What Microsoft subscriptions cost and what they cover

Microsoft offers several subscription services tied to a Microsoft account, each with different costs and features. The main ones are Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive storage upgrades, and Microsoft Copilot Pro. Some subscriptions bundle together — Microsoft 365 includes Office apps, cloud storage, and other services in one monthly or yearly payment. Others stand alone. The price you pay depends on which subscription you choose and how long you commit to it.

A Microsoft account itself is free to create and use. You pay only when you add a subscription on top of it. Some services offer free tiers with limited features, and paid tiers unlock more storage, features, or content. For example, OneDrive gives you 5 GB of storage free, but you can pay monthly to increase that to 100 GB or 1 TB.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 subscriptions include Office apps, cloud storage, and email, with separate plans for individuals, families, and businesses.
  • Xbox Game Pass gives you access to a library of games for a monthly fee, with different tiers offering console, PC, or cloud gaming.
  • OneDrive storage upgrades start at 100 GB per month and go up to 2 TB, separate from any Microsoft 365 plan you may have.
  • Microsoft Copilot Pro is a monthly subscription for advanced AI features, distinct from the free Copilot available through Bing or Windows.
  • You can manage all subscriptions through your Microsoft account settings and cancel or pause them at any time.

Microsoft 365 plans and what each includes

Microsoft 365 is the main subscription service for Office apps and cloud services. There are separate plans for individuals, families, and businesses. The individual plan includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher, plus 1 TB of OneDrive storage and 60 minutes per month of Skype calls to phones. The family plan covers up to six people, gives each person their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage, and costs more per month but less per person than buying individual subscriptions.

Business plans start with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which includes web and mobile versions of Office apps, email through Outlook, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage per person. Business Standard adds the desktop versions of Office apps. Business Premium includes everything in Standard plus security and device management tools. Larger organizations can choose Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans, which add more advanced security, compliance, and analytics features.

All Microsoft 365 plans renew automatically each month or year, depending on which billing cycle you choose. You can cancel at any time through your account settings, though you will not receive a refund for the current billing period.

Xbox Game Pass and gaming subscriptions

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription that gives you access to a library of games on Xbox consoles, PC, or through cloud gaming. There are three tiers: Game Pass for Console (plays games on Xbox only), Game Pass for PC (plays games on Windows PC only), and Game Pass Ultimate (includes both console and PC, plus Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Live Gold). Game Pass Ultimate is the most expensive but covers the most devices and services.

The game library changes monthly — Microsoft adds new games and removes others. You can read games to your device or stream them through the cloud if you have a fast internet connection. Game Pass does not include every game ever made; major new releases from other publishers may not be included on day one, though some Microsoft-published games are added when ready.

Game Pass for Console and Game Pass for PC are billed monthly. Game Pass Ultimate can be billed monthly or yearly. If you have an existing Xbox Live Gold subscription, you can convert it to Game Pass Ultimate at a discounted rate, though the conversion happens only once per account.

OneDrive storage plans separate from Microsoft 365

OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage service. Every Microsoft account comes with 5 GB of free storage. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you get 1 TB (1,000 GB) of OneDrive storage included. If you do not have Microsoft 365 but need more than 5 GB, you can buy OneDrive storage separately.

The standalone OneDrive plans are 100 GB per month or 1 TB per month. The 1 TB plan is the same amount of storage you get with Microsoft 365, but you buy it without the Office apps or other Microsoft 365 features. This option is useful if you only need extra storage and do not use Office. The 100 GB plan is a middle ground for people who need more than 5 GB but less than 1 TB.

OneDrive storage subscriptions renew automatically each month. You can cancel at any time, but you will lose access to any files stored beyond your free 5 GB after a grace period.

Microsoft Copilot Pro and AI features

Microsoft Copilot Pro is a monthly subscription for advanced artificial intelligence features. It gives you faster responses, higher usage limits, and access to advanced reasoning and image generation tools. Copilot Pro works in Microsoft Edge, Bing, Windows, and other Microsoft products. You can use basic Copilot features for free; Copilot Pro unlocks more powerful versions.

Copilot Pro is separate from Microsoft 365 and OneDrive. You do not need either of those subscriptions to buy Copilot Pro, and buying Copilot Pro does not include Office apps or extra storage. It is a standalone monthly subscription billed to your Microsoft account.

How to manage and cancel subscriptions

All Microsoft subscriptions are managed through your Microsoft account. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select "Subscriptions" from the left menu. You will see a list of all active subscriptions, their renewal dates, and their costs. From there you can pause a subscription temporarily, cancel it, or change your payment method.

When you cancel a subscription, you keep access to it until the end of your current billing period. For example, if you pay monthly and cancel on the 15th of the month, you can use the subscription until the end of that month. After that date, you lose access. If you cancel a yearly subscription, the same rule applies — you keep access through the end of the year you paid for.

If you want to pause instead of cancel, some subscriptions offer a pause option that temporarily stops billing without deleting your account or data. When you resume, your settings and files are still there. Not all subscriptions have a pause option; check your subscription details to see if it is available.

Billing, payment methods, and renewal dates

Microsoft subscriptions bill to the payment method you have on file in your Microsoft account. You can use a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. When a subscription is about to renew, Microsoft sends you an email reminder a few days before the charge goes through.

You can change your renewal date for some subscriptions by contacting Microsoft support, though this is not always possible depending on the subscription type. You can always change your payment method in your account settings at any time. If a payment fails, Microsoft will try again a few times before suspending your subscription.

If you have multiple subscriptions, each one has its own renewal date based on when you first bought it. You can see all renewal dates in your Subscriptions page and plan accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use one Microsoft 365 subscription on multiple computers?

Yes. A Microsoft 365 subscription for individuals or families can be installed on multiple devices — up to five devices at once for the individual plan, and each family member can install it on their own devices. You sign in with your Microsoft account on each device, and the subscription covers all of them as long as you are the one using it.

What happens to my files if I cancel OneDrive storage?

If you cancel OneDrive storage, you keep your free 5 GB. Files beyond that are not deleted when ready — Microsoft gives you a grace period (usually several months) to read them or buy storage again. After the grace period ends, files you did not recover are deleted.

Do I need Game Pass Ultimate to play online multiplayer games on Xbox?

Yes. To play online multiplayer on Xbox, you need either Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold. Game Pass for Console does not include the online multiplayer feature — only Game Pass Ultimate does. PC multiplayer games do not require a subscription.

Can I share a Microsoft 365 family subscription with people who do not live with me?

Microsoft 365 family plans are designed for people in the same household, but Microsoft does not enforce this rule technically. However, the terms of service state that the plan is for household members, so sharing with people outside your home may violate the agreement. Each person on the plan can use it on their own devices, but Microsoft reserves the right to take action if the account is used in a way that breaks the terms.

What is the difference between Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold?

Xbox Live Gold is a subscription that lets you play online multiplayer games and gives you access to free games each month. Game Pass is a subscription that gives you access to a large library of games to read or stream. Game Pass Ultimate includes both — the game library plus online multiplayer and the monthly free games.