What is the Microsoft MCA E transition?

The MCA E transition is the move from a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement to the Microsoft Customer Agreement for enterprise. Microsoft is positioning MCA E as the successor to the EA. The shift changes billing, pricing structure, and how you true up, so it is a commercial decision, not just a paperwork swap.

What is the difference between EA and MCA E?

An EA uses a three year commitment with annual billing, level based pricing, and an annual true up, while MCA E uses monthly billing against list price with no annual true up. EA Level D discounts can reach fifteen to forty percent. MCA E discounts typically land at five to twenty percent.

Does MCA E keep EA level pricing?

No, MCA E does not carry EA level pricing. EA level pricing steps discounts across Level A (250 to 2,399 users), Level B (2,400 to 5,999), Level C (6,000 to 14,999), and Level D (15,000 plus). Large EA customers should model the discount loss carefully before moving.

Does MCA E have an annual true up?

No, MCA E bills monthly against actual consumption and has no annual true up. An EA captures incremental users and devices once a year on the anniversary date. Monthly billing improves flexibility but removes the planned true up moment, so usage governance becomes continuous.

When should we transition from EA to MCA E?

Time the transition to your EA renewal or expiry date rather than moving mid term. Model the level pricing impact and the contractual differences first, because a large EA customer can lose discount depth on MCA E. Use the comparison as leverage in the renewal either way.

Buyer side advisory. 500+ enterprise clients across 11 vendor practices. Contact Us →

White Paper · Microsoft

Move from EA to MCA without losing your terms

Plan the broader Microsoft Customer Agreement Enterprise (MCA E) transition framework. Microsoft EA versus MCA E, MCA E transition timing, MCA E contractual differences, MCA E billing cadence, and the broader Microsoft commercial transition.

Format PDF + HTML

Read Time 20 Minutes

Last Updated October 17, 2025

What you will take away

The Microsoft MCA transition framework
The EA versus MCA E framework
The MCA E transition timing framework
The contractual differences framework
The billing cadence framework

500+Enterprise Clients

$2B+Under Advisory

a leading industry analyst firmRecognized

100%Buyer Side

Free Download

Get the full white paper

Email gated. Corporate addresses only.

Written byMorten AndersenCo Founder · ex IBM, ex Oracle

PublishedAugust 16, 2024

Last updatedOctober 17, 2025

Home›Microsoft Hub›White Papers›Move from EA to MCA without losing your terms

Related White Papers

More from the library

Ready?

Stop overpaying. Start negotiating.

Independent. Buyer side. The advisory firm enterprise software vendors do not want you to hire.

Monthly Licensing Intelligence

What we are seeing across 500+ enterprise clients, delivered monthly. Free.

Vendor Advisory

Cloud & Emerging

Programs

Advisory Services

Assessments

Research

Knowledge Hubs

Tool Hubs