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Why Am I Paying for Microsoft 365 If I Only Use Hotmail and OneDrive?
Question details
The user wants to understand the monthly charges for Microsoft 365 since they only utilize basic services like Hotmail (Outlook) and OneDrive, which have free versions.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing monthly subscription charges and determining if a paid Microsoft 365 plan is necessary for basic email and cloud storage usage.
- Observed behavior
- The user is being billed monthly for a Microsoft 365 subscription despite only needing standard email and limited cloud storage capabilities.
Before making any subscription changes, check your current OneDrive storage usage to ensure your files are safely below the 5 GB free limit, preventing data access issues when downgrading.
Review and Downgrade Your Microsoft 365 Subscription
Check your Microsoft account's active services and cancel the paid Microsoft 365 subscription if the free 5 GB OneDrive storage meets your needs.
A Microsoft 365 subscription typically costs around £7.88/month (or equivalent) and includes premium desktop Office apps and 1 TB of OneDrive storage. If you do not use Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and your files take up less than 5 GB, you can downgrade to a free account.
Navigate to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in using your Hotmail or Outlook email address and password.
Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' tab in the top navigation menu to view your active plans and their associated monthly or annual charges.
Locate your Microsoft 365 subscription, select 'Manage', and then choose 'Cancel subscription' or 'Turn off recurring billing' to stop future charges.
Go to onedrive.live.com and check your storage metric in the bottom left corner to ensure you are below the 5 GB free allowance.
Switch to WPS Office and Save on Subscription Fees
If you cancel Microsoft 365 to save money but still occasionally need powerful Word, Excel, and PowerPoint alternatives, WPS Office provides a fully featured, lightweight, and free office suite.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install the software: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open and edit your files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Microsoft formats directly—no conversion or paid subscription required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Hotmail and OneDrive without a Microsoft 365 subscription?
Yes. Microsoft provides free versions of Hotmail (now Outlook.com) and OneDrive. A free Microsoft account automatically includes standard web email access and 5 GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.
What happens to my files if I cancel my Microsoft 365 subscription?
Your OneDrive storage limit will drop from 1 TB to the free 5 GB limit. If you currently have more than 5 GB of data saved, your files will remain safe but become read-only. You will not be able to upload or sync new files until you delete enough data to get back under the 5 GB limit or purchase a standalone storage plan.
Can I buy just OneDrive storage without the other Office apps?
Yes, Microsoft offers standalone OneDrive Basic and Personal storage plans (such as 100 GB) for a lower monthly cost if you only need cloud space and do not require the premium desktop Office applications.
