How to Get Word, Excel and PowerPoint Without a Microsoft 365 Subscription

Microsoft 365, the evolution of the old Microsoft Office suite, includes a variety of apps you might need for work, school, or personal life. You can access the full versions of these apps with a subscription, but those costs add up over time, which can become a barrier to using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or other programs. Lucky if you want Microsoft 365there are ways to get the service for free.

Microsoft’s productivity software suite consists of classics like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook as well as newer apps like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint. That Microsoft 365 The collection typically costs between $70 and $100 per year for subscription access across devices and family members. Microsoft has also released a new standalone version of Microsoft Office for Windows and Maccalled Office Home and Student 2021, for a flat fee of $150—no subscription required.

Here are the versions of Office 365, Microsoft 365 and their apps that you can now find online for free.

Get Microsoft Office 365 for free if you’re a student or teacher

if you a student, teacher or faculty member With an active school email address, you’re likely eligible for free access to Office 365 through Microsoft, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, and additional teaching tools.

All you have to do is enter your school email address on this page on the Microsoft website: Start for free with Office 365. In many cases, you get instant access thanks to an automated verification process. If you visit a facility that requires verification, it can take up to a month to confirm your eligibility.

New graduates who want to stay with Office 365 can also access it Microsoft 365 Personal for $12 for 12 monthswith a valid school email address.

Here’s how to get the Microsoft Office suite for free if you’re someone else

Anyone can get one one-month free trial from Microsoft 365. However, you must type a Credit card number, and if you don’t cancel before the end of the month, you’ll be billed $100 for a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Family (formerly called Office 365 Home).

The good news is that if you don’t need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free — including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar, and Skype. How to get them:

1. Go to Office.com.

2. click Sign up for the free version of Office under the “Login” button.

3. Sign in to your Microsoft account or create one for free. If you already have a Windows, Skype, or Xbox Live login, you have an active Microsoft account.

4. Choose the app you want to use and save your work to the cloud with OneDrive.

So what’s the catch with the free version?

You might say, “Wait a minute, if I can get all these apps for free, why even pay for Microsoft 365?” Well, the functionality of the free apps is limited: they only run in your web browser and you can only use them while You are actively connected to the Internet. They also have fewer features than the full versions of Microsoft 365.

However, there are still a number of perks, including the ability to share links to your work and collaborate in real-time, similar to what G Suite tools allow. If you’re looking for basic versions of each of these apps, the free version should work just fine for you.

For more information, see all the best features of Windows 11what you need to know Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and How to download Windows 11 for free. You can also check out CNET’s list The best Windows laptops.