The idea was to be able to provide end-users with a productivity experience across multiple devices with the latest updates rather than a lifetime license for one device with limited features. However, with the proliferation of devices, plus a competitive market fueled by Gsuite, in 2011 Microsoft started to shift the way they package and market productivity software moving from a “one-time purchase” to a “monthly subscription model”, from offering device-specific software to a cloud-based version, also known as Software as a Service (SaaS). Traditionally, to access Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, you needed to purchase a Microsoft license for only one device and with the set of features available at the time of purchase, this is essentially what Office 2019 offers. This blog will give you an overview of Office 365 and Office 2019 as well as insights into Microsoft’s shift in business model and why is this important to you. However, if you're planning to upgrade, or you're new to Microsoft Office, you might need more information to make a final decision.

Those are the three main differences between each licensing model. Availability: Office 365 can be available in multiple devices with only one subscription and as long as you pay for the service whereas Office 2019 can only be purchased for a single device and it is a perpetual license. Apps/Updates: Office 365 enables access to the full Office apps in the latest versions/updates whereas Office 2019 only provides the features available at the time of purchase meaning no future updates to the applications will be included. Pricing: Office 365 is a monthly subscription model that can be paid annually whereas Office 2019 is a “one-time purchase”. As a quick overview, here are the top three differences between Office 365 and Office 2019:

Office 2019 vs 2021