What is the Difference Between Office 365 and Office 2016?

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The main differences between Office 365 and Office 2016 are related to the distribution channel, functionality, and validity of the purchased license. Here are the key differences:

  1. Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase: Office 365 is a subscription-based plan, where you pay a monthly or annual fee to access the latest version of Office and receive continuous updates. In contrast, Office 2016 is a one-time purchase, with no subscription required.
  2. Software Updates: Office 365 subscribers receive continual upgrades to the latest features as part of their subscription, ensuring they always have the most up-to-date software. Office 2016 users, on the other hand, only have access to the software features that exist at the time of purchase and may need to purchase a new version to access newer features.
  3. Cloud-Based Services: Office 365 includes additional cloud-based services, such as OneDrive storage, Skype for Business, Yammer, and SharePoint. Office 2016 does not include these services.
  4. Device Accessibility: Office 365 allows users to install Office on multiple devices, including tablets, phones, and PCs. Office 2016 is typically accessed via the desktop, and files can be saved to the cloud, but the number of devices on which it can be installed is limited.
  5. Support: Office 365 subscribers receive ongoing technical support, ensuring that their software remains up-to-date and secure. Office 2016 follows Microsoft's traditional support lifecycle, which includes a period of full support, followed by only receiving security updates, and eventually dropping out of support entirely.

In summary, Office 365 offers a more comprehensive package with continuous updates, additional cloud-based services, and increased device accessibility, while Office 2016 is a one-time purchase with limited updates and support.

Comparative Table: Office 365 vs Office 2016

Office 2016 and Office 365 are two different models of purchasing and accessing the popular productivity suite from Microsoft. Here is a table outlining the main differences between the two:

Feature Office 2016 Office 365
Purchase Model One-time purchase Subscription-based (monthly or annual)
Cloud-Based No Yes
License Per product key Per user/license
Number of Devices Installed on 1 PC Access on 5 phones, 5 tablets, and 5 PCs or Macs per user
Software Updates Paid Free and up-to-date

Office 2016 is an offline version of the Office suite, where you install the applications on your machine and pay a one-time fee for a single PC. In contrast, Office 365 is a subscription-based model that provides you with the latest versions of the Office applications, along with additional cloud storage and services like Skype minutes for home use.