Microsoft Office licences explained: one-off purchase or Microsoft 365?

Two Ways to Get Microsoft Office

Microsoft sells Office in two main ways: as a one-time purchase or as an ongoing Microsoft 365 subscription. The better option depends on how you use Office, how many devices you need, and whether cloud tools matter to you.

Buying through Lizensa also gives EU customers the usual consumer-friendly basics: instant email delivery, an EU VAT invoice, GDPR-compliant handling of your data, and a 14-day refund right under EU consumer rules where applicable. For eligible pre-owned software licences, resale in the EU is supported by the exhaustion of rights principle confirmed by the CJEU in case C-128/11.

Perpetual License (One-Time Purchase)

A perpetual licence is the classic buy once, use indefinitely option. You pay upfront and the software keeps working, but it stays on that major version rather than moving to the next big Office release.

Available editions: Office Home 2024, Office Home & Business 2024, Office Professional 2024

Pros:

• No recurring payments
• Works offline permanently
• Lower total cost over 3+ years
• No Microsoft account required after activation

Cons:

• No major feature updates (security patches only)
• No cloud storage included
• No Teams or advanced collaboration
• Limited to 1 device

Subscription License (Microsoft 365)

With Microsoft 365, you pay monthly or annually for access to Office apps plus online services. As long as the subscription is active, you get the newest version and the connected cloud features.

Available plans: Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Business Basic/Standard/Premium

Pros:

• Always the latest version
• 1 TB OneDrive cloud storage
• Multi-device use (up to 5 devices)
• Microsoft Teams included
• Regular feature updates

Cons:

• Ongoing cost (€69–99/year for personal use)
• Apps stop working if subscription lapses
• Requires Microsoft account and periodic internet check

Cost Comparison Over Time

Which Should You Choose?

Choose perpetual if: You prefer paying once, can do without cloud storage, and expect to stay on the same Office version for 5+ years.

Choose subscription if: You want OneDrive storage, the newest Office features, access on several devices, or Teams for working with others.