Microsoft 365 Family is a paid subscription that covers up to six people and includes Office apps, cloud storage, and security features

Microsoft 365 Family is a yearly or monthly subscription service that lets up to six household members use Microsoft Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and others — on their own devices. Each person gets their own Microsoft account and 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage. The subscription also includes access to Microsoft Defender antivirus software and priority customer support.

The service works across Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, and Android devices. You do not need to buy separate licenses for each person; one subscription covers the whole household. If you cancel, the apps stop working unless you buy a new subscription or switch to a free version with limited features.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 Family costs a fixed amount per year or month and covers up to six people in one household, each with their own account and storage.
  • Each person gets 1 TB of OneDrive storage, full versions of Office apps, and access to Microsoft Defender antivirus on multiple devices.
  • The subscription works on Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android, so household members can use it on whatever devices they own.
  • If you stop paying, the Office apps become read-only and you lose access to cloud storage and Defender unless you renew or switch to free alternatives.

What is included in the subscription

Microsoft 365 Family includes the full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. You also get OneNote, which is a note-taking app, and Clipchamp, which is a video editor. Each of the six household members can install these apps on up to five devices at the same time — so one person could have Word on a laptop, tablet, and phone all at once.

Cloud storage comes as 1 TB of OneDrive per person, not shared across the household. That means if you have four people on the subscription, you have 4 TB total. OneDrive syncs files across your devices and lets you share documents with others by sending a link. Microsoft Defender is included and runs in the background to scan for viruses and malware on Windows PCs.

The subscription also includes 60 minutes of Skype calling per month to phone numbers in over 200 countries, though calls between Skype users are unlimited. You get priority support when you contact Microsoft, which means shorter wait times than free account holders.

Cost and payment options

Microsoft 365 Family costs a set amount per year when paid annually, or a smaller amount per month if you choose monthly billing. The exact price varies by country and changes periodically, so you should check the Microsoft Store or your email for the current rate in your region. Monthly payments are higher per month than the yearly rate divided by 12, so annual payment saves money overall.

You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. The subscription renews automatically on the same date each year or month unless you turn off auto-renewal. Microsoft will send you a reminder email before the renewal date. If you want to stop, you can cancel anytime through your Microsoft account settings, and you will keep access until the current billing period ends.

How to set up and manage the subscription

To start, you buy the subscription through the Microsoft Store website or app using a Microsoft account. After purchase, you can invite up to five other people to join by sharing an invite link or entering their email addresses. Each person must accept the invitation and sign in with their own Microsoft account to get access.

Once someone joins, they can download the Office apps on their devices and sign in with their account. Their 1 TB of OneDrive storage is separate from everyone else's. You can manage who is on the subscription and remove people from your account settings if someone moves out or no longer needs access. Removing someone does not delete their files, but they lose the ability to use the Office apps unless they have their own subscription.

Free alternatives and when to consider them

Microsoft offers free versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook online through Office.com. These web versions have fewer features than the desktop apps — for example, you cannot use advanced formatting or run macros — but they are free and work in any web browser. You get 5 GB of OneDrive storage for free, which is much less than the 1 TB in the paid subscription.

Google Workspace and Apple iCloud+ are other options if you want cloud storage and productivity apps. Google Workspace includes Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive, and costs less than Microsoft 365 Family but does not include desktop versions of the apps. If you already use Google or Apple services, switching to one of those might be simpler than learning Microsoft's ecosystem.

If you only need Office apps occasionally and do not need cloud storage or antivirus, the free web versions are enough. If you use Office daily, work offline, or need the full feature set, the paid subscription is worth the cost.

What happens if you stop paying

When your subscription expires and you do not renew, you can still open and view your Office documents, but you cannot edit them. The apps show a notification that the subscription has ended. You can still access your OneDrive files through the web, but you cannot sync new files to your devices. Microsoft Defender stops running on your PC.

If you want to edit documents again, you can renew the subscription, buy a one-time license for a single Office app, or switch to the free web versions. Your files stay in OneDrive for a set period after your subscription ends, so you have time to download them or renew before they are removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Microsoft 365 Family on a work computer?

Yes, you can install it on any device you own, including a work computer. However, if your employer provides you with a work computer and a work Microsoft account, you should check your company's policy first — some employers restrict what software can be installed. Using your personal subscription on a work device is usually allowed, but the terms of service say it is for personal use only.

What if someone on my subscription account moves out or I want to remove them?

You can remove them from your account settings at any time. They will lose access to the Office apps and shared OneDrive folders, but their personal files stay in their OneDrive account if they have a free Microsoft account. They can still access those files by signing in to OneDrive.com with their own account.

Do I need internet to use the Office apps?

You need internet to download and install the apps and to sign in the first time. After that, you can use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint offline on your computer. However, you must sign in to your Microsoft account at least once every 30 days to keep the subscription active. OneDrive and Outlook work best with an internet connection.

Can I share my subscription with someone who does not live in my household?

The terms of service say Microsoft 365 Family is for people in the same household. Sharing with someone in a different location technically violates the agreement, though Microsoft does not actively police this. If you want to share with someone outside your household, you should consider buying them their own subscription or using the free web versions instead.

Is my data safe in OneDrive?

Microsoft encrypts files in OneDrive and stores them on secure servers. Your files are not visible to other people on your subscription — each person's storage is private. However, you can choose to share specific files or folders with others by sending them a link. Microsoft can access your files if required by law, and they scan files for illegal content.