MS Office Standard vs Office Professional: Difference and Comparison

MS Office Standard includes essential productivity tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for general business needs. Office Professional adds advanced applications like Outlook, Access, and Publisher, catering to users requiring enhanced communication, database management, and desktop publishing capabilities, making it suitable for businesses with more diverse requirements.

Key Takeaways

1. MS Office Standard is a basic version of Microsoft Office, while Office Professional has advanced features.
2. Office Professional includes applications like Access, Publisher, and Skype for Business, which are not in Office Standard.
3. While both versions are suitable for personal and business use, Office Professional suits larger organizations with more advanced needs.

MS Office Standard vs. Office Professional

The difference between Microsoft office standard and Microsoft office professional is their software applications. The standard version offers only PowerPoint, excel, word, and Outlook, which are used for essential purposes like schoolwork, small business projects, etc. At the same time, the professional version contains PowerPoint, excel, word, outlook, and Skype for business use by more professional users.

Microsoft Office standard is a system of MS Office that provides some basic applications for creating projects, documents, etc., on computer systems.

It is used by students studying in schools and colleges for home purposes and for small business projects. It consists of PowerPoint, Excel, word, and Outlook. It also gives access to the web versions of Word, PowerPoint, and access.

Microsoft office professional is the MS Office system that provides more facilities than the basics. This system is commonly used for big businesses, professional marketing, etc.

This is the professional version of Microsoft Office standards. It consists of Access, PowerPoint, excel, word, outlook, and Skype for business. It also provides web access to these applications.

Comparison Table

Feature	MS Office Standard	MS Office Professional
Applications Included	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access (with Business Contact Manager)
Database Management	No	Yes (with Access)
Desktop Publishing	No	Yes (with Publisher)
Business Contact Management	No	Yes (with Business Contact Manager add-in for Outlook)
Subscription or One-Time Purchase	Both available (Office 2021, Microsoft 365)	Both available (Office 2021, Microsoft 365)
Price	Generally less expensive than MS Office Professional	Generally more expensive than MS Office Standard

What is MS Office Standard?

Microsoft Office Standard is a productivity suite developed by Microsoft Corporation, offering a comprehensive set of applications designed to meet the essential needs of businesses, organizations, and individuals for document creation, data analysis, presentation, and communication.

Included Applications

1. Microsoft Word: A word processing program that allows users to create, edit, and format documents ranging from simple letters to complex reports and manuscripts.
2. Microsoft Excel: A spreadsheet application used for data analysis, calculation, and visualization, enabling users to create, manipulate, and analyze numerical data efficiently.
3. Microsoft PowerPoint: A presentation software that enables users to create dynamic and visually appealing slideshows for business meetings, academic presentations, and other professional purposes.
4. Microsoft OneNote: A digital note-taking application that allows users to capture, organize, and share notes, ideas, and information across various devices.
5. Microsoft Outlook (if included): An email client and personal information manager that provides email, calendar, contacts, and task management functionalities, facilitating efficient communication and organization.

Features and Benefits

• Integration: MS Office Standard applications are designed to work seamlessly together, allowing users to easily transfer data and content between different programs for increased productivity and collaboration.
• Familiar Interface: With a consistent and intuitive user interface across all applications, users can quickly learn and navigate through the various features and functionalities of MS Office Standard.
• Compatibility: MS Office Standard supports compatibility with various file formats, ensuring that documents, spreadsheets, and presentations can be shared and accessed across different platforms and devices without compatibility issues.
• Regular Updates: Microsoft regularly releases updates and enhancements to MS Office Standard, including security patches, new features, and performance improvements, to ensure users have access to the latest tools and capabilities.
• Support: Microsoft provides comprehensive support resources, including documentation, tutorials, forums, and customer service, to assist users in troubleshooting issues and maximizing their productivity with MS Office Standard.

MS Office Office Professional?

Microsoft Office Professional is an advanced productivity suite developed by Microsoft Corporation, offering a comprehensive set of applications tailored to meet the diverse needs of businesses, organizations, and professionals requiring enhanced capabilities in communication, data management, and desktop publishing.

Included Applications

1. Microsoft Word: A powerful word processing program that enables users to create, edit, and format documents with advanced features such as mail merge, document comparison, and collaboration tools.
2. Microsoft Excel: An advanced spreadsheet application equipped with features for data analysis, modeling, and visualization, including pivot tables, macros, and advanced formulas for complex calculations.
3. Microsoft PowerPoint: A sophisticated presentation software that allows users to create dynamic and visually stunning slideshows with advanced features like animations, slide transitions, and multimedia integration.
4. Microsoft Outlook: A comprehensive email client and personal information manager that provides email, calendar, contacts, and task management functionalities, along with advanced features such as email encryption, rules, and custom forms.
5. Microsoft Access: A database management system designed for creating and managing databases, enabling users to store, retrieve, and analyze large volumes of data with advanced querying, reporting, and automation capabilities.
6. Microsoft Publisher: A desktop publishing application that empowers users to create professional-quality publications such as brochures, newsletters, flyers, and posters, with advanced layout and design tools.

Features and Benefits

• Enhanced Communication: Office Professional includes Microsoft Outlook, offering advanced email management features such as prioritization, filtering, and scheduling, along with integration with Microsoft Exchange Server for enterprise-level communication capabilities.
• Advanced Data Management: With Microsoft Access, users can build robust database solutions to manage and analyze complex datasets, create custom forms and reports, and automate repetitive tasks, making it ideal for businesses with extensive data management needs.
• Professional Publishing: Microsoft Publisher provides users with tools to create polished marketing materials, promotional documents, and publications with precision layout and design, enabling businesses to showcase their brand effectively.
• Integrated Workflow: Office Professional applications are seamlessly integrated, allowing users to easily transfer data and content between different programs, enhancing collaboration and productivity across various tasks and projects.
• Comprehensive Solution: Office Professional offers a complete suite of applications to address a wide range of productivity needs, from document creation and data analysis to communication and desktop publishing, making it a versatile solution for professionals and organizations.
• Continuous Innovation: Microsoft regularly updates Office Professional with new features, security enhancements, and performance improvements, ensuring users have access to the latest tools and technologies to stay productive and competitive.

Main Differences Between MS Office Standard and Office Professional

• Included Applications:
  • MS Office Standard: Includes essential applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Office Professional: Includes additional advanced applications such as Outlook, Access, and Publisher, offering enhanced communication, database management, and desktop publishing capabilities.
• Functionality:
  • MS Office Standard: Offers basic functionality for document creation, data analysis, and presentation.
  • Office Professional: Provides advanced features like email management, database creation, and professional publishing tools, catering to more diverse business needs.
• Target Audience:
  • MS Office Standard: Suited for general business and personal use, covering standard productivity requirements.
  • Office Professional: Targeted towards professionals, businesses, and organizations requiring advanced communication, data management, and desktop publishing capabilities for more complex projects and workflows.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=SKpCAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT15&dq=MS+Office+Standard+and+Office+Professional&ots=xqhn_xsi8u&sig=YGk2SVuTsbTrIsJ69tauIHxQjiA
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VHPfK9CH8-sC&oi=fnd&pg=PR4&dq=MS+Office+Standard+and+Office+Professional&ots=GOT19cAQK0&sig=jKs1UEV80glu3wvO772kxWSQq8g