Are you looking forward to having some one-time buyout of Microsoft Office products, but the expensive price tag makes it difficult to make some decisions? Don't worry; this article explores the Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 world, its features, pricing, benefits, and potential drawbacks.
Join us as we help you determine whether it fits your needs while navigating its intricacies. So, let's dive into detail to make an informed decision and unleash your potential with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021.
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021
Introduction to Microsoft Office 2021
Microsoft Office 2021 is a one-time purchase, and this renowned productivity suite is known to empower your personal and educational endeavors. Whether you are a user at home, a student, or an aspiring professional, it provides essential tools to streamline your task, enhance your productivity and unveil your creativity. Let's explore the key functionalities of Office Home and Student 2021 and delve into Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Features
Microsoft Word Office 2021 provides you access to applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, OneDrive, and Access. It is a one-time purchase, so you only need to pay once for the product key. With different tools, you can get creative and keep your work organized. Office 2021 offers different co-authoring features, data types, editing and translation tools, inking tools, motion graphics, ease-of-use features, and more.
Microsoft Office 2021 allows real-time collaboration and faster completion of tasks
Provide ink support & ease in annotating and highlighting important information
Let you add accurate references and direct citations from reliable sources
Present your data understandably and appealingly in the form of charts
Powerpoint offers various pre-designed templates for invoices, budgets, and calendars
Help you get design suggestions & recommendations for a polished presentation
Add a professional touch to your presentations through the feature of Morph transitions
Help you stay organized with speaker notes and timer and present confidently by using the "Presenter view"
Analyze complex data, create dynamic visualizations, and uncover insights through Power Query, Power View, and Power Pivot
OneNote provides a centralized repository for your information to capture and organize notes, audio recordings, and drawings in digital notebooks
Let you clip articles, images, and web pages and refer to the online content without leaving the application
Tag your notes to organize and prioritize them, then use the powerful search feature in OneNote to locate specific information
Pros and Cons
Let's explore the pros first:
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 is a one-time purchase
Provide you with free support for two months
Feature all the tools and functions necessary for personal or educational usage
Offer a familiar and user-friendly interface for easy navigation
Easy collaboration and cloud storage through OneDrive
Allow you to use it offline
Here is the list of some cons:
Offer no real-time collaboration
Allow installation in only one device
No access to future updates; users need to buy a newer version to upgrade
When to Choose
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 is free to download and perfect for people who:
You don't need access to advanced features and only need the core Office applications like PowerPoint, OneNote, Word, and Excel.
Suppose you want a cost-effective one-time payment model rather than a monthly or yearly subscription. Hence, it provides you with long-term access and saves you from the hassle of continuous payments.
It aligns well with your requirements if you work on a single device, like a computer or laptop.
Home and Student 2021 includes the essential tools to be productive and creative, whether a student or a home user. It includes Office applications for personal tasks, assignments, or projects.
Individuals and students can enjoy the benefits of Office applications and access essential tools for educational and personal use without needing a subscription.
Price
The price of Microsoft Office 2021 one-time purchase varies with the platform from which you purchase. However, the retail price of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 - a lifetime for 1-user is around $149.99. However, you can get promotional offers or a discount, and prices may change over time. Therefore, it is advisable to consult the official website to get the most up-to-date pricing.
How to Download and Install (System Requirements)
Download and install Microsoft Office 2021 by following these steps. Remember that by following these steps, you will initially install Office 365. However, once you receive the respective product key, it will upgrade to Office 2021.
Step 1:
Go to Office.com and sign in by using your Microsoft account credentials. Now, reach the next page and select "Install Office." Please select your desired language in the popup box, select the version, and install it. The office setup will start installing.
Step 2:
On completion, run the downloaded .exe file. You will see the installation wizard. You may need to download additional components; click Close once completed. Microsoft Office gets installed on your system; however, you must activate it with the product key.
Step 3:
Now, expand the "Open Tool" and see a "Welcome screen." Click "Sign in." Sign in to Office by providing your Microsoft account credentials.
Step 4:
From the left side menu, click "Account" and then select "Activate Product." You will see a popup window; click "Use a different account." Select "I have a product key." Lastly, you have to enter the "Product Key," and Microsoft Office will detect the edition automatically, Click "Install this product."
Step 5:
Your product key will now be used to download extra components for Office 2021 and update your current Office 365 suite. Afterward, click close, and use Microsoft Office 2021. Go to the Account page of any Office tool to confirm, and you will see "Product Activated" along with its version.
In short, Microsoft Office 2021 is the popular office suite. Its unique features provide tools and features to create engaging documents, presentations, Notes, and Spreadsheets, enhance productivity, and promote collaboration.
Hence, you can stay organized and streamline your work. But this doesn't mean it is the best Office suite. If you are a student, you may be unable to afford its one-time buyout payment.
In addition, you may require collaboration and other advanced features, which might be lacking in Microsoft Office 2021. So, you will be looking for alternative options that can provide you with better features that are free of cost. Here, WPS comes in handy!
Best Alternative to Office Home and Student 2021 - WPS Office
When looking for a reliable alternative to Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021, WPS stands out as the ideal solution. Its comprehensive solution and user-friendly interface provide an easy once-and-for-all solution for your Office needs. It provides a range of features that compete with the rivals Office suits and provides tools like Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentations.
Features
Provide you with pre-designed templates
Allow you to add animation to your files, change backgrounds, create bookmarks, etc.
Recover permanently deleted data through deep scans using WPS Data Recovery Master
Offer an API and allow integration with Microsoft 365, Adobe PDF, and more
Let you secure your sensitive data through password protection and data encryption
How to Edit and Save Microsoft Word Excel Powerpoint with WPS
To edit and save Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with WPS, follow the following steps.
Step 1:
Whether you want to edit Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, open the respective tool in the WPS office.
Step 2:
Open an existing file or create a new file using a template from the tool and make your edits. Save the new or edited file by choosing "Save" from the "File" menu.
Step 3:
While saving, you will see the option to save the file in your desired format. Select Microsoft Office file format from here. This ensures collaboration with other users working on Microsoft Office.
Compatibility
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux.
Price
Free to use for basic functions. However, if you want to use advanced features, you can upgrade to its premium plan. Still, the premium version of WPS Office is affordable compared to MS Office Home and Student One-time purchase.
Pros
No ads to distract your smooth flow of work
Easy to use and resembles Microsoft Office's interface
Cloud storage eases syncing with multiple devices
FAQs
How long do Office Home and Student 2021 last?
Office Home and Student 2021 will provide security updates for five years from the day of its release becomes October 13, 2026. However, this is less than the previous support of 7 and 10 years.
Is Office 2021 free for students?
You can use your valid institutional email address to get started with your free Office 365 Education. It provides free access to Office tools for the students of eligible educational institutions.
What's the difference between Microsoft Home and Student and Home and Office?
Both versions include Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. However, Microsoft Home and Office offer more comprehensive applications, which are suitable for users with additional tools like Access and Outlook for small business and personal needs.
Summary
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 is free to download for everyone, including Mac users, thus catering to the productivity needs of individual users and students. Its robust features and user-friendly interface provide a reliable solution for creating documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
However, considering the price of Office Home and Student 2021 and limited support, you may need to explore alternative options. The best alternative is WPS Office, a free software compatible with Microsoft Office formats. It provides a cost-effective solution to users looking for a reliable office suite.
