The Microsoft Office software package can be obtained in two ways: as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription, or by purchasing Office 2021 for Windows or Mac. The choice depends on which solution best suits the needs of the user...

The Office 2021 is a traditional single premium product with no expiry date. In contrast, Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based model that provides ongoing access to the latest version of Office for a monthly or annual fee. A Microsoft 365 subscription includes 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage and access to Office apps on iPhone, Android and iPad.

Microsoft 365 subscriptions are available for individuals or families of up to six. Each user can install Office applications on five different devices. Office 2021 is available as a "boxed copy" or digital download. At the time of writing, the Office Home & Student 2021 is priced at £53,990, while the Office Home & Business 2021 costs £109,999.

Office Home & Student 2021 includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint and supports Windows 11, Windows 10 and macOS operating systems. This release does not include Microsoft Outlook and is not for commercial use. Office 2021 can be used indefinitely, but users must pay for new versions when they are released. Security updates for Office 2021 will end on 13 October 2026. Office 2021 can only be installed on one Windows PC or Mac at a time.

Microsoft 365 Home, formerly Office 365 Home, is designed for families of six. The annual fee for Microsoft 365 Home at SoftDirect is 43 650 HUF at the time of writing. Microsoft 365 Home also includes additional features such as the Microsoft Family Safety parental control tool. Microsoft aims to gradually phase out the single-fee Office versions in favour of subscriptions in the future.

Other benefits of a Microsoft 365 subscription include Microsoft Editor, Outlook, Publisher, Access and the ability to install applications on up to five devices at once. The Microsoft 365 subscription model therefore offers a higher level of flexibility and access to the latest software and services, while the one-time Office 2021 solution is a simpler, longer-term investment with no expiry date.

For enterprises and larger organizations, Microsoft offers volume licensing options for Office Standard and Professional Plus versions. These versions offer functionality and applications specifically tailored to your business needs and infrastructure.

Office Standard volume licensing generally includes the most important office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Publisher. It provides business users with the essential office applications to enable employees to collaborate and perform their tasks efficiently.

The Office Professional Plus version offers a wider range of applications and services. Compared to the Standard version, it also includes additional applications such as Access (database manager), Skype for Business (business communication tool) and InfoPath (forms management and data collection application). Office Professional Plus is thus able to serve more complex business needs and is ideal for larger companies and organisations.

The choice therefore depends primarily on individual preferences and needs. If the user wants to keep up to date with the latest Office applications and services, and take advantage of cloud hosting and other additional features, a Microsoft 365 subscription may be the better choice. If, on the other hand, the user only wants to use basic office applications and does not expect to update the software frequently, Office 2021 may be the more cost-effective option.