If you’re looking to upgrade your Microsoft Office apps, you might be puzzled by the many options available. In this article, we’ll take you through the 2 major versions of Office offered by Microsoft, Office desktop and Office 365.
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Office 2019
Office 2019 is the desktop version of Microsoft Office. You can purchase it and install it once on your PC or Mac. Once installed, you have lifetime access to the program. You don’t have to pay a monthly fee to keep using it. You can install popular Microsoft Office apps on your PC or Mac with this on-premise or perpetual version, and you’ll receive regular security updates.
While you can use this version of Office forever, you won’t be able to access updates that are released in later years. If you want to use the new features of Office that come out, you’ll have to pay full price again.
Office 2019 Features
Office 2019 includes the most popular Office apps – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The version “Office Home & Student 2019” only runs these three, but “Office Home & Business 2019” includes OneNote and Outlook as well. You can install and run all of these apps on your desktop.
Office 2019 isn’t connected to the cloud or any AI features, so regular updates rolled out by Microsoft won’t be applied to your copy. You also only receive tech support for Office 2019 during set up and installation. In addition, Office 2019 only runs on devices with Windows 10 or the three latest versions of macOS. If your PC is running an older version of Windows, your only choice is the cloud-based Office 365.
Who Office 2019 Is For
Without access to the cloud, regular updates, or multiple-device installation, you might be wondering who Office 2019 is for. This version of Office is geared toward businesses with volume licenses who still require on-premise apps and usage. For individual use, it’s a good option if you only need the program on one device without cloud storage. It’s also great if you prefer the traditional Office experience.
Office 2019 Pricing
Office 2019 sells for £119.90 (£249.99 for the “Office Home & Business 2019 version). Again, this is a one-time fee. While you can only install it on one device, you can download the Microsoft Office apps on a mobile device for basic editing. The apps aren’t as robust as Office 365, but they’re a decent option if you want some mobility and have the desktop Office.
Office 365
Office 365 is Microsoft’s subscription service for Office products. You pay a monthly or yearly fee and renew your subscription for continued access. With Office 365, your apps are always updated to their latest versions, so you can access the newest features at no extra cost. You can also connect your apps across your mobile devices, up to 5 devices in total.
Office 365 Features
Office 365 is cloud-based, meaning you can store your files online in the Microsoft OneDrive. When you purchase a subscription, you receive a storage plan from Microsoft. You get 1TB and can upgrade to 2TB for an extra fee per month. This storage space is spread across all of your Office 365 apps. You have access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and more with Office 365. You also receive credits on Skype to make calls. Learn more about how to migrate exchange to Office 365 and SharePoint Data Migration.
Who Office 365 Is For
Office 365 comes in versions for individuals (Office 365 Personal), families (Office 365 Home), and businesses (Office 365 Business). With Office 365 Home, you can add up to 6 users on the same subscription. Office 365 is probably the best option for personal and home use since it offers the best and latest of Microsoft’s features, with cloud storage. As for security, recent updates have made OneDrive storage more secure and subscribers can access support from Microsoft whenever they need it.
Office 365 Subscription
Office 365 subscriptions come in several versions. Office 365 Home, for families, is £79.99 per year or £7.99 per month. The individual version, Office 365 Personal is £59.99 for the year and £5.99 for a month. There are 2 tiers for the Business plans, the first at £7.90 per month and the second at £9.40 per month. These are billed annually, however.
Final Thoughts
Don’t make choosing new software to give you a headache! As an IT support company in London, Amazing Support offers IT consultancy services that advise you on tech decisions like this every day. Just ask our clients. Client satisfaction and cybersecurity are our top priorities.
