Office 365 from the Microsoft Store, or Office 365 retail download, which is right for me?

If you’re currently looking to install Office 365 on your Windows 10 PC, there’s two ways you can get it done. One way involves downloading through the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, and another involves direct downloads from Microsoft through a code from a retailer. While both methods will give you the same end result, there are quite a few differences between the two. In this guide, we’ll help you make sense of which download method is best for you.

Office 365 in Microsoft Store is more convenient

The Microsoft Store is home to many Windows apps and games, and if you’re looking for a easy way to grab Office 365, this is your best bet. Installing will just take a few steps and searching for “Office 365 Home” or “Office 365 Personal” from the Store. You won’t need to visit websites, deal with entering product keys, or have to worry about activation.

By downloading through the Microsoft Store, the processes is seamless, taking just a few clicks. As a bonus, you’ll also be able to pay for Office 365 using your Microsoft Account balance, or Microsoft gift cards if you’ve been using Microsoft Rewards. Payment is also much seamless process, as everything is already linked to your account.

Another reason to download through the Microsoft Store is if you’re using a device with Windows 10 in S Mode. With this mode, you only can install apps from the Microsoft Store. This means the typical .exe Office installer won’t work on your PC. As each Office app will install individually through the Microsoft Store, some may find this more simple than having to use the installer.

Keep in mind, though, that the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 is sometimes known to have its fair share of issues from time to time, so it might not always be as reliable as a direct download. You also won’t get access to the complete suite of Office products. Only the core apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and the OneNote UWP are included with the Windows Store version.

Office 365 retail download is for those who are more technical

Installing Office on the Microsoft Store might be the easy way to go, but for more technical people, the retail download is the better option. With the retail version, you can install and activate Office on multiple PCs if need be. That’s something that is not possible with the Microsoft Store version. It is more useful for large organizations and for IT departments.

Another benefit of the retail download is that it comes with tools that can help you if you’re having install issues. Microsoft has an offline office installer that is available from the Office.com website. This tool will help you in cases where the retail installer fails, or gives you an error code.

The retail version also grants you access to some additional Office 365 apps. That includes Access, as well as Publisher. If these are important, then this is the way for you to go.

Which version will you use?

These are just some of the differences between the retail version of Office 365, and the Microsoft Store version. Which version do you think is right for you? Fell free to check out our other Office 365 content, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.