Office Home & Business 2024 is Microsoft’s perpetual productivity suite for individuals, families, and small businesses — a one-time purchase that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, with commercial use rights and five years of security support. This guide covers what’s in the suite, what’s genuinely new in 2024, how it stacks up against Microsoft 365 and Office 2021, and which buyer profiles it’s the right fit for.
What’s Included in Office Home & Business 2024
Every application in the suite, and what’s deliberately left out
Office Home & Business 2024 includes the five most widely used Office applications in a single perpetual licence. It’s the sweet-spot edition for anyone who needs email plus the core productivity apps but doesn’t need databases or desktop publishing. Here’s what’s in the box.
Home & Business 2024 does not include Microsoft Access or Publisher. If you need Access for desktop database work, you’ll need Office Professional Plus 2024 instead. Publisher is being retired by Microsoft after October 2026 in any case — see Microsoft’s official Publisher retirement notice — so its absence from Home & Business 2024 reflects Microsoft’s direction of travel rather than a feature gap.
Note that Microsoft Teams is not preinstalled with Office Home & Business 2024. Teams is available as a separate free download from Microsoft. This is a deliberate change in the 2024 release — Teams is decoupled from the Office installer but remains free to install for anyone who wants it.
Home & Business 2024 includes the right to use the software for commercial purposes. This is the main licensing difference between Home & Business 2024 and the cheaper Office Home 2024 edition (which excludes Outlook and is licensed for personal use only). If you’re a sole trader, freelancer, or running any kind of business — even from home — Home & Business is the correct edition.
What’s New in Office 2024 vs Office 2021
The genuine improvements, application by application
Office 2024 builds on the foundation of Office 2021 and adds features that were previously only available in Microsoft 365. None of these changes are individually revolutionary — this is an evolutionary update. But in combination, particularly in Excel and PowerPoint, they represent a meaningful productivity improvement for regular users.
| Application | What’s new in 2024 | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Excel | 14 new text and array functions — including TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE, TEXTAFTER, VSTACK, HSTACK, TOROW, TOCOL, and more. Dynamic charts that auto-update when array data changes. Improved workbook load times and multi-workbook performance. ODF 1.4 format support. | High — especially for data-heavy users |
| PowerPoint | Record entire presentation as video with voice, ink, and camera. Cameo feature — insert a live camera feed directly onto a slide. Closed captions for embedded video and audio. Microsoft Stream (SharePoint) video embedding. Expanded template library with contemporary designs. | Medium — significant for presenters and educators |
| Word | Improved session recovery — automatic document reopen after unexpected shutdown. Enhanced Editor suggestions for clarity, conciseness, and inclusive language. Better accessibility tools including upgraded screen reader support. Like button for comments across collaborative sessions. | Medium — most useful in collaborative contexts |
| Outlook | Faster search indexing across messages, contacts, and calendar entries. Intelligent scheduling with automatic buffer time suggestions between meetings. Improved focused inbox behaviour. Insert pictures directly from Android device. | Medium — meaningful daily quality-of-life improvements |
| OneNote | Updated ink tools and drawing capabilities. Improved stylus responsiveness and a new full-screen pen-focused view. | Low–Medium — primarily benefits tablet users |
| All apps | OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.4 support — improved compatibility with LibreOffice, Google Docs, and other non-Microsoft tools. Updated Fluent Design interface with improved colour options and accessibility. Dark mode improvements including support for page backgrounds in Word and Excel. | Medium–High — cross-platform compatibility improvement |
“Excel’s 14 new functions are the single strongest reason to upgrade — if you use spreadsheets seriously, the gap matters.“
If you’re on Office 2019 or older, the upgrade to 2024 is straightforward — there are meaningful improvements across every application. If you’re on Office 2021 and use Excel heavily, the new functions and dynamic charts make a real difference. If you’re on 2021 and primarily use Word for documents and Outlook for email, the improvements are real but incremental — consider whether the upgrade cost is justified by your specific workflow before buying.
Office Home & Business 2024 vs Microsoft 365
Buy once vs subscribe — the honest cost and capability comparison
This is the question most buyers are really asking. Microsoft would prefer you subscribed to Microsoft 365 — it generates recurring revenue and gives them a stronger ongoing relationship with you. That doesn’t mean it’s the wrong choice for you. Here’s the honest comparison.
| Factor | Office Home & Business 2024 | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|
| Payment model | One-time purchase. Own it permanently, no recurring fees. | Monthly or annual subscription. Cancel and you lose access. |
| Apps included | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote — all installed locally with commercial use rights. | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams. Web and mobile versions included. |
| Platform support | Windows or Mac — single licence valid for either platform. | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and web. |
| Feature updates | Fixed at purchase. Security updates only for 5 years. No new features added after release. | Continuous — new features added regularly as Microsoft develops them. |
| Copilot / AI | Not included. Copilot is a Microsoft 365 feature and is not available in the perpetual licence. | Included on qualifying plans (Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Business). AI writing, summarisation, and data analysis tools across apps. |
| Cloud storage | No bundled storage. Save to OneDrive optionally — requires a separate OneDrive plan if you need cloud storage. | 1 TB OneDrive per user. Documents sync automatically across devices. |
| Multi-device access | One PC or Mac only. | Install on multiple devices. Access via web and mobile apps on any device. |
| Offline use | Fully offline after activation. No periodic internet check-in required. | Works offline, but requires internet check-in at least monthly or apps enter reduced functionality mode. |
| Commercial use | Included — designed for sole traders and small businesses. | Included on business plans; Personal and Family plans are personal use only. |
| Support lifecycle | 5 years (until October 2029). Security updates only — no new features. | Continuously supported as long as subscription is active. |
| Long-term cost | Cheaper after approximately 2 years for a single user with no need for cloud storage. | More expensive long-term for single users. Better value for families and multi-device users. |
Note: M365 Personal approximately £60/year. Office Home & Business 2024 from Software Supplies UK. Pricing indicative — see product pages for current prices.
Microsoft Copilot — the AI assistant built into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint — is not available in Office Home & Business 2024. This is a deliberate Microsoft decision to drive subscriptions. If AI-assisted writing, spreadsheet analysis, or presentation generation is important to your workflow, Microsoft 365 is currently the only way to get it. If you don’t use or want AI features, this is not a relevant consideration — but it’s worth knowing before you buy.
See Microsoft’s official comparison of Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 for the full breakdown from the source.
Office Home & Business 2024 vs Office Home & Business 2021
Is the upgrade from 2021 worth it?
If you’re currently running Office 2021 Home & Business and weighing whether to upgrade, the decision is more nuanced than simply “newer is better.” Both are capable suites. The question is whether the improvements in 2024 — plus the support lifecycle — justify the cost for your specific use case.
Office Home & Business 2021 reaches end of support in October 2026. After that date, Microsoft will no longer issue security patches. Running unsupported Office software creates real security exposure — particularly in Outlook, which is a common attack surface for phishing and malicious attachments. If you’re still on 2021, the end-of-support timeline alone is a strong argument for upgrading to 2024 before that date. Office 2024 is supported until October 2029.
| Factor | Home & Business 2021 | Home & Business 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Support ends | October 2026 | October 2029 |
| Apps included | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
| Excel functions | XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays, LET function | All 2021 functions + 14 new text/array functions including TEXTSPLIT, VSTACK, HSTACK, TOROW, TOCOL |
| Dynamic charts | Static only — must be updated manually | Auto-update when array data changes |
| PowerPoint recording | Basic slide recording | Full presentation video export with voice, ink, and Cameo live camera |
| Outlook search | Standard search | Faster indexing, intelligent scheduling suggestions |
| ODF compatibility | ODF 1.3 | ODF 1.4 — better compatibility with LibreOffice and Google Docs |
| Interface | Classic Office ribbon | Updated Fluent Design with improved dark mode and accessibility |
For anyone still on Office 2021 Home & Business, the October 2026 end-of-support deadline is the decisive factor. Office Home & Business 2024 from Software Supplies UK gives you three additional years of security support, the full set of new Excel and PowerPoint features, and a modernised interface — at a one-time cost with no subscription.
“Office 2021 reaches end of support in October 2026. That deadline is the clearest reason to upgrade.“
Who Office Home & Business 2024 Is Right For
Scenario by scenario — including who should consider something else
The strongest case for Office Home & Business 2024 is any situation where you want the core Office applications including Outlook, you work primarily on one device, and you don’t want a recurring subscription. Here’s how that maps to specific buyer profiles.
-
Sole traders and freelancers. A one-time licence cost that sits on the books as a capital purchase rather than an operating expense. Commercial use rights included. Outlook handles email and calendar without a separate subscription. No monthly bill to manage or renew.
-
Small business owners who don’t need Access. If your business runs on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email — and you don’t maintain desktop databases — Home & Business 2024 covers your entire Office needs at a lower price point than Professional Plus. The five-year security support window gives you predictable software costs for the medium term.
-
Families who want Outlook for email. Home & Business 2024 is the cheapest perpetual Office edition that includes Outlook. If someone in the household wants a proper email client alongside Word and Excel — without paying for a Microsoft 365 subscription year after year — this is the right choice.
-
Anyone upgrading from Office 2019 or older. The generational improvement from 2019 to 2024 is substantial across every application — and Office 2019 ended support in October 2025. If you’re still on 2019, 2016, or anything older, upgrading to Home & Business 2024 brings you back inside Microsoft’s security update window with meaningfully better apps.
-
Privacy-conscious users. Office Home & Business 2024 is fully functional offline with no mandatory cloud component. Documents stay on your device unless you choose to sync them. For anyone who prefers local-first computing or has data sovereignty concerns, the absence of forced cloud sync is an advantage.
-
Students who want a permanent licence. Microsoft 365 subscriptions expire when you stop paying. Home & Business 2024 stays with you indefinitely — useful for students who want software that survives graduation and won’t lock them out mid-dissertation.
-
Anyone who needs Access for databases. Home & Business 2024 doesn’t include Access. If your workflow depends on desktop database management — customer records, inventory tracking, structured forms — you need Office Professional Plus 2024 instead.
-
Remote or hybrid teams who co-author documents in real time. Real-time collaborative editing — multiple people working on the same document simultaneously — is a Microsoft 365 cloud feature. Home & Business 2024 supports saving to OneDrive but doesn’t replicate the live co-authoring experience of Microsoft 365.
-
Users who specifically want Microsoft Copilot AI. Copilot — Microsoft’s AI assistant for writing, summarising, and data analysis — is exclusive to Microsoft 365 plans. It is not available in Home & Business 2024, and there is no indication Microsoft will change this policy.
-
Families across multiple devices. Home & Business 2024 licences one PC or Mac. Microsoft 365 Family covers up to six people across multiple devices and includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage per person. For households with several users and devices, the subscription’s shared economics are often better value.
-
Using a Mac? Home & Business 2024 is available as a dedicated Mac edition covering the same applications for macOS. One-time purchase, genuine Microsoft licence, instant delivery.
Software Supplies UK stocks genuine Office Home & Business 2024 licence keys with instant email delivery, lifetime warranty, and UK-based support. Every key is 100% authentic. If you need Access for databases, see Office Professional Plus 2024. If you’re on a Mac, see our Mac edition. If you’re comparing versions, our Office Licence Advisor tool walks you through the right choice for your situation.
-
Microsoft Office, Productivity, Software
Original price was: £249.99.£79.00Current price is: £79.00. Add to cart -
Microsoft Office, Productivity, Software
Original price was: £249.00.£189.00Current price is: £189.00. Get notified -
MAC Licenses, Microsoft Office, Productivity, Software
Original price was: £249.00.£189.00Current price is: £189.00. Get notified
Frequently Asked Questions
Office Home & Business 2024 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. It’s a one-time perpetual licence for one PC or Mac, with commercial use rights. Microsoft Access and Publisher are not included — for those you need Office Professional Plus 2024. Microsoft Teams is available as a separate free download from Microsoft.
It’s a one-time purchase with a perpetual licence. You pay once, own the software permanently, and use it indefinitely. There are no recurring fees and no monthly billing. Microsoft issues security updates for five years from the October 2024 release, ending October 2029.
Office Home 2024 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote — but no Outlook — and is licensed for personal use only. Office Home & Business 2024 adds Outlook for email and calendar, and includes commercial use rights. If you run any kind of business — even as a sole trader or freelancer — Home & Business is the correct edition.
No. Microsoft Copilot is exclusive to Microsoft 365 subscription plans and is not available in any perpetual Office licence, including Home & Business 2024. If you specifically need Copilot’s AI writing, summarisation, or data analysis features, a Microsoft 365 subscription is currently the only way to get them.
Microsoft will support Office 2024 with security updates for five years from release, ending on October 9, 2029. The software will continue to function after that date, but no new security patches will be issued. For most users a five-year window is more than adequate — particularly given the suite stays fully offline and doesn’t require ongoing cloud connectivity.
Office 2021 reaches end of support in October 2026. After that date Microsoft will stop issuing security patches, which is a real risk for Outlook in particular. Upgrading to 2024 extends your support window until October 2029 and brings significant improvements in Excel (14 new functions, dynamic charts) and PowerPoint (video recording, Cameo live camera). For most users still on 2021, the combination of security lifecycle and feature improvements makes the upgrade worthwhile.
No. Each Home & Business 2024 licence activates the software on one PC or one Mac. If you need Office on multiple devices, you’ll need additional licences, or a Microsoft 365 subscription which allows installation on multiple devices per user.
Yes — Office Home & Business 2024 is available for both Windows and Mac. Software Supplies UK sells a dedicated Mac edition alongside the Windows version. The Mac edition covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for macOS. Note that Access has never been available on Mac, even in higher-tier Office editions.
You need internet access for initial activation at setup.office.com and to download the installer. Once installed and activated, all applications work fully offline. Unlike Microsoft 365, there’s no requirement to check in with Microsoft’s servers periodically — the software doesn’t enter reduced functionality mode if you’re offline.
Access isn’t included in Home & Business 2024. If you need desktop database management for customer records, inventory, or structured data forms, you’ll need Office Professional Plus 2024, which includes Access alongside all the other apps in Home & Business. Access is Windows only — it’s never been available on Mac.
Gary Walsh is the Head of Tech Support at Software Supplies, with more than 20 years in the IT industry. Fully Microsoft-certified and experienced across the full business software stack — from Windows and Office to cloud infrastructure and device management — Gary delivers practical, no-nonsense advice that helps users and businesses get the most from their technology.
