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How to Lower Microsoft 365 Subscription Used Only for Word and Excel
Question details
The user wants to reduce their Microsoft 365 subscription costs because they only use Word and Excel, but cannot find a plan limited to just these two applications.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Optimizing software subscription costs when only a subset of features (Word and Excel) is needed.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 does not offer a standalone subscription exclusively for Word and Excel, forcing users to pay for bundled apps and services they do not use.
Before changing your plan, check your current subscription tier (e.g., Family or Premium) and assess whether you rely on Microsoft 365 cloud services like OneDrive or mobile applications.
Downgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal
Ideal if you are currently on a Family or Premium plan but only need access for a single user.
Microsoft 365 Personal is cheaper than the Family plan and provides full access to Word and Excel for one individual. It retains your 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage and mobile app access.
Go to the Microsoft account website and sign in with the credentials associated with your current Microsoft 365 subscription.
Click on 'Services & subscriptions' from the top navigation menu to view your active plans.
Locate your current plan, select 'Manage', and look for the option to switch to 'Microsoft 365 Personal'. Follow the on-screen checkout prompts to confirm the change.
Switch to a One-Time Office License
Best for users who want to avoid recurring subscription fees and do not need cloud storage or ongoing feature updates.
Use WPS Office as a Free Alternative for Word and Excel
If you only need word processing and spreadsheet capabilities, why pay recurring subscription fees? WPS Office is a free, lightweight suite that perfectly replaces Word and Excel with zero subscription costs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open Your Files Directly: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Microsoft Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx) files. You can continue editing immediately without any formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Microsoft Word and Excel separately as standalone apps?
Yes, Microsoft does sell standalone versions of Word and Excel for PC or Mac. However, buying them individually is often more expensive than purchasing a one-time Office Home bundle, so it is rarely recommended from a cost perspective.
What happens to my OneDrive files if I switch to a one-time Office license?
If you cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription, your OneDrive storage will drop from 1TB to the free 5GB tier. If your files exceed 5GB, you must back them up to a local hard drive or another cloud service before your subscription expires, otherwise you will lose the ability to upload new files.
Will I lose my Microsoft Office mobile apps if I cancel my subscription?
You can still use the free versions of the Office mobile apps for basic editing on devices with screens smaller than 10.1 inches. However, premium mobile app features require an active Microsoft 365 subscription and are not included with one-time licenses.
Is there a completely free version of Word and Excel?
Microsoft offers a free, web-based version of Word and Excel via Microsoft 365 online. This requires a constant internet connection and lacks some advanced offline features. Alternatively, you can download a free desktop suite like WPS Office to edit your files offline at no cost.
