Microsoft Office

We compare the different options available in the Microsoft Office Suite – from subscriptions to one-time licenses to help you discover the perfect plan for your budget and productivity needs.

Choosing the Right Microsoft Office Suite for You

Microsoft offers a number of different licenses to choose from, with options made to fit the individual home user, busy families, and businesses of all sizes.

If you’re having trouble deciding which product or license is right for you, I hope that the comparison tables on this page will help.

The first thing to decide is whether you want to opt-in for a subscription to Microsoft 365 or you’d prefer a single payment. I have an in-depth guide on this topic which touches upon the pros and cons of each option right here.

Short on time? I recommend either Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace subscription-based licenses for most users because I’m a huge fan of working in the cloud, and the added security delivered in the form of ongoing updates is important in today’s digital landscape.

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Microsoft 365 for Home Use

Microsoft 365 Personal

$69.99/year

Or buy at $6.99 per month

  • Single-person license
  • Premium Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneNote
  • Premium Outlook email
  • 1TB OneDrive cloud storage
  • Compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
  • Advanced security, ongoing technical support

Microsoft 365 Family

$99.99/year

or buy at $9.99 per month

  • 2-6 person license
  • Premium Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneNote
  • Premium Outlook email
  • 6TB OneDrive cloud storage (1TB per person)
  • Compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
  • Advanced security, ongoing technical support
  • Microsoft Family Safety mobile app*

Office Home & Student 2021

$149.99

one-time purchase

  • Single license for 1 PC or Mac
  • Classic Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneNote
* You can learn more about the Microsoft Family Safety mobile app on the official Microsoft site right here.

So, Which Should You Choose For Personal Use?

The short side-by-side comparison between Microsoft Office suite personal plans you just reviewed may be all you need to narrow the choice for yourself or for your family.

But if you’re still unsure, hopefully the guidance I’ll share below will help you settle on the best fit for you home:

Personal

Microsoft 365 Personal vs Family vs Office Home & Student 2021 If you’re looking for a license for yourself as an individual, I recommend the Microsoft 365 Personal license.

For most people the sticking point that makes it tough to commit to Microsoft 365 personal is the annual subscription. For years Microsoft Office was purchased as a one-time license. That one payment would last about as long as your computer, and maybe it was included when you bought your PC. The subscription model is tough to transition to if that’s where you’re coming from.

But for most people the premium, cloud-based apps, cloud storage, and added security from updates (and the fact that your license and all of your work will stay with you for years) makes up for the added expense.

And the cost works out to be closer than you’d think. Currently the Office Home & Student licenses are updated every 2 years or so, meaning you’d pay about the same amount to keep that up-to-date, and choosing the one-time purchase means you forego premium apps and access to the cloud.

Family

If you want to hook your entire household up with access to Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity suite, Microsoft 365 Family is an incredible value. Up to 6 family members can enjoy access across their devices for about $100 a year.

Microsoft 365 Family vs Personal

Included 1TB of cloud storage per person (6TB total) makes this a truly incredible value, and it’s the option that most families will choose.

And for additional context on this offer … if you buy OneDrive space in 100GB units, Microsoft charges $1.99/month per 100GB. That’s $19.90/month per TB, or $238.80/year for 1 TB of cloud storage in OneDrive. So when you look at the value of 6TB for under $100, and add in the productivity apps, email, and other features of Microsoft 365 family, the value of this license for your family is immediately apparent.

Office Home & Student

If you’re a traditionalist, and you like the idea of simply buying desktop software that you know and love for your PC at home, then Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 is a good choice.

This option requires a one-time purchase, and then you own that license for life, meaning that even if you need to replace your computer, you can just re-download MS Office using your license key and you’re good to go.

The drawback is that after a while you will stop receiving security and product updates, the apps are not premium (as they are in Microsoft 365 subscriptions), and your work will all be saved locally instead of securely in the cloud. But some people like that, and if you want to kick it old-school, this is the option for you.

Microsoft 365 for Business

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

$5.00

per user / per month

(paid annually, auto-renews)

A great start:

  • 1 TB cloud storage
  • Business email
  • Standard security
  • Chat, call, meet (up to 300 attendees)
  • Phone & web support anytime

Web & Mobile Apps Included:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

$12.50

per user / per month

(paid annually, auto-renews)

Everything in Business Basic, plus:

  • Desktop versions of Office apps (premium features)
  • Webinar hosting
  • Attendee reporting & registration tools
  • Manage customer appointments

Web & Mobile Apps Included:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only)

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

$20.00

per user / per month

(paid annually, auto-renews)

Everything in Business Standard, plus:

  • Advanced security
  • Access & data control
  • Cyberthreat Protection

Web & Mobile Apps Included:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only), Intune, Azure Information Protection

Microsoft 365 Business Apps-Only

$8.25

per user / per month

(paid annually, auto-renews)

Everything you need, nothing you don’t:

  • 1 TB cloud storage
  • Desktop versions of Office apps (premium features)
  • Standard security
  • Phone & web support anytime

Desktop Apps Included:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, Access (PC only), Publisher (PC only)

So, Which Should You Choose For Your Business?

The short side-by-side comparison between Microsoft Office suite business plans may be all you need to narrow your choice. But if you’re still unsure, hopefully the guidance I can share below will help you settle on the best fit for your business:

Business Basic

A great choice if you’re on a budget and need access to professional communication tools (video conferencing, email) in addition to a suite of cloud-based productivity tools for your team.

You won’t beat the price at just $5 per user, per month. And if you’re ok with foregoing access to Microsoft Office Suite’s desktop apps and working in the cloud, 365 Business Basic is a great place to get your feet wet.

Business Standard

Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs Standard vs Premium vs Apps If you want desktop applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) for your team in addition to the cloud-based version of these tools then Business Standard is a better choice.

The ability to host webinars, record virtual meeting attendance and registration, and make appointments (either for your virtual or brick-and-mortar business), makes Business Standard a better license for many businesses, but really it’s the combination of the desktop and cloud-based productivity apps that make Microsoft 365 Business Standard the most popular choice for many businesses looking to split the difference between what you pay and what you get.

If you’re on the fence and don’t feel you need enhanced security at your place of business, then this is probably the best choice for you.

Business Premium

Larger businesses who take cybersecurity seriously will want to invest the extra money in a Business Premium license for Microsoft 365.

Whether you’re concerned about protecting internal files and data, or want to secure customer and client records from exposure to cyber-criminals, the Premium license may be the best fit for businesses that prioritize data security.

Save Money With a Microsoft Business Apps Only License

Business Apps Only

Sometimes your team members don’t need access to the cloud, and anything beyond the Microsoft productivity tools they know and love for their desktop (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive and more) is overkill.

Using the Apps-Only business license for these members of your team is a great cost-saving strategy that will allow you to scale your team on a budget. These are desktop-only licenses, so keep that in mind.

Read the Latest Articles About MS Office

My latest articles about selecting and working with different Microsoft Office licenses and products to help you choose the right fit for you.

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