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Like it or not, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint are the standard office suite applications. When you share files, it's best to use Microsoft formats so recipients can open them easily.
But a basic Microsoft 365 subscription is expensive ($100 for an annual subscription). It includes:
However, there are ways to view, create, edit and save Microsoft 365 files without a subscription.
When deciding on your preferred option, you will need to take the following criteria into account:
The rest of this article describes the research I have done into these topics.
Microsoft’s latest perpetual single-computer licence includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. There is a one-off payment with no recurring fees.
It is compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10 and macOS.
This approach is the most compatible and easiest way to use Microsoft Office without a subscription.
One-time purchases don’t receive feature updates, only security patches.
Perpetual licenses are tied to one device, and prices typically range from 150 to 250 USD, depending on the edition.
Since the last version was Microsoft Office 2021, I believe a new release won’t be available until 2027.
Microsoft’s official website (microsoft.com)
Authorised retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or local electronics stores
Ensure you’re purchasing a legitimate retail license, not a subscription trial
Free web-based versions of Microsoft Office apps that come with basic functionality.
Your files can be accessed and edited from any computer with Microsoft OneDrive installed. Right-click the drive or file and select View Online.
The free tier has 5GB of storage.
LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite.
In addition to word processing (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc) and presentation (Impress) apps, it also has three additional tools:
LibreOffice can be installed on Windows, macOS and Linux desktops, but it doesn't have phone apps.
You can open and save Microsoft Office files directly in LibreOffice, but this might result in some formatting loss.
Unfortunately, grammar-checking tools (like Grammarly) don't work with LibreOffice.
LibreOffice doesn't come with cloud storage.
Apple's iWork includes Pages (word processing), Numbers (spreadsheets), and Keynote (presentations).
Microsoft's Office apps can be opened with iWork, but they are automatically converted to Apple's formats.
Files can be exported in Microsoft formats, but the file's formatting will likely be changed.
Apple's free plan comes with 5GB of storage.
Microsoft Office apps can be installed on Android and iOS devices, but the files can only be viewed.
You need a paid subscription to create, edit and save files.
| Price | Desktop apps | Edit | Storage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office 2024 Home | $150 | Yes | Yes | 5 GB |
| Microsoft Office online | Free | No | Yes | 5 GB |
| LibreOffice | Free | Free | Yes | N/A |
| Apple iWork | Free | Free | Yes | 5 GB |
| Phone apps | Free | Free | No | 5 GB |
