© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 1
Microsoft - Outlook or Outlook Web App Comparisons
There are two main ways people do their email with Office 365, Outlook and Outlook Web App. So how
do you decide which to use? Outlook is the desktop client that has the most features. However, for
many organizations and individuals, the web-based Outlook Web App (which is part of Office 365) may
meet all your email needs. Others may need the additional features of Outlook.
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK WEB APP
Use it
if:
You have Outlook installed on your desktop.
You’re on your own computer.
You need to see mail from multiple
accounts all in one place.
You manage someone else’s inbox.
You want complete offline access.
You need a quick and easy way to do your
email, calendar, and contacts from any
web-enabled device, including PCs, mobile
phones and tablets.
You’re using someone else’s computer, or
a computer not connected to your office
network.
You want immediate access to the latest
features.
Runs
on:
Laptop and desktop computers.
Surface devices running Windows 8.1.
Many mobile phones and devices:
iPad: OWA for iPad app.
iPhone: OWA for iPhone app.
Android and Windows phones and
devices: optimized mobile layout.
How
to get
it:
Outlook 2013 comes with some, but not all
Office 365 plans.
Older versions of Outlook that you already
have, such as Outlook 2010 and Outlook
2007, also work with Office 365, but
Outlook 2013 is recommended.
Outlook Web App is available with all
Office 365 plans that include email.
To compare the features of Outlook 2013, Outlook Web App, and OWA for iPad and OWA for iPhone,
Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007, and the light version of Outlook Web App, see the detailed feature
comparisons.
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 2
Detailed feature comparisons
Outlook and Outlook Web App have many features, so we’ve grouped the features to make it easier to
compare, and focused on the features that are significantly different. Some Outlook features, such as
information rights management, are only available with specific Office 365 plans.
General
Access to data
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Access from almost
any web browser
NA
Yes
Yes
1
NA
Yes
Access information
while offline
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Low band-width
sync
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Access multiple
Exchange email
accounts
Yes
Yes
1
No
No
No
Use favorites folder
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
1
If you have full access to another mailbox in the shared address book, such as a resource mailbox, you
can open it. To access other accounts, you must sign in with the other account credentials. You can
also add another person's mailbox to your folder list.
Applications
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 3
2013
WEB APP
FOR IPHONE
2010 SP3
2007 SP3
LIGHT
Apps available
when reading a
message
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Add/remove apps
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Manage mobile devices
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
View and delete
devices connected
to mailbox
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Initiate remote wipe
of phone
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Send calendar rule
notification to
device
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Search
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK WEB
APP LIGHT
Built-in search
folders
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 4
Can search mail
folders
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Can search
calendar
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Can search
contacts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Scope a search
Yes
Yes
1
Yes
1
Yes
Yes
Yes
1
Tab for setting
search context
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Search as you
type
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Highlight search
terms
Yes
Yes
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Customize
search results
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Advanced
searches
Yes
Yes
3
Yes
3
Yes
Yes
Yes
3
1
Common search scopes are available.
2
Highlighting includes navigating between search results in a conversation.
3
Advanced searches require use of query terms such as From:name.
Security
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 5
Change user account
password
No
Change
password
No
No
No
Yes
Require passcode
No
No
Yes
1
No
No
No
Add to safe/blocked senders
list
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Block external content
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Encrypted connection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Read Information Rights
Management (IRM)-
protected content
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Set IRM properties
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Protected voicemail
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Secure Multipurpose
Internet Mail Extensions
(S/MIME)— electronic
signature and
encrypt/decrypt
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Anti-phishing and anti-spam
technology
Yes
Yes
2
Yes
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
2
Certificate management
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Receive data loss protection
(DLP) Policy Tips
Yes
3
No
No
No
No
No
1
For some devices (iPhone, iPad), your organization’s administrator may require that you set a
passcode.
2
Server only
3
Available with some Office 365 Enterprise plans.
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 6
Email
Reading and sending messages
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Read and send email
messages
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Message editing
tools
Yes
Partial
Limited
Yes
Yes
No
Use inline images
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Paste objects
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Specify Reply to
address
Yes
Yes
1
Yes
1
Yes
Yes
No
Set message format
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Play sound when
message arrives
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Warn when missing
attachment
Yes
2
Yes
No
No
No
No
View preview of
message
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Turn on/off preview
of message
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 7
Show and control
how reading pane is
used
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Send automatic
replies (out of office)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Check spelling
Yes
Yes
3
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
3
Quick steps
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Create delivery
receipt request and
read request
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Control response to
read receipt
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Delivery reports
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Reply with a meeting
request
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
MailTips
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Delay or schedule
message delivery
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Approve a
moderated message
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
1
By using “From”.
2
By using a free app.
3
Spell checking is provided by the browser. Spell checking is available in Internet Explorer 10 and
Internet Explorer 11, Chrome, and Firefox.
Organizing email
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 8
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Conversation view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
1
Yes
1
No
Conversation view
includes messages
from other folders
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Ignore a conversation
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Conversation cleanup
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Message archiving
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Customizable views
Yes
Yes
2
No
Yes
Yes
No
Access Inbox
subfolders
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Create subfolders
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage folder
permissions
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
1
Each version improves the Conversation view.
2
Limited customizable views.
Other data
Contacts and Address Book
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
OWA FOR
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
OUTLOOK
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 9
2013
WEB APP
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
2010 SP3
2007 SP3
WEB APP
LIGHT
Store contacts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manage contacts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Add contact photo
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Sync contacts with
device address list
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
1
Offline Address Book
Yes
Yes
2
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
2
Hierarchical address
book
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Global Address Book
sync and update
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Color categories
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Mark as private
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Contact
cards/electronic
business cards
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Manage rights on
contacts
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Share contacts
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Import contacts
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Export contacts
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Outlook quick
contacts
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 10
Add/edit personal
groups
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
View personal groups
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Create customized
contact views
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Use Outlook Social
Connector
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
3
No
Sync contacts with
Facebook
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
1
For iPhone and iPad, contact sync is only available if your organization’s administrator enables it.
2
Limited.
3
Using a plug in.
Meetings and appointments
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Schedule meetings
and appointments
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Propose new time
for meetings
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Calendar preview in
invitations
Yes
No
No
1
Yes
No
No
Paste objects
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Meeting room
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 11
finder
Set reminders
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Mark appointment
as private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Forward meeting
request
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Scheduling assistant
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
1
User gets a list of conflict meetings in the invite
Calendar
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Day view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Week view
Yes
Yes
iPad only
Yes
Yes
No
Work week view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Month view
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Tasks by day view
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Schedule view
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Preview months in
left pane
Yes, 9
months
Yes, 7
months
Yes, 1 month
Yes, 6
months
Yes, 3
months
No
Print calendar
Yes
Yes
1
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 12
Use multiple
calendars
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Overlay multiple
calendars
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Automatic
formatting of
calendar items
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Adapt to current
time zone definition
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Secondary time zone
in calendar view
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Cached shared
calendar
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Share calendar
(external)
Yes
Yes
iPad only
Yes
No
No
Share calendar
(internal)
Yes
Yes
iPad only
Yes
Yes
No
Set sharing level:
free/busy details
Yes
Yes
iPad only
Yes
Yes
No
Side-by-side
free/busy info
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Import/export
calendar
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Zoom slider for
calendar
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Team calendar
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 13
Specify color for
calendar
Yes
Yes
iPad only
Yes
No
No
Subscribe to
calendar
Yes
Yes
iPad only
Yes
Yes
No
Calendar snapshot
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Sync calendar with
device
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
1
Can’t print the month view.
Tasks
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Edit, view, filter,
search, and
categorize tasks
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Mark task as
complete
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Mark task as
private
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Assign a task to
another person
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Flag mail as task
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Notes
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 14
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Read and
forward notes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Create notes
and notes
folders
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Move or
categorize notes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Search notes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Faxes
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK WEB
APP LIGHT
Send faxes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Receive
faxes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Journaling and voting
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK WEB
APP LIGHT
Create
journal
Yes
View only
No
Yes
Yes
No
Voting
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 15
buttons
Collaboration tools
Sharing data
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Access public or
shared folders
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Access site
mailboxes
Yes
No
1
No
No
No
No
Delegate control
Yes
No
2
No
Yes
Yes
No
Outlook Social
Connector
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
2
No
1
Available through SharePoint site.
2
Available through plug-in only.
Instant messaging
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Integrated chat
Yes
1
Yes
No
Yes
1
Yes
1
No
Integrated
presence
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 16
indicators
Reply with text
message
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
1
Requires use of third party services
Voice mail
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR IPAD,
OWA FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Listen to voice
mail using inline
player
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Change voice
mail options
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Voice mail
preview
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Managing and customizing
Data management
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR
IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
.pst file support
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Import data from other data
sources, such as .pst files,
database files, other
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 17
messaging and contact
systems, other calendaring
applications
Export data
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Send to Office OneNote
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Add, share, export, import RSS
feed
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Mailbox management
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Access to POP3
and IMAP email
accounts
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
View mailbox
quota
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Language settings
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Manage Inbox
rules
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Always categorize
or move messages
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Manage retention
policies
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Set time zone
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 18
User customizations
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Manage Outlook plug-ins
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Customize UI buttons
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Custom forms
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Customize navigation
pane
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Customizable views
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Set message options
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Limited
Email signature
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multiple email signatures
Yes
No
Yes
1
Yes
Yes
No
Message tracking options
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Deleted item handling
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Junk email options –
create lists of trusted and
untrusted addresses and
domains
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Calendar layout options
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Meeting request
processing
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Voice mail settings
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Page 19
Custom dictionary
Yes
Yes
2
No
Yes
Yes
No
Infopath integration
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Macros/VBA
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
1
You can have a mobile and non-mobile signature.
2
Depends on the local browser.
Admin customizations
FEATURE
OUTLOOK
2013
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
OWA FOR
IPAD, OWA
FOR IPHONE
OUTLOOK
2010 SP3
OUTLOOK
2007 SP3
OUTLOOK
WEB APP
LIGHT
Admins can
enable/disable email
features
No
Yes
Yes
No
Limited
Yes
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.