It’s very obvious that you have been spending a big portion of your day on work or personal computers due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In this new culture of work from home, you might need some basic tools like notes & Microsoft Office 365. Earlier, we used to know this as Office 365, but now, it became Microsoft 365, which has more features added to it. Now it has become a suite of productivity software, which combines various tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint, etc.
Typically, the suite costs around $150, or you can also go for yearly subscriptions that will cost around approximately $70 – $100. The yearly cost depends upon the number of devices you are going to use. So, are you ready to shell out few bucks and enjoy the latest features? If not, then there are few ways you can access all the services and popular apps for free.
Here in this article, we are going to share how you can access the versions of Office 365, Microsoft 365, and their apps without paying anything. You can access the versions of Office 365, Microsoft 365, and their apps without paying anything.
Are you a student or a teacher?
Microsoft has kept this suite free for students & teachers from various institutions across the globe. If you have a school or college email ID, you are most likely to be eligible to get free access to MS Office 365. It includes various tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and few additional classroom tools.
To get free institutional access, all you need to do is enter your school/college email ID on Microsoft’s website’s “start with Microsoft Office 365 for free” page. If your institution is verified, it will take only a few seconds to grant access. Otherwise, the verification process may take up to a month if you are studying or working in an institution that is not verified by Microsoft yet.
Even the recent graduates can get access to Microsoft Office 365 Personal for just $12 per year by using their valid school email address.
Are you a working professional?
Working professionals or people who work from home with Microsoft 365 can get a one-month free trial of Microsoft Office 365. Although to subscribe to the free trial, you will need to enter your credit card details. Once you get started with the free trial, cancel the payment before one month is up. Otherwise, you’ll be charged $100 for a year.
Well, don’t lose heart, as there’s a scope to get access to a few of the Microsoft 365 tools online for free. The online free version has includes tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, Calendar PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Skype.
How to get Microsoft 365 tools online for free?
- Browse www.office.com
- Create or login to your current MS Office account. You can also login through your Windows, Skype or Xbox login.
- Choose the app you want to use
- Save your work in OneDrive.
So, what’s the catch in the free version?
The next question that may come to your mind can be “why should I pay if I can get access for free”. Well, the reason is that the online version has limited functionality. These free apps can be only accessible through a browser and can’t be used during offline mode. Even many features have been curved in the free online version, which can be accessed only by purchasing the full Microsoft 365 versions. Still, it has many benefits and you can work by sharing links just like you do for G Suite tools. If your needs are basic then the free online suite can do good for you.
How HelloNerds can help?
Well, if you need assistance with purchasing or installing the Microsoft Office 365 Suite, then our experts can help. We are a certified partner of Microsoft and hence you can get help from the professionally trained staff. Want to know more about us? Visit here.