What’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2024?

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that ensures you always have access to the latest productivity tools from Microsoft. It offers plans tailored for personal and home users, as well as for small and medium businesses, large enterprises, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.

Many Microsoft 365 plans for home or business now include Copilot, which brings powerful AI features to popular apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. With generous cloud storage and advanced security, Microsoft 365 enables you to accomplish more—whether you’re managing daily tasks or creating content efficiently. The Microsoft 365 Family or Premium plan also allows you to share your subscription benefits with up to five additional people.

Note: AI-powered features are available only to the primary subscription owner and cannot be shared with Family or Premium members.

Note: Microsoft 365 Basic is designed for one user. It includes 100 GB of cloud storage, secure ad-free email, protected photo and file storage, and access to Microsoft support. For details, see the Microsoft 365 Basic FAQ.

Most business, school, and non-profit Microsoft 365 plans include fully installed desktop apps, but Microsoft also provides simpler plans that offer only web-based versions of the apps, along with file storage and email. You can choose the option that best fits your needs—Small Business, Enterprise, Education, or Non-profit.

Office 2024, on the other hand, is a one-time purchase. You pay a single upfront cost to get Microsoft apps for one computer (PC or Mac). However, this version does not include upgrades—if you want the next major release, you’ll need to purchase it separately.

Lastly, Microsoft 365 for the web offers a free, browser-based experience. By signing in with a Microsoft account (using a new or existing email address), you can use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other apps online—at no cost.