You’ll be able to run Microsoft Workplace, together with Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on a Mac (and in your iPad or iPhone). Nevertheless it’s not a easy case of putting in the appliance you want and beginning to kind. It is advisable select whether or not to enroll to a subscription or purchase the complete model outright. It is advisable resolve whether or not you want only one utility or all of them. And, if you’re selecting a subscription package deal, it is advisable to decide what sort of subscription applies to you.
There are a number of methods by which you will get the Workplace apps in your Mac. We’ll assist you determine which model of Workplace for Mac is the precise one for you in our full information to purchasing Microsoft Workplace for Mac.
Should you aren’t certain whether or not to decide on the Microsoft Workplace apps or some free, or cheaper alternate options check out our Finest Phrase Processors for Mac, Finest Keynote or PowerPoint alternate options and Finest E mail apps for Mac articles.
Replace March 2024: Amazon has dropped the worth of Workplace 365 for its Spring Sale. Plus: There’s a new model of Workplace coming later within the yr.
Finest offers proper now
Sometimes we see Microsoft software program at a reduction – normally round Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Proper now the perfect deal we’ve seen is Amazon’s Spring Deal, which is 33% off. This implies you will get a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Private for £39.99 (normally £59.99). This deal is presently solely out there within the U.Okay. however could also be coming to the U.S. Amazon retailer right here.
Easy methods to purchase Microsoft Workplace for Mac: Subscription vs outright
There’s a couple of method to purchase Microsoft Workplace for Mac. You’ll be able to subscribe to Microsoft 365 on a month-to-month or yearly foundation, or you should purchase the software program outright.
Be aware {that a} new model is coming: Microsoft will launch Workplace 2024 for Mac later in 2024.
The most recent model of Workplace for Mac is accessible through a Microsoft 365 subscription which normally prices from $69.99 / £59.99 per yr or $6.99/£5.99 per 30 days). Should you 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 referred to as Workplace 365, was 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.
Should you don’t need to enroll in a subscription and would quite personal the software program outright, you can 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 House & Pupil 2021 ($149.99 / £119.99). It consists of Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint. Outlook isn’t included on this model, however since March 2023 Microsoft has began providing Outlook without cost, and you’ll obtain that on the Mac App Retailer. Microsoft has additionally confirmed that there will probably be a perpetual license possibility for Workplace 2024, and that it is going to be supported for 5 years.
There’s additionally Workplace House & 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 presents Workplace LTSC (Lengthy Time period Servicing Channel). Particulars of the right way to improve to which can be on Microsoft’s website 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?
Should you purchase the software program outright the most recent model is Workplace 2021. Microsoft has confirmed that Workplace 2024 may even be out there as a perpetual, one-time, license when it arrives later in 2024. It is going to be supported with safety and efficiency updates till 2029, however could miss among the function updates coming to the Microsoft 265 model.
Should you subscribe to Microsoft 365 your model of Workplace will probably be repeatedly up to date with new options – together with the improve to Workplace 2024. You’ll be able to verify 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 will discover particulars of the most recent model on Microsoft’s web site:
Value 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 need to pay. We’ve damaged all of it down in our desk beneath.
Microsoft 365 costs: subscribe right here
Subscription kind |
Annual price |
Month-to-month price |
Max variety of customers |
Microsoft 365 Private |
$69.99/yr (£59.99/yr) |
$6.99/month (£5.99/month) |
One individual |
Microsoft 365 Household |
$99.99/yr (£79.99/yr) |
$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 yr |
Per consumer |
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise |
– |
$8.25 per consumer per 30 days (£7.90 per consumer per 30 days) for a yr) |
Per consumer |
Workplace 365 Enterprise Normal |
– |
$12.50 per consumer per 30 days (£9.40 per consumer per 30 days) for a yr |
Per consumer |
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Premium |
|
$20 per consumer per 30 days (£15.10 per consumer month) for a yr) |
Per consumer |
Workplace 2021 costs
If you’re a PC consumer there may be additionally Workplace Skilled 2021 for $439/£419, however there is no such thing as a Mac model of this suite. Extra info right here.
Prime Day/Black Friday Offers
The very best offers are likely to fall during times like Black Friday or Prime Day. The very best Microsoft Workplace offers we noticed for Prime Day 2023 had been as follows:
Within the U.S. Prime subscribers might get a Microsoft 365 Private (Workplace) 12-month subscription plus a $10 Amazon Reward Card for $49.99, normally $79.99. That’s a saving of $30. Microsoft 365 Private consists of Outlook, Phrase, PowerPoint and Excel. You additionally get 1TB of OneDrive Cloud storage.
U.S. Prime subscribers might additionally get Microsoft 365 Household (Workplace) and a $20 Amazon Reward Card. That’s a 12-month subscription with one other three months free. It should auto-renew at the next value for those who don’t cancel. The Household model doesn’t embody Outlook, however it may be utilized by six individuals.
Should you’re within the U.Okay. the Amazon Prime Day deal might prevent 30% off the worth of a duplicate of Microsoft Workplace 2021 House and Pupil (Mac or Home windows model). You will get Workplace for Mac for £83.99, quite than the same old RRP of £119.99.
It’s a one-time buy, which suggests you received’t be tied right into a subscription that will probably be renewed at full value a yr later.
U.Okay. Prime subscribers might additionally save on Microsoft 365 Household Workplace 365 apps, together with Phrase, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook for as much as 6 customers. The 12-month deal is £47.99, which is 40% off the same old value of £79.99 a yr.
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). Nonetheless, among the new options had already been out there as a part of the Microsoft 365 (beforehand Workplace 365) subscription.
With Microsoft 365, clients pay month-to-month or yearly to all the time have probably the most up-to-date model of the software program. There are numerous packages relying on whether or not you can be the one individual utilizing the software program, if you can be sharing the subscription with family and friends, or if you’re a small enterprise or a bigger enterprise.
The subscription system fits some customers, however others desire to pay for software program outright and know that they’ll personal it for eternity. Therefore, Microsoft additionally permits you to purchase the complete Workplace 2021 suite for a one-off cost. That license won’t ever run out, though Microsoft may finally cease assist for that model.
So far as stand-alone software program go, you possibly can both choose up Workplace House & Pupil 2021 ($149.99/£119.99), Workplace House & Enterprise 2021 ($249.99/£249.99) or go for the Workplace LTSC if you’re shopping for for a enterprise or to make use of commercially (by which case you will see particulars on Microsoft’s website right here.
You may as well purchase the apps individually, extra on that beneath.
There’s additionally a free cloud-based model of Workplace that you would be able to entry on-line through an online browser. Consider it as a Lite model of the paid variations of the app. You continue to want to enroll in a Microsoft Account.
House/small enterprise use: Workplace 2021 vs Microsoft 365
Workplace House & Pupil 2021 and Workplace House & 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 House & Enterprise 2021 additionally embody Outlook. | Hottest model of Excel, Phrase, PowerPoint, and Outlook. |
Further companies | No companies included. | Skype and One Drive included. Household: 6TB (1TB for every individual); Private: 1TB. OneDrive Private Vault safety. |
Updates | Consists of safety updates, however no function 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 package deal 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 underneath 10.1in – so iPad mini solely). | You get free variations of the cellular apps with additional options that aren’t out there 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 package deal. |
Help | Set up assist. Help for first 60 days at no additional price. | Ongoing technical assist. |
Enterprise use: Microsoft 365 for Enterprise vs Workplace LTSC
If you’re an enterprise consumer it is advisable 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 accessible to quantity license clients who simply need to make a one-time buy, quite than subscribe to Microsoft 365. It consists of the identical apps because the House & Enterprise model of Workplace House & Enterprise 2021, however, Mac customers additionally get Outlook LTSC (PC customers additionally get Entry and Writer LTSC variations).
The worth is 10% greater than the Workplace House & 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 for those who 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 consists of solely internet and cellular variations of the Workplace apps. Subscribers additionally get entry to OneDrive, Alternate, SharePoint and Groups.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise supplies app entry solely and entry to OneDrive. You get the desktop variations as nicely however not the added companies across the software program resembling Groups or menace safety. It prices $8.25/£7.90 per consumer per 30 days.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Normal (previously Workplace 365 Enterprise Premium) consists of Excel, Phrase, PowerPoint, and Outlook (plus Entry on a PC), together with enterprise electronic 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) consists of all the things 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 check its plans for enterprise.
Microsoft
Most cost-effective method to get Microsoft Workplace
As you possibly can see from the above, there are numerous methods to get Workplace, or single packages from the Workplace suite, in your Mac. You would subscribe for the time you want entry to the software program after which cancel your subscription. That method you might get the essential 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 knowledge although. After you cancel, you possibly can nonetheless use Workplace in View Solely mode.
Talking of View Solely mode, this mode is helpful for those who 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 is advisable to do, by which case that is the most affordable possibility – as a result of it’s free.
Should you 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 referred to as Pages that may open Phrase paperwork, Keynote for PowerPoint shows, 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. Typically the formatting will be out barely, nevertheless it’s a terrific resolution. And crucially it received’t price 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 doable to purchase Phrase, Excel and PowerPoint individually. At round $150/£150 every, it might be a superb resolution for those who don’t need to pay extra to get the opposite apps which can be included within the suite.
We even have this text about the right way to get Microsoft Phrase without cost.
Compatibility: Will my Mac run Microsoft 365 or Workplace 2021 for Mac?
By way of system necessities, each Microsoft 365 and Workplace 2021 will function on current model of macOS (Microsoft will all the time endeavor to assist the present and two earlier variations of macOS). Mac customers will want no less than 10GB of disk area.
One factor to notice is that older, 32-bit variations of Workplace, resembling Workplace 2011, won’t work on Macs working 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 right down to Software program and select Purposes. If any of your apps are 32-bit you will note that info right here.
One other compatibility situation 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 routinely. Ought to compatibility points come up once more sooner or later you might have to attend longer for an replace for those who aren’t a Microsoft subscriber. See all Microsoft Workplace and Workplace 2019 system necessities.
Verdict: Ought to I purchase Workplace 365 or Workplace 2021?
Should you subscribe to Microsoft 365 Private for 2 years you’d spend $139.98/£119.98. That’s basically the identical outlay as shopping for the software program outright.
In fact, there are many disadvantages on this situation too. Workplace 365 subscribers will profit from new function updates all through these two years, which means that you’ll miss out on some nice new instruments. It’s possible you’ll profit from the technical assist that you simply get with a 365 subscription. Maybe it is advisable to have entry to the iOS and Android variations of the software program. We have now this text about getting Workplace apps without cost on iPad.
One other issue which will sway your resolution is that Microsoft will cease mainstream assist for Mac variations of Workplace House & Pupil 2021 in addition to House & Enterprise 2021 in October 2026 (which suggests Microsoft is barely supporting it for 5 years, quite than the same old ten). Which means it’s going to now not obtain safety or non-security updates, resembling modifications to options or design. If that’s a priority for you, you may desire a subscription.