Office 2021 stopped getting security updates on 13 October 2026, and Office 2019 stopped on 14 October 2025. Your apps still open, but they are no longer patched. If you want to pay once, move to Office 2024 (supported until 9 October 2029). If you want Copilot AI, cloud storage, or Office on many devices, pick a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Disclosure: Msckey sells Microsoft Office licenses, including the latest Office 2024. Microsoft 365 subscriptions are linked to microsoft.com.
What changed for Office 2021 and Office 2019 owners
Microsoft lists the retirement of Office 2021 on its lifecycle page. The date covers Home & Student, Home & Business, Professional or Pro Plus, and Office LTSC 2021 editions and ends on the same day. There is no extension and no paid security update program.
Office 2019 reached end of extended support a year earlier, on 14 October 2025.
Here is what "end of support" means in practice, based on Microsoft's Office 2021 end of support notice:
- Your MS Office apps keep working. Nothing is switched off.
- No more security fixes, bug fixes or Microsoft Update patches.
- No more phone or chat help from Microsoft.
- New security holes found after the cutoff stay open on your PC.
For most home users the risk grows slowly. For a business that handles customer data, running unpatched Microsoft Office is harder to justify.
You can also check any product with our Microsoft end-of-support checker.
Microsoft Office 2019 vs Office 2021 vs Office 2024 vs Office 365
The honest comparison today is not "Office 2021 vs Microsoft 365". It is "one-time Office suite vs Office 365 subscription". The table puts all four Office versions side by side.
| Office 2019 | Office 2021 | Office 2024 | Microsoft 365 | |
| Payment model | One-time purchase | One-time purchase | One-time purchase | Monthly or yearly subscription |
| Support end date | Ended 14 Oct 2025 | Ended 13 Oct 2026 | 9 Oct 2029 | Supported while you pay |
| Security updates now | None | None | Yes, until Oct 2029 | Yes |
| New features | No | No | No (fixed feature set) | Yes, added over time |
| Copilot AI in apps | No | No | No | Personal, Family, Premium: yes. Business: Copilot Chat, full Copilot as add-on |
| Cloud storage included | None | None | None | 1 TB (Personal), 2 TB shared (Family) |
| Devices | 1 PC or Mac per license | 1 PC or Mac per license | 1 PC or Mac per license | Personal: 1 person, 5 devices at once. Family: up to 6 people |
| Phones and tablets | Free mobile apps only | Free mobile apps only | Free mobile apps only | Full mobile app features |
Sources: Microsoft lifecycle for Office 2024, Office 2021 and Office 2019, and the Microsoft 365 plan comparison, checked 17 October 2026.
A quick naming tip: if the product name has "365" in it, it is a subscription. If it has a year (2019, 2021, 2024), it is a one-time license.
Does MS Office 2024 Include Copilot?
No. Microsoft's store listing says the Copilot feature is not available in Office 2024, and you cannot add a Copilot Pro subscription to Office 2024 to unlock it. You can still use the free Copilot app or website alongside Office 2024, but not Copilot inside Word or Excel.
If AI writing help inside your documents matters to you, Microsoft 365 is the only route.
What are the Subscription Plans Available for Microsoft 365 (checked 17 October 2026)
These are Microsoft's US list prices. They change, so check the links before you buy any Office 365 subscription plans.
| Plan | Price | Who it suits |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99/year or $9.99/month | 1 person, up to 5 devices at once, 1 TB storage, Copilot |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $129.99/year or $12.99/month | Up to 6 people, 2 TB shared storage, Copilot for the owner only |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $199.99/year or $19.99/month | Family plan plus higher Copilot usage |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | about $7.00 per user/month (yearly) | Web and mobile apps, email, Teams. No desktop apps |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | about $14.00 per user/month (yearly) | Desktop apps, email, Teams |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | about $22.00 per user/month (yearly) | Standard plus advanced security |
Home plan prices come from the Microsoft 365 plan comparison. Business prices reflect Microsoft's July 2026 price change; see the Microsoft 365 business plans for your region.
For comparison, Microsoft lists Office Home 2024 at $179.99 as a one-time purchase.
Should You Move to Office 2024 or Microsoft 365?
Pick Office 2024 version if you:
- Want to pay once and stop thinking about it.
- Use Office on one computer.
- Mostly write documents, build spreadsheets and make slides.
- Do not need Copilot or 1 TB of cloud storage.
- Want security updates until October 2029.
Pick the Microsoft Office 365 subscription if you:
- Want Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Work on a laptop, desktop, tablet and phone.
- Share files and edit them with other people in real time.
- Want cloud backup of your files on OneDrive.
- Need business email and Teams for a team.
- Want new features as soon as Microsoft ships them.
A simple cost check
Office 2024 is a one-off cost. Microsoft 365 Personal costs $99.99 every year. Over the four years that Office 2024 is supported, the subscription costs more, but it also gives you storage, Copilot and use on more devices. If you will not use those extras, one-time Office is the cheaper choice.
For a family of several people, Office 365 Family often makes more sense than buying several one-time license keys.
Which Microsoft Office 2024 Edition Fits You?
Office 2024 comes in a few editions:
- Office Home 2024: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for home use.
- Office Home & Business 2024: adds Outlook and allows business use.
- Office LTSC Standard and Professional Plus 2024: volume editions for organisations.
Our Office 2024 edition comparison explains the differences app by app.
Buy Genuine Office 2024 License Keys at Msckey
Prices below were taken from Msckey on 17 October 2026. The software license type is shown as it appears in each product title.
| Product | License type | Msckey price |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Windows | Retail Key | $99.99 |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for PC | Retail Phone Activation | $89.99 |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for PC | Retail Online Activation | $119.99 |
| Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 (PC/MAC) | Bind Key | $289.99 |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Pro Plus | Phone Activation | $19.99 |
| Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus | Retail | $39.99 |
Every order comes with a 30-day replacement warranty and an activation guarantee. See the full range in our Office 2024 collection.
Want Microsoft 365 instead? Buy it directly from Microsoft. There is no such thing as a "lifetime" Microsoft 365 plan.
How to Upgrade from Office 2021 or 2019
- Save your work. Make sure your files are in Documents, on OneDrive or on a backup drive.
- Check Windows. Office 2024 runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11, or on a recent version of macOS. Check Microsoft's system requirements if you are unsure.
- Uninstall the old Office. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft Office 2021 or 2019, and select Uninstall. Restart your PC.
- Install the new version. For Office 2024, download it from the link sent with your order. For Microsoft 365, sign in at microsoft.com and install from your account.
- Activate. Follow our Office 2024 activation guide. Phone activation licenses need a few extra steps, which the guide covers.
Your Word, Excel and PowerPoint files open the same way in Office 2024 and Microsoft 365. You do not need to convert them.
Still using Office 2021 or 2019 for now?
If you are not ready to switch yet, lower your risk:
- Keep Windows fully updated.
- Do not open Office files from unknown senders.
- Keep Microsoft Defender or another antivirus turned on.
- Plan your move within the next few months.
If you still need help with an older install, our Office 2021 product key guide and Office 2019 activation guide cover setup and activation.
FAQs
1. Will Office 2021 stop working after 13 October 2026?
No. Microsoft says the apps keep working. They just stop getting security fixes, bug fixes and technical support.
2. Is Office 2024 the last one-time version of Office?
Microsoft has not announced a newer one-time version. Office 2024 is the current one, and it is supported until 9 October 2029.
3. Can I add Copilot to Office 2021 or Office 2024?
No. Copilot inside the Office apps needs a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium or a business plan with Copilot. You can still use the free Copilot website or app on its own.
4. Can I upgrade from Office 2021 to Office 2024 for free?
No. One-time licenses do not include upgrades to the next version. You need a new Office 2024 license key or a Microsoft Office 365 subscription.
5. Do I lose my files when Office 2021 support ends?
No. Your files stay on your PC or OneDrive. Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 open them without any conversion.
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