Now that Microsoft is ending support for Office 2010, you have two primary upgrade choices: Office 2019 or Office 365 (which was recently renamed to Microsoft 365). While both offer Office apps, they differ in the way you purchase them, what apps they include, and just how they are supported. Here's how to decide forwards and backwards.

Should I buy Office 2019?

Office 2019 is Microsoft's effort to appease users who would would rather stick to tradition and buy standalone software. If that's you, go ahead. But Microsoft isn't which makes it easy or appealing. You're going to get limited choices, no services, no security, no support, and no updates. Additionally, there are no be certain that Microsoft follows up Office 2019 with another standalone version, so enjoy it when you can.

Office 2019 Home & Student ($149.99 from Microsoft) is really a one-time purchase for one computer and includes only three apps: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Office 2019 Home & Business adds Outlook for $249.99 from Microsoft.

Must i buy Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is what the organization wants us to embrace: Office apps paid for on the subscription basis, in return for regular updates and support. It might rankle traditionalists, but when you want the best features, service, and continuity, Microsoft 365 subscriptions are the way to go.

While Microsoft 365 subscriptions cover home, business, and enterprise customers, we'll cover the home and business plans to provide you with an idea of how they work.

Microsoft 365 Home

365 Household is $99.99 annually or $9.99 per month for approximately 6 people in your family. It includes all the Premium Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Onenote. PC users will also get the Access database and Publisher desktop publishing application. Each user receives 1TB of cloud storage, and Advanced Security across up to 5 devices for each individual.

365 Personal is $69.99 a year or $6.99 a month for just one person, for the same apps and services as the Family plan.

Microsoft 365 for Business

Business Basic costs $60 per user for a yearly subscription, or $6.00 per user month-to-month. This version is as basic as advertised, including just the web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, it will include Microsoft's Secure Cloud services: OneDrive, Teams, Exchange, and SharePoint.

Business Standard is $150 per user each year, or $15.00 per user per month. This version includes all the Premium Office apps plus Secure Cloud services.

Business Premium is $240 each year for one user; there isn't any monthly option. In addition to the Premium Office apps and Secure Cloud services, you also get Intune and Azure Information Protection.