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Don't buy Office 2016! Here's why you don't need it

When Microsoft Office 2016 debuted, it received a lot of feedback despite all the new features and updates 13+ Reasons You Should Upgrade to Microsoft Office 2016 13+ Reasons You Should Upgrade to Microsoft Office 2016 Microsoft Office 2016 is here and It's time for you to make a decision. The productivity question is:should I upgrade? We give you the freshest new features and reasons to help you... Read More For some, the problem was that they would never use half of the new bells and whistles, while for others, they were still upset that Microsoft Office was missing this or that feature.

Now that it's been out for several months and received several exciting updates, the question remains:Should you buy the standalone suite version of Microsoft Office 2016?

As someone who really respects the Microsoft Office suite and what it provides, I'm going to have to say no for a number of reasons.

Why is Microsoft Office 2016 not worth it?

The biggest draw to the standalone suite version of Microsoft Office 2016 is that it's a one-time purchase, unlike Office 365, which can only be had through a monthly subscription 11 Office 2016 FAQs Answered 11 Questions Office 2016 Office FAQs Answered 2016 is coming up and it raises a lot of questions. Do you have to buy a subscription, can you upgrade now, and can you go back to Office 2013? We collect frequently asked questions and provide the ... Read more. But what is the real cost of that convenience?

1. it's expensive

There are three versions of Microsoft Office 2016. Which Office suite is best for you? Which office suite is best for you? You will be pressured to find an occupation that does not require word or number processing of any kind. And you may be wondering, is Microsoft Office really the best solution? Here are your options. Read More Home &Business ($230) which has that plus Outlook; and professional ($400) which has that plus the editor and access.

Most People Probably Don't Need Access Excel Vs. Access:Can a Spreadsheet Replace a Database? Excel Vs. Access:Can a Spreadsheet Replace a Database? Which tool should I use to manage the data? Access and Excel both have data filtering, compiling, and querying. We will show you which one is the most suitable for your needs. Read More Note that individual apps can be purchased for $110 each if you only need a specific app, and remember that OneNote 2016 is completely free. OneNote is now truly free with more features than before OneNote is now truly free with more features than before Evernote no longer has rules. The largest number of note-taking apps. Microsoft recently announced that OneNote would be freer than ever. Let us show you what this means in terms of features and functionality. Read more.

Don t buy Office 2016! Here s why you don t need it

Meanwhile, Office 365 includes all apps. Personal costs $7 per month (or $70 per year) for use on a single computer, while Home costs $10 per month ($100 per year) for use on up to five computers. In short, Office 2016 Professional is roughly equal to ~5.7 years of Office 365 Personal; or more if you buy a monthly subscription and stop it for periods when you're not using Microsoft Office or any of the accompanying benefits.

2. There is no free trial

Office 2016 doesn't come with a free trial, which is weird because previous versions of Office did. In fact, previous versions came with a 60-day evaluation period, which is crucial to see if you really need the new features or not.

On the other hand, you can try Office 365 Home for a month without paying a dime. Why doesn't Microsoft offer a similar free trial for these standalone packages? It doesn't make sense to me, and seems like an unnecessary roadblock to potential customers.

Don t buy Office 2016! Here s why you don t need it

3. No cross-platform options

These days, it's common to sync and share work between your PC and your mobile devices, which is why Microsoft is working so hard on its mobile office apps. How Microsoft got hold of my Android phone. How Microsoft got hold of my Android phone. Microsoft apps are available for Android, and they are really good! Read more . The truth is that they are currently outperforming all of their competitors. Top 8 Android Office Suites to Get Work Done Top 8 Android Office Suites to Get Work Done It's possible to get real work done on Android, but you're spoiled for choice now when it comes to office suites. Let's examine the best of them. Read more.

And while these apps are available for free, they are limited and restricted unless you have an Office 365 subscription. Why doesn't an Office 2016 buy full access to the relevant mobile apps? I don't know, but that's how it is..

4. Office 365 has other goodies

When you buy Office 2016, that's all you get. Maybe it's right in your mind, after all, you get what you pay for, but you can't ignore the fact that Office 365 comes with some bonuses that, for whatever reason, aren't available to Office 2016 buyers.

Notably, Office 365 Personal comes with 1TB of OneDrive storage and 60 minutes of Skype for one user, while Office 365 Home offers the same benefits for up to five different users.

Don t buy Office 2016! Here s why you don t need it

Office 365 also comes with regular updates and free technical support from Microsoft via phone or chat. When Microsoft releases a new version of Microsoft Office, anyone with an Office 365 subscription will be eligible to upgrade at no additional cost; it is part of the service.

5. What you have is good enough

Compared to previous versions, Office 2016 has many clever and subtle changes A Microsoft Office 2016 Preview:Clever and Subtle Changes A Microsoft Office 2016 Preview:Clever and Subtle Changes Office 2016 for Mac has just been released and the version of Windows will follow in the fall. We show you the new look and features of the world's most popular productivity suite. Will you update? Read More those new features. Probably not, and while they would be nice to have, giving them up might be the best thing for your wallet.

In truth, whether you have Microsoft Office 2013, Office 2010, or even Office 2007, you can still do what you need to do:create and edit Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and more. And if that's everyone what you should do, why waste money on features you'll probably never use?

Note that Office 365 allows you to upgrade from earlier versions of Office to 2016 Upgrade to Office 2016 for free today with your Office 365 subscription Upgrade to Office 2016 for free today with your Office 365 subscription Microsoft Office 2016 for Windows has arrived and brings many new smart features. If you have an Office 365 subscription, you can get it now for free, and we'll show you how below. Read More

Viable alternatives to Office 2016

If you need a software package that includes word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications, there are a few alternatives you can explore that will give you what you need without costing you a dime. They may not be as good as Office 2016, but you get what you pay for.

1. Mobile office

If you don't need more than the basics, then the Microsoft Office mobile apps are pretty good.

We mentioned them earlier, but even if you don't have an Office 365 subscription that allows you to take full advantage of all the features, they're still useful and productive.

Obviously, you probably don't want to do any word processing or spreadsheets on a small smartphone, but if you have a tablet and an external keyboard you can plug in, do you need an affordable keyboard for your tablet? Here are some good options Need an affordable keyboard for your tablet? Here are some good options If you're getting good use out of your tablet and looking for a keyboard to go along with it, you may have no idea where to start. There are many options available... Read More

2. Online office

Microsoft actually offers free online versions of its office applications in a service called Office Online. Don't pay for Word! 5 reasons why you should use Office Online Don't pay for Word! 5 reasons why you should use Office Online Office Online is the free, cloud-connected version of Microsoft Office. The limitations are offset by features, useful even for desktop Office users. Best of all is its Read More (formerly known as Microsoft Office Web Apps). It's been stripped down and lacks many of the advanced features that make Office 2016 and Office 365 worth using, but it's not bad by any means.

There's no offline version, so it could be frustrating depending on how often you find yourself without the internet, but it's one of the few legal ways to use Office for free. 6 Ways You Can Use Microsoft Office Without Paying For It 6 Ways You Can Use Microsoft Office Without Paying For It Do you need Microsoft Office but don't like the price tag? Here are some ways you can use Microsoft Office for free! Read More

3. Google Docs

Not long ago, we declared that Google Docs was actually better than Microsoft Office in several areas Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word:The Death Match for Research Typing Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word:The Deathmatch for Writing Research Online solutions are becoming the norm. We decided to see how Microsoft Word compares to Google Docs. Which one will do the best investigative work? Read More It has its fair share of flaws and drawbacks, of course, but you'll be hard-pressed to find better.

Google Docs can be used offline, but it's more of a last-resort feature than something you should rely on. Do you want to maximize your productivity? Stay on top of these time-saving Google Docs tips 10 Google Docs tips that take seconds and save you time 10 Google Docs tips that take seconds and save you time Create professional-looking documents. Our speed tips will help you do it much faster. Read More

4. LibreOffice

For a desktop alternative to Microsoft Office, your first consideration should be LibreOffice. Not long ago, it was running, but it's really cool. Is the New LibreOffice a better Microsoft Office alternative? Is the new LibreOffice a better Microsoft Office alternative? LibreOffice, a longtime Microsoft Office contender, just got a makeover and major updates. After being suppressed by bug bugs over the years, has LibreOffice finally found the winning formula? Read More Is LibreOffice worthy of the office crown? LibreOffice is the king of free office suites. It's unlikely to replace Microsoft Office in a business environment, but it's a great alternative for casual users. This is what's new in LibreOffice 5.1. Read more.

This open source suite comes with tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, diagramming, flowcharts, databases, advanced math equation editor, and professional-quality charts. It's worth checking out if you don't want to pay anything.

Office 2016:Not worth it

To recap, if basic office functions are all you need, then you'll be fine with one of the free alternatives listed above. If you want the full suite, but want to get the most for your money, Office 365 wins hands down. As of now, Microsoft Office 2016 only makes sense for businesses.

If you're getting Office 2016, check out these great tips to learn the ropes 9 Tips to Learn Everything About Office 2016 9 Tips to Learn Everything About Office 2016 Microsoft Office 2016 is upon us. How are you mastering the latest version for the sake of your productivity? We recommend the best links for learning Office. Steal a gear with these... Read More There are many new features to explore! And if you decide Office 2016 isn't right for you, here's how to go back to the previous version of Office 2013. Don't want to upgrade to Microsoft Office 2016, or did it upgrade automatically? We show you how you can downgrade or keep Microsoft Office 2013, whether you're a home or business user. Read more.

What do you think of Office 2016? Would you rather jump to Office 365? Or does it make more sense to go with something like Office 365? Tell us in the comments!