Below is a table of my evaluation of the difference between a one-time purchase and an office 365 subscription.
| One-Time Purchase | Office 365 Subscription | Evaluation | |
| Cost | Single one-time cost ($229 based on Microsoft website) | Monthly or yearly fee ($108 per year) | |
| Office Apps | Standard office apps like Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Access and Publisher for more premium versions | Standard office apps like Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Access and Publisher for more premium versions | Same |
| Updates | Security updates | Security updates Feature updates | 365 better |
| Use on >1 computer | Depending on the license purchased | Linked to 365 account so it is sign-in based | 365 offers more flexibility |
| Mobile apps | Not linked to office mobile apps | Can be linked to office mobile apps | 365 offers more flexibility |
| Online storage | OneDrive not included | 1TB of OneDrive storage | 365 more useful |
While it appears that Office365 may offer more value, I recommended my parents to do a one-time purchase for the following reasons.
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