How Much Does IT Support Cost for a UK Charity in 2026?
IT support cost for a UK charity typically ranges from £50 to £120 per user per month in 2026, based on MSP benchmarking across 100 managed service providers. The actual price depends on what is included, particularly support hours, Microsoft 365 management, cyber security, device management and strategic IT services.
For a 75-user charity, that equates to an indicative managed IT budget of approximately £3,750 to £9,000 per month. However, comparing MSPs purely on price per user can be misleading: one quotation may cover little more than helpdesk support, while another may include 24/7 support, Microsoft 365 management, EDR/MDR, email security, backup, security awareness training and strategic IT guidance.
What Affects IT Support Cost for a UK Charity?
Five factors have the biggest impact on managed IT support pricing: the number of users and devices, support hours, cyber security requirements, Microsoft 365 and infrastructure complexity, and the level of strategic IT support required.
01 / USERS & DEVICES
The number of employees, volunteers, devices and locations being supported affects the overall cost. Larger charities will usually pay more in total, although the cost per user can reduce as organisations scale.
02 / SUPPORT HOURS
Business-hours support and 24/7 support are not directly comparable. If staff work evenings, weekends or across different locations, extended support coverage can increase the cost but also reduce the risk of users being left without help.
03 / CYBER SECURITY
Look carefully at what’s included in the security stack. EDR, MDR, email security, security awareness training, vulnerability management and ongoing monitoring can significantly change both the price and the level of protection being provided.
04 / MICROSOFT 365 & IT COMPLEXITY
A straightforward Microsoft 365 environment will generally require less management than an organisation with multiple sites, legacy systems, complex permissions, remote workers and numerous third-party applications.
05 / STRATEGY & GOVERNANCE
Some MSPs primarily provide technical support. Others include technical account management, strategic reviews, security reporting, budgeting and vCIO guidance to help leadership teams plan technology improvements and manage risk.
What Should Be Included in a Managed IT Support Quote?
A managed IT support quote should clearly show what is included in the monthly fee, what is charged separately and what level of service your organisation will receive. Two MSPs may quote a similar price per user but provide very different levels of support, security and strategic guidance.
For a UK charity, we recommend comparing quotes across six core areas rather than looking at the headline price alone.
01 / SERVICE CENTRE & USER SUPPORT
Look for clear support hours, response targets and details of how employees and volunteers can get help. Check whether remote support, user administration, day-to-day troubleshooting and out-of-hours support are included.
02 / MICROSOFT 365 & DEVICE MANAGEMENT
The quote should explain who manages Microsoft 365 users, licences, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, devices, security policies and routine configuration changes. Don’t assume these are included simply because Microsoft 365 is mentioned.
03 / CYBER SECURITY
Check exactly which security services and tools are included. This may cover EDR, MDR, email security, security monitoring and security awareness training. Ask whether these are part of the monthly service or separately charged add-ons.
04 / BACKUP, MONITORING & RESILIENCE
Understand what’s being monitored and backed up, how alerts are handled and what happens when something fails. The quote should make responsibilities for backup, recovery and ongoing monitoring clear.
05 / TECHNICAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
A managed service should provide more than a helpdesk relationship. Look for regular service reviews, technical recommendations, performance reporting and a named technical or account management contact.
06 / STRATEGY & vCIO
For charities that need longer-term guidance, check whether the service includes strategic IT reviews, budgeting, technology roadmaps, cyber risk discussions and vCIO-level guidance for leadership teams.
The key question isn’t simply “How much does this MSP cost?” It is “What IT, security and strategic responsibilities are actually covered by that price?”
A cheaper quote can become significantly more expensive if essential security tools, projects, out-of-hours support or strategic services are charged separately.
What Would IT Support Cost for a 75-User Charity?
Based on the 2026 ICE benchmark of £50–£120 per user per month, a 75-user charity could expect managed IT support to cost approximately £3,750–£9,000 per month, or £45,000–£108,000 per year.
That is a wide range because managed IT services are not standardised. A lower-cost service may focus primarily on helpdesk support and basic IT management, while a more comprehensive service may combine IT support, Microsoft 365 management, cyber security, monitoring, backup and strategic guidance.
| Example | Per User / Month | 75 Users / Month | Annual Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower-cost service | £50 | £3,750 | £45,000 |
| Mid-range service | £85 | £6,375 | £76,500 |
| Higher-cost service | £120 | £9,000 | £108,000 |
Why might two 75-user charities pay different amounts?
User count is only one part of the calculation. A 75-user charity operating from one location with a straightforward Microsoft 365 environment may have very different requirements from a 75-user charity with multiple sites, remote workers, complex data requirements and a larger cyber security stack.
Before comparing prices, check whether each proposal includes the same support hours, security services, Microsoft 365 management, backup, monitoring and strategic support.
For budgeting purposes, £3,750–£9,000 per month provides a useful 2026 benchmark for a 75-user organisation, but the scope behind the price is more important than the price per user alone.
Why Is Some Managed IT Support Cheaper Than Others?
Managed IT support is cheaper when fewer services, tools or responsibilities are included in the monthly fee. Two MSPs might both describe their service as “fully managed IT support”, but the actual scope can be very different.
A lower price is not necessarily a bad choice. The important thing is to understand what is included, what is excluded and what may be charged separately later.
5 reasons MSP prices can differ
01 / SUPPORT COVERAGE
An MSP providing support during standard business hours will generally have a different cost base from one providing genuine 24/7 support. Check the hours covered and whether evenings, weekends and emergency support attract additional charges.
02 / CYBER SECURITY TOOLS
Some packages include little beyond traditional antivirus, while others may include EDR, MDR, email security, security monitoring and awareness training. These differences can significantly affect both the monthly price and the level of protection.
03 / WHAT COUNTS AS “INCLUDED”
Routine changes, new-user setup, Microsoft 365 administration, device configuration and other common requests may be included by one provider but chargeable by another. Ask for exclusions as well as inclusions.
04 / PROACTIVE VS REACTIVE SUPPORT
Lower-cost services may focus primarily on responding when something goes wrong. More comprehensive services can include monitoring, preventative maintenance, security reviews and ongoing improvements designed to reduce problems before they affect users.
05 / STRATEGIC SUPPORT
Technical account management, vCIO guidance, budgeting, technology roadmaps, governance and regular strategic reviews require additional expertise. These may be included within a comprehensive service, available as an add-on, or absent altogether.
The cheapest quote isn’t necessarily the cheapest service
A £50-per-user quote and a £90-per-user quote cannot be meaningfully compared until you know what each includes. If the lower-priced service requires separate spending on cyber security, backup, monitoring, projects and strategic support, the difference in total cost may be considerably smaller than the headline figures suggest.
For charities comparing MSPs, compare the total service and annual cost — not just the price per user.
How Should a Charity Compare Managed IT Support Quotes?
Charities should compare managed IT support quotes on scope, security, service levels and total annual cost — not simply the price per user. Before selecting an MSP, ask the same questions of every provider so you can make a like-for-like comparison.
01 / What is included in the monthly fee?
Ask for a clear list of included services. This should cover day-to-day support, Microsoft 365 administration, device management, monitoring, user changes and other routine IT tasks.
Also ask the opposite question:
What isn’t included?
That can reveal potential additional costs much faster than reviewing a long list of features.
02 / What cyber security is included?
Don’t assume “managed IT” automatically means comprehensive cyber security.
Ask whether the quote includes EDR, MDR, email security, security monitoring, security awareness training and other controls your organisation requires — and identify which services are optional extras.
03 / What are the support hours and service levels?
Check when users can actually get help.
Compare business-hours support with 24/7 support, and review response targets for different priorities. If your staff or volunteers work outside normal office hours, understand what happens when they need assistance.
04 / What will cost extra?
Ask specifically about projects, onboarding, new devices, office moves, Microsoft 365 changes, out-of-hours work and additional security services.
A useful comparison rule: Put each MSP’s quote into the same six categories — Support, Microsoft 365, Cyber Security, Monitoring & Backup, Strategic Support and Additional Costs. If you cannot clearly determine what’s included in each category, ask for clarification before comparing prices.
A lower monthly fee can look less attractive if routine requirements regularly generate additional invoices.
05 / Who will help us plan, not just fix problems?
Find out whether the relationship includes regular service reviews, technical account management and strategic IT guidance.
For larger charities, this may include vCIO support, technology roadmaps, budgeting, cyber risk reviews and reporting for leadership or trustees.
06 / What evidence can the MSP provide?
Ask prospective providers for evidence relevant to the responsibilities you’re outsourcing.
This could include security certifications, Microsoft credentials, service performance information, customer reviews and examples of work with organisations similar to yours.
At Bunker, we believe charities should be able to understand exactly what they’re buying and why. A well-structured managed IT proposal should make the service scope, security responsibilities and ongoing costs clear before a contract is signed.
For a broader view of how Bunker supports the sector, explore our IT Support for Charities services, including managed IT, cyber security and Microsoft 365 Framework.
How much does managed IT support cost per user in the UK?
Managed IT support typically costs around £50–£120 per user per month in 2026, based on ICE benchmarking across 100 MSPs. Pricing varies depending on support hours, cyber security, Microsoft 365 management, device management and the level of strategic support included.
What should a charity budget for outsourced IT support?
Using the £50–£120 benchmark, a 50-user charity might budget approximately £2,500–£6,000 per month, while a 100-user charity might budget £5,000–£12,000 per month. These are indicative figures; actual costs depend on the organisation’s environment and the services included.
Is cyber security normally included in managed IT support?
Some cyber security may be included, but the scope varies significantly between MSPs. Charities should check whether services such as EDR, MDR, email security, security monitoring and security awareness training are included in the monthly price or charged separately.
Do larger charities pay less per user for IT support?
They can. As the number of supported users increases, some MSPs offer volume-based pricing, which can reduce the average cost per user. However, larger organisations may also have more complex infrastructure, security and governance requirements, so user numbers alone don’t determine the final price.
What should we ask an MSP before accepting an IT support quote?
Ask exactly what is included and excluded, which cyber security services are provided, the support hours and service levels, what generates additional charges, whether strategic IT guidance is included, and what evidence the MSP can provide of its capabilities and experience.
How can Bunker help?
Bunker helps UK charities understand their IT, cyber security and Microsoft 365 requirements before recommending the right level of managed service. If you’re reviewing an existing provider or comparing MSP proposals, we can help you understand what should be included.
