Skip to main content

Microsoft Office 2013 and Office 365: Which version is right for you?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

So. Many. Choices. Microsoft took the wraps off Office 2013 yesterday and, like many Microsoft products, there are numerous versions designed to give you options. Unfortunately, this also causes confusion. Adding to the fun is the company’s new Office 365, a subscription-based version of the venerable suite that ups the ante with 20GB of SkyDrive cloud storage and consistent updates. Is the right version of Office 2013 for you behind door number one, two, three, or four? Or will you give a rose to a very special version of Office 365? We break down what you’ll get in each version below.

The biggest decision you’ll have to make when choosing your new Office suite will be whether you want to buy the suite outright or subscribe to it. There are pros and cons to both depending on how you plan on using the software and for how long. First off, forget about upgrading if you’re still running Windows XP or Vista. All flavors of Office 2013 and Office 365 require you to use Windows 7 or 8 if you’re not an enterprise customer.

Have a Mac? No new Office suite for you! While Microsoft supports Intel-based Macs with Office 365, the most recent version for Apple users is Office for Mac 2011.

 

Office Home
Premium 365 

Office 365
University 
Office 
Home &

Student
2013
Office
Home &

Business
2013 
Office
Professional
2013 
Price $100/year $80/4 years $140 $220 $400

Software
Included 

 Word, Excel,
PowerPoint,
OneNote,
Outlook,
Publisher &
Access
 Word, Excel, 
PowerPoint,
OneNote,
Outlook, 
Publisher &
Access 
Word, Excel,
PowerPoint &
OneNote 
Word, Excel,
PowerPoint,
OneNote
& Outlook 
 Word, Excel, 
PowerPoint,
OneNote,
Outlook, 
Publisher &
Access 
Licenses  1
OSes

Windows 7,
Windows 8, 
Mac OS X 10.5.8 & 
Windows 8 Tablets

Windows 7,
Windows 8, 
Mac OS X 10.5.8 & 
Windows 8 Tablets 
Windows 7 &
Windows 8 
Windows 7 &
Windows 8 
Windows 7 &
Windows 8 
Extras 20GB SkyDrive
storage &
60 min of Skype
international calls 
20GB SkyDrive
storage &
60 min of Skype 
international calls  
7GB SkyDrive
storage 
7GB SkyDrive
storage 
 7GB SkyDrive
storage

Perhaps the best way to look at all of your Office options is to think about how you and your family plan on using the software. If you have multiple kids in junior high and high school with their own laptops, then Office 365 will save you money over buying multiple copies of Home & Student. If you have one family computer and that’s it, then the traditional boxed software will be cheaper. 

The bonus of Office 365 is that you’ll always have the most updated software right at your fingertips, whether you’re using a Windows 8 tablet or a desktop. The traditional versions of the software, Office 2013, will still receive updates, but it’s a safe bet that they won’t be as fast or as frequent.

Another aspect to consider is what software you use most often. If you use Publisher and Access, but blanch at the thought of paying $400 upfront, the $100 yearly subscription will be right up your alley. Likewise, if you’re a fan of Outlook, Office 365 will save you money upfront, especially if you’re using it on more than one PC. 

Still undecided? Microsoft offers a free 30-day trial of Office 365 Home Premium so you can experience the magic for yourself. If you’re still not convinced that Office is for you, check out our suggestions for the best Microsoft Office alternatives

Editors' Recommendations

Meghan McDonough
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Meghan J. McDonough is a Chicago-based purveyor of consumer technology and music. She previously wrote for LAPTOP Magazine…
Prebuilt vs. custom PC: How to know which is right for you
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i gaming PC sitting on a table.

The question of prebuilt versus custom PC is one that's faced by nearly every PC owner at some point, be they enthusiast gamers or casual users. After all, getting a prebuilt desktop is a lot easier, but is it better? Is it more cost-effective? On the other hand, is building your own PC worth the hassle?

The final decision is in your hands, but we're here to help you make it. Below, we'll tell you everything you need to know about prebuilt and custom computers.
Prebuilts vs. custom PCs: pros and cons

Read more
Microsoft Surface sale: Save on Surface Laptop 9, Pro 9, and more
The Surface Pro 9 with the Type Cover keyboard lifted up.

For anyone seeking great laptop deals, Best Buy is perfect for fans of the Microsoft Surface range. Right now, you can buy select Microsoft Surface Pro 9 models for over $500 off while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 can be purchased for $200 off. Just a few of the examples in the sale that spans over 20 different devices, hit the button below to see the full sale for yourself. Alternatively, take a look at some of our favorites while we guide you through things.

What to shop for in the Microsoft Surface sale
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 tops our look at the best 2-in-1 laptops so this should be your first port of call. The most appealing option for many people is the which is usually $1,540 but is currently down to $1,000. The laptop has a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 16GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. Its 13-inch touchscreen has Dynamic refresh rates up to 120Hz while there’s Dolby Vision support so it’s great for watching shows on the move.

Read more
Apple’s Vision Pro to get bespoke Microsoft 365 apps at launch
apples vision pro to get microsoft 365 apps at launch teams

Apple’s Vision Pro is just a couple of days from landing on people’s heads, with many speculating how much of a success -- or not -- the tech giant can make of its most important product launch in years.

A key factor is expected to be the level of interest developers show in creating custom-made apps for the mixed-reality headset, with some major platforms such as Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube deciding to hold back from offering bespoke apps.

Read more