October 5th 2021 didn’t just mark the launch of Windows 11. On the day Microsoft released their latest operating system, they also released a product in one of their most popular lines. The latest standalone version of Microsoft Office is here – Office 2021.
Find out what’s new in Office 2021, and if it is the right version of Microsoft Office for you or your business.
Office 2021
Office 2021 is the successor to the version launched three years prior – Office 2019. Office 2019 will be supported by Microsoft until October 10th 2023, with extended support available until 2025.
With Office 2021, users will be supported until October 13th 2026 – but for the first time Microsoft wont be offering extended support on the standalone version of Office.
Office 2021 Price
Office 2021 is a one-off purchase. There are a few versions of the software available, each with a different price point. Prices are:
| Type | Price |
| Office Home & Student 2021 | £119.99 |
| Office Home & Business 2021 | £249.99 |
| Office Professional 2021 | £419.99 |
Each version comes with a single license for one PC or mac user. And what are the different apps included in each version?
| Type | Apps Included |
| Office Home & Student 2021 | Word
PowerPoint Excel |
| Office Home & Business 2021 | Word
PowerPoint Excel Outlook |
| Office Professional 2021 | Word
PowerPoint Excel Outlook Access Publisher |
Office 2021 vs Microsoft 365
At first glance, Office 2021 appears very similar to another product – Microsoft 365. But what are the differences between the two?
Microsoft 365 is a subscription that comes with premium apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access (Publisher and Access available on PC only). The apps can be installed on multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, Android tablets and Android phones. Microsoft 365 also comes with services like 1 TB of OneDrive storage, 60 Skype minutes per month and Microsoft chat and phone support. With a subscription, you get the latest versions of the apps and automatically receive updates when they happen.
Office 2021 is a one-time purchase that comes with classic apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint for PC or Mac, and does not include any of the services that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription. One-time purchases don’t have an upgrade option, which means if you plan to upgrade to the next major release, you’ll have to buy it at full price.
Office Professional 2021 vs Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Let’s compare the top of the range standalone version with the equivalent monthly subscription.
| Office Professional 2021 | Microsoft 365 Business Premium | |
| Price | £419.00 | £15.10 (per month) |
Apps included:
| Office Professional 2021 | Microsoft 365 Business Premium | |
| Word | ✓ | ✓ |
| PowerPoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Excel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outlook | ❌ | ✓ |
| OneDrive | ❌ | ✓ |
| SharePoint | ❌ | ✓ |
| Teams | ❌ | ✓ |
| Exchange | ❌ | ✓ |
| Publisher | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Intune | ❌ | ✓ |
| Defender | ❌ | ✓ |
| Azure Information Protection | ❌ | ✓ |
| Azure AD | ❌ | ✓ |
| Azure Virtual Desktop | ❌ | ✓ |
Breaking down the cost, buying a paying for two years of Business Premium costs less than the Office Professional license, and gives you access to significantly more applications, including all the benefits.
Another benefit of a Microsoft 365 subscription over Office 2021 is the regular updates. Microsoft regularly updates Microsoft 365 packages, with the latest features and security patches. The feature updates won’t be applied to one-off purchases.
Is Office 2021 right for me?
If you want to make a one-off purchase and have the familiar, basic Office applications on your PC, Office 2021 is a great option for you. But if you want all the latest features and to benefit from the power of the Cloud, you may be better off looking at a Microsoft 365 subscription.
