Office 2019 and Office 2021 are both one-time purchases, and both are cheaper than Office 2024. So which one is worth your money? The gap is bigger than the version numbers suggest, mostly in Excel.
What's new in Office 2021
- Excel: new functions such as XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays, LET and others that Office 2019 doesn't have. If you use Excel for work, these save hours.
- Co-authoring: several people can edit the same file at once (with OneDrive or SharePoint).
- Modern design: a refreshed look, dark mode and improved Draw tools.
- Better performance with large workbooks and documents.
Where Office 2019 is still fine
- Basic Word, Excel and PowerPoint use
- Older PCs with lower specs
- Offline use where you don't need new features
Support dates matter
| Version | Support |
|---|---|
| Office 2019 | Ended 14 October 2025 |
| Office 2021 | Ends 13 October 2026 |
| Office 2024 | Until 9 October 2029 |
Both keep working after support ends. They just stop getting security patches.
Our recommendation
- Tight budget, light use: Office 2019.
- Best value for office work: Office 2021.
- Want it to last: go directly to Office 2024.
Student or home user? The Home & Student editions cost less:
Office Home & Student 2019โน485.00Frequently asked questions
Does Office 2021 work on Windows 11?
Yes. Office 2019, 2021 and 2024 all work on Windows 10 and 11.
Can I upgrade from Office 2019 to 2021?
You'd uninstall 2019 and install 2021 with a new key. Your files stay.
Is Office 2021 worth buying now?
For the lowest price, yes. For longer support, buy Office 2024.