Office guide
Office 2021 vs 2024 – differences, support and Microsoft 365
Why the choice is not obvious
A one-time Office licence is perpetual: it does not expire after a year the way a subscription does. What expires is the vendor support. These are two different things and you should weigh both before choosing a version.
Office 2021 is the older version and its support is over. Office 2024 is newer and supported until 9 October 2029. If security updates matter to you, and they do for most users, Office 2024 or a Microsoft 365 subscription is the more sensible choice.
At the moment Softflix offers Office 2021 only. Our products are described on the Office 2021 keys page.
Office support lifecycle: 2019, 2021, 2024
| Version | End of support | Status on 9 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Office 2019 | 14 October 2025 | Support ended |
| Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 | October 2026 | Support ended |
| Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 | 9 October 2029 | Supported |
Dates from the Microsoft Learn product lifecycle pages and Microsoft Support.
Office 2024 editions: what is included
Home and business editions, and the edition for organisations:
| Edition | Contents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office Home 2024 | Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote (classic versions) | One PC or Mac |
| Office Home & Business 2024 | Everything in Home plus Outlook | One PC or Mac |
| Office Professional Plus 2024 | Documented as Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 | Microsoft describes it as available to organisations through volume licensing agreements |
Microsoft Publisher is not included in Office LTSC 2024, and its support ends after October 2026.
Office LTSC 2024 for organisations
Office LTSC is a version intended for organisations, acquired under volume licensing agreements. It includes Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word. It is activated with KMS or MAK. Support for Office LTSC 2024 ends on 9 October 2029.
If you run a business and want to understand volume licensing, read our guide on OEM, Retail and Volume licences.
One-time purchase vs Microsoft 365
| Aspect | Office 2024 (one-time) | Microsoft 365 (subscription) |
|---|---|---|
| Model | One-time purchase, perpetual licence | Subscription, paid periodically |
| New features | No new features; the next major version is full price | Always the latest features |
| Devices | One PC or Mac | Multiple devices |
| Cloud services | None | Included with the subscription |
| Support | Until 9 October 2029 | Continues while the subscription is active |
Prices vary by region and date, so we do not quote them.
Which option to choose: a simple framework
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Do you need security updates? Then choose Office 2024 or Microsoft 365, not Office 2021.
- Do you work on several devices and want cloud services? A Microsoft 365 subscription fits better.
- Is a fixed set of apps on a single PC enough, with no recurring fee? Consider Office 2024 as a one-time purchase.
- Is the PC isolated from the internet, or do you need an older version for compatibility? Office 2021 can be justified, but without new patches.
- Is your company buying many seats? Ask about volume licensing and Office LTSC 2024.
Office 2021 in our range
Softflix currently offers Office 2021 in several editions: Professional, Standard, Home & Student and Home & Business. Mac versions are also available. We do not list the licence type (OEM, Retail, Volume) per product — if it matters to you, ask us.
Remember that after support ends no security updates are released. See the Office 2021 keys page for details and the full product list.
For further reading on suites versus subscriptions see Microsoft 365 vs Office suite, and for what changed in the new version see Office 2024: what is new.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most often.
Is Office 2021 still supported?
No. According to Microsoft, support for Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 ended in October 2026. There are no new security updates.
How long is Office 2024 supported?
Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 are supported until 9 October 2029.
Will Office 2021 stop working after support ends?
The licence itself does not expire. The apps keep running, but the vendor no longer releases security updates for them.
What apps are in Office Home 2024?
Microsoft describes Office Home 2024 as classic versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote on one PC or Mac. Home & Business adds Outlook.
Can an individual buy Office 2024 Professional Plus?
Microsoft documents Professional Plus 2024 only as Office LTSC for organisations, available through volume licensing agreements.
Does Softflix sell Office 2024?
Not at the moment. Our range includes Office 2021; this guide explains the differences so you can choose knowingly.
Legal basis and sources
We checked licensing rules and support dates against official documents. Links open the publishers’ pages.
- Office 2021 lifecycleMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Office LTSC 2021 lifecycleMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Office 2024 lifecycleMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Office LTSC 2024 lifecycleMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 FAQMicrosoft Support · support.microsoft.com
- End of support for Office 2016 and 2019Microsoft Support · support.microsoft.com
- Office LTSC 2024 overviewMicrosoft Learn · learn.microsoft.com
- Compare Microsoft 365 productsMicrosoft · microsoft.com
Licences for your company?
Business account, quotes on request and invoices in your customer panel.
