Microsoft Office Web vs Desktop Apps: What is the Difference?

Microsoft Office is 1 of the about popular part suites out there. The Redmond giant has significantly improved the product and launched Office apps beyond different platforms. Autonomously from the desktop apps, Microsoft Office is now available on Android, iOS, iPadOS, Chrome OS, and most importantly, on the web. The web version of Microsoft Part is particularly promising because it's free to utilise and offers almost all the major features. That said, at that place are small differences in terms of features set which are a deal-breaker for pro users. So in this article, nosotros bring y'all a total comparison betwixt Microsoft Function Web vs Desktop apps. On that note, permit'south get through the comparing.

Microsoft Role Web vs Desktop Apps: The Basics

Beginning and foremost, we are going to hash out the basic differences between the web version of Microsoft Part and the desktop apps. Every bit it's self-explanatory, the Web version is online simply pregnant you lot tin can access Microsoft Office on the web simply when you are connected to the cyberspace. It does not support offline editing or viewing.

Next, you can't directly select and edit an Office document that is available on your local disk. Instead, y'all volition have to first upload the certificate on OneDrive, and and then but you tin edit an Office file on the web. Information technology certain becomes a hassle when yous are dealing with large Office documents — be information technology Give-and-take, PowerPoint, or Excel.

Autonomously from that, the spider web version is primarily free to use, and you tin get about all the things done through a browser. You can salvage a document in PDF format on the web without installing whatsoever add together-in which is great. Too, y'all tin save files on your local disk and not just on OneDrive. What I like more than about the spider web version of MS Office is that information technology automatically saves all your changes so you will not have to worry nearly losing your progress.

Coming to the standalone desktop apps of Microsoft Part, well, unlike the web version that has a gratis tier, it does not have i. You need to purchase a onetime license (costs $249.99) for your PC or Mac and and then you can install the desktop versions of Microsoft Part. Currently, you volition become the whole suite of Office 2019 and you lot can apply it while being offline as well.

The desktop apps bring a full set of features (which we have discussed below in detail), that lacks on the spider web version of Microsoft Function. Having said that, go along in heed, the one-time license doesn't bring additional perks like OneDrive storage and newly-added features like Sound Transcribe. Also, note that you can't transfer an Office license between your PC and Mac. You will have to buy carve up licenses for using the desktop version of Microsoft Role on different platforms.

In case, you don't want to purchase a 1-fourth dimension license then you can get a monthly subscription plan called Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). The paid plan starts at $6.99 per calendar month and information technology offers you the offline desktop version of Microsoft Office as well. Forth with that, you get many perks on the spider web version of MS Part too.

For instance, you lot get offline admission to Office Android apps on Chromebooks, Microsoft Editor for grammar checking on the web, AI-powered tools similar Audio Transcribe on the spider web, 1TB of OneDrive storage, advanced formatting options on the web, and more. Because all the points, opting for the monthly plan seems a much meliorate value.

Microsoft Office Spider web vs Desktop Apps: Missing Features

Now that we take got the nuts, let'due south now move to the missing features. Hither, we will primarily talk well-nigh Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Nosotros will list out all the features that are missing on the web version of Microsoft Office.

Having said that, bear in mind, just because a tool is not available on the web version does non mean that it tin can't render an Office document made with those tools. Basically, you will exist able to view those content on the spider web, but can't edit them.

1. Microsoft Word

On the web version of Microsoft Word, you lot can't add captions, citations and bibliography.
In that location is no support for advanced collaboration such as Rail Changes, merge, compare and combine documents.
No back up for advanced page layout tools and advanced press tools.
Unlike the desktop version of MS Part, you don't have a full gear up of Reference and Researcher tools.
You lot can't insert videos inside a word document
Watermarks are not supported on the web version of Microsoft Word.

2. Microsoft Excel

On the web version of Microsoft Excel, y'all don't take access to advanced formula tools.
You can't create PivotCharts, but can view them on the spider web. Conduct in mind, you can now create, edit and view PivotTables.
There is not much pick for advanced formatting and y'all don't go smart formatting recommendations on the web.
You can't create external information connections or brand external references.
On the spider web version of Excel, you can't create advanced analysis views such as Power View, Power Pivot and Slicers.
No back up for advanced time filtering like Timeline Slicer.

3. Microsoft PowerPoint

On the web version of Microsoft PowerPoint, you don't have a larger selection of animations. Information technology only has eight transitions and 37 animations. For custom animations, you lot will take to utilize the desktop app of MS PowerPoint.
Yous tin't play embedded videos in PowerPoint on the web.
No rich formatting for texts and shapes. While you can employ styles and add shadow effects, the features are somewhat limited. You don't have gradients, eyedropper, styles and effects.
Design tool and ink support is not bachelor on the spider web version
No back up for headers and footers.
No integration with Excel for charts.

For a full list of differences betwixt the web version of Microsoft Role in comparing to desktop apps, head over to Microsoft's Web Service Description.

Choose Microsoft Part Web or Desktop Apps

So these are the current differences between the web version of MS Function and standalone desktop apps. I would say, for even basic to intermediate users, the complimentary spider web version is packed with features and yous won't really demand to get the desktop apps. Still, if you are a professional user who relies on many advanced formatting tools and diverse Office add-ins then selection the desktop app. Anyway, that is all from the states. If yous found the commodity informative and then comment downward below and let u.s. know.