Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic is a free room license that lets a certified Teams Rooms device schedule and join meetings, share content and whiteboard. Each organization can assign up to 25 Basic licenses; rooms beyond 25 need Teams Rooms Pro. You get it at no cost from the Microsoft 365 admin center, though Microsoft asks for payment details at checkout. It covers core meetings but leaves out dual screen, Front Row, AI audio/video features, panels and most device management.
What Teams Rooms Basic includes
Per Microsoft's licensing documentation, Basic includes:
- Scheduling and one-touch join for Teams meetings
- Content sharing
- Collaborative whiteboarding
- Basic security and out-of-the-box management
Basic is meant for small deployments and for organizations that want core meeting features without a subscription.
What Basic doesn't include (Pro only)
| Feature | Basic | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms per organization | Up to 25 | Unlimited |
| Join, share, whiteboard | Yes | Yes |
| Front Row layout, meeting chat in room | No | Yes |
| Large gallery, dual screen support | No | Yes |
| Multi-camera, panoramic room view | No | Yes |
| AI noise suppression, people counting | No | Yes |
| Teams Phone in the room | No | Yes |
| Pro Management portal enrollment, inventory, auto updates | Yes | Yes |
| Pro Management health monitoring, remote config, analytics | No | Yes |
| Intune, Entra ID P1, Conditional Access | No | Yes |
| Teams Panels | No | Yes |
Full breakdown in Teams Rooms Basic vs Pro and Teams Rooms Pro license.
Is it really free?
Yes. Microsoft doesn't charge for Teams Rooms Basic. You'll go through checkout in the Microsoft 365 admin center and may be asked for a payment method, but the license price is zero. Some calling and conferencing features can draw on Communication Credits in certain countries; you can turn those off to avoid charges.
Basic is sold only directly from Microsoft through the admin center, not through resellers.
How to get Teams Rooms Basic
- Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center as a Global or Billing admin.
- Go to Marketplace (Billing > Purchase services).
- Search for Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic.
- Choose the quantity (up to 25 total) and complete checkout.
The licenses then appear under Billing > Licenses.
How to assign it to a room
Teams Rooms licenses are assigned to the room's resource account, the mailbox and Teams identity the device signs in with.
- Create a resource account for the room if you haven't already. See how to create a Teams Rooms resource account.
- In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Users > Active users and open the resource account.
- Under Licenses and apps, select Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic and save.
- Sign the Teams Rooms device in with the resource account. Allow some time for the license to take effect.
Step-by-step with screenshots in assign a Teams Rooms license to a room account. If the device says no license was found, see Teams Rooms license errors.
Rules to know
- One license per room system. A Basic license covers one Teams Rooms device in one room.
- Certified hardware only. Basic is for Microsoft-certified Teams Rooms on Windows and Android devices.
- Education and nonprofit. Basic is available to commercial, education and nonprofit tenants; check the admin center for what your tenant can buy.
Does it work with Yealink, Logitech, Poly, Neat and Jabra?
Yes. Basic is a Microsoft license, not tied to a hardware brand. Any certified Teams Rooms device can use it, including:
| Device | Room |
|---|---|
| Logitech Rally Bar Huddle + Tap IP | Huddle, small |
| Poly Studio X32 | Huddle, small |
| Neat Bar Generation 2 | Huddle to medium |
| Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System | Small, medium |
Yealink MeetingBar and MeetingBoard Teams Rooms devices work the same way. See Yealink Teams Rooms systems and best Microsoft Teams Rooms devices.
Who should upgrade to Pro?
- Organizations with more than 25 rooms
- Rooms with dual displays, multiple cameras or Front Row
- IT teams that want remote monitoring and Intune management
- Rooms that need Teams Phone or Teams Panels
See Teams Rooms license cost for how pricing works.
Setting up your first Teams Rooms? Get a free room plan and device quote.
Related guides
- Teams Rooms Basic vs Pro: license differences explained
- Teams Rooms on Android: Devices, Features and Limits
- Teams Rooms trial and demo licenses
- Zoom Rooms License Cost and How to Buy One
- How to Assign a Teams Rooms License to a Room Account
- Microsoft Teams Rooms for huddle rooms: equipment and setup
Outfitting several rooms, or reselling? Get a volume quote or apply for wholesale pricing →
