Share via

Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021 or 2019

Anonymous
2022-06-10T09:28:32+00:00

I am currently subscribing to Microsoft 365 but have disabled updates in Word because I don't want Modern Comments - I believe it is no longer possible to disable them. I am wondering whether there's any point to my continuing to subscribe to Microsoft 365 if I never update Word (Outlook, Excel, etc. are being updated), and if I should buy a standalone version of Office (2019 or 2021) instead. Any thoughts?

A separate, related question: Would it be possible to keep my subscription to Microsoft 365 but uninstall Word 365 and use Word 2021 instead?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2022-06-12T14:50:23+00:00

    With any of them, if you freeze updates, you will not get new features (or fixes). I can't tell you that it will include modern comments, just that I would not be surprised if it does. The latest perpetual license versions share much code with 365 and it often happens that changes to 365 end up in the perpetual version, especially if they are changes that designers consider to be minor or cosmetic.

    I would stick with 365 not allowing updates. You will be at least as well off as with the perpetual license versions. At some point, I would expect they would put the option back in. There has certainly been a call here for it.

    You can always roll back to a previous release in 365. Information on how to do that can be found in this SuperUser thread. You need to know the version/build number. https://superuser.com/questions/1724363/word-36...

    This link is to a page that I use and trust. It is safe. I am providing it because I think it contains information that will help you. However, as an Independent Advisor I am required to add the following when posting here with a link to any non-Microsoft site, even my own site:

    Required Notice: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

8 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2022-06-10T13:33:18+00:00

    Hello,

    This forum is a user-to-user support forum. My name is Charles and I am a fellow user with decades of experience using Microsoft Word. I have written extensively on using Word and have authored help articles on the Microsoft site.

    Modern comments are likely to "infect" both 2019 and 2021 as well. Use the feedback mechanisms.

    https://support.microsoft.com/office/2b102d44-b...

    There are other advantages to using 365. https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-m...

    I hope this information helps.

    Please let me know if you have any more questions or require further help.

    You can ask for more help by replying to this post (Reply button below).

    Stay well

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Stefan Blom 339.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-06-11T15:31:57+00:00

    As far as I know, you can still disable modern comments in Word 365 for Windows. Click File > Options > General and clear the check mark next to "Enable modern comments."

    Maybe you are running a preview version from which the option has been removed.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2022-06-10T11:36:31+00:00
    1. You can install 2021 if you wish it will install in parallel with 365 however 2021 will have the same features as Word 365
    2. 365 auto updates internally
    0 comments