Microsoft Office offers perpetual license versions that allow you to purchase and own the software outright without the need for ongoing subscriptions. The most recent perpetual license versions of Office are part of the Office 2021 suite. Here’s a breakdown of some key details about Microsoft Office 2021:
Key Features:
- Applications Included:
- Microsoft Word (word processing)
- Microsoft Excel (spreadsheets)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (presentations)
- Microsoft Outlook (email and calendar)
- Microsoft OneNote (note-taking)
- Microsoft Access (database management) (available in some versions)
- Microsoft Publisher (desktop publishing) (available in some versions)
Editions of Office 2021:
- Office Home & Student 2021:
- Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
- Designed for home users, students, and families.
- Office Home & Business 2021:
- Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
- Targeted at small businesses or individual professionals who need productivity software.
- Office Professional 2021:
- Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher.
- Best for businesses that require full Office applications for professional work.
Licensing:
- Perpetual License: One-time purchase, no recurring payments.
- System Requirements: Requires Windows 10 or Windows 11, or macOS for the Mac versions.
- Updates: The software receives security updates and minor feature updates, but new major versions (like the next Office edition) would require a new purchase.
Benefits of Perpetual Licenses:
- No Subscription Costs: Once you purchase the software, you own it and don’t need to pay for a subscription.
- No Internet Connection Required: Unlike Microsoft 365, Office 2021 doesn’t require an internet connection for installation and use (though updates do require internet access).
However, perpetual licenses do not offer the same cloud integration or automatic updates that come with Microsoft 365 subscriptions. If you prefer having the latest features, then a subscription to Microsoft 365 might be better, but for those who want to own their software outright, Office 2021 is a solid choice.
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