While there are free alternatives for Microsoft Office components, sometimes they can’t replace the original. As a student, the standard cost of $70 per year for an Office 365 Personal account may seem too high, but don’t worry – you may not have to pay anything to use the software.
Depending on where you study, you may be eligible for a free or heavily discounted Office 365 subscription. The student version gives you the same access to Office apps (including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage, video editing software, and more.
For many students, their school email address is enough to verify their eligibility—and they may not even have to go through that process.
How to get Office 365 for free as a student
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
If you’re lucky, you can get Office 365 for free – but your institution must have an agreement with Microsoft. Your school’s website and/or student portal will usually mention the free software available to students. Just search for your school’s name and Office 365 to speed up the search. If you don’t see any mention of Office 365, contact your IT department and ask.
How to get Office 365 cheaply as a student
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
Students at U.S. colleges and universities with Title IV accreditation are eligible for a student discount on the Office 365 Personal plan, reducing the price to just $3 per month.
You must sign up through the Microsoft Office 365 student website, where you will be asked to verify your student status. If you qualify, you will be charged the student rate once a month until you lose your eligibility, at which point your rate will increase to the standard Personal plan price in effect at that time.
In this case, or if you no longer need your account, you can cancel it at any time.
