Formally Office 365, Microsoft 365 is a line of subscription services offered by Microsoft that offers well-known applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Based one the subscription selected, users can get cloud storage, advanced security, and various Microsoft applications.
Microsoft 365 was launched in 2017 as a superset of Office 365 and Windows 10 Enterprise licenses, along with other cloud-based security and device management products. In 2020, Office 365 was rebranded as Microsoft 365 to be marketed towards consumers and small businesses to emphasize a wider inclusion of products that reach beyond the central Microsoft Office software, such as cloud-based productivity tools and artificial intelligence (AI) features.
Microsoft 365 core features
Everything Office 365 offered is included in Microsoft 365. Well known core applications include:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- SharePoint
- OneDrive
- OneNote
Microsoft 365 additional features
While Microsoft 365 includes everything Office 365 included, it has added features such as:
- Microsoft Editor: This feature will correct a user’s grammar and style in their writing. It’s an AI-powered feature that works in more than 20 languages and can be used in Word and Outlook. A Microsoft Editor extension can also be installed for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- Transactions from banks: This feature allows users to connect to bank and credit accounts directly from Excel. Transaction details can be downloaded and imported directly into a budget or other financial spreadsheet.
- Microsoft Teams: Microsoft has added new features to Teams to allow it to be used for a user’s personal life. Team groups can be created for friends and family to plan trips, organize gatherings, or stay connected. This feature is similar to Slack.
- Microsoft Family Safety: Users can share their location with family members. Location can be tracked live and notifications can be set to trigger when a user reaches a predetermined location. Screen time monitoring and parental controls are also offered.
