For the last 3 years, you have only been able to get Microsoft Office as a subscription or in the form of the very old 2021 version. In 2024, users can finally breathe a sigh of relief again.
In 2024 you will finally be able to buy the current Office version again without paying any money every month. (Source: monticello/depositphotos.com / Krakenimages.com/depositphotos.com; Image montage: Netzwelt)
- Microsoft will release a new Office version in 2024.
- It is also available as a standalone version, for which you do not need to take out a monthly subscription.
- Microsoft 365 continues to run in parallel and offers exclusive online functions.
Subscription model software is becoming increasingly popular, at least among providers. Instead of paying a (one-off) fixed amount, you have to pay monthly money for the program of your choice. Microsoft is now also taking this route and has primarily supported Office 365, the subscription version of the popular Microsoft Office package, for years. But in 2024 there will be a big surprise.
As the company personally announced in the official technology blog, Office is getting a new version this year, which you can also buy as a standalone version without having to subscribe. This is currently only possible with the Office 2021 version, which is now three years old, or even older versions. Due to popular user requests, Microsoft Office 2024 is returning without a subscription.
Differences between Office 2024 and Office subscription
Of course, Microsoft continues to sell the Office 365 subscription version and a look at the announcement reveals that it will probably remain the “preferred” version. Because this should have several functions that Microsoft Office 2024 does not have. With the standalone version you have to do without the following features, among other things:
Since Microsoft Office 2024 comes as an offline version, it is unsurprising that these features are missing. After all, they all rely on an active internet connection. Depending on the edition, Microsoft Office 2024 consists, as usual, of the programs Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Access, Outlook and OneNote.
Many innovations for both variants
The 2024 version also has new features that you can use both in the subscription version and in Office 365. These include, for example, improved search in Outlook, new functions and options for Excel and meetings, as well as improved performance and accessibility of the software. Microsoft also promises five years of support for the standalone version.
Microsoft Office 365 in the test: The cloud office top dog
Large range of services in the subscription
Almost every PC user knows Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Thanks to Office 365, these tools can now also be used as a web app – and even free of charge. So is an Office 365 subscription even necessary? A test.
Price and release
In terms of price, Microsoft Office 2024 will not change compared to its predecessor from 2021. When it comes to compatibility, a surprising amount remains the same. According to the developers, Office 2024 will also run smoothly on Windows 10 computers.
Microsoft has not yet announced an exact release date for Office 2024. We expect a release in the second half of the year.
With this, Microsoft is finally answering the pleas of many users who have been wanting a “classic” Office version back for years. The last few weeks of waiting will certainly be bearable for many people.
Office alternatives to Microsoft’s program
Of course, Microsoft’s Office package is not the only alternative on the market, but it is one of the most popular. Many users will therefore welcome this decision.
Comparison: The best cloud office services in the test
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Anyone who has never been able to do anything with Microsoft software will of course still have the choice between many other cloud office services in 2024.
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