With the recent launch of Windows 11 24H2Microsoft has also presented the latest version of its office suite. Office 2024 is now availableIn this article we tell you how and where to buy the new version without a subscription.
The big news is that, unlike Microsoft 365, for which a monthly subscription is required, Office 2024 represents a return to the classic model in which You only have to pay once to purchase the product, after which it is ours forever. However, as good as this sounds, there are some nuances that are worth knowing.
This change in strategy by Microsoft when it comes to marketing its products is striking. A surprising turn, since it seemed that purchasing products with a single payment was already a thing of the past. Most likely, the number of Users who refuse to have to pay a subscription to be able to use this type of application has reached critical mass. And this has forced the company to consider other options.
However, it should be noted that this software will not be completely offline despite all this. We will need a Microsoft account and an Internet connection to activate and use it.
Top new features in Microsoft Office 2024
It is true that Office 2024 does not incorporate many innovative functions, but it should also be noted that includes numerous updates that have been implemented in the Microsoft 365 subscription system over the past three years.
To put it very simply, Office 2024 would be an improved and expanded version of Office 2021. However, in case anyone was wondering, there is no possibility of "jumping" for free from the previous version to the new one.
These are the most notable new features coming with Office 2024:
- Renewed design in line with the new aesthetic language of Windows 11. The result is a more modern and optimized interface.
- Accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
- Support for ODF 1.4 (open document format), which ensures better compatibility when working with files from other software.
- New Excel Features: Improved pivot tables and formulas to make working with data easier, among other new features.
- Improvements in Word document recovery, with the idea of reducing the risk of information loss.
- Possibility of inserting a webcam in PowerPointt, either to record or to comment on presentations.
- Most powerful search tool for Outlook, which makes this tool more agile.
- New freehand drawing tools in OneNote, ideal for the most creative users.
Other new features include the ability to insert images from a mobile phone or add likes to comments on our documents.
In short, it is a series of general performance improvements across all applications, making them faster and more efficient to use. With this cover letter, Office 2024 is offered to us as A solid upgrade for those who prefer to “own” their software rather than subscribe to Microsoft 365.
Locked versions of applications
As much as this all sounds good, especially for users who don't want to be "chained" to a subscription, you have to be aware of some not so positive aspects of Office 2024.
One of them is that the office suite applications are offered as locked versions. This means that they will not receive updates to their features, unlike what happens with the Microsoft 365 subscription. It is not the end of the world, this may not be a problem for many users, but it is no longer a detail that places Office 2024 one step below Microsoft 265.
Microsoft Office 2024: Two versions available
Office 2024 users will be able to choose between two different versions:
- Home Edition (€149), which includes almost all essential applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and others. It can be purchased from this link.
- Home & Business Edition (299 €). In this version, in addition to the basic applications, we will also find Outlook, as well as the permission to use the software for commercial purposes. Here you have the purchase link.
Whichever version we finally choose, the software is licensed for one user and is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 11 and the latest three versions of macOS. Both versions can be purchased on the official Microsoft website, by clicking on the links we have included above, or through stores and intermediary shops.
The arrival of Microsoft Office 2024 With all these improvements and new features, they will be of great help to us, the users, who will be able to work harder and better. We must not forget that Microsoft's office suite is, by far, the most used in the world, with figures that are well above those presented by its main alternatives.