What you get with a Microsoft Word subscription

Microsoft Word is available through two main paths: as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription (formerly Office 365), or as a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office. The subscription model gives you the latest version of Word plus cloud storage, email, and other Office apps. The one-time purchase gives you Word alone, locked to the version you bought, with no automatic updates.

Microsoft 365 subscriptions come in several tiers. The personal plan covers one person on up to five devices. The family plan covers up to six people, each with their own account and five devices each. Business plans exist for small teams and enterprises. Each tier includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive cloud storage. The amount of storage and the number of people covered depends on which plan you choose.

If you buy Office as a one-time purchase instead, you own that version permanently. You can install it on one or two devices depending on the product you buy. You will not receive new features or security updates automatically — Microsoft will eventually stop supporting the version you have. Most people who need Word regularly choose subscription because the cost spreads over time and you always have current features.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 subscriptions cost between $7 and $20 per month depending on whether you choose personal, family, or business plans, and they include Word plus other Office apps and cloud storage.
  • A one-time Office purchase costs roughly $160 and gives you Word permanently on one or two devices, but you receive no updates after purchase.
  • Microsoft 365 subscriptions renew automatically each month or year, so you must cancel if you no longer want to pay.
  • Word is available on Windows, Mac, iPad, and as a web version through OneDrive, but the features available vary by device and subscription type.
  • You can use Word without a subscription by accessing the free web version at Office.com, though it has fewer features than the desktop or subscription versions.

Subscription plans and their costs

Microsoft 365 Personal costs $7 per month if you pay monthly, or $70 per year if you pay annually. It covers one person on up to five devices and includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage. Microsoft 365 Family costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers up to six people, each with their own account, their own 1 TB of storage, and the ability to use Office on five devices each.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium are aimed at small businesses and teams. These are priced per user per month and include shared mailboxes, team collaboration tools, and higher storage limits. Pricing starts around $7 per user per month for Business Basic and goes up depending on which features you need. Large enterprises negotiate custom pricing directly with Microsoft.

The one-time Office Home purchase costs around $160 and includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It installs on one device permanently. Office Home and Business costs more and can be installed on two devices. Once you buy it, there are no recurring charges, but you also receive no updates after Microsoft stops supporting that version — typically five to ten years after release.

How subscriptions renew and how to cancel

Microsoft 365 subscriptions renew automatically on the date your payment is due. If you pay monthly, you are charged every month. If you pay annually, you are charged once a year. Your payment method is stored in your Microsoft account, and the charge appears on your credit card or bank account on the renewal date.

To stop paying, you must cancel your subscription before the renewal date. You can cancel through your Microsoft account settings on the web, or by contacting Microsoft support. If you cancel mid-cycle, you usually keep access to Word and the other apps until your current billing period ends. After that date, the apps stop working unless you renew.

If you are charged after you intended to cancel, Microsoft allows refunds within a limited window — usually 30 to 60 days depending on your region and payment method. Contact Microsoft support with your receipt to request a refund. Cancellation does not delete your files; they remain in your OneDrive account, and you can download them before your subscription ends.

Where you can use Word with a subscription

Microsoft 365 subscriptions include Word on Windows and Mac computers, iPad, and as a web version. The desktop versions (Windows and Mac) have the full set of features. The iPad version has most features but some advanced tools are missing. The web version at Office.com works in any browser and covers the most common tasks, but lacks some formatting and editing tools.

You can also use Word on iPhone and Android phones through the Microsoft Office mobile app, though the phone versions are simplified for smaller screens. All versions sync through OneDrive, so a document you start on your computer can be opened and edited on your phone or tablet.

The free web version of Word at Office.com does not require a subscription — you only need a free Microsoft account. It covers basic writing, editing, and formatting. If you need advanced features like tracked changes, mail merge, or complex macros, you need the desktop version and a subscription.

Comparing subscription to one-time purchase

The choice between subscription and one-time purchase depends on how long you plan to use Word and how much you are willing to spend upfront. A one-time purchase has a lower total cost if you use Word for only a few years. Microsoft 365 Personal at $70 per year costs more than a one-time $160 purchase over two years, but less over five years.

Subscriptions give you automatic updates, new features as they are released, and cloud storage included. One-time purchases give you no updates and no cloud storage, but you own the software permanently and can use it offline without logging in. If you share a computer with others, a family subscription is cheaper than buying separate copies for each person.

If you use Word only occasionally, the free web version may be enough. If you need Word on multiple devices or want the latest features, a subscription is usually the better choice. If you use Word heavily on one device and do not need updates, a one-time purchase can save money over time.

What happens if you stop paying

When your Microsoft 365 subscription expires and you do not renew, Word stops opening documents. You cannot edit or create new files in Word. However, your files remain stored in your OneDrive account. You can download them as Word documents (.docx files) or open them in the free web version of Word at Office.com.

If you have a one-time Office purchase, the software continues to work indefinitely after you buy it. You can open and edit Word documents without paying anything more. However, you will not receive security updates or new features, and Microsoft may eventually stop supporting the version you have.

Some organizations offer Word through their workplace or school. If you leave that organization, your access usually ends on the date your employment or enrollment ends. Check with your IT department or school about what happens to your files and whether you can download them before access is removed.

Free and low-cost alternatives to Word

Google Docs is free and works in any web browser. It has most of the features people use in Word — formatting, comments, sharing, and real-time collaboration. Documents are stored in Google Drive. You can download them as Word files (.docx) to use in Microsoft Word later. Google Docs works on phones, tablets, and computers.

LibreOffice Writer is free, open-source software that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It opens and saves Word documents and has most of Word's features. It does not include cloud storage or automatic syncing across devices, but it costs nothing and you own it permanently.

Microsoft Word's free web version at Office.com covers basic writing and editing. It syncs with OneDrive and works on any device with a browser. It lacks some advanced features, but for most everyday writing tasks it is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Word on multiple devices with one subscription?

Yes. Microsoft 365 Personal allows installation on up to five devices, though you can use it actively on only one device at a time. Microsoft 365 Family allows each of up to six people to install Office on five devices each. The one-time Office purchase typically covers one or two devices depending on which product you buy.

Do I need internet to use Word with a subscription?

You need internet to sign in to your Microsoft account the first time you use Word. After that, Word works offline on your computer. The web version requires internet every time you use it. Mobile versions require internet to sync with OneDrive, but you can edit documents offline and they sync when you reconnect.

What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office?

Microsoft 365 is a subscription that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive storage, and other services, with automatic updates. Office is a one-time purchase that includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint only, with no updates or cloud storage. Microsoft 365 is the current product; Office is the older model.

Can I share a family subscription with someone who does not live with me?

Microsoft 365 Family is designed for household members, and the terms of service require that people on the plan live in the same household. Sharing with someone outside your household violates the terms. If you need to share with a coworker or friend, you would need separate subscriptions or a business plan.

What happens to my documents if I cancel my subscription?

Your documents remain in your OneDrive account after your subscription ends. You can download them as Word files (.docx) or open them in the free web version of Word. You have access to your files even after your subscription expires — you just cannot edit them in the desktop version of Word without renewing.