Intune Plan 1 is the core endpoint management suite most enterprises already own through Microsoft 365. Plan 2 is an add on, and the Intune Suite goes further. The question is whether you need either.
Microsoft Intune Plan 1 is the core endpoint management suite, included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. Plan 2 is a targeted add on, and the Intune Suite goes further. Most enterprises already own everything they need in Plan 1.
Plan 1 is the full core suite: mobile device management, mobile application management, endpoint configuration, and compliance. It is not a cut down tier.
Microsoft confirms that Plan 1 is the base unified endpoint management offering in its Intune licensing documentation.
Plan 1 manages Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, enforces compliance, and protects corporate data on personal devices. For most enterprises that is the entire requirement.
Plan 2 is an add on. It adds Microsoft Tunnel for mobile application management and management of specialty devices, not a broad upgrade.
Intune Plan 1, Plan 2, and the Suite
| Tier | What it is | Key additions | Buy when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | Core suite | Device and app management | Default, usually owned |
| Plan 2 | Add on | Tunnel for app management, specialty devices | A named capability needs it |
| Intune Suite | Advanced bundle | Remote Help, privilege management, Cloud PKI | Several advanced tools needed |
Microsoft Tunnel for mobile application management gives managed apps secure access without enrolling the whole device. Microsoft documents it in the Tunnel overview. It is a specific need, not a general upgrade.
The Intune Suite bundles the advanced add ons into one per user license. It fits estates that want several of the advanced tools together.
The Suite includes Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, Advanced Analytics, Enterprise App Management, and Microsoft Cloud PKI. Microsoft lists the contents in the add ons documentation. Compare the bundle to the one or two tools you actually need.
The common advice treats Plan 2 and the Intune Suite as the natural upgrade path from Plan 1. We disagree. Plan 1 is already the full core suite, and in most estates it is only partly deployed, so an upgrade adds licensed capability on top of capability nobody finished rolling out. The buyer side move is to first deploy what Plan 1 already includes, then identify the one specific advanced capability that is genuinely missing, and license that as a standalone add on rather than buying the whole Suite. Blanket upgrades sell well and answer no particular need.
Source: Redress Compliance advisory engagement file, 2024 to 2025.
Plan 1 is the suite. Plan 2 and the Intune Suite are add ons. Buy the add on for a named capability you can point to, not as an upgrade you assume you need.
Plan 1 is bundled into Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 and into Enterprise Mobility and Security E3 and E5. Most enterprises already hold it.
The Suite and individual add ons are per user licenses above Plan 1. Microsoft publishes current pricing on the Intune pricing page. Price the single add on against the full Suite before deciding.
Need is driven by a capability, not by tier envy.
Plan 2 fits estates that need Tunnel for managed app access or that manage specialty devices. If neither applies, Plan 1 is enough.
The Suite fits estates that want Remote Help, privilege management, and Cloud PKI together. For one tool only, buy the standalone add on.
Microsoft Intune Plan 1 is the core unified endpoint management suite. It covers mobile device management, mobile application management, and endpoint configuration, and it is included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5.
Intune Plan 2 is an add on that adds Microsoft Tunnel for mobile application management and management of specialty devices. It is a targeted extension, not a broad upgrade of the core suite.
Yes. Intune Plan 1 is included in Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 and in Enterprise Mobility and Security E3 and E5. Most enterprises already own the core suite without a separate purchase.
The Intune Suite is the full advanced add on. It bundles capabilities such as Remote Help, Endpoint Privilege Management, Advanced Analytics, Enterprise App Management, and Microsoft Cloud PKI on top of Plan 1.
Only if you need a specific capability they contain. Plan 2 suits estates needing Tunnel for app management or specialty device support. The Suite suits estates wanting the advanced tools as a bundle.
The Intune Suite lists as a per user add on above Plan 1. Individual add ons such as Remote Help can also be licensed separately, so compare the bundle against the one or two tools you actually need.
Yes. Microsoft sells several Intune add ons individually as well as in the Suite bundle. If you need only one capability, the standalone add on is usually cheaper than the full Suite.
Buying Plan 2 or the Suite as a blanket upgrade without a named capability driving it. The core Plan 1 already covers most enterprise endpoint management, so the add on should answer a specific need.
Microsoft renewal moves, the EA framework, the M365 SKU framework, the Copilot framework, and the buyer side moves across the full Microsoft estate.
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