If you see a Free badge after signing in with your Microsoft account at Microsoft365.com, it means you don't have an active Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription, but you do have access to the free web apps and online cloud storage.
A Subscribed badge means you already have a Microsoft 365 subscription and can make use of all the benefits a subscription offers.
As a Free user, only the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available to you. To access these apps in your browser, all you need to do is to sign in to Microsoft365.com with a Microsoft account and select the app you need from the app launcher 
. (If you don't have a Microsoft account, you can create one using a new or existing email address.)
In addition to the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you also get 5 GB of OneDrive online cloud storage so you can access your files from anywhere.
Subscribed means you already have a subscription for Microsoft 365 Family or Personal. Both these subscriptions include the desktop versions of apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook which you can install on a PC or Mac.
With a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, or Pro subscription, you'll always have the most up-to-date productivity tools with the latest AI-powered features, such as Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Designer. You also get perennial tech support, security updates, and cloud storage to store your files and photos at no extra cost. With a Microsoft 365 Family or Premium plan, you can add up to five additional people to your subscription—AI benefits are only available to the subscription owner and cannot be shared.
If you don't think you'll need the full richness of the desktop apps right now but want the extra cloud storage and email benefits that come with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family, check out Microsoft 365 Basic which comes with 100 GB of cloud storage.
Note
Starting October 8, 2026, all new (including expired and repurchased) Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscribers get 2 TB of pooled OneDrive cloud storage, and Microsoft 365 Pro subscribers get 5 TB pooled storage. From May 2, 2027, all existing Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscribers will get 2 TB of pooled cloud storage when the subscription renews. Pooled storage means the cloud storage allowance is shared across all members of a shared subscription. Each person's mailbox, files and folders continue to remain private. All subscription types can be extended up to 10 TB to give everyone even more OneDrive storage.
And with Microsoft 365 Family you can add up to five additional people to your subscription.
Besides Microsoft 365 Family or Personal, there are other Microsoft 365 plans which include additional benefits and features designed specifically for small and mid-size businesses, enterprises, schools, or non-profits.
And if you don't think you'll need the full richness of the desktop apps right now, but need the extra cloud storage and email benefits that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription, there are plans that fit that need such as OneDrive Standalone.
As a free user, you'll get 5 GB of cloud storage so you can access your files from anywhere. Any documents you create with the free versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are automatically saved to OneDrive.
Learn more about the differences between some of the Microsoft 365 plans in the table below.
Not sure what you have now? See What version of Office am I using?
Think you might need a business subscription? See What's the difference between a Microsoft 365 subscription for personal and family and one for businesses
Ready to install the desktop apps? See Install Microsoft 365 or Office on your PC or Mac.
Looking for product details and prices?
Compare the free Microsoft 365 web apps with a paid subscription
The table below compares the free Microsoft 365 web apps with subscription options. If you think you might need a business subscription, check out What's the difference between Microsoft 365 for personal and family and Microsoft 365 for business.
| Â | Microsoft 365 web apps | Microsoft 365 Basic | Microsoft 365 Personal | Microsoft 365 Family | Microsoft 365 Premium | Microsoft 365 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free with your Microsoft account | Small monthly fee, or save by paying annually | Small monthly fee, or save by paying annually | Small monthly fee, or save by paying annually | Small monthly fee, or save by paying annually | Monthly fee, or save by paying annually |
| Number of users | 1 person | 1 person | 1 person | 1 to 6 people (AI for subscriber only) | 1 to 6 people (AI for subscriber only) | 1 to 6 people (AI for subscriber only) |
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote | Web versions only | Web versions only | Includes both web apps and desktop apps you know and love with new AI-powered features for PC and Mac with productivity features. Install the desktop apps on all your devices. You can be signed into five devices at the same time. |
Includes both web apps and desktop apps you know and love with new AI-powered features for PC and Mac with productivity features. Install the desktop apps on all your devices. You can be signed into five devices at the same time. Each person you share your subscription has the same benefit. This means they can also install the apps and be signed in on five of their own devices at the same time. Note: AI benefits are only available to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with additional Microsoft 365 Family members. |
Higher usage limits for AI features. Includes both web apps and desktop apps you know and love with new AI-powered features for PC and Mac with productivity features. Install the desktop apps on all your devices. You can be signed into five devices at the same time. Tip: With Microsoft 365 Premium, each person you share your subscription has the same benefit. This means they can also install the apps and be signed in on five of their own devices at the same time. Note: AI benefits are only available to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with additional Microsoft 365 Premium members. |
Highest usage limits for AI features. Includes both web apps and desktop apps you know and love with new AI-powered features for PC and Mac with productivity features. Install the desktop apps on all your devices. You can be signed into five devices at the same time. Tip: With Microsoft 365 Pro, each person you share your subscription has the same benefit. This means they can also install the apps and be signed in on five of their own devices at the same time. Note: AI benefits are only available to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with additional Microsoft 365 Pro members. |
| Feature updates | Security updates, but no new features. | Security updates, but no new features. | Desktop and web apps are always improving. Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. | Desktop and web apps are always improving. Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. | Desktop and web apps are always improving. Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. | Desktop and web apps are always improving. Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. |
| Install apps on phones and tablets Note: Availability of mobiles apps vary by country/region. |
Basic editing only on tablets or phones under 10.1 inches. | Basic editing only on tablets or phones under 10.1 inches. | Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. | Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. | Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. Get access to Copilot features exclusive to Premium subscribers. | Get AI-powered features and updates, as well as advanced security, and bug fixes. Get access to Copilot features exclusive to Pro subscribers. |
| Microsoft Teams | Group calling for up to 60 minutes per month and 100 participants. | Group calling for up to 60 minutes per month and 100 participants. | Group calling for up to 30 hours per month and 300 participants. | Group calling for up to 30 hours per month and 300 participants. | Group calling for up to 30 hours per month and 300 participants. | Group calling for up to 30 hours per month and 300 participants. |
| Access and Publisher (for PC only) | Not available | Not available | Includes desktop versions of Access and Publisher (for PC only). | Includes desktop versions of Access and Publisher (for PC only). | Includes desktop versions of Access and Publisher (for PC only). | Includes desktop versions of Access and Publisher (for PC only). |
| Online cloud storage with OneDrive | 5 GB | 100 GB | 1 TB | 2 TB shared among each person sharing your subscription (up to 5 additional people) Starting October 8, 2026, all new (including expired and repurchased) Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscribers get 2 TB of pooled OneDrive cloud storage, and Microsoft 365 Pro subscribers get 5 TB pooled storage. From May 2, 2027, all existing Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscribers will get 2 TB of pooled cloud storage when the subscription renews. Pooled storage means the cloud storage allowance is shared across all members of a shared subscription. Each person's mailbox, files and folders continue to remain private. All subscription types can be extended up to 10 TB to give everyone even more OneDrive storage. |
2 TB shared among each person sharing your subscription (up to 5 additional people) | 5TB shared among each person sharing your subscription (up to 5 additional people) |
| Technical support | No technical support | Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits | Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits | Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits | Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits | Includes support for all Microsoft 365 benefits |
Frequently asked questions
What's the cost?
Choose an option below to get pricing info.
| Compare prices | |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 subscriptions | For personal use: Microsoft 365 Family (share with up to 5 additional people) Microsoft 365 Personal (for one individual) OneDrive Standalone(for one individual) For business use: Compare Microsoft 365 small and midsized business plans (up to 300 users) Compare Microsoft 365 enterprise plans For non-profits: Microsoft 365 Nonprofit plans |
| One-time purchases of Microsoft 365 | Office Home & Student 2021 Office Home & Business 2021 Office Professional 2021 Office Personal 2021 Office Home & Business 2021 Office Professional 2021 Office Home & Student 2021 for Mac |
Can I buy a single app only, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint? What about Project or Visio?
Yes. You can buy standalone versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Mac or PC. Go to the Microsoft Store and search for the app you want.
You can purchase subscription or non-subscription versions of Visio or Project (desktop versions of these apps are for PCs only). Buy Visio or buy Project.
I have a Mac. What should I buy?
Microsoft 365 subscriptions and Office 2021 can be installed on either Mac or PC. Compare prices
Do I need to be connected to the internet to use Microsoft 365?
After the desktop apps are installed on your devices you don't need to be online to use Microsoft 365. However, you'll need internet access to do any of the following:
- First time install (if apps weren't pre-installed on your device)
- Initial activation of the Microsoft 365 desktop apps
- Install updates or to reinstall the apps
- Manage your subscription (for example, you need to update your payment method, renew, or share a Microsoft 365 Family subscription)
- Access documents stored on OneDrive, unless you install the OneDrivedesktop app to your device.
You should connect to the internet regularly to keep your version of Microsoft 365 up to date and benefit from automatic upgrades. If you don't connect to the Internet at least every 39 days, your apps will go into reduced functionality mode, and you might see an unlicensed product error. To reactivate the Microsoft 365 apps, simply reconnect to the internet and sign in to Microsoft 365. Learn how to sign in. For help with renewing an expired subscription, see Renew Microsoft 365 for home.
I have more questions. Is there someone I can talk to?
Use Contact us at the bottom of this page.