Rather than relying on a subscription that funds access to new features, security updates, and cloud storage, Office 2021 can be purchased for a one-time upfront cost. When Should I Buy Office 2021?Īlthough the tech giant has made it clear that Microsoft 365 remains the optimal choice for most businesses and consumers, October 5 marked the launch of Office 2021. Most importantly, Microsoft 365 placed collaboration and cloud services at the forefront of development. Staying true to Microsoft’s emphasis on continuous innovation, Microsoft 365 brought cohesion to the company’s expansive list of applications and allowed Microsoft to keep its operating system, Office products, management applications, and security features on a unified development path. While, at first, many long-time Office users didn’t understand the change, they quickly found that the subscription model allowed Microsoft to offer more frequent updates and online versions of its beloved productivity software.įast forward to 2020 and Microsoft unveiled yet another reworking of its Office products and new name for the subscription service – Microsoft 365. In 2011, Microsoft released Office 365 a subscription service that completely revoked the ability to pay a single upfront cost for applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. What’s the Difference Between Microsoft 365 & Office 2021?

But, with the launch of Office 2021 on October 5, let’s explore why Microsoft developed the new bundle and who the company is hoping to help. While Office 2021’s one-time fee offers a tempting alternative to Microsoft 365’s subscription-based service, it’s safe to say the new offering is not a replacement for those individuals and businesses in need of collaborative and secure applications.

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