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Best Microsoft Office version for students and small businesses
- radhe622524
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
When productivity is concerned, Microsoft Office is the go-to application for students, freelancers, and small businesses. But with a number of versions including Office 2019, Office 2021, and Microsoft 365, choosing the best one becomes overwhelming. In this blog, we at Tech Licence will assist you in choosing the most suitable Office suite for your intended purpose — whether you are a student looking to outsmart assignments or a business looking to automate operations.
What You Need as student
Students typically need:
A one-time purchase (budget-friendly)
Access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote
Compatibility with Windows or macOS
Offline usability
FEATURES | OFFICE HOME & STUDENT 2021 |
One-time payment | ✅ Yes |
Word, Excel, PowerPoint | ✅ Yes |
License per PC or Mac | ✅ Yes |
Microsoft Outlook | ❌ No |
Microsoft Teams | ❌ No |
Validity | Lifetime (no monthly fees) |
Why it's best:
Office Home & Student 2021 is perfect for school assignments. You pay once and own it forever — no renewals, no unexpected fees. It accommodates most school needs and doesn't require the internet to access it on a daily basis.
What consider as Small Businesses
Small businesses often need:
Email (Outlook)
Advanced Excel tools
Regular updates and security patches
Cloud storage
Multi-device support
There are two choice for Small Businesses
Office Professional Plus 2021 (One-time purchase)
Microsoft 365 Business Standard (Subscription)
Office Professional Plus 2021
FEATURES | OFFICE PRO PLUS 2021 |
One-time payment | ✅ Yes |
Word, Excel, PowerPoint | ✅ Yes |
Outlook, Access, Publisher | ✅ Yes |
Microsoft Teams | ✅ Yes |
Cloud storage | ❌ No |
Validity | Lifetime |
Why it's ideal:
Office Pro Plus 2021 gives small businesses everything they need — solid Office software with no recurring expense. Best for users who need overall control and offline access.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard (Subscription)
FEATURES | MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS |
Monthly/Annual Plan | ✅ Yes |
All Office apps + Teams | ✅ Yes |
1TB OneDrive per user | ✅ Yes |
Use on multiple devices | ✅ Yes |
Always up to date | ✅ Yes |
Why it works:
Ideal for teams that need cloud collaboration, remote access, and up-to-date security. You can access anywhere, on any device.
Summary: Which Version of Microsoft Office Should You Use?
If you're a student, use Office Home & Student 2021. It's an affordable one-time purchase that gives you essentials like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, all without a subscription. You can use it offline and it's great for homework, classwork, and studying.
For solo workers such as freelancers, consultants, or sole proprietors, Office Professional Plus 2021 is the ideal solution. It includes the full Office suite — Outlook, Access, and Publisher — and offers lifetime activation with no monthly recurring fees, making it cost-effective but robust for day-to-day productivity.
If you're operating or managing a growing team, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is your best bet. It offers cloud-based software, real-time collaboration using Microsoft Teams, and secure file storage using OneDrive. And it has multi-device access and automatic updates, which are ideal for hybrid and remote work environments.
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