Alongside the July 1 Microsoft 365 price increase, Microsoft is quietly making a bigger change to how you get its endpoint-management tools: advanced Intune features that used to cost extra are being folded into Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 at no additional license cost.
If you already pay for one of those plans, this is mostly good news, but only if you know what you now own and actually switch it on. Here is what changed, and what a small business should do about it.
What changed
Two things landed together. First, on July 1, 2026, Microsoft's new commercial pricing took effect, which included a $3-per-user-per-month increase on the E3 and E5 suites. We covered the full pricing picture, and how to lock in current rates, in our earlier note on the July 1 Microsoft 365 price increase.
Second, and less widely noticed, Microsoft is adding capabilities from the Intune Suite, previously a separate add-on that cost roughly $10 per user per month, into the enterprise plans. What you get depends on your tier:
- Microsoft 365 E5 gets the full Intune Suite, including Endpoint Privilege Management, Enterprise Application Management, and Microsoft Cloud PKI.
- Microsoft 365 E3 and Enterprise Mobility + Security E3 get a partial set: Intune Plan 2, Remote Help, and Advanced Analytics.
For how these plans fit together, and which one you already own, see our companion guide, Microsoft Intune licensing explained.
This is not an instant switch. The features roll out to tenants through the third quarter of 2026 and are due to be complete by August 1, 2026. Each tenant gets a 30-day notice in the Microsoft 365 Message Center before the capabilities appear, and eligible tenants are provisioned automatically with nothing to install. The standalone Intune Suite and its add-ons still exist for businesses that do not carry an E3 or E5 plan.
Why it matters for a small business
- If you are on E3 or E5, you are gaining tooling that many teams were paying extra for, at no added license cost. That included value softens the $3 increase, if you use it.
- It is a "turn it on or lose the value" situation. Endpoint Privilege Management, Remote Help, and the analytics only help once someone configures them. Left switched off, you are paying the higher price for capability you never touch.
- If you already bought a standalone Intune Suite add-on, you may end up double-paying once the bundled version reaches your tenant. That add-on is worth reviewing.
- The price rise itself is modest per seat, but it adds up across a whole team, so it is a fair moment to check that every license you pay for is one you actually need.