Microsoft Office for Mac Without a Subscription: One-Time Purchase Options Explained
Can you buy Microsoft Office for Mac without a subscription?
Yes, Office 2024 is a one-time purchase for one PC or Mac, and Office Home 2024 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, while Office Home & Business 2024 adds Outlook. The apps install and activate over the internet, then work without a subscription, but they do not include Microsoft 365 services such as cloud storage.
Office for Mac one-time purchase options compared
Here’s how the two one-time suites compare with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
| Question | Office Home 2024 | Office Home & Business 2024 | Microsoft 365 (subscription) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | One-time purchase | One-time purchase | Subscription |
| Mac apps | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook |
| Devices | One PC or Mac | One PC or Mac | Multiple devices |
| Cloud storage and Microsoft 365 services | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Upgrade to the next major release | Not included | Not included | Latest versions included |
| Business use | Home or school, non-commercial | Home or work | See Microsoft plans |
Source: Office Home 2024, Office 2024 FAQ and Office suites for individuals and families: system requirements.
Start with two questions: do you need Outlook, and is the Mac used for work? Those two answers narrow it down fast.
Three quick examples
- A student writing papers and building slides for school: Office Home 2024, which covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for use at home or school.
- A freelancer who runs client email through Outlook: Office Home & Business 2024, because it adds Outlook and is meant for use at home or work.
- A family setting up two Macs: two Office Home 2024 licenses, one for each Mac. Both can sit on the same Microsoft account, because up to 25 Office Home 2024 licenses can be activated per Microsoft account.
Office Home 2024 for Mac
Microsoft describes Office Home 2024 for students and families. On a Mac, it gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, installed on one PC or Mac for use at home or school.
Office Home 2024 is for non-commercial use. If the Mac is used for work, look at Office Home & Business 2024 in the next section.
We carry Microsoft Office Home 2024 for Mac | 1 Mac and Microsoft Office Home 2024.
Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac
Office Home & Business 2024 adds Outlook to the same four apps. Microsoft describes it for families and small businesses who want classic Office apps and email installed on one PC or Mac, for use at home or work.
If you’re looking for Outlook for Mac as a one-time purchase, this is the suite that includes it. It is also the one to pick if the Mac is used for work, even if Outlook is not the main reason you are buying.
We carry Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac – One-time purchase for 1 Mac and Microsoft – Office Home & Business 2024 – Windows/Mac OS. For a side-by-side look at the 2024 editions, see Office 2024 Home vs Home & Business vs Professional Plus.
What you do not get without a subscription
A one-time purchase gets you the classic apps. It does not get you the extras that come with a subscription. Here is what is different:
- Microsoft 365 services. Office 2024 does not include any of the services that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription, such as OneDrive, Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. For comparison, Microsoft 365 comes with services like 1 TB of cloud storage.
- Cloud-backed features. These suites do not include cloud-backed features, for example PowerPoint Designer and Data Types in Excel.
- The next major release. With a one-time purchase, there is no upgrade option to the next major release.
- Access. Access is not available for Mac, whichever suite you choose. For a Windows PC, our guide to standalone Office 2024 apps covers buying Access or another single app on its own.
For context, Microsoft 365 plans for individuals and families include premium versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook, and the apps can be installed on multiple devices. That is the trade: a subscription adds services and covers more devices, while a one-time purchase gives you the classic apps on one Mac with no subscription.
If you work mainly in the installed apps, these points may not matter much to you. If you rely on cloud storage or cloud-backed features, our Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365 guide lays out both approaches.
Do you need the internet after you install?
Yes, but not all the time. Here is how it works:
- To install and activate: internet access is required.
- Day to day: the installed apps can be used without an internet connection.
- Now and then: a periodic connection to the internet is required to keep your apps activated.
If the Mac doesn’t connect periodically, Office goes into reduced functionality mode. In that mode, you can view and print documents, but you can’t edit or create them until you reconnect.
For a Mac that travels or works offline for long stretches, that means one simple habit: connect to the internet from time to time and let Office check in.
Mac system requirements
Here is what Microsoft lists for Office 2024 on macOS:
- Processor: Intel or Apple silicon, as supported by the three most recent versions of macOS.
- Operating system: one of the three most recent versions of macOS.
- Memory: 4 GB of RAM.
- Storage: 10 GB of available disk space.
- Display: 1280 x 800 screen resolution.
If you’re not sure which macOS version your Mac runs, check before you buy, or ask us. Our Office 2024 for Mac system requirements post goes into more detail.
How installation works on a Mac
Office 2024 for Mac uses the standard Apple Package format (pkg) for installation. You’ll need internet access to install and activate, and a Microsoft account or organizational account for license assignment.
Our Delivery & Activation page, linked in the “Why buy” list below, walks through what happens after you order. Already have Office on your Mac and not sure which version it is? Our guide on how to check which version of Office you have helps you find out.
Where to get it
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for home or school: Microsoft Office Home 2024 for Mac | 1 Mac, or Microsoft Office Home 2024.
- Outlook included, or use at work: Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac – One-time purchase for 1 Mac, or Microsoft – Office Home & Business 2024 – Windows/Mac OS.
All four are in our Microsoft Office 2024 category, linked in the steps below. Our wider Microsoft Office category is there too if you are comparing other Office products.
Why buy from Solved IT Services
- Solved IT Services is a Microsoft Solutions Partner and certified reseller.
- We have more than 12 years in the software licensing business.
- We have many industry relationships.
- We’re a US-based company with US-based support, and we offer 24/7 support. Contact support and we’ll fix it: support@solveditservices.com or use our contact page.
- We offer estimated delivery within 30 minutes or less from the time of purchase.
- SIS Guarantee: We guarantee full installation and full activation of every product we sell, or your money back.
- Customers share their experience with us on Trustpilot and BBB.
What to do next
- List the apps you need, whether the Mac is used for work, and how many Macs you are setting up.
- Check your Mac against the system requirements above.
- For several Macs or a business setup, request a quote.
- Contact support and we’ll fix it: support@solveditservices.com or use our contact page.
- Browse our Microsoft Office 2024 category, or contact our support team if you want help choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a one-time purchase version of Office for Mac?
Yes. Office 2024 is a one-time purchase for one PC or Mac, and it comes as Office Home 2024 or Office Home & Business 2024. Neither one needs a subscription.
Does Office Home 2024 for Mac include Outlook?
No. Office Home 2024 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. If you want Outlook, choose Office Home & Business 2024, which adds it.
Can I use Office 2024 for Mac offline?
Yes, once it is installed and activated. The installed apps can be used without an internet connection, but a periodic connection is required to keep them activated. Without it, Office goes into reduced functionality mode until you reconnect.
Will Office 2024 for Mac run on Apple silicon?
Yes. Microsoft lists Intel or Apple silicon, as supported by the three most recent versions of macOS. Check that your Mac runs one of those macOS versions before you buy.
Is Access available for Mac?
No. Access is not available for Mac in either one-time suite. Microsoft lists Access as PC only, even within Microsoft 365.
Can I use Office Home 2024 for my business?
Office Home 2024 is for non-commercial use. For work, look at Office Home & Business 2024, which Microsoft describes for use at home or work.
How fast will I get my Office for Mac product?
We offer estimated delivery within 30 minutes or less from the time of purchase. If you’d like a hand with the install, our 24/7 support team is ready to help.