Microsoft Office 365 vs Office 2024

BARRY G. VARGUS Sr 165 Reputation points
2026-05-09T18:50:12.5133333+00:00

The other day, while surfing the web, I saw what seemed like a pretty good deal for Microsoft Office 2024. I was wondering about the differences between Office 2024 and Microsoft Office 365. E.g., are they the same, and do the same things, do they include the same Office apps? I also notice that with Office 365, it's a yearly subscription. However, Office 2024 is a one-time payment. What happens after a year when you purchase Office 2024? Does it keep on working?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For home | Windows
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John Jefferson Doyon 86,990 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-05-09T19:29:46.65+00:00

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 include similar apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but the licensing is different.

Microsoft 365 is a yearly or monthly subscription. It usually includes:

  • Always updated Office apps
  • OneDrive cloud storage
  • Extra features like Copilot/AI features (depending on plan)
  • Use on multiple devices

Office 2024 is a one-time purchase. You pay once and it keeps working permanently on that device. It does not stop after a year.

The main difference is that Office 2024 only gets security updates and bug fixes. It does not get major new features added later like Microsoft 365 does.

Also, Office 2024 usually does not include the same cloud/storage benefits that come with Microsoft 365.

Which apps are you mainly planning to use? Word, Excel, Outlook, or something else?

I really hope this information is helpful! Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Regards,

John J.D.

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  1. Stefan Blom 351.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-05-10T16:43:07.23+00:00

    I have OneNote and OneNote for Windows 10. Neither app works. I forgot which is the newest. Is that the reason I can't use OneNote for Windows, because I don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription?

    @Barry G. Vargus Sr

    You can use the OneNote app that you download from the Microsoft Store, and you don't need a 365 subscription. See also https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-s-the-difference-between-the-onenote-versions-a624e692-b78b-4c09-b07f-46181958118f.

    Since the app doesn't work, consider asking for assistance in the OneNote section at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/tags/1172/m365-office-office-onenote-home-platform-windows .

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-09T18:50:26.2733333+00:00

    Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) are related but not the same product.

    Key differences:

    1. Purchase model
    • Office 2024: One-time purchase. Pay a single, up-front cost for one PC or Mac. There is no built-in upgrade path to future major versions; to move to the next major release, a new license must be purchased at full price.
    • Microsoft 365: Subscription. Pay a monthly or yearly fee. Plans like Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium are available.
    1. Apps and features
    • Office 2024 (one-time purchase):
      • Includes classic versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for one PC or Mac.
      • Security updates are included, but no new features are added over time.
      • Upgrades to future major releases are not included.
      • Does not include the cloud services that come with Microsoft 365.
    • Microsoft 365 subscription:
      • Includes premium, fully installed and always up-to-date versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for Windows or Mac. PC users also get Access and Publisher.
      • Includes AI-powered features with Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
      • Continuously receives the latest features, new tools, security updates, and bug fixes.
      • Includes services like 1 TB of cloud storage (per user on Family or Premium) and Microsoft chat/phone support.
    1. Devices and installation
    • Office 2024:
      • Licensed for a single installation on either one PC or one Mac.
    • Microsoft 365:
      • Apps can be installed on multiple devices (PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones).
      • With Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium, installation is allowed on all devices and sign-in on up to five at the same time.
      • Family or Premium subscriptions can be shared with up to five other people, each with their own apps and 1 TB of cloud storage.
    1. What happens after a year?
    • Office 2024:
      • There is no yearly renewal. After the one-time purchase, the license does not expire.
      • The apps continue to work on the licensed device as long as that device and operating system support them.
      • Security updates are provided, but no new features or automatic upgrades to future major versions are included.
    • Microsoft 365:
      • If the subscription is not renewed after a year, access to premium features, services, and installed apps is reduced or eventually disabled according to Microsoft 365 subscription terms.
    1. Free option

    In summary: Office 2024 is a one-time purchase that keeps working on one device but does not gain new features or future-version upgrades. Microsoft 365 is a subscription that provides the latest apps, additional services (like 1 TB cloud storage), multi-device use, and ongoing feature updates.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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