You possibly can run Microsoft Workplace, together with Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on a Mac (and in your iPad or iPhone). However it’s not a easy case of putting in the appliance you want and beginning to kind. That you must select whether or not to enroll to a subscription or purchase the complete model outright. That you must resolve whether or not you want only one software or all of them. And, in case you are selecting a subscription bundle, it’s worthwhile to decide what sort of subscription applies to you.
There are a number of methods wherein you may get the Workplace apps in your Mac. We’ll assist you determine which model of Workplace for Mac is the appropriate one for you in our full information to purchasing Microsoft Workplace for Mac.
For those who aren’t certain whether or not to decide on the Microsoft Workplace apps or some free, or cheaper options check out our Finest Phrase Processors for Mac and Finest E mail apps for Mac articles.
The way to purchase Microsoft Workplace for Mac: Subscription vs outright
There’s a couple of manner to purchase Microsoft Workplace for Mac. You possibly can subscribe to Microsoft 365 on a month-to-month or yearly foundation, or you should purchase the software program outright.
The most recent model of Workplace for Mac is obtainable through a Microsoft 365 subscription which prices from $69.99/£59.99 per 12 months or $6.99/£5.99 per 30 days). For those who subscribe you profit from the truth that you all the time obtain the most recent updates to the software program, constantly, with out the necessity of getting to purchase the entire program or suite once more. The service, beforehand known as Workplace 365, rebranded as Microsoft 365 in April 2020. Regardless of the identify change and a bunch of upgrades at the moment, the costs stay the identical.
For those who don’t need to enroll in a subscription and would moderately personal the software program outright, you may be glad to listen to that Microsoft continues to promote and replace the Workplace 2021 suite. The most recent model of Workplace for Mac for residence customers is Workplace Dwelling & Pupil 2021 ($149.99/£119.99). It contains Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint. Outlook isn’t included on this model, however since March 2023 Microsoft has began providing Outlook without cost, and you may obtain that on the Mac App Retailer.
There’s additionally Workplace Dwelling & Enterprise 2021 ($249.99/£249.99) which is designed for households and small companies who need the workplace apps Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Examine Microsoft Workplace for Mac 2021 in our information to the most recent model of Workplace.
Microsoft additionally gives Workplace LTSC (Lengthy Time period Servicing Channel). Particulars of learn how to improve to which might be on Microsoft’s web site right here. Microsoft 365 subscribers get updates each month (although organizational subscriptions can select to improve consumer accounts both semi-annually, each January and July).
What’s the newest model of Workplace for Mac?
For those who purchase the software program outright the most recent model is Workplace 2021.
For those who subscribe your model of Microsoft 365 your model of Workplace will probably be often up to date with new options. You possibly can examine which model is probably the most present and the most recent options on Microsoft’s web site right here.
Each variations obtain safety and efficiency updates. You could find particulars of the most recent model on Microsoft’s web site:
Worth Comparability: Microsoft 365 vs Workplace 2021 for Mac
With so many choices round, the pricing varies relying on the kind of license you need and the way you wish to pay. We’ve damaged all of it down in our desk under.
Microsoft 365 costs: subscribe right here
Subscription kind |
Annual value |
Month-to-month value |
Max variety of customers |
Microsoft 365 Private |
$69.99/12 months (£59.99/12 months) |
$6.99/month (£5.99/month) |
One individual |
Microsoft 365 Household |
$99.99/12 months (£79.99/12 months) |
$9.99/month (£7.99/month) |
As much as six individuals |
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental |
– |
$5 per consumer month (£3.80 per consumer per 30 days) for a 12 months |
Per consumer |
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
– |
$8.25 per consumer per 30 days (£7.90 per consumer per 30 days) for a 12 months) |
Per consumer |
Workplace 365 Enterprise Normal |
– |
$12.50 per consumer per 30 days (£9.40 per consumer per 30 days) for a 12 months |
Per consumer |
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium |
|
$20 per consumer per 30 days (£15.10 per consumer month) for a 12 months) |
Per consumer |
Workplace 2021 costs
In case you are a PC consumer there’s additionally Workplace Skilled 2021 for $439/£419, however there isn’t a Mac model of this suite. Extra data right here.
What’s the distinction between Microsoft 365 and Workplace 2021?
Workplace 2021 for Mac was launched in September 2021 (three years after Workplace 2019 launched). Nevertheless, a number of the new options had already been obtainable as a part of the Microsoft 365 (beforehand Workplace 365) subscription.
With Microsoft 365, prospects pay month-to-month or yearly to all the time have the hottest model of the software program. There are numerous packages relying on whether or not you may be the one individual utilizing the software program, if you may be sharing the subscription with family and friends, or in case you are a small enterprise or a bigger enterprise.
The subscription system fits some customers, however others choose to pay for software program outright and know that they are going to personal it for eternity. Therefore, Microsoft additionally means that you can purchase the complete Workplace 2021 suite for a one-off fee. That licence won’t ever run out, though Microsoft may ultimately cease help for that model.
So far as stand-alone software program go, you possibly can both decide up Workplace Dwelling & Pupil 2021 ($149.99/£119.99), Workplace Dwelling & Enterprise 2021 ($249.99/£249.99) or go for the Workplace LTSC in case you are shopping for for a enterprise or to make use of commercially (wherein case you’ll find particulars on Microsoft’s web site right here.
You can even purchase the apps individually, extra on that under.
There’s additionally a free cloud-based model of Workplace you can entry on-line through an online browser. Consider it as a Lite model of the paid variations of the app. You continue to must join a Microsoft Account.
Dwelling/small enterprise use: Workplace 2021 vs Microsoft 365
Workplace Dwelling & Pupil 2021 and Workplace Dwelling & Enterprise 2021 |
Microsoft 365 (Household or Private) |
|
Cost plan |
Pay as soon as |
Pay month-to-month or yearly. Cease paying and also you lose the license. |
Included | Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint. (Works with Microsoft Groups). Workplace Dwelling & Enterprise 2021 additionally embody Outlook. | Hottest model of Excel, Phrase, PowerPoint, and Outlook. |
Extra providers | No providers included. | Skype and One Drive included. Household: 6TB (1TB for every individual); Private: 1TB. OneDrive Private Vault safety. |
Updates | Contains safety updates, however no characteristic updates. | Microsoft will replace the apps with new options. |
Units | Runs on one Mac or one PC. Set up on one Mac or PC. | Runs on Mac, PC, iOS & Android. Set up on all of your gadgets (iPad, iPhone, Mac). Relying in your subscription bundle you could possibly share your subscription with 5 others. |
Customers | One individual. | Private: One individual; Household: Six individuals. |
Cell | You get primary variations of the cellular apps that can be utilized on iPhones and iPads (so long as the iPad is beneath 10.1in – so iPad mini solely). | You get free variations of the cellular apps with additional options that aren’t obtainable within the primary variations. |
Storage | No on-line storage. | 1TB of cloud storage in OneDrive, for use by as much as 6 customers relying in your subscription bundle. |
Help | Set up assist. Help for first 60 days at no additional value. | Ongoing technical assist. |
Enterprise use: Microsoft 365 for Enterprise vs Workplace LTSC
In case you are a enterprise consumer it’s worthwhile to take into account a model designed for deploying to companies. With the 2021 model of Workplace Microsoft has added Workplace LTSC as an possibility.
Workplace LTSC
This model of Workplace 2021 is obtainable to quantity licence prospects who simply wish to make a one-time buy, moderately than subscribing to Microsoft 365. It contains the identical apps because the Dwelling & Enterprise model of Workplace Dwelling & Enterprise 2021, however, Mac customers additionally get Outlook LTSC (PC customers additionally get Entry and Writer LTSC variations).
The value is 10% greater than the Workplace Dwelling & Enterprise 2021 model, and can rely upon what number of Macs or PCs are being deployed to.
Microsoft 365 for Enterprise
There are additionally Microsoft 365 subscription packages for companies and enterprises. Every is charged per consumer/per 30 days and there are decrease month-to-month costs should you join an annual dedication.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Fundamental (previously Workplace 365 Enterprise Necessities) is the most affordable possibility at £3.80/$5 per consumer per 30 days. It contains solely internet and cellular variations of the Workplace apps. Subscribers additionally get entry to OneDrive, Trade, SharePoint and Groups.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise supplies app entry solely and entry to OneDrive. You get the desktop variations as effectively however not the added providers across the software program comparable to Groups or risk safety. It prices $8.25/£7.90 per consumer per 30 days.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Normal (previously Workplace 365 Enterprise Premium) contains Excel, Phrase, PowerPoint, and Outlook (plus Entry on a PC), together with enterprise e mail, Microsoft Groups entry and cloud storage through OneDrive. This tier prices $12.50/£9.40 per consumer per 30 days.
Workplace 365 Enterprise Premium (previously Microsoft 365 Enterprise) contains every little thing you get within the Enterprise Normal possibility plus cyber-threat safety. That is the costliest at $20/£15.10 per consumer per 30 days.
Head to Microsoft now to match its plans for enterprise.
Microsoft
Most cost-effective solution to get Microsoft Workplace
As you possibly can see from the above, there are numerous methods to get Workplace, or single applications from the Workplace suite, in your Mac. You may subscribe for the time you want entry to the software program after which cancel your subscription. That manner you can get the fundamental model of Workplace for Mac for $6.99/£5.99 a month and cancel after 30 days. Beware that you could be lose entry to your information although. After you cancel, you possibly can nonetheless use Workplace in View Solely mode.
Talking of View Solely mode, this mode is helpful should you simply need to have the ability to learn Phrase paperwork or PowerPoint slides. On this mode you possibly can view, however not edit. Which may be all it’s worthwhile to do, wherein case that is the most affordable possibility – as a result of it’s free.
For those who do want to have the ability to edit paperwork an alternative choice is to open them in Apple’s iWork apps. Apple has a phrase processor known as Pages that may open Phrase paperwork, Keynote for PowerPoint displays, and Numbers for Excel. These choices will allow you to open and edit the Workplace paperwork and save them within the Workplace format, with out ever having to open Workplace. Generally the formatting will be out barely, nevertheless it’s an excellent answer. And crucially it received’t value you something as a result of these apps are free for Mac customers.
If all you want is Phrase, for instance, you don’t have to purchase all of the Workplace apps. As you possibly can see from the desk above, it’s potential to purchase Phrase, Excel and PowerPoint individually. At round $150/£150 every, it could possibly be a superb answer should you don’t wish to pay extra to get the opposite apps which might be included within the suite.
We even have this text about learn how to get Microsoft Phrase without cost.
Foundry
Compatibility: Will my Mac run Microsoft 365 or Workplace 2021 for Mac?
When it comes to system necessities, each Microsoft 365 and Workplace 2021 will function on macOS Monterey, Massive Sur, Catalina, Mojave and Excessive Sierra (Microsoft will all the time endeavour to help the present and two earlier variations of macOS). Mac customers will want not less than 10GB of disk area.
One factor to notice is that older, 32-bit variations of Workplace, comparable to Workplace 2011, is not going to work on Macs operating Catalina or later. To seek out out whether or not your model is 64 bit click on on the Apple icon in your menu and select About This Mac, then System Report. Scroll all the way down to Software program and select Functions. If any of your apps are 32-bit you will notice that data right here.
One other compatibility subject is with M-series Macs. Quickly after the arrival of the M1 Macs in November 2020 Microsoft made certain that Workplace labored natively on the M1 Chip. Phrase, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote all work on the M1 Macs. Microsoft 365 customers would have had the brand new model of the software program replace robotically. Ought to compatibility points come up once more sooner or later you’ll have to attend longer for an replace should you aren’t a Microsoft subscriber. See all Microsoft Workplace and Workplace 2019 system necessities.
Verdict: Ought to I purchase Workplace 365 or Workplace 2021?
For those who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Private for 2 years you’d spend $139.98/£119.98. That’s primarily the identical outlay as shopping for the software program outright.
After all, there are many disadvantages on this situation too. Workplace 365 subscribers will profit from new characteristic updates all through these two years, that means that you’ll miss out on some nice new instruments. It’s possible you’ll profit from technical help that you just get with a 365 subscription. Maybe it’s worthwhile to have entry to the iOS and Android variations of the software program. We’ve this text about getting Workplace apps without cost on iPad.
One other issue which will sway your resolution is that Microsoft will cease mainstream help for Mac variations of Workplace Dwelling & Pupil 2021 in addition to Dwelling & Enterprise 2021 in October 2026 (which suggests Microsoft is just supporting it for 5 years, moderately than the same old ten). Which means that it can now not obtain safety or non-security updates, comparable to adjustments to options or design. If that’s a priority for you, you may choose a subscription.