TL;DR: As of July 2, you can get a lifetime subscription to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 or Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for just $29.97 instead of $219.99 — a savings of 86%.
It may not seem like much at first, but those software subscription fees can seriously start to add up. A few dollars a month may not seem like much, but if it's for software you're going to be using for years and years, it might be cheaper to just get a lifetime license.
There's a way to find a cheaper alternative to your software subscriptions. During the Deal Days sale, you can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows or Microsoft Office 2021 Home for Mac, and either one is only $29.97. There are no recurring costs, and it's yours for the life of your computer.
Why get Microsoft Office instead of Microsoft 365
Whether you're getting Microsoft Office for Mac or Windows, you're still getting some of the same apps you'd find with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Mac Office users get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (Basic), and OneNote. Windows Office users get the same apps, except this includes the free version of Teams, as well as Publisher and Access. You can install all of these apps on one computer; it also includes software updates. As long as you have that computer, you can write a resume in Word, automate data collection with Excel, share information in Outlook, and more.
The tradeoff is that Microsoft 365 updates more frequently and lets you install apps on multiple devices. 365 might be a better fit for families with multiple students in school, while Office could be a low-cost match for budget-conscious professionals or college students who need apps they only have to pay for once.
Pay once for a lifetime of Microsoft Office
Until July 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office during Deal Days.
Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021, on sale for $29.97 (reg. $219.99)
Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows, on sale for $29.97 (reg. $219.99)
Prices subject to change.
Opens in a new tab Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 (opens in a new tab) $29.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal (opens in a new tab) Opens in a new tab Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows (opens in a new tab) $29.97 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal (opens in a new tab)