Which one should you use?

Even with suitable alternatives out there, Microsoft Office remains the undisputed king of productivity suites and a choice for consumers, professionals and businesses to create compelling documents, build powerful spreadsheets or design attention-grabbing presentations. However, the way we access Microsoft productivity tools is changing.

The software giant now offers two distinct paths: the subscription model for Microsoft 365 or the one-time purchase of Office 2024. So which is the best choice? In this guide, we’ll dive into both offerings and explore their features, pricing, and benefits to help you make an informed decision.

Office 2024 vs. Microsoft 365: What’s included?

Let’s start with the basics first. A Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription unlocks access to the following apps and services on your PC and Mac.

• Desktop versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Outlook
• Availability on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets
• Microsoft Defender advanced security for your personal data and devices
• Microsoft Editor with advanced spelling, grammar and writing help
• Clipchamp video editor with premium filters and effects
• Expanded content library with high quality photos, icons, fonts, videos and audio
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Forms
• Microsoft Copilot (extra add-on)

Office Home 2024 only offers desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. And if you also want Outlook, be sure to choose the Office Home & Business 2024 license (more on that in the pricing section).

As you can see by comparing the lists above, Office 2024 doesn’t hold a candle to Microsoft 365 in terms of the apps and services offered.

Functions

Microsoft has done an excellent job of adding new features to Office 2024. It now carries a new Office theme with fluid design principles, improved accessibility tools, the ability to insert images from a mobile device, support for the OpenDocument Format, dynamic charts, text and array functions, presentations with a cameo, recording studio in PowerPoint and more.

Note that you will not get additional features via updates with your Office 2024 license. You will get frequent updates, but they will mainly focus on security. If you plan to use Copilot with your Office desktop apps, you must also use Microsoft 365. There is no way to enable Copilot in Office 2024.

Cloud storage and collaboration

This is where you’ll find major differences between Office 2024 and Microsoft 365. All Microsoft 365 subscriptions (Personal, Family, or Business) come with 1 TB of OneDrive storage. This should be plenty of space to store your files in the cloud, freeing up storage space on your local hard drive.

OneDrive seamlessly syncs your files across all your devices. You can make tweaks to a document or presentation on your desktop and it will automatically update on your laptop or tablet.

Microsoft 365 can also handle Office 2024 in terms of real-time co-authoring. You can invite others to your Excel workbook, work simultaneously, track changes in real time and have efficient and transparent collaboration. The same perks simply aren’t available in Office 2024, which offers a local copy.

Updates

As mentioned, Office 2024 users will not receive any major feature updates. You will only have access to the included features available at the time of release. However, Microsoft is committed to supporting it with at least five years of security updates to fix any vulnerabilities or flaws.

On the other hand, Microsoft 365 will receive frequent updates with new features and security additions. One downside, however, is that you often have to deal with update pop-ups. It can also take a while to install major updates to your Office suite, which sometimes affects your workflow.

The 365 plan also requires an internet connection at times to verify the status of your active subscription status. Office 2024 requires no internet connection at all and can be used completely offline.

Pricing

Let’s finish the comparison with price differences. Office Home 2024 is priced at $150 as a one-time purchase. You can use it on a single PC or Mac. Office Home & Business 2024 costs $250 and unlocks Outlook and other goodies across desktop apps.

Microsoft 365 Personal plan starts at $7 per month or $70 per year. The family plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year. You can share it with up to five other people, with everyone getting 1 TB of OneDrive storage (6 TB total). Each person can use desktop apps on up to five devices simultaneously.

Cloud vs. desktop software

Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 may look similar on paper. But when you dig deeper, you will understand the differences between the two. Ultimately, choosing between them depends on your needs and priorities. If you value cost-effectiveness and only essential features, Office 2024 may be the way to go if you prefer to stick with a one-time purchase.

On the flip side, if you crave the latest features, OneDrive cloud storage, collaboration, and flexibility, Microsoft 365 offers a more compelling package at an affordable subscription price. Choose and access powerful tools to complete your tasks and achieve your goals. If you’re looking for a free Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 alternative, try LibreOffice.