In short: choose Office 2024 if you want Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on a Windows PC, paid for once, with no subscription. Choose Microsoft 365 if you need Office on several devices (Mac, tablet, phone), plenty of OneDrive storage or Copilot AI features.
The differences at a glance
| Office 2024 Professional Plus | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Once | Monthly or annual subscription |
| Duration | Perpetual | As long as the subscription is paid |
| Applications | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access | The same, plus new features as they come |
| New features | No, security updates only | Yes, continuously |
| OneDrive storage | 5 GB free with a Microsoft account | 1 TB per user |
| Devices | 1 Windows PC | PCs, Macs, tablets and phones |
| Copilot | No | Depending on the plan |
| Microsoft support | Until October 2029 | Ongoing |
The cost over time
Microsoft 365 is paid every year. Office 2024 is paid for once and can be used for as long as you like, with security fixes until October 2029. At the price of an Office 2024 key from us, the perpetual licence costs less than a single year of subscription: for office use on a single PC, it's the most economical option.
Office 2024 is for you if…
- you work on a Windows PC (laptop or desktop);
- you use Office for documents, spreadsheets, presentations and email;
- you don't want a subscription;
- you run a business that prefers a fixed version, approved once and for all. Professional Plus includes Access for databases.
Microsoft 365 is for you if…
- you also work on a Mac, tablet or phone;
- you often co-edit documents online and need 1 TB of storage;
- you want Copilot and always the latest version.
Still on Office 2016, 2019 or 2021?
Office 2016 and Office 2019 have not received security updates since 14 October 2025. Office 2021 followed on 13 October 2026. These versions still work, but every vulnerability discovered in Word, Excel or Outlook stays open, and these are the applications that open the most attachments. Office 2024 is the current perpetual version, supported until October 2029.
Frequently asked questions
Does Office 2024 Professional Plus work on Mac?
No. Office 2024 Professional Plus is designed for Windows 10 and Windows 11. On a Mac, Microsoft 365 is the simplest solution.
Can I open a Microsoft 365 user's files with Office 2024?
Yes. The .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formats are the same. Only a few recent features, reserved for subscribers, are not available.
Does Office 2024 receive updates?
Yes, security and stability updates until October 2029, but no new features.
Do I need to uninstall Office 2021 before installing Office 2024?
Yes, it's best to: two versions of Office installed on the same PC get in each other's way. Your documents are not affected by the uninstall.
To install step by step, follow our guide Install and activate Office 2024 Professional Plus. To buy: Office 2024 Professional Plus for 1 PC, volume licence for 5 to 100 PCs, or the Windows 11 Pro + Office 2024 bundle.