Microsoft 365 One-Time Purchase for Mac: Best Options in 2026
There is no Microsoft 365 one-time purchase for Mac — or any platform. Microsoft 365…
There is no Microsoft 365 one-time purchase for Mac — or any platform. Microsoft 365 is exclusively a subscription service at $99.99/year or $9.99/month. There is no way to buy it once and own it permanently.
But if what you actually want is Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook on your Mac without paying monthly, the answer is Office 2024 for Mac — a genuine one-time purchase starting at $149.99. This guide covers every option for getting Office on Mac without a subscription.
Key Takeaways:
- Microsoft 365 is subscription-only ($99.99/year). It cannot be purchased as a one-time payment on any platform.
- Office 2024 for Mac is the one-time purchase alternative. Office Home 2024 costs $149.99 and Office Home & Business 2024 costs $189.99 at The Software City.
- Office 2024 for Mac includes the same core apps as Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote) but without OneDrive storage, continuous updates, or multi-device licensing.
Can You Buy Microsoft 365 as a One-Time Purchase?
No. Microsoft 365 is a subscription service — always has been. When your subscription lapses, you lose the ability to edit documents (apps switch to read-only mode).
| Plan | Cost | Payment | What Happens When You Stop Paying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99/year | Recurring | Apps become read-only |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $129.99/year | Recurring | Apps become read-only |
What people searching for “Microsoft 365 one-time purchase” actually want is Office apps on their Mac without a subscription. That product exists — it is called Office 2024 for Mac.
For a deeper comparison of subscription vs one-time purchase, see our Microsoft 365 one-time purchase guide.
What Is the One-Time Purchase Alternative for Mac?
Office 2024 for Mac is the one-time purchase option. You pay once, install the apps, and they are yours permanently — no subscription, no recurring fees, no read-only mode if you stop paying.
| Edition | TSC Price | Apps | Commercial Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Home 2024 (Mac) | $149.99 | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote | No (personal only) |
| Office Home & Business 2024 (Mac) | $189.99 | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook | Yes |
Both editions run natively on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel Macs. Both require macOS Monterey (12.0) or later. Both receive security updates through approximately October 2029.
Office 2024 for Mac vs Microsoft 365: Full Comparison
| Feature | Office 2024 for Mac | Microsoft 365 Personal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99–$189.99 (one-time) | $99.99/year (recurring) |
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | Yes | Yes |
| OneNote | Yes | Yes |
| Outlook | Home & Business only | Yes |
| OneDrive storage | Not included | 1 TB |
| Feature updates | Security patches only | Continuous new features |
| AI Copilot | Not available | Available as add-on |
| Devices | 1 Mac | Up to 5 devices |
| Teams | Not included | Included |
| Ownership | Permanent | Ends with subscription |
| 3-year total cost | $149.99–$189.99 | $299.97 |
| 5-year total cost | $149.99–$189.99 | $499.95 |
Office 2024 wins on cost after ~1.5 years for single-device Mac users who do not need cloud storage.
Microsoft 365 wins on features if you use multiple devices, need OneDrive, or want continuous updates and Teams.
Which One-Time Option Should You Choose?
Just Need Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Office Home 2024 for Mac — $149.99
The most affordable one-time option. Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. No Outlook. For personal use only (no commercial license).
Need Outlook for Email
Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac — $189.99
Adds Outlook and commercial use rights. This is the highest Office edition available for Mac — there is no Professional Plus for Mac.
Want the Absolute Cheapest Office for Mac
Office 2016 Home & Student for Mac — $39.99
Word, Excel, PowerPoint only. Support ended October 2025, but apps still work. Best for extreme budget situations. See our cheap Office for Mac guide for all budget options.
Need Office on Multiple Macs
Buy a separate license per Mac, or consider Microsoft 365: – 2 Macs with Office 2024 Home: $149.99 × 2 = $299.98 (one-time) – Microsoft 365 Personal (5 devices): $99.99/year
For 2+ Macs, M365 is cheaper for the first 3 years. Individual licenses are cheaper long-term.
How to Buy and Activate Office 2024 on Mac
- Purchase from The Software City — product key delivered via email (15–45 minutes)
- Go to setup.office.com
- Sign in with your Microsoft account
- Enter the 25-character product key
- Click Install Office to download the Mac installer
- Open the .pkg file and follow the installation prompts
- Launch any Office app and sign in — activation completes automatically
The license is tied to your Microsoft account. If you replace your Mac, sign in on the new device and reinstall — no need for a new key.
For the full Mac activation walkthrough, see our Office 2024 lifetime key for Mac guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Microsoft 365 one-time purchase for Mac?
No. Microsoft 365 is exclusively a subscription ($99.99/year for Personal, $129.99/year for Family). The one-time purchase alternative is Office 2024 for Mac, starting at $149.99 from The Software City.
What is the cheapest way to get Office on Mac without a subscription?
Office 2016 Home & Student for Mac at $39.99 from The Software City is the absolute cheapest. For a currently supported version, Office Home 2024 for Mac costs $149.99. Both are one-time purchases with no recurring fees.
Does Office 2024 for Mac include OneDrive?
No. OneDrive storage is included only with Microsoft 365 subscriptions (1 TB per user). Office 2024 is a standalone app suite without cloud storage. You can still use the free OneDrive tier (5 GB) or purchase OneDrive separately.
Can I use Office 2024 for Mac for my business?
Only with the Home & Business edition ($189.99), which includes a commercial use license. The Home edition ($149.99) is licensed for personal, non-commercial use only.
Will Office 2024 for Mac work on my M1/M2/M3/M4 Mac?
Yes. Office 2024 runs natively on all Apple Silicon Macs as a Universal app. It also runs on Intel-based Macs with macOS Monterey (12.0) or later.
What is the difference between Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 on Mac?
Office 2024 is a one-time purchase (own forever) with security-only updates for one Mac. Microsoft 365 is a subscription (access ends when you stop paying) with continuous feature updates, 1 TB OneDrive, Teams, and support for up to 5 devices.
Get Office for your Mac — no subscription required. Office Home 2024 for Mac ($149.99) or Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac ($189.99) at The Software City. One-time purchase, instant delivery, authorized Microsoft Partner.
by Editorial Team
Updated on April 4, 2026
by Editorial Team
Updated on April 4, 2026
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