Close to cash? We’ll show you how to get Word and other Microsoft Office applications for free on your PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet. For Windows, Android and iOS.
It is a common misconception that Windows is shipped with Microsoft Office for every user. But you have the option to get Microsoft Office on Windows 10 for free, including Word, for both PC, laptop, tablets and mobile devices with Android and iOS. However, there are a few limitations.
We will tell you where to find the downloads for the free programs and also refer you to a few free alternative office suites that are compatible with the version of Microsoft.
Free, but limited features
Microsoft’s current strategy for Office is that you can download the mobile applications for Word, Excel and Powerpoint free of charge to a variety of devices.
The programs are free for all devices, but in these free versions you cannot use all functions. Full functionality is reserved for Office 365 subscribers.
So you can open and read documents with the free Word always and on each screen. However, you can only create and edit documents free of charge on devices with displays smaller than 10.1 inches, such as smartphones or small tablets. If you are using a larger tablet, laptop or desktop PC, you can only view the documents with the free Office apps.
Under iOS, the distinction is at least easier: You can create and edit documents free of charge on any iPhone, normal iPad, iPad Air or Mini. Only iPad Pro users can only view files.
Important to know: Even on a device with a smaller display, you only get what Microsoft calls the Core Office Experience. It could be described as a core package where some tools and features are not available to users of the free apps.
If you work frequently with other people, you can also sign up for Microsoft Teams (for Windows and Mac OS) for free. From the platform, you can chat, share files, and make video calls.
Office 365 is free for teachers and students. This Office 365 Education includes Office Online (Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, One Note) and Microsoft Teams, as well as unlimited personal cloud storage. You will need to sign up with a valid school email address.
If you want more, you have to pay
If you are working on a PC, laptop or tablet with a screen larger than 10.1 inches, it is not enough just to be able to view documents. So you get more:
The simplest possibility is the registration for Office 365, Microsoft cloud-based Abo service, which gives it starting from 49,99 euro with the official license dealer Lizengo for a personal account. It contains the same applications listed above, but unlocks the full functionality on each device. You store your work in the cloud so you can access it anywhere.
You can also test Office 365 for one month free of charge and then pay 99 euros per year – you can cancel your subscription at any time.
Free Office Alternatives
If you need more features than the free Office apps offer, but you don’t want to pay for Office 365, there are several free alternatives to Microsoft Office.
Our recommendation is Libre Office, a complete package that is updated regularly and allows you to open and save documents in Microsoft format. You can download Libre Office here.
MS Office 365 Offline for private computers of students and employees
General information registered students and employees of the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg can purchase MS Office 365 Pro Plus in the offline version for a small support fee. Windows 10 Education Upgrade is also available for students.
Please note:
Office 365 is not a service of the Hochschule Offenburg! It is an offer from Microsoft that is handled by an external provider. The support fee of 3.99 euros does not go to the university but to the external provider – please contact this provider exclusively if you have any problems or questions. The university and/or the computer center take part in this offer only by the supply of information about beneficiary accounts.
What is Office 365?
The name MS Office 365 does not stand for an independent version of MS Office. It is a mixture of software products and services, including an email service, a cloud service for online storage and online software, and offline software. The offline software consists of MS Office in its current version.
MS Office can be installed and used on up to 5 devices in the current version. MS Office 365 Pro Plus services are not included and are not supported by the university for data protection reasons.
Other free alternatives available for download are WPS Office , Free Office and Google Docs , which is now part of Google Drive. See and browse here for more apps and Office updates.
