Microsoft Office 2024: The Offline, One-Time Purchase Version is Now Available for Everyone
Microsoft Office 2024 has just been released, and a significant change has been made.
Microsoft Office 2024, the latest version of the well known office suite, is now available for both individuals and businesses. Unlike the subscription based Microsoft 365, this version can be purchased with a lifetime license and used offline, without requiring an internet connection.
As announced by Microsoft earlier this year, Office 2024 can be bought as a one time purchase. While it includes some new features from Microsoft 365, it doesn't support collaborative editing or AI tools like Copilot. Despite these limitations, Office 2024 is a good choice for businesses needing a suite that works in isolated environments, and for individuals who want a long term, cost effective solution.
Office 2024 LTSC for Businesses
Microsoft has released Office 2024 LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel) as of October 1, 2024. This version, primarily aimed at businesses and professional organizations, is priced 10% higher than the 2021 edition, at $319.99. It's only available through volume licensing, so individual users won't find it available for direct purchase online. Be cautious of resellers offering second hand licenses, as these are often one time use and can't be reused if you reinstall your operating system or switch devices.
The Office 2024 LTSC version will receive security updates but no feature updates, aligning with its long term servicing focus. It introduces minor upgrades, such as a modernized theme, new accessibility tools, and dynamic charts in Excel, along with ODF 1.4 support.
Office 2024 Home Version for Individuals
For personal use, Office 2024 Home was also released on October 1, 2024. It costs $149.99 USD for a lifetime license, allowing installation on one PC (Windows or macOS). This version includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and most likely OneNote. Unlike the LTSC version, the Home edition is available for purchase directly through Microsoft and other retailers.
Given the limitations of these versions and the pricing, it may be hard to justify the cost for non professional users, especially when free alternatives like LibreOffice or OnlyOffice offer similar functionality at no cost​.