You possibly can run Microsoft Workplace, together with Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on a Mac (and in your iPad or iPhone). But it surely’s not a easy case of putting in the applying you want and beginning to kind. You might want to select whether or not to enroll to a subscription or purchase the total model outright. You might want to determine whether or not you want only one software or all of them. And, in case you are selecting a subscription bundle, it’s essential to decide what sort of subscription applies to you.
There are a number of methods wherein you will get the Workplace apps in your Mac. We’ll assist you determine which model of Workplace for Mac is the appropriate one for you in our full information to purchasing Microsoft Workplace for Mac.
For those who aren’t positive whether or not to decide on the Microsoft Workplace apps or some free, or cheaper options check out our Best Word Processors for Mac, Best Keynote or PowerPoint alternatives and Best Email apps for Mac articles.
Replace March 2024: Amazon has dropped the value of Workplace 365 for its Spring Sale. Plus: There’s a new model of Workplace coming later within the 12 months.
Finest offers proper now
Infrequently we see Microsoft software program at a reduction – normally round Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Proper now the most effective deal we’ve seen is Amazon’s Spring Deal, which is 33% off. This implies you will get a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Private for £39.99 (normally £59.99). This deal is at present solely accessible within the U.Okay. however could also be coming to the U.S. Amazon store here.
The right way to purchase Microsoft Workplace for Mac: Subscription vs outright
There may be a couple of manner to purchase Microsoft Workplace for Mac. You possibly can subscribe to Microsoft 365 on a month-to-month or yearly foundation, or you should buy the software program outright.
Notice {that a} new model is coming: Microsoft will launch Workplace 2024 for Mac later in 2024.
The most recent model of Workplace for Mac is obtainable through a Microsoft 365 subscription which normally prices from $69.99 / £59.99 per 12 months or $6.99/£5.99 per 30 days). For those who subscribe you profit from the truth that you all the time obtain the most recent updates to the software program, repeatedly, with out the necessity of getting to purchase the entire program or suite once more. The service, beforehand known as Workplace 365, was rebranded as Microsoft 365 in April 2020. Regardless of the title change and a bunch of upgrades at the moment, the costs stay the identical.
For those who don’t need to join a subscription and would fairly personal the software program outright, you can be glad to listen to that Microsoft continues to promote and replace the Workplace 2021 suite. The most recent model of Workplace for Mac for residence customers is Office Home & Student 2021 ($149.99 / £119.99). It consists of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint. Outlook isn’t included on this model, however since March 2023 Microsoft has started offering Outlook for free, and you’ll download that on the Mac App Store. Microsoft has additionally confirmed that there will probably be a perpetual license choice for Workplace 2024, and that will probably be supported for 5 years.
There may be additionally Office Home & Business 2021 ($249.99 / £249.99) which is designed for households and small companies who need the Workplace apps Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Examine Microsoft Office for Mac 2021 in our information to the most recent model of Workplace.
Microsoft additionally gives Workplace LTSC (Lengthy Time period Servicing Channel). Particulars of the way to improve to which are on Microsoft’s site here. Microsoft 365 subscribers get updates each month (although organizational subscriptions can choose to improve consumer accounts both semi-annually, each January and July).Â
What’s the newest model of Workplace for Mac?
For those who purchase the software program outright the most recent model is Workplace 2021. Microsoft has confirmed that Workplace 2024 may even be accessible as a perpetual, one-time, license when it arrives later in 2024. Will probably be supported with safety and efficiency updates till 2029, however might miss among the characteristic updates coming to the Microsoft 265 model.
For those who subscribe to Microsoft 365 your model of Workplace will probably be often up to date with new options – together with the improve to Workplace 2024. You possibly can test which model is essentially the most present and the most recent options on Microsoft’s website here.
Each variations obtain safety and efficiency updates. You’ll find particulars of the most recent model on Microsoft’s web site:
Value Comparability: Microsoft 365 vs Workplace 2021 for Mac
With so many choices round, the pricing varies relying on the kind of license you need and the way you need to pay. We’ve damaged all of it down in our desk under.
Microsoft 365 costs: subscribe here
|
Subscription kind |
Annual value |
Month-to-month value |
Max variety of customers |
|
Microsoft 365 Private |
$69.99/12 months (£59.99/12 months) |
$6.99/month (£5.99/month) |
One particular person |
|
Microsoft 365Â Household |
$99.99/12 months (£79.99/12 months) |
$9.99/month (£7.99/month) |
As much as six folks |
|
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Primary |
– |
$5 per consumer month (£3.80 per consumer per 30 days) for a 12 months |
Per consumer |
|
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
– |
$8.25 per consumer per 30 days (£7.90 per consumer per 30 days) for a 12 months) |
Per consumer |
|
Workplace 365 Enterprise Customary |
– |
$12.50 per consumer per 30 days (£9.40 per consumer per 30 days) for a 12 months |
Per consumer |
|
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium |
 |
$20 per consumer per 30 days (£15.10 per consumer month) for a 12 months) |
Per consumer |
Workplace 2021 costs
If you’re a PC consumer there’s additionally Workplace Skilled 2021 for $439/£419, however there isn’t a Mac model of this suite. Extra data here.
Prime Day/Black Friday Offers
The very best offers are inclined to fall in periods like Black Friday or Prime Day. The best Microsoft Office deals we saw for Prime Day 2023 had been as follows:
Within the U.S. Prime subscribers may get a Microsoft 365 Private (Workplace) 12-month subscription plus a $10 Amazon Reward Card for $49.99, normally $79.99. That’s a saving of $30. Microsoft 365 Private consists of Outlook, Phrase, PowerPoint and Excel. You additionally get 1TB of OneDrive Cloud storage.
U.S. Prime subscribers may additionally get Microsoft 365 Household (Workplace) and a $20 Amazon Reward Card. That’s a 12-month subscription with one other three months free. It’ll auto-renew at a better value for those who don’t cancel. The Household model doesn’t embrace Outlook, however it may be utilized by six folks.
For those who’re within the U.Okay. the Amazon Prime Day deal may prevent 30% off the value of a replica of Microsoft Workplace 2021 Residence and Pupil (Mac or Home windows model). You will get Workplace for Mac for £83.99, fairly than the standard RRP of £119.99.
It’s a one-time buy, which suggests you gained’t be tied right into a subscription that will probably be renewed at full value a 12 months later.
U.Okay. Prime subscribers may additionally save on Microsoft 365 Household Workplace 365 apps, together with Phrase, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook for as much as 6 customers. The 12-month deal is £47.99, which is 40% off the standard value of £79.99 a 12 months.
What’s the distinction between Microsoft 365 and Workplace 2021?
Workplace 2021 for Mac was launched in September 2021 (three years after Workplace 2019 launched). Nonetheless, among the new options had already been accessible as a part of the Microsoft 365 (beforehand Workplace 365) subscription.
With Microsoft 365, clients pay month-to-month or yearly to all the time have essentially the most up-to-date model of the software program. There are numerous packages relying on whether or not you can be the one particular person utilizing the software program, if you can be sharing the subscription with family and friends, or in case you are a small enterprise or a bigger enterprise.
The subscription system fits some customers, however others favor to pay for software program outright and know that they are going to personal it for eternity. Therefore, Microsoft additionally lets you purchase the total Workplace 2021 suite for a one-off cost. That license won’t ever run out, though Microsoft may finally cease assist for that model.
So far as stand-alone software program go, you’ll be able to both choose up Office Home & Student 2021 ($149.99/£119.99), Office Home & Business 2021 ($249.99/£249.99) or go for the Workplace LTSC in case you are shopping for for a enterprise or to make use of commercially (wherein case you will see that particulars on Microsoft’s site here.Â
You too can purchase the apps individually, extra on that under.Â
There may be additionally a free cloud-based version of Office that you could entry on-line through an internet browser. Consider it as a Lite model of the paid variations of the app. You continue to must sign up for a Microsoft Account.
Residence/small enterprise use: Workplace 2021 vs Microsoft 365
|
Workplace Residence & Pupil 2021 and Workplace Residence & Enterprise 2021 |
Microsoft 365 (Household or Private) |
|
| Fee plan |
Pay as soon as |
Pay month-to-month or yearly. Cease paying and also you lose the license. |
| Included | Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint. (Works with Microsoft Groups). Workplace Residence & Enterprise 2021 additionally embrace Outlook. | Freshest model of Excel, Phrase, PowerPoint, and Outlook. |
| Extra companies | No companies included. | Skype and One Drive included. Household: 6TB (1TB for every particular person); Private: 1TB. OneDrive Private Vault safety. |
| Updates | Consists of safety updates, however no characteristic updates. | Microsoft will replace the apps with new options. |
| Gadgets | Runs on one Mac or one PC. Set up on one Mac or PC. | Runs on Mac, PC, iOS & Android. Set up on all of your gadgets (iPad, iPhone, Mac). Relying in your subscription bundle you might be able to share your subscription with 5 others. |
| Customers | One particular person. | Private: One particular person; Household: Six folks. |
| Cellular | You get primary variations of the cellular apps that can be utilized on iPhones and iPads (so long as the iPad is beneath 10.1in – so iPad mini solely). | You get free variations of the cellular apps with additional options that aren’t accessible within the primary variations. |
| Storage | No on-line storage. | 1TB of cloud storage in OneDrive, for use by as much as 6 customers relying in your subscription bundle. |
| Help | Set up assist. Help for first 60 days at no additional value. | Ongoing technical assist. |
Enterprise use: Microsoft 365 for Enterprise vs Workplace LTSC
If you’re an enterprise consumer it’s essential to think about a model designed for deploying to companies. With the 2021 model of Workplace Microsoft has added Workplace LTSC as an choice.
Workplace LTSC
This model of Workplace 2021 is obtainable to quantity license clients who simply need to make a one-time buy, fairly than subscribe to Microsoft 365. It consists of the identical apps because the Residence & Enterprise model of Workplace Residence & Enterprise 2021, however, Mac customers additionally get Outlook LTSC (PC customers additionally get Entry and Writer LTSC variations).
The value is 10% greater than the Workplace Residence & Enterprise 2021 model and can depend upon what number of Macs or PCs are being deployed to.
Microsoft 365 for Enterprise
There are additionally Microsoft 365 subscription packages for businesses and enterprises. Every is charged per consumer/per 30 days and there are decrease month-to-month costs for those who join an annual dedication.Â
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Primary (previously Workplace 365 Enterprise Necessities) is the most cost effective choice at £3.80/$5 per consumer per 30 days. It consists of solely net and cellular variations of the Workplace apps. Subscribers additionally get entry to OneDrive, Change, SharePoint and Groups.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise supplies app entry solely and entry to OneDrive. You get the desktop variations as effectively however not the added companies across the software program resembling Groups or menace safety. It prices $8.25/£7.90 per consumer per 30 days.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Customary (previously Workplace 365 Enterprise Premium) consists of Excel, Phrase, PowerPoint, and Outlook (plus Entry on a PC), together with enterprise electronic mail, Microsoft Groups entry and cloud storage through OneDrive. This tier prices $12.50/£9.40 per consumer per 30 days.
Workplace 365 Enterprise Premium (previously Microsoft 365 Enterprise) consists of all the things you get within the Enterprise Customary choice plus cyber-threat safety. That is the costliest at $20/£15.10 per consumer per 30 days.
Head to Microsoft now to compare its plans for business.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
Most cost-effective solution to get Microsoft WorkplaceÂ
As you’ll be able to see from the above, there are numerous methods to get Workplace, or single applications from the Workplace suite, in your Mac. You would subscribe for the time you want entry to the software program after which cancel your subscription. That manner you can get the fundamental model of Workplace for Mac for $6.99/£5.99 a month and cancel after 30 days. Beware that you could be lose entry to your knowledge although. After you cancel, you’ll be able to nonetheless use Workplace in View Solely mode.
Talking of View Solely mode, this mode is useful for those who simply need to have the ability to learn Phrase paperwork or PowerPoint slides. On this mode you’ll be able to view, however not edit. Which may be all it’s essential to do, wherein case that is the most cost effective choice – as a result of it’s free.
For those who do want to have the ability to edit paperwork another choice is to open them in Apple’s iWork apps. Apple has a phrase processor known as Pages that may open Phrase paperwork, Keynote for PowerPoint displays, and Numbers for Excel. These choices will allow you to open and edit the Workplace paperwork and save them within the Workplace format, with out ever having to open Workplace. Typically the formatting will be out barely, however it’s an ideal answer. And crucially it gained’t value you something as a result of these apps are free for Mac customers.
If all you want is Phrase, for instance, you don’t have to purchase all of the Workplace apps. As you’ll be able to see from the desk above, it’s potential to purchase Phrase, Excel and PowerPoint individually. At round $150/£150 every, it might be a very good answer for those who don’t need to pay extra to get the opposite apps which are included within the suite.Â
We even have this text about how to get Microsoft Word for free.
Compatibility: Will my Mac run Microsoft 365 or Workplace 2021 for Mac?
When it comes to system necessities, each Microsoft 365 and Workplace 2021 will function on current model of macOS (Microsoft will all the time endeavor to assist the present and two earlier variations of macOS). Mac customers will want no less than 10GB of disk house.Â
One factor to notice is that older, 32-bit variations of Workplace, resembling Workplace 2011, won’t work on Macs working Catalina or later. To seek out out whether or not your model is 64-bit click on on the Apple icon in your menu and select About This Mac, then System Report. Scroll all the way down to Software program and select Purposes. If any of your apps are 32-bit you will note that data right here.
One other compatibility subject is with M-series Macs. Quickly after the arrival of the M1 Macs in November 2020, Microsoft made positive that Workplace labored natively on the M1 Chip. Phrase, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote all work on the M1 Macs. Microsoft 365 customers would have had the brand new model of the software program replace robotically. Ought to compatibility points come up once more sooner or later you’ll have to attend longer for an replace for those who aren’t a Microsoft subscriber. See all Microsoft Office and Office 2019 system requirements.
Verdict: Ought to I purchase Workplace 365 or Workplace 2021?
For those who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Private for 2 years you’d spend $139.98/£119.98. That’s basically the identical outlay as shopping for the software program outright.
After all, there are many disadvantages on this state of affairs too. Workplace 365 subscribers will profit from new characteristic updates all through these two years, which means that you’ll miss out on some nice new instruments. You could profit from the technical assist that you just get with a 365 subscription. Maybe it’s essential to have entry to the iOS and Android variations of the software program. We’ve got this text about getting Office apps for free on iPad.
One other issue that will sway your determination is that Microsoft will cease mainstream assist for Mac variations of Workplace Residence & Pupil 2021 in addition to Residence & Enterprise 2021 in October 2026 (which suggests Microsoft is barely supporting it for 5 years, fairly than the standard ten). Because of this it should not obtain safety or non-security updates, resembling modifications to options or design. If that’s a priority for you, you may favor a subscription.
