A new version of Office is on the way that doesn't require a subscription

People who prefer to pay-once for Office will have a new option in 2021.

What you need to know

• A new perpetual release of Microsoft Office will arrive in the second half of 2021.
• Perpetual versions of Office don't require a subscription.
• The name, price, and exact release date of the next perpetual version of Office is not known at this time.

Microsoft will release a new perpetual release of Microsoft Office in the second half of 2021. The new perpetual release only appears in a single sentence of a post by the Exchange team at Microsoft, but it confirms that new versions of Office are on the way to Windows and Mac.

While many have moved over to Microsoft 365, some prefer a perpetual license for Office that allows them to purchase a product once and to have it forever. Microsoft usually releases perpetual updates to Office every few years, though some were concerned that Office 2019 would be the last perpetual update. Luckily for those who prefer a perpetual license, a new version is on the way.

Office 2019 comes with quite a few apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Skype for Business, as well as servers such as Exchange, SharePoint, and Skype for Business. It's safe to assume that the upcoming perpetual version of Office will have a similar offering.

At this time, Microsoft hasn't shared details regarding the price, exact availability, or name of the next perpetual version of Office.