Office 2024 is an evolutionary upgrade over Office 2021. It adds 14 new Excel text and array functions, the IMAGE function, a refreshed Fluent interface, Word session recovery, and PowerPoint Cameo and Recording Studio. It also drops Publisher and preinstalled Teams. The decisive difference is support: Office 2021 ends on 13 October 2026, while Office 2024 is supported until 9 October 2029.
Written by the Softkeyworld technical team · Updated October 2026
Key takeaways
- Both are one-time-purchase, Click-to-Run builds of Office version 16.0. Files, macros and Group Policy carry over unchanged.
- The biggest functional gains are in Excel, if you build formulas. Other apps see refinements rather than reinventions.
- If you use Publisher, Office 2024 is a step down, because the app is gone.
- Feature-wise, the upgrade is "nice to have". Security-wise, it becomes necessary after October 2026.
Office 2021 vs Office 2024 at a glance
This article is a product comparison. If your main question is what happens to your existing install after the deadline, see our companion guide on Office 2021 end of support and your upgrade options. Here we focus on what you actually get by switching.
| Area | Office 2021 / LTSC 2021 | Office 2024 / LTSC 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Released | September/October 2021 | September/October 2024 |
| Support ends | 13 October 2026 | 9 October 2029 |
| Interface | 2021 visual refresh, dark mode in Word | New default Fluent Design theme across all apps |
| Excel headline features | XLOOKUP, XMATCH, LET, dynamic arrays (FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE, SEQUENCE) | All of 2021, plus 14 text/array functions, IMAGE, dynamic charts, faster multi-workbook performance |
| Word | Dark mode, line focus, co-authoring on OneDrive files | Session recovery, comment reactions, ODF 1.4, insert photos from mobile |
| PowerPoint | Record slide show improvements, ink replay | Cameo (live camera on slides), Recording Studio, closed captions for media |
| Outlook | Instant search, translator | Improved search, meeting-shortening options, accessibility checker |
| Publisher | Included (Professional / Pro Plus) | Not included; app retired October 2026 |
| Teams | Included in some editions | Not preinstalled; free separate download |
| ActiveX controls | Enabled with prompt | Disabled by default (admins can re-enable) |
| File formats | OOXML, ODF 1.3 | OOXML, ODF 1.4 |
Feature-by-feature: what's actually new in Office 2024
Microsoft's own list is in What's new in Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024. Below, we judge each change by how much it matters in daily use.
Excel: the strongest reason to upgrade
Excel 2021 brought XLOOKUP and dynamic arrays to perpetual Office for the first time. Excel 2024 builds on that with 14 functions that Microsoft 365 users have had for a while:
-
Text:
TEXTBEFORE,TEXTAFTER,TEXTSPLIT. These replace those brittleLEFT(FIND())chains. For example,=TEXTAFTER(A2,"@")pulls the domain from an email address. -
Combining arrays:
VSTACKandHSTACK, which are ideal for merging monthly sheets into one live table. -
Reshaping:
TOROW,TOCOL,WRAPROWS,WRAPCOLS,EXPAND. -
Selecting:
TAKE,DROP,CHOOSEROWS,CHOOSECOLS. For instance,=TAKE(SORT(A2:D500,4,-1),10)gives a live top-10. -
IMAGE function:
=IMAGE("https://…/logo.png")places a web image inside a cell, which is useful for product lists. - Dynamic charts: charts based on a spilled range now grow and shrink automatically as the array recalculates.
One compatibility warning from experience: if you build a workbook using these functions and send it to someone on Excel 2021, their cells show #NAME?. In mixed-version offices, upgrade everyone together or agree to stick to 2021-era functions in shared files.
Word: small but welcome
Session recovery is the stand-out feature. If Word or Windows crashes, Word reopens every document that was open, not just the ones with AutoRecover data. Comment reactions, an improved accessibility ribbon and ODF 1.4 support round it out. Writers who live in Word will notice the new theme more than any functional change. If you dislike it, the classic look is close to hand under File → Account → Office Theme, where you can pick Colorful, Dark Grey, Black, White or "Use system setting" to follow Windows.
PowerPoint: better for recorded content
Cameo lets you drop a live webcam feed onto a slide as a resizable shape, and Recording Studio records narration, ink and video presence for training or sales videos. You can also add closed captions to embedded media and embed Microsoft Stream videos. If you create webinars, tutorials or recorded pitches, this is a meaningful upgrade.
Outlook, OneNote and Access
- Outlook: faster, more relevant search across mail, calendar and contacts, and options to shorten meetings automatically to leave break time.
- OneNote: a reworked Draw tab with lower-latency inking, a clear benefit on pen-enabled laptops.
- Access: the Dataverse connector, which lets Access front-ends work with Power Platform data.
What you lose
Be honest about the downsides. Publisher is gone and will not return. Teams is no longer bundled, though it is a free download. "Publish to Power BI" in Excel has been removed, and ActiveX controls are disabled by default, which can break old VBA forms until an admin re-enables them. Microsoft's Office LTSC 2024 overview documents each removal.
What stays exactly the same
For IT admins, the reassuring part is how much does not change. Office 2024 is still major version 16.0, so policies under HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0 apply as before, and the Office Deployment Tool (setup.exe /configure config.xml) works with the same XML structure. Only the product ID changes, for example ProPlus2024Volume instead of ProPlus2021Volume. VBA macros, Power Query connections, PivotTables and add-ins built for 2021 generally run unchanged, apart from the ActiveX default noted above.
Real-world scenarios: does the upgrade change your day?
Feature lists are abstract, so here is how the differences play out for the kinds of users we hear from most often.
-
The bookkeeper reconciling exports. Bank and platform CSVs often arrive with combined fields such as "Ref-1234/GBP". In Excel 2021 that means helper columns full of
MIDandSEARCH. In Excel 2024 a singleTEXTSPLITdoes it, andVSTACKmerges twelve monthly tabs into one live list. This is a noticeable time saving. - The office manager writing letters and policies. Word gains session recovery and a cleaner look, but day-to-day writing feels much the same. The upgrade is driven by security rather than features.
- The trainer or sales lead. Cameo and Recording Studio replace a separate screen-recording tool for simple narrated decks. This is a genuine workflow improvement.
- The club secretary producing newsletters in Publisher. Office 2024 takes something away. Convert the templates to Word or PowerPoint first, and keep a PDF archive of past issues.
- The Access database developer. Most databases open unchanged. The Dataverse connector only matters if you plan to move data into the Power Platform.
A note for Mac users
On macOS, the comparison is between Office 2021 for Mac and Office Home or Home & Business 2024 for Mac. Professional Plus does not exist on Mac, and Access has never been available there. The Mac version of Outlook 2024 adds Focused Inbox and scheduled sending, and both generations support only the three most recent macOS releases. If your Mac is stuck on an older macOS, check compatibility before buying.
Support lifecycles compared
| Product | Policy | End of support | Time left (from Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office 2021 (retail editions) | Modern | 13 Oct 2026 | Days |
| Office LTSC 2021 | Fixed (no extended phase) | 13 Oct 2026 | Days |
| Office 2024 (Home, Home & Business) | Modern | 9 Oct 2029 | About 3 years |
| Office LTSC 2024 (Pro Plus, Standard) | Fixed (no extended phase) | 9 Oct 2029 | About 3 years |
Both generations get five years of support from release with no extended phase. Dates are from Microsoft's Office 2024 lifecycle page and the equivalent 2021 entries. Buying 2024 today therefore gives you roughly three years of patches. That is worth knowing: a perpetual licence is no longer a "decade of Office" purchase.
System requirements
| Requirement | Office 2021 | Office 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11, Windows 10; three latest macOS versions | Windows 11, Windows 10; three latest macOS versions (LTSC also Server 2022/2025) |
| Processor | 1.1 GHz, 2 cores | 1.1 GHz, 2 cores |
| Memory | 4 GB (64-bit), 2 GB (32-bit) | 4 GB |
| Disk space | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Display | 1280 × 768 | 1280 × 768 (64-bit needed for 4K) |
| Internet / account | Needed for activation | Needed for activation |
In short, any PC that runs Office 2021 comfortably will run 2024. Remember, though, that Windows 10 itself left support in October 2025. If you are refreshing Office, it is the right moment to check the OS too.
Who should upgrade, and who can wait
Upgrade now
- Anyone using Outlook for email. Mail attachments are the main attack route, and 2021 stops getting patches this month.
- Excel power users who will immediately use TEXTSPLIT, VSTACK and friends.
- Businesses with compliance obligations (Cyber Essentials, client security questionnaires) that require supported software.
- Trainers and presenters who will use Cameo and Recording Studio.
Think it through first
-
Heavy Publisher users. Migrate your
.pubfiles to Word, PowerPoint or a dedicated layout tool before you uninstall 2021. - Offices with old VBA forms using ActiveX. Test first, and plan to re-enable ActiveX via policy if needed.
- Teams that co-author all day. A Microsoft 365 subscription may suit you better than any perpetual version. Our Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021 guide lays out the trade-offs.
Which 2024 edition fits? Home users who only need Word, Excel and PowerPoint, or who need Mac support, should look at Office 2024 Home and Business for PC/Mac. Windows users who want the full suite with Outlook and Access are best served by Professional Plus. Visio and Project users should upgrade those apps at the same time, and our Visio 2024 vs Visio 2021 comparison covers the diagramming side.
How to switch from 2021 to 2024 cleanly
- Note your Office bitness under File → Account → About Excel, and stick with the same bitness to keep add-ins working.
- Back up Outlook
.pstfiles, signatures and custom templates. - Uninstall Office 2021 from Settings → Apps → Installed apps and restart.
- Install Office 2024 and activate it. Our Office 2024 Pro Plus installation guide covers each screen.
- Open a few critical workbooks and documents to confirm macros and add-ins load.
Frequently asked questions
Is Office 2024 worth it if I already have Office 2021?
For features alone, it is a moderate upgrade that is strongest in Excel. Because Office 2021 loses security updates on 13 October 2026, though, upgrading is worth it for any PC used for email and everyday documents.
Can Office 2024 open files created in Office 2021?
Yes. Both use the same file formats. The reverse also works, except for Excel cells that use functions new in 2024, which show #NAME? in 2021.
Does Office 2024 include Publisher?
No. Publisher is not part of any Office 2024 edition, and Microsoft is retiring the app in October 2026.
Does Office 2024 get new features over time?
No. Like Office 2021, it receives security and quality updates only. New features go to Microsoft 365.
Can I install Office 2024 alongside Office 2021?
Not reliably. Both are Click-to-Run version 16.0 and conflict with each other. Uninstall 2021 first.
Is Office 2024 the last perpetual version?
Microsoft has not announced the end of perpetual Office. It has also not committed to another release, so we would not plan around one.
Our verdict
Judged purely on features, Office 2024 is a solid refinement rather than a revolution. Excel users gain the most and Publisher users lose the most. What tips the balance is the calendar: from 13 October 2026, Office 2021 stops receiving security fixes, while Office 2024 is covered until October 2029. If you want to keep owning your Office apps outright, with the full suite including Outlook and Access, Office 2024 Professional Plus is the straightforward successor.
Related reading
| Resource | Why read it |
|---|---|
| Office 2021 end of support | What stops, what keeps working, and a migration checklist |
| Office 2024 Pro Plus install guide | Download, install and activate step by step |
| Visio 2024 vs Visio 2021 | The same comparison for diagramming users |
| Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021 | Subscription or one-time licence? |