If the Microsoft Office suite is important for you to get work done, you can make the case to your employer. If you can convince them to add you for free, that’s an even better option. That means you can get the entire Microsoft Office 365 experience for around $17/year.
That way you can split the $99/year cost between six users. Hey, if you can share your Netflix account, why not your Office account too?
If you find a professional or a small business-person who uses the plan, you can ask them to add you to it. Speaking of the Microsoft 365 Home plan, you can ask around to see if you know anyone that already uses it. You can find Windows laptops that cost less than $500 that come bundled with a free Office 365 Home plan that can be shared with up to 6 users. You do not need to be connected to the Internet to use the Office apps, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, because the apps are fully installed on your computer.Yes, this is not the most cost-effective option, but if you’re shifting to working from home, or if you’re in the market for a new PC, you can look for ones that come with a Microsoft Office 365 subscription. To reactivate your apps, simply reconnect to the Internet. If you do not connect to the Internet at least every 31 days, your apps will go into reduced functionality mode, which means that you can view or print your documents but cannot edit the documents or create new ones. You should also connect to the Internet regularly to keep your version of Microsoft 365 up to date and to benefit from automatic upgrades.
Internet access is also required to access documents stored on OneDrive, unless you install the OneDrive desktop app. Note that if you are an existing subscriber, you do not need to reinstall or purchase another subscription.įor Microsoft 365 plans, Internet access is also needed to manage your subscription account, for example to install Office apps on other PCs or to change billing options. Internet access is required to install and activate all the latest releases of apps and services included in all Microsoft 365 subscription plans. You can choose to pay for your subscription on a monthly or yearly basis, and the Microsoft 365 Family plan lets you share your subscription with your family for up to 6 people, and use your apps on multiple PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones.
With a subscription, you'll always have the latest features, fixes, and security updates along with ongoing tech support at no extra cost.
You also get extra online storage and cloud-connected features that let you collaborate on files in real time. Microsoft 365 includes the robust Office desktop apps that you’re familiar with, like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Microsoft 365 is a subscription that includes the most collaborative, up-to-date features in one seamless, integrated experience.
However, there are no upgrade options, which means if you plan to upgrade to the next major release, you'll have to buy it at full price. One-time purchases are available for both PCs and Macs. Office 2021 is sold as a one-time purchase, which means you pay a single, up-front cost to get Office apps for one computer.