Buy software once or subscribe? A one-time purchase fits if you use the software on one device, can manage with the feature set at the time of purchase and keep it for several years. A subscription fits if you use several devices, want new features on an ongoing basis or need additional services such as cloud storage. With a one-time purchase you pay once and receive security updates until the end of support. With a subscription you pay for as long as you use the software.
Quick decision
The decision rule: Answer three questions.
- Do you use the software on more than one device per person?
- Do you need new features as soon as they are released, or services such as cloud storage?
- Do you want to use the software only briefly, for example for a single project?
Three times “no” speaks for the one-time purchase. From one clear “yes” onward, it is worth running the numbers for the subscription: divide the price of the one-time purchase by the years you want to use the software and compare the result with the annual price of the subscription. We deliberately do not state prices here; they change. Current prices are shown on the products.
| Your situation | Usually suitable |
|---|---|
| One PC, Word and Excel for letters, spreadsheets, school | One-time purchase |
| Office with fixed workstations, one PC per workstation | One-time purchase |
| One person with a PC, laptop and tablet | Subscription |
| Team working on documents in the cloud at the same time | Subscription |
| Device without internet or with a fixed purpose | One-time purchase (LTSC release) |
| Writing a letter only occasionally | Free software can be enough |
The comparison using Office as an example
The information comes from Microsoft and applies to Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 for home users.
| Feature | One-time purchase (Office 2024) | Subscription (Microsoft 365) |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Once at purchase | Ongoing, as long as you use it |
| Devices | One PC or one Mac | Installable on all devices that belong to you, signed in on five at the same time |
| New features | No | Yes, on an ongoing basis |
| Security updates | Yes, until the end of support | Yes |
| Move to the next major version | Not included; you buy the new version anew | Included |
| Cloud storage | – | Included, 1 TB with Microsoft 365 Personal |
| End of support | Office 2024: October 9, 2029 | No end date stated; supported as long as you stay current and licensed (Modern Lifecycle Policy) |
What that means in detail is compared in
Office 2024 or Microsoft 365. Which editions are available as a one-time purchase is shown in
Buy Office once instead of subscribing.
What is often overlooked with a one-time purchase
A one-time purchase has an end of support too. You pay no ongoing fee, but Microsoft delivers security updates only for a fixed period. Office 2024 is supported until October 9, 2029. Office 2021 has received no updates since October 13, 2026. So calculate with the time until the end of support, not with “forever”. All dates are in the
Microsoft end of support calendar.
The feature set stays as it is. Office 2024 receives security updates but no new features. For the Office LTSC 2024 release, Microsoft expressly says that it gets no new features after release and does without the cloud features of Microsoft 365, such as real-time co-authoring.
One device means one device. A one-time purchase of Office 2024 covers one PC or one Mac. If you want to equip two computers, you need two licenses.
What is often overlooked with a subscription
The costs keep running. Over many years, a subscription adds up. Whether it is more expensive or cheaper than the one-time purchase depends on how long you use it and on the number of your devices.
You have to stay current. Microsoft lists subscription products under the Modern Lifecycle Policy. They stay supported as long as you keep the software up to date and are licensed. Changes arrive more often than with a one-time purchase.
You pay for services too. Cloud storage and additional features are included whether you use them or not.
Examples from our product range
| Product | Model | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Office Home 2024 | One-time purchase | One PC or Mac, updates until October 9, 2029 |
| Office Professional Plus 2024 | One-time purchase | LTSC release without feature updates, updates until October 9, 2029 |
| Windows 11 Pro | One-time purchase | Microsoft states no end date for Windows 11; the end of support depends on the installed version |
| Windows Server 2025 | One-time purchase | Server license and client access licenses (CALs), updates until November 14, 2034 |
| Windows 365 Business | Subscription | Cloud PC with a monthly price per user |
| Bitdefender Total Security | Subscription | Protection for a fixed term; after that a new subscription is needed |
For servers, the one-time purchase is the normal case in our product range. What comes together there is explained in
Windows Server license: what the costs consist of.
Typical cases
Family with one PC. Word, Excel and PowerPoint for school and correspondence: the one-time purchase of Office Home 2024 is enough. If you only rarely write a letter, the free
LibreOffice will also do.
Self-employed person with a PC and a laptop. Two devices mean two licenses with a one-time purchase. Here the calculation is worthwhile: two one-time purchases against one subscription over the planned period of use. If you need Outlook, pay attention to the edition; the overview is in
Office 2024 editions compared.
Office with twelve fixed workstations. One PC per workstation, no shared work in the cloud: a one-time purchase per workstation. Plan the new purchase for the end of support.
Team with remote work and shared document storage. Several devices per person and simultaneous editing speak for the subscription.
At VivaKeys
One-time purchases predominate in our product range: Windows, Office, Project, Visio and server licenses. You can find the offers under
Microsoft Office and
Software. Which license type and term a product has is stated on the product page. Terms such as LTSC or lifecycle are explained in the
license glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Office 2024 once, without a subscription? Yes. Microsoft sells Office 2024 as a one-time purchase: you pay once and use the programs on one PC or Mac. No subscription is needed for this.
Do I have to extend or renew an Office license from a one-time purchase? No, there is no ongoing fee. But there is an end of support after which no more security updates arrive. For Office 2021 that was October 13, 2026; for Office 2024 it is October 9, 2029.
Does a one-time purchase receive updates? Security updates yes, new features no. The move to the next major version is not included.
Can I install Office 2024 on several devices? A one-time purchase covers one PC or one Mac. Microsoft 365, by contrast, can be installed on several devices.
Which is cheaper in the long run, a one-time purchase or a subscription? That depends on the period of use and the number of devices. Divide the price of the one-time purchase by the years until the end of support and compare with the annual price of the subscription for the same number of devices.
Sources
Checked on 2026-11-10 against the publisher’s information:
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-s-the-difference-between-microsoft-365-and-office-2024-ed447ebf-6060-46f9-9e90-a239bd27eb96
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ltsc/2024/overview
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/policies/modern
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/office-2024
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/office-2021
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2025
- www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-365/business
- www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/125589/