If you’re new to Microsoft Office or want to update, you’ll have to choose between two options: Office 2019 and Office apps from Microsoft 365. Since both options come with pros and cons, this makes the selection a little more complicated.
Although both options provide access to the same range of apps, the distinction is in the list of extra features and prices. We put together this guide to help you pick one over the other.
First, let’s have a look at what each of these options offers.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service from Microsoft that provides the most up-to-date modern productivity tools with the most cutting-edge core features to make your life easier.
It allows users to access classic Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) as well as other web-based programs and services such as Teams, Yammer, Stream, and Sway, to mention just a few.
Microsoft 365 plans are available for home and personal use, as well as small and mid-sized organizations, schools, enterprises, and non-profits.
Pros
- Up to 1TB of cloud storage is included in all plans (enough for approximately 300,000 images or 1,000,000 documents). If you have a lot of photographs and videos, you can add up to 1TB of additional OneDrive storage in 200GB increments for an extra $1.99 per month, bringing the total storage capacity to 2TB (1TB included with the plan and 1TB with the additional plan) for $9.99 per month.
- It can be installed on up to five PCs or Macs, five tablets, and five mobile devices per user.
- Easy user administration includes tools for adding, removing, and managing Office 365 accounts.
- A user’s subscription can be shared with up to six family members (depending on their subscription plan)
- Security updates, upgrades, and access to the most recent features are all available on a regular basis.
- Ongoing technical assistance and security updates
- There’s no need to pay in advance. You can choose between monthly or annual payments and save money by paying for the entire year.
- Free monthly credits to use on Skype to call landlines
Cons
- It’s easy to become overwhelmed by new changes.
- You may have to pay for features that aren’t necessary.
Who should consider purchasing Office 365?
Office 365 promotes a new way of working by providing a wealth of cloud-based tools, functions and features, resulting in increased office productivity. It’s excellent for businesses who want to take their operations to the next level by getting access to the most up-to-date features and security updates, as well as continuing technical support.
Office 2019
Office 2019 is the standalone edition of the suite of office software that succeeds Office 2016. It only requires a single upfront payment for one PC or Mac, and you own the copy in perpetuity.
Pros
- Once you pay, you can use it indefinitely.
- Owning the license rather than subscribing will save you money in the long term.
Cons
- Only one device is allowed per license.
- Only Windows 10 and macOS are supported.
- This version is the only one available with no upgrade possibilities (you’ll have to buy it again at full price when the next version is released).
- Support from the mainstream is limited to five years.
- Installation necessitates some expertise.
- Security updates are limited.
Who should consider purchasing Office 2019?
Office 2019 is aimed at businesses that aren’t ready to move to the cloud and only require the essential apps: Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Office 2019 is a fantastic choice if you only want to install the suite on one device and prefer a more conventional experience.
What’s the difference between Office 2019 and Microsoft 365?
Examine the key differences between the two products to determine which one is best for you.
1. Payment
First and foremost, you purchase Office 2019 and subscribe to Office 365.
In other words, instead of paying a monthly or yearly membership, you make a one-time purchase by choosing Office 2019.
2. The variety of products and services available
The basic Office apps, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, are included when you purchase Office 2019.
If you subscribe to Office 365, you’ll have access to a wide range of cloud- and AI-based capabilities that you can use on any device.
3. The frequency of updates as well as the functionality
There are no new features in Office 2019, only security updates.
You’ll get monthly quality updates with Office 365, so your version will always be improving. You also have access to other features (i.e., the PowerPoint Designer tool uses AI to analyze your content, suggesting better layouts so you look more professional.)
Performance and Future Support
If you’re using the desktop versions of Microsoft’s Office apps, there shouldn’t be much of a difference between Office 2019 and Microsoft 365 in terms of performance. For the time being, the desktop programs for both services are virtually the same. However, given Microsoft 365 subscribers receive automatic upgrades and Office 2019 remains unchanged, this may change in the future.
One of the most crucial considerations for businesses when picking between Microsoft 365 and Office 2019 is the operating system they already use. Microsoft 365 is compatible with Windows operating systems dating back to Windows 7, though support for that OS will be phased off in 2023.
Now it’s time to choose
Microsoft clearly wants you to sign up for Microsoft 365. But, in the end, you’ll have to examine your own requirements before making a purchase. To do so, consider how you intend to utilize the tools and how much money you have available.
If you want to keep up with the times, we advocate moving your employees to a Microsoft 365-based modern workplace. If your users have access to the most up-to-date productivity tools, you’ll see improved business results.
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