How to Get Microsoft 365 for Free? 100% Legal and Easy Methods

  Tej Pratap Shukla
Written By Tej Pratap Shukla
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Modified On May 19th, 2026
Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

“How to get Microsoft 365 for free?” -a common query that we all MS Office users must have searched once out of curiosity. After all, we all like free things.

But, really, is there any way to get Microsoft 365 without a subscription? The answer is absolutely yes ✅!

Microsoft itself addressed this frequently asked query by offering the core 365 apps for free, such as Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. Yes, you have read it right!

So, enough of the hype, let’s see how to get Microsoft Office 365 for free on PC and mobile.

And if you want to protect and store your MS 365 data in an offline environment, use the Office 365 Backup & Restore Tool for 100% success rate.

Use Microsoft 365 Web (Free for Everyone)

Microsoft 365 Apps for free on the web

The easiest way to get Microsoft 365 for free is by using MS 365 Online. Primary productivity tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote are free to use.

All you have to do is use MS 365 online. Here is how you can do it:

  1. Open browser >> go to the Microsoft 365 official page.
  2. Click Sign in (for existing account) or Sign Up for free button (For creating a new account).
  3. Follow the simple on-screen instructions and done!

Pro-tip: As a Windows user, you can instantly launch the free app hub by hitting Ctrl+ Shift+Alt on your keyboard.

But are there any limitations? Let’s find out that in the pros & cons section.

Pros Cons
Free cloud-based version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, and OneNote. Requires an active internet connection to create & edit files
5GB OneDrive cloud storage for free. Provides basic formatting and limited features.

SysTools Recommends: Top Microsoft 365 Backup Options for Small Businesses

Microsoft 365 Education Plan (For Students and Teachers)

Microsoft 365 Education Plan

Microsoft 365 Education plan is another applauding initiative from the team Microsoft to empower learning and building skills for the future.

It provides an Office 365 A1 for free that includes a web-based version of the following MS Office tools:

  • Word
  • Excel
  • Powerpoint
  • OneNote
  • Microsoft Teams
  • And 365 Copilot Chat, including additional AI-based tools.

The only eligibility criterion to avail this plan is that you should have a recognised school/institution ID.

Here’s how you can check out your eligibility status for the Microsoft 365 Education Plan:

  1. Open browser >> visit Microsoft 365 Education portal.
  2. Now, insert your school/institution-issued email address.

In some cases, students have reported that their eligibility confirmation lasted for a month. It will happen if your institution needs to be verified.

Download & Install Microsoft 365 Copilot App

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Did you know that you can use the full mobile version of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on your mobile and tablets without any subscription?

Yes, those quick views & edits have become easier than ever.

Simply, download and install the Microsoft 365 Copilot app from the Google Play Store and App Store, and edit docs anytime, anywhere.

Hot Read: Gmail to Office 365 Migration: Move Gmail Emails Easily

Use 30-Day Free Trial

Microsoft 365 Free Trial

Enough of the free web-based version with limited functionalities, want to experience the premium features of MS Office 365?a

If yes, you can go for the MS 365 30-day free trial option. This respective option will offer you the following offerings for a month completely free:

  • Full access to desktop applications
  • Advanced security features
  • 1Tb cloud storage.

The Steps to get a Microsoft 365 30 Day Free Trial:

  1. Open browser >> go to Microsoft 365 Trial Page.
  2. Click the “Start your free trial tab >> log in.

Note: In order to activate this 30-day free trial, you are required to provide a valid credit card number. Also, to ensure that it will not bill you for an annual plan, set a reminder to discontinue the subscription.

Final Words

You can get Microsoft 365 for free easily and legally by;

  • Using MS 365 online
  • Via a dedicated Education plan
  • Installing Microsoft 365 Copilot
  • And availing a 30-day free trial option.

With regards to the above, the first three options give free access to the limited Office tools like Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Word, etc.

Whereas the free trial option allows you to access desktop apps, premium security features, and incredible cloud storage.

So, that’s how you can use MS 365 for free for a lifetime.

And if you’re planning to migrate Office 365 to G Suite, must use the Office 365 to G Suite Migration Tool for a seamless, secure data migration.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q.1 How to use Microsoft 365 for free on Windows?
To use MS 365 for free in Windows, you can follow the given steps:

  • Go to the Microsoft 365 page >> click Sign in (for existing account) or Sign Up for free button (For creating a new account).
  • Follow the simple on-screen instructions and done!

Q.2 How to get Microsoft 365 for free for students?
Students can go for the Microsoft 365 Education plan to get MS 365 for free. It includes a web-based version of core MS tools like Excel, Word, Outlook, OneDrive, etc.

Q.3 How to avail Microsoft Office 365 free trial?
Here are simple steps to avail the MS 365 free trial:

  • Open browser >> go to Microsoft 365 Trial Page.
  • Click the ” Start your free trial tab >> log in.

Q.4 How to set up a free Outlook email account?
To set up a free Outlook email account, simply follow the given instructions:

  • Go to Outlook.com >> hit Create free account.
  • Choose an email address and a strong password >> complete the verification process.

Q.5 Can I use Microsoft Office without paying?
Yes, by using MS 365 online, availing the Education plan, and trying out a free trail you can use MS Office without paying.

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