Microsoft Office 2021 is the latest version of Microsoft’s Office suite. Since it is new, the app offers a lot of changes compared to its previous version, Office 2019. Staying up-to-date with the latest features can help you decide if the app is right for you and if it’s worth your money.
Discover the key differences between Office 2019 and Office 2021 in this article.
Interface
One of the most noticeable changes from Office 2019 to Office 2021 is the new look. Office 2021 boasts a modern design that feels calm and personal, unlike older versions.
Features
Another major difference between Office 2019 and Office 2021 is the features. While both have core tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Office 2021 offers many advanced features not in Office 2019.
Office 2021 offers exciting new features:
- Co-authoring documents
- AutoSave
- Updated Draw Tab
- and so many more…
Applications
The type of Office plan you choose determines the number of applications you get. For instance, the Home and Business plan includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Both Office 2019 and Office 2021 include these basic applications. Office 2021 also offers access to MS Teams and MS OneNote.
It also helps to look past the app list and think about how long each version will keep getting fixes. Both Office 2019 and Office 2021 are one-time purchases rather than subscriptions, so the price you pay is the price for that release. Office 2019 falls out of mainstream support sooner than Office 2021, which means Office 2021 will keep receiving security patches for a longer stretch. If you plan to keep the same install for several years without paying again, that extra support window is worth weighing against the higher upfront cost.
- Home and Business plan: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
- Office 2019: Basic applications
- Office 2021: Adds MS Teams, OneNote
Conclusion
Office 2019 and Office 2021 have several differences. Both versions offer essential tools. However, Office 2021 includes advanced features that make it more modern. If you’re upgrading from Office 2019 or just staying current, Office 2021 has many benefits.
Which one suits you really comes down to how you work. If you mostly write documents, build slides, and send email on a single computer, Office 2019 still handles all of that well and costs less. If you collaborate with other people on shared files, switch between devices, or want the cleaner layout and the newer tools like co-authoring and AutoSave, the move up to Office 2021 pays off. Either way, check that your computer meets the system requirements before you buy, since the newer release expects a reasonably recent version of Windows.
