Microsoft Office has been one of the world's most widely used office suites for decades. With each new version, Microsoft adds features to improve productivity and the user experience. Among the most popular versions, Microsoft Office 2019 and Office 2021 attract particular attention from home and business users. Office 2019, released in October 2018, is a classic, stable suite with all the essential apps. Office 2021, released in October 2021, is a modernised version with new collaboration features and more advanced tools. In this article we compare the two to help you choose: Office 2019 vs Office 2021.
Microsoft Office 2019 vs 2021 compatibility
Microsoft Office 2021 and Office 2019 each support their own range of operating systems. Office 2021 requires a more recent system such as Windows 10 or macOS Big Sur, while Office 2019 works with Windows 10 and macOS Sierra. To understand the compatibility of Office 2019 and Office 2021 properly, you need to know their specific system requirements, as each version has distinct operating system and hardware requirements.
Microsoft Office 2019 system requirements
Computer and processor Windows: 1.6 GHz or faster, 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor. macOS: Intel processor.
Operating systems Windows: Windows 10 (SAC version), Windows Server 2019 or later. macOS: macOS Sierra (10.12) or later.
Memory Windows: 2 GB RAM (64-bit), 1 GB RAM (32-bit). macOS: 4 GB RAM.
Hard disk space Windows: 3 GB of available disk space. macOS: 10 GB of available disk space.
Display Windows: 1024 x 768 resolution. macOS: 1280 x 800 screen resolution.
Graphics Windows: graphics hardware acceleration requires a DirectX 9 or later graphics card with a WDDM 2.0 or higher driver. macOS: no specific graphics requirements.
Browser The current version of Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 11, Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
.NET version Windows: some features may require .NET 3.5 or 4.6 or higher to be installed.
Other requirements An internet connection is required for product activation and access to online features. Microsoft Teams is not included in Office 2019. Mainstream support for Office 2019 ended in October 2023, and all support, including security updates, ended on 14 October 2025.
Microsoft Office 2021 system requirements
Computer and processor Windows: 1.6 GHz or faster, dual-core processor. macOS: Intel or Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3) processor.
Operating systems Windows: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (version 20H2 or later). macOS: macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later.
Memory Windows: 4 GB RAM (64-bit), 2 GB RAM (32-bit). macOS: 4 GB RAM.
Hard disk space Windows: 4 GB of available disk space. macOS: 10 GB of available disk space.
Display Windows: 1024 x 768 resolution. macOS: 1280 x 800 screen resolution.
Graphics Windows: DirectX 10 or later graphics card for graphics hardware acceleration. macOS: no specific graphics requirements.
Browser The current version of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
.NET version Windows: some features may require .NET 3.5 or 4.6 or higher to be installed.
Other requirements Internet functionality requires an internet connection, especially when using cloud features. Microsoft Teams is included in Office 2021. Support for Office 2021 ended on 13 October 2026, so it no longer receives security updates.
Microsoft Office 2021 vs Office 2019: pros and cons
Office 2021 and Office 2019 each have their own strengths and weaknesses. To understand them better, let's look at the pros and cons of each version:
Microsoft Office 2021 pros
- Offers the newer tools of the two, including Excel dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP and LAMBDA functions.
- Provides a more modern, user-friendly experience with a full visual refresh.
- Received security updates for a year longer than Office 2019 (until 13 October 2026).
- Improved collaboration features thanks to built-in Microsoft Teams integration.
- Better integration with cloud services for easier file access and sharing.
- Natively optimised for Macs with Apple silicon chips (M1, M2, M3).
Microsoft Office 2021 cons
- Slightly more expensive than earlier versions.
- Requires more recent systems, at least Windows 10 20H2 or macOS Big Sur.
- Some advanced formats may not display correctly in very old versions of Office (2010 and earlier).
- Like all perpetual licences, it gets no new features after release, unlike Microsoft 365; and its support ended on 13 October 2026.
Office 2019 pros
- Often more affordable for users on a tight budget.
- Stable, reliable apps for everyday tasks.
- Interface familiar from earlier versions of Office.
- Suitable for essential personal and business tasks.
- Works well without a permanent internet connection.
Office 2019 cons
- Lacks the more advanced tools found in Office 2021 (dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP, Teams).
- Mainstream support ended in October 2023 and all support, including security updates, ended on 14 October 2025.
- Collaboration features are more limited than in Office 2021.
- Not optimised for Macs with Apple silicon chips.
Microsoft Office 2019 vs 2021: feature comparison
| Features | Microsoft Office 2019 | Microsoft Office 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | More affordable, perpetual licence | Slightly more expensive, perpetual licence |
| User interface | Classic interface with minor changes | Modernised interface with refreshed visual theme |
| Included apps | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, Teams |
| Microsoft Teams | Not included | Included |
| Feature updates | None, features fixed at release | None, features fixed at release |
| Security updates | Ended on 14 October 2025 | Ended on 13 October 2026 |
| Advanced Excel features | Improved core functions | Dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP, LAMBDA functions |
| Real-time collaboration | Limited | Improved, with co-authoring and Teams integration |
| Smart features | Basic | Improved insights and smart suggestions |
| macOS compatibility | macOS Sierra (10.12) or later | macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later |
| Apple silicon (M1/M2/M3) | Not natively optimised | Natively optimised |
| Licence type | Perpetual, one-off purchase | Perpetual, one-off purchase |
Office 2021 or Office 2019: which is better?
Office 2021 and Office 2019 are both powerful Microsoft productivity suites, but there are key differences between them. Office 2021 offers more advanced features, a modernised user interface and better collaboration tools. It is the stronger of the two for professionals, teams and businesses that want the richer toolset in a perpetual licence.
Office 2019, on the other hand, may suit some users, particularly those looking for a more economical option for basic use. If you only need essential productivity tools, Office 2019 can meet your needs, bearing in mind that it has received no support or security updates since October 2025.
Ultimately, the choice between Office 2021 and Office 2019 depends on your needs and budget. Office 2021 brings advanced Excel features, Teams and native support for Apple silicon Macs, but note that its support also ended on 13 October 2026. If you want a perpetual Office that still receives security updates, Office 2024 is the version to consider.
Conclusion
Of the two, Office 2021 is the better-equipped suite, with advanced tools and built-in Microsoft Teams, suiting professionals and demanding home users alike. Office 2019 remains a workable option for very basic needs on a limited budget. Both, however, are now past their end of support (October 2025 for Office 2019, October 2026 for Office 2021). Whatever your situation, choose the version that best matches your needs to get the most out of your day-to-day productivity.
Get your Office 2019 Pro Plus licence key or your Office 2021 Professional Plus licence key from YesLicense today.