3 Ways to Get Microsoft Office for Free

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Man using Microsoft Office
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It’s tough to escape Microsoft Office. Millions of us use one or more of the applications in this software suite every day — at work, at home or both.

If you use Office — which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher — at home, chances are good that you pay for it. The price of Microsoft Office 365 begins at $69.99 a year for individuals and climbs if you want other options.

With a little ingenuity, however, you can cut those costs all the way to zero. Following are a few ways to get Microsoft Office for free.

1. Check out Office.com

Microsoft offers Office free to anyone who accesses it directly from Office.com.

Just be aware that when you use Office.com, you are not getting the full-powered versions of Office that you get when you pay to use this software. According to PCMag.com:

“You’ll find all the editing and formatting commands, and some additional features, but not much more. However, if all you need are the basics, this is an option worth trying.”

2. Download Microsoft apps

You can download Microsoft’s revamped Office mobile app, available for iPhone or Android devices, for free. Released in 2020, it combines Word, Excel and PowerPoint in one app.

While the app itself is free, its premium features are not. Microsoft explains:

“The app is free to use, even without signing in. However, signing in with a Microsoft Account or connecting to a third-party storage service will enable you to access and store documents in the cloud. An Office 365 or Microsoft 365 subscription will also unlock various premium features, consistent with those in the current Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps.”

3. Enroll in Office 365 Education

Students and educators can access the suite of Microsoft software for free by using Office 365 Education.

You get access to a range of Microsoft Office services — including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. To qualify, you simply need a valid school email address.

Make money playing on your computer

Getting Office for free can save you money when using your computer. But how about going a step further and actually making money with your laptop or desktop?

As we have reported, InboxDollars offers a way to put some extra cash into your pocket:

“Founded in 2000, InboxDollars pays millions of members cash — not just points, like many rewards sites. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but you do earn cash for reading emails, taking surveys, playing games and signing up for offers through the InboxDollars website. A few bucks here and a few bucks there — it all adds up!”

For more on InboxDollars, check out “Marooned at Home? Earn Some Cash Playing on Your Computer.”

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