Unlike previous versions, Office 2021 is only supported on Windows 11, Windows 10, or the three most recent versions of macOS. Office Professional 2021 comes with all the apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. Office Home & Student 2021 comes with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while Office Home & Business 2021 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Office 2021 comes in three flavors, including Office Home & Student 2021, Office Home & Business 2021, and Office Professional 2021, and they are usually priced at $150, $250, and $440, respectively. It may also be a good choice if you plan to use the apps on one device, do not need additional features, or are not ready for the Microsoft 365 subscription.Īlthough you are only purchasing one license for one Windows 11, Windows 10, or macOS computer with this product, you can also install the apps on your phone, but with limited functionalities. If you are a home user, this option makes sense only if you don't mind the upfront cost and want a more traditional experience. However, anyone who doesn't like a subscription can purchase this offering.Īnyone can purchase Office 2021, but this version has been designed for certain commercial customers. The Microsoft Office 2021 bundle was designed for commercial customers with volume licenses who are not ready for cloud applications and have specific requirements to use the suite on-premise. For instance, you won't find cloud and AI-based features or other services like the premium version of '' and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage. Office 2021 comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook (only on the business version), but it includes only a limited scope of features, and it does not have the same benefits available with a Microsoft 365 subscription. However, when it comes the time to upgrade to a newer version, you will have to purchase the product again. In other words, you can continue to use the apps through their lifecycle (usually five years) and beyond (without updates).

However, you cannot upgrade to the next version.

The standalone version of Office (also referred to as the 'perpetual' or 'on-premises' version) allows you to install and update the apps on one device. Microsoft Office 2021 is the name for the standalone version of the apps, and it's the offering that does not require a subscription, which means you own the copy forever after the one-time purchase. Although these offerings give you access to the same set of apps, the difference comes down to the list of benefits and costs. If you are new to Microsoft Office or plan to install the most popular suite of apps, you will find two products, including Office 2021 and the Office apps from Microsoft 365, making the decision a little more complicated.

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