Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that ensures you always have the most up-to-date modern productivity tools from Microsoft. If a one-time Office license is used with an app from the Mac App Store, you will see a yellow message bar stating Action Required: We've detected a one-time purchase license and the app will be in reduced functionality mode. These licenses can only be used with Office apps downloaded directly from Microsoft. One-time Office licenses (also known as perpetual), such as Office 2019 Home & Business, Office 2019 Home & Student, Office 2016 Home & Business, Office 2016 Home & Student, and Volume License are not compatible with Office apps downloaded from the Mac App Store. You can activate an existing Microsoft 365 subscription, or use the in-app purchase option to start a new subscription.

To send and receive email, Outlook requires an Microsoft 365 subscription. When downloaded from the Mac App Store, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint require a Microsoft 365 subscription to create and edit documents.

Office 365 one time purchase for mac