What is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365, previously known as Office 365, is a subscription service that grants you access to all the Microsoft Office programs.

If you’ve used Windows computers for a while, you’re probably aware of Microsoft Office. This is a series of applications that help with basic office and computing tasks in a digital environment. It’s one of the most common programs installed on a Windows PC. Microsoft also offers versions for Apple users as well.

Microsoft Office was first introduced as Office 95, a program that included a “suite” of programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Schedule+, and Binder. Some of these program names may still be familiar to you today, as their names haven’t changed.

What has changed is how Microsoft bundles and offers these apps in 2024. Microsoft has added a lot more apps to the Office suite when compared to Office 95 and built in additional functionality. However, because it’s a subscription, that does mean that you have to pay for Microsoft 365 every month to access the programs. This post will dive into what Microsoft 365 is, what it includes, and some alternatives to using it.

Microsoft 365 vs Microsoft Office 2024

Microsoft 365 features

When purchasing a Microsoft 365 subscription, you agree to pay a regular fee that automatically renews. This subscription is tied to your Microsoft account, which you’ll likely already have if you’re using a Windows PC. Any Windows device that’s logged into your Microsoft account will have access to the Microsoft apps and services tied to your account.

Some of Microsoft 365’s most popular apps and services include:

Word — A word processor
Excel — Spreadsheet software for data interpretation
PowerPoint — Presentation software
Outlook — An email management software that can handle multiple email accounts
OneNote — A digital note-taking software
Defender — Antivirus software
OneDrive — Cloud storage and file sharing

But Microsoft 365 includes a lot more than just this. From illustration programs to video editing software, AI programs, archival software, and more, Microsoft 365 provides you with access to a lot of programs. When you pay for a 365 subscription, you’ll be granted access to all the different apps and services bundled under the subscription. But, all these apps won’t be installed immediately on your PC. You’ll be able to pick and choose which programs you like and want to use.

Microsoft 365’s current pricing plan is either yearly or monthly. Although these programs are subject to change, you can expect to pay (keep in mind that prices are as of 2024, and subject to change):

Around $7 a month for personal access
Around $10 a month for family access (up to 6 people)
Around $70/year for personal access
Around $100/year for family access (up to 6 people)

Businesses can also subscribe to Microsoft 365 services, but the cost is based on the number of users per month and the services will be tied to work accounts, rather than personal accounts.

Pros

A lot of programs included
Regularly and automatically updated with new features and bug fixes (recently, Microsoft integrated Microsoft Copilot, an AI software, into a lot of its apps)
Low upfront cost
Family plan available for 365 access for up to 6 people
1 TB of cloud storage included
Can use Microsoft 365 apps and services on multiple platforms

Cons

Overwhelming, a lot of apps and programs are included that you may never use
Ongoing cost (monthly or annual) versus a one-time software purchase
Lose access to your cloud storage if you cancel subscription
Hidden fees for other services and programs like Teams and Copilot
Frequent updates mean the apps may suddenly change in a way you don’t like

Microsoft Office 2024 features

Although not as heavily advertised as Microsoft 365, Microsoft still offers a one-time payment option for buying a copy of Microsoft Office for Windows PC. While you can buy older licenses for older copies of Windows, Microsoft Office 2024 is compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, and macOS.

Microsoft Office 2024 includes:

Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Outlook
OneNote

These can be thought of as the “core” apps of Microsoft Office, and are all included for a one-time install. For a classic office experience, and if these are the only apps you need, this may be the best option for you!

Microsoft Office 2024’s pricing is a one-time purchase. This one-time purchase is tied to a device instead of an account, which means you can only install the programs on one computer. While the price may be subject to change, you can expect to pay:

Around $250 for an Office license.

Pros

No ongoing costs or subscriptions, single purchase
Includes the most essential desktop versions of Office programs
Supported and updated by Windows
Compatible with Microsoft Teams
Simple to set up and use

Cons

Higher upfront cost
Fewer programs included
Not integrated with Microsoft Cloud services (although you can still save documents on a cloud-based storage of your choice).
Only usable on a single Windows PC or Mac device

Should I buy Microsoft 365 or Office 2024?

This depends on your needs and what you want out of Microsoft’s software. If you just need a good document editor, spreadsheet software, and/or presentation builder, Office 2024 may be all that you need. If you expect to use a lot of different programs in the Microsoft Office suite, it may be better for you to purchase Microsoft 365.

If you’re new to Office, you can purchase a subscription to Microsoft 365 first to try the programs it includes before making the big purchase. But remember that if you plan on using Office for four years or more, you’ll save money by buying Office 2024.

We’ll also mention that Microsoft 365 can be a bit overwhelming. A lot of apps, features, and other programs are packed into Microsoft 365. You’ll be prompted to use the cloud, AI, and more as you use it. If you’re familiar with the traditional Microsoft Office experience, and just want something simple, Office 2024 may be worth the higher upfront cost to you.

How to Access Microsoft Office?

No matter which program you go with, OneLaunch has built the Office app into our dock for easy access to Microsoft Office’s most popular apps. You’ll find shortcuts to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote directly in the Office app.

Note that with the OneLaunch Office App, you’ll still need to purchase a copy of Office or subscription to 365. This shortcut simply makes it easier to pin and store your apps on the dashboard if you find yourself frequently using them. This is just one of the many ways that OneLaunch makes your everyday Windows experience smoother. You can try out OneLaunch today for free to see why our users love the OneLaunch experience.

Alternatives to Office

In the OneLaunch Office App, you’ll also find shortcuts to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Keep. These are free, cloud-based alternatives to Microsoft’s office suite. Created by Google, the Google Drive app is a cloud-based program that lets you create documents, spreadsheets, and more. You can store them in the cloud for access from anywhere on any device with Google Drive and an internet connection.

While Google Drive does require an internet connection to function, you can find some other Office apps that function offline that are either free or much lower cost. Some of these apps include: