Because of this epidemic, you will spend more time at work or on your personal computer this year, so you may need some basic tools, such as Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) is a service that adds more features to traditional Office software. However, if you don’t want to spend money, there are some ways to get the service and its popular applications for free.
If you are a student, teacher, or faculty member with a school email address, you are eligible to access Office 365 for free through Microsoft such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, and other classroom devices.
All you need to do is enter your school email address on the Microsoft website on this page: Getting Started with Office 365. In many cases, we will automatically thank you for the automated verification process. If you are studying at an institution that requires verification, it may take up to a month to confirm your eligibility.
Recent graduates who want to stick with Office 365 can also get Office 365 Personal for $12 for 12 months, with a valid school email address.
if you don’t need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar, and Skype. Here’s how to get them:
- Go to Office.com.
- Login to your Microsoft account (or create one for free). If you already have a Windows, Skype, or Xbox login, you have an active Microsoft account.
- Select the app you want to use, and save your work in the cloud with OneDrive.
Is there a catch for the free version?
You might say, wait for a minute I can get all these apps for free, why do I have to pay for Microsoft 365 in the first place? The reason is that these applications have limited functionality they only run through your web browser, and you cannot use them if you are not online. The features are also less than the full Microsoft 365 version.
However, there are still many benefits, including the ability to share work links and real-time collaboration similar to G Suite tools. If you are looking for a native version of each application, then the free version should be for you.
