Microsoft 365
Office 365 is becoming Microsoft 365
Microsoft makes some of the most widely used productivity applications, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Even if you haven't used these applications, you've probably heard of them as they are widely used by people and organizations worldwide. Microsoft has been adding many other applications and tools to the collection, so they've changed the name to Microsoft 365 from Office 365.
Microsoft 365 works almost everywhere and on multiple devices.
- The applications can be downloaded and installed Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and iPad devices.
- You can use the applications on up to 5 separate devices.
- It supports touchscreen PCs and mobile devices.
- It works with Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browsers.
- Each user gets their own apps and cloud storage with the family plan.
Microsoft 365 is a Subscription, and there's a free option
A Microsoft 365 subscription offers a collection of software, additional features, and automatic updates when you subscribe. There are three options for home users, a free plan, a personal plan, and a family plan.
Free – includes web-based versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. If you don't do anything too complex, this is a great way to get these applications for free. You'll only have 5GB of OneDrive storage, though, but that's often enough for people who don't create many documents.
Both personal and family plans offer the full features of Microsoft 365, but the family plan is a much better deal. The personal plan for a single user retails at $69.99 per year.
A family plan costs $99.99 annually and lets up to six people use the apps. In addition, each user gets their own terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage and can install the applications on up to five devices.
With two users on a family plan, the cost per user is less than the personal plan. I use the family plan myself and have four people sharing it, so it's only $25 per user.
If you don't want to subscribe but still want to install the applications on your PC, you can still purchase the applications.
One-time purchase
Office Home & Student gives you Word, PowerPoint, and Excel products. The purchase allows you to install the applications on one Windows or Mac computer. The software versions are called “classic.” They don't include some additional features that Microsoft offers with a subscription to Microsoft 365. It's still a good solution, and since it doesn't require a recurring fee, it may be all you need.
Why Subscribe?
With Microsoft 365, you get Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and 1 terabyte of cloud storage with your subscription, along with automatic updates, so you always get the latest features. And to make it appealing to pay for the monthly or annual fee, Microsoft adds many features.
Features and applications are always being added, so check the Microsoft website for the latest.
Here are some features included with a subscription:
- One Terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage per user
- Extensive stock image library with photos, videos, icons, stickers, and people
- Microsoft Editor - an artificial intelligence-based based copy editor
- A library of templates for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents
- OneDrive Vault - a secure storage area in OneDrive for sensitive documents
- OneDrive Ransomware protection
- Technical support via chat from Microsoft staff
- Microsoft PowerPoint Designer, a built-in automatic slide designer
- Translation tools to translate from one language to another
- Unlimited transcription in Word and OneNote, which converts audio to text
This is a list of applications included with the subscription:
- Word - word processing Excel - spreadsheets
- PowerPoint - slide presentations
- Outlook - for managing email, contacts, calendars, and multiple accounts
- Microsoft Teams - for chat, web conferencing, and messaging
- Microsoft Defender - security software for your Windows PC
- OneNote - also available for free
- Clipchamp - video editor
- Microsoft Family Safety – manages permissions for children
- Microsoft Publisher - for Windows only
- Microsoft Access – for Windows only Microsoft Forms
- Skype
Is It Right for You?
With a free web version, Microsoft has made its apps available to many people who might have gone to alternatives. There are excellent alternatives that are available.
Google offers a suite of applications with all accounts and includes a word processor, spreadsheet, slide, note, and other apps for free. If you're already familiar with these and using them, they probably meet your needs and work well with Google Drive for cloud storage.
Apple includes Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and other productivity applications on every Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Their applications offer excellent design and graphic features, which differ from Microsoft's. Apple integrates these apps with other Apple apps like Photos which makes it easy to use media from your Apple device. And with Apple applications, you have access to Apple's support services.
Free, open-source applications may offer you what you need without paying for a subscription. Microsoft seems to be throwing in a lot of features and updates to make Microsoft 365 appealing to almost anyone, so it's worth a look.
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