When a Microsoft 365 subscription ends without renewal, Microsoft used to offer a 30-day grace period. EST replaces that model.
An EST is a paid, month-to-month continuation of your subscription. It activates automatically if auto-renew is off and no action is taken at term end.
EST subscriptions are priced at a minimum 3% above the standard monthly rate. Charges are prorated by day. You can cancel or convert back at any time.
It's about having visibility across every subscription, every customer, before the end date arrives.
Subscription reaches end of term
Billing cycle closes on the scheduled expiration date.
Auto-renew is off. No action taken.
No renewal, no cancellation. Microsoft's system makes the next move.
Subscription converts to EST automatically
The state changes silently. There is no opt-in step.
Monthly billing begins at +3% premium
No license changes allowed. Billing continues until you cancel or convert.
The subscription continues on the same terms. Simple in isolation. Easy to miss when hundreds of end dates overlap and month-end close is already consuming the team.
Service ends. Data is retained for 90 days, then permanently deleted. Miss the window, and the choice disappears. What was a decision becomes an irreversible outcome
Auto-renew off, no action taken, EST activates. Not a choice, a default. It bills at 3% above the standard rate, or 23% if no monthly plan exists, until someone intervenes.
Unexpected EST charges are often discovered too late: after the billing cycle closes, after finance starts reconciling, or after a customer question.
If all three apply, the subscription moves to EST automatically at term end, unless you act first. Per Microsoft Partner Center documentation, EST applies to subscriptions purchased on or after April 1, 2025, with an expiration date on or after May 4, 2026, where auto-renewal is set to OFF.
Microsoft Partner Center, Subscription lifecycle →
