Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for $149, keeping the non-subscription option alive

[Daniel Sims]

In brief: Microsoft really wants Office users to pay for a 365 subscription, but the company still releases new one-time-purchase editions every three years. The latest update offers performance improvements and new functionality for Excel, Outlook, and OneNote. However, previous versions are available at a substantial discount.

The latest major update to the non-subscription version of Microsoft's iconic productivity suite is available starting Tuesday for a $149 one-time purchase. Office Home & Business 2024, which adds Outlook to the package, retails for $249.

Microsoft Office Home 2024 customers receive access to the latest versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. By going without a subscription to Microsoft 365, users miss out on a suite of generative AI features the company recently introduced.

The standalone version of Excel allows users to insert text, arrays, and images more easily. Pictures can be directly pasted into spreadsheets, and the "Image" function ensures they don't lose their original formatting. Meanwhile, with dynamic arrays, charts automatically update to visualize newly added data.

In Outlook, a new checking function can proofread emails for accessibility. Furthermore, improved search functionality ensures better results when users look for files, emails, or events. The Mac version now supports left and right swipe gestures.

Improved inking functionality in OneNote includes a full-screen pen-focused view. The new cameo feature enables users to insert live video feeds into PowerPoint. Recording Studio introduces tools to record narration, animations, transitions, and inking for PowerPoint presentations.

Additionally, all applications have received performance optimizations. Microsoft aims to make Excel run more smoothly when users open multiple workbooks simultaneously.

Microsoft Office 2024 supports 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, and macOS Ventura. Microsoft is promising five years of feature updates, followed by an extended security support period. Office 2024 won't be the last non-subscription edition, as the company confirmed plans to release at least one more, possibly in 2027.

Those wishing to acquire a standalone version of Office who don't mind missing out on the latest features can purchase Office 2019 or Office 2021 Pro editions for considerably less. The latest deal for Office Professional Plus 2019 is only $25 for the Windows or macOS packages. However, security updates for Office 2016 and 2019 will end in October 2025. Meanwhile, paying just $15 more grants lifetime access to Office Pro 2021.

Permalink to story:

Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for $149, keeping the non-subscription option alive

 

[Hom3r]

Office is probably the last app I will install on my personal rig. No thanks.

 

[yRaz]

Libre Office is free and almost as good. I HAVE to use to for work and my job gave me a laptop with windows and everything I need on it so I guess that's acceptable. But I've been running on my personal rig for nearly 3 years now and everything I need to do in my personal life and side business can be done in Libre Office.

I'm not saying that Libre Office can do everything MS Office can, but if there is I havent encountered it

 

[madboyv1]

I'm thankful that the reaper has not come for Office Perpetual licenses yet (though they must still be attached to a Microsoft account)...

That being said I am on Office 365 as I do take advantage of license sharing (both direct installs and through the family member mechanism), as well as the cloud storage included... At first when it was just myself I questioned myself on a regular basis on why I was bothering to pay a subscription for something I could have a perpetual license for, and for the most part keeping the software always up to date is overkill as things change at a glacier pace when it comes to office... but as my use-case changed I just kept on renewing.

But FINALLY it "paid off", as Outlook 2024 has updated/replaced it's internal browser, which it had been using the same browser since office 2016. I was having issues being able to log into some non-microsoft accounts that were using this weird cobbled together mess of dedicated branded login page, Google OAUTH, and third party authenticator page, which was simply broken and would not render in older versions of office...

Google deprecated Gmail App Passwords earlier in the year I could not add these accounts into Outlook "Classic", only Outlook "New" since the Outlook would just co-opt Edge to pass authentication back to the email client. Now Outlook Classic does the same thing so I can finally get off this dreadful PWA/OWA interface.

 

[Rumiku]

Something about "lipstick on a pig".

Though I am glad there was at least 'some' useful changes, such as for Madboyv1 being able to fully use the product. Though why it had to come from a new "major" version and not delivered via update long ago, of course, is up to the Redmond monster. Humble plebs like us can only ever hope for scraps.

MS owns the business market and Office's use is virtually required by most Orgs. At home, Libre. In 2024, it's just too difficult to justify the cost outside of a business or personal need (such as a Resume) if Libre cannot format it right (which is rare).

 

[Squuiid]

Daniel, when is Techspot going to add this to their store, at what is usually a fraction of the price?

 

[Ecurb]

Just started using onlyOffice workspace as my Google docs replacement which had replaced Microsoft Office many years ago. Self hosted, its reportedly more Microsoft compatible than LibreOffice (I'm no power user to confirm or deny this).

So far works well on all my devices (Windows 10, iPad, Pixel 9, Linux mint). When away from my home office, I just access it through my self hosted OpenVPN.

I'd say no tech power user (or their family and friends) need to ever use Microsoft or Google again, except in limited specialized cases.