As small and midsize businesses (SMBs) continue to face economic challenges, reducing software costs has become a significant focus for entrepreneurs and small business owners. According to McKinsey, approximately 60% of SMBs actively price shop for technology and software and are looking for cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality.

Going back to the software basics could be one way to cut costs. Through October 27 only, you can choose from Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac or Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for just $24.97 (reg. $229).

This lifetime license gives business professionals the essential tools they need, from Word to Excel, PowerPoint, and more, without ongoing subscriptions or unexpected renewal fees. For those not ready to upgrade their operating systems or who prefer predictable, one-time costs, this offer is a game changer.

While it’s not the latest version, Office 2019 is still packed with value and perfect for those who don’t need all the cloud-based features of Office 365. Whether you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or IT professional, this deal provides a robust suite of tools to boost productivity, security, and flexibility—all while staying offline and keeping your data on your terms.

For professionals on a budget, Office 2019 offers a lifetime license—pay once, use forever. Unlike Office 365’s subscription model, there’s no need to worry about ongoing monthly fees or surprise price hikes. For entrepreneurs looking to manage costs, this ensures you know exactly what you’re paying and when, with no hidden fees down the line.

For Mac users, Office 2019 is compatible with macOS Mojave (10.14) or newer—so you don’t have to upgrade to the latest operating system like Monterey or Ventura. On Windows, Office Professional 2019 works with Windows 10 or 11.

Pick up one of these lifetime licenses at this reduced price through October 27:

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Data storage is more critical than ever for business leaders and entrepreneurs. With digital files growing exponentially, having secure, reliable, and easily accessible storage is essential for staying organized and efficient.

The Complete 1TB Cloud and 1TB Hard Drive Storage Lifetime Bundle offers a powerful solution—lifetime access to 1TB of cloud storage with FolderFort and a portable USB 3.0 1TB external hard drive, all for just $89.97 (reg. $341).

Data management is no longer just about storing files—it’s about securely organizing, quickly accessing, and easily sharing them across platforms. Since many businesses rely heavily on digital content, from presentations and documents to high-definition videos and large datasets, having the right storage tools is a game-changer.

1TB FolderFort cloud storage

1TB of Cloud Storage gives you access to your files from anywhere, anytime. FolderFort is a user-friendly, secure cloud storage platform designed for professionals. It allows you to upload, manage, and share files easily with unlimited users, making it perfect for team collaborations. Need to share sensitive documents or large files with clients? You can create public or restricted-access links in seconds.

Unlimited Workspaces allow you to create specific environments for different projects or teams. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing multiple projects, FolderFort makes organizing easy. The cloud platform is also scalable, allowing you to upgrade if your storage needs grow—no downtime, no hassle.

Portable USB 3.0 1TB external hard drive

The 1TB external hard drive is perfect for offline access or physical backups. It’s ultra-slim, lightweight, and portable, so you can take it wherever your business takes you. Whether you’re backing up large media files or storing important documents, this hard drive delivers high-speed data transfers at up to 120Mbps read and 104Mbps write speeds.

Its wide compatibility ensures you can connect it to Windows, Mac, Linux, and even smart TVs and gaming consoles. Whether you’re working across multiple platforms or storing files for different purposes, the external hard drive is a secure, flexible solution.

Don’t miss this limited-time offer on a storage solution that gives you options.

The Complete 1TB Cloud and 1TB Hard Drive Storage Lifetime Bundle is on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $341).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

X users may be migrating to bluer skies after a major change.

Bluesky is an open, ad-free social network that grew out of Twitter, now X, in 2019. The platform announced on Thursday that half a million new users signed up within a day of X announcing that it would be changing up its blocking feature “soon.” Blocked users on X will be able to see public posts but not like, reply or engage with them in any other way.

Although X said the change was to prevent people blocking others from sharing sensitive information about people they have blocked, X users stated that the move would support stalking, render the Block function useless and violate Google Play Store and Apple App Store requirements.

Related: Jack Dorsey Explains Bluesky Exit: ‘Literally Repeating All the Mistakes We Made’ at Twitter

Bluesky stated on Friday that more than 1.2 million people have signed up to use the platform since Wednesday.

congratulations everyone, we have now passed 12 million people total on bluesky!!! ?

over 1.2M new people have joined bluesky in the last two days — welcome!! ???

[image or embed]

— Bluesky (@bsky.app) October 18, 2024 at 1:42 PM

Soon we’ll be launching a change to how the block function works.

If your posts are set to public, accounts you have blocked will be able to view them, but they will not be able to engage (like, reply, repost, etc.).

— Engineering (@XEng) October 16, 2024

Bluesky also experienced a surge in users last month after X shut down operations in Brazil on August 30. Within a week of the ban, Bluesky added 3 million new users, 85% of whom were from Brazil. X resumed operations on October 9, but not before Bluesky surged to 10 million users in September.

The platform now has 12 million users total, per a Friday announcement.

Meta’s Threads also appears to be experiencing a surge in users; it is currently first under the top free apps for iPhone list, with Bluesky coming in fifth. Threads surpassed 175 million users in July.

Related: Jack Dorsey Announces His Departure from Bluesky on X, Calls Elon Musk’s Platform ‘Freedom Technology’