Buying Microsoft 365 in Singapore: Direct, Partner or Reseller?

Three ways to buy Microsoft 365 in Singapore

Microsoft sells business plans directly on its Singapore plan comparison page, priced in US dollars and excluding GST. It also sells through the Cloud Solution Provider programme, where a partner buys from Microsoft (or a distributor) and bills you.

Licences, features and Microsoft's own commitments are the same whichever way you buy. Our Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace comparison helps if you are still choosing a platform.

Prices: what Microsoft charges and what partners add

Microsoft raised business plan prices from 1 July 2026, according to its licensing announcement. The plain plans now list as follows (annual commitment, per user per month, before GST).

Microsoft's Singapore page also features bundles with Copilot Business included, at US$23.50 (Standard) and US$32.00 (Premium) per user per month paid yearly, as of October 2026. Our guide to the 2026 Microsoft 365 price increase covers the change in detail.

Partners set their own prices. Some sell at or slightly under list price and earn on services; others add a margin in exchange for support. Ask for the per-user price, the currency, whether GST is included, and the term in writing.

Monthly vs annual commitment and the 7-day cancellation rule

Since September 2024, Microsoft sells licence subscriptions through partners on its 'new commerce' platform. Microsoft's Partner Center documentation says these support monthly, annual and three-year terms, and that subscriptions can only be cancelled in the first seven days of their term. Microsoft's direct plans carry the same seven-day window for a prorated refund.

• Annual term, paid yearly: lowest price. You can add users at any time, but you cannot reduce licences until renewal.
• Annual term, paid monthly: spreads the cost; Microsoft has charged about 5% more for this option since April 2025, according to its Microsoft 365 blog.
• Monthly term: you can reduce or cancel at each monthly renewal, but the price per user is higher than an annual term.

Support: who you call when something breaks

Buying direct, you open tickets with Microsoft from the admin centre; Microsoft lists anytime phone and web support on its business plans. Microsoft support fixes platform problems, but it will not set up your devices, migrate your mail or train your staff.

Through a CSP, the partner is your first point of contact and escalates to Microsoft when needed. That is useful if the partner actually responds. Before signing, ask for their response times, support hours, how they escalate, and whether setup or security work is billed separately.

Why a reseller must never own your tenant

The 'tenant' is your organisation's Microsoft 365 account: every mailbox, file and setting. The person who holds its Global Administrator account controls it. Problems start when a reseller creates the tenant using their own email address, keeps the only Global Admin login, or registers your domain in their name.

Microsoft now gives partners a safer way to help. With granular delegated admin privileges (GDAP), partners request specific roles for a limited time, and the customer must approve them. The partner does not need your Global Admin password at all.

If your current reseller holds the only admin account, ask for a second Global Admin under your company email before you raise any other issue. Our Business Premium guide explains the security features you are paying for once you have control.

Switching from one partner to another, or to direct

You can move CSP subscriptions to a new partner or to direct billing, usually at the end of the current term. Plan it before renewal, not after.

1. 1

   Check your renewal dates and terms

   In the admin centre, Billing, Your products, note each subscription's term and renewal date.

2. 2

   Confirm you hold Global Admin

   Without it, the new partner or Microsoft cannot help you move.

3. 3

   Accept the new partner's invitation

   The new partner sends a relationship request; you approve the roles they need.

4. 4

   Move or buy the new subscriptions before the old ones end

   Licences must overlap so mailboxes and files are never unlicensed.

5. 5

   Remove the old partner's access

   Remove their admin relationship and roles once the move is complete.

Do it yourself or get help?

Buying direct and managing the admin centre yourself is perfectly workable for a small team with a confident owner or office manager. The extra work is setup, security and the occasional migration.

Our Business Email Setup (S$249) sets up Microsoft 365 under your company's ownership, with your domain, mailboxes and SPF, DKIM and DMARC. If you already have a tenant, our Microsoft 365 / Google Security Lockdown (S$590) checks admin ownership, partner access and MFA, and hardens the settings. Licences stay in your name and are paid by you to Microsoft or your chosen partner.