Analysis paralysis - trying to decide where to move TO, from Off 2010

I am fed up with Outlook 2010. I need to move/migrate/upgrade to something else.
I know this forum is Windows oriented, but I might consider non-Windows alternatives...like Google apps or other apps.
I have Office 2010 and Outlook 2010.
My main Outlook uses are: Email, contacts, calendar
I run primarily on a HP laptop running Win 10.
I use an app called AkrutoSync to sync calendar and contacts to the native apps on my Android phone and tablet. Works pretty good!
I use K-9 mail on my Androids for email. Works pretty good!
My email is my own "personal" domain... firstname@lastname.com Hosted by Blue Host Using IMAP.
I also have a Gmail account, but do not use that much.
I run Chrome browser.
I mostly use Excel, some Word and rarely Publisher.
This is strictly personal use. We are retired.
Once I switch, I will switch my wife as well.

So, it seems that Office 365 would be a good choice. O 365 apps on PC and Android...everything in sync. Really? What cautions do you have in this scenario? Sounds too good to be true!
Maybe Office 2019 would work, as it would be similar...PC based.... to what I have now. But expensive?
What about going all Google? Google email, contacts and calendar. Google docs for Excel, Word
Last choice...least likely...piece together independent apps to handle the chores.

One question I have, other than the ongoing use of the apps, is what happens to all the ARCHIVED emails in my archive.pst file? How do I keep/access them...if necessary.

It is a major decision and I want to do my best to get it right the first time.

Sorry this is so long. I assume, once I decide on where to move to, I can find the needed migration steps/tools.
Feel free to point to any existing conversations on this topic.

Thanks in advance.

Oh, I am leaving in a few days for a month, so I will not actually make a decision until early October. Gathering knowledge at this point.

Hi there

@Ltripreno

You can actually source some apparently quite cheap Office 2019 licenses as well -- I've bought around 4 of these with absolutely zero problems with activation / Ms updates etc etc.

If you pay with a Credit (not a debit) card and it goes pear shaped you can get your money back from Bank / Credit card company by right as Credit card transactions (at least in EU / EEA, USA, Australia etc etc) are protected against "Defective" merchandising. It may be AYOR but at around 25 EUR a pop could be a risk worth taking. Outlook 2019 setup etc is pretty much the same as O/365 or even Outlook 2010.

The easiest way to transfer accounts is to follow my post some while back on this Forum -- note you will need to remember passwords on the accounts. This method is easier for IMAP accounts -- for POP3 (although who uses it any more) backup your.pst file as well from Office 2010 -- not needed when using IMAP.

This method should also work if you decide to go to O/365 .

copy outlook settings, accounts, contacts etc from 2010 to 2016/2019


-- I just don't like subscriptions -- first you get one or two e.g netflix or whatever and then the numer insidiously grows until there's a lot leaving your Bank every month . The trick is to lull people into thinking a few dollars / euros / rubles etc a month is nothing -- but loads of a "few dollars" etc soon mount up. !! and with the nasty way these are charged for "Continuos Payment Authority" - not even by Direct Debit -- it makes cancelling subscriptions quite difficult as the Banks need the permission from the supplier !!!!! not you as the customer to stop the payments. In extreme cases switching Banks or getting new cards is the only way -- I don't think there would be a problem with Ms but watch out for other companies -- Banks really should be forbidden from using this nasty method of payments.

Cheers
jimbo

non-Windows alternatives...like Google apps

Google apps is very much a Windows app.

Ltripreno said:

This is strictly personal use.

In that case, you'll be fine with anything—test your candidates and just pick whatever feels best to you.

I mostly use Excel, some Word

Do you use automation, ie templates, styles, macros?
If yes, you will probably avoid some pain by sticking with Office.

what happens to all the ARCHIVED emails in my archive.pst file? How do I keep/access them...if necessary

Don't uninstall Outlook 2010.
Alternatively, Kernel Outlook PST Viewer has a good reputation.
Some other mail apps can import PSTs—Gmail has a migration tool for this purpose, I'm fairly sure Thunderbird has same, don't know about others offhand.
Ideally you want a mail app which uses the MBOX format, it's much simpler and almost universal.

Office 365 is great, especially if you have 4-5 people who'll use it—$20-25/year is great value for what you get in the Home version.
There are plenty of Office Suites, but the main alternatives are Libre Office and G Suite—you should be fine with any of them, provided automation or good compatibility with Office files are not important for you.