Buying Microsoft Office Licenses – The Complete Guide
In short: If you want to use Office permanently without monthly costs, buy a perpetual license (Office 2016 to 2024) instead of a Microsoft 365 subscription. Used licenses are legally tradable in the EU due to the ECJ ruling UsedSoft/Oracle – license type and complete documentation are crucial. This guide shows which edition suits you, what to look for when buying, and which versions still receive security updates.
Office 2024 Editions in Direct Comparison
The three current editions differ primarily in their range of functions and permitted use. All three are perpetual licenses, not subscriptions.
| Office 2024 Standard €286,99 Ansehen → | Most Popular Choice Office 2024 Home & Business €236,99 Ansehen → | Office 2024 Professional Plus €327,99 Ansehen → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | yes | yes | yes |
| Outlook | yes | yes | yes |
| OneNote | no | yes | yes |
| Publisher & Access | no | no | yes |
| Commercial Use | yes | yes | yes |
| Devices per license | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Term | perpetual | perpetual | perpetual |
| Ideal for | Small Businesses | Freelancers & Teams | Companies with Databases |
Office Perpetual License or Microsoft 365 – which is worth it?
Microsoft offers Office in two models: as a perpetual license (Office 2016 to 2024) and as a subscription (Microsoft 365). The difference is greater than just the payment method.
You buy the perpetual license once and use it indefinitely. You receive the feature set of the respective version – new features are not added, but security updates are, as long as the version is supported. The subscription has ongoing costs but continuously provides new features, cloud storage, and installation on multiple devices.
The math is simple: A Microsoft 365 individual subscription costs about 70 to 100 euros per year, depending on the plan. An Office perpetual license typically pays for itself after one to two years – and then continues to be free.
What suits whom:
- Perpetual license: You primarily use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at a fixed workstation and don't need cloud collaboration.
- Subscription: You work in a team on shared documents, need a lot of OneDrive storage, or frequently switch between multiple devices.
Rule of thumb: If you use Office for more than two years and don't need cloud features, a perpetual license is more cost-effective.
Which Office version do you need?
Eight years of development separate Office 2016 and Office 2024 – yet the leap in functionality is smaller in everyday use than many expect. The most important differences:
Office 2016
Solid foundation for word processing and spreadsheets. Will receive no more security updates after October 2025. Only useful for isolated computers without internet access.
Office 2019
Compared to 2016, it offers improved chart types, inking tools, and faster startup. Support also ended in October 2025.
Office 2021
First version with dynamic arrays and XLOOKUP in Excel – a real productivity gain for frequent spreadsheet users. Also includes dark mode and improved co-authoring.
Office 2024
The current perpetual license generation. Modernized interface, significantly faster calculation of large spreadsheets, and the longest support period.
Our recommendation: Anyone buying new today should opt for Office 2021 or 2024. Both versions continue to receive security updates – which is no longer the case for 2016 and 2019.
OEM, Retail or Volume License – The Most Important Difference
When purchasing an Office license, the license type determines whether and how the license may be transferred. This is where legitimate offers are distinguished from illegitimate ones.
Retail (Full Version)
License purchased in retail, originally tied to one person. Transferability depends heavily on the version.
OEM
Permanently tied to the hardware it was shipped with. Transfer to another computer is not permitted under the license terms.
Volume License
Obtained by companies through programs like Open License or Select. These licenses are transferable under certain conditions – and therefore form the basis of the legitimate used software market.
Important for newer versions: Legally transferable used licenses for Office 2019 and newer usually originate from volume licensing programs – not from retail or OEM stock. Anyone offering you a cheap retail key for Office 2024 can usually not prove its transferability.
Is buying used Office licenses legal?
Yes. In 2012, the European Court of Justice ruled in the UsedSoft vs. Oracle case (C-128/11) that software licenses may be resold within the EU – even if the software was originally acquired as a download. The German Federal Court of Justice subsequently confirmed this ruling.
For a resale to be lawful, several conditions must be met:
- The license was originally placed on the market within the European Economic Area.
- It is an unlimited license, not a subscription or rental license.
- The previous owner has rendered their copy unusable and no longer uses the software.
- The license is transferred completely – according to the case law, volume license packages may not be arbitrarily split into individual licenses.
For you as a buyer, this means: The price is not the deciding factor, but rather the chain of proof. A reputable dealer can prove the origin of the license and issues an invoice with VAT shown – you will need both in the event of a license audit.
In an audit, documentation counts, not just the purchase receipt. Ensure a traceable chain of transfer and confirmation that the previous owner is no longer using the software.
How long will my Office version be supported?
After the end of support, Office will continue to function – but it will no longer receive security updates. For computers with internet access and for companies with compliance requirements, this is a serious risk.
- Office 2016 – Support ends October 2025
- Office 2019 – Support ends October 2025
- Office 2021 – Support ends October 2026
- Office 2024 – Support until October 2029
Anyone still working with Office 2016 or 2019 should plan to switch. And anyone using Office 2021 only has a few months left before updates run out there too.
Since Microsoft occasionally adjusts lifecycle dates, it's worth checking the official Microsoft lifecycle overview before major rollouts.
How to purchase and activate
The entire process usually takes less than half an hour:
- Select and order your license. You can pay by invoice, PayPal, credit card or advance payment.
- Receive your license key by email. Along with the download link, installation instructions, and invoice with VAT shown.
- Download and install Office. The installation file comes directly from Microsoft.
- Activate. Enter the key, confirm online – done.
If online activation fails, telephone activation via Microsoft works in almost all cases. We will support you if you get stuck.
Common questions about Office licenses
The questions our customers ask us most frequently – answered concisely and directly.
Is buying used Office licenses legal in Germany?
Yes. In 2012, the European Court of Justice ruled in the UsedSoft vs. Oracle case that software licenses may be resold within the EU – including for download software. Prerequisites include that the license is perpetual, was originally placed on the market in the EEA, and the previous owner no longer uses their copy.
What is the difference between Office 2021 and Microsoft 365?
Office 2021 is a perpetual license: buy it once, use it indefinitely, no recurring costs. Microsoft 365 is a subscription with ongoing fees, but it offers continuously new features, cloud storage, and installation on multiple devices. From about two years of use, the perpetual license is usually more cost-effective.
What Office version runs on Windows 11?
Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 run on Windows 11. However, only Office 2021 and 2024 still receive security updates – support for 2016 and 2019 ended in October 2025. For new installations on Windows 11, we therefore recommend Office 2021 or 2024.
How quickly will I receive my license key?
Usually within a few hours of payment via email – together with a download link, installation instructions, and an invoice with declared VAT.
Can I transfer the license to a new PC?
This depends on the license type. OEM licenses are permanently tied to the original hardware. Volume and retail licenses can often be transferred to a new device, provided the old installation is removed first. The data sheet for each product specifies the license type.
What is the difference between Home & Business and Professional Plus?
Home & Business includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Professional Plus additionally includes Access and Publisher and is aimed at businesses that work with databases or professional typesetting. Both allow for commercial use.
Will I receive an invoice with VAT shown separately?
Yes. For every order, you will receive a proper invoice with VAT shown separately – deductible for input tax purposes and usable for accounting as well as for a license audit.
What happens during a license audit?
During an audit, the manufacturer checks whether a valid license exists for every software used. Crucial elements are a traceable chain of transfer, the invoice, and confirmation that the previous owner is no longer using the software. We provide these documents for every license.
Read more: Office Guide
In-depth articles on frequently asked questions about Office licenses.
