Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for $149, keeping the non-subscription option alive

Latest deals offer Office 2019 and 2021 editions for under $40

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In brief: Microsoft really wants Office users to pay for a 365 subscription, but the company still releases new one-time-purchase editions every three years. The latest update offers performance improvements and new functionality for Excel, Outlook, and OneNote. However, previous versions are available at a substantial discount.

The latest major update to the non-subscription version of Microsoft's iconic productivity suite is available starting Tuesday for a $149 one-time purchase. Office Home & Business 2024, which adds Outlook to the package, retails for $249.

Microsoft Office Home 2024 customers receive access to the latest versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. By going without a subscription to Microsoft 365, users miss out on a suite of generative AI features the company recently introduced.

The standalone version of Excel allows users to insert text, arrays, and images more easily. Pictures can be directly pasted into spreadsheets, and the "Image" function ensures they don't lose their original formatting. Meanwhile, with dynamic arrays, charts automatically update to visualize newly added data.

In Outlook, a new checking function can proofread emails for accessibility. Furthermore, improved search functionality ensures better results when users look for files, emails, or events. The Mac version now supports left and right swipe gestures.

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Improved inking functionality in OneNote includes a full-screen pen-focused view. The new cameo feature enables users to insert live video feeds into PowerPoint. Recording Studio introduces tools to record narration, animations, transitions, and inking for PowerPoint presentations.

Additionally, all applications have received performance optimizations. Microsoft aims to make Excel run more smoothly when users open multiple workbooks simultaneously.

Microsoft Office 2024 supports 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, and macOS Ventura. Microsoft has promised five years of feature updates, followed by an extended security support period. Office 2024 won't be the last non-subscription edition, as the company confirmed plans to release at least one more, possibly in 2027.

Those wishing to acquire a standalone version of Office who don't mind missing out on the latest features can purchase the 2019 and 2021 editions for over $100 less than the new release. The latest deal for Professional Plus 2019 is only $25 for the Windows or macOS packages. However, security updates for Office 2016 and 2019 will end in October 2025. Meanwhile, paying just $10 more grants lifetime access to Office Pro 2021.