There are times when you need to do more than just check on social media and reply to emails on your computer. Sometimes you must put in some work too. It would be a bummer, then, if you don’t have any sort of productivity app installed on your PC.
Microsoft Office is the gold standard when it comes to basic computer productivity. Even Mac OS users often have it installed in their systems as well. However, it costs $59.99/year for an Office 365 subscription or a one-time payment of $410 for permanent activation. Suffice it to say that it’s not something that most people can buy on a whim. Especially if the tasks that require it, come far and few between.
If you’re in this position, I’ll throw you a bone by sharing with you a couple of ways on how you can get Microsoft Office for free without landing in jail.
Get Access to Office 365 through Your School or Office
If you're affiliated with an educational institution, there's a good chance that your student or employee email comes with some perks. Most of the time, this includes access to Microsoft 365. This is because the Redmond giant is big on trying to sell its enterprise business to schools.
All you must do is sign your school email up at the Microsoft website and you’ll be good to go. After this, you can begin the app download. This should give you access to the full suite of Microsoft Office apps. You'll get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even a 5TB OneDrive for Business subscription all for free.
Because your subscription is for Microsoft Office 365, you'll get full-featured applications. These can handle complicated projects, unlike the Office Online apps that Microsoft also offers. Furthermore, all these useful apps will be updated regularly. This means you'll get all the latest features and security updates at no cost.
The same principle could be applied to your office email.
There’s a chance, albeit a small one if you’re working for a small cash-strapped start-up, that your employer has Microsoft Office baked into your office email. The only way to know is if you ask HR or your superior about it.
Microsoft Office Online Apps
You can also access basic versions of the full Microsoft Office app of your choice online. This means that you can use apps, albeit their toned-down versions, like Word, Excel, OneNote, etc. for free.
Sure, they’re a bit watered down. Word Online, for example, does not have that excellent reference management tool that the full offline version has. If you’re a student or researcher looking to make use of this useful feature, you may want to look at other options. But if you just need a quick document printed or posted online then this is more than adequate.
Another downside is that you’re limited not just in the features, you’re also limited in access. This may pose a problem if you’re using this on the road where Wi-Fi connectivity and LTE might be compromised.
On the other hand, it’s easy to get your Office Online access. Just sign up for an Outlook account, open the online app suite, and you can get on your way to typing on Word or doing your spreadsheet on Excel immediately.
You won’t need to wait for a download or finish installing anything on your precious hard drive. This has the unexpected benefit of being a lightweight and speedy system so long as you have a fast and stable internet connection.
Free Trial Period
More than anything, Microsoft Office 365 free trials are a marketing ploy than Microsoft extending a helping hand. You sign up for it, download the apps, and then gradually lose access after the 30-day trial period. After some time, the apps become nothing more than bloatware that you don’t use. Then, they would ask you for money to continue enjoying the apps that you’ve already grown accustomed to. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book and it’s proven to be quite effective. Laptop and other device makers use this free trial as a hook by saying that a free Office 365 comes bundled with the device. Quite often, customers are duped into thinking that they’d be getting more than the 30-day trial.
But, if you’re in a pinch and need to get something done, these trial periods can be life-savers. These are especially useful if you must do things that Office Online just isn't equipped to do. In Microsoft Word, this means encrypted document opening and quick referencing.
Evaluation Periods
Microsoft also lets you test out Microsoft Office for free if you’re willing to evaluate it for them. It’s basically another trial version that has a 30-day expiry.
Other than the expiry, another big downside is that Microsoft uses this as a testing ground for new features. This diminishes the experience a little bit and it may actually hinder you from completing your task. But if you understand what you signed up for, you can probably manage the kinks in the system.
It’s also a great service to Office 365 subscribers. In exchange for the free software, you're going to be the first line of defence against the frustrations that new features might bring.
Alternatives
Without a doubt, Microsoft Office is one of the best software suites out there. It’s lightweight, quick, responsive, and feature-packed. The only downside is that it’s expensive. This gives rise to a demand for cheaper alternatives.
A lot of them are cheap, most of them are free, and a handful is better than Microsoft Office. All you need to do is some light research and you’ll find them. What’s great about them is that programmers built their apps around Microsoft’s software. This means you can not only accomplish the same tasks, but you can also open the same file types as their Microsoft counterparts.
Microsoft Office is the gold standard when it comes to basic computer productivity. Even Mac OS users often have it installed in their systems as well. However, it costs $59.99/year for an Office 365 subscription or a one-time payment of $410 for permanent activation. Suffice it to say that it’s not something that most people can buy on a whim. Especially if the tasks that require it, come far and few between.
If you’re in this position, I’ll throw you a bone by sharing with you a couple of ways on how you can get Microsoft Office for free without landing in jail.
Get Access to Office 365 through Your School or Office
If you're affiliated with an educational institution, there's a good chance that your student or employee email comes with some perks. Most of the time, this includes access to Microsoft 365. This is because the Redmond giant is big on trying to sell its enterprise business to schools.
All you must do is sign your school email up at the Microsoft website and you’ll be good to go. After this, you can begin the app download. This should give you access to the full suite of Microsoft Office apps. You'll get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even a 5TB OneDrive for Business subscription all for free.
Because your subscription is for Microsoft Office 365, you'll get full-featured applications. These can handle complicated projects, unlike the Office Online apps that Microsoft also offers. Furthermore, all these useful apps will be updated regularly. This means you'll get all the latest features and security updates at no cost.
The same principle could be applied to your office email.
There’s a chance, albeit a small one if you’re working for a small cash-strapped start-up, that your employer has Microsoft Office baked into your office email. The only way to know is if you ask HR or your superior about it.
Microsoft Office Online Apps
You can also access basic versions of the full Microsoft Office app of your choice online. This means that you can use apps, albeit their toned-down versions, like Word, Excel, OneNote, etc. for free.
Sure, they’re a bit watered down. Word Online, for example, does not have that excellent reference management tool that the full offline version has. If you’re a student or researcher looking to make use of this useful feature, you may want to look at other options. But if you just need a quick document printed or posted online then this is more than adequate.
Another downside is that you’re limited not just in the features, you’re also limited in access. This may pose a problem if you’re using this on the road where Wi-Fi connectivity and LTE might be compromised.
On the other hand, it’s easy to get your Office Online access. Just sign up for an Outlook account, open the online app suite, and you can get on your way to typing on Word or doing your spreadsheet on Excel immediately.
You won’t need to wait for a download or finish installing anything on your precious hard drive. This has the unexpected benefit of being a lightweight and speedy system so long as you have a fast and stable internet connection.
Free Trial Period
More than anything, Microsoft Office 365 free trials are a marketing ploy than Microsoft extending a helping hand. You sign up for it, download the apps, and then gradually lose access after the 30-day trial period. After some time, the apps become nothing more than bloatware that you don’t use. Then, they would ask you for money to continue enjoying the apps that you’ve already grown accustomed to. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book and it’s proven to be quite effective. Laptop and other device makers use this free trial as a hook by saying that a free Office 365 comes bundled with the device. Quite often, customers are duped into thinking that they’d be getting more than the 30-day trial.
But, if you’re in a pinch and need to get something done, these trial periods can be life-savers. These are especially useful if you must do things that Office Online just isn't equipped to do. In Microsoft Word, this means encrypted document opening and quick referencing.
Evaluation Periods
Microsoft also lets you test out Microsoft Office for free if you’re willing to evaluate it for them. It’s basically another trial version that has a 30-day expiry.
Other than the expiry, another big downside is that Microsoft uses this as a testing ground for new features. This diminishes the experience a little bit and it may actually hinder you from completing your task. But if you understand what you signed up for, you can probably manage the kinks in the system.
It’s also a great service to Office 365 subscribers. In exchange for the free software, you're going to be the first line of defence against the frustrations that new features might bring.
Alternatives
Without a doubt, Microsoft Office is one of the best software suites out there. It’s lightweight, quick, responsive, and feature-packed. The only downside is that it’s expensive. This gives rise to a demand for cheaper alternatives.
A lot of them are cheap, most of them are free, and a handful is better than Microsoft Office. All you need to do is some light research and you’ll find them. What’s great about them is that programmers built their apps around Microsoft’s software. This means you can not only accomplish the same tasks, but you can also open the same file types as their Microsoft counterparts.