Buy Access
By Richard Rost
9 months ago
How to Buy Microsoft Access - 2025 Edition
In this video, I will show you how to buy Microsoft Access and clear up any confusion about its availability.
We'll explore your purchasing options, including Microsoft 365 subscription plans, a one-time purchase of Access 2024, and the Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC).
I'll answer common questions about why Access might not be included in certain Office packages and provide tips on making a smart purchase directly from Microsoft to avoid scams. We'll also discuss ongoing rumors about the software's future and the difference between desktop Access and its alternatives.
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Keywords
TechHelp Access, buy Access 2025, Access subscription options, Access 2025 edition, Co-Pilot AI upcharge, Access standalone purchase, Access runtime edition, Access LTSC version, Access in Microsoft 365, Access Business plans, Access licensing types, fake Access copies, Access for Windows only, Access alternatives, legal Access download, Access beginner tutorial, Access Forever resources
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Transcript
It's that time again, folks. We're going to talk about how to buy Microsoft Access 2025 edition. I keep getting emails from people saying, "I can't find Access anywhere," or "It didn't come with my version of Office." I just got another email about that this morning. So this video is going to clear up that confusion.
I will say this about Microsoft: I love, love, love their products. I have basically spent the last 30 years of my life working with Microsoft Access, but their website and their marketing, with all the different types of licensing and versions, can be confusing even to me.
Now, a disclaimer before we get started: It's currently February of 2025. So any prices that you see listed in this video are subject to change. Check my website for updates. I try to post them on this page right here, and of course, I'll put a link down below.
I also want to take a moment to say that yes, Microsoft Access is still here. It's still alive and well. I still get comments from people all the time saying, "Well, my IT department says we're not supporting Access anymore because Microsoft is killing it." No, they're not. As Mark Twain and even Captain Kirk once said, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." The same goes for Access. It's not going anywhere. We'll talk more about this at the end of the video.
All right, so what are your different options? Option number one is a subscription. They call it Microsoft 365. It used to be called Office 365. There are several different subscription types available. Access is included in Business Standard, Business Premium, Apps for Business, E3, and E5, the enterprise plans. It is not included in Business Basic and Frontline F1 and F3, whatever those are. The best value as far as the subscriptions go, I think, is the Apps for Business. This is the one that I currently use.
Microsoft hinted about adding a $5 upcharge for Co-Pilot AI; as of today, the price remains the same. Again, we'll talk more about this toward the end of the video. There is a weird quirk on their website: Access doesn't always show up, but if you click "Buy Now," you'll see it. Come on, Microsoft, you have to fix this.
All right, you go to Microsoft's website. I'll give you a link to all of this stuff down below. By the way, if you scroll down, you'll see here all the different plans: Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium. This is the one you want right here. This is the one I recommend. Obviously, if you need other stuff, that's fine. If you scroll down, you see this stuff. Look at this. Oh, great. Where's Access, Microsoft? Please, come on. Put it back on this list.
People email me all the time saying they can't find it. But guess what? If you come up here and click "Buy Now," all right, ask how many people it's for, all this stuff. If you scroll down, oh, look, there it is. So Microsoft, please, I beg you, put this back on the page before this so people stop emailing me asking me where it is.
But a lot of people tell me, "Hey, I hate subscription fees." That's fine. Option two, one-time purchase. This is what software used to be like before everybody went to subscription models. Personally, I don't care. I like the subscription model myself. I do. But that's just my preference. I know a lot of businesses prefer that upfront cost.
So as of right now, Access 2024, you can buy it as a standalone by itself. It's $180. Is that expensive? Now, you do the math. It breaks even after about 21 months compared to the $8.25 a month subscription. So if you plan on buying it and using it for three or four years, you'll save money. It's got a five-year lifespan in which you will get upgrades for free. You won't get new features as they're released, but you will get bug fixes and upgrades as far as service packs and stuff.
Now, I have worked with a lot of businesses that have used their old versions. I just had a client that was using Access 2013 when I was still supporting them as a consultant in 2020, and it worked just fine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Me personally, I like the new versions, but I don't like the very newest version. I like to wait until it's been out a little while before I do an Office update. It's a topic for a whole different video, though, but I like getting regular annual updates.
As far as whether it's expensive or not, that's up to you. I can see it being expensive for a hobbyist or for a retiree, sure. But if you're running your entire business on Access, you can't get better software for a lower price. You really can't. 180 bucks. Come on.
There is a third option called the LTSC, which is the Long Term Servicing Channel. This is usually for big businesses and organizations that don't want constant updates. They literally don't want the cloud-based features, and they want stability overall. Think hospitals, manufacturing, government agencies. If I had to put Office on the International Space Station, I'd pick this version. It's designed for stability.
As far as pricing goes, Microsoft won't tell you on their website. You have to contact sales. I sent them a request, so if I get any numbers, I'll let you know.
Now with the bad news. This is not included in Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024. Why you would have a version titled Business, I don't know. You should have Access in it, I think. That's my opinion. Microsoft used to have a version called Office Professional. That's what I started with. MS Office Pro. It had Access in it and they killed it. Why? I don't know. So they don't offer that anymore.
If you need the perpetual version, get Access 2024, as I told you in Option 2 before. Otherwise, get the step one version. This isn't cheap. $249 for Home and Business. You'd expect that to have Access, I think. I don't know. In fact, I got an email from a student this morning who bought a brand new Dell laptop and he wanted to make sure he got Access with it. He also purchased Office Home and Business from Dell. Got everything set up, and we're going to discover he doesn't have Access. We went back to Dell and said, "Hey, I need Access." They told him, "Well, you'll have to buy it separately." They wouldn't take the software back so that he could get a subscription. So I don't know.
All right, moving on. Here are some notes for those of you looking to purchase Access. Remember, Access is PC only. It doesn't run on the Mac, although you can use an emulator if you can emulate Windows.
And there is no online version, although there are some options to get your Access database online. I got a separate video on it. There is no free version of Access, unlike Word and Excel, which do have free online versions. They call it Office Online. Access requires a paid license. I've got a whole separate video if you want to learn how to get Excel and Word for free in Office Online. I'll put a link to this down below too.
Now with that being said, if you're looking at putting Access in your office and you have 10 people that want to use it and you're the only person going to be making design changes, you can use the Access runtime for everybody else. You only have to purchase one developer copy, and everyone else can use the free runtime edition.
So, when people say Access is expensive, "I can't put this on 20 people in my office as computers. It'll be too expensive," you say, "Well, you only got to buy one copy and then the rest of them are free." Again, go watch this video. I'll walk you through setting it up.
Like I mentioned earlier, Access 2007 and later will still work on Windows 10 and 11. They don't get automatic updates. If you're working on older versions, be aware that some features might not work properly on modern systems, but I have had clients using Access 2013 as recently as this year. But I have seen cases where old versions of Access had weird bugs that you couldn't figure out, and then you upgrade, and it fixes it. So, yeah, like I said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but I like to stay modern myself. So, flip the coin.
Now, like I mentioned at the top of the video, Access is not going anywhere. It's alive and well in 2025. I've done several different videos on this. I say here every few months, but really every couple of weeks, I get someone that tells me they heard Access is being discontinued, especially every time a version reaches end of life. You'll see it posted in forums. "Oh, Microsoft just announced that, you know, Access is going away. It's end of life." Yeah, every five years, every Microsoft title, Windows Excel Word PowerPoint, they all go through a lifecycle. Just like the Enterprise, they get a five-year mission.
So, Access 2024 just came out. It's going to be good until 2029. That means Microsoft will continue to support it until 2029. I'm sure between now and then, another version will come out.
Next up, Microsoft said in January of '25 that they're going to be adding a $3 monthly search charge because of Co-Pilot, their AI tool. But this doesn't affect the business plans that include Access. It's just the Home and the Home and Business ones we talked about earlier. Although, and I got although here, because, hey, I haven't seen these price changes yet. And I've talked to some of my students in the forums, and they said that if you go to cancel your subscription, Microsoft will offer to remove it for you without that upcharge. But I can't verify that. This is just what I've heard. So do what you will with that information.
I did see, though, that effective April 2025, they're adding a 5% increase if you pay monthly versus yearly. So I would suggest locking in that annual rate.
All right, let's talk about some things to be careful about. There's a lot of fake copies of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Access all over the interwebs. I did some Google searches this morning, and there's still a lot of stuff out there. Some websites claim to sell official boxed copies of Access. But I don't think Microsoft makes an official boxed copy of Access 2024. I tried to find one. It's not on Amazon. And these ones here, yeah, I just grabbed them off some websites that I found. I don't think they're real. You can see that the spines don't quite, they're not, the perspective is off on them. That one I use in the title slide, yeah, it's not real. You can see it kind of looks a little fake if you look closely at it.
So I would strongly suggest if you're going to buy Access or buy a subscription, buy direct from Microsoft. And again, I'll give you links down below. And also be careful if you do shop on Amazon. There's a lot of stuff that looks like it's official Microsoft stuff, but it's not. I don't know how a lot of these people don't get sued, but it's there. Also be careful. There are some YouTube videos out there that claim that you can download Access for free. What they're doing is using a corporate version that doesn't require a product key, and they let you activate them with fake licenses. This is illegal and can get your software deactivated and could even land you in legal trouble.
Now, this is just a Google search. I'm not saying that these other videos are anything bad. In fact, hey, mine's on the bottom down here. But this is my video that talks about getting the Access runtime for free so that everybody else in your office can use it. But there are some questionable tutorials out there. Here's my other video talking about that download scam. So be careful about that.
You also want to be careful about Access alternatives. A lot of companies out there, if you search for Microsoft Access, sometimes the top sponsored content comes back as an alternative to Microsoft Access. So for people that are actually looking for legit Microsoft Access, they sometimes fall into these websites. And again, I'm not saying anything negative about these companies here. This is just a list of the Google results that come up. In fact, I've played with Airtable myself. I kind of like it. It's a great tool for online database building. But as far as desktop databases, nothing beats Microsoft Access. There's no other product on the web or in the world that compares. If you find a product that is a better desktop database application than Access, I want you to let me know about it, and I will try it out and let you know what I think.
All right. So you've purchased your addition of Microsoft Access. Now what? Now what do you do? Well, now you have to learn how to use it. And that's where I come in. I've got a complete Microsoft Access beginner level one tutorial. It's four hours long. It's absolutely free. You'll find that on my website at the link shown. It's also on my YouTube channel. Watch that. That'll get you started building databases in Microsoft Access day one. And after that, on my website, I literally have hundreds of hours of additional training available all the way up through the developer level.
And of course, I've got my daily Access TechHelp videos like this one, where I talk about all kinds of stuff. I try to post a new one every weekday. Make sure you subscribe to my mailing list to get more information on that.
I would also like to give a shout out to Access Forever. The guys over at Access Forever. It's .org, not .com; go to .org. They post a lot of great articles, but they also keep an updated page here on the plans that include Access. This was just recently updated in October. So they will update their stuff before I will. In fact, I usually get my updates from them. So check out this page. I'll put a link to it down below. Thanks to Carl and everybody over at accessforever.org for keeping us in the loop.
All right. So there you go. There is your 2025 edition of how to buy Microsoft Access. Hopefully, I won't have to update this again until 2029. I'm guessing. Let's see. 21 was the last time they did an update in the 19th before that. So I don't know, maybe 2026 or 27. They might come out with another version. We'll see. It's Microsoft. I love them, but who knows what they're going to do. But in any case, that's going to be your TechHelp video for today. I hope you learned something. Live long and prosper, my friends. I'll see you next time.Juan Soto with Access Experts Software Solutions, manufacturing experts specializing in Access and SQL Server. Sammy Shama with Shama Consultancy, a certified Microsoft Access expert who offers personalized one-on-one tutoring, and Amanda Nicole Consulting, specializing in helping businesses move from complex Excel sheets to an Access database.
TOPICS:
Buying Microsoft Access 2025 edition
Subscription options for Access
One-time purchase of Access 2024
Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) option
Access availability in Microsoft 365 plans
Microsoft's pricing quirks and purchasing tips
Access for Windows PC only, no Mac version
No free online version of Access
Using Access runtime for multiple users
Support timeline for Access 2024
Co-Pilot AI pricing updates
Price increase for monthly subscriptions
Fake copies of Office and Access
Legal issues with free Access downloads
Alternatives to Microsoft Access
Where to buy Access securely
Learning resources for Microsoft Access
COMMERCIAL:
In today's video, we're discussing how to buy Microsoft Access 2025 edition. You might have struggled to find Access in your Office package, but you'll learn about subscription options, such as Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Apps for Business, and the standalone one-time purchase, Access 2024. We'll cover the pros and cons of each, from the benefits of the subscription model to buying a perpetual license. We'll also talk about the Long Term Servicing Channel for stability, Access runtime for cost efficiency, and potential pitfalls like fake copies and misleading alternatives. Plus, discover where to get started with Access using our free beginner tutorial. You'll find the complete video on my YouTube channel and on my website at the link shown. Live long and prosper my friends.
Quiz
Q1. What is Microsoft Access 2025 included in?
A. Business Basic plans
B. Business Standard and Business Premium plans
C. Frontline F1 and F3 plans
D. Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024
Q2. What is the best value subscription option for Microsoft Access 2025 according to the video?
A. Business Basic
B. Apps for Business
C. Enterprise E3
D. Frontline F3
Q3. What is the cost of a one-time purchase of Microsoft Access 2024?
A. $250
B. $200
C. $180
D. $100
Q4. If you want a version of Office that does not require constant updates, which one should you consider?
A. Microsoft 365 Home
B. Office Professional
C. Business Premium
D. LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel)
Q5. Which Microsoft Office version does NOT include Microsoft Access?
A. Business Premium
B. Home and Business 2024
C. Apps for Business
D. E5 plans
Q6. What does the Access Runtime allow you to do?
A. Use Access on a Mac without an emulator
B. Use Access for free online
C. Allow multiple users to run Access on their PCs with a single developer license
D. Get Access updates for free
Q7. Why might some users prefer a one-time purchase of Access over a subscription?
A. They plan to use it for short-term projects
B. It offers more features than the subscription model
C. It can be cheaper over a long period if used for several years
D. It allows use on multiple devices without extra cost
Q8. Why should you be cautious when purchasing Microsoft Access online?
A. Most online versions do not include all features
B. Microsoft's official website is the only secure place to buy it
C. Fake copies are common and can lead to legal issues
D. Online versions are often outdated
Q9. Is there an online version of Microsoft Access similar to Word and Excel?
A. Yes, Access has a free online version
B. Only a partial online version exists
C. No, Access requires a paid license and does not have a fully online version
D. Yes, but it has limited functionality
Q10. Which additional cost did Microsoft announce regarding Co-Pilot AI for some plans?
A. $10 for all business plans
B. $3 monthly for Home and Business plans
C. No additional cost for E3 plans
D. $5 for enterprise plans
Answers: 1-B; 2-B; 3-C; 4-D; 5-B; 6-C; 7-C; 8-C; 9-C; 10-B
DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.
Summary
Today's TechHelp video from Access Learning Zone is about purchasing the Microsoft Access 2025 edition. Many individuals have expressed difficulty in locating Access or realizing it's not included in their Office package. I'm here to clear all that up for you.
Microsoft's products are ones I hold dear, particularly Access, which I've worked with for over three decades. However, their website and the intricacies of their licensing can even confound someone like me.
Please note, it's February 2025 as I share this information. Prices are subject to change, so for the most current updates, always check my site.
Microsoft Access remains a vital tool despite some misconceptions that it is being phased out. It's very much alive and well, not going anywhere.
Let's explore your choices for obtaining Access. Your first option is via a subscription through Microsoft 365, previously known as Office 365. Access is part of several subscription plans, including Business Standard, Business Premium, Apps for Business, and various enterprise packages. However, it is not available in Business Basic, Frontline F1, and F3 plans. In my opinion, the Apps for Business subscription offers the best value, and it's what I personally use.
There are rumors of a $5 surcharge for Co-Pilot AI, although as of now, the pricing remains unchanged. Occasionally, Microsoft's site may not prominently display Access, but rest assured, if you proceed with the "Buy Now" option, you will eventually see it listed.
Now, some of you may not prefer subscription-based services. The alternative is a one-time purchase. You can still buy Access 2024 as a standalone for $180. Depending on your usage, this might save you money over time compared to a monthly subscription. It offers a five-year lifespan with free upgrades, though it won't include new features.
A third option is the LTSC, or Long Term Servicing Channel. Geared towards organizations prioritizing minimal updates, such as hospitals or government bodies, it ensures stability without frequent cloud-related updates. Pricing isn't public; you'll need to contact Microsoft sales directly.
Be aware, Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024 doesn't include Access. You might think it should be bundled with something titled "Business," but unfortunately, it's not. Previously, Office Professional included Access, but it no longer exists.
Access is exclusively for PCs, with no Mac version available. There's also no free online version. If necessary, you can deploy the Access runtime for multiple users while purchasing just one developer copy—particularly helpful for office settings.
It's worth noting that all versions from Access 2007 onward can operate on Windows 10 and 11. However, older features might not function reliably on newer systems.
Despite concerns, Access is not disappearing. Every Microsoft software product undergoes a lifecycle, but support for Access 2024 is assured until at least 2029.
In January 2025, Microsoft announced a potential $3 monthly charge for Co-Pilot, but this impacts only non-business plans. Also, from April 2025, there's a 5% increase for monthly rather than yearly payments—prompting me to recommend opting for the annual plan.
When purchasing Access, avoid fake copies online. It's safest to buy directly through Microsoft. Be cautious of dubious YouTube videos suggesting illegal download methods; these can lead to complications.
There's a chance you might encounter Access alternatives being marketed when searching for Access online. While other programs like Airtable are available, nothing rivals Access's desktop database capabilities.
Once you've acquired Access, you'll need to learn how to use it. My beginner-level Microsoft Access tutorial is free and will guide you through your first steps. Subsequently, I offer extensive training reaching as far as the developer level.
I also encourage visiting Access Forever's site for the latest news on Access. They provide an updated checklist of plans involving Access, which is helpful for reference.
That wraps up our 2025 guide to purchasing Microsoft Access. We might not see another update until 2029, or perhaps sooner, but whatever Microsoft decides, I'll keep you informed. Visit my site for the complete video tutorial and further guidance. Live long and prosper, my friends.
Topic List
Buying Microsoft Access 2025 edition
Subscription options for Access
One-time purchase of Access 2024
Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) option
Access availability in Microsoft 365 plans
Microsoft's pricing quirks and purchasing tips
Access for Windows PC only, no Mac version
No free online version of Access
Using Access runtime for multiple users
Support timeline for Access 2024
Co-Pilot AI pricing updates
Price increase for monthly subscriptions
Fake copies of Office and Access
Legal issues with free Access downloads
Alternatives to Microsoft Access
Where to buy Access securely
Learning resources for Microsoft Access
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