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Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021: Differences & Buying Tips

Decoding your software dilemma!

9 min. read

Updated onJuly 17, 2024

updated onJuly 17, 2024

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Key notes

Microsoft is renowned for its Office suite, a robust set of productivity tools ideal for individuals and business users.

In this guide, we will delve into the distinctions between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021, the most recent versions of Office Suite, to help you understand the differences between them so that you can make an informed decision.

Are Office 2021 and Office 365 the same?

No, Office 2021 and Office 365 are not the same. The Office 2021 is a one-time purchase that lets you access basic Office apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, on one computer.

Office 365 is a subscription service that ensures you get the updated version of productivity tools available in the suite, along with cloud integration and additional features.

What are the Differences between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021?

Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021: Price Comparison

Office 2021 is a perpetual license and comes in three different versions; here are the version name and their prices:

On the other hand, Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based model with many variants and plans to choose from. The business plans can be purchased for up to 300 users, whereas the Personal and Family ones are available for 1 and 6 people.

Here are the other details:

Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021: Version Comparison

Microsoft 365 Business and Standard, Family, and Personal editions allow you to access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other apps on your desktop. The rest of the Microsoft 365 versions provide web and mobile app access.

On the other hand, all three versions of Office 2021 allow you to download the classic Desktop versions for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. And, with Office Professional, you get two additional apps, Publisher and Access.

All the versions ofMicrosoft 365(earlier known as Office 365) enable you to download mobile apps for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook on your iPhone, Android, and iPad.

Additionally, you can download Microsoft Teams, One Drive, SharePoint, and Exchange apps for Business Standard, Business Premium, and Apps for Business versions.

If we talk about operating system compatibility, all the Microsoft 365 versions can be downloaded on:

For Office 2021 can be installed on the devices with the following:

To learn aboutOffice version compatibility, you can check this guide.

If we talk about the changes throughout the years of Microsoft Office since its inception, it would not be wrong to say that it has come a long way. Here’s an overview of the changes over time:

In 2019, Microsoft introduced the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) for Office 2019 for organizations who prefer stability with less frequent updates & a fixed set of apps & features.

As the name suggests, the LTSC versions support a longer support lifecycle and are intended for environments where strict regulatory needs are essential to maintain control over software updates.

Remember that if you choose the LTSC version of Microsoft Office, you might be unable to use the latest features, cloud-based services, or other collaboration tools.

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 2021: Feature Comparison

Can you switch from Microsoft 365 to Office 2021?

You can switch from Microsoft 365 to Office 2021 or vice versa. Still, you need to cancel the subscription plan, backup your data, uninstall Microsoft 365, register & purchase 2021 via yourMicrosoft account, and install the new software suite from the download link on your account.

To subscribe to Microsoft 365 services and get extra features, you need to abandon your Office 2021 license, uninstall it from your machine, get a plan as per requirements, and download & install the apps from your Microsoft account to get started!

Remember, understanding your requirements while purchasing any of the software is important. If you are a single user and don’t want continuous updates, you can choose Office 2021.

However, if you want to get the latest features and updates from Microsoft and enjoy using collaboration features and cloud storage, then Microsoft 365 is the right choice. If you want to know how toget this Office suite at a cheaper price, read this guide.

If you are an MSP, you might also be interested in ourguide about Microsoft 365 Lighthouseand its security services.

To learn even more, we have a great guide on thelist of Microsoft Office programsavailable in different versions, so you might want to check it out.

If you have any other questions or suggestions about these products, please mention them in the comments section below.

Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021: Differences & Buying Tips#

What are the Differences between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021?#

Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021: Price Comparison#

Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021: Version Comparison#

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 2021: Feature Comparison#

Can you switch from Microsoft 365 to Office 2021?#