# Exchange Online (Plan 2) > Standalone Microsoft-hosted business email for organizations that need larger mailboxes, online archiving, and mailbox-level Exchange features without buying a full Microsoft 365 suite. Canonical: https://o365hq.com/subscriptions/exchange-online-plan-2 Provider: IT Partner LLC — US Microsoft partner since 2006. Book: https://o365hq.com/book ## Pricing (CSP / NCE, per seat per month unless noted) | Segment | Term · Billing | Invoice per cycle | Monthly equivalent | vs annual-upfront | |---|---|---|---|---| | Commercial | 1-year · Annual | $96 | $8/mo | +0.0% | | Commercial | 1-year · Monthly | $8.40 | $8.40/mo | +5.0% | | Commercial | Monthly · Monthly | $9.60 | $9.60/mo | +20.0% | Prices are Microsoft ERP (estimated retail) — the same price as buying direct; IT Partner adds advisory and support on top. Last price sync: 2026-10-01. Exchange Online (Plan 2) gives a user a cloud-hosted Exchange mailbox with business email, calendaring, online archiving, and mailbox-level litigation hold capabilities, but it does not include Office desktop apps, Teams, SharePoint, or OneDrive as part of a suite. ## What's included - Hosted Exchange Online mailbox for business email - Outlook on the web; Outlook desktop use requires a separately licensed or otherwise available Outlook client - Calendar, contacts, and mailbox management through Exchange Online - Large primary mailbox capacity associated with Exchange Online Plan 2 - Online archiving for users with archive-heavy mail needs - Litigation Hold and Exchange mailbox retention features, subject to current Microsoft service and licensing limits - Exchange admin management through Microsoft 365 and Exchange admin tools - Built-in anti-malware and anti-spam protection for Exchange Online mail flow ## Not included - Microsoft 365 Apps for desktop Office applications - Microsoft Teams - SharePoint Online - OneDrive for Business - Windows licensing - Phone system or calling plans - A full Microsoft 365 suite bundle ## FAQ ### What is Exchange Online (Plan 2) for Commercial customers? Exchange Online (Plan 2) is a standalone Microsoft-hosted business email license for Commercial organizations, because it gives each licensed user an Exchange Online mailbox, calendar, contacts, online archiving, and mailbox-level Exchange features without requiring a full Microsoft 365 suite. It is licensed per user and is intended for people who need their own business mailbox and Exchange Online rights. ### What is included with Exchange Online (Plan 2)? Exchange Online (Plan 2) includes a hosted Exchange Online mailbox, business email, calendaring, contacts, Outlook on the web, Exchange admin management, online archiving, mailbox retention features, Litigation Hold capabilities, and built-in anti-spam and anti-malware protection for Exchange Online mail flow. Exact mailbox, archive, message-size, and retention limits should be confirmed against current Microsoft service documentation before making contractual commitments. ### What is not included with Exchange Online (Plan 2)? Exchange Online (Plan 2) does not include Microsoft 365 Apps, Office desktop apps, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Windows licensing, Phone System, calling plans, or a full Microsoft 365 suite. It is email-focused, so buyers needing collaboration apps or desktop Office should compare it with Microsoft 365 or Office 365 suite plans. ### Does Exchange Online (Plan 2) include Outlook desktop? Exchange Online (Plan 2) includes Outlook on the web, but it does not by itself include the Microsoft Outlook desktop application, because desktop Office apps are part of separate Microsoft 365 Apps or suite licenses. Users can connect a separately licensed Outlook desktop client or use supported web and mobile access options. ### How is Exchange Online (Plan 2) different from Exchange Online (Plan 1)? Exchange Online (Plan 2) is typically chosen over Plan 1 when users need larger mailbox capacity, online archiving, and mailbox-level compliance features such as Litigation Hold. Plan 1 is generally for simpler hosted email needs, while Plan 2 is better for archive-heavy or retention-sensitive mailbox scenarios; confirm current Microsoft limits before relying on specific capacity figures. ### Does Exchange Online (Plan 2) include Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or OneDrive? No, Exchange Online (Plan 2) does not include Teams, SharePoint Online, or OneDrive for Business, because it is a standalone Exchange mailbox plan rather than a productivity suite. If users need meetings, chat, team sites, file storage, and collaboration, a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 suite is usually a better fit. ### Can Exchange Online (Plan 2) be used as the base license for Microsoft 365 Copilot? Exchange Online (Plan 2) does not include Microsoft 365 Copilot and should not be assumed to satisfy Copilot prerequisites by itself, because Copilot eligibility depends on Microsoft’s current eligible base-license rules and service requirements. Confirm the exact Copilot add-on prerequisites with IT Partner before purchasing standalone Exchange Online for that scenario. ### Can I add Microsoft Defender for Office 365 or Microsoft Purview features to Exchange Online (Plan 2)? Yes, some security and compliance capabilities may be added separately, but Exchange Online (Plan 2) alone is not the same as a full Defender for Office 365 or Microsoft Purview package. If the requirement involves advanced phishing protection, attack simulation, advanced eDiscovery, insider risk, or broader compliance workflows, confirm the required add-ons and prerequisite licenses with IT Partner. ### What email security protections are included in Exchange Online (Plan 2)? Exchange Online (Plan 2) includes built-in anti-malware and anti-spam protection for Exchange Online mail flow, because Exchange Online mailboxes are protected by Microsoft’s baseline Exchange Online Protection capabilities. It should not be treated as a substitute for advanced email security add-ons unless those specific features are licensed separately. ### Does Exchange Online (Plan 2) support Litigation Hold and mailbox retention? Yes, Exchange Online (Plan 2) includes mailbox-level Litigation Hold and Exchange retention capabilities, because Plan 2 is designed for organizations with more demanding mailbox archiving and preservation needs. However, broader compliance programs may require Microsoft Purview features outside standalone Exchange Online, so confirm the exact legal hold, retention, and eDiscovery requirements before purchase. ### Does Exchange Online (Plan 2) have a free trial for Commercial customers? No trial is listed for this Commercial SKU, because the source catalog shows paid commitment options rather than a trial offer. Buyers should validate fit before ordering by comparing the standalone mailbox plan against Microsoft 365 suite alternatives. ### How is Exchange Online (Plan 2) licensed for users, shared mailboxes, and resource mailboxes? Exchange Online (Plan 2) is licensed per user, because each person who needs their own mailbox and Exchange Online rights should be assigned a license. Shared, room, and equipment mailbox licensing can depend on size, archive, compliance, and sign-in requirements, so confirm the exact mailbox design and Microsoft licensing rules with IT Partner before deployment. ### Can my company use its own domain with Exchange Online (Plan 2)? Yes, a Commercial organization can use its own business domain with Exchange Online (Plan 2), because Exchange Online supports custom domain configuration through Microsoft 365 administration and DNS records. Setup typically involves verifying the domain, configuring mail routing records, and assigning licenses to users. ### Can users access Exchange Online (Plan 2) on phones and tablets? Yes, users can access Exchange Online (Plan 2) from supported web, mobile, and mail client experiences, because it is a cloud-hosted Exchange mailbox service. Mobile access, authentication, and device controls may also depend on the organization’s identity, security, and management configuration. ### How do we migrate existing email to Exchange Online (Plan 2)? Email can usually be migrated to Exchange Online (Plan 2) from another Exchange environment, IMAP system, or hosted email provider, because the destination is a standard Exchange Online mailbox. The best migration method depends on the current platform, mailbox volume, coexistence needs, identity setup, and cutover timing, so planning with IT Partner helps reduce mail-flow and user-impact risk. ### Should a standard business buy Exchange Online (Plan 2) or a Microsoft 365 suite? A standard Commercial business should buy Exchange Online (Plan 2) when it mainly needs hosted business email, larger mailboxes, archiving, and mailbox-level Exchange features. If the same users also need Office desktop apps, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, or broader security and device management, a Microsoft 365 suite is usually more appropriate and avoids duplicate licensing. ### What Commercial commitment and billing options are available for Exchange Online (Plan 2)? For Commercial customers, Exchange Online (Plan 2) is available as a month-to-month commitment billed monthly, or as an annual commitment paid either upfront annually or monthly. Annual upfront is the lowest listed per-seat rate structure, annual paid monthly is higher, and month-to-month provides the most flexibility among the listed options. ### Can I add, reduce, cancel, or renew Exchange Online (Plan 2) seats later? Seat changes and cancellations are governed by Microsoft CSP subscription rules, because the flexibility depends on whether the subscription is monthly or annual and where it is in the cancellation or renewal cycle. Additions are generally easier than reductions during a committed term, while reductions or cancellations may be limited after Microsoft’s permitted change window; confirm the current CSP rules with IT Partner before ordering. ### Can I move an existing Exchange Online subscription to IT Partner without downtime? Yes, a properly handled CSP provider transfer to IT Partner should not require a mailbox migration or mail-flow cutover, because the Microsoft tenant and user mailboxes remain in place while the licensing provider relationship changes. The same Microsoft Commercial SKU and term structure can be used, but taxes, discounts, support arrangements, and any bundled services should be confirmed before transfer. ### Is this Commercial Exchange Online (Plan 2) SKU right for Government, nonprofit, or education buyers? This page is for the Commercial Exchange Online (Plan 2) offer, because Commercial is the segment being sold here. Government buyers needing GCC or GCC High, eligible nonprofits seeking charity or grant-based offers, and education institutions distinguishing student from faculty licensing should review the appropriate Microsoft segment-specific programs instead of assuming the Commercial SKU is the best or compliant option. --- To buy or migrate with zero downtime, book a call with Mike (https://o365hq.com/book) or email sales@o365hq.com. Same Microsoft price, partner support included.