Office from Microsoft 365
Ongoing payments
Pros
- Six people account sharing
- All apps access
- Free upgrades
- Customer support
- Windows 10, 8, 7, macOS support
Cons
- Monthly/yearly payments
- Constant changes
- Unnecessary cost
- Limited functionality without internet
Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is the best option for anyone who wants all the Office apps and everything the cloud service offers. You can share the account with up to six people. It's also the only offering that provides ongoing updates at a low cost of ownership. However, it's not for everyone since there are monthly or yearly fees, and you could end up paying for features you will never use if you only need essential tools.
Office 2019
Pay once
Pros
- One payment
- Core apps install
- Classic experience
- Security updates
- Windows 10 and macOS support
Cons
- One device license
- Limited features scope
- No upgrades
- No customer support
- No support for older Windows
If you need only the core apps, Office 2019 could be your choice since it comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook to get work done. The caveat is that the upfront cost could be expensive, you have to pay again to upgrade, and you do not get additional features.
If you are new to Microsoft Office or plan to upgrade the apps, you will find two options: Office 2019 and the Office apps from Microsoft 365, making the decision a little more complicated. Although these offerings give you access to the same set of apps, the difference comes down to the list of additional benefits and costs.
What you need to know about Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is the marketing name for the paid service that replaces Office 365. While the service has a different name, you are still getting the same apps available with Office 2019, plus the benefits of the previous name. The only difference is that you will also get a lot of new extras.
Microsoft 365 is the new brand for the paid service that replaces Office 365.
Since this is a subscription-based service, you will be making payments every month (or every year) to use the suite of apps, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and others on all your devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones). Of course, as long as only five devices are accessing the account at one time.
Also, if you get the Family subscription plan, you can share the service with up to five additional users for a total of up to six people with one account.
Perhaps one of the service's most significant advantages is that you never have to worry about upgrades ever again. When you install the Office apps from Microsoft 365, you are always in the latest version. This means that once the apps are installed on the device, they will automatically receive security and maintenance updates, improvements, and new features as soon as they are ready. For instance, once available, you will be able to install the redesigned version of Office on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
You also have access to cloud-based features to enhance your productivity in school, office, and across devices (Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android). Every person you share the account with will get 1TB of OneDrive storage (up to 6TB in total with the Family subscription) and Skype minutes. The subscription also gives you access to the Microsoft support line and chat to resolve any issue with the apps.
If you have a lot of pictures and videos, in addition to the already 1TB of cloud storage, you can purchase up to 1TB of additional OneDrive storage on 200GB increments for an extra $1.99 per month, doubling the total storage capacity to 2TB (1TB already included with the plan and 1TB with the additional plan) for $9.99 per month. The option is available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family members. However, if you have the Family plan, only the primary account holder can get the additional storage.
Who should buy Microsoft 365?
If you must have everything included with this bundle, Microsoft 365 is the best option since you get all the apps to install on every device (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and macOS). It's also the only option that provides continuous updates at a low cost of ownership. In contrast, Office 2019 only allows you to install the apps on one computer running Windows 10, and you have to pay again for upgrades.
If you need access to the suite of apps, Microsoft 365 is perhaps your best choice.
The cloud service option comes in two flavors. If you would be the only one using the apps and cloud services, you can get the "Microsoft 365 Personal" (formerly "Office 365 Personal") plan for $70 a year (or $7/month), which gives you access to all the apps, alongside 1TB of OneDrive storage.
If you want to share the subscription with family or friends, the "Microsoft 365 Family" (formerly "Office 365 Home") plan is the option you want to choose. It costs $100 per year ($10/month), you can share (using the "Services & subscriptions" tab in your Microsoft account online) the apps and benefits with up to six family members and friends, and everyone gets their own 1TB of OneDrive storage. Also, they can access the services on up to five devices at the same time.
Whatever plan you select, you will have access to the additional services, including the Microsoft Family Safety experience to manage screen time, app and game usage, share location, monitor driving behavior for young drivers, and a lot more.
Other premium features include Microsoft Editor for grammar checking, spelling, and writing style using AI assistance (similar to Grammarly) and other AI-based creative tools. For example, PowerPoint Presenter Coach to help you practice presentations and Designer to help you create effective slide presentations. Resume Assistant to write the best resumes in Word with insights powered by Microsoft LinkedIn. Also, there's Money in Excel to view, track, and organize household finances. You will also be getting access to creative content like icons, fonts, stock photos, and premium templates for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
The subscription unlocks the premium version of Outlook.com, which features everything available with the free version, plus 50GB of storage, no ads, message encryption, and enhanced security. As a paid member, you will also get access to special offers from Microsoft partners.
Some services bundled with Microsoft 365 are also available without a subscription using a Microsoft account, but they have limited functionalities that can be unlocked only with a subscription.
When you choose one of the subscriptions, you should get the yearly plan to save money, plus you do not have to worry about payments for a least a year.
Microsoft also offers the service at no extra cost using a valid school email address if you are a student or teacher. This plan lets you install Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, and other school tools on your computer for free.
Windows 7 is no longer supported, but Microsoft will continue to offer security updates for the Office apps until January 2023. However, new features won't be available until you upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11 (once released).
What you need to know about Office 2019
Microsoft Office 2019 is the name for the standalone version of the suite of apps that does not require a subscription. This means that you own the copy forever after the one-time purchase.
The standalone version (also referred to as the "on-premises" or "perpetual" version) lets you install and update the Office apps on one device, but you cannot upgrade to the next version. In other words, you can continue to use the apps for their lifecycle (usually five years) and beyond (without updates). However, if you want to upgrade from Office 2019 to the upcoming Office 2021, for example, you will have to purchase the software again.
Office 2019 comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, but it includes only a limited scope of features and does not have the same benefits available with a Microsoft 365 subscription. For example, you won't find cloud and AI-based features alongside other services, such as the premium version of "Outlook.com" and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage.
Who should buy Office 2019?
The Microsoft Office 2019 bundle was thought out for commercial customers with volume licenses that are not ready to transition to cloud-based applications and have specific requirements to use the suite on-premise. However, anyone can purchase this product.
Anyone can purchase Office 2019, but this version has been designed for certain commercial customers.
If you consider yourself a home user, this option makes sense only if you want a more traditional approach and can afford the upfront cost. It may also be a good choice if you plan to use the apps on a single computer. You do not need additional features or are not ready for the Microsoft 365 subscription.
Although you are only purchasing one license for one Windows 10 or macOS computer with this product, you can also install the Office apps on your mobile device, but with limited functionalities.
Office 2019 comes in two flavors, including Office Home & Student 2019 and Office Home & Business 2019, and they are usually priced at $150 and $250, respectively. Office Home & Student 2019 comes with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while Office Home & Business 2019 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Unlike previous versions, Office 2019 is only supported on Windows 10 or the three most recent versions of macOS. If you want to install Office on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you will have to use a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Office 2019 vs. Microsoft 365: Which should you buy?
The final decision depends on how much you need from the apps and the cloud service. If you plan to stay with Office for many years, the Microsoft 365 subscription is perhaps your best option. The reason is that with the subscription, you will get full access to the apps and benefits at a low cost of ownership.
Subscription-based
Microsoft 365
Get more and stay productive with the latest features
Microsoft 365 gives you access to all the Office apps and extra features, such as 1TB of OneDrive, Outlook premium, Skype minutes, and AI-based features. You can also install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other apps on up to six devices, and you can share the subscription with up to six people (using the Family plan), and they can use the service on up to five devices at the same time.
One-time purchase
Office 2019
Pay once and use it forever
Office 2019 includes all the popular apps, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with all the features you need to get work done.
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