Microsoft Workplace started life all the best way again in 1990, predating widespread availability of the web. It’s undergone a wide range of adjustments in that point, however maintained the identical title – till now.
In October 2022, Microsoft introduced that it could be rebranding standalone variations of Workplace apps to ‘Microsoft 365’. That matches what we noticed with the corporate’s productivity-focused subscription service in 2020, which shifted to the identical title.
At its most elementary, paying commonly will get you entry to Phrase, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Writer, plus Groups for communication and Outlook for electronic mail. You additionally get cloud storage by way of OneDrive and common updates, however much more software program is obtainable on skilled and enterprise plans.
Whereas this text is designed that will help you resolve between them, it’s far out of your solely choice. As has at all times been the case, Microsoft continues to launch standalone variations of Workplace apps each few years. The most recent model was launched in
2021, however other than software program patches, you received’t get any updates.
For some individuals, it’s additionally attainable to entry Microsoft Workplace free or at a reduced charge. Right here’s all the things you have to know.
Learn how to get Microsoft Workplace in your laptop computer or PC
In years passed by, the very best (and solely) option to get Workplace was to purchase a CD-ROM for a one-off value and set up it onto your PC or laptop computer. As of late that will be a little bit of a faff, with many laptops not even having disc drives anymore, but it surely was a method to make sure you had a bodily backup.
These days, Workplace is obtainable as a obtain, however you may both purchase it outright with a one time buy, or as a month-to-month subscription. There are benefits to both choices.
Any Microsoft product underneath the ‘365’ umbrella is subscription-based, referring to the variety of days in a yr. Any Microsoft product with out ‘365’ in its title is more likely to be a one-time buy – good in the event you solely need to pay as soon as, however you received’t be capable to improve the software program with on-line updates like you may with 365 subscriptions.
There are additionally a number of completely different variations of Workplace accessible, and you need to select the very best one for you relying in your wants. It’s value noting that whereas this shopping for information covers each platform, Mac customers would possibly need to try the particular Workplace for Mac shopping for information on our sister web site Macworld.
First, we’ll break down Workplace choices if you’re shopping for for private house or pupil use, after which go on to the choices if you’re shopping for it for work or use inside a small enterprise.
Which model of Microsoft Workplace do you will have?
For those who’re trying to improve, it’s straightforward to examine which model of Microsoft Workplace you will have put in. Offered you’ve downloaded all of the apps on the identical time, they need to all be operating the identical model.
For the aim of this text, we’re utilizing Microsoft Phrase. The method might differ barely relying in your gadget and app, but it surely ought to nonetheless be straightforward to search out:
- Open the Workplace app of your alternative. You need to be offered with a house display screen just like the one beneath
- From the bottom-left nook, click on ‘Account’
- Beneath the ‘Product Info’ part, search for ‘About Phrase’. Right here, you need to see ‘Model’ adopted by a four-digit quantity
- To seek out out when this model was launched, a fast net search will let you know
Nonetheless, the method differs on older Workplace apps. In Phrase 2010, you have to select ‘File’, then ‘Assist’. The knowledge will then be displayed on the precise aspect of the display screen, as you may see beneath.
It’s completely different once more in Phrase 2007. Click on on the spherical Microsoft Workplace icon within the prime left after which ‘Phrase Choices’ on the backside of the menu. Subsequent, select ‘Sources’ – the final choice on the left-side panel. It’s best to see an ‘About’ button on the backside of the record which can present you extra particulars in regards to the model that you simply personal.
Within the 2003 model, go to the ‘Assist’ choice within the prime menu bar, after which the ‘About Microsoft Workplace Phrase’. Within the pop-up, you will notice the MS Workplace World model together with the suite it belong to, just like the Microsoft Workplace Skilled Version 2003.
Will Home windows 11 include Microsoft Workplace?
No, it doesn’t. Home windows 11 was launched in 2021 and is a free improve for many Home windows 10 customers, however Microsoft Workplace apps aren’t included. All of your current recordsdata and apps will make the transfer, although, so if you have already got a standalone model (corresponding to Workplace 2019 or Workplace 2021) it’ll nonetheless be accessible.
However everybody else might want to pay for entry. Be taught extra in our separate information: Does Home windows 11 include Microsoft Workplace?
Microsoft 365 (beforehand Workplace 365)
Microsoft’s productivity-focused subscription service was referred to as Workplace 365 from its preliminary launch in 2011 till 2020. Since April 2020 it’s been identified merely as ‘Microsoft 365’, however the rebrand didn’t have an effect on performance other than just a few new options.
First up are the choices designed for the person client (i.e. most likely you). For those who’re subscribing, there are two foremost choices to select from: Private (for only one consumer) or Household (for as much as six customers). For each, you will have the choice to pay month-to-month or yearly:
- Microsoft 365 Private – $6.99/£5.99 per 30 days or $69.99/£59.99 per yr – one particular person, 1TB of cloud storage
- Microsoft 365 Household – $9.99/£7.99 per 30 days or $99.99/£79.99 per yr – as much as six individuals, 1TB of cloud storage every, additional Household Security options
There’s additionally a particular free model for college kids and college employees which we’ll get to later.
The primary profit to choosing Microsoft 365 is that you simply’ll get common updates for so long as you’re a subscriber, without having to leap from one model to the subsequent each few years, and no complications about file compatibility.
You can even save your work to the cloud, just like Google Docs. Microsoft additionally throws in just a few additional advantages corresponding to 1TB of cloud storage and full entry to Microsoft Groups.
Microsoft 365 – Household vs Private
For those who’re subscribing, there presently two foremost choices to select from: Private (for only one consumer) or Household (for as much as six customers). For each, you will have the choice to pay month-to-month or yearly:
- Microsoft 365 Private – $6.99/£5.99 per 30 days or $69.99/£59.99 per yr – one particular person, 1TB of cloud storage
- Microsoft 365 Household – $9.99/£7.99 per 30 days or $99.99/£79.99 per yr – as much as six individuals, 1TB of cloud storage every, additional Household Security options
The additional £20/$30 per yr or £2/$3 per 30 days for the Household subscription is a superb deal in the event you select to share the subscription prices amongst associates. The yearly subscriptions prevent on two months of cost as effectively.
There’s additionally no gadget restrict on Microsoft 365 installations, that means each Household or Private subscribers can set up the software program on as many units as wanted. You might be restricted to engaged on 5 units concurrently, although.
Nonetheless, on 11 January 2023, Microsoft introduced {that a} new third tier can be added on 30 January. Often called Microsoft 365 Primary, it’ll change the present OneDrive 100GB storage plan however retain the identical value – $1.99/£1.99 per 30 days or $19.99/£19.99 per yr. Extra particulars on what it provides beneath.
Microsoft 365 Household
- For six customers at at time throughout limitless PCs/Macs, tablets and telephones
- 1TB cloud storage per consumer for 6 customers (6TB complete)
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Consists of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer (PC Solely), Entry (PC Solely), OneDrive, Microsoft Groups
US: $99.99 per yr or $9.99 per 30 days
UK: £79.99 per yr or £7.99 per 30 days
Microsoft 365 Private
- For 1 PC/Mac throughout limitless PCs/Macs, tablets and telephones
- 1TB cloud storage for one consumer
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Consists of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer (PC Solely), Entry (PC Solely), OneDrive, Microsoft Groups, Household Security
US: $69.99 per yr or $6.99 per 30 days
UK: £59.99 per yr or £5.99 per 30 days
Microsoft 365 Primary
- For 1 PC/Mac throughout limitless PCs/Macs, tablets and telephones
- 100GB cloud storage for one consumer
- Internet and cellular variations of apps solely
- Extra options to be added
US: $19.99 per yr or $1.99 per 30 days
UK: £19.99 per yr or £1.99 per 30 days
Workplace 365 Schooling – Free choices for college kids
Workplace 365 Schooling is (because the title suggests) a particular model of Microsoft 365 for college kids and college college or employees. College students and lecturers can join free net entry to Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Microsoft Groups underneath the Workplace 365 A1 plan.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll want a college electronic mail tackle or different proof of your standing to say it. See our full article on easy methods to get Microsoft Phrase totally free.
There’s additionally the
Workplace 365 A3 plan if you’d like desktop entry to the apps, which prices £2.20/US$2.50 per 30 days for every pupil and £2.85/$3.25 for every lecturers or different member of employees. The highest-tier Workplace 365 A5 plan, which prices £5.30/$6 per 30 days for college kids and £7.05/$8 per 30 days for lecturers, provides desktop and net entry together with added safety features.
If you wish to search for different nice pupil tech offers, take a look at
Tech Advisor’s again to highschool hub.
Workplace Dwelling and Pupil 2021
For those who would like to pay a one-off value, Workplace Dwelling and Pupil 2021 is the precise bundle for you. You lose the automated software program updates of Microsoft 365, however meaning you should use the software program for years with out being tied right into a subscription. It really works with one gadget operating Home windows 11, Home windows 10 or any latest model of macOS.
Nonetheless, you don’t get full entry to the cellular and pill apps right here (anybody can nonetheless use them to view paperwork totally free, simply not edit or create them), there’s no cloud storage included, and also you don’t get entry to the complete suite of Workplace applications included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Workplace 2021 contains new options corresponding to a black theme in Phrase, new studying instruments, new charts and timelines, new transitions in PowerPoint and plenty extra. However not like a Microsoft 365 subscription, it received’t proceed getting new options over time.
It’s additionally value noting that Microsoft Workplace will quickly be referred to as Microsoft 365 following a rebrand, but it surely’ll nonetheless carry out in precisely the identical method.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise
Microsoft additionally provides business-minded variations of its software program. We’re specializing in the choices for small companies right here, however Microsoft additionally provides
Enterprise plans for bigger firms. As soon as once more, there’s a cut up between the 365 subscription packages and the one-off buy model of Workplace 2021.
There are three foremost variations of Microsoft 365 Enterprise accessible, every providing very completely different software program packages, so ensure you decide the precise one. Be particularly aware about Microsoft 365 Enterprise Primary (from $6/£4.50 per consumer per 30 days), which doesn’t really embody desktop variations of the core Workplace software program like Phrase and Excel – simply Microsoft’s on-line and cloud instruments.
Additionally be aware the Microsoft 365 Apps for marketing strategy ($8.25/£7.90 per consumer per 30 days) contains each desktop and cellular model of the apps however with out the opposite productiveness instruments corresponding to electronic mail, calendar and Groups convention name options.
Right here’s a abstract of all 4 foremost business-focused plans we’d advocate:
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Customary
- One licence for five PCs/Macs plus 5 tablets and 5 telephones per consumer
- 1TB cloud storage per consumer
- Permits as much as 300 customers
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Desktop variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer, Entry, OneDrive
- Internet variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint
US: $12.50 per consumer per 30 days
UK: £9.40 per consumer per 30 days
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium
- For five PCs/Macs plus 5 tablets and 5 telephones per consumer
- 1TB cloud storage per consumer
- Permits as much as 300 customers
- E mail internet hosting with 50GB mailbox and customized area tackle
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Desktop variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer, Entry
- Entry to OneDrive, Alternate, Microsoft Groups, SharePoint, Yammer
- Internet variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
US: $22 per consumer per 30 days
UK: £16.60 per consumer per 30 days
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Primary
- 1TB cloud storage per consumer
- E mail internet hosting with 50GB mailbox and customized area tackle
- Permits as much as 300 customers
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Video conferencing with as much as 250 individuals
- OneDrive, Alternate, Microsoft Groups, SharePoint, Yammer
- Internet variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote
US: $5 per consumer per 30 days (annual plan)
UK: £4.50 per consumer per 30 days (annual plan)
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
- For five PCs/Macs plus 5 tablets and 5 telephones per consumer
- 1TB cloud storage per consumer
- Internet variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Permits as much as 300 customers
UK: £7.90 per consumer per 30 days (annual plan)
US: $8.25 per consumer per 30 days (annual plan)
UK: £7.90 per consumer per 30 days (annual plan)