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Buying or renting Office 365: clearing up the question

Buying or renting Office 365 is a common search built on a misunderstanding. Microsoft 365 can only be rented, not bought. Here we explain what lies behind the question and which Office option can really be purchased.

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Buy or rent Office 365? 365 is always a subscription, so it is rented. We explain what lies behind the question and when buying is the better choice.

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Why you cannot buy Office 365

Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365, is a subscription service. At its core, a subscription is a rental: you pay continuously and use the software for as long as the payment continues. Stop the payment and the usage ends. Buying Office 365 is therefore not possible, as the product is designed as a rental.

Anyone who truly wants to buy Office, in the sense of paying once and owning it permanently, is looking for the Office perpetual licence. Office 2024 is the current version, Office 2021 the more affordable one. These versions are genuinely bought, not rented.

Buying or renting, the honest decision

  • Renting through the subscription is a good fit if you are planning for the short term, need cloud storage, or want to cover several people flexibly.
  • Buying through the perpetual licence is a good fit if you use Office over the long term and do not want recurring costs.
  • Cost calculation. Over several years, the rental adds up. Buying is then usually the cheaper option.
  • Ownership question. A purchased perpetual licence belongs to you. A subscription only grants usage for a limited time.

Häufige Fragen

Can you buy Office 365 or only rent it?

Microsoft 365 can only be rented, that is, used as a subscription. Buying in the sense of owning permanently is only possible with the Office perpetual license, such as Office 2024 or Office 2021.

What is the difference between buying and renting with Office?

Renting means paying continuously and using the software only during the subscription. Buying means paying once and owning the purchased version permanently.

Which is cheaper, buying or renting?

Over several years, buying a perpetual license is generally cheaper for individual users, since the rental payments of a subscription otherwise add up.
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Buying or renting Office 365: what lies behind the question | Keywi24