Microsoft licensing

agreements comparison for

midsize and large organizations
Microsoft offers commitment-based and transactional purchasing for midsize and large organizations that want to purchase Microsoft on-premises software,
online services, and Software Assurance. Compare the Microsoft licensing agreements below.
The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement is a commitment-based Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement for commercial and government organizations with 250 or
more users/devices that want to license Microsoft on-premises software and online services organization-wide, over a three-year period, and at the best available
pricing (effective July 1, 2016, the minimum commitment for commercial customers signing a new Enterprise Agreement enrollment will be raised to 500
users/devices). Software Assurance is included.
The Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA) is a transactional Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement for commercial, government, and academic
organizations with 250 or more users/devices that want to license Microsoft on-premises software, online services, or a hybrid environment of both as needed
with no organization-wide commitment and multi-year subscription options under a single, non-expiring agreement. The MPSA can save time and money by
combining purchase points for the best price level, offering price protection for online services, and reducing the administrative overhead associated with
managing multiple agreements. Software Assurance is optional.
The Microsoft Cloud Agreement (MCA) is a transactional licensing agreement for commercial and government organizations with one or more users/devices
seeking to fully outsource management of their cloud services through a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). CSPs offer an easy way to license the online services you
need through the MCA in combination with the value-added services offered by your systems integrator, hosting partner, or born-in-the-cloud reseller partner.
Software Assurance and on-premises software are not available through CSPs.
Microsoft Select Plus is a transactional Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement for government and academic organizations with 250 or more users/devices that
want to license Microsoft on-premises software only for up to three years with no organization-wide commitment. Software Assurance is optional and online
services are not available. Effective 1 July, 2016, Microsoft will stop accepting new orders and Software Assurance renewals through existing commercial Select Plus
agreements at the customers next agreement anniversary date. The MPSA and MCA are better, more flexible options for customers.
The Microsoft Online Subscription Agreement (MOSA) is a transactional licensing agreement for commercial, government, and academic organizations with one
or more users/devices that want to subscribe to, activate, provision, and maintain online services seamlessly and affordably through the Microsoft Online
Subscription Program (MOSP). Software Assurance and on-premises software are not available through the MOSA.

Microsoft licensing agreements comparison

Microsoft Enterprise
Agreement

Microsoft Products and

Services Agreement

Microsoft Select Plus

Agreement

Microsoft Online
Subscription Agreement

Microsoft Cloud Agreement

(through CSPs)

Offerings

Commitment-based software
and online services

Transactional software and

online services

Transactional software only

Transactional online services

only

Transactional online services

only

Agreement term

Three years

Non-expiring

Non-expiring

One year (auto-renew)

One year (auto-renew)

Purchase coverage

Organization-wide

As needed

As needed

As needed

As needed

Purchase term

Three years for initial

purchase, co-terminus for
additional purchases

One, two, or three years or

one to eleven months for
select online services

One, two, or three years

One year or monthly on select

online services

One year

Purchase term expiration

Enrollment expiration

Third account anniversary for

Software Assurance; next
account anniversary or
multiyear for online services

Third affiliate anniversary for

Software Assurance

Subscription term expiration

(one year or monthly)

Subscription term expiration

(one year)

Minimum commitment

250 qualified devices/users

per pool (500 effective July 1,
2016, for commercial)

500 points per product pool,

250 online services users by
pool (per year), or use of
Azure pay-as-you-go

500 points per pool

One USL or use of Azure payas-you-go

One USL or use of Azure payas-you-go

Target organization size

500+ users (250+ users for

government)

250+ users

250+ users

One+ users

One+ users

Sales model

Microsoft direct or partner

indirect (based on geo and
sector)

Partner indirect

Partner indirect

Microsoft direct

Partner indirect

Ordering

In the month of first use for

the initial product order;
annually for subsequent
orders (per enrollment)

As needed (per purchasing

account)

As needed (per affiliate)

As needed (per order)

As needed (per CSP)

Updated May 2016

2016 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft provides this material solely for informational purposes. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTEES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED IN THIS
DOCUMENT. Eligibility for Software Assurance benefits varies by offering and region and is subject to change. Customer should refer to the Terms and Conditions of their Volume
Licensing Agreement for a full understanding of their rights and obligations under Microsoft Volume Licensing Programs (Publication 050916).

Microsoft Enterprise
Agreement

Microsoft Products and

Services Agreement

On-premises software license

Online services user

subscription license (USL)

(included)

(optional)

Enterprise Cloud Suite

Azure

Office 365

Microsoft Select Plus

Agreement

Microsoft Online
Subscription Agreement

Microsoft Cloud Agreement

(through CSPs)

Dynamics CRM Online

Provisioning of online services

prior to order

Software Assurance

(optional)

Price list

Commercial and government

Commercial, government, and

academic

Government and academic

Commercial, government, and

academic

Commercial and government

Price level determination

Based on user and device

license quantity by pool or
qualifying contract

Based on points by pool or

qualifying contract

Based on points by pool or

qualifying contract

Based on order quantity by

online service

No price level (price set by

CSP)

Price protection

All products and services

included in the agreement

Multi-year subscriptions for

online services

N/A

N/A

Length of online services

subscription in one-year
increments

Multiple active partners under

a single account
Upfront payments

(one to three years)

(one to three years)

(one to three years)

Annual (spread) payments

Microsoft Payment Solutions

license financing (available in
subsidiaries where Payment
Solutions operates)

(monthly or annually)

(monthly)

Updated May 2016

2016 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft provides this material solely for informational purposes. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTEES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED IN THIS
DOCUMENT. Eligibility for Software Assurance benefits varies by offering and region and is subject to change. Customer should refer to the Terms and Conditions of their Volume
Licensing Agreement for a full understanding of their rights and obligations under Microsoft Volume Licensing Programs (Publication 050916).