A price drop this rare for Microsoft’s core productivity suite has us feeling like we just scoped out a unicorn in the wild. Office Professional 2021 lifetime license: $35 (save over 80%). If you’d rather not subscribe to Office, it’s still possible to get a one-time purchase of Office for $35 or so. That deal is good only for today!
For Windows users (replacing the previously named Office 2019) needing to outfit a new PC, get your electronic product key instantly so you can download full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher and OneNote. It’s a one-time purchase for one computer, available as a digital key that can be used to activate the software on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
What’s in the $35 Office Professional 2021 deal
The package is the entire Office Professional 2021 suite — not a trial version or web-only edition someone gave you in college. Apps run locally once activated and keep working even when your computer is offline. And many packages throw in access to the free version of Teams, for basic chat and meetings — useful for ad hoc collaboration.
The software continues to work year in, year out, on the same machine, since the license is forever. Which matters to anyone who prefers predictable costs, offline reliability and complete control of files. You also get the modern .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx used at work, keeping you compatible with your colleagues’ files on the latest Microsoft 365 plans.
How the savings compare to Microsoft 365
Microsoft’s own pricing pages show Microsoft 365 Personal costing $69.99 a year and Family at $99.99 annually. That’s $210 to $300 before taxes over three years, for ongoing access. A one-time $35 investment per machine for the long haul is very different.
There are trade-offs. Microsoft 365 subscriptions include 1TB OneDrive storage per user, continuous version updates and multi-device installs with advanced collaboration in the cloud. If you want those, the subscription is worth it. If you work primarily on a single Windows computer and keep your files on the local hard drive or in company file storage, then find the perpetual license.
Key features which still matter for work
In Office 2021, Excel added power-user tools like XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays and the LET function — tools analysts and finance teams rely on daily. Morph transitions in PowerPoint and Presenter Coach can help you refine your slides without third-party apps. Word has a polished feel and performance improvements, while Outlook provides a sturdy home email and calendar experience without relying on a browser tab.
Underneath the hood, Office 2021 also features a new design, improved performance with support for high refresh rates and multitasking on fresh PC hardware. For organizations locked into Windows 10 or, perhaps one day, Windows 11 itself, those quality-of-life improvements certainly make a difference in reducing friction and training overhead.
Important limitations to know before you buy this deal
This is a single-PC, single-activation license for Windows only; if the terms allow for it to be used only once (as with an upgrade), you won’t be able to move it to another machine, and it will never run under macOS.
It will get security and stability updates, but you won’t receive the regular feature rollouts that Microsoft 365 subscribers receive. There’s no included cloud storage, and newer AI features like Copilot need an additional license.
Now, as with any cheap software, do buy it from a reputable seller. Check the product version (Office Professional 2021), platform, and terms before you make a purchase. Once installed, you can verify activation status in any Office app at File > Account.
Who should buy this deal and who should skip it
Great fit: Students, freelancers, home offices and small teams who require the classic desktop apps on one Windows PC with predictable costs that aren’t yearly or monthly.
It’s also handy for fixed-function workstations — front desks, labs, kiosks or whatever — where offline reliability trumps cloud niceties. Perpetual licenses are still common in such cases, analysts at companies like Gartner and IDC have long pointed out.
Consider skipping if multi-device installs, shared cloud docs, advanced collaboration and the coolest AI features affect your work. Families with several users could still prefer Microsoft 365 Family for its greater flexibility despite the higher ongoing price.
Fast installation and activation tips for Office 2021
And before you install, remove any Office trials so they won’t conflict. Have your product key ready, proceed with the installer, then activate as needed. Once installed, open Word or Excel, go to File > Account and sign in if prompted; check that the product is activated. Finally, save the key to a password manager for safekeeping if you plan on reinstalling on the same PC.
Bottom line: If you’ve been wanting a low-friction way to put Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher and OneNote on a Windows machine, then $35 for Office Professional 2021 is the kind of deal that makes buying once — and owning outright — virtually irresistible.