Licensing question

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Licensing question

Tony Bemelen 0

Hey all,

Not sure if this is the correct spot to post this question.

Is there any way to purchase just Excel, Word and maybe Outlook and skip the other plethora of programs that I never use with my Office 365 subscription. The annual costs is getting to the point this might be my last year. I like the software, but feel like I have to pay for it year after year and that is getting very old.

Thanks!
Tony

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Hi Tony,

Microsoft 365 is designed as a bundled subscription to offer value through cloud storage, collaboration tools, and frequent updates. But for users who don’t need the full suite or prefer a one-time purchase, the subscription model can feel excessive especially when you’re not using apps like Access, Publisher, or Teams.

Here are a few alternatives that let you own the apps you care about without ongoing fees:

Buy Standalone Apps

You can purchase Word, Excel, or Outlook individually as one-time purchases:

Word (standalone)

Excel (standalone)

Outlook (standalone)

These are perpetual licenses, meaning you pay once and own the app for life on one device. However, they don’t include cloud features or ongoing feature updates just security patches.

Office Home & Student 2021

Includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for a one-time payment (no Outlook). Buy Office Home & Student 2021

Office Home & Business 2021 or 2024

Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook ideal if you want Outlook too. This is also a one-time purchase and doesn’t require a subscription. Look for Office Home & Business 2021 or 2024 on the Microsoft Store or trusted retailers.

Answer 2

Marcin Policht 90,725 MVP Volunteer Moderator

If you mostly use Word, Excel, and Outlook and don’t need cloud features (OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, etc.) consider Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 (one-time purchase, ~$150 USD):

Includes: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
License: one device, no annual fee, no Outlook
Drawback: no Outlook and no feature updates (only security fixes).

If you need Outlook too, then Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 (~$250 USD, one-time) might work better

Includes: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
Intended for personal or small business use.
Works offline and does not require a Microsoft 365 subscription.

These versions are sold via:

Microsoft Store (digital download)
Authorized retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, etc.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Tony Bemelen 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T17:35:44.8333333+00:00

I still have no need for Power point, but I think I might just do this option. The One drive does not work very well as it is currently configured. I have unloaded it from my Laptop. One more quick question, if we bought the Home and Office version for each of our kids families, how may computers could they load it on. Both families are 2 parent and two kids. The kids will likely be needing/getting a personal laptop in the near future as they are getting close to high school.

Thanks!
Marcin Policht 90,725 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-16T18:41:12.42+00:00
The Office Home & Business 2021 (as well as Home & Student 2021) licenses are per device, not per person. That means:

Each license can only be installed on one PC or Mac.

If a family member wants to use Word, Excel, and Outlook on a separate laptop or desktop, they would need to purchase another license for that device.

It doesn't matter if it's the same person or different people—one license = one computer.

So, in your scenario, your kids' families each have 4 members. If all 4 members are going to use the software on personal devices (including future personal laptops for the kids), you would need one license per computer. If they currently only have one shared computer, one license is enough for that device, but when each child gets their own laptop, you'll need additional licenses for those devices.

Btw. this is why Microsoft 365 still appeals to some families: it allows multiple devices per subscription (5 PCs/Macs, 5 tablets, 5 phones for Microsoft 365 Family). But if you prefer one-time purchase and offline use, per-device licensing is the trade-off.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
Tony Bemelen 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T19:01:01.4633333+00:00

Nice other than paying for One Note, Power Point, Access and Publisher which have no value and then paying for the whole enchilada costs roughly equal to what you need for a one time purchase. Thanks for your quick responses!
Marcin Policht 90,725 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-16T19:14:12.84+00:00

You're welcome

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

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