Our Guide To Microsoft Office 2024 – Should You Buy It?
Office 2024 is Microsoft’s latest buy-once, own-forever version of Office — a single payment for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, with no subscription and no expiry date. But is it the right choice for you? This honest guide covers what you get, the editions, and exactly who should buy it.
What is Office 2024?
Office 2024 is a perpetual licence: you pay once and keep the apps for the lifetime of your PC or Mac. It installs the familiar desktop programs and runs entirely on your machine — no monthly bill, and no risk of the software switching off if you stop paying. It does not receive the constant new features that Microsoft 365 does, but for the vast majority of users it does everything they need for years.
Pay once
A single payment — no recurring subscription to manage.
No expiry
Valid for the lifetime of the device; the apps never switch off.
Works offline
Runs on your machine — no account or internet needed to write and edit.
What is new in Office 2024
Compared with Office 2021, the 2024 version brings a fresh look and a solid set of practical improvements:
- Excel: charts that grow automatically with dynamic arrays, 14 new text and array functions such as TEXTSPLIT, VSTACK and TAKE, the new IMAGE function for pictures in cells, and faster workbooks.
- Word: session recovery after a crash, support for OpenDocument Format 1.4 and inserting photos straight from your phone.
- PowerPoint: Cameo to show your live camera feed on a slide, Recording Studio to turn a presentation into a video, and closed captions for video and audio.
- Outlook: better search across email, calendar and contacts, plus more options when you create meetings.
- All apps: the new Fluent-style Office theme and improved accessibility tools.
Support dates: Office 2019, 2021 and 2024
Security updates matter more than new features, especially for Outlook and for files you receive from other people. This is where the versions differ most:
| Version | Security updates until | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office 2019 | 14 October 2025 | No longer supported |
| Office 2021 | 13 October 2026 | Support ends in October 2026 |
| Office 2024 | 9 October 2029 | Fully supported |
After the end date the apps keep working, but they no longer receive security fixes. If you buy a one-time version today, Office 2024 gives you three more years of updates than Office 2021.
Which edition: Standard or Professional Plus?
There are two main perpetual editions:
- Office 2024 Standard — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. Everything most people and small offices need.
- Office 2024 Professional Plus — all of the above plus Access, for power users and businesses that work with databases.
If you are unsure, Standard covers the essentials; choose Professional Plus only if you need Access, Microsoft’s database app. Publisher is no longer part of Office 2024, because Microsoft is retiring it in October 2026.
On a Mac? Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote and runs on the three most recent versions of macOS. See all Office for Mac licences.
Should you buy Office 2024?
Buy it if: you want the core Office apps on one main computer, you prefer a one-time cost, and you do not need constant new features or heavy cloud collaboration. This describes most home users, students and small businesses — and over a few years it is usually much cheaper than a subscription.
Consider Microsoft 365 instead if: you need Office across many devices, want 1 TB of OneDrive storage, or rely on the newest features the moment they arrive. We compare the two in detail in our Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365 guide.
Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365 at a glance
| Office 2024 | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | One payment | £84.99 a year (Microsoft 365 Personal) |
| Devices | One PC or Mac | Signed in on up to five devices at once |
| Cloud storage | Not included | 1 TB of OneDrive |
| Copilot AI in the apps | Not included | Included, with monthly AI credits |
| Updates | Security updates until 9 October 2029 | New features continuously |
| Works offline | Yes, after activation | Needs to go online at least every 30 days |
Does Office 2024 include Copilot?
No. Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook is part of Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Office 2024 is the classic, offline-capable suite without built-in AI. You can still use AI next to it: tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or the free Copilot app write text, formulas and slide outlines that you paste into your documents, and every file they create opens normally in Office 2024. Our comparison of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot helps you choose.
Office 2024 system requirements
- Windows: Windows 11 or Windows 10, a 1.6 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 4 GB of free disk space and a 1024 × 768 screen.
- Mac: one of the three most recent versions of macOS, 4 GB of RAM, 10 GB of free disk space and a 1280 × 800 screen.
- Activation: an internet connection is needed to install and activate Office. After that, the apps work offline.
Ready to own Office outright?
Genuine Office 2024 licences, in your inbox moments after payment – activation guarantee, no subscription, no expiry.
Frequently asked questions
Is Office 2024 a one-time purchase?
Yes. Office 2024 is a perpetual licence – one payment, no subscription and no expiry. Microsoft supports it with security updates until 9 October 2029. After that the apps keep working, but without new security fixes.
What apps come with Office 2024?
Office 2024 Standard includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. Professional Plus adds Access. Both are the full desktop versions installed on your computer. Publisher is no longer included, because Microsoft is retiring it in October 2026.
Can I install Office 2024 on more than one computer?
A single Office 2024 licence covers one PC or Mac. For multiple machines, buy a licence per device or consider Microsoft 365, which allows multi-device installs per user.
Does Office 2024 work without an internet connection?
Yes. Once installed and activated, Office 2024 runs entirely on your machine and does not need an internet connection to create and edit documents.
Is Office 2024 cheaper than Microsoft 365?
For a single device used mainly for the core apps, Office 2024 is usually cheaper over a few years because you pay only once. Microsoft 365 can offer better value if you use its cloud storage, multi-device installs and continual updates.
When does support for Office 2024 end?
Microsoft supports Office 2024 until 9 October 2029. Office 2021 support ends on 13 October 2026, and Office 2019 has been unsupported since 14 October 2025.
Does Office 2024 include Copilot?
No. Copilot in the Office apps requires a Microsoft 365 subscription. Office 2024 has no built-in AI features, but it opens every file that Copilot or other AI tools create.
Is Publisher included in Office 2024?
No. Microsoft removed Publisher from Office 2024 because it is retiring the app in October 2026. For new layouts, Word or PowerPoint are the usual alternatives.
Sources: Microsoft Support – What’s new in Office 2024, Microsoft Lifecycle – Office 2024, Microsoft Lifecycle – Office 2021, Microsoft Learn – Office LTSC 2024 overview, Microsoft – Office Home 2024 system requirements. Last updated: 4 October 2026.
