The office software category covers Microsoft 365 subscriptions and other business software: office suites, accounting programs, speech recognition and PDF tools. It suits companies, small businesses and home-office users.
Most of our range is from Microsoft, alongside products from Lexware and Nuance.
How to choose office software
Subscription or one-off licence. Microsoft 365 is paid for a set period, such as a year, and during that time you receive updates and cloud services. A one-off licence is bought once but usually does not bring new features in later versions. Our range includes annual Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Plan to match your work. Business Basic includes only the web and mobile Office apps, while Business Standard adds the desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. If you edit documents daily or work offline, choose a plan with the desktop apps.
Number of users. A business licence is normally assigned to one employee, not to one computer. A team therefore needs as many licences as it has people, and Microsoft 365 business plans are designed for organisations of up to 300 users.
Licence type and region. ESD in a product name means electronic delivery, so there is no physical disc. Some licence names state a region, for example Eurozone, so check that it matches your country and language before ordering.
Specialist tasks. Accounting, dictation or heavy PDF work may need more than an office suite. Lexware programs are made for the German market, so check that the interface language and accounting rules suit your business.
Brands in our range
- Microsoft: the maker of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook; Microsoft 365 combines these apps with Teams and OneDrive cloud storage.
- Lexware: a German developer known for accounting, payroll and business management software for small companies.
- Nuance: known for Dragon speech recognition software, which lets you dictate text instead of typing it.
Also in our range: D-Link, Logitech and QNAP.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Business Standard?
The main difference is the desktop apps. Business Standard includes installable versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, while Business Basic gives you only their web and mobile versions. Both plans also come with the Teams communication app and cloud storage.
Can one Microsoft 365 licence be used on several devices?
Yes, a single user can normally sign in on several of their own devices. The exact number depends on the plan and Microsoft's terms, so read them before buying. The licence belongs to one person and cannot be shared with colleagues.
What does an ESD licence mean?
ESD stands for electronic software delivery. You do not receive a box or a disc: you download the software from the manufacturer's website and activate it with your licence details. This is convenient when you need the program quickly and do not want to wait for a parcel.
What happens when a Microsoft 365 subscription expires?
When a subscription ends, the apps usually switch to a limited mode in which you can view documents but not always edit them. Your files are not deleted, but you need to renew the subscription to restore full functionality. It is worth noting the expiry date in advance.
