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Microsoft Office perpetual vs. subscription


Microsoft Office as a perpetual license

Customers may license Microsoft Office as a perpetual license or a subscription service. Those are two different Microsoft Office offerings with similar functionality. See below the main differences between the two offerings.

Contact your Zones Account Executive directly or call 800.408.9663

  Microsoft Office as a perpetual license Microsoft Office as a subscription service
 
Licensing Model
  • Per device
  • Per user, one copy on up to five devices at a time.
Product Editions
  • Office Standard, Office Professional Plus
  • Office Professionals Plus
Licensing Programs
  • All Volume Licensing programs
  • Enterprise Agreement
  • Enterprise Subscription Agreement
  • Microsoft Online Services Agreement
Downgrade
  • User may downgrade to earlier version of same Microsoft Office edition licensed for device.
  • Downgrade rights are not applicable
Office Home and
Students 2013 RT
  • Commercial Use Rights for Office Home and Student 2013 RT
  • Commercial Use Rights for Office Home and Student 2013 RT
Remote Use
  • Remote Use Rights permitted including via Remote Desktop Services (RDS) or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI);
  • Software Assurance Roaming Use Rights
  • Installation and use of Office from a USB device*
  • Users may deploy Office Professional Plus for Office 365 only on a physical device with user-enabled authentication.
  • Users may install one copy of the software on up to five devices and use Microsoft Office local on those devices from anywhere
  • Installation and use of Office from a USB device*
Home Use
  • Work At Home (WAH) licenses
  • Software Assurance Home Use Program (HUP)
  • Software Assurance Roaming Use Rights
  • Installation and use of Office from a USB device*
  • Users may install one or more copies on home devices on up to five devices per user license.
  • Subscription Services licenses allow using Microsoft Office from anywhere.
  • Installation and use of Office from a USB device*
Multi-Language Pack
  • Users deploy Multi-Language Pack.
  • License may be acquired in Open or Select Volume Licensing programs.
  • License is available as an Office Software Assurance benefit.
  • Multi-language Pack is compatible with Office Professional Plus for Office 365.
  • Users may deploy it with user authenticated software. The Multi-Language Pack is included with Office Professional Plus for Office 365 (USLs).
* Requires Windows To Go, which is available as a benefit of license of Software Assurance for Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) subscription.