Microsoft Is Ending Office 2021 & Asking Users to Pay More
Microsoft has set October 13, 2026, as the end-of-support date for Office 2021. After that day, users will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or most online help resources. The software itself will continue to work, but any new vulnerabilities discovered after support ends will remain unpatched.
Office 2021 launched on October 5, 2021, giving it a five-year support lifecycle. That came as a surprise to some customers who expected ten years of support, similar to older versions such as Office 2010. Even the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) edition, which was designed for organizations that prioritize stability, follows the same five-year timeline instead of the longer support periods previous LTSC releases received.
Microsoft's recommendation for users reaching the end of support is straightforward. Businesses that are not ready to adopt cloud-based software can move to Office LTSC 2024, while the company continues to encourage customers to switch to Microsoft 365. Users who prefer a one-time purchase can choose Office 2024, which will receive support until October 9, 2029.
That option comes at a higher price. Office 2021 licenses have often sold for less than $40 through promotions, while Office 2024 typically costs around $150. There is also no upgrade path between the two products, meaning Office 2021 owners must purchase a separate license if they want the newer version.
The timing also coincides with another change. Beginning July 1, 2026, Microsoft will increase prices for several commercial Microsoft 365 and Office 365 plans. The company says the higher prices reflect the addition of AI features, including Copilot Chat, along with expanded security capabilities. Similar price increases took place in 2022, and many analysts expect subscription costs to continue rising over time.
This leaves many customers with three choices: move to Microsoft 365 and accept a recurring subscription, purchase Office 2024 as a standalone product, or switch to alternatives such as Google Workspace or LibreOffice. The transition has not been universally welcomed. Some users have criticized Microsoft's strategy of raising subscription prices and bundling AI features that many customers never asked for or may never use. That frustration could give competing services an opening.
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