Office 365 or Office 2021: Subscription vs Perpetual License?
One of the most common questions for anyone considering purchasing Microsoft Office is: Should I get Office 365 Pro Plus, or Office 2021? While both products include the same core applications, they differ significantly in their working model, update structure, and long-term cost.
What Is Office 2021 Pro Plus?
Office 2021 Pro Plus is Microsoft’s one-time purchase perpetual license option. You pay once and the license is yours forever. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Publisher. When the next Office version is released (Office 2024 or later), there is no automatic upgrade — you would need to pay again to move to the new version.
Cloud storage (OneDrive) and Microsoft Teams are not included in this package. Applications install on a single device and work without an internet connection.
What Is Office 365 Pro Plus?
Office 365 Pro Plus (Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise) is a subscription-based licensing model. With a monthly or annual payment, you always use the latest version of Office. In addition to the classic applications, Teams and 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage are included; it can be installed on up to five separate devices.
When the subscription ends, applications switch to read-only mode — you cannot create new documents or edit existing files.
Key Differences: Comparison Table
| Feature | Office 2021 Pro Plus | Office 365 Pro Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Payment model | One-time purchase | Subscription |
| Updates | Security patches only | Continuous, latest features |
| OneDrive storage | Not included | 1 TB included |
| Microsoft Teams | Not included | Included |
| Number of devices | 1 device | Up to 5 devices |
| Offline use | Yes | Yes (after installation) |
| Long-term cost | Fixed, predictable | Cumulative, increases over time |
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Office 2021 if:
- You will use it on a single computer
- You do not need cloud storage or Teams
- You want a fixed one-time cost
- You want to avoid internet dependency
Choose Office 365 if:
- You will use it on multiple devices (home + work + tablet)
- You always want access to the latest features
- You collaborate with a team using Teams and OneDrive
- You prefer a lower upfront monthly cost
You can access both options at competitive prices: compare Office 365 Pro Plus or Office 2021 Pro Plus licenses — or browse our full Office licenses category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my files be deleted if my Office 365 subscription expires?
No. Your documents will not be deleted, but editing mode will be disabled. Full functionality returns when you renew the subscription.
Can I use Teams with Office 2021?
You can download and use the free version of Teams separately; full integration requires Office 365.
How long will Office 2021 receive support?
Microsoft has planned extended security support for Office 2021 until 2031. See the Microsoft official support page for details.
Can Office 365 run on multiple devices?
Yes. Office 365 Pro Plus can be installed on up to five separate devices; Office 2021 is a single-device license.
Are the licenses genuine?
Yes. All Microsoft licenses purchased through Karinca Lisans are activated through Microsoft’s official channels and delivered with an invoice.