Microsoft 365 vs. Office 2024 — which to buy?

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ISSUE 21.45 • 2024-11-04 MICROSOFT 365 By Peter Deegan Comparing Microsoft 365’s subscription/rental to the single-purchase, perpetual-license Office
[See the full post at: Microsoft 365 vs. Office 2024 — which to buy?]

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lmacri, Norio, abbodi86, fisher75, windbg, Casey S, DLivesInTexas, 280park

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Then there is the alternative to Microsoft – WordPerfect.

It comes in two versions – WordPerfect Office Home & Student and WordPerfect Office Professional.

WordPerfect Office Home & Student consists of:

• WordPerfect – The word processing component of the package,
• Quattro Pro – The package’s spread sheet app,
• Presentations – The presentation component of the package,
• AfterShot 3 – Photo editing software, and
• A perpetual license is available on the WordPerfect website for $99.99 US

WordPerfect Office Professional includes:

• All of the app contained in WordPerfect Office Home & Student plus,
• The Paradox Database Management app,
• MultiCam Capture Lite – Video capture software, and
• A perpetual license is available on the WordPerfect website for $399.99 US.

We have been using both Microsoft and WordPerfect products for decades and both support all of our primary needs.  However, I prefer WordPerfect because it contains:

• The Oxford Concise Dictionary,
• Is compatible with Microsoft Office file formats,
• And has a number of other unique document drafting, editing, and formatting features.

https://www.wordperfect.com/en/

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jburk07, Norio, rizzquery, nate06pa, rbailin, Peter Deegan

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You didn’t mention Access which is in Office Professional – I’m not sure about 365.

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The article was attempting as close to a ‘like for like’ comparison as possible. That’s hard with Access for a few reasons:

• it’s only available on Windows, not Mac or web.
• Access is part of Microsoft 365 plans
• Office 2024 does NOT have Access in either consumer products. As you say, it’s only available in the volume licence “Professional” product.

Peter Deegan

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WordPerfect is having a BLACK FRIDAY sale

WordPerfect Office Home & Student is now $49.99 vs $99.99

WordPerfect Office Standard is now $173.99 vs. $249.99

WordPerfect Office Professional is now $239.99 vs. 399.99

https://www.wordperfect.com/en/

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Good article.  I absolute hate Office 365 and know too many people that have switched to Open Office or Libre Office or something else rather than pay annual fees.   I am still trying to decide if I want to Office 2024 when I get a new PC or go with a free alternative.

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Is a Microsoft account required for Microsoft 365?

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A Microsoft account (free) is required for any modern MS Office – Office 2024/2021/2019 or Microsoft 365.

Is a Microsoft account a concern for you? If so, why?

Peter Deegan

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280park

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Peter Deegan wrote:

Is a Microsoft account a concern for you? If so, why?

My Windows 10 laptop is set up with a local account. I have resisted switching to a Microsoft account because (a) I do not really understand what it means to have a Microsoft account, and (b) because of this lack of understanding I am wary of possible negatives of having a Microsoft account.

1. Will Microsoft use a Microsoft account as a tool to gather information about me?
2. Does the requirement to have a Microsoft account in order to use Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 mean that those programs would not be installed on my laptop but instead be in the “cloud”? (Software in the cloud is another concept I do not understand).

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Logging into Windows with a Microsoft account means that many Windows settings are saved online and can be migrated to another/future Windows install.

There are probably other advantages that escape me as I type this.

You can have a local Windows login then install Office. In other words, the two are separate things.

Your questions:

Microsoft collects data from all Windows users whether they have an MS account or local login. There are options in Windows to limit the data collection.

As I said in the article, the Office software is installed on your computer and works offline.  Office software might have online/cloud features that need an Internet connection but all the core software is on your computer,

The link to a Microsoft account is for licensing purposes and has nothing to do with cloud services.  It just means you can reinstall/move the software to another computer without needing to find the original product key (which was often a problem in years past). Your ownership of various Office licenses is saved in a Microsoft account and can be retrieved by logging into it.

Peter Deegan

 

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280park

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Thank you for the very helpful and detailed reply.

Peter Deegan wrote:

You can have a local Windows login then install Office. In other words, the two are separate things.

Just to confirm my understand: Even after I create a Microsoft account in order to purchase, download, and install Microsoft 365 or Office 2024, I could still use the current local Windows login on my laptop?

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Yes.  Local Windows login is separate from Office installs with MS Account.

Even then, the Microsoft account is only necessary for the installation of Office software. After install, you can run Office software locally without an MS login .,. there’s no good reason to do that but it’s possible.

It’s possible you already have a Microsoft account. Most people do even if they don’t realise it.  Outlook.com/Hotmail and similar email accounts are Microsoft accounts.  For other email addresses, it’s likely that the address was linked to an MS account at some stage. You’ll find out when you try to make a Microsoft account.

Peter D/

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280park

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Thank you very much for clearing up my confusion about these issues.

Peter Deegan wrote:

It’s possible you already have a Microsoft account.

Just to follow up: I don’t think I have a Microsoft account. When I click on Settings>Accounts>Your info, that page says “Local Account”. It also says “Use a Microsoft account to get all your stuff on all your devices. Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.”

Thank you again for all your help.

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I use LibreOffice – it meets my modest needs more than enough.  Some time ago, I thought I would buy WordPerfect.  They advertised a special discount, which I accepted, but my credit card statement listed a larger price.  When I complained, they refused to budge, so I asked for a refund, which, to their credit, they granted, and I gave up possession of WordPerfect.

My breath is taken away by the power of LibreOffice. It only gets better.

Mark

 

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jburk07, curious leo, Norio, Alex5723

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Same here.  Excellent software.  I’ve been using it for years and don’t miss microsoft office one bit.

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Does MS Access feature in either product – software that I use frequently.

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Access is part of Microsoft 365 plans – Windows app only.

Office 2024 does NOT have Access in either consumer products. It’s only available in the volume licence “Professional” product.

It’s only available on Windows, not Mac or web.

In short, if an individual user wants Access, they have to get Microsoft 365.

Peter Deegan

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Or there is the option to dig into your graveyard of retired software.

We still have copies of Office Home & Business 2016 that include:

• Microsoft Publisher and
• Access

In addition, we have an “upgrade” copy of Microsoft Office Access 2007.  The upgrade requires:

• Microsoft Windows XP or later and
• Any Microsoft 2000-2007 Office Suite

And yes we still have a Windows XP computer in storage as well as Office 2007.

On the other hand you can use the Paradox Database Management app that is part of the WordPerfect Office Professional suite.

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If you have more than one computer and need OneDrive, then Microsoft 365 is a no brainer. Obviously, indefinite subscriptions suck, which is the main con.

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I’m sure everything Peter says about Microsoft 365 vs Office 2024 is true.  My experience has me resisting subscription software whenever I can.  As a retired IT support person, I generally do not feel the need to be on the forefront of software features and am satisfied to be a solid individual user of MS Office products.  Subsequently I’ve had excellent luck with older copies of MS Office and currently use four office 2021 licenses on two desktops and two laptops.  All four licenses were purchased online for a total of $280.  You know – those “cheap” licenses one sees on Facebook ads – they are legitimate and work just fine.  I suppose if I felt the need to be on the forefront of software features I’d opt for Microsoft 365 – but for serving my more ordinary needs, the stand-alone licenses are working just fine.

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WSdabble, Norio, Peter Deegan

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One of the things we encountered using Excel 2019 is the inability to work on files with multiple persons. We happened to have some pretty large files stored on a Sharepoint (OneDrive) server and we needed those files to be editable for multiple persons / companies at the same time. The perpetual Excel 2019 won’t do that, so we had to subscribe to Office 365 Standard for that piece of functionality. That was a bit of a bummer.

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I’ve waded through the differences in the past but I thank you for a concise update.  My current issue is that it is not clear to me how to extend an MS 365 Family subscription with a lower cost option through Costco for example.  A couple of years ago I took advantage of a good deal (?) on Amazon only to find that it wouldn’t extend my account.  Is this a subject you’d consider addressing in the future?

Thanks.

 

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You can definitely extend a Microsoft 365 plan by purchasing another 12 or 15 months from any retailer in the same country.

Any purchase comes with a product key which can be applied to the existing M365 plan. See https://office-watch.com/2024/get-microsoft-365-for-less-money/

Peter Deegan

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mdgarnett

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Did you know something before writing this article? 🙂

You talk about the price of ms365, well just overnight downunder, we Aussies have just been told our family 365 subscription will rise 29% from Dec this year, from aud139 to aud179 pa. On a per person basis it is probably still reasonable but it just goes to show that with a subscription you are at the mercy of the vendor. Dont like it? you can bug*er off. Sigh.

 

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No I wasn’t aware of an Aussie price increase.

Can you provide a link to details? I can’t find anything on the MS Australia site or elsewhere.

Thanks

Peter Deegan

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try this, it is the link inside my email…

https://m2.infomails.microsoft.com/rest/head/mirrorPage/@x1LsAdl5rho3ZQziblgBTnKeMSGzWuLP7VgQcYliEMn6cwAyxIaUYcW214fciSBJZtU1fgBm5Few8CQgGVrzjj8sFrPld6HgP1DoJ0qgJcerpwbB.html

 

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Thanks – OfficeWorks etc are showing the new prices too.

But there was no announcement, they just did it.

Peter Deegan

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kempware

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I get my MS365 subscriptions from Bing Lee – they are usually about $20 AUD cheaper than the rest.  Was $119 AUD when I got it earlier this year, but is now $158 AUD for the Family version.

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Microsoft has boosted the prices of Microsoft 365 in Australia sometime in the last month or so.

The new full price is $179 so $158 from Bing Lee sounds about right.

Peter Deegan

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Update:  Microsoft 365 Family and Personal have increased price in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and some other countries.

It includes a trial version of Copilot Pro – integrated into the Office 365 apps.

That’s supposed to justify the new/renewal pricing.

Details at https://office-watch.com/2024/copilot-comes-to-microsoft-365-with-many-limits-and-a-high-price/

Peter Deegan

 

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Simon_Weel wrote:

The perpetual Excel 2019 won’t do that,

The instructions for sharing workbooks in Excel 2019 are in Microsoft Support documents  called “About the shared workbook feature” and “What happened to shared workbooks.” Basically the commands for the legacy sharing are still in Excel but they are hidden. The article describes how to unhide them by adding them to the Quick Access Toolbar. The relevant commands are:

1. Share Workbook (legacy)
2. Track changes (legacy)
3. Protect sharing (legacy)
4. Compare and merge workbook

Find the articles.

 

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Peter Deegan

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I am almost 80 year old.  I started with WordPerfect V 4.2 and switched to MS Office when I was forced into Windows.  I do not use OneDrive, I do not share documents or spreadsheets. I feel like I am being forced to purchase software full of features I will never use. These may be necessary for those who are still employed, but for most retirees, the new features go way beyond what we need or want to learn to use.  So, I am seriously thinking of moving to Libre Office and/or Google Docs.

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If you are familiar with MS Office, you will fine Libre Office an easy transition. And it runs the Office formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, etc

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I have one computer with Office 2021 and 5 with Office 2010. Guess what? They all work and they still open documents made with Office 365. 90% of the “new” features I don’t need nor want.

 

Can I write a document and make it look professional? YES.

Can I make an Excel Speadsheet for tracking expenses? YES

I have no reason for Outlook or Powerpoint as I am retired. But when I was working, didn’t need Powerpoint except when corporate send them out. And I’m not a fan of Outlook, never was, but was forced to use it at work.

I would still be using XP if there were drivers for the hardware. That’s the problem with Malwaresoft and Intel. They’ve been in bed since the 1980’s.

 

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I posted earlier (see Grandma78633) – –

I am in the same boat.  Seriously looking at transitioning to Libre Office and/or Google Docs.  Daughter is in education and big into Google and ChromeBooks and I find it amazing how much of “what I now do” I can do on a ChromeBook with Google Docs, Sheets etc.

I am sure those in the working world find all the new features exciting and useful but in “my world” (I am nearly 80 and live in a Senior Independent Living facility) Microsoft is just a SCAM!!

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I am still using Office 2010 as well, and will continue to do so. I only use Word and Excel since I am now retired. I have a good firewall and anti-virus program and never open Office docs that come as attachments, which is rare anyways, so I don’t feel I need any Office security updates even if they were still being created for 2010. If I ever have to stop using 2010 for any reason, I will go to one of the alternatives like Open Office or Libre Office rather than start paying for an MS subscription for one of their newer versions of Office.

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I have 365 Family, followed the “every six months” link in the article to change updates to every six months.  Didn’t work.  Double-checked what I did.  Again, bupkis.

Ah well.  I’m beginning to think Microsoft doesn’t want me to have a stable environment. 😋

Kim

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Interesting and disappointing. It’s possible that Microsoft is now blocking consumer Microsoft 365 from switching to the Sem-Annual Channel.

Peter Deegan

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Peter,

You might want to give my PowerShell program (Change-MSOffice-UpdateChannel.ps1) and see if it works for you. I’d suggest you Image your C: drive before doing it. In another thread you’ll see I some got switched to the Insider version and can’t get out, at least until the next Semi-Annual update! This has happened to both of my Win 11 Pro machines. However, my Win 10 Pro Laptop and my better half’s Laptop are both humming along just fine on the Semi-Annual version.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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kdock

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I’ll try it tomorrow and report back.  Thanks RG.

Kim

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Thanks — I tried that script but it made no difference.

On my test machines, the Registry setting CDNBaseUrl  at

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration

is changed to the right value for Semi-Annual updates but the Office apps ignore that and persist with Current Channel.

Either MS has implemented a block on consumer M365 using Semi-Annual or there’s more to this than past experience and Microsoft’s own documentation suggests.

Peter Deegan
Office-Watch.com

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windbg

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Microsoft 365 subscribers are being forced to pay more for Copilot inclusion

Now, Microsoft is testing a new Microsoft 365 consumer plan that includes AI features at a higher subscription cost…

The issue is that Microsoft is migrating all existing Microsoft 365 plan users to this new, more expensive plan. Although the updated price will take effect during their next renewal, this change may annoy those who don’t need or want AI features.

Microsoft still offers an AI-free Microsoft 365 plan at the original price, but users must cancel their current subscription and purchase the cheaper option separately…

* A + for Office 2024
* I am using the free portable Libreoffice. Never used Microsoft Office.

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lmacri

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I’m not sure what this sentence is based on:

“Microsoft still offers an AI-free Microsoft 365 plan at the original price, but users must cancel their current subscription and purchase the cheaper option separately.”

There’s no ‘AI-free’ version of Microsoft 365 Personal/Family. Nothing in the Microsoft announcement supports such an option.

The only ‘cheaper option’ for Microsoft 365 is the Basic plan which doesn’t include the desktop apps and only offers a little more OneDrive quota.

Peter Deegan
Office-Watch.com

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Unlock your potential with Copilot and Designer in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family

..It’s been nine months since we introduced consumers to Copilot in our Microsoft 365 apps via Copilot Pro. We’ve spent that time adding new features, improving performance, and listening carefully to customer feedback. Based on that feedback, we’re making Copilot part of our Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions. ..

To reflect the value we’ve added over the past decade and enable us to deliver new innovations for years to come, we’re increasing the prices of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family. The price increase will apply to existing subscribers upon their next renewal…

* Copilot Pro is a $20/month add-on.

Microsoft’s Copilot AI is coming to your Office apps – whether you like it or not

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* Copilot Pro is a $20/month add-on.

The change that’s happening to Microsoft 365 in some countries (as a trial) is different again from the paid Copilot Pro add-on.

See next Monday’s Ask Woody for details or https://office-watch.com/2024/copilot-comes-to-microsoft-365-with-many-limits-and-a-high-price/

The Copilot Pro addon can be turned on/off at any time.  There’s no need to “… cancel their current subscription and purchase the cheaper option separately.”.   I’m still at a loss to explain that sentence.

Peter Deegan
Office-Watch.com

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lmacri, Alex5723

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Peter Deegan wrote:

cancel their current subscription and purchase the cheaper option separately.”.

Users who want to avoid the new Copilot in Office 365 will have to unsubscribe and subscribe to a new Microsoft 365 Classic

“For those who neither want nor need those AI features, a Microsoft 365 Classic option will be available, at prices that are similar to those in place before the Copilot-driven increase.”

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Peter Deegan

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Interesting … that quote comes from the same Verge article. Again, I’m not sure where they are getting that from.

There’s no mention of “Microsoft 365 Classic” in any of the Microsoft announcements, info or emails to customers.

Additionally, the trial countries have no mention of a ‘Classic’ option on their site.

It’s possible there’s a Classic option coming or will be hidden away, only appearing as a ‘last resort’ to customers who might leave Microsoft 365 entirely.

And there’ll almost certainly be some other ‘gotchas’ in any “Classic” plan to make it less appealing.

All we can say for sure is that all Microsoft 365 Family/Personal plans will be moved to the higher price upon expiry and get what I’m now calling “Copilot Lite” in addition to the price increases.

It’s an opportunity for M365 users outside the affected area, see next Monday’s Ask Woody for details.

Peter Deegan
Office-Watch.com

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Alex5723

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I think this article and the referenced Office Watch article have been obsoleted by MS. in a chat with the Microsoft Store Assistant (Copilot) when I gave a screenshot that my Family renewal was scheduled for early Feb at $99.99  I was told…

Copilot said:

Thank you for patiently waiting, as per checking on the screenshot, this is the old price of the Microsoft 365 Family, which is the Classic version, however, if you really wanted to renew it on the same price, you can follow the steps below:

Go to account.microsoft.com/services.

Select their M365 subscription and select “Manage”.

Select “Cancel subscription”.

Look under “Switch to a subscription that’s better for you” and select “Microsoft 365 Family/Personal Classic (whichever applies).

We can no longer process stacking for Classic since the original subscription now has AI integrated on the Office apps.

You said:

do you allow stacking for the non-classic version?

Copilot said:

Unfortunately, no, however, the subscription should auto renew on the billing date.

Now I am curious whether an auto-renewal at $99.99 will actually occur or if I won’t be railroaded into the price increase. Regardless, seems like stacking is dead?

webweweave

 

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Yes, Microsoft has changed the prices of Microsoft 365 Family and Personal very recently. https://office-watch.com/2025/microsoft-365-price-increases-around-the-world/

The new ‘Classic’ plans are at the old prices and do not have the Copilot extras now in M365. https://office-watch.com/2025/microsoft-365-classic/

By ‘stacking’ do you mean extending an existing Microsoft 365 plan by buying extra packs at retail?

If so, that cannot apply to Microsoft 365 Classic Family or Personal because those plans aren’t sold in stores. Classic plans can only be renewed directly with Microsoft.

Peter Deegan
Office-Watch.com

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FYI – Just got Microsoft 365 Family edition for ~$99.99 today 1/21/25 at Costco here in the US.

My wife bought it yesterday (1/20/25).  I had asked her to get it for me if the price was still $99.99.  Anyhow they charged me $129.99.  She went back to the store today, took a picture of the product sign, after a lot of store personnel involvement, ended up with a $30 gift card.  Apparently Costco was caught flat footed in their “on the floor display pricing” but they owned up to it, and made it right.  A little difficult, on their part getting the refund going, but it all worked out.  So today could be the last day…

YMMV

Fran

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Peter Deegan

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Nice catch … there might be some retailers selling Microsoft 365 plans at the old prices for a short time.

In the trial countries like Australia and NZ there where a few opportunities and I expect there will be a few ‘outliers’ in the other countries now.

Peter Deegan
Office-Watch.com

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