Microsoft Office is the undisputed king of office programs, offering unparalleled functionality. While there are budget-friendly alternatives available, they are essentially substitutes for Microsoft Office. Word, PowerPoint, and Excel excel at what they do. They are essential for effective communication and collaboration in the corporate world due to their widespread use and standard file formats. However, the price tag can be steep. Most programs have shifted to a subscription-based model, requiring annual payments instead of a one-time purchase. But don’t worry, we’ve gathered some options to help you save money.
Try Microsoft 365 for Free
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If you’re interested in trying out Microsoft Word for free, you’ll be happy to know that it is now bundled with Microsoft Office 365, the latest version of the Office Suite. You can take advantage of an Office 365 free trial to explore the suite’s full range of applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Signing up is easy and requires no credit card, and you can cancel anytime.
Microsoft 365 Personal (1-year), 1 person — $43 (was $70)
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This license offers a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal for a single user. It grants access to the entire Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Additionally, you’ll receive up to 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage space, allowing seamless file transfer between devices and the cloud. Compatible with both PC and Mac, this option is perfect for students, professionals working from home, and anyone in need of Office Suite access on a personal computer. It comes with a digital license code on a keycard, with no physical media included.
Microsoft 365 Business (Basic, Standard, Premium) — Starting from $65 per year (was $72)
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Lenovo Pro users, a free service for business owners, can take advantage of exclusive discounts on multiple versions of Microsoft 365, including Basic, Standard, and Premium plans. Basic starts at $65 per month (normally $72), while Standard and Premium are both available for $238 (down from $264). These offers are only accessible to Lenovo Pro members, making it worthwhile to sign up.
Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 — $150
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This license allows for a one-time download of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 for PC or Mac. It includes Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, providing local access to these essential applications. Designed for home and personal use, this option is ideal for those who only require the core Office apps included in this bundle.
Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 — $240 (was $250)
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This license offers a one-time download of Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for PC or Mac. It includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, granting local access to these essential business applications. Perfect for professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, this package provides all the necessary tools for effective productivity.
Microsoft Office 2021
Microsoft Office 2021 is the latest iteration of the classic Office suite. The standard Personal version includes Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as its core apps. Meanwhile, the Professional version mirrors the apps offered in Microsoft 365 but without the cloud services like Skype and OneDrive (although basic versions of these programs are available for free). It’s important to note that your Office 2021 license only allows installation on one Windows or MacOS computer at a time. For multiple installations across several devices, consider upgrading to Microsoft 365. While Microsoft 2021 requires a one-time purchase, Microsoft 365 comes with a monthly subscription fee.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365, formerly known as Office 365, represents the pinnacle of Microsoft Office. This subscription-based suite offers everything Microsoft Office has to offer, including the complete lineup of Office apps, as well as Microsoft Outlook, Publisher, and Access. Additionally, you gain access to premium OneDrive and Skype cloud services, and you can use Microsoft 365 on any Windows PC, Mac, or compatible mobile device you own. Although it comes with a higher price tag and a monthly subscription fee, Microsoft 365 is the most feature-rich Office package, making it the top choice for professionals, business owners, and serious users.
A Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Office
Before making a purchase, it’s crucial to determine which Microsoft Office suite suits your needs. Two main products are available: standard Microsoft Office and premium subscription-based Microsoft 365, with Personal/Student and Professional variants in each category. The Business/Professional suites offer the same core apps as Microsoft 365 but lack cloud support and multi-device compatibility.
What’s Included with Microsoft Office?
While most people are familiar with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, Microsoft Office offers more than just word processing and spreadsheets. Each Office suite has its own unique features and differences in terms of cloud services and usage licenses. To help you understand your options better, here’s a breakdown of what you get with Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft 365.
Does Microsoft Office Work on Mac?
Despite being created by the same software company behind the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office is fully compatible with Mac computers. Additionally, you don’t need a separate version of Office for your Mac; your Microsoft Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 key is valid for both Windows and Mac versions.
Does Microsoft Office Work on Chromebook?
While it may come as a surprise to some, Microsoft Office is available for Chrome OS. However, you cannot run the desktop version for Windows or Mac on your Chromebook. Instead, you can download the Chrome OS version of Office from the Google Play Store.
Can You Get Microsoft Office for Free?
While you can access a free trial of Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office is generally not available for free to most users. However, some schools or workplaces might provide it for free. It’s worth checking if you qualify for a free copy. If your budget is tight or your needs are modest, there are also free alternatives to Microsoft Office. However, if you prefer the stability and familiarity of the genuine product, one of the aforementioned Microsoft Office deals is your best bet.
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