Why buying Office without a subscription often pays off
The Microsoft 365 subscription costs money on an ongoing basis, year after year. An Office perpetual licence costs a one-time fee. The break-even point at which the perpetual licence pays off lies, for individual users, at around two years. Anyone who uses Office for longer, which most people do, is better off with the perpetual licence.
In return, the subscription offers cloud storage and a steady stream of new features. For those who actively need these, the subscription can be worthwhile. For everyday Office use with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, however, the perpetual licence is usually the better choice.
How to buy Office without a subscription
- Choose a version. Office 2024 for new purchases, Office 2021 as a cheaper alternative.
- Choose an edition. Home & Business for the core apps, Standard or Professional Plus if you need more.
- Mind the platform. Separate perpetual licences for Windows and for Mac.
- Buy and activate. Key by email, installation, activation. If you have questions, German-language support is there to help.



