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Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for just $39.97

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 5:20 GMT by Mashable
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Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac Gets a New Release
By Mashable Staff – Oct 8, 2019

On October 8th, 2019 Microsoft officially rolled out Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac, a one‑time purchase edition of its long‑running productivity suite. The move comes after years of growing demand for a fully‑featured, non‑subscription version of Office that runs natively on macOS. While Microsoft has been a fan‑favorite in the Windows world for decades, the Mac‑specific version has historically lagged behind the latest features, often limited to the 2016 release. With this latest release, Microsoft promises to bring the full suite of applications—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote—to the Mac with several noteworthy enhancements.

What’s New in Office 2019 for Mac?

1. A Modern, Updated User Interface

The most obvious visual change is a refreshed, cleaner UI that feels at home with the rest of the macOS ecosystem. The “Dark Mode” and “Accent Colors” options introduced in macOS Mojave now translate into Office’s design language, giving users a more integrated experience. The app icons themselves have been redesigned to match Apple’s current aesthetics, making it a seamless addition to any Mac.

2. Advanced Collaboration Features

While Office 2016 for Mac was primarily a local‑only application, 2019 brings real‑time co‑authoring in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Teams can now view each other’s changes live, see cursor positions, and communicate through the built‑in comments. Microsoft claims that the feature has been tested with Office 365’s cloud‑based backend, meaning even if the Mac edition is not a subscription, it can still hook into OneDrive for Business and share files instantly.

3. PowerPoint “Morph” and “Zoom” Effects

PowerPoint users will notice new animation features—Morph for smooth transitions and Zoom for dynamic slide navigation—now available in the Mac version. Both tools had previously been exclusive to the Windows edition, and their inclusion is a big win for Mac designers who want to create more engaging presentations.

4. Improved Excel Data Analysis

Excel 2019 for Mac comes with updated Power Query capabilities and a new Data Model engine, allowing for faster data loading and more robust data manipulation. The Dynamic Arrays and XLOOKUP functions, staples of the Windows 365 experience, are also present, giving Mac users full parity with their Windows counterparts.

5. Compatibility and Security Updates

Microsoft stresses that Office 2019 for Mac will receive security updates for three years from its release, rather than the usual annual updates that come with the subscription model. This offers a more predictable maintenance schedule for home users and small businesses who prefer a “set‑and‑forget” installation.

Licensing and Pricing

The new Office Home & Business bundle is sold as a single, one‑time purchase. According to the official Microsoft page (link: [ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/home ]), the cost is $249.99 for a 5‑user license that covers a Home & Business 2019 subscription on up to five Macs. Each license includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. The bundle does not contain the “Publisher” application, which remains Windows‑only.

This price structure has several implications:

1. No Recurring Fees – Users pay once and own the license permanently, eliminating monthly subscription costs.
2. Limited Cloud Features – While some cloud integration is available, features such as real‑time co‑authoring rely on OneDrive for Business, which may still incur separate subscription fees.
3. No Future Feature Updates – Once the suite is installed, it will not receive new feature releases like Office 365 does. Security patches are the only updates.

The article links to a comparison guide (link: [ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/office-2019-vs-office-365-4f3c3b32-4d9b-4d2f-9a90-7e3b3c5d9b0c ]) that dives into the differences between the perpetual Office 2019 and the subscription-based Office 365. The guide underscores that Office 2019 is better suited for users who want stability and predictable costs, whereas Office 365 is ideal for teams needing continuous collaboration and the latest features.

Installation and System Requirements

According to Microsoft’s system requirements page (link: [ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compare-office-products ]), Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac requires:

• macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or newer
• 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
• 5 GB of free hard‑disk space

Installation is straightforward: users can download the installer from the Microsoft website or purchase the disk image via the Apple App Store. The article notes that the installer includes a simple wizard that installs all five applications at once, with an optional “Office Add‑ins” step that lets users pull in extensions from the App Store.

Real‑World Use Cases

Several reviewers highlighted how the new suite is especially beneficial for small businesses and home offices:

• Remote Collaboration – Teams that collaborate across Windows and Mac can now use the same feature set without worrying about compatibility gaps.
• Educational Environments – Schools that run macOS can now standardize on Office 2019, simplifying licensing and training.
• Power Users – PowerPoint’s new Morph and Zoom effects provide creative designers with fresh tools that were previously inaccessible on Mac.

A note on support: Microsoft offers three years of security updates, after which the user must either purchase a new license or upgrade to Office 365 for continued updates. The article references the official support lifecycle page (link: [ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/32148/microsoft-office-2019-lifecycle ]), confirming that after the three‑year period, users will no longer receive security patches, making the product less secure over time.

Comparisons with Office 2021

Microsoft announced that Office 2021 for Mac will follow later in the year. The article compares 2019 with the upcoming 2021 release, noting that 2021 will include:

• New collaboration tools (e.g., “Collaboration mode” in Word)
• Updated templates
• Improved performance in PowerPoint’s media handling

Because Office 2021 will be a newer perpetual edition, it will likely have a higher price point. The 2019 bundle is positioned as a “mid‑market” solution that offers full functionality for one‑time cost.

Final Thoughts

The Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac release is a notable step forward for Microsoft’s long‑awaited Mac presence. By delivering real‑time collaboration, modern UI, and feature parity with the Windows version, Microsoft is finally giving Mac users a comprehensive productivity suite without forcing them into a subscription model. For users who prefer a stable, one‑time purchase and who need advanced PowerPoint and Excel features, the 2019 bundle is a compelling option.

If you’re a small business owner or a home office user looking to upgrade your Mac’s productivity tools, consider the Office 2019 bundle. While the price may seem steep compared to Office 365’s monthly fee, the lifetime ownership and lack of subscription headaches make it a worthwhile investment. Check the official Microsoft page (link provided above) to download the installer or to explore the new features in more depth. Happy working!