1. Office 2019 is an upgrade to earlier versions of on-premises Office, including Office 2016. Microsoft 365 is the subscription service of Office, and it will have the most creative, collaborative, intelligent, and secure features to go along with cloud connectivity. The following Microsoft 365 features are not included in Office 2019 for Windows.
2. Even if you spend thousands on a computer from a top manufacturer, you'll likely find that it lacks simple software like Microsoft Office. This free trial of Microsoft Office 2013 lets you explore all the features of this software for up to 30 days without paying a dime. One of the biggest features of this download is the access you get to Word.

• Office 2019 Compatibility Windows 7
• Office 2019 On Windows 8.1

Microsoft Office Home and Student is a special version of Office for PC aimed primarily at an educational environment. It consists of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Microsoft Teams - everything that you will need for presentations and writing assignments. It is compatible with Windows 7 and the latest editions.

Office from Microsoft 365

Ongoing payments

Pros

• Six users subscription
• Free upgrades
• All apps access
• Customer support
• Windows 10, 8, 7, macOS support

Cons

• Monthly/yearly payments
• Overwhelming changes
• Cost for unnecessary features
• Limited functionality if service issues

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is the best option for people who wants access to all the Office apps and benefits on multiple devices. When you acquire this plan, you can share the subscription with up to six people. It is also the only offering that provides continuity of security and maintenance updates and upgrades at a low cost of ownership. However, selecting this path, there are monthly or yearly costs, and you may end up paying for features and perks you do not need.

Office 2019

Single payment

Pros

• One payment
• Core apps access
• Traditional experience
• Security updates
• Windows 10 and macOS support

Cons

• One device license
• Limited features access
• No upgrades
• No customer support
• No older Windows releases support

If you only need the core apps on one computer, Office 2019 maybe all you need since it includes all the necessary tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) to get the work done on school or work. The caveat is that paying upfront can be costly, you have to pay again to upgrade, and you do not get extra features.

If you are new to Microsoft Office or plan to upgrade, you will notice two options available that can be confusing, including Office 2019 and Office from Microsoft 365. Although these offerings give you access to the same set of apps, the difference comes down to the list of extras and ownership costs.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is the name of the paid service that replaces 'Office 365.' Although it has a new marketing name, you are still getting the same apps available with Office 2019 and the same benefits. However, with the new branding, you also get more apps and features.

Since this is a subscription-based service, you will be paying a monthly/yearly fee to get access to the suite of apps, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and others on all your devices, including PC, Mac, tablet, and phones. (As long as only six devices are accessing the account at a given time.)

Also, depending on the plan you choose, you can share the account with up to five additional people for a total of six people with one subscription.

Perhaps one of the best parts of the service is that you never have to worry about upgrades. When you install the Office apps with Microsoft 365, you are always installing the latest version. This means that once installed on your computer, they continuously receive security and maintenance updates, improvements, and newer versions will install automatically.

You will also have access to cloud-based features (such as AI and real-time collaboration) to stay even more productive in school, office, and across devices. As part of the service, everyone gets 1TB of OneDrive storage (up to 6TB in total with the Family subscription) and Skype minutes to call landlines. The subscription also gives you access to the Microsoft support line to resolve any issue you may have with the apps.

If you have a lot of pictures and other files, in addition to the already 1TB of cloud storage, you can also purchase up to 1TB of additional OneDrive storage on 200GB increments for an extra $1.99 per month, doubling the total storage capacity to 2TB (1TB already included with the plan and 1TB with the additional plan) for $9.99 per month. The option is available for Microsoft 365 'Personal' and 'Family' members. The only caveat is that only the primary account holder can purchase the separate terabyte if you have the Family plan.

Who should buy Microsoft 365

If you need everything that the suite has to offer, Microsoft 365 (Office 365) is the best option, since you can access all the apps, which you can install on every device, including Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and macOS. Also, it is the only option that provides continuity of updates and upgrades at a low cost. In contrast, Office 2019 only allows you to install the apps on one computer running Windows 10, and you have to pay again for upgrades.

If you need access to the suite of apps, Microsoft 365 is perhaps your best choice.

The cloud service comes in two different flavors. If you are the only person using the apps and cloud services, you can get the 'Microsoft 365 Personal' (formerly 'Office 365 Personal') plan for $70 a year, which gives you access to all the apps, alongside 1TB of OneDrive storage and Skype minutes.

If you want to share the account with family members or friends, you should choose the 'Microsoft 365 Family' (formerly 'Office 365 Home') plan. It costs $100, you can share the apps and benefits with up to six people, and everyone gets 1TB of OneDrive storage and Skype minutes.

Whatever plan you choose, you will have access to many additional services, including Microsoft Family Safety to manage screen time, app and game usage, share location, monitor driving behavior for young drivers, and much more across family members.

Other premium features include Microsoft Editor to check spelling, grammar, and writing style using AI assistance, similar to Grammarly, and other creative tools powered by AI, including PowerPoint Presenter Coach, Ideas, Resume Assistant, and Designer. And Money in Excel to view, track, and organize your household finances. You will also be getting access to creative content like stock photos, templates, icons, and fonts.

Some apps and services bundled with Microsoft 365 are also available with a free Microsoft account, but they have limited functionalities that can only be unlocked with a subscription.

Furthermore, the subscription will unlock the premium version of Outlook.com, including everything available with the free version, plus 50GB of storage, no advertisements, message encryption, and enhanced security.

When choosing any of the available plans, you should purchase the yearly subscription plan to save money in the long run.

If you are a student or teacher, Microsoft also has a free subscription plan, which you can obtain joining with a valid school email address. This plan provides you with apps like Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, and other school tools at no extra cost.

Although Windows 7 is no longer supported, Microsoft will continue to offer security updates for the Office apps until January 2023. However, new features won't be available until you upgrade to Windows 10.

Office 2019

Microsoft Office 2019 is the name for the standalone version of the popular suite of apps that does not require a subscription. This means that you own the copy forever after the one-time purchase.

Using the standalone version (also known as the 'perpetual' or 'on-premises' version of Office), you can install and update the apps on one computer. However, you won't be able to upgrade to a newer version. In other words, you can continue to use the apps you have purchased for their lifecycle (usually five years) and beyond (without updates). However, if you want to upgrade, you will have to repurchase a new license.

Although Office 2019 comes with all the essential apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) with more improvements than its predecessor, it only includes a subset of features. Also, it lacks many of the benefits available with a Microsoft 365 subscription. For instance, you won't find cloud and AI features, along with other services, such as 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage, Outlook.com premium, and free monthly credits to make calls to landlines using Skype.

Who should buy Office 2019

The Office 2019 option is available specifically for commercial customers with volume licenses who are not ready to transition to a cloud-based version of Office and have specific requirements to use the apps on-premise. However, the option is available to anyone who wishes to purchase this offering.

Office 2019 Compatibility Windows 7

Although anyone can purchase Office 2019, this version has been designed for certain commercial customers.

If you are a home user, this is a good option only if you prefer a more traditional approach and do not mind paying the upfront cost. It is also a solid choice if you plan to use the apps on one device, additional features are not necessary, or you are not ready to start using a subscription.

While you are getting a license for a single PC or Mac, using the one-time purchase option, you can also install the core apps on mobile devices, but with limited functionality.

Office 2019 comes in two editions, including 'Office Home & Student 2019' and 'Office Home & Business 2019,' and they are usually priced at $150 and $250 per device, respectively. Office Home & Student 2019 comes with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while Office Home & Business 2019 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Unlike previous versions, Office 2019 is only supported on computers running Windows 10 or the three most recent macOS versions. If you have to install Office on Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you have to use a Microsoft 365 subscription.

So, which should you buy?

The ultimate answer depends on how you will be using the apps and services. But, if you will be using Office for years to come, purchasing a Microsoft 365 subscription is perhaps your best option because you get full access to all the apps and benefits with a low cost of ownership.

Office 2019 On Windows 8.1

Microsoft 365

Subscription

Get more and increase productivity with the latest enhancements

Microsoft 365 offers access to all the Office apps and many other features, such as 1TB of OneDrive, Skype minutes, and Outlook.com premium. You can also install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other desktop apps on up to six devices, and depending on the plan, you can share the subscription with up to six people.

Office 2019

One-time purchase

Pay once and use it forever

Office 2019 includes all the popular apps, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with all the features you need to get the work done.