How to use Microsoft Word and Excel for free

Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are almost household names for computer software. While desktop versions of these two tools are everywhere, they are often paid: You can get them through the Microsoft 365 package ($6.99 per month or $69.99 per year) or a standalone one-time purchase package that will be launched later this year.

If you don't want to spend money on Word and Excel, you can also get these programs for free through legal channels, and Microsoft also offers these options. Here are how to break down these options, and some free alternatives to Microsoft's iconic applications you can consider.

Students and teachers

Search online and you will find some confusion about whether students or teachers can get Word and Excel for free (and Microsoft 365). It really depends on the institution you study or teach.

You can log in here using your school email address to access major Microsoft 365 applications (including Word and Excel) for free, but you can only get web versions of the application, which anyone can access (for details For information, see below).

To get full desktop software, your institution will pay for it, so it's worth checking out. If not available, if you are a college or university student, Microsoft will sell you a full office suite at a discount of $2.99 ​​per month.

Web version

Anyone with a web browser and a free Microsoft account (students, teachers, or others) can get online versions of Word and Excel for free. Go to the online portal and log in to get started, and you will also see web apps for PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and OneNote.

So what's the problem? First, you cannot use these apps offline. Additionally, they are not as good as the desktop version: Microsoft provides support pages that explain some of the differences in Word and Excel web applications. Many of the features you miss will only interest the advanced users.

For example, in a Word web application, you cannot load charts and create references and bibliography. You cannot mail merge, compare and merge two documents or run macros (automation). In Excel, you cannot freeze panes, manage more complex chart types, or create drawing objects. However, many core features are available.

Mobile Application

You may have noticed that you can get Microsoft Word for Android and iOS, as well as Microsoft Excel for Android and iOS. They are free to download and use, but if you want to edit and create files on devices with screen sizes larger than 10.1 inches, you need a valid Microsoft 365 subscription. In other words, everything except the smallest tablet is charged.

All editing features are available for free on your Android or Apple phones as they have screen sizes less than 10.1 inches. Obviously, editing documents and spreadsheets on such a small display is not ideal, but if you need some quick edits at any time, these apps can meet your needs without you paying anything.

You can still use Word and Excel apps for free on your tablet, but you can only view files and cannot make any changes. No need to pay, you can still copy content from documents and spreadsheets, view comments, share files, and sort and filter tables in Excel, regardless of the device screen size you are using.

Free Alternatives

The free Word and Excel alternatives available may be more than you realize. For example, you can open Google Docs and Google Sheets in any web browser, or if you purchased a computer with macOS installed, Apple Pages and Apple Numbers are available for free.

And LibreOffice, a prestigious open source office suite that offers Writer and Calc, which are powerful alternatives to Word and Excel. Free desktop software is available for Windows and macOS downloads and is excellent in both features and functionality.

Maybe you are not interested in Word and Excel alternatives, but remember that these alternatives handle Microsoft file formats well – not perfect, but good enough in most cases. If you're just looking for a free version of Word and Excel to see the files others have sent you and make some simple edits, these options might be great for you.

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