Microsoft has released the new standalone version of its Office productivity suite, Microsoft Office 2024, which is now available for both consumers and small businesses. This latest non-subscription-based service is designed as an alternative to the subscription-based Microsoft 365 model.
Office 2024 includes updated, locked-in-time versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook for PC and Mac, which means the software will stay the same and not receive regular feature updates like their Microsoft 365 counterparts.
“We know some of our customers still prefer a non-subscription way to access our familiar apps, which is why we’re releasing Office 2024 on October 1 for consumers and small businesses. Office 2024 includes updated, locked-in-time versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook for PC and Mac,” Bryan Rognier, Vice President of Microsoft 365 Consumer, wrote in a blog post.
The last standalone version of Microsoft’s Office suite was Office 2021, released on October 5, 2021. Compared to Office 2021, Office 2024 includes a new default theme that better matches Windows 11’s visuals, using Microsoft’s latest Fluent Design principles.
Office 2024 also brings notable improvements to Excel 2024 for Windows and Mac, which include faster workbooks, 14 new text and array functions to help manipulate text and arrays in worksheets, dynamic charts with dynamic arrays that automatically update when the arrays recalculate, improved accessibility features, new IMAGE function to add images without changing the formatting, support for OpenDocument Format (ODF) 1.4, and more.
Further, Office 2024 brings the cameo feature to PowerPoint 2024 on Windows and Macs, which allows the embedding of a live camera feed directly into the slides. It also enables Microsoft Stream (on SharePoint) videos to be embedded into PowerPoint presentations to enhance and enrich storytelling. It also has a new recording studio feature to record narration, animations, transitions, and inking. Word and PowerPoint also include the like and react to comments in collaborative documents.
Meanwhile, Outlook 2024 for Mac introduces customized swipe left and right gestures to enhance email management, including improvements to search and more. Additionally, OneNote 2024 for Mac brings an enhanced inking experience, a full-screen pen-focused view that uses the entire screen for inking, new navigation features, improved Draw tab and ink features, and more.
Office 2024 is available in two different editions. Office Home 2024 is priced at $149.99 and includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for one PC or Mac. On the other hand, Office Home & Business 2024 costs $249.99 and includes everything in Office Home 2024 but adds Outlook and the rights to use the apps for commercial purposes. Both editions are available from retailers worldwide and via Microsoft.com.
Microsoft Office 2024 supports Windows 10 and 11 and the three latest macOS versions. It requires both a Microsoft account and an internet connection.
