Microsoft 365 has over 89 million consumer subscribers worldwide and powers more than 400 million commercial users. But with multiple plans at different price points, choosing the right one can be confusing — especially when Microsoft also sells Office 2024 as a one-time purchase.
This guide breaks down every plan we sell at Evopoints, with real South African pricing and honest advice on which one actually fits your situation.
All Plans at a Glance
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, Copilot AI — full desktop + mobile + web apps with 1 TB OneDrive and ongoing updates.
Buy Personal →Everything in Personal, shared with up to 6 people. Each gets their own account, 1 TB storage, and app installs. Includes Family Safety and ransomware protection.
Buy Family →Full desktop apps + custom business email (Exchange), Teams with webinar hosting, SharePoint, Bookings, Planner, Access, and admin controls. Up to 300 users.
Buy Business Standard →Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote. 1 PC or Mac. No cloud, no Teams, no updates. Personal use only.
Buy Home →Same as Home + Outlook. 1 PC or Mac. Licensed for commercial use. No cloud, no updates.
Buy Home & Business →What's in Each Plan
Microsoft 365 Personal — R1,599/year
The most popular plan for individuals. You get the full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote — plus web and mobile apps for when you're away from your PC.
- Full desktop apps on up to 5 devices (PC, Mac, phone, tablet)
- 1 TB OneDrive cloud storage — back up files, access from anywhere
- Microsoft Teams — video calls, messaging, screen sharing
- Microsoft Defender — identity and device security
- Copilot AI — Microsoft's AI assistant in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Always up to date — monthly feature updates, never buy an upgrade
Best for: Students, freelancers, remote workers — anyone who needs the full suite for themselves.
Microsoft 365 Family — R1,999/year
Everything in Personal, shared with up to 6 people. Each person gets their own account, their own 1 TB, and their own app installs.
- Up to 6 users — each with a separate account and apps
- Up to 6 TB total — 1 TB per person, not shared
- Family Safety — screen time limits, content filters, location sharing
- Ransomware protection — file recovery for all members
Split between 6 people, Family works out to R333 per person per year — less than R28/month each. That's 79% cheaper than each person buying Personal separately. Even with just 2 users, it saves R1,199/year.
Best for: Families, couples, households with students — any group of 2–6 people who each need Office.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard — R3,299/year
The go-to plan for small businesses. Everything in Personal plus business tools.
- Custom business email — you@yourbusiness.co.za (Exchange)
- Microsoft Teams — with webinar hosting, up to 300 attendees
- SharePoint — company intranet and shared document libraries
- Bookings — online appointment scheduling for clients
- Planner — project and task management
- Access (PC only) — database app, not in consumer plans
- Admin controls — manage users, security, and data
Best for: Small businesses and teams up to 300 users who need professional email, collaboration, and Office apps in one subscription.
Office Home 2024 — R2,799 (one-time)
A permanent licence for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote on 1 device. No subscription — but significant trade-offs.
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote
- 1 PC or Mac
- Permanent licence
- No internet required
- No Outlook
- No OneDrive (1 TB)
- No Teams or Copilot AI
- No mobile/web apps
- No feature updates
- 1 device only (365 gives 5)
Best for: One computer, offline use, no need for cloud. Note: after ~2 years the cost equals 365 Personal — without any cloud benefits.
Office Home & Business 2024 — R6,099 (one-time)
Same as Home 2024 but adds Outlook and is licensed for commercial use. At R6,099 it's nearly double Business Standard for one year — only worth it if you'll use it for 3+ years without needing cloud features.
Feature Comparison: 365 vs Office 2024
| Feature | Microsoft 365 | Office 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Outlook | ✓ All plans | Home & Business only |
| OneDrive (1 TB) | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Microsoft Teams | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Copilot AI | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Feature updates | ✓ Monthly | Security patches only |
| Devices | Up to 5 | 1 PC or Mac |
| Mobile & web apps | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Payment | Annual subscription | ✓ One-time |
How to Choose: 4 Questions
Just you → Personal
2–6 people → Family
Business team → Business Standard
Yes → Any 365 plan
No, just apps on 1 PC → Office 2024
With email + Teams → Business Standard
Just the apps → Home & Business 2024
Office 2024 is one-time but you miss cloud, Teams, AI. Budget option: Ability Office from R499.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Personal for business — not licensed for commercial use, no professional email, no admin controls.
- Buying 2 Personal plans for a couple — that's R3,198/yr. Family covers 6 people for R1,999/yr.
- Choosing Office 2024 to "save money" — after ~2 years you've spent the same as 365 but without 1 TB cloud, Teams, 5 devices, AI, or updates.
- Buying Business Standard without needing email — if you already have email and just need desktop apps, Personal is cheaper.
Buy Microsoft 365 in South Africa
At Evopoints, we sell Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 licences with instant email delivery. No waiting for physical boxes — buy online and activate in minutes.
- Microsoft 365 Personal — R1,599/yr
- Microsoft 365 Family — R1,999/yr
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard — R3,299/yr
- Office Home 2024 — R2,799
- Office Home & Business 2024 — R6,099
Looking for a budget alternative? Read our honest review of Ability Office vs Microsoft 365 — a one-time purchase starting at R499.