want to use Excel only

Question

I only want to use EXCELL. Preferibly the 2021 version or earlier.

Answer 1

Microsoft only currently sell the one-time payment Office 2024 licence or a subscription to Microsoft 365, they also sell Excel 2024, but the Office Home 2024 licence is much better value.

If you do not need the other Office apps and do not want to sign up to a subscription to Microsoft 365, then this one-time Office 2024 licence is the best value:

https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj

The only other option if you do not want to sign up to a Microsoft 365 subscription, would be to use the free online version of Excel in a web browser, however, that version has some limitations when compared to the fully installed version of Excel.

https://excel.cloud.microsoft/en-us/

Answer 2

Excel 2021 (perpetual, one-time purchase) and earlier versions can be used without needing to use the rest of Microsoft 365 apps, but installation and compatibility depend on the Windows version and the license that is already owned.

Key points based on the request:

1. To use only Excel (not the full Microsoft 365 subscription experience), a standalone Office/Excel license such as Office 2021, Office 2019, or an older perpetual version is required.
2. Once installed, only Excel needs to be used; Word, Outlook, and other apps do not have to be opened or configured.
3. If Excel workbooks need to be shared with people using older versions (for example Excel 97–2003), Compatibility Mode and the Compatibility Checker can be used so that newer files remain usable in earlier versions:
   • Opening an old .xls file in a newer Excel automatically uses Compatibility Mode and keeps the file in .xls format.
   • To move from old .xls to a modern format, the workbook can be converted and saved as .xlsx, .xlsb, .xlsm, or .xltx/.xltm depending on whether macros or templates are needed.
4. When working only in Excel but exchanging files with others on older Excel versions, the Compatibility Checker helps avoid issues such as:
   • Newer functions returning #NAME? errors in older Excel.
   • Formulas with too many operands or arguments turning into #VALUE! errors in older Excel.
   • Structured table references being converted to normal cell references.

If the environment is Windows and there is a valid Excel/Office 2021 (or earlier) license, Excel can be installed and used alone, and Compatibility Mode can be used when needed to work with older files.

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References:

• Use Excel with earlier versions of Excel