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Microsoft Licensing Update: How to Save on Microsoft 365 in 2026
Microsoft is introducing major changes to Microsoft 365 pricing and licensing in 2026.
3 min read
Nicole Walker
:
Updated on January 7, 2026
Microsoft is making a significant change to how Online Services are priced under the Enterprise Agreement (EA) and Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA).
Starting November 1, 2025, the longstanding volume-based discount tiers (Levels A, B, C, D) for Online Services will be removed. Instead, pricing will align with the public list price published on Microsoft.com.
This update affects commercial organizations worldwide, with exceptions for U.S. Government and Education price lists. On-premises software pricing is not impacted.
Microsoft’s stated goal is to simplify and standardize pricing across all purchasing channels. This “pricing consistency” approach is already in place for Azure and is now being extended to other Online Services.
For those who relied on EA’s three-year price lock, CSP now offers three-year subscription terms for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 (with or without Teams), Teams Enterprise, E5 Security, and E5 Compliance. Minimum seat counts and specific billing rules apply.
Yes. Automatic price level discounts for Online Services under EA and MPSA will be replaced by a single starting price aligned to Microsoft.com at renewal or when adding new services after November 1, 2025.
Industry estimates suggest increases of up to 12% for organizations previously on the highest discount tiers, but actual impact will vary by SKU and region.
No. On-premises software pricing is not impacted by this update.
Yes. CSP now matches EA and MPSA pricing for Online Services and offers additional flexibility, including three-year terms for core suites.
Yes. CSP offers three-year terms for Microsoft 365 E3/E5 (with or without Teams), Teams Enterprise, E5 Security, and E5 Compliance, subject to minimum seat requirements.
Microsoft adjusts cloud pricing semi-annually to align with USD benchmarks, which can affect local prices. Factor this into your regional planning.
Microsoft’s move to a single price for Online Services under EA and MPSA means organizations should baseline renewal budgets to the Microsoft.com list price and carefully evaluate whether to continue with EA or transition to CSP.
The introduction of three-year terms in CSP offers new options for price stability, but it’s essential to review your current agreements, model the impact, and optimize license usage before renewal.
If you have questions about how these changes affect your agreements or want to explore CSP as an alternative, our licensing experts are available to help. Reach out for personalized guidance or to discuss your options in detail.

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