Office 2019 vs Office 2021: Detailed Comparison of Perpetual Versions

What is Office 2019?

Office 2019 was released in 2018 as the successor to Office 2016. It is a perpetual license product, meaning you pay once and keep the license forever without subscription fees. However, it does not include continuous feature updates – only essential security patches.

Key Features of Office 2019:

• Classic apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote (partial), Access (in Professional version)

• No integration with Microsoft 365 cloud services

• No ongoing feature updates – only security updates

• Compatible with Windows 10 and macOS

• Limited support for Windows 11 in its early release period

If you are running older hardware or sticking with Windows 10, Office 2019 can be a stable choice.

What is Office 2021?

Office 2021 was released in October 2021 as the most recent perpetual version of Microsoft Office. Unlike Microsoft 365, it requires a one-time payment, not a subscription.

It was designed for users who prefer not to migrate to Microsoft 365 but still want modern features, better compatibility with Windows 11, and improved performance.

Key Features of Office 2021:

• Modern UI consistent with Windows 11 design

• Full dark mode support across the suite

• Performance improvements in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

• Enhanced collaboration tools for document co-authoring (limited compared to Microsoft 365)

• Compatibility with Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS

• Support for ODF 1.3 file formats

• Excel upgrades: XLOOKUP, LET, dynamic arrays, new statistical functions

• PowerPoint upgrades: record presentations with narration, translation tools

Office 2021 offers more longevity in terms of system compatibility and modern functions, especially for business or academic users.

Core Differences Between Office 2019 and Office 2021

Who Should Choose Office 2019?

Office 2019 is best suited for:

• Users running Windows 10 who don’t plan to upgrade soon

• People who prefer stability over new features

• Those who don’t need online collaboration or cloud integration

• Budget-conscious users who want a slightly cheaper option

If you are content with classic Office tools and don’t need Excel’s newest formulas, Office 2019 still delivers solid performance.

Who Should Choose Office 2021?

Office 2021 is ideal for:

• Users upgrading or already using Windows 11

• Professionals who rely on modern Excel functions like XLOOKUP and dynamic arrays

• Businesses that want the newest perpetual version without committing to Microsoft 365

• Users who appreciate the modern design and dark mode

This version is more future-proof, particularly for long-term users who want compatibility with the latest OS.

Office 2021 vs Microsoft 365 – Key Distinction

It’s important not to confuse Office 2021 with Microsoft 365.

• Office 2021 = one-time purchase, perpetual license, no new features after release.

• Microsoft 365 = subscription-based, continuous updates, AI tools, full cloud collaboration.

If you value offline stability and a one-time payment, Office 2021 is the choice. If you need constant updates and cloud integration, Microsoft 365 is better.

Licensing and Pricing

Both Office 2019 and Office 2021 are sold as one-time purchase licenses for a single PC or Mac. Variants include:

• Office Home & Student

• Office Home & Business

• Office Professional

Pricing varies by region, but Office 2021 is typically 10–20% more expensive than Office 2019 at launch.

For businesses, the Professional version includes Access and additional features needed in commercial environments.

CMD Commands for Troubleshooting Installation Errors

When installing either Office 2019 or Office 2021, users sometimes face error 0x80070005 (Access Denied). To fix, try running Command Prompt as Administrator and resetting licensing services:

If the issue persists, reset the licensing system:

Replace XXXXX with the last 5 characters of your product key. Running these commands may resolve licensing-related activation errors.

Conclusion: Office 2019 vs Office 2021 – Which to Pick?

Your choice depends on your needs:

• Pick Office 2019 if you need a reliable, cost-effective, and stable solution for Windows 10 without caring for new features.

• Pick Office 2021 if you want modern Excel tools, compatibility with Windows 11, dark mode, and a more future-proof investment.

Both are strong options if you want to avoid subscription costs from Microsoft 365.