Big news for Microsoft Office users: The software giant has officially announced that the next version of Microsoft 365, also known as Office 2024, will be available as a one-time purchase later this year in addition to the subscription model. This comes as welcome news for those who prefer owning their software outright rather than paying an annual fee.
“Many of our clients have expressed a desire for a perpetual license option for Microsoft Office,” said Emil Henrico, CEO of the ISSC Group, an IT services company. “We’re thrilled that Microsoft is listening to customer feedback and offering this choice with Office 2024. It provides important flexibility for businesses and consumers alike.”
Here are the key details about the upcoming Office 2024 release:
- Office 2024 will be available for purchase as a one-time payment, supported for five years
- Pricing is expected to remain the same as the current perpetual license of Office 2021
- Office 2024 will release for both Windows and macOS
- On Windows, Office 2024 will support Windows 10 and newer, but not Windows on ARM devices
- Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions will be supported
It’s important to note that while Office 2024 won’t require a subscription, it will only receive security updates and bug fixes during its five-year support lifecycle. New features will be exclusive to Microsoft 365 subscribers.
“For companies and individuals who always want the latest Office features and capabilities, the Microsoft 365 subscription is still the way to go,” Henrico pointed out. “But for those who are happy with the core Office apps and prefer a one-and-done purchase, Office 2024 will be a compelling option. We anticipate many of our clients will go this route.”
Microsoft will be releasing a preview of the enterprise-focused Office LTSC 2024 for testing in April, but has not yet announced a specific release date for the consumer Office 2024 version beyond later this year. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
“The ISSC Group looks forward to evaluating Office 2024 for our clients and helping them determine the best licensing approach for their needs,” said Henrico. “As always, our goal is to empower organizations with the right technology solutions to achieve their business objectives.”
Footnote: It’s worth noting that Office LTSC 2024, the enterprise version of the one-time purchase option, does have some limitations compared to Microsoft 365 Apps. It does not include cloud-based capabilities such as real-time collaboration, AI-driven automation, or advanced security and compliance features. Additionally, Office LTSC 2024 is licensed on a per-device basis and is supported for five years under Microsoft’s Fixed Lifecycle Policy. A commercial preview of Office LTSC 2024 will be available next month, with general availability later this year. Lastly, Office LTSC 2024 is not compatible with Microsoft Copilot, as it is a disconnected product.
