Microsoft 365 E3: Features, Pricing & Buying Guide (India)

Microsoft 365 E3 is Microsoft’s enterprise subscription that combines Office apps, Teams, email, device management, identity security, compliance tools and Windows Enterprise in one per-user licence.  

The Microsoft 365 E3 price in India is ₹3,245 per user/month with Teams, or ₹2,535 per user/month without Teams, on an annual commitment with GST extra (Microsoft list price, October 2026). 

This guide covers what the Microsoft 365 E3 licence includes, what it costs for organizations of different sizes, how it compares with Office 365 E3 and E5, and what to check before you buy. 

What is Microsoft 365 E3? 

Microsoft 365 E3 brings together four things that organizations would otherwise license separately: 

Microsoft 365 apps and collaboration services, Windows 11 Enterprise, Microsoft Intune for device management, and Microsoft Entra ID P1 for identity and access. It also adds Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Purview capabilities for security and compliance. 

Unlike Microsoft 365 Business plans, which are capped at 300 users, Microsoft 365 E3 has no user limit. That makes it the standard choice for growing and large organizations that want one platform for productivity, security and IT management. 

Who Should Consider Microsoft 365 E3? 

• Organizations with more than 300 users, or those expecting to cross that number soon 
• Companies with hybrid or remote teams that need secure access from any device 
• IT teams that want to manage Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices centrally 
• Businesses in regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare and IT/ITeS that need data loss prevention, retention and eDiscovery 
• Organizations standardizing on Windows 11 Enterprise across company-owned devices 

Microsoft 365 E3 Price in India 

Microsoft sells Microsoft 365 E3 in India in two versions: with Microsoft Teams and without it. Both are billed per user, on an annual commitment, with 18% GST added. 

Source: Microsoft 365 E3 India pricing, as of October 2026. Microsoft revises prices periodically, so confirm the current rate when you request a quote. 

With Teams or Without Teams? 

The two versions are identical except for Microsoft Teams. Choose Microsoft 365 E3 with Teams if your organization uses Teams for chat, meetings and calling. The no-Teams version suits organizations that already standardize on another meeting and chat platform and saves ₹710 per user every month. Teams can also be added later as a separate Microsoft Teams Enterprise licence if your needs change. 

What Affects your Total Microsoft 365 E3 Pricing 

• Number of users: cost scales directly with seats, so right-size licences to active users 
• Billing and commitment term: annual commitments carry the best per-user rate; ask your partner how monthly billing options are priced 
• Add-ons: Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams Phone, Teams Premium or advanced security add-ons are priced separately 
• Migration and deployment: moving mail, files and devices from another platform is a one-time services cost 
• Ongoing support: managed support and licence administration through a partner 

What’s Included in a Microsoft 365 E3 Licence 

Each Microsoft 365 E3 subscription covers apps, collaboration, security, device management and compliance for one user. 

Source: Microsoft 365 E3 plan details. 

The practical benefit is consolidation. Instead of buying a device management tool, an identity platform, endpoint protection, and Office licences from different vendors, IT manages them from one admin centre on one subscription. 

Is Microsoft 365 E3 worth it for a Company with 500 Employees? 

For most 500-employee organizations, yes. At this size Microsoft 365 Business plans cannot cover everyone, because they are capped at 300 users, and Microsoft 365 E3 delivers enterprise security and device management at a lower cost than buying those tools separately. 

Here is what 500 Microsoft 365 E3 licences cost at list price: 

What that budget covers for every one of the 500 users: 

• Office apps on up to 15 devices, business email and 1 TB+ of cloud storage 
• Intune device management and Windows 11 Enterprise for every company laptop 
• Entra ID P1 with multi-factor authentication and Conditional Access 
• Defender protection for email and endpoints 
• Purview data loss prevention, retention and eDiscovery 

Microsoft 365 E3 is the right fit at 500 users when your IT team manages company devices, needs consistent access policies across offices and remote staff, and has compliance obligations around customer or employee data. 

Two situations call for a closer look. If some employees work on shared devices or only need web and mobile apps (retail, manufacturing or field teams), Microsoft 365 F3 frontline licences for those users can lower the total cost. If you need advanced threat hunting, Power BI Pro for everyone or Teams Phone, compare Microsoft 365 E5, covered below. Many organizations use a mix of plans, and a licensing partner can model the right combination for your user groups. 

Microsoft 365 E3 vs Office 365 E3 Licence 

The names are similar, but these are different products. A Microsoft Office 365 E3 licence covers the productivity and collaboration layer: Office apps, Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive and core compliance tools. Microsoft 365 E3 includes all of that and adds Windows 11 Enterprise, Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra ID P1. 

Office 365 E3 can suit organizations that already have device management and identity tools in place. If you would otherwise buy Intune and Entra ID P1 separately, Microsoft 365 E3 is usually the simpler and more cost-effective choice. 

Microsoft E3 vs E5: When to Step up 

Most organizations find Microsoft 365 E3 sufficient for their productivity and security requirements. Microsoft 365 E5 lists at ₹4,990 per user/month (with Teams, without Audio Conferencing) and builds on E3 with: 

• Advanced threat protection: extended detection and response (XDR), identity threat protection and Microsoft Security Copilot 
• Advanced identity and access management 
• Advanced Purview compliance for higher data risk and regulation 
• Power BI Pro for every user 
• Teams Phone for calling outside the organization 

Consider E5 if you run a security operations team, operate in a heavily regulated sector, or would otherwise buy several of these as add-ons. For a full side-by-side comparison of Microsoft 365 enterprise plans, read our guide on choosing a Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan. 

Things to consider before buying a Microsoft 365 E3 Subscription 

Here are 5 major thing that you should know before: 

1. Count your users by role. Separate office staff, frontline workers and contractors. Not every user needs the same licence, and the right mix keeps costs in check. 
2. Decide on Teams. Confirm whether Teams will be your communication platform before choosing between the with-Teams and no-Teams versions. 
3. Map your security and compliance needs. List regulatory obligations and existing security tools to see whether E3 is enough or specific E5 capabilities are required. 
4. Review existing licences and contracts. Check renewal dates and current Microsoft or third-party agreements to avoid paying twice during the transition. 
5. Plan migration and adoption. Budget time for moving mailboxes and files, enrolling devices in Intune and training users, so the organization gets full value from day one. 

Why buy Microsoft 365 E3 through ZNetLive? 

Buying through ZNetLive gives you Microsoft 365 E3 with local billing and hands-on support for planning, deployment and day-to-day management. ZNetLive helps organizations: 

• Choose the right mix of Microsoft 365 plans for each user group 
• Get INR billing with GST invoices 
• Plan and run migrations from other email and collaboration platforms 
• Deploy and configure Intune, Entra ID and security policies 
• Optimize licence counts at renewal and as teams grow 
• Manage subscriptions and get ongoing technical support 

You can explore more Microsoft cloud guides on the ZNetLive blog. 

Conclusion 

Microsoft 365 E3 gives organizations one subscription for productivity, collaboration, device management, identity security and compliance, with no user cap. At ₹2,535 to ₹3,245 per user/month, it is the natural step up for businesses outgrowing Business plans and the core platform for most mid-sized and large enterprises in India. 

The best value comes from choosing the right version and licence mix for your teams. Talk to ZNetLive’s experts for a quote sized to your organization, along with migration and deployment support. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the Microsoft 365 E3 price in India? 

Microsoft lists Microsoft 365 E3 at ₹3,245 per user/month with Teams and ₹2,535 per user/month without Teams, paid yearly on an annual commitment. GST at 18% is extra. 

What is included in a Microsoft 365 E3 licence? 

Office desktop, web and mobile apps, Exchange Online email, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams (in the with-Teams version), Intune, Entra ID P1, Windows 11 Enterprise, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint (Plan 1), Purview compliance tools and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. 

Is Microsoft 365 E3 worth it for a company with 500 employees? 

Usually, yes. Business plans are capped at 300 users, and E3 bundles device management, identity security and compliance that a 500-person organization would otherwise buy separately. At list price, 500 users cost about ₹1.95 crore a year with Teams, before GST. 

Does Microsoft 365 E3 include Copilot? 

It includes Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. The full Microsoft 365 Copilot experience inside apps such as Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams is a separate paid add-on. 

Is Microsoft 365 E3 suitable for small businesses? 

Organizations with fewer than 300 users usually start with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which offers similar security and device management at a lower price. Microsoft 365 E3 makes sense for smaller organizations that need Windows Enterprise, stronger compliance tools or expect to grow beyond 300 users. 

Should I choose Microsoft 365 E3 or E5? 

Choose E3 if you need strong productivity, security, device management, and compliance. Choose E5 if you need advanced threat protection, advanced compliance, Power BI Pro or Teams Phone for all users.