Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Share

How to get Microsoft 365 for free or at a discount

Whether you’re writing your autobiography, creating a spreadsheet for your ever-shrinking household budget, or making snazzy PowerPoint presentations to impress your boss, Microsoft 365 is essential. Since the shift from Microsoft Office to the subscription-based Microsoft 365, it’s become more expensive to stay in Microsoft’s ecosystem. 

But with that added price comes added value. In addition to Microsoft improving its most familiar apps, the tech giant also adds new services to its subscription on a regular basis without increasing the cost. For example, Clipchamp has additional features for Microsoft 365 subscribers. You can also enhance your subscription with a Copilot Pro, though that costs an additional $20 per month.

Microsoft 365 Personal

Microsoft 365 Family

Microsoft 365 Home & Student

Microsoft 365 Business

Office 365 Education

Students and teachers with an eligible email address can get access to the Office apps for free. Office 365 Education comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and other classroom tools. Microsoft’s Office 365 Education website has instructions on how to register and get started. Office 365 Education effectively saves you $69.99 per year compared to Microsoft 365 Personal.

Speaking of Microsoft 365 Personal, college students with an eligible email address can get Microsoft 365 Personal for $2.99 per month.

Office Online is free

Don’t forget that you can use all of Microsoft’s Office apps online, completely free. They are web-based but you can create and edit documents, workbooks and design presentations using just your browser. Simply sign into the Microsoft Office website to get started. No installation is required; you can collaborate with others online and get 5GB of free cloud storage on OneDrive.

The free service does have its limitations, the most obvious being you cannot use the programs offline and will need a reliable internet connection. You also won’t get all the features a subscription to Microsoft 365 provides on some apps, such as using macros or advanced formatting.

Choosing the best version for you

With Microsoft 365, it really comes down to what you want to use it for and who is likely to need access. If it’s just for your own use but you want to use across multiple devices, a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription will be the best option. My whole family uses Word, Excel, and other Microsoft apps and services, so a Microsoft 365 Family subscription makes the most sense.

I used Microsoft’s Office apps all throughout school and university, so I didn’t have to pay for access to the apps for years. Many students and teachers are unaware of the fact that they can get Microsoft Office apps for free, so it’s worth a friendly reminder to your fellow students and educators.

Microsoft 365 and its apps and services are standard among business and enterprise users. Since Microsoft has a variety of plans for business users, it’s worth shopping around a bit, particularly if you’re looking to purchase hundreds of licenses.

You may also like...