Office 2021 launched alongside Windows 11 in the month of October 2021. This is the most current version of Microsoft’s 30-year-old productivity suite. If you go to the Microsoft site, you’ll find that they’re also providing Microsoft 365.
It’s possible that you’re wondering, “Why is Microsoft offering two versions of the same software?” So, to clarify your doubts Here’s the full breakdown of Microsoft 365 as well as Office 2021.
One-Time Purchase in contrast to. Subscription
The Office 2021 edition is the single purchase version of Microsoft’s Office suite. It is available in two versions: Home & Student 2021 and Home & Business 2021. The first, at $149.99 includes the Desktop versions that include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote as well as the latter cost $249.99 includes Outlook in the mix.
This Home & Business 2021 license permits you to utilize the apps for company use.
Microsoft 365, the subscription-based office suite, comes in two versions which are Personal and Family. The Personal plan is priced at $69.99 each year (or $6.99 per month) and the Family option is $99.99 for the year (or $9.99 per month).
The initial expense in both editions of Office 2021 is significantly higher than Microsoft 365’s services. Since it’s a single purchase, you’ll only need to spend on the application once. In contrast you’ll need spend the $69.99 annual fee if you’re purchasing Microsoft 365 Personal.
In less than two years, you’d have paid more than if you had chosen Microsoft 365 Personal over Office Home & Student 2021. If you choose one of the Microsoft 365 Family plan and you have six members sharing it for the first time, you’d just $16.67 per person. It will take at least 9 years to get the price for your Microsoft 365 to equal the cost of the equivalent amount of Office 2021 licenses.
Classic Vs. Premium Versions
If you opt for Office 2021, you’ll receive the 2021 versions for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (included with Microsoft’s Home & Business version). However, if you choose Microsoft 365, you will be able to download the 365 versions these applications.
What’s the main different in these two applications? There’s currently no significant difference between the two versions regarding features mainly since Office 2021 was just recently launched.
But when you purchase the Classic 2021 edition there will be no additional updates or features in the near future. The features you are seeing now is what you’ll receive. However with the Premium version of 365 it is possible to update your installed apps each time Microsoft announces an update or a new feature.
For instance, Excel 365 received the XLOOKUP function in August of 2019. However, if you’re using the version that was released in 2019 of Microsoft Excel, you won’t be able to access this feature in any way. Instead, you’ll only be able to access it on the more recent Excel Version 2021.
Additional Applications and Services
In addition to Word, Excel, PowerPoint along with OneNote and OneNote, when you sign up for Microsoft 365, you’ll also gain accessibility to Skype as well as OneDrive. With Skype you’ll receive the monthly amount of calls to international destinations up to 60 minutes. In addition, with OneDrive it comes with 1TB of storage for each individual user. If your family account is used by six people You will receive the cloud’s capacity of 6TB.
A 365 subscription includes Microsoft Access and Publisher when you download it. If you’re using these programs, you should think about purchasing 365 instead.
Additionally you can also use Microsoft 365, each person can download all Office apps on up five distinct devices of any configuration.
If you own an MacBook or an office Windows PC or an iPhone or an Android device, or an iPad it is possible to install Office Suite on each of these devices, without paying an additional fee.
If you’re on an extended family plan that includes six people, you can download every one of the Microsoft 365 apps on up to 30 devices.
Additional Microsoft 365 Benefits
In addition to the apps and services in the above list, you have access to a variety of options. Microsoft 365 allows you to incorporate royalty-free creative content directly into your website, including images, icons and templates, fonts and many more.
Additionally, you can avail AI-powered tools such as PowerPoint Presenter Coach, PowerPoint presenter coach, resume assistant Designer Ideas, and more. These added features make your life easier , by making use of AI to assist you in getting tasks done in a timely manner.
For instance, Word can detect if you’re writing a resume. Word will provide templates to help you improve the quality of your resume. Ideas suggest layouts and photos when creating presentations. Also, Designer assists you in choosing the best the right format that you can use in your Word document, and ensures it’s the same across every page.
Are Microsoft 365 the better option?
After listing all the benefits you will get from Microsoft 365 over cheap Office 2021 it’s easy to conclude that opting for the former is an obvious option. However, it’s not so simple.
If you’re the kind of person who has the computer for a period of two years or more but don’t need cloud storage, and just utilize the basics that are offered by Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and Excel, then you’re better off for Office 2021. This version is ideal for those who are young or retired who aren’t frequently using these applications and aren’t typically linked to internet.
Professionals who have company-owned devices can choose the one-purchase option, particularly when they do not use the apps in their job.
If, however, you can join at least two people that will use the Microsoft 365 plan for at minimum three years, you’re probably better off with an annual subscription.
This is because you’ll pay $150 over the course of three years and that’s the exact cost if you opt for the single purchase Office Home & Student 2021. With this plan you’ll receive additional advantages, such as Cloud storage and international calling, and many more.
There’s a reason it’s not That Simple
Prior to deciding on one over another because you’re interested in all the additional features or do not like paying for subscriptions, contemplate the options. Think about, “Which one offers the most value to me?” After all, just like the various other areas of your life, there’s not a one size fits all solution.
If you’ve thought about your needs and what you’d prefer to use the office suite for, the features are really needed and what options you have, you’ll be able to make the right choice to fit your preferences.
