What's the difference between a paid Microsoft 365 subscription and the free web apps? (2024)

If you signed in toMicrosoft365.com with your Microsoft account and you see a Free or Subscribed badge, you may wonder what that means.

Free

What's the difference between a paid Microsoft 365 subscription and the free web apps? (1)

AFree badge means an active Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription isn't associated with the account you signed in with.

Only the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available to you. To access these apps in your browser,all you need to do is to sign in toMicrosoft365.comwith your Microsoft account and select the app you need from the app launcher What's the difference between a paid Microsoft 365 subscription and the free web apps? (2).

Try Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for free

Subscribed

What's the difference between a paid Microsoft 365 subscription and the free web apps? (3)

A Subscribed badge means a Microsoft 365 subscription such asMicrosoft 365 Family or Personal is already associated with your account and you can access many of your subscription benefits including installing the desktop apps.

Don't already have Microsoft 365, or you're looking for product details and prices?

Buy or try Microsoft 365

Other subscription plans

Besides Microsoft 365 Family or Personal, there are other Microsoft 365 plans which include additional benefits and features designed specifically forsmall and mid-size businesses, enterprises, schools, or non-profits.

You also get5 GB of OneDrive online cloud storage with your free Microsoft accountso you can access your files from anywhere.Any documents you create with the free versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are automatically saved to OneDrive.

With a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, you'll always have the most up-to-date modern productivity tools from Microsoft all with the latest features, fixes, and security updates. Youalso get perennial tech support, and 1 TB of cloud storage to store your files and photos at no extra cost. And with Microsoft 365 Family you can add up to five additional people to your subscription.

If you don't think you'll need the full richness of the desktop apps right now, but want the extra cloud storage and email benefits that come with aMicrosoft 365 Family or Personalplan, check outMicrosoft 365 Basic which comes with 100 GB of cloud storage.

Learn more about the differences between these Microsoft 365 plans in the table below.

Not sure what you have now?SeeWhat version of Office am I using?

Think you might need a business subscription? SeeWhat's the difference between a Microsoft 365 subscription for personal and family and a subscription for business

Ready to install the desktop apps?SeeInstall Microsoft 365 or Office on your PC or Mac.

Looking for product details and prices?

Buy or try Microsoft 365

Compare the Microsoft 365 free web apps with Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal, or Family

The table below highlights subscription plans for home use. If you think you might need a business subscription, seeWhat's the difference between Microsoft 365 personal and business plans.

Microsoft 365 web apps

Microsoft 365 Basic

Microsoft 365 Personal or Family

Cost

Free with your Microsoft account

Small monthly fee, or save by paying annually

Small monthly fee, or save by paying annually

Number of users

1 person

1 person

1 person (with Microsoft 365 Personal)
1 to 6 people (with Microsoft 365 Family)

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote

Web versions only

Web versions only

Includes both web apps and desktop apps for PC and Mac with premiumfeatures.

Install the desktop apps on all your devices. You can be signed into five devices at the same time.

Tip:With Microsoft 365 Family, each person youshareyoursubscription has the same benefit. This means they can also install the apps and be signed in on five of their own devices at the same time.

Feature updates

Security updates, but nonew features.

Security updates, but nonew features.

Desktop and web appsare always improving. Get all thelatest features and updates, as well as security updates and bug fixes.

Install apps on phones and tablets

Note:Availability of mobiles apps vary by country/region.

Basic editing only on tablets or phones under 10.1 inches.

Basic editing only on tablets or phones under 10.1 inches.

Get all theextra featuresavailable on Microsoft 365 mobileapps.

Microsoft Teams

Group calling for up to 60 minutes per monthand 100 participants.

Group calling for up to 60 minutes per monthand 100 participants.

Group calling for up to 30 hours per month and 300 participants.

Access and Publisher (for PC only)

Not available

Not available

Includes desktop versions of Access and Publisher (for PC only).

Online cloud storage with OneDrive

5 GB

100 GB

1 TB

With Microsoft 365 Family, each person sharing your subscription (up to 5 additional people) gettheir own 1 TB of online storage.

Tip:With Microsoft 365 Family, each person sharing your subscription (up to 5 additional people) gettheir own 1 TB of online storage.

Technical support

No technical support

Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits

Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits

Frequently asked questions

Choose an option below to get pricing info.

Compare prices

Microsoft 365 subscriptions

For personal use:

Microsoft 365 Family (share with up to 5 additional people)

Microsoft 365 Personal (for one individual)

Microsoft 365 Basic (for one individual)

For business use:

Compare Microsoft 365 small and midsized business plans (up to 300 users)

Compare Microsoft 365 enterprise plans

For non-profits:

Microsoft 365 Nonprofit plans

One-time purchases of Microsoft 365

Office Professional 2021

Yes. You can buy standalone versions of Word, Excel, andPowerPointfor Mac or PC. Go to the Microsoft Store and search for the app you want.

You can purchase subscription or non-subscription versions ofVisioor Project (desktop versions of these apps arefor PCs only). Buy Visio or buy Project.

Most apps forMicrosoft 365Family or Personal subscriptions andOffice 2021apps can be installed on either Mac or PC.Compare prices

If you're using Microsoft 365 Family or Personal and after the desktop appsare installed on your devices, you don't need to be online to use Microsoft 365. However, you'll need internet access to do any of the following:

  • First time install (if apps weren't pre-installed on your device)

  • Initial activation of theMicrosoft 365desktop apps

  • Installupdates or to reinstall the apps

  • Manage your subscription (for example, you need to update your payment method, renew, or share a Microsoft 365 Family subscription)

  • Access documents stored on OneDrive, unless you install the OneDrivedesktop app to your device.

You should connect to the internet regularly to keep your version of Microsoft 365 up to date and benefit from automatic upgrades. If you don’t connect to the Internet at least every 39 days, your apps will go into reduced functionality mode, and you might see an unlicensed product error. To reactivate theMicrosoft 365 apps, simply reconnect to the internet and sign in to Microsoft 365. Learn how to sign in. For help with renewing an expired subscription, see Renew Microsoft 365.

Use Contact us at the bottom of this page.

See Also

Find out which Office is right for you

Install Office on your PC or Mac

What's the difference between a paid Microsoft 365 subscription and the free web apps? (2024)
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