Is a Microsoft 365 Subscription Worth It?
☝️ Before you dismiss it because it’s a subscription, take a look and do the math. Microsoft 365 might be surprisingly affordable for you.
☝️ Microsoft 365
Microsoft Office is still available as a one-time purchase for use on a single computer. The Microsoft 365 subscription includes all the apps, can be used on up to five computers, can be shared with up to six people in your household, and includes a full terabyte of OneDrive storage. Given everything included, the subscription is a very good value.
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Chapters
0:00 Is Microsoft 365 Worth It?
1:20 do the math
1:50 Office from “a box”
3:00 Microsoft 365 subscription
4:30 Comparing
5:50 The same product
6:00 Of course there is risk
7:30 Free options
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NO A WASTE OF MONEY IT IS CRAP …………..FREE SOFTWARE WORKS BETTER
Thanks!
Kind of a late comment but what would your recommendation be if you want to use your own domain
Worth it, received my key at hypest key
This man makes a lot of assumptions that suit him. Also, I must include the fact that every time I install Windows, I immediately unlink OneDrive and set Desktop back to original location and un-install Onedrive. I don’t want the NSA looking thjrough my files.
I used MSFT 365 for 3 months and finally gave up on it. It seems, and actually is, as though you’re working on someone else’s server. Inputs are no longer instant, you have to be online, if you click off the main screen, you need to click back on the sheet to get back on the MSFT server. This means your data is transmitted elsewhere.
I have reloaded an old MSFT Office 2003 and everything went back to fast and normal. I am not subscribing again.
I for one have no use for a syncing cloud drive… 😁
I agree and have been subscribing to Microsoft 365 for several months now ($9.99/mo) and enjoy having Office, but also getting 1 TB of space on Onedrive and automatic backup, and have Office then installed and running on both PCs, my phone, and my 2 tablets. Also, enhanced Windows Security.
I actually wasn’t looking for MS Office but instead I wanted an off-site backup option for all my data. However, I’ve used MS Office software since I got my first PC in 1992 and up until 3 years ago I was still using Office Pro 2003 so when I saw it being bundled for free with 1TB of Onedrive cloud storage it was a no brainer to get my off-site cloud backup and upgrade my version of Office for free at the same time.
I believe now you are allowed to install Microsoft 365 on as many devices as you want but you are limited in how many you can be logged into and using at the same time which I think is a much better way of doing it.
What if you only have one computer and not sharing with other? Do I really 1T space?
I had to get an an Office subscription is to use Word on my Android devices. I already had the Office desktop variant.
It’s still a crap product. And, they did just raise the price. Fuck them. Oh, and the 1 terabyte….😂😂😂. And, no privacy.
It also depends on what you use,if you just use Word then that’s fine(single time purchase) but if publisher subscription
Thanks for the info. I am looking for Microsoft Office for my Windows 11 Laptop, I was thinking of buying Office 2024 Pro Plus for Windows 10/11 64 bits. I don’t need a TB of extra data, I have that on my Laptop & I also have 1TB extermal drives & USB Flash Drive 2TB Thumb Drives.
My other computer is a 2010 desk top rumming Windows 7, with Microsoft Office Home 2010 and it works fine for what I need, I havent had a problem in 15 years.
I’m still using and quite happy with Office 2007. Don’t need all the fancy bells and whistles.
if I dont have 6 friends/family or more than 2 computers and only have 50GB of storeage requirements.. is O365 subscription worth it ? done the Maths, No !
NOPE !!!
As usual, if you are a single person with no one to share the "complimentary" extra subscriptions, you are, in a way, paying MORE for ONE subscription than a person who may share the cost of the subscription with 5 additional people. LIke if you want to stay in a hotel by yourself, and only need 1 bed, you still have to pay for a double room because they don’t have a single room with one bed for the single traveler. Same thing for cruise ships, buy one meal get one free, companion fares for flights, etc. THE SINGLE PERSON NEVER GETS A BREAK!
Dropped them after they went up over 40% overnight for the monthly subscription. Also saw the yearly went up that amount too.
Prices are up in 2025. It’s just government sanctioned greed.
The answer to Leo’s question: to me, yes.
Subscription services are legalized BLACKMAIL
Wife and I have used Adobe Open Office for 10 years or so. Seamlessly converts from Microsoft 365 to Open Office and back again. Absolutely free and reliable. I use Open Office Spreadsheet – it has all the functions of 365 including labels, macros, links to other sheets etc. The 10 year cost is $0.00 .
Are you speaking on the viewpoint of a business? What about a regular person who uses it periodically? How is $99 a good deal?
I guarantee you this will not happen. I have a computer from work that has the newest Office. But for my home computer – buy it once and use it for 10 years. I seriously recommend NOT buying a subscription and wasting money.
I’m leaving MS.. I only have use for Word and sometimes a spreadsheet. I’ve flicked Outlook for Thunderbird and looking at Libreoffice or similar..
The problem is the storage of onedrive, which is only 5gb!! So they force you to pay the subscription!
I’ve been using libre office for several years on my Windows 10 computer. And leave your office on my Linux mint computer.
Hell no!!!
Yes we use to get this free on your computer
The only reason why I’ll be upgrading to 365, from Office 2003, is because my desktop is too old. Otherwise, I’d continue merrily along with what I have. It does what I need, and I don’t need all these new bells and whistles if I have no use for them.
I’m, sorry, but I’m not one of those people who are easily distracted by "OOOO….shiny!"
What is new in Microsoft Office? It is the same recycled software from 20+ years. There is no innovation. I like the older versions of Microsoft Office as they had a 3D buttons, the drop menu were much more readable. I have Outlook 2016 and there are things which are broken. They are now a trillion dollar company. A huge elephant, so they constantly need billions to justify their existence.
Why use subscription when OnlyOffice could probably handle most of your needs. They have a local installation for all platforms as well as a cloud version that is fully encrypted (2gb storage free). Even Microsoft has a free version of their office online but you’re required to store your documents in OneDrive. If you like privacy, MS is not the way to go.
What about the pensioners are not using, PowerPoint, Database etc. my husband and I only like to reads news, and games, and emails etc. I think Microsoft is all about GREEDENESS, not everybody needs this at home, just students and people that work in computers, I was totally shock today the homepage of news complete disappear I though I di something I was totally disbelief, until I have read this.
Don’t forget that with 365, you get the newer versions of Office for free as they are rolled out; but with the retail version, you are stuck with the version that you bought.
But now there asking for auto renewal? So it’s not just one time. It’s every year and it’s $12.99 a month. Was $9.99 a month.
Who remembers when Word/Office was given away with almost every new computer. When they dominated the market they charged a lot for it.
I feel cheated. I bought the Microsoft 365 for home/office and paid a subscription. However, I bought a domain name, but I had to buy the Business edition of Microsoft 365 (single user) in order to get Microsoft Exchange (they force you to buy another Office suite). Paying for the same stuff over and over again. They don’t even given you a domain space for your website, that is extra. I had to get a subscription, as that is the only way to get Word / Outlook on my Android device to get emails on the go.
Thanks for such a clear explanation.
Thanks Leo, a fair presentation. Just for anyone who does not know, there’s another alternative: There’s the free web version of Microsoft 365 (now named Microsoft Co-Pilot): just need to be connected and signed in to your ms account. You can open files from your pc and save to it again.
"Hell of a deal" might be stretching it, but I agree that given the advantage of timely updates , the benefit of using 365 as "software as a service" , not to mention that can be accessed just about anywhere, is still a good deal as a subscription. While Microsoft sees more of a future in coporate users (who can blame them), I would like to see some discount for those of us that are "older" (dare I say Senior), users. I lost my subscription discount upon retirement. Many of us have invested years in the Microsoft ecosystem and switching to say Apple or Google would involve some pain.
It’s not the subscription but the customer service support for the subscription, which in 2025 is non existent
Still using Office 2007 on windows 10.
If MS 365 is used at your workplace then you might be eligible to apply to "Microsoft Workplace Discount Program". This provides a great rebate on the standard price. Also for first time subscription, you get 3 months extra for free if you apply with Costco. If you turn on automatic payments you get an additional month free (this can be repeated every year i.e. turn off followed by turn on).
Will you lose your information on the Microsoft 365 subscription if you don’t renew the subscription?
Just use LibreOffice
I disagree. With 365 in four years you’ll spend $400 assuming no price increases. Purchasing Office Home Edition you’ll be out $150 in four years.
I have just bought 0ffice 2024 now it’s telling me I need Microsoft 365 otherwise I can’t enable editing on my laptop. What nonsense
Microsoft is destroying the Windows platform. Everyone software vendor now wants a monthly subscription. I needed to merge a couple of PDF, well that will cost a monthly subscription from Adobe. Edit a photo, well that is another subscription. When to edit a sound track, well that is another subscription. The big boys bought all all their cheaper rivals software house, so there is little competition. Even then software now is all cloud-based computing. So why do I need Windows? If everything is now web based. Suddenly there is a case for Chromebooks, essential a web browser. The Chromebook plus, allows you to run Android apps, which is game changer!. The Mac mini is also on the table.
They say Chromebooks plus, might be able to run Android apps. This is exciting to me. You can’t even have Android apps as Widgets on Windows 11.
Leo, as usual a sensible and considered explanation. While I use Linux now as a daily driver as I personally have no need of Windows based software I still use Windows (10) for some hings where I volunteer. We have also recently chosen to embrace Google Workspace for Non-profits and will be using Google Docs and Sheets for some of our documentation. In the technology sessions I run for our members I do promote the use of LibreOffice since most of our members are senior citizens and, as I usually point out, do not have need of sophisticated functionality, as might be required in business. A very few of our members are ‘gamers’ and require Windows for that reason but, given the cross-platform nature of most open source software it certainly avoids the need to subscribe for almost anything.
Do the math.