Microsoft offers Office as a one-time purchase (Office 2021, Office 2024) or a subscription (Microsoft 365). Here's how to choose.
Quick comparison
| Office 2021 | Office 2024 | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment | One-time | One-time | Yearly |
| Devices | 1 PC | 1 PC | Up to 5 at once |
| New features | No | No | Always the latest |
| Cloud storage | — | — | 1 TB OneDrive |
| Microsoft support ends | 13 Oct 2026 | 9 Oct 2029 | Ongoing |
Which should you buy?
- Office 2024 — best one-time option for a new PC, with support until 2029. Office 2024 key →
- Office 2021 — lowest one-time price for everyday Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Note that Microsoft support ends on 13 October 2026. Office 2021 key →
- Microsoft 365 — best if you use several devices, need OneDrive storage or want the newest features. Microsoft 365 →
Does Office work on Mac?
Yes — choose an Office for Mac edition or Microsoft 365, which works on Windows and macOS. Office for Mac →