Microsoft 365 has some enhanced features like those additional cloud services and multi-device installations, but it’s more expensive and requires a monthly subscription. The Microsoft Office Business/Professional suites include the same core apps as Microsoft 365, but lack cloud support and multi-device compatibility. There are basically two main products - the standard Microsoft Office and the premium subscription-based Microsoft 365, along with the Personal/Student and Professional versions of these.

A beginner’s guide to Microsoft Officeīefore you rush off to buy the best Microsoft Office deal you can find, you’ll first need to decide which particular suite is right for you. Nonetheless, as the most full-featured Office package, Microsoft 365 is hands-down the best choice for professionals, business owners, and other serious users. You’ll pay for the privilege, though: Microsoft 365 is the most expensive of the bunch, and it comes with a monthly subscription fee, too. You can install your copy on any Windows PC, Mac computer, or compatible mobile device that you own (or all of them at the same time if you wish).

You also get the premium OneDrive and Skype cloud services on top of that, and you’re not limited to what devices you’re permitted to use Microsoft 365 on. This subscription-based suite features everything that Microsoft Office has to offer, including the whole lineup of Office apps along with Microsoft Outlook, Publisher, and Access. Microsoft 365, formerly called Office 365, is the cream of the Microsoft Office crop. The flip-side of that coin is that Microsoft Office 2021 is a “buy once, cry once” affair (once you own it, it’s yours), whereas Microsoft 365 has a monthly subscription fee. For that, you will need to upgrade to Microsoft Microsoft 365.

Another thing to bear in mind is that your Office 2021 license only allows you to install it on one Windows or MacOS computer at a time - no other devices are supported, and neither are multiple installations across several devices. The standard Personal version features Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as its core apps while the Professional version features the same core apps as Microsoft 365, but note that it lacks cloud services like Skype and OneDrive (however, you can get basic versions of these programs for free). Microsoft Office 2021 is the latest iteration of its classic Office suite.

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