Quill vs Microsoft Word.
Microsoft Word and Quill are both word processors for the Mac that use ribbon tabs and .docx files. This page compares price and features.
| Feature | Quill | Microsoft Word |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once | $99.99/yr or $179.99 |
| Pay once | Yes | PartlyOffice Home 2024 |
| Opens and saves .docx directly | Yes | Yes |
| No account needed | Yes | No |
| Word-style ribbon tabs | Yes | Yes |
| Every command open to a local AI agent | Yes | PartlyAdd-ins, VBA |
| Real-time collaboration | No | PartlyMicrosoft 365 only |
| Tracked changes | No | Yes |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes, once activated |
| Platforms | Mac | Mac, PC, web, mobile |
| Requires | macOS 14 or later | macOS 15 or later |
| Built-in AI writing help | None; agents connect | Copilot, subscription |
Yes Yes Partly Partly No No
Price
Microsoft 365 Personal costs $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month, and Microsoft 365 Family costs $129.99 a year or $12.99 a month. Office Home 2024 is a one-time purchase at $179.99 for 1 PC or Mac, and Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account. Quill costs $19 once, tax included. The trial is free for 7 days with no card, one licence covers up to 3 of your Macs, every future update is included, and refunds are available within 30 days.
Subscriptions and accounts
Quill has no subscription and no account. You activate a licence once, and it is then checked offline on up to 3 of your Macs. Microsoft 365 needs an account to download and update apps, and Office Home 2024 needs a Microsoft account to redeem and activate, with periodic connection to the internet required to keep the apps activated.
Where Microsoft Word is ahead
- Word offers tracked changes and comments, which Quill does not.
- Word co-authors in real time on documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Word runs on Windows, the web, tablets and phones as well as the Mac.
- Word includes headers and footers, footnotes, columns, text boxes, shapes, charts, custom styles, templates and mail merge.
- Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account.
Try Quill free for 7 days.
Then $19 once, for up to 3 of your Macs. No subscription and no account.
Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
More comparisons
Sources
Checked against Microsoft Word’s own website and documentation on 13 November 2026. If something here is out of date, tell us and we’ll correct it.
- Compare Microsoft 365 plans and pricing (US)
- What’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2024?
- What’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2024? (lifecycle page)
- Office 2024 for consumers available October 1 (Microsoft 365 blog)
- Microsoft Word on the Mac App Store (US)
- System requirements: Office suites for individuals and families
- Free Microsoft 365 for the web
- Collaborate on Word documents with real-time co-authoring
- Document collaboration and co-authoring
- Track changes in Word
- Welcome to Copilot in Word
- Word add-ins overview (Microsoft Learn)
- Office for Mac for Visual Basic for Applications (Microsoft Learn)
- Run an AppleScript with VB (Microsoft Learn)
- Word MCP server reference, preview (Microsoft Learn)
Microsoft Word is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Quill is not affiliated with it.