Google and Microsoft control the major of the productivity software market, but many features aren’t free. If you want to save money, there are several ways to use Microsoft Office for free, including official methods from Microsoft.
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- 1. Use Microsoft Office for Free Online
- 2. Free Microsoft Office Mobile Apps
- 3. Free Office for Students, Faculty, and Staff
- 4. 30-Day Free Trial of Office 365
- 5. Preview Future Office And Other Microsoft Products
- 6. Share Microsoft Office With Others
- 7. Use Free Microsoft Office Alternatives
1. Use Microsoft Office for Free Online
Access most of the popular Office programs for free as long as you have a Microsoft account, which is free to create. Your account grants you free access to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote (which is a free standalone app as well), OneDrive, and Outlook (includes Calendar). You can sign up here.
You also get Sway to create interactive presentations and reports. Of course, if you use Skype, your free Microsoft account lets you link your contacts from Outlook to Skype.
Much like with the free version of Google’s productivity suite, your cloud storage is limited. OneDrive only includes 5 GB of storage. Plus, apps are only available online, so no offline access. The other downside is some advanced features aren’t available in the basic online versions. For most users, this isn’t a problem, but they may be enough to hold power users back.
2. Free Microsoft Office Mobile Apps
While some desktop and mobile devices come with free trials of Microsoft Office, basic versions of the same apps you get with the free Office 365 plan are free for mobile devices. Download the latest iOS and Android apps here.
However, there is one major restriction. While you can use Microsoft Office for free on most Android and iOS devices, you can’t edit documents on screens larger than 10.1 inch. You can use the apps to view documents on screens larger than this but cannot create or edit anything. On larger screens, opt for the browser version instead. Add the app webpages to your home screen for easy access.
There is one workaround to the screen size issue. Cast your smaller mobile screen to your TV or use an HDMI cable to physically connect your smaller screen to a larger external screen. It’s not the most convenient solution, but ideal if you use Office apps often.
While it doesn’t always work, using an Android emulator on a desktop may let you get around the screen size limitation. Of course, you’ll still be working with a smaller screen, but it’s more convenient on your laptop or desktop.
3. Free Office for Students, Faculty, and Staff
Microsoft offers Office 365 for free to qualifying students and employees of educational institutions. Your school must be signed up for you to access it – Microsoft extends the offer to all students. However, an administrator can sign you up directly if your school isn’t signed up for this program already.
Image source:
Pexels
Simply enter your valid education email to see if you qualify on the site linked above. Depending on the version your school signs up for, you may only have web access or full access to both the web and desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
As a student, you may also be eligible for these other student discounts from Microsoft.
4. 30-Day Free Trial of Office 365
Office 365 is free for 30 days. You can download it here. The trial version can be used on five laptops or desktops simultaneously. Each user gets one terabyte cloud storage on OneDrive as part of the trial.
This option has two downsides:
- You only get 30 days of Microsoft Office for free, making this option unfit for long-term use.
- Microsoft collects your credit card information before you get access to download the software.
On the other hand, you’re free to cancel at any time, but still enjoy the full 30-day trial.
5. Preview Future Office And Other Microsoft Products
Microsoft runs public previews with their products. The apps vary greatly, and it may be limited to just Enterprise editions with volume licensing. However, you can check by searching for “public preview” on the Microsoft Support site.
6. Share Microsoft Office With Others
Image source:
Unsplash
Another way you could possibly use Microsoft Office for free is if you have a kind friend or relative who has a family subscription. This allows them to have up to six users per subscription. While you’re supposed to be limited to those in your household, you don’t have to live together. At the very least, they may split the cost with you to drastically reduce the yearly subscription fee.
7. Use Free Microsoft Office Alternatives
Of course, there’s always Microsoft Office alternatives. As long as you pick one that saves in popular Office formats, no one needs to know you’re not actually using Office. Alternatives are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web.
No matter how you use Microsoft Office, free is always the best price. But, at least it’s only $70/year. If you’re a student using Windows, check out these must-have apps for making the school year easier. You can even install the Google Play Store on Windows for access to helpful Android apps.
Image credit: Pixabay
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Crystal Crowder –
Staff Writer
Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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