> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.eazybackup.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.eazybackup.com/microsoft-365-cloud-backup/microsoft-365-backup-billing.md). # Microsoft 365 Backup Billing ### Understanding Microsoft 365 Backup Billing Microsoft 365 Backup is a metered monthly service. There is no base fee. Your monthly invoice is calculated from two usage-based items: | What you're billed for | How it's measured | | ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Protected Objects** | Distinct Microsoft 365 identities covered by your active backup jobs, billed per object, per month | | **OneDrive overage** | OneDrive storage used above the included allowance, billed per GiB, per month | Storage for other Microsoft 365 workloads—including Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, Microsoft 365 Groups, Planner, and OneNote—is unlimited and included in the Protected Object price. You are not billed based on the total amount of Microsoft 365 backup data stored. *** ### Billing is calculated separately for each backup user Each eazyBackup backup user represents one connected Microsoft 365 tenant. When the first Microsoft 365 backup job is created for a backup user, a dedicated Microsoft 365 service is provisioned for that user. Billing is calculated only from the active jobs belonging to that backup user. Selections belonging to one backup user or Microsoft 365 tenant do not affect another backup user's bill. For MSPs managing multiple customers, we recommend creating a separate backup user for each end customer or Microsoft 365 tenant. This makes it easier to identify each customer's usage and charges. *** ### What is a Protected Object? A Protected Object is one distinct Microsoft 365 identity included in your active backup jobs. Protected Objects can include: * Microsoft 365 member users * Guest users * Shared mailboxes * Room mailboxes * Equipment mailboxes Devices, service principals, and other non-identity directory objects are not billed. Each identity is counted only once per backup user, even when it is protected through multiple jobs, workloads, Teams, Groups, or SharePoint sites. An identity becomes a Protected Object in any of the following ways. #### 1. Direct user or mailbox selection An identity counts when you directly select a user or mailbox and enable at least one backup scope, such as: * Mailbox * Calendar * Contacts * Tasks * OneDrive or personal files Selecting several workloads for the same identity does not create several charges. For example, backing up Alice's mailbox, calendar, and OneDrive counts as one Protected Object. #### 2. Team or Microsoft 365 Group membership When you select a Team or Microsoft 365 Group for backup, every billable member of that Team or Group is included in the Protected Object count. This includes: * Member users * Guest users * Shared or resource mailboxes that appear as members Members are combined and deduplicated across all selected Teams and Groups. Selecting a Team channel uses the membership of the parent Team. Channels do not have a separate billable member count. Selecting any Team or Group backup scope may include all of its billable members, even when you only enable one workload, such as messages or files. #### 3. SharePoint site membership When you select a SharePoint site and enable files or lists, the site's billable members and permission principals are included in the Protected Object count. SharePoint membership is resolved from the site's Microsoft 365 permissions. When a SharePoint site's members overlap with a selected Team, Group, or individual user, each identity is still counted only once. *** ### Protected Object examples | Backup selection | Protected Objects | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------: | | Alice's mailbox only | 1 | | Alice's mailbox and OneDrive | 1 | | Team “Technical” with 29 members | 29 | | Team “Technical” plus Alice selected individually | 29 | | Team A with 10 members and Team B with 8 members, with 3 people in both | 15 | | SharePoint site with 12 billable members | 12 | | Shared mailbox “Sales” plus Alice | 2 | | Guest user included as a Team member | 1 | | Room mailbox selected directly | 1 | | Alice selected directly and also included through a Team and SharePoint site | 1 | Protected Objects are deduplicated using their Microsoft Azure object ID. *** ### OneDrive storage and overage Each Protected Object with OneDrive explicitly selected receives an included OneDrive storage allowance. The default included allowance is: **1 TiB, or 1,024 GiB, per selected OneDrive** Only storage used above that allowance is billed. OneDrive usage is measured using the live storage size reported by Microsoft Graph during inventory refresh. It is not calculated from the size of the backup repository. The overage for each selected OneDrive is calculated separately: ``` OneDrive overage = OneDrive usage − included allowance ``` When usage is below the included allowance, the overage is zero. #### Important OneDrive billing rules * OneDrive overage applies only when OneDrive is explicitly selected for that identity. * Being a member of a Team, Group, or SharePoint site does not automatically include or meter the member's OneDrive. * A mailbox-only selection counts as a Protected Object but does not create a OneDrive charge. * Guests and shared, room, or equipment mailboxes normally do not have a selectable OneDrive and therefore do not contribute OneDrive overage. * Overage is calculated per OneDrive before the values are added together. #### Example You protect 10 users with OneDrive. Nine users are below 1 TiB, while one user stores approximately 1.2 TiB, or 1,229 GiB. ``` 1,229 GiB used − 1,024 GiB included = 205 GiB overage ``` The billed OneDrive overage quantity would be approximately 205 GiB. *** ### What storage is unlimited? Microsoft 365 backup storage for the following workloads does not incur a separate per-GiB charge: * Exchange mailboxes * Group mailboxes * Teams metadata, messages, and files * Microsoft 365 Group mail, calendars, and files * SharePoint files and lists * Planner * OneNote * Microsoft 365 directory information Microsoft 365 backup data is stored separately from regular e3 object storage and is excluded from standard e3 object-storage billing. You pay for Protected Objects and applicable OneDrive overage—not for the total backup repository size. *** ### Peak-of-period billing Usage is measured once per day. Your invoice is based on the highest value recorded during the billing period, not the value recorded on the final day. | Billing metric | Quantity used for invoicing | | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Protected Objects | Highest distinct Protected Object count recorded on any day | | OneDrive overage | Highest total OneDrive overage recorded on any day | #### What this means * Adding users, guests, mailboxes, Teams, Groups, or SharePoint sites during the month can increase the current period's invoice. * Removing objects or narrowing a job during the month does not reduce the peak already recorded for that period. * Reduced usage is reflected beginning with the next billing period. * OneDrive usage can change from day to day. The highest total overage recorded during the period is billed. #### Example | Days | Protected Objects | Peak so far | | ---------- | ----------------: | ----------: | | Days 1–10 | 20 | 20 | | Days 11–25 | 35 | 35 | | Days 26–30 | 15 | 35 | The invoice for that billing period is based on 35 Protected Objects. The next billing period begins with a new peak measurement. *** ### Monthly charge The monthly charge for each backup user is calculated as: ``` Monthly Microsoft 365 charge = (Peak Protected Objects × Protected Object rate) + (Peak OneDrive overage GiB × OneDrive overage rate) ``` #### Example You have: * 10 Protected Objects * 205 GiB of OneDrive overage * An illustrative rate of $3.50 per Protected Object * An illustrative rate of $0.01 per GiB of OneDrive overage ``` (10 × $3.50) + (205 × $0.01) = $37.05 per month ``` These prices are examples only. Current rates are displayed in your eazyBackup portal. *** ### Where to view your usage and billing #### Billing estimate in the backup-job wizard When creating or editing a Microsoft 365 backup job, the billing estimate in **Step 2 – Inventory** updates as you select users, mailboxes, Teams, Groups, and SharePoint sites. The estimate may include: * Protected Object count * Estimated monthly charge * Team, Group, and SharePoint member counts * OneDrive usage and estimated overage The wizard estimate applies only to the job currently being created or edited. #### Usage & Billing panel From the backup user's Microsoft 365 section, open **Usage & Billing** to view: * Current Protected Object count * Peak Protected Objects for the billing period * Current OneDrive overage * Peak OneDrive overage for the billing period * Per-object OneDrive usage * Estimated billing-period total The Usage & Billing panel combines selections from all active Microsoft 365 jobs belonging to that backup user. #### WHMCS invoice The WHMCS invoice shows the peak Protected Object and OneDrive overage quantities multiplied by the current unit rates. *** ### Inventory and member-count warnings Team, Group, and SharePoint membership is loaded from Microsoft Graph during an inventory refresh. When membership information has not been fully loaded, the portal may display: * **Member counts incomplete** * **Inventory may be stale** * A Team, Group, or SharePoint site showing zero members In this situation, the displayed Protected Object count may be lower than the actual count. Select **Refresh inventory**, wait for the refresh to complete, and then reopen the billing estimate or Usage & Billing panel. *** ### Trial billing During an eligible Microsoft 365 Backup trial: * Protected Objects are still measured. * OneDrive overage is still measured. * Usage and estimated quantities remain visible. * Invoice line amounts remain $0 until the trial converts to a paid service. Once the trial ends or is converted, normal usage-based billing applies. *** ### Quick answers #### Do I pay per-GiB storage fees for SharePoint or Teams backup data? No. SharePoint, Teams, Exchange, Microsoft 365 Groups, Planner, and OneNote backup storage is included. However, selecting a Team, Group, or SharePoint site adds its resolved billable members to your Protected Object count. #### Is a user billed several times when they belong to several Teams? No. Each identity is counted once per backup user, regardless of how many selected Teams, Groups, SharePoint sites, jobs, or workloads include it. #### Are guest users billed? Yes. A guest is billed as a Protected Object when selected directly or included through a selected Team, Group, or SharePoint site. #### Are shared mailboxes billed? Yes. Shared, room, and equipment mailboxes are billed as Protected Objects when directly selected or reached through membership. #### Does selecting a SharePoint site add Protected Objects? Yes. The site's resolved billable members and permission principals are included in the Protected Object count. #### Does selecting a Team automatically bill every member's OneDrive usage? No. Team, Group, and SharePoint membership affects the Protected Object count, but OneDrive overage applies only to identities whose OneDrive is explicitly selected. #### Is Microsoft 365 backup data included on my e3 object-storage invoice? No. Microsoft 365 backup data is stored separately and excluded from standard e3 object-storage metering. #### How can I lower next month's invoice? Narrow your backup selections by removing users, mailboxes, Teams, Groups, or SharePoint sites you no longer need to protect. You can also disable unnecessary backup scopes. A change made during the month does not reduce the current period's recorded peak, but the lower quantity can take effect in the next billing period. #### Why does a Team, Group, or site show zero members? Its membership may not have been loaded successfully. Refresh the Microsoft 365 inventory and reopen the billing panel. *** ### Glossary | Term | Meaning | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Backup user** | An eazyBackup user with its own Microsoft 365 tenant connection and backup jobs | | **Protected Object** | A billable Microsoft 365 identity included through direct selection or Team, Group, or SharePoint membership | | **Peak-of-period** | The highest metered value recorded on any day during the billing period | | **Scope** | A workload enabled for backup, such as mailbox, OneDrive, Teams messages, files, or SharePoint lists | | **Inventory refresh** | A Microsoft Graph discovery process that updates users, mailboxes, Teams, Groups, SharePoint sites, OneDrive sizes, and membership information |