Microsoft

Microsoft 365 (Subscription)

  • You pay monthly or annually to subscribe. Microsoft Support+2Microsoft+2

  • Includes the latest Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) plus cloud services (OneDrive storage, Teams, real-time collaboration) and new features including AI enhancements like Copilot. PCWorld+1

  • You get continuous feature updates and upgrades — you always have the newest version. PCWorld+1

  • Ideal if you need multi-device support, collaboration, regular new features and cloud services.

Perpetual Licences (One-Time Purchase) – e.g., Office Home 2024, Office Home & Business 2024

  • You pay once and own that version forever (you’re not paying a subscription). For example, Office Home 2024 is a one-time purchase for one PC or Mac. Microsoft+2Microsoft+2

  • Includes classic desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Outlook only in some editions like Home & Business) but does not include many of the cloud-services or continuous feature updates that a subscription offers. Microsoft Q&A+1

  • You’ll receive security updates for a period, but to get a future major version you’d need to buy again. PCWorld+1

  • Best when you prefer a fixed, one-time cost, work offline, and don’t need the latest features or heavy cloud/collaboration usage.