Choose between free web apps, a Microsoft 365 subscription, a business plan, or Office 2024 as a one-time purchase
Choose Microsoft 365 for the latest apps, cloud storage, ongoing updates, and use across devices. Choose Office 2024 if you want a one-time purchase for one computer. Choose a business plan when you need business email, administration, shared workspaces, or organisational security controls.
Compare your options
| Option | Best for | What you get | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Microsoft 365 web apps | Basic personal use. | Web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint; 5 GB cloud storage. | No desktop apps or included technical support. |
| Microsoft 365 Basic | One person who mainly needs storage and email. | Web apps; 100 GB cloud storage; support. | Does not include the full desktop apps. |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | One person using Microsoft 365 across devices. | Latest desktop and web apps; 1 TB cloud storage; ongoing updates and support. | Install on multiple devices and sign in on up to five at once. |
| Microsoft 365 Family, Premium, or Pro | Households of up to six people. | Desktop and web apps; up to 10 TB shared storage; shared subscription benefits. | AI benefits are for the subscription owner only. Premium and Pro offer higher AI usage. |
| Microsoft 365 for business | Businesses and organisations. | Apps, storage, email and collaboration features vary by plan. | Can add branded email, central administration, shared files, security and access controls. Some entry plans are web-only. |
| Office 2024 | One person wanting a one-time purchase. | Desktop apps for one PC or Mac; security updates. | No cloud storage or ongoing feature upgrades. A future major release requires another purchase. |
| Standalone apps | Someone who needs only one app. | One-time purchase of apps such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint; Visio and Project options are also available. | Features, device support, and purchase model depend on the app. |
Note
Features, prices, storage, AI usage, support, and availability vary by plan and market. Check the current plan details before buying.
Which Microsoft 365 or Office plan should you choose?
- Use the free web apps for basic browser-based editing and a small amount of storage.
- Choose Microsoft 365 Basic for more storage and support without the full desktop apps.
- Choose a Microsoft 365 personal or family plan for the latest desktop apps, cloud storage, multiple devices, updates, and household sharing.
- Choose Microsoft 365 for business for professional email, central management, shared company data, collaboration, and stronger organisational controls.
- Choose Office 2024 for desktop apps on one computer with a single upfront payment and no need for continuous feature upgrades.
Accounts and installation
Use the account associated with your product:
- Personal subscriptions, free web apps, and most one-time purchases use a Microsoft account.
- Business and education plans usually use a work or school account provided by the organisation.
- Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 require an internet connection for installation, activation, and updates. After activation, installed apps can be used offline, although periodic reconnection may be required.
- You can save files locally or in the cloud to OneDrive.
Personal, business, or both?
One plan may cover your needs. Keep separate personal and business subscriptions if you need to separate personal files and family sharing from company data, access, and administration.
If you use a personal subscription for work, you can move your business files to a new business plan. Plan the move so personal files and family sharing remain separate.