Difference between Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) and Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA)

Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA)

The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) is a three-year commitment-based volume licensing agreement for commercial organizations signing a new enrollment with 500 or more users/devices and government organizations with 250 or more users/devices. EAs offer a number of benefits, including:

• Predictable pricing: EAs offer predictable pricing for three years, which can help organizations budget more effectively.
• Volume discounts: EAs offer volume discounts on Microsoft products and services.
• Choice and flexibility: EAs offer organizations a wide range of Microsoft products and services to choose from, and the flexibility to adjust their licensing needs as needed.
• Support: EAs include access to Microsoft’s technical support team.

Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA)

The Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) is a transactional volume licensing agreement for organizations with one or more users/devices that want to license Microsoft cloud services and/or on-premises software as needed—with no organization-wide commitment under a single, non-expiring agreement.

The MCA offers a number of benefits, including:

• Flexibility: The MCA allows organizations to license Microsoft products and services on a transactional basis, as needed.
• Simplicity: The MCA is a single agreement that covers all of an organization’s Microsoft licensing needs.
• Support: The MCA includes access to Microsoft’s technical support team.

Differences between the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and the Microsoft Customer Agreement

The key differences between the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and the Microsoft Customer Agreement are:

• Commitment: The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement is a three-year commitment-based agreement, while the Microsoft Customer Agreement is a transactional agreement.
• Pricing: The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement offers predictable pricing for three years, while the Microsoft Customer Agreement offers transactional pricing.
• Choice and flexibility: The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement offers a wide range of Microsoft products and services to choose from, and the flexibility to adjust licensing needs as needed. The Microsoft Customer Agreement also offers a wide range of Microsoft products and services to choose from, but organizations are not obligated to license any particular products or services.
• Support: Both the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and the Microsoft Customer Agreement include access to Microsoft’s technical support team.

Will the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement be going away anytime soon?

There is no indication that Microsoft plans to discontinue the Enterprise Agreement anytime soon. The EA is a popular choice for large organizations that want to license Microsoft products and services on a volume basis.

Which licensing agreement is right for you?

The best way to decide which licensing agreement is right for your organization is to consider your specific needs and requirements. If you are looking for a predictable pricing structure and the flexibility to adjust your licensing needs as needed, the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement may be a good option for you. If you are looking for a more flexible licensing option that allows you to license Microsoft products and services on an as-needed basis, the Microsoft Customer Agreement may be a better choice.

If you are unsure which licensing agreement is right for your organization, you should contact a Microsoft partner for assistance.