Earlier this month, Microsoft launched Microsoft Office 2024, the latest non-subscription version of Microsoft Office available for Windows and Mac.
The Office 2024 version is a big upgrade for users who are running Office 2021 or earlier versions like Office 2019 and 2016. The latest version of Microsoft Office packs plenty of new features and functions, including a new theme that better matches Windows 11.
Some of the new features include support for OpenDocument Format 1.4, the ability to insert pictures from your smartphone, new text and array functions in Excel, closed captions for video and audio, improved search for email, calendar, and contacts in Outlook, and an option to automatically recover your Word documents.
While Office 2024 is launched, many users who are running Office 2021/2019/2016 are wondering if they can upgrade from earlier versions of Microsoft Office to the latest Office 2024 for free. The fact that support for Office 2019 and Office 2016 will end in October 2025 is also making many users want to upgrade to the latest version.
Is Office 2024 a free upgrade for Office 2021/2019/2016 users?
Unfortunately, Office 2024 is not a free upgrade to Office 2021/2019/2016 customers. This means you cannot upgrade from your current version of Office to the latest version for free.
In order to upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Office 2024, you need to buy the license. So, in short, Office 2024 is not free for earlier versions of Office users. You need to buy either Office Home 2024 or Office Home and Business 2024.
Before you make your decision, remember that Office 2024 does not ship with Publisher, as it was discontinued a while ago.
Should you upgrade to Office 2024?
If you are running Office 2021, you might not find many new features in Office 2024. So, users running Office 2021 can wait for the next major version of Office.
Users who are running Office 2016 and Office 2021 need to upgrade to Office 2024, as support for Office 2019 and Office 2016 will end in about a year (October 2025).
What are the best alternatives to Office 2024?
Office 2024 is undoubtedly the greatest version of Office. However, not all users require advanced word-processing software. Besides, most users need basic word-processing software.
LibreOffice, Google Docs, FreeOffice, and WPS Office are some of the alternatives to Microsoft Office.
Our how to open blank document by default in Office Word guide might also interest you.
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