While comparing Microsoft Office 2019 vs 365, let’s begin by learning what all versions offer and what their features are.
What is Office 2019?
Office 2019 is currently the latest standalone version of Microsoft’s most popular suite of office applications. It is a traditional office suite that comes with famous Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Although they have come a long way not but Microsoft Office still lacks the latest features like the cloud and AI support.
Nevertheless, Microsoft Excel journey is one of the most interesting journeys so far among all the apps in the Microsoft suite.
Features of Office 2019
- A combo of all new and classic lovable features which help you take your office productivity to the next level.
- Microsoft Office suite apps (depending on your Office 2019 product variant) – Core apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); App for email capability and contact management (Outlook); Powerful note-taking application (OneNote); Information Management App (Access) and Page layout App (Publisher).
- Comes in various variants- Office Home and Student, Office Home and Business, Office Standard, Office Professional, Office Professional Plus.
- One-time purchase and Lifetime validity.
- Provides frequent stability and security updates, though no feature updates.
- 5 years of mainstream support but no tech support beyond installation.
What is Office 365?
Update: The Office 365 products will no longer be branded as “Office 365” but rather will be rebranded to “Microsoft 365” and the name was made effective from April 21, 2020.
Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365) is a subscription-based service from Microsoft which offers the same suite of famous Microsoft apps as that in Office 2019 but with some add-on features and services. Cloud and AI support are among the most talked about features from all of them.
Office 365 or Microsoft 365 constantly gives you features and software updates with which your system will always be up to date.
Features of Office 365 or Microsoft 365
- Don’t need to pay upfront i.e. you can spread out the cost.
- It offers Office Online web-based access to the core Office applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Office 365 or Microsoft 365 allows you to install Office on 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets or 5 mobile devices.
- Free monthly credits to call via skype.
- Office 365 or Microsoft 365 offers all Microsoft Office suite apps irrespective of the product you subscribe to including web-based apps and services like Teams, Stream, Yammer, etc.
- Comes in various variants- Microsoft 365 Family, Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
- All Office 365 or Microsoft 365 plans include 1TB of Cloud Storage, web-based apps and unique AI features like “PowerPoint Designers”.
- Continuous monthly updates to new features, frequent stability, and security updates.
- Provides full tech support until the subscription period ends.
Comparison Chart of Microsoft Office 2019 vs 365
| Feature | Office 365 or Microsoft 365 | Office 2019 |
| Purchase type | Monthly or Annually Subscription-based | One-time purchase |
| Validity | Depends on the subscribed product | Lifetime |
| License Type | Subscription | Depending on the product, Standard or open (charged upgrade) |
| Installations | Depending on the product, Office 365 can be installed on 5 PCs or 5 Macs, 5 tablets and 5 mobile devices | Depending on the product, Office 2019 can be installed on 1 PC or Mac |
| Compatibility | Windows 7 and up Mac OS 10.10 and up |
Windows 10 and up Mac OS 10.12 and up. A few versions can be installed on Windows-based systems only |
| MS Office Suite | All core traditional apps in any product | Depending on the product, the range of apps is available |
| Cloud storage | 1 TB per user for 5 users | × |
| Skype minutes | 60 minutes per user for 5 users | × |
| Feature updates | √ | × |
| Tech support | √ | Limited |
| Cloud-based apps | √ (Teams, Stream, Yammer, etc.) | × |
| AI-based features | √ (e.g. PowerPoint Designers) | × |
| Multiple device connectivity | √ | × |
Conclusion: Microsoft Office 2019 And Microsoft 365
Microsoft wants everybody to opt for Office 365 or Microsoft 365. The reason is mainly that it is easy for Microsoft to give updates through this online version. Also, it is difficult for anyone who wants the latest version of the software on their system all the time to use cracked versions of the software. It is also true that anyone can achieve better business outcomes if they are using the modern productivity tool and using the cloud to access the documents via any logged-in device.
Now, do you know why Microsoft Excel and Power BI are two of the best tools provided by Microsoft?
FAQ: Microsoft Office 2019 vs 365
Q1. Is Microsoft Office 2019 still worth buying in 2025?
A1. Yes, if you prefer a one-time purchase without recurring fees and don’t need cloud or AI features, Office 2019 is still reliable for basic professional use.
Q2. What makes Microsoft 365 better than Office 2019?
A2. Microsoft 365 offers continuous updates, cloud storage, real-time collaboration, and AI tools like PowerPoint Designer, features not available in Office 2019.
Q3. Which version is better for students and freelancers?
A3. Microsoft 365 is better since it allows access from multiple devices, offers cloud storage, and includes collaboration tools perfect for academic or freelance projects.
Q4. Do I need the internet to use Microsoft 365?
A4. Not always. You can use apps offline, but you’ll need an internet connection for syncing files, receiving updates, and using cloud-based features.
Q5. Can companies still use Office 2019 for corporate work?
A5. Yes, many corporations use Office 2019 for local work environments, but organisations moving toward hybrid and cloud setups prefer Microsoft 365.
Q6. Does Microsoft 365 support data security better than Office 2019?
A6. Yes, Microsoft 365 provides encrypted cloud storage, secure file sharing, and regular security updates, keeping your business data safer.
Q7. Which version is more cost-effective in the long run?
A7. For short-term use, Office 2019 saves money. But for long-term use, Microsoft 365 offers better value with continuous updates and cloud integration.
Q8. Can I upgrade from Office 2019 to Microsoft 365 later?
A8. Yes, you can switch anytime. Microsoft allows an easy transition from Office 2019 to Microsoft 365 without losing files or previous settings.
Q9. How do cloud-based features in Microsoft 365 improve productivity?
A9. With cloud integration, you can edit, share, and collaborate in real time, making teamwork faster and more efficient from any device.
Q10. Where can professionals and teams learn how to use Microsoft 365 effectively?
A10. Edu4Sure offers hands-on corporate and individual training for Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft 365, helping professionals use these tools strategically at work.
LOOKING FOR TRAINING ON Excel & PowerPoint? PLEASE CONNECT AT PARTNER@EDU4SURE.COM OR CALL 95.5511.5533