Choosing the right Microsoft 365 licence is one of the most important strategic decisions for Swiss enterprises. The wrong choice can cost six figures a year – or block essential compliance capabilities. This comparison helps Swiss SMBs and large enterprises pick the right plan in 2026.
The four main plans at a glance
| Plan | Target | Price (CHF/user/month) | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Standard | SMBs | ~13 | 300 users |
| Business Premium | SMBs with security/compliance needs | ~22 | 300 users |
| Enterprise E3 | Large enterprises | ~37 | unlimited |
| Enterprise E5 | Highest compliance bar | ~60 | unlimited |
In addition, Frontline licences (F1/F3) target users without dedicated workstations – ideal for shift work, retail and manufacturing. F1/F3 typically save 30–50 % of licence cost in Swiss retail, hospitality and industrial sectors.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
Standard is the entry plan with full Office apps, Teams, Exchange (50 GB), OneDrive (1 TB) and SharePoint Online. Ideal for Swiss SMBs up to 300 users that need solid Modern Workplace features without advanced security/compliance.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Premium adds Microsoft Defender for Business, Intune, Azure AD Premium P1 and Sensitivity Labels. For most Swiss SMBs, Business Premium is the 2026 sweet spot – the extra ~CHF 9 / user / month dramatically lowers risk.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3
E3 is mandatory above 300 users (Business plans cap there). It includes 100 GB mailboxes, unlimited OneDrive (>5 users), Microsoft Purview Information Protection P1, records management and litigation hold. The default plan for Swiss enterprises, often combined with Copilot or Teams Premium add-ons.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5
E5 targets highly regulated industries (banking, insurance, pharma, critical infrastructure). On top of E3 it adds Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, Purview Advanced (eDiscovery Premium, Insider Risk, Communication Compliance), Power BI Pro and audio conferencing. In Switzerland this is typical for banks (UBS, Raiffeisen, cantonal banks), pharma (Roche, Novartis) and cantonal administrations with strong compliance requirements.
Recommendations by company size
- Up to 50 users: Business Premium for everyone.
- 50–300 users: Business Premium as default, optionally F1/F3 for frontline.
- 300–1000 users: E3 baseline, E5 for risk/compliance personas, F1/F3 for frontline.
- >1000 users: Mix of E3, E5 and F licences with clear personas.
Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on
Microsoft 365 Copilot costs roughly CHF 30 / user / month in 2026 and can be added to Business Premium, E3 or E5. See Microsoft 365 Copilot rollout for Swiss enterprises.
Licence optimisation with CNEXT
CNEXT is a Microsoft Solutions Partner in Bern and runs structured licence assessments for Swiss enterprises:
- 1Inventory of current M365 licences (incl. add-ons)
- 2Persona-based needs analysis
- 3Optimisation recommendations with concrete savings
- 4Negotiation support with Microsoft / reseller
Typical savings in Swiss SMBs: 15–35 % of annual M365 licence cost.