The popular employee discount program for Microsoft 365 (Workplace Discount Program or Home Use Program) has some changes in 2025 at the same time as the price rise and Copilot addition to the Family and Personal plans. Office Watch compares the two options with a suggestion about what to do.
From January 2025, the cost of Microsoft 365 Family or Personal plan has risen under the Workplace Discount Program (WDP). The Workplace Discount Program (formerly Home Use Program or HUP) lets employees buy their own Microsoft 365 Family or Personal plan for 30% off retail prices.
The WDP discounts haven’t changed but are now based on the 30%-40% higher retail prices of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family.
A new catch to the Workplace Discount Program
But there’s a new catch …
The WDP program only applies to the main Family and Personal plans, now with a limited form of Copilot.
The new ‘Classic’ plans without Copilot AI do NOT qualify for WDP discount. If you try to cancel a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal plan, you’ll offered a ‘Classic’ plan alternative at the standard, no discount, price.
Thanks to Office Watcher, Cees S we can show you the difference in action. He has a WDP discount in Europe with a Personal plan and tried to switch to Microsoft 365 Classic Personal. This is what he was offered, in Euro.
On the left is Microsoft 365 Personal plan with the WDP discount (30% off the usual €99 price).
The ‘Classic’ option at right is €69 – the normal price for that plan with NO discount.
In other words, a Microsoft 365 plan with WDP discount is about the same price as the matching plan under the ‘Classic’ banner.
Compare WDP/HUP prices with Classic retail
Here’s a comparison of the new 2025 prices for Microsoft 365 Family and Personal with Workplace Discount (WDP) compared with the alternative offered by Microsoft, a matching ‘Classic’ plan with no discount.
Overall, you’re better off sticking with the WDP/HUP discounted plan, we’ll explain why below.
Microsoft 365 Family
For Family plans, the WDP price is still cheaper than the ‘Classic’ option.
Microsoft 365 Personal
For Microsoft 365 Personal there’s very little price difference between the two choices.
What to choose?
In our view, it’s better to stick with a Microsoft 365 plan with the Workplace Discount for a few reasons.
- There’s little price difference between the WDP prices and the Classic equivalents.
- Unlike ‘normal’ retail customers, there’s no significant saving in switching to a Classic plan.
- Choosing a Classic plan drops the customer out of the Workplace Discount Program.
- To get the lower WDP prices again, you’d have to reapply which might not be possible if you’ve left that job or the organization has dropped the qualifying volume licenses.
- Once you’re in the WDP it’s usually best to stay eligible.
- WDP still applies even after someone has left that employment.
- Soon, it’ll be possible to disable/hide Copilot from all Microsoft 365 apps.
- In other words, keep Microsoft 365 with WDP discount and turn Copilot on/off as it suits you.
Pay less for Microsoft 365 with the Workplace Discount Program
How to Disable Copilot in Microsoft 365