Microsoft Workplace started life all the way in which again in 1990, predating widespread availability of the web. It’s undergone a wide range of adjustments in that point, however maintained the identical title – till now.
In October 2022, Microsoft introduced that it will be rebranding standalone variations of Workplace apps to ‘Microsoft 365’. That matches what we noticed with the corporate’s productivity-focused subscription service in 2020, which shifted to the identical title.
At its most elementary, paying often will get you entry to Phrase, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and Writer, plus Groups for communication and Outlook for e-mail. You additionally get cloud storage through OneDrive and common updates, however much more software program is offered on skilled and enterprise plans.
Whereas this text is designed that will help you determine between them, it’s far out of your solely possibility. As has all the time been the case, Microsoft continues to launch standalone variations of Workplace apps each few years. The most recent model was launched in 2021, however except for software program patches, you received’t get any updates.
For some individuals, it’s additionally potential to entry Microsoft Workplace free or at a reduced price. Right here’s all the things it’s essential to know.
Methods to get Microsoft Workplace in your laptop computer or PC
In years passed by, the perfect (and solely) strategy to get Workplace was to purchase a CD-ROM for a one-off worth and set up it onto your PC or laptop computer. Today that may be a little bit of a faff, with many laptops not even having disc drives anymore, nevertheless it was a technique to make sure you had a bodily backup.
These days, Workplace is offered as a obtain, however you may both purchase it outright with a one time buy, or as a month-to-month subscription. There are benefits to both choices.
Any Microsoft product underneath the ‘365’ umbrella is subscription-based, referring to the variety of days in a yr. Any Microsoft product with out ‘365’ in its title is prone to be a one-time buy – good in case you solely need to pay as soon as, however you received’t be capable to improve the software program with on-line updates like you may with 365 subscriptions.
There are additionally a number of completely different variations of Workplace out there, and you need to select the perfect one for you relying in your wants. It’s value noting that whereas this shopping for information covers each platform, Mac customers may need to check out the precise Workplace for Mac shopping for information on our sister web site Macworld.
First, we’ll break down Workplace choices if you’re shopping for for private residence or pupil use, after which go on to the choices if you’re shopping for it for work or use inside a small enterprise.
Which model of Microsoft Workplace do you have got?
In case you’re trying to improve, it’s straightforward to verify which model of Microsoft Workplace you have got put in. Offered you’ve downloaded all of the apps on the similar time, they need to all be operating the identical model.
For the aim of this text, we’re utilizing Microsoft Phrase. The method could differ barely relying in your system and app, nevertheless it ought to nonetheless be straightforward to seek out:
- Open the Workplace app of your alternative. Try to be introduced with a house display much like the one under
- From the bottom-left nook, click on ‘Account’
- Underneath the ‘Product Info’ part, search for ‘About Phrase’. Right here, you need to see ‘Model’ adopted by a four-digit quantity
- To search out out when this model was launched, a fast internet search will inform you
Nevertheless, the method differs on older Workplace apps. In Phrase 2010, it’s essential to select ‘File’, then ‘Assist’. The data will then be displayed on the precise aspect of the display, as you may see under.
It’s completely different once more in Phrase 2007. Click on on the spherical Microsoft Workplace icon within the prime left after which ‘Phrase Choices’ on the backside of the menu. Subsequent, select ‘Sources’ – the final possibility on the left-side panel. You need to see an ‘About’ button on the backside of the listing which can present you further particulars concerning the model that you simply personal.
Within the 2003 model, go to the ‘Assist’ possibility within the prime menu bar, after which the ‘About Microsoft Workplace Phrase’. Within the pop-up, you will note the MS Workplace World model together with the suite it belong to, just like the Microsoft Workplace Skilled Version 2003.
Will Home windows 11 include Microsoft Workplace?
No, it doesn’t. Home windows 11 was launched in 2021 and is a free improve for many Home windows 10 customers, however Microsoft Workplace apps aren’t included. All of your present recordsdata and apps will make the transfer, although, so if you have already got a standalone model (equivalent to Workplace 2019 or Workplace 2021) it’ll nonetheless be out there.
However everybody else might want to pay for entry. Be taught extra in our separate information: Does Home windows 11 include Microsoft Workplace?
Will Microsoft 365 be getting new AI options?
It’s trying possible. In February 2022, Microsoft introduced a brand new model of its Edge browser and Bing search engine with an built-in AI chatbot based mostly on ChatGPT.
It’s solely within the testing section on the time of writing, however related options will virtually definitely be added to Microsoft Workplace apps. With the ability to compose a selected kind of article or write an e-mail for you have got been highlighted as potential use instances, however there’ll possible be many extra.
The Verge stories that Phrase, PowerPoint and Outlook will likely be first in line, with a potential announcement as quickly as March. If that seems to be true, it wouldn’t be lengthy earlier than expertise arrives in closing variations of Workplace apps. In that situation, it’s possible they’ll be unique to Microsoft 365 subscribers, moderately than additionally out there on standalone variations – a minimum of initially.
Microsoft 365 (beforehand Workplace 365)
Microsoft’s productivity-focused subscription service was referred to as Workplace 365 from its preliminary launch in 2011 till 2020. Since April 2020 it’s been recognized merely as ‘Microsoft 365’, however the rebrand didn’t have an effect on performance except for a couple of new options.
First up are the choices designed for the person shopper (i.e. most likely you). In case you’re subscribing, there are two most important choices to select from: Private (for only one person) or Household (for as much as six customers). For each, you have got the choice to pay month-to-month or yearly:
- Microsoft 365 Private – $6.99/£5.99 per thirty days or $69.99/£59.99 per yr – one particular person, 1TB of cloud storage
- Microsoft 365 Household – $9.99/£7.99 per thirty days or $99.99/£79.99 per yr – as much as six individuals, 1TB of cloud storage every, additional Household Security options
There’s additionally a particular free model for college students and college employees which we’ll get to later.
The principle profit to choosing Microsoft 365 is that you simply’ll get common updates for so long as you’re a subscriber, without having to leap from one model to the following each few years, and no complications about file compatibility.
You can even save your work to the cloud, much like Google Docs. Microsoft additionally throws in a couple of additional advantages equivalent to 1TB of cloud storage and full entry to Microsoft Groups.
Microsoft 365 – Household vs Private
In case you’re subscribing, there at present two most important choices to select from: Private (for only one person) or Household (for as much as six customers). For each, you have got the choice to pay month-to-month or yearly:
- Microsoft 365 Private – $6.99/£5.99 per thirty days or $69.99/£59.99 per yr – one particular person, 1TB of cloud storage
- Microsoft 365 Household – $9.99/£7.99 per thirty days or $99.99/£79.99 per yr – as much as six individuals, 1TB of cloud storage every, additional Household Security options
The additional £20/$30 per yr or £2/$3 per thirty days for the Household subscription is a superb deal in case you select to share the subscription prices amongst buddies. The yearly subscriptions prevent on two months of fee as effectively.
There’s additionally no system restrict on Microsoft 365 installations, that means each Household or Private subscribers can set up the software program on as many units as wanted. You might be restricted to engaged on 5 units concurrently, although.
Nevertheless, on 11 January 2023, Microsoft introduced {that a} new third tier could be added on 30 January. Often known as Microsoft 365 Fundamental, it’ll substitute the prevailing OneDrive 100GB storage plan however retain the identical worth – $1.99/£1.99 per thirty days or $19.99/£19.99 per yr. Extra particulars on what it affords under.
Microsoft 365 Household
- For six customers at at time throughout limitless PCs/Macs, tablets and telephones
- 1TB cloud storage per person for 6 customers (6TB whole)
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Consists of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer (PC Solely), Entry (PC Solely), OneDrive, Microsoft Groups
US: $99.99 per yr or $9.99 per thirty days
UK: £79.99 per yr or £7.99 per thirty days
Microsoft 365 Private
- For 1 PC/Mac throughout limitless PCs/Macs, tablets and telephones
- 1TB cloud storage for one person
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Consists of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer (PC Solely), Entry (PC Solely), OneDrive, Microsoft Groups, Household Security
US: $69.99 per yr or $6.99 per thirty days
UK: £59.99 per yr or £5.99 per thirty days
Microsoft 365 Fundamental
- For 1 PC/Mac throughout limitless PCs/Macs, tablets and telephones
- 100GB cloud storage for one person
- Net and cell variations of apps solely
- Extra options to be added
US: $19.99 per yr or $1.99 per thirty days
UK: £19.99 per yr or £1.99 per thirty days
Workplace 365 Schooling – Free choices for college students
Workplace 365 Schooling is (because the title suggests) a particular model of Microsoft 365 for college students and college school or employees. College students and academics can join free internet entry to Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Microsoft Groups underneath the Workplace 365 A1 plan.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll want a college e-mail deal with or different proof of your standing to assert it. See our full article on the way to get Microsoft Phrase without cost.
There’s additionally the
Workplace 365 A3 plan if you need desktop entry to the apps, which prices £2.20/US$2.50 per thirty days for every pupil and £2.85/$3.25 for every academics or different member of employees. The highest-tier Workplace 365 A5 plan, which prices £5.30/$6 per thirty days for college students and £7.05/$8 per thirty days for academics, affords desktop and internet entry together with added safety features.
If you wish to search for different nice pupil tech offers, try
Tech Advisor’s again to highschool hub.
Workplace House and Pupil 2021
In case you would favor to pay a one-off worth, Workplace House and Pupil 2021 is the precise bundle for you. You lose the automated software program updates of Microsoft 365, however meaning you should utilize the software program for years with out being tied right into a subscription. It really works with one system operating Home windows 11, Home windows 10 or any current model of macOS.
Nevertheless, you don’t get full entry to the cell and pill apps right here (anybody can nonetheless use them to view paperwork without cost, simply not edit or create them), there’s no cloud storage included, and also you don’t get entry to the total suite of Workplace applications included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Workplace 2021 consists of new options equivalent to a black theme in Phrase, new studying instruments, new charts and timelines, new transitions in PowerPoint and plenty extra. However in contrast to a Microsoft 365 subscription, it received’t proceed getting new options over time.
It’s additionally value noting that Microsoft Workplace will quickly be referred to as Microsoft 365 following a rebrand, nevertheless it’ll nonetheless carry out in precisely the identical means.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise
Microsoft additionally affords business-minded variations of its software program. We’re specializing in the choices for small companies right here, however Microsoft additionally affords
Enterprise plans for bigger corporations. As soon as once more, there’s a cut up between the 365 subscription packages and the one-off buy model of Workplace 2021.
There are three most important variations of Microsoft 365 Enterprise out there, every providing very completely different software program packages, so be sure to decide the precise one. Be particularly aware about Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental (from $6/£4.50 per person per thirty days), which doesn’t really embody desktop variations of the core Workplace software program like Phrase and Excel – simply Microsoft’s on-line and cloud instruments.
Additionally observe the Microsoft 365 Apps for marketing strategy ($8.25/£7.90 per person per thirty days) consists of each desktop and cell model of the apps however with out the opposite productiveness instruments equivalent to e-mail, calendar and Groups convention name options.
Right here’s a abstract of all 4 most important business-focused plans we’d advocate:
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Normal
- One licence for five PCs/Macs plus 5 tablets and 5 telephones per person
- 1TB cloud storage per person
- Permits as much as 300 customers
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Desktop variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer, Entry, OneDrive
- Net variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint
US: $12.50 per person per thirty days
UK: £9.40 per person per thirty days
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium
- For five PCs/Macs plus 5 tablets and 5 telephones per person
- 1TB cloud storage per person
- Permits as much as 300 customers
- Electronic mail internet hosting with 50GB mailbox and customized area deal with
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Desktop variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Writer, Entry
- Entry to OneDrive, Trade, Microsoft Groups, SharePoint, Yammer
- Net variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
US: $22 per person per thirty days
UK: £16.60 per person per thirty days
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental
- 1TB cloud storage per person
- Electronic mail internet hosting with 50GB mailbox and customized area deal with
- Permits as much as 300 customers
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Video conferencing with as much as 250 individuals
- OneDrive, Trade, Microsoft Groups, SharePoint, Yammer
- Net variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote
US: $5 per person per thirty days (annual plan)
UK: £4.50 per person per thirty days (annual plan)
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
- For five PCs/Macs plus 5 tablets and 5 telephones per person
- 1TB cloud storage per person
- Net variations of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive
- Ongoing entry to updates
- Permits as much as 300 customers
UK: £7.90 per person per thirty days (annual plan)
US: $8.25 per person per thirty days (annual plan)
UK: £7.90 per person per thirty days (annual plan)
