Microsoft’s Office suite of productivity apps is popular. In fact, they are not only popular, they are the most commonly used set of productivity tools on Windows PCs. Whether you’re a small business owner, student or working in an organization, Microsoft Office is an indispensable tool. Getting Microsoft Office is important. It’s essential that millions of users around the world look for ways to get free Microsoft Office every year.
Some assume that there is really no way to get free Microsoft Office on your device without stealing a copy from a file-sharing website or reusing a disc and license key a friend used on their computer. Depending on what device you’re using, this isn’t entirely true.
There are ways to get free Microsoft Office on a short-term or permanent basis.
How to Get Free Microsoft Office on Windows 10
Perhaps the best operating system to get free Microsoft Office is the company’s own Windows 10 operating system. It was released last year. Office Mobile apps for Windows 10 are completely free to download directly to devices running Windows 10.
Of course, this version has a catch. Only those with screen size less than 10 inches can use Office Mobile for free. Therefore, most laptops are excluded from the offer. Most Windows 2-in-1s like Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book are also excluded. Office Mobile for Windows 10 is not as feature rich as regular versions of Office.
Besides Microsoft Office Mobile, Windows 10 users should also search for their Windows 10 PC for free Microsoft Office trials and promotions. Some PC vendors include Microsoft Office 365 Personal for one year with their device. Others include a limited-time free trial that will at least save you from any scrapes or urgent needs.
Microsoft offers a free 30-day trial of Microsoft here. This free trial is for full desktop versions of Microsoft Office 2016 apps, not mobile apps. Note that once this free trial ends, you will need to purchase a monthly or annual Office 365 subscription to continue editing and creating. Office 365 costs as little as $6.99 per month.
How to Get Free Microsoft Office on Windows 7 and Windows Vista
Your free Microsoft Office options for Windows 7 and Windows Vista are very, very limited. Microsoft Office Mobile is only available through the Windows Store. This means you will need to upgrade your device’s operating system to access these apps. It’s that simple for Windows 7 users, the Free Windows 10 Upgrade Offer allows free installation of Windows 10 while it comes from Windows 7.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista users have another option available for Windows 10 users as well. This free version of Microsoft Office is available on the web and allows users to skip software downloads altogether. It’s called Microsoft Office Online. Excel, PowerPoint and Word are available for free in almost all web browsers. All you need is a working Microsoft Account, which is also free.
Again, this version of Microsoft Office isn’t as feature-packed as the versions you’re used to working on your desktop or laptop. Also, they won’t help you if you frequently create and edit documents without an internet connection.
Windows 7 users should be able to install the same Microsoft Office 365 30-Day free trial that Windows 10 users can install. here.
How to Get Free Microsoft OneNote
While Microsoft continues to bundle OneNote with Office 365 and traditional versions of Office, you don’t have to buy it. This is because the company has completely stopped charging for it. Microsoft OneNote for Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and MacOS and other platforms is completely free. You can download it from here.
How to Get Free Microsoft Office on iPhone, iPad and Android
Finally, there are Microsoft Office Mobile variants for all the devices you use away from your computer. OneNote, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint can be downloaded for free at: iTunes Store on Apple devices. The same screen restrictions apply, a device with a screen size less than 10 inches can read and edit documents. If you have a device with a screen larger than 10 inches, Microsoft requires you to purchase an Office 365 subscription for as little as $6.99 per year.
The same restrictions apply to: Office Mobile for Android devices. Anyone can read documents, but an Office 365 subscription is required to edit them when the device’s screen is larger than 10 inches. These versions of Microsoft Office have the same features as the Mobile versions of Microsoft’s own Windows 10, but lack some of the more advanced features you’d expect from Microsoft Office 2016.
Good luck getting your hands on Microsoft Office. They are not free, but Microsoft still allows users to purchase Microsoft Office for their PC or Mac in a more traditional way. These versions of Office 2016 currently start at $149.99. Microsoft Store.
