A few days ago, a reader contacted us to know if Microsoft Office 365 is free with Windows 10. In this guide, we will clarify why Office 365 is often shipped with Windows 10 computers and if it’s really free with Windows 10.
Microsoft Office applications are popular among Windows, Mac, iOS and Android users. It’s the best productivity suite out there, without a doubt. However, it’s not free!
The following questions and answers should clarify your doubts.
Is Office 365 free with Windows 10?
A single word answer is, No. Microsoft Office is neither part of Windows 10 nor free with Windows 10. Office 365 is a paid subscription service from Microsoft, and you need to buy the subscription in order to use it.
Why Office 365 is included on some Windows 10 PCs?
Many users believe that Office 365 is part of Windows 10 as most OEMs include a trial copy of Office 365 with Windows 10 PCs. To continue using the trial copy of Office 365, you will need to buy the subscription after the initial 30-day trial period.
Is Office 365 offered as free with some Windows 10 PCs?
Yes, a few OEMs do include Office 365 one-year subscription with some of their PCs. More often than not, the first-year subscription cost (discounted) of Office 365 is included in the price of the computer itself. You will need to renew the subscription for subsequent years to continue using it.
Can I try Office 365 before buying it?
Of course, a 30-day trial copy of Office 365 is available. You just need to register using a Microsoft account to start exploring Office 365.
How much does Office 365 cost?
The price of Office 365 varies across regions/countries. In the United States, the Office 365 Home edition (up to 6 PCs or Macs) costs $99.99 per year whereas it costs $69.99/year for the Personal edition (one PC or Mac). You can cancel your Office 365 subscription any time.
Is there a free alternative to Office 365?
If you cannot afford Office 365, you can check out LibreOffice and SoftMaker FreeOffice. Both are free and support Office 365 file formats. Besides that, both programs offer most of the features and options available in Microsoft Office.