Microsoft Office Editions Comparison
Microsoft Office is one of the most popular productivity suites today. With its range of editions available, it has something for everyone, from students to business professionals in a corporate environment.
But how can you determine which option is right for you? In this blog post, we'll cover the basics of different MS Office editions, the apps included in each edition, and the kinds of users they are for.
Note: This text is only about the perpetual Microsoft Office pack, sold as a one-time purchase. Microsoft 365 subscriptions are not subject to this article.
MS Office Home & Student: The basic edition
The Home & Student edition is for home and school use. This edition includes the classic Office applications:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
The Office H&S pack is suitable for students and families who need only the most popular Office apps. Microsoft Office Home & Student is a one-time purchase product installed on one PC or Mac. In versions such as 2021 and 2019, transferable licences are also available, meaning you can reinstall the software on another device if needed.
What should you know about the Home & Student Office edition?
- Cost-effective
- Includes the core Microsoft Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote
- Perfect for basic office tasks: document editing, data visualisation, presentations and note-taking
- Designed especially for students and home users
- Lacks advanced features that may be necessary for business users
- Only licensed for non-commercial use
MS Office Home & Business: Classic experience plus email
The Home & Business edition is suitable for families and small business owners who need a mail and the most essential set of Office applications. It comes with a slightly more extensive package than Home & Student.
So, this edition includes the following apps:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Outlook
That means only Outlook is added compared to the Home & Student edition. Microsoft Office Home & Business is also a one-time purchase product for activation on one PC or Mac. In versions such as 2021, 2019 and 2016, transferable licences are also available, so you can reinstall the pack on another device if needed.
The Home & Business Edition basics:
- Cost-effective
- Includes the core Microsoft Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, and Outlook as an email client
- With Outlook, users can manage their emails, appointments and contacts from one point.
- Comprehensive set of apps for small business owners
- Designed for both private and business use
- Not suited for larger companies with complex needs
MS Office Professional Edition: The Business Classic
The Professional edition is appropriate for growing business organisations requiring the most common office apps plus advanced applications for data analysis and digital content creation (Access and Publisher, respectively).
Here is the list of apps included in Office Professional:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Outlook
- Publisher
- Access
Microsoft Office Professional is a one-time purchase software, and the activation key is valid for installation on one PC. There are no Mac versions of the Publisher or Access apps.
MS Office Professional Overview:
- Besides Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook, it includes Publisher and Access for creating professional publications and managing databases, respectively
- Ideal for users who require advanced data analysis
- Offers users the ability to publish data securely on the web
- Perfect for companies with multiple users, specifically growing small and medium companies
- Some users might not require all of the functions
- The upfront payment of this one-time purchase cost may be prohibitive for smaller businesses
MS Office Professional Plus: The most advanced edition
The Pro Plus edition suits business users needing the most comprehensive set of Office applications. This edition includes all the apps in the Professional edition and MS Teams (Skype for Business in older versions and Office LTSC volume packs) and some online services.
To sum up, Microsoft Office Pro Plus contains the following apps:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Outlook
- Publisher
- Access
- Teams
- Skype for Business (in volume licences Office packs and older Office versions)
MS Office Pro Plus can be a one-time purchase licence, valid for installation on 1 PC. Also, an Office LTSC Pro Plus option is available through volume licensing (buying at least five licences).
Microsoft Office Pro Plus Summary:
- The most extensive app set of all perpetual Office editions: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access, Teams, Skype for Business
- Apps like Teams and Skype for Business enable enterprise-grade collaboration and communication
- Perfect for all kinds of advanced office tasks
- Designed for large businesses with complex needs
- It can be expensive for smaller organisations and individuals
- Features may be more than some users need
Bonus: MS Office LTSC Standard
Another Office pack available through volume licencing channels is the MS Office Standard edition. It includes:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Outlook
- Publisher
- Teams (in the latest version)
Microsoft Office Standard is for businesses that want to benefit from volume licensing benefits such as reducing costs and improving their security but don’t need the more extensive scope of the LTSC Pro Plus pack.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Microsoft Office edition depends on your purpose of use, app requirements, budget and business size. Home & Student is perfect for students and home users who need basic document editing, Home & Business is suitable for small business owners, Professional is ideal for users who require advanced data analysis and content creation, and Pro Plus is for larger businesses with complex needs.
We hope this comparison has provided you with a clear understanding of the differences between each edition and allowed you to choose the best one for your needs. Please contact us for personalised advice if you have questions or want to discuss which edition suits you best.