Office 2016, 2019, 2021 or 2024: which version is right for you?
We compare the features, system requirements, and price of the current Office versions in detail.
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Short Answer: All four versions include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook as perpetual licenses. The main difference lies in the support period: Office 2016 and 2019 no longer receive security updates as of October 2025, Office 2021 still until October 2026, and Office 2024 until October 2029. Therefore, for a new purchase, only Office 2021 and Office 2024 make sense.
The Four Versions Compared
| Version | End of Support | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Office 2016 | October 2025 (ended) | only for non-critical legacy systems |
| Office 2019 | October 2025 (ended) | only for non-critical legacy systems |
| Office 2021 | October 2026 | cost-effective interim solution |
| Office 2024 | October 2029 | best choice for a new purchase |
What Office 2016 and 2019 are Still Worth Today
Both versions technically still function perfectly – Word opens documents, Excel calculates reliably. However, since October 2025, there have been no more security updates. This might be unproblematic for a computer without internet access, but we advise against it for ongoing office use.
Office 2021 – The Proven Middle Ground
Stable, mature, and with a full range of features. Runs smoothly on Windows 10 and 11 and covers all standard requirements for daily office work. Support expires in October 2026 – still a sensible option as a short-term, affordable solution.
Office 2024 – The Current Version
Optimized for Windows 11, with a revised Ribbon design and specific improvements in Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The crucial advantage is the long support period until October 2029 – five years of security updates from purchase.
„We still had over 30 workstations running Office 2016 – until a prepared Word document from a phishing email almost shut down our network." This is how an IT manager from a medium-sized company describes the moment that triggered the overdue switch. Within a few weeks, all workstations were updated to Office 2024.
Conclusion
Anyone looking for a license for ongoing use should opt for Office 2021 or Office 2024 – both still receive security updates. Office 2016 and 2019 are only suitable for non-critical individual cases. Which edition (Standard, Home & Business, or Professional Plus) best suits you can be found in the comparison calculator; all background information on license types can be found in the Office Guide. You can see the current selection in the Office overview.
