Which Version of Office is Better?

Are you trying to figure out whether the “pay for it once and install it” version of Office (Office 2019) is better for you, or if the online, connected, “pay for it every month” subscription version is better (Office 365)?  Today’s guest post by Joey Pepka of Peptronics should help you decide.


Which Version of Office is Better?

Due to the installation methods, it’s easy to think of the MSI versions of office as the on-premises version of Office and the Click-to-Run version of Office as the online version of Office. However, beyond installation methods, the online version of Office is able to perform functions using Microsoft AI and other technologies which the MSI version of Office simply isn’t enabled to do. This is by design, as customers who are using on-premises versions of Microsoft Exchange 2019 and Microsoft SharePoint 2019 would use Microsoft Office 2019, i.e. the MSI version. Those customers are primarily concerned with stability as opposed to features and often don’t allow many online services to be consumed due to security or regulatory restrictions.
Microsoft 365 Apps, or the Click-to-Run version of Office, bundles other applications like Microsoft Teams, Stream, and planner as part of its bundle. These applications along with the core set of Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint have features which are literally enabled by Microsoft cloud services as well as Microsoft AI services and do not function without connectivity. Some office applications such as Stream do not install anything on your users’ machines, while other applications like Microsoft To-Do offer an application but do not store data on your users machine.

How do I Choose Between Office 2019 and Microsoft 365 Apps?

It’s fair to say that Office 2019 and Microsoft 365 Apps (previously Office 365 Pro Plus) are both versions of Office, however, we need to remember the distinction between the two.

Office 2019

Office 2019 is the on-premises version of Office with a very defined support model, which will end as documented earlier in this article. The features of Office 2019 are set – you get what’s in the package and nothing else. The upside is that you pay for it once and you own it, however, if a new version of Office releases you need to pay for the new version. Also note that Office 365 platform features like Microsoft Teams calling is not included and requires you to change the edition of Office to take advantage of this feature, depending on how your Office 365 is licensed or purchased.

Microsoft 365 Apps

Microsoft 365 Apps (previously Office Pro Plus) is the cloud-enabled version of Office. This edition has no end to its support date as long as you’re on a supported version of Windows 10 or macOS. The feature-set and application list are impressive compared to the on-premises version, as many online-enabled applications like Teams, Stream, Forms, as well as cloud-enabled features like AI proposing PowerPoint slide layouts, or automatic language translation during presentations are added as the Office 365 platform matures. The Office 365 roadmap documents what features are in development and when they are expected to be released so that customers are able to stay informed on what they can expect and when.
The cost of Microsoft 365 Apps ranges from a standalone monthly cost for the applications themselves to being part of a larger bundle for business, enterprise, education or government. For most businesses, these will simply be bundled in as part of the cost of the overall productivity solution.

How do I Choose?

If you are staying on-premises for a few more years and looking for a predictable once of CapEx cost (pay once) for Office, or are not invested in the Microsoft online ecosystem, then Office 2019 as a standalone purchase may make sense for you. However, if you are looking for a current feature set within Office that is constantly updated and enabled by cloud services, then an OpEx cost (pay monthly or yearly) for Microsoft 365 Apps may make complete sense.

 

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About the Author:

I am a cybersecurity and IT instructor, cybersecurity analyst, pen-tester, trainer, and speaker. I am an owner of the WyzCo Group Inc. In addition to consulting on security products and services, I also conduct security audits, compliance audits, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. I also teach Cybersecurity Awareness Training classes. I work as an information technology and cybersecurity instructor for several training and certification organizations. I have worked in corporate, military, government, and workforce development training environments I am a frequent speaker at professional conferences such as the Minnesota Bloggers Conference, Secure360 Security Conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, the (ISC)2 World Congress 2016, and the ISSA International Conference 2017, and many local community organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, SCORE, and several school districts. I have been blogging on cybersecurity since 2006 at http://wyzguyscybersecurity.com
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