Microsoft Office 2021 Edition Comparison
20th Sep 2023
Microsoft Office has long been the go-to software suite for individuals and businesses alike. With each new release, Microsoft introduces a variety of versions tailored to different needs and budgets.
In 2021, Microsoft unveiled its latest iteration of the Office suite, simply called MS Office Suite 2021. This release comes in three main flavors: Home & Student, Home & Business, and Professional.
In this blog post, we'll take an in-depth look at these three versions (Home & Student vs. Home & Business vs. Professional) to help you decide which one is the right fit for your needs. We'll take an adjacent look at each of them.
Office 2021: Home & Student
The Home & Student edition of Office 2021 is designed for individuals and families who need essential productivity tools for personal use or academic purposes. It's a cost-effective option for students and home users who require the core Office applications. The edition is as follows:
Microsoft Word:
The word processing software, Microsoft Word, is a must-have for anyone who needs to create documents, reports, or assignments. It comes with a range of templates and features for efficient document creation.
Microsoft Excel:
Excel is a powerful spreadsheet program used for tasks like data analysis, budgeting, and creating charts. With Office 2021 Home & Student, you can perform basic calculations and data management.
Microsoft PowerPoint:
PowerPoint is ideal for creating presentations, whether it's for a school project or a family gathering. You'll have access to various themes, transitions, and design options.
OneNote:
This note-taking app is great for organizing thoughts and ideas. It's especially handy for students who need to keep track of lecture notes and research.
No Outlook:
It's worth noting that the Home & Student edition does not include Microsoft Outlook, the email and calendar management software. If you rely heavily on email for personal use, you may want to consider one of the other editions.
For non-commercial use:
Microsoft specifies that this edition is for "non-commercial use only." If you plan to use Office for business purposes, you should consider the Home & Business or Professional editions.
The Home & Student edition is a one-time purchase, which means you pay for it once, and it's yours to use indefinitely. This can be a cost-effective choice if you don't require the advanced features included in the business-focused editions.
Office 2021: Home & Business
The Home & Business edition of Microsoft Office Suite 2021 is tailored for small businesses and self-employed professionals. It includes all the applications found in the Home & Student edition, plus a few additional features that make it more suitable for business use. Here's what you get:
Microsoft Outlook:
This is the key addition that sets Home & Business apart. Outlook is a robust email client with calendar and task management capabilities. It's essential for business communications and scheduling.
For commercial use:
Unlike Home & Student, the Home & Business edition is explicitly licensed for commercial use. This means you can use it for business-related tasks without violating Microsoft's terms.
One-time purchase:
Similar to Home & Student, Home & Business is a one-time purchase, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to avoid subscription-based pricing.
Access to mobile apps:
With Home & Business, you can also use the Office mobile apps on your smartphones and tablets, allowing you to work on the go.
Business templates:
This edition provides access to business-specific templates and features that can streamline tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and business planning.
The Home & Business edition strikes a balance between affordability and functionality for small businesses and freelancers. If you need the full suite of Office applications and rely on email communication for business, this edition is a sensible choice. Moreover, if you need Office Suite for a smaller number of users Microsoft Office Suite 2019.
Office 2021: Professional
The Professional edition of Office 2021 is the most feature-rich version in the lineup. It's designed for larger businesses and organizations with advanced productivity needs. Here's what sets it apart:
All applications:
Office 2021 Professional includes all the applications found in the Home & Business edition, giving you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
Access and Publisher:
In addition to the core applications, this edition includes Microsoft Access and Publisher. Access is a powerful database management tool, while Publisher is a desktop publishing application.
Advanced features:
Professional offers advanced features, such as business intelligence tools in Excel and database development in Access, making it suitable for data-driven organizations.
One-time purchase:
Like the other editions, Office 2021 Professional is a one-time purchase. This can be a cost-effective choice for organizations that don't want to commit to ongoing subscription fees.
Volume licensing options:
Professional is often used in larger organizations, and Microsoft offers volume licensing options to simplify deployment and management for IT administrators.
Choosing the Right Edition for You
Selecting the right edition of Office 2021 depends on your specific needs and budget. Here's a summary to make your decision easier:
Home & Student: Ideal for personal and academic use, cost-effective, lacks Outlook.
Home & Business: Suitable for small businesses and self-employed professionals, includes Outlook for business communications.
Professional: Geared towards larger organizations with advanced needs, includes all applications, especially useful for data-intensive tasks.
Conclusion
Consider your current and future requirements when making your choice. It's also worth noting that Microsoft may release updates and new features for subscription-based Office 365 or Microsoft 365 users, so you may want to explore those options if you require the latest and greatest features and regular updates.
Ultimately, the right Office 2021 edition for you will depend on your unique circumstances and how you plan to use the software. Furthermore, to know the Microsoft Office 2021 price, you can contact SoftwareDeals.
Thank you for joining us on this informational journey! We hope our blog has provided you with valuable information regarding Office Suite. Whether you're looking for answers to specific questions or ready to make a purchase, our team is here to assist you every step of the way.
Don't hesitate to reach out to us at (800) 983-2471 or simply drop us an email at support@softwaredeals.com. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we're eager to help you with any further inquiries or assistance you may need.
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