Microsoft Office Comparison Chart
Compare the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office Home and Student 2021
Get the most from Office with Microsoft 365 or Office Home and Student 2021, below we explain the difference between these products so you can find the right solution for your home and study needs.
What’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021?
Microsoft 365 is a subscription that comes with premium apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access (Publisher and Access available on PC only). The apps can be installed on multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, Android tablets and Android phones. Microsoft 365 also comes with services like 1 TB of OneDrive storage, advanced security, 60 Skype minutes per month and Microsoft chat and phone support. With a subscription, you get the latest versions of the apps and automatically receive updates when they happen.
Office Home and Student 2021 is a one-time purchase that comes with classic apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint for PC or Mac, and does not include any of the services that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription. One-time purchases don’t have an upgrade option, which means if you plan to upgrade to the next major release, you’ll have to buy it at full price.
Microsoft
365 Personal
Monthly or annual subscription, for one person, across all your devices.
Works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android [1][3].
Office apps included
Services included [2]
€7.00/month or €69.00/year
1 TB total storage for 1 person
1 Person, stay signed in on up to 5 devices [1]
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Microsoft
365 Family
Monthly or annual subscription, up to 6 people, across all their devices.
Works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android [1][3].
Office apps included
Services included [2]
€10.00/month or €99.00/year
6 TB total storage (1 TB per person)
Up-to 6 Persons, stay signed in on up to 5 devices [1]
Microsoft Office
Home and Student 2021
One-time purchase for one person, installed on 1 PC or Mac.
Works on Windows 10 and macOS only [4].
Office apps included
Services included
(None Included)
€149.00
1 PC/Mac
Licensed for home use on one compatible device [4]
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I’m a student/teacher/educator, which version of Office should I choose?
First, check to see if you are eligible for Office 365 Education, which is free for qualified teachers and students, and includes the online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams and other classroom tools from Microsoft. Office 365 Education is not a trial and is available for free to accredited academic institutions that have successfully signed up for this program.
If you are not eligible for Office 365 Education, you can choose the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family under the subscription options mentioned above or purchase the perpetual version of Office Home and Student 2021, find the Office version that fits your budget and needs.
If you do not wish to have a subscription-based licence then Office Home and Student 2021 is for you. This is a non-commercial licence, if you need a commercial licence then Office Home and Business 2021 will meet these criteria.
I work for a Charity/Non-Profit organisation, which version of Office should I choose?
To find out if you are eligible please see our Charity Software Licencing options from Microsoft.
If a non-profit organisation doesn’t meet the criteria or not a registered charity, you should purchase Office Home and Business 2021.
If you purchase for your school or charity and need Microsoft solutions, contact our volume licencing team or request a quote for more information.
[1]Microsoft 365 is compatible with Windows 8.1 or later, and the three most recent versions of macOS. Application availability and features that come with Microsoft 365 vary by platform and device. Visit www.office.com/information for full system requirements, including compatible tablets and smartphones for Microsoft 365. iOS and Android require a separate app download.
[2] 60 monthly minutes. Skype account required. Excludes special, premium and non-geographic numbers. Calls to phones are for select countries only. Skype minutes available in selected countries. Exclusions apply
[3] App availability varies by device/language. iOS and Android require a separate app download. The availability of mobile apps varies by country/region.
[4] PC: Microsoft account • Internet access • Windows 10 • 1.6 GHz, dual-core processor • 4 GB, 2 GB (32-bit) RAM • 4 GB available disk space • 1280×768 screen resolution.
[4] Mac: Microsoft account • Internet access • Intel processor • 4 GB RAM • 10 GB available disk space • Mac OS Extended or APFS • 1280×800 screen resolution.
Products available through the Microsoft Store, Software4Students are a Microsoft Affiliate, please see our disclaimer for more information. All images used are for illustration purposes only.