Microsoft 365 Business vs Kolab Now
Kolab Now wins on privacy, Kolab Now wins on price and Microsoft 365 Business wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Microsoft 365 Business or Kolab Now: which should you choose?
- Choose Microsoft 365 Business if you want more room (50 GB, against 5 GB).
- Kolab Now suits you best if you want email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; a cheaper plan, at CHF 5 a month; and apps whose code is public.
| Feature | Microsoft 365 Business | Kolab Now |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| Price | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Business Basic £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT | Mailbox CHF 5 a month |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 5 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | Switzerland |
| Your data is kept in | UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2011 | 2013 |
| Free trial | One month free on some plans | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- Microsoft 365 Business's cheapest plan is Business Basic (£5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT); Kolab Now's is Mailbox (CHF 5 a month).
- Space: Microsoft 365 Business gives 50 GB of storage, Kolab Now 5 GB of storage.
- Data location: UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) for Microsoft 365 Business, Switzerland for Kolab Now.
- The companies sit under different laws: Microsoft 365 Business in United States, Kolab Now in Switzerland.
- Microsoft 365 Business (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Kolab Now doesn't.
Microsoft 365 Business and Kolab Now: your questions
Is Microsoft 365 Business more private than Kolab Now?
Kolab Now scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and Microsoft 365 Business 1. Kolab Now gives you email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts and apps whose code is public.
Is Microsoft 365 Business cheaper than Kolab Now?
Kolab Now is cheaper. Its Mailbox plan is CHF 5 a month, against £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT for Microsoft 365 Business's Business Basic. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Microsoft 365 Business or Kolab Now?
Yes, both do. Microsoft 365 Business: Yes. Kolab Now: Yes.
Where is my email stored with Microsoft 365 Business and Kolab Now?
Microsoft 365 Business keeps it in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham). Kolab Now keeps it in Switzerland.
Prices and the latest news
- 27 July 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £5.40 (UK price change from 1 July 2026)
- 1 June 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £4.90
The latest headlines: Microsoft 365 Business news · Kolab Now news.
Also worth a look
Microsoft 365 Business vs mailbox.org · Kolab Now vs mailbox.org · Microsoft 365 Business vs Posteo · Kolab Now vs Posteo · Microsoft 365 Business vs Proton Mail · Kolab Now vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Microsoft 365 Business · Moving from Microsoft 365 Business. Or see all my switching guides.