Is Microsoft 365 a One-Time Purchase? (2026 Answer)
No, Microsoft 365 is not a one-time purchase. It is a subscription service that requires…
No, Microsoft 365 is not a one-time purchase. It is a subscription service that requires monthly or annual payments. If you stop paying, you lose access to the apps. However, Microsoft sells perpetual Office licenses — Microsoft Office 2024 and Microsoft Office 2021 — that you buy once and own forever.
This article explains exactly how Microsoft 365 subscriptions work, what the one-time purchase alternatives are, and which option saves you more money in 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Microsoft 365 is subscription-only. Personal costs $99.99/year; Family costs $129.99/year. There is no one-time purchase version of Microsoft 365.
- Microsoft Office 2024 and Microsoft Office 2021 are perpetual licenses — pay once, own forever, no recurring fees.
- A one-time Office 2021 Professional Plus license at $64.99 from The Software City costs less than a single year of Microsoft 365.
Is Microsoft 365 Available as a One-Time Purchase?
No. Microsoft 365 is only sold as a subscription — there is no perpetual or lifetime version.
Microsoft 365 Personal costs $99.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Family costs $129.99 per year and covers up to 6 users. Both plans require ongoing payment. According to Microsoft’s official comparison page, these are the only consumer tiers, and both are subscriptions.
The naming causes confusion. Microsoft rebranded “Office 365” to “Microsoft 365” in 2020, but neither the old nor new name has ever included a one-time purchase option. When people search for “Microsoft 365 one-time purchase,” they are actually looking for a perpetual Office license — a completely different product.
If your Microsoft 365 subscription lapses, you lose full editing access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You can still view documents in read-only mode, but you cannot create or edit files.
What Is the One-Time Purchase Alternative?
Microsoft Office 2024 is the current perpetual (one-time purchase) alternative to Microsoft 365. You pay once and own the software forever — no subscription, no recurring charges.
Microsoft also still sells Microsoft Office 2021 through authorized retailers, often at significantly lower prices.
Here are the one-time purchase options available today:
| Product | Price at The Software City | Platform | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus | $199.99 | Windows | One-time |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business | $189.99 | Windows | One-time |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business | $189.99 | Mac | One-time |
| Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus | $64.99 | Windows | One-time |
| Microsoft Office 2021 Home & Business | $54.99 | Windows | One-time |
All licenses from The Software City are genuine Microsoft licenses with instant digital delivery (15-45 minutes) and lifetime validity.
What Is the Difference Between Microsoft 365 and Office 2024?
Microsoft 365 is a subscription with cloud services and ongoing updates. Office 2024 is a one-time purchase with desktop apps only.
Here is a side-by-side comparison:
| Feature | Microsoft 365 (Subscription) | Office 2024 (One-Time Purchase) |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | $99.99/year (Personal) or $129.99/year (Family) | One-time: $189.99-$249.99 (MSRP) |
| Apps included | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access |
| Cloud storage | 1 TB OneDrive per user | None |
| Device installs | Up to 5 devices simultaneously | 1 PC or Mac only |
| Feature updates | Continuous — always the latest version | Security patches only — features frozen at release |
| Copilot AI | Included in subscription | Not available |
| Offline use | Yes (after activation) | Yes (after activation) |
| What happens when you stop paying | Lose editing access (read-only mode) | Nothing — you own it forever |
| Best for | Users who need cloud storage, multi-device access, and AI features | Users who want to pay once and own their software |
Source: Microsoft’s official M365 vs Office 2024 comparison
How Much Does Microsoft 365 Cost Per Year?
Microsoft 365 Personal costs $99.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Family costs $129.99 per year. These prices reflect the 2025 increase — the first price hike since launch in 2013.
Here is the full breakdown of Microsoft 365 consumer pricing:
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Users | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99/mo | $99.99/yr | 1 | 1 TB OneDrive |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99/mo | $129.99/yr | Up to 6 | 1 TB per user (6 TB total) |
For business users, Microsoft 365 commercial prices are increasing effective July 1, 2026:
| Plan | Current Price | New Price (July 2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | $6.00/user/mo | $7.00/user/mo | +17% |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | $12.50/user/mo | $14.50/user/mo | +16% |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | $36.00/user/mo | $42.00/user/mo | +17% |
| Microsoft 365 E5 | $57.00/user/mo | $65.00/user/mo | +14% |
Source: Microsoft’s 2026 pricing announcement
These increases make one-time purchases even more attractive for users who do not need cloud storage or Copilot AI.
Is It Better to Buy Microsoft 365 Yearly or a One-Time License?
For most home and small business users, a one-time purchase saves significantly more money over time.
Here is a 5-year cost comparison:
| Option | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99 | $99.99 | $99.99 | $99.99 | $99.99 | $499.95 |
| Microsoft 365 Family (6 users) | $129.99 | $129.99 | $129.99 | $129.99 | $129.99 | $649.95 |
| Office 2024 Professional Plus (TSC) | $199.99 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $199.99 |
| Office 2021 Professional Plus (TSC) | $64.99 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $64.99 |
Over 5 years, Microsoft 365 Personal costs $499.95 while Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus from The Software City costs $64.99 — a saving of $434.96 (87%).
The subscription makes financial sense only if you actively use 1 TB OneDrive cloud storage, need Copilot AI features, or require multi-device installs across 5+ devices. For everyone else, the one-time purchase is the better deal.
Does Microsoft 365 Expire if You Stop Paying?
Yes. When your Microsoft 365 subscription expires, you lose full access to the Office applications. Your apps switch to read-only mode — you can open and view existing documents, but you cannot create new files or edit existing ones.
Your files stored in OneDrive remain accessible for a limited grace period (typically 90 days), after which Microsoft may delete them if storage exceeds the free 5 GB OneDrive tier.
This is the single biggest difference from a one-time purchase. If you buy Microsoft Office 2024 or Microsoft Office 2021, the software works forever — no expiration, no recurring fees, no risk of losing access.
Can You Buy Microsoft 365 Without a Subscription?
No, you cannot buy Microsoft 365 without a subscription. The product is designed exclusively as a subscription service.
However, you can get the same core Office apps — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook — without any subscription by purchasing a perpetual license:
- Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus — $199.99, includes all apps plus Publisher and Access
- Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus — $64.99, same apps, previous version
- Microsoft Office 2021 Home & Business — $54.99, Word + Excel + PowerPoint + Outlook
All perpetual licenses from The Software City are genuine, digitally delivered within 15-45 minutes, and include lifetime validity. The Software City is a verified Microsoft Partner.
For a detailed comparison of all one-time purchase options, see our guide: Microsoft 365 One-Time Purchase vs Subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft 365 the same as Microsoft Office?
No. Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that includes Office apps plus cloud services (OneDrive, Teams, Copilot AI). Microsoft Office (2024, 2021, 2019) refers to perpetual licenses — one-time purchases of the desktop applications without cloud features.
Can I use Microsoft Word without Microsoft 365?
Yes. You can purchase Microsoft Office 2024 or Microsoft Office 2021 as a one-time purchase, which includes Microsoft Word. You can also use the free web version of Word at office.com , though it has limited features compared to the desktop app.
What happens to my files if I cancel Microsoft 365?
Your locally saved files remain untouched. Files stored in OneDrive remain accessible for approximately 90 days after cancellation. After the grace period, files exceeding the free 5 GB OneDrive limit may be deleted. Download important files before canceling.
Is Office 2021 still supported in 2026?
Yes. Microsoft Office 2021 mainstream support ends October 13, 2026, after which it no longer receives security updates. The software continues to work indefinitely, but without patches. Microsoft Office 2024 receives security updates until October 2029, making it the longer-supported perpetual option.
Where can I buy a genuine one-time Office license?
The Software City sells genuine Microsoft Office perpetual licenses starting at $39.99 for Office 2016 Professional Plus and $64.99 for Office 2021 Professional Plus. All licenses include instant digital delivery and lifetime validity.
by Editorial Team
Updated on April 5, 2026
by Editorial Team
Updated on April 5, 2026
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