricing page for current details before purchasing.
Troubleshooting
Problem: Meetings end sooner than expected.
Solution: The free tier caps meeting length; upgrade to a paid tier for longer meetings.
Problem: You need the Office apps too.
Solution: Choose a Microsoft 365 Business plan rather than standalone Essentials.
Problem: You are unsure which tier you have.
Solution: Check your subscription in the Microsoft 365 admin center or your account page.
Problem: You hit storage limits.
Solution: Higher tiers include more storage; upgrade or manage existing files.
Conclusion
Teams scales from a capable free tier to full Microsoft 365 bundles. Pick Essentials for standalone Teams or a Business plan when you also need Office apps, and verify current details on Microsoft’s pricing page.
About TechHub
This guide is part of the TechHub Knowledge Base. For more step-by-step IT guides and support, visit techhub.com.lk.
