8 Working Ways to Get Microsoft Office for Free

Quick Tips

• Schools often provide free access to the full desktop suite for qualified students and educators.
• Edit documents on the go with the free Microsoft Office apps for Android and iOS devices.
• Explore all the features with a free one-month trial of Microsoft 365.

Method 1. Use Microsoft Office on the Web

With Microsoft Office on the web, irrespective of the operating system your PC is running on, you can access applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. All you need is a free Microsoft account, or you can create a new one and head over to Office’s website and access the Office applications for free.

If you want offline access or some advanced features unavailable on the web, the next method will help you.

Method 2. Get Microsoft Office Free as a Student or Teacher

You may be eligible for free access to Microsoft Office through the Microsoft 365 Education program if you’re a student or teacher. This program offers the full suite of Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and more. You’ll need a valid school or university email address to take advantage of this offer.

If you have it, go to the Microsoft 365 Education website. There, you will be asked to enter your school email address and other details to activate your free subscription.

This allows students and teachers to access all the features of Microsoft Office without any cost.

Also Read: How to repair Microsoft Office installation errors in Windows

Method 3. Use the Free Microsoft Office Mobile Apps

Like the web version, Microsoft offers free Office access on mobile devices. All you need is a Microsoft account to log in and access the products.

Although there are standalone apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we recommend downloading the Microsoft 365 app, which has the functionality of all three and comes with bonus features such as Office Lens.

If you don’t want to access the mobile version but want all the features unlocked without an Office subscription, continue reading.

Method 4. Sign Up for the Microsoft 365 Trial

If you want to experience the full range of features and capabilities offered by Microsoft Office, sign up for the Microsoft 365 trial. This trial provides limited-time free access to the complete suite of Office applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.

The trial period lasts 30 days, allowing you to explore and evaluate them before committing to the subscription.

Method 5. Buy Hardware With Microsoft Office Bundled

Some manufacturers offer devices that include a pre-installed version of Office, often as part of their marketing promotions. If you’re in the market for new hardware, such as a computer or a tablet, consider purchasing a device with Microsoft Office bundled.

These devices may come with a limited-time free trial or a licensed version of Office that does not require an additional subscription.

6. Join Someone’s Microsoft 365 Home Plan

If you have someone in your family or friends with a Microsoft 365 Home subscription, you can ask them to invite you to join their plan. The Microsoft 365 Home subscription allows up to six people to share the benefits of Office on multiple devices.

By joining someone’s plan, you can access the complete suite of Office applications without paying for a subscription. If you can’t find anyone in your circle with a Microsoft Office subscription, move on to the next method. 

Method 7. Downloading the Old Version of Office

Although Microsoft hasn’t released a free version of Office, you may have paid for it to try or use it back in the day. If so, you can download and re-install it using your same Microsoft account.

So, if you don’t need the latest features and can work with older versions of Microsoft Office, download the older edition.

While Microsoft no longer provides official support for these versions, various websites offer archived versions of Office software that can be downloaded and installed on your computer.

Also Read: Best ways to disable Office updates on Windows 11

8. Get Free Microsoft Office Alternatives

Lastly, if none of the above options suit your needs, free and open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office offer similar functionality. Open-source office suites like LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice provide word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications compatible with Microsoft Office file formats.

While these options may not have all the advanced features of Microsoft Office, they can be suitable replacements for basic document editing and collaboration needs.

FAQs

Now that you know how to get Microsoft Office for free using different methods, you can start using it without worrying about costs.