Microsoft is continuously pushing for people to switch to Microsoft Office 365 (currently, Microsoft 365), which operates on a per-month subscription service model, and leave behind their typical Office suite, which operates on a one-time purchase model.
When you take into account that Office 2013 launched at a similar time and has access to many similar features, you might wonder which one is the best investment?
The quick answer is that Office 2013 should cover all your needs. If you plan on using it for a long time, it'll be cheaper than Office 365. If you want any of the extra software features and you actually plan on using them, then Microsoft 365 should be your best bet.
We'll break it down and go more in-depth, but there's good news. Whichever program you choose, you can use Cirrus Insight to integrate with Salesforce like a pro, right from your inbox, so that's at least one thing you don't have to worry about.
The first issue is the price. Microsoft 365 has several tiers depending on how you plan to use Office software and the size of your business. We're going to focus on Microsoft 365 Business plans.
Office Professional 2013 had a one-time cost of $399.99, but you cannot purchase it any longer through conventional means. You can, however, explore the option to purchase it from third-party sellers and online marketplaces for anywhere between $30 and $100.
So, based purely on cost, if you use Office 2013, you'll save money compared to Office 365 in the long run, but you are stuck with it. You cannot upgrade, and it might not be well-optimized for your new PC or laptop, so it's definitely worth considering the subscription model.
Microsoft is fully embracing the subscription model and is changing rapidly. Did you know that they are closing Skype as of May 2025? The reality is that, if you want the full experience, you will need to pay a certain sum per month.
We've gathered all the features of the Microsoft 365 Basic plan and compared that to all the features you get with Microsoft Office 2013 Pro.
| Feature / App | Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Office 2013 Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $6.00/user/month (annual commitment) | One-time payment ($30–$100 via third-party sellers) |
| License Type | Subscription (ongoing) | Perpetual (use forever) |
| Platform Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Web, Mobile | Windows only |
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | ✔ Web & Mobile versions only | ✔ Full desktop versions |
| Outlook | ✔ Web version | ✔ Full desktop version |
| Access & Publisher | ❌ | ✔ Desktop versions included |
| OneNote | ✔ Web & Mobile versions | ✔ Desktop version |
| Microsoft Teams | ✔ Included | ❌ |
| Email Hosting (Exchange) | ✔ 50 GB mailbox + calendar | ❌ Local Outlook only (no server/email service) |
| Cloud Storage | ✔ 1 TB OneDrive per user | ❌ |
| Collaboration Tools | ✔ SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive | ❌ |
| Security & Compliance | ✔ MFA, admin tools, basic data protection | ❌ |
| Updates | ✔ Always up-to-date | ❌ No updates (support ended April 2023) |
When you consider the key differences in the Office 365 vs. Office 2013 debate, you realize that the new version of Office that works online is superior in terms of features, but it comes at a steeper price tag. However, the one-time payment, the fact that it is stored locally, and the fact that you get full versions of essential Office apps do have their merits. It all boils down to what you think is the best option.
When you get Office Professional 2013, you'll get a disc or download an installation file that'll put the program on one computer. You, therefore, get one license to use it.
If you get the Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan, you'll just be able to access apps online, so as long as you have an internet connection, you're good. If you are willing to invest more and go for the Standard or Premium plan, then you'll get to install all the applications on more devices. In this case, you'll be able to use them offline, but you'll need to check in once a month.
In terms of overall accessibility, the latest version of Microsoft 365 does have an edge here. If you forget the issue regarding the total cost, you want fast solutions if you encounter a bug, and as you can see in the table above, support for Office Pro 2013 is no longer active.
If you are willing to invest more, the Office 365 business and premium versions give even more accessibility, because the most important apps are then installed locally (which is one of the top perks of the older version).
Here's another area where Microsoft is clearly favoring their Microsof 365 plans. If you end up purchasing Office 2013 Pro, you will have access to your Local Outlook only, but you won't have server support or an actual email service.
Furthermore, there is no cloud storage, no collaboration tools, and since there are no more updates, you might be looking at some security threats if you are not careful.
If you get the new version of Office 365 Business Essentials, all this is basically covered.
Like we said at the beginning, Microsoft 365 is designed to be more appealing than the old version of Office 2013, but depending on how many of the perks you actually need, Office 2013 could save you money in the long term, especially if you plan on using it for a considerable time. Subscriptions pile up over time.
