# Microsoft Office 2024: A One-Time Purchase, Lifelong Solution to Microsoft 365
In a time when subscription software models reign supreme, Microsoft continues to present a one-time purchase, lifelong option for its leading productivity suite. This week, the technology behemoth officially introduced **Microsoft Office 2024**, a “frozen-in-time” update for popular applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. This launch targets users who prefer a single purchase rather than the ever-evolving, subscription-based **Microsoft 365**.
Although Microsoft’s efforts to steer users toward its subscription service can be disappointing for some, the company remains dedicated to offering a perpetual licensing choice. This enables users to make a one-time payment and possess the software indefinitely, though without the continuous feature enhancements associated with Microsoft 365.
## What Comes with Microsoft Office 2024?
Microsoft Office 2024 is offered in two main versions for individual users:
1. **[Office Home 2024](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj)** – Priced at $149.99, this version features:
– Word
– Excel
– PowerPoint
– OneNote
2. **[Office Home & Business 2024](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7)** – At $249.99, this version includes:
– Outlook
– Licensing for commercial use of the apps
Both versions allow use on a single PC or Mac, making them perfect for users who want to avoid recurring subscription costs and do not require the latest functionalities provided by Microsoft 365.
### What’s New in Office 2024?
Office 2024 encompasses most of the updates and enhancements that have been made since the launch of **Office 2021** three years earlier. While the comprehensive list of modifications can be found on Microsoft’s [support page](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-s-new-in-office-2024-and-office-ltsc-2024-baadecbe-a8fc-4435-8cb8-70e93fd08b56#ID0EBF=Windows), several key improvements include:
– **Enhanced Performance**: Quicker load times and smoother operation across all applications.
– **Boosted Collaboration Features**: Although not as comprehensive as Microsoft 365’s real-time collaboration tools, Office 2024 still offers better co-authoring and sharing functionalities.
– **New Templates and Design Tools**: Updated templates and design tools in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to assist users in crafting more visually appealing documents and presentations.
– **Accessibility Enhancements**: Improved resources for making documents more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
However, it’s crucial to emphasize that Office 2024 will not receive ongoing feature updates, in contrast to its Microsoft 365 alternative. This indicates that while the software will continue to get security patches and bug fixes, no additional features will be introduced over time.
### What’s Absent in Office 2024?
While Office 2024 presents a robust suite of tools for users favoring a perpetual license, it does contain some drawbacks when compared to Microsoft 365:
– **No Continuous Feature Updates**: After purchasing Office 2024, the features you have are set in stone. You won’t receive any new features or enhancements that Microsoft may introduce later.
– **Limited Collaboration Features**: Although Office 2024 does provide some collaborative functionalities, it is missing the real-time co-authoring and advanced sharing features available in Microsoft 365.
– **Absence of Copilot AI Integration**: A major omission is the lack of **Copilot**, Microsoft’s AI-driven assistant that assists users in creating content, analyzing data, and automating tasks. This feature is exclusive to Microsoft 365 subscribers.
### Office Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) for Organizations
In addition to consumer offerings, Microsoft has also released new **[Office Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) products](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/enterprise/microsoft-office-volume-licensing-suites-comparison)** for businesses and organizations needing a more stable, enduring solution. These versions are designed for environments that require software consistency over time, free from the interruptions caused by frequent updates.
– **Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 for Windows** features all core Office applications, along with **Access**, Microsoft’s database management tool.
– **Project 2024** and **Visio 2024** are also available as standalone options for businesses in need of advanced project management and diagramming solutions.
These LTSC offerings are ideal for organizations that value stability and consistency over the latest features.
