A relic of the pre-subscription era, Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac represents the tech giant’s last stand in the one-time purchase productivity software market. Launched September 24, 2018, this software package offers the classic suite of Office applications without the recurring bills that have become Microsoft’s preferred business model. Pay once, use forever. Well, sort of.

Office 2019 for Mac includes the standard productivity arsenal: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Each app comes with respectable features—Word’s Focus Mode for the easily distracted, Excel’s fancy 2D maps for data visualization, PowerPoint’s Morph shifts for those who think slide animations impress people. Nothing groundbreaking, but solid tools nonetheless.

Nothing revolutionary, just the essentials—Microsoft gives you enough tools to get the job done without forcing innovation upon you.

The system requirements won’t strain your Mac. You’ll need one of the three most recent macOS versions, 4GB RAM, 10GB storage space, and an Intel processor. M-series Mac users? You’re running through Rosetta 2. Not ideal, but it works.

Here’s where things get interesting—or depressing, depending on your perspective. Mainstream support ended October 10, 2023. No more updates. None. Security hole discovered? Tough luck. Bug making Excel crash? Learn to save frequently. The software still works, but it’s practically abandoned.

Microsoft really wants you on Microsoft 365. The comparison is stark: Office 2019 gives you one installation on one Mac with basic features frozen in 2018. Microsoft 365 offers multiple device installations, continuous updates, extra cloud storage, and all the shiny new AI features Microsoft keeps rolling out.

Licensing is straightforward but strict. One purchase, one Mac. You’ll need internet for activation, and your license is tied to your Microsoft account. Don’t try mixing Mac App Store versions with licenses purchased elsewhere. It won’t work. The interface is tailored to provide a Mac-optimized experience with support for Touch Bar functionality on compatible MacBook Pro models and fully embraces Dark Mode compatibility for easier viewing in low-light environments.

Is Office 2019 worth it? Depends on how you feel about software that’s been left behind. Like buying a new flip phone in 2023—functional, but increasingly obsolete with each passing day.