Microsoft Office 365 vs. Office 2021 Professional Plus: what's the difference?

You want Word, Excel and PowerPoint on your computer, but which version should you choose? Microsoft offers two flavours: Office 2021 Professional Plus as a one-off purchase, and Microsoft 365 as a subscription. They look similar, but there are important differences. In this article we calmly explain them, so you make a choice you won’t regret.

Office 2021: pay once, use forever

You buy Office 2021 Professional Plus as a one-off. You pay a fixed amount and can use the software for as long as you like, with no monthly costs. You get the familiar programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Publisher. The version is tied to a single computer and you receive security updates, but no new features. For most people that’s perfectly fine, because the basics hardly change.

This version is ideal if you just create documents, keep your administration in order or prepare presentations, and don’t need the very latest bells and whistles every year.

Microsoft 365: always up to date, plus the cloud

Microsoft 365 is a subscription that you renew each year. You always work with the latest versions of the Office apps and get new features as soon as they’re released. On top of that, it includes cloud storage via OneDrive as standard, so you can find your files anywhere, and you can use the apps across multiple devices.

Do you collaborate a lot, switch between laptop, tablet and phone, or always want the latest updates? Then 365 is the logical choice.

The key differences at a glance

• Office 2021 is a one-off payment, Microsoft 365 is paid annually.
• 365 continually gets new features, 2021 only security updates.
• 365 includes cloud storage and works on more devices at once.
• 2021 is tied to a single PC and simply keeps working.

Which one should you choose?

Choose Office 2021 if you like paying once and mainly use the standard programs. Choose Microsoft 365 if you value the latest features, cloud storage and use across multiple devices. Both are available genuine and legal at Licono, often for a fraction of the recommended retail price.

Curious about the prices? Take a look at our range in the Office collection and find the version that suits you.