Microsoft 2026: The most important announcements at a glance
Microsoft is kicking off 2026 with important announcements. Several new features are coming next year that will affect all companies using Microsoft 365. One thing is clear: the often-heard claim that Microsoft only ever raises prices is simply not true.
2026 will bring price adjustments , new features within the Microsoft 365 plans, license end-of-life changes , and targeted enhancements in security and productivity . These changes will affect both existing and new subscriptions, creating added value, which in some cases will involve a slight price adjustment.
This article summarizes the key new features. You can find the latest features here at any time.
In short and concise summary
Price reduction for Microsoft Cloud licenses starting February 1, 2026
Microsoft is aligning its Commercial Cloud Services pricing with global price levels. For businesses in Switzerland, this means a 9,5% price reduction on cloud licenses. The new prices will take effect on February 1, 2026, and will apply to both new subscriptions and existing subscriptions after the price protection period expires.
New features in the M365 plans from July 1, 2026
Starting July 1, 2026, Microsoft 365 plans will be expanded with additional features. All business plans will benefit from increased email storage (+50 GB) , among other things. Furthermore , all plans will receive enhancements to Copilot chat in the areas of security, management, and analytics starting in July . The enterprise suites will also be functionally enhanced, with the Microsoft 365 E5 license receiving the most comprehensive feature update.
Price increase for selected M365 plans from July 1, 2026
As part of the new features, Microsoft is increasing the prices for individual licenses as of July 1, 2026. The good news: The price of the M365 Business Premium license , which we particularly recommend to our SME customers, will remain unchanged despite the expanded range of functions.
End of Life SharePoint Online and OneDrive Standalone plans from January 2027
The standalone plans for SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business (Plan 1 & Plan 2) are being phased out. Companies currently using standalone plans should switch to Microsoft 365 suites , Capacity Packs , or pay-as-you-go storage options in a timely manner.
February 2026: Microsoft update on SharePoint Online & OneDrive for Business
Microsoft has released new information regarding the future of standalone plans for SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business . The previously communicated dates have been clarified and specified:
Sale ends: June 2026
No new customers after May 31, 2026. Renewals are only possible for existing customers.End of Life: January 2027
No further extensions. Existing contracts will continue until their respective expiration dates.End of Service: December 2029
Complete discontinuation of all standalone plans. Until then, customers must switch to Microsoft 365 suites, Capacity Packs, or pay-as-you-go storage options.
👉 What does this mean for companies?
Organizations currently using standalone plans should review their migration strategy early to avoid later limitations or unexpected costs.
(I.e. Don't forget: January news
This new information supplements our news from January 2026. If you missed the news about Microsoft's changes back then, be sure to check out those topics as well. You'll find all the news below.
💡 Have you lost track of things and don't know what to do next? We're happy to help! We'll analyze your Microsoft 365 environment and help you optimally integrate the latest changes for your business.
January 2026: Microsoft 365 News in Detail
In the following section, we will discuss each of the new features in detail, showing which changes will apply from when and what their effects will be.
Price reduction for Microsoft Cloud licenses starting February 1, 2026
Effective February 1, 2026, Microsoft is adjusting the prices of its Commercial Cloud Services to better align them with global price levels. Commercial Cloud Services include cloud services such as Microsoft 365, Azure, and Dynamics 365. For companies in Switzerland, this translates to a 9,5% price reduction on cloud licenses.
The reduced prices apply to newly purchased subscriptions (monthly or annual) as well as to existing subscriptions after the price protection period expires. Businesses therefore automatically benefit from the new terms as soon as the protected price period ends or a new license is purchased.
Important: On-premises licenses are not affected by this change . Prices for local license models remain unchanged.
New features in Microsoft 365 plans starting July 1, 2026
Effective July 1, 2026, Microsoft is expanding its Microsoft 365 plans with numerous new features. The focus is clearly on security features, complemented by improvements in management, analytics, and support. The goal is to enhance security while simultaneously simplifying operations.
Changes to the business plans (Basic, Standard, Premium)
All Microsoft 365 Business plans benefit from the following new features:
Email storage increased by 50 GB per user
Extensions for Copilot chat in the fields of
Security, management and analysis
In addition, the M365 Business Basic and M365 Business Standard plans will receive the following new features:
URL checks in Outlook and Office
(Available exclusively in web and mobile applications)
Note: For full protection, Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 is still required. This is already included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Changes in the Enterprise Suites
The most extensive feature enhancements were announced in the enterprise sector:
Microsoft 365 E3
Newly included: Defender for Office 365 Plan 1
Protection against phishing and malware through Safe Links and Safe Attachments
Microsoft 365 E5
Most comprehensive feature update of all plans
Newly included: Microsoft Security Copilot:
A generative AI-powered security solution that supports security teams in analyzing and handling incidents, significantly increasing efficiency in the event of an attack.Microsoft Intune Remote Help
Enables remote support on internal devices without third-party tools such as TeamViewer.
If you would like to read the exact details about the new features, you can find them in the Microsoft blog: Advancing Microsoft 365: New capabilities and pricing update | Microsoft 365 Blog
Price increase for selected Microsoft 365 plans starting July 1, 2026
As part of the extensive new features, Microsoft will adjust the prices for selected Microsoft 365 plans on July 1, 2026. The price increases are directly related to the expanded functionality and additional integrated services, which significantly increase the value of the respective licenses.
The pricing structure will be more closely aligned with the actual scope of services offered by each plan. Licenses that include new, additional security features or AI-powered solutions are particularly affected by these adjustments.
Particularly good news for SMEs: The price of the Microsoft 365 Business Premium license – the best-selling and our recommended product in the SME segment – remains unchanged despite the new features . Companies thus benefit from an expanded range of functions without incurring additional costs.
Microsoft is currently communicating the new prices exclusively in US dollars. The final prices in Swiss francs are not yet available. As soon as they are, we will update the information accordingly and communicate it transparently.
Classification and recommendation
The digital workplace is constantly evolving, and Microsoft 365 remains a central platform to support businesses in this evolution over the long term. Through ongoing enhancements and new features, companies benefit from a modern and future-proof work environment. If you have any questions about the announced changes or are unsure which license best suits your company, we are happy to advise you. You can also find a detailed overview of the individual plans, their differences, and their applications in our blog post "M365 Plans at a Glance" : https://redit.ch/microsoft-365-plaene/
