Microsoft 365 costs $99.99 per year at the minimum. If you don't want to pay a recurring cost for basic productivity apps, switch to Microsoft Office. Right now, a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2024 for PC is only $54.99 (reg. $249.99).

This version of Office comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access. There are no recurring fees or renewal costs; you install once and keep working. Buying Office this way means the apps don't change on you. While Microsoft 365 pushes updates whenever it wants, a perpetual license stays the same for as long as you use it.

Every app runs right on your machine without needing a cloud connection. Your license stays tied to one computer, and security updates keep coming through the supported lifecycle. For most people who just need core apps to write, budget, and email, that's the whole point: stop paying every year and just own your Office apps.