Cost guide
Office 2024 lifetime licence: what it costs and what you get
Last reviewed 2026-08-01
Short answer
Office 2024 is a one-time purchase: Microsoft charges $149.99 for Home and $249.99 for Home & Business, while Professional Plus retail-transfer keys start at $34.90. There is no renewal — the licence stays valid for the life of the version, with security updates through October 2029.
Price table
| Edition | Microsoft list | LicenseVault | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Home 2024 | $149.99 | — | 1 PC or Mac, Word / Excel / PowerPoint / OneNote |
| Office Home & Business 2024 | $249.99 | $89.00 | 1 PC or Mac, adds Outlook, commercial use |
| Office Pro Plus 2024 (1 PC) | — | $34.90 | 1 Windows PC, adds Access & Publisher |
| Office Pro Plus 2024 (3 PC) | — | $49.90 | 3 Windows PCs |
| Office Pro Plus 2024 (5 PC) | — | $69.90 | 5 Windows PCs |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99 / year | $84.90 / year | 1 user, 5 devices, 1 TB OneDrive |
Microsoft list prices are indicative US open-licence figures and change without notice.
What 'lifetime' actually means
A lifetime — properly, perpetual — Office licence covers one version forever. Office 2024 will not stop working when Office 2027 ships; it simply stops receiving feature updates. Microsoft's published support end date for Office 2024 security updates is 9 October 2029.
The licence is tied to one device at a time. Retail licences can be moved to a replacement PC; OEM licences cannot.
Break-even against Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 Personal at $99.99 per year overtakes a $34.90 perpetual Pro Plus licence in about 4 months, and a $249.99 Home & Business box in about 2.5 years.
The subscription buys things the perpetual licence never gets: 1 TB of OneDrive, Copilot credits, continuous feature updates, and multi-device installs. If none of those matter, the one-time purchase is dramatically cheaper over a 5-year horizon.
- 5-year cost, Microsoft 365 Personal: ~$500
- 5-year cost, Office 2024 Pro Plus perpetual: $34.90
- Break-even point: roughly 4 months
Buy these licences
Office Professional Plus 2024 — 1 PC
Perpetual · 1 PC · Windows
The latest perpetual Office suite for one Windows PC.
Office Professional Plus 2024 — 3 PCs
Perpetual · 3 PCs · Windows
Install on up to three Windows PCs. Lifetime license.
Office Professional Plus 2024 — 5 PCs
Perpetual · 5 PCs · Windows
Five-device pack — best value per PC.
Office Home & Business 2024 — Mac & Windows
Perpetual · 1 device · Mac or PC
Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for Mac or PC.
Frequently asked questions
Does Office 2024 expire?
No. Office 2024 is perpetual — it keeps working indefinitely. Only its security updates end, on 9 October 2029.
How much is a lifetime Office 2024 licence?
Microsoft lists Office Home 2024 at $149.99 and Home & Business at $249.99. Professional Plus retail-transfer keys start at $34.90 at LicenseVault.
Can I move an Office 2024 licence to a new PC?
Retail and retail-transfer licences can be deactivated on the old machine and reactivated on a new one. OEM licences stay with the original hardware.
Does Office 2024 include Outlook?
Home & Business and Professional Plus include the classic Outlook desktop app. Office Home 2024 does not.
Is Office 2024 cheaper than Microsoft 365?
Over any period longer than about 4 months, yes — provided you don't need OneDrive storage, Copilot or multi-device installs.
Compare the editions
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