Which Office should your Mac run?
Independent, Mac-first advice on buying Microsoft Office: own it once or subscribe, plus the gotchas Microsoft's marketing skips. We'll tell you when not to buy, too.
Start with who you are
Best one-time purchase
Office Home 2024
$179.99
⭐ Best value
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote
- Works fully offline, no cloud account required
- Own it forever
The default answer for ~90% of Mac users. Own it, use it offline, never renew.
Best for students
Microsoft 365 Premium (Student Offer)
12 months free, then $19.99/mo
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook
- 6TB (1TB each) cloud storage
- Copilot: Highest limits + AI agents (owner only)
Check your school for free Office first, then the free year (and the auto-renew catch): our student walkthrough.
Best for professionals
Office Home & Business 2024
$249.99
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook
- Works fully offline, no cloud account required
- Own it forever
Office plus the Outlook desktop app, owned outright ($249.99 once).
The short comparison
Four numbers tell most of the story. The full table adds apps, extras, and the fine print.
| Product | Price (4 years) | Copilot AI | Cloud storage | Own forever |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office 2024 Home ⭐ Best value | $179.99 once | ❌ None | ❌ | ✅ |
| Office 2024 H&B | $249.99 once | ❌ None | ❌ | ✅ |
| M365 Personal | $399.96 ($99.99/yr) · or $9.99/mo | ✅ In desktop apps (usage limits) | 1TB OneDrive | ❌ |
| M365 Family | $519.96 ($129.99/yr) · or $12.99/mo | ✅ Owner only | 6TB (1TB each) | ❌ |
| M365 Premium | $799.96 ($199.99/yr) · or $19.99/mo | ✅ Highest limits + exclusive features, owner only | 6TB (1TB each) | ❌ |
| M365 Premium (Student) | $719.64 (yr 1 free, then $19.99/mo) | ✅ Highest limits + AI agents (owner only) | 6TB (1TB each) | ❌ |
Where we'd buy
-
Microsoft directly
The source: full support, instant digital delivery.
-
Amazon
Microsoft's official storefront on Amazon.
-
Apple
Microsoft 365 subscriptions via the Mac App Store.
Avoid third-party key resellers and "too good to be true" pricing; gray-market keys get revoked. Current verified sales: the deals page.