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Office 2021 Professional Plus Key: Still Worth Buying in 2026?

An Office 2021 Pro Plus key costs $64.99 at The Software City — less than…

Office 2021 Professional Plus Key: Still Worth Buying in 2026?

An Office 2021 Pro Plus key costs $64.99 at The Software City — less than a third of Office 2024 Professional Plus at $199.99. But Office 2021 support ends in October 2026, giving you roughly 6 months of security updates from the time of this writing.

So is it still worth buying? The honest answer: it depends on your budget, your security requirements, and how long you plan to use it. This guide gives you the facts to decide.

Key Takeaways:

  • Office 2021 Professional Plus costs $64.99 at The Software City — the most affordable way to get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access as a one-time purchase.
  • Support ends October 2026. After that, Office 2021 continues to work but receives no security patches. For long-term use, Office 2024 Professional Plus ($199.99) is supported through 2029.
  • Office 2021 is best for budget-conscious buyers who need full Office apps now and accept the approaching end-of-support date.

How Much Does an Office 2021 Professional Plus Key Cost?

Source Price Notes
The Software City $64.99 Genuine lifetime license, instant delivery
Microsoft (original MSRP) $439.99 No longer sold directly by Microsoft
Amazon / Newegg $60–$150 Varies by seller
Grey market $10–$30 High risk of revocation

At $64.99, The Software City offers the lowest legitimate price from a verified Microsoft Partner. The same key that originally retailed for $439.99 is now available at 85% off because Office 2021 is approaching end of life.


What Apps Does Office 2021 Professional Plus Include?

App Included Purpose
Microsoft Word Yes Documents, reports, letters
Microsoft Excel Yes Spreadsheets, formulas, data analysis
Microsoft PowerPoint Yes Presentations, slide decks
Microsoft Outlook Yes Email, calendar, contacts
Microsoft OneNote Yes Note-taking, organization
Microsoft Publisher Yes Brochures, newsletters, marketing materials
Microsoft Access Yes Databases, forms, reporting

Professional Plus is the most complete Office 2021 edition — it includes every desktop app. Lower editions (Home & Student, Home & Business) exclude some apps like Publisher, Access, or Outlook.


When Does Office 2021 Support End?

Microsoft ends Office 2021 mainstream support on October 13, 2026. Here is the timeline:

Date What Happens
October 5, 2021 Office 2021 released
October 13, 2026 Mainstream support ends — no more security updates
After October 2026 Office 2021 continues working, but no patches

What “end of support” means: – No security updates for newly discovered vulnerabilities – No bug fixes or stability patches – No technical support from Microsoft – Apps continue to work — Microsoft does not disable or deactivate them – File compatibility preserved — .docx, .xlsx, .pptx files work normally

What “end of support” does NOT mean: – Your license does not expire – Your apps do not stop working – You are not forced to upgrade


Office 2021 vs Office 2024: Which Should You Buy?

Factor Office 2021 Pro Plus Office 2024 Pro Plus
Price (TSC) $64.99 $199.99
Apps included Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access Same
Support remaining ~6 months (ends Oct 2026) ~3.5 years (ends ~Oct 2029)
Performance Good Faster with large files
New features 2021-era features Improved formulas, better collaboration, accessibility tools
AI features None Basic AI suggestions in Word/Excel

Buy Office 2021 if: – Budget is your top priority ($64.99 vs $199.99) – You need Office apps immediately for a short-term project – You accept that security updates end in ~6 months – You plan to upgrade to 2024 or M365 later when budget allows

Buy Office 2024 if: – You want 3+ years of security support – You want the latest performance improvements – You can afford the $135 premium for longer-term value

For a full Office 2024 breakdown, see our Office 2024 lifetime license guide.


Is It Safe to Use Office 2021 After Support Ends?

Office 2021 does not become unsafe overnight when support ends. The risk increases gradually:

Low risk (6–12 months after EOL): Most vulnerabilities discovered are patched in newer versions. Exploits targeting Office specifically are rare for most users.

Medium risk (1–2 years after EOL): Unpatched vulnerabilities accumulate. If you open untrusted documents from unknown senders, risk increases.

Risk mitigation: Keep your antivirus updated, avoid opening suspicious email attachments, and use Office in a non-admin user account.

For perspective: millions of users still run Office 2019 (support ended October 2025) and Office 2016 without major issues. The risk is real but manageable for most personal and small business use.


Other Office 2021 Editions Available

If Professional Plus is more than you need, The Software City offers cheaper alternatives:

Edition Price (Windows) Apps Best For
Office 2021 Home & Student $49.99 Word, Excel, PowerPoint Students, personal use
Office 2021 Home & Business $54.99 Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook Small business, freelancers
Office 2021 Professional Plus $64.99 All 7 apps Full business suite

For a broader comparison of cheap Office options, see our cheap Microsoft Office key guide.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Office 2021 Professional Plus key still worth buying in 2026?

At $64.99, it is the cheapest way to get the full Office suite with all 7 apps. However, support ends October 2026 (~6 months away). It is best for budget buyers who need Office now and accept the limited remaining support window. For long-term use, Office 2024 at $199.99 is the better investment.

Does Office 2021 stop working after support ends?

No. Office 2021 continues to work indefinitely. End of support means no more security updates or bug fixes from Microsoft. Your apps, files, and license remain fully functional.

Can I upgrade from Office 2021 to Office 2024?

There is no free upgrade path. You would need to purchase a new Office 2024 license. Office 2024 installs alongside or replaces Office 2021 — your files are not affected.

Is Office 2021 Professional Plus the same as Office LTSC 2021?

Office LTSC 2021 is the volume-licensed version for enterprise deployments. The retail Professional Plus that The Software City sells is the individual license version. Both include the same apps and features.

What is the cheapest Office edition with Outlook?

Office 2021 Home & Business at $54.99 from The Software City includes Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Office 2021 Professional Plus at $64.99 adds Publisher and Access for $10 more.

Can I use Office 2021 on Mac?

Office 2021 Professional Plus is Windows only. For Mac, The Software City offers Office 2021 Home & Business for Mac at $134.99 and Office 2021 Home & Student for Mac at $114.99 .


Get Office 2021 Professional Plus for $64.99Buy at The Software City. All 7 Office apps, genuine lifetime license, instant delivery, authorized Microsoft Partner.


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by Editorial Team
Updated on April 4, 2026
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by Editorial Team
Updated on April 4, 2026

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