Want to buy Microsoft Office for the lowest price? Use these tips to get the productivity suite at a fraction of the cost.
Microsoft Office is a useful tool for studying and work, but
it doesn't come cheap. If you're looking for the cheapest way to get Microsoft
Office, there are methods you can use to get the productivity suite for a
fraction of the price. Here are some ways to get Microsoft Office cheaply
versus buying it full-price at the store.
1. Use Microsoft's Student Office Plans
If you're wincing at Microsoft Office's price because you're a student, you may be entitled to Office 365 for free. Not all students can claim this offer, as your institute needs to enrol with Microsoft to benefit from this plan. However, it's worth giving it a shot to see if you can get Office for free. To check if you're eligible, head to the official Office 365 Education page and enter your school email address. If you're eligible, you should receive a code for Office 365, which you can use right away. It’s worth noting that this isn't a lifetime gift. Once you graduate from your current school, Microsoft may check up on you to see if you're still eligible.
You'll have to buy Office out of pocket if you're not. Not
to worry, however; you're still eligible to purchase Microsoft's alumni deal at
$12 for a year. While we're on the topic, why not explore some amazing
discounts you can get with a student email account? They're a great way to save
some cash on a student budget.
2. Use
Microsoft's Office Online Website
Did you know that you can use Microsoft Office online for
free? It's not getting an Office license per se, but it's an excellent way to
use Word without paying anything. If you head over to Microprokey.com, you'll find
the entire Office suite ready for you to use. All you need to do is log in with
a Microsoft account, and you can start using Office at no extra cost. Office
Online supports uploading, editing, and downloading Office files from your
computer. If you have a Word document you want to read, but you have no word
processor, you can upload it to Office Online to read it.
So, what's the catch? Office Online does not have the full
range of features that Office 365 has, and it lacks several useful features.
Microsoft will continuously remind you of this as you use it, prodding you to
purchase a subscription while you use Office Online. However, it fits the bill
for a free alternative to Microsoft Office. If you want something with a bit
more power behind it, try the best free online word processors. Not only do
they have more features than Office Online, but some of them are compatible
with Office's file types.
3. Use the
Mobile Office Apps for Android and iOS
Speaking of free Office software, you can also find each
component of Office for free on mobile. Again, it's not strictly getting an
Office license, but it's still advantageous if you want to save money legally.
Both the Android and the iOS app stores have them, and Microsoft is working on a more extensive, all-encompassing Office app for release later down the line.
4. UseThird-Party Retailers and Hunt for Sales
If you want to purchase Microsoft Office legitimately, it's
worth checking for Microsoft Office deals from verified sellers. Some of them
may have some great Microsoft Office 365 deals, and others may even list Office
for a lower price than Microsoft themselves. For example, the Microsoft Store
currently lists Office 2019 at $149, but how much is Microsoft Office on Microprokey.
As it turns out, you can buy an Office CD on the Windows Amazon store for a
lesser amount. This is a great way to save money on Office while still going
through legitimate channels.
Buy Office 365 from Microprokey.com
5. Get
Microsoft Office Cheap on Gray Market Stores
If none of the above work for you, the grey market is your
best bet. Grey market websites can offer a huge Microsoft Office discount
that's hard to resist. These websites are called a "grey market"
because people sell keys without the blessing or authorization of the original
developer or publisher. There's no surefire guarantee that you'll get what you
pay for or that the developer will support the purchase. So, why bother with
grey markets? Simple; their unbeatable price. While Microsoft sells Office 2019
for $149, and Amazon sells it for $109, Kingpin currently sells keys for as low
as $35, saving $115 over Microsoft.
The Moral Issues of Gray Market Stores However, before you
grab a key from a gray market store, consider why these keys are so cheap in
the first place. After all, a price cut doesn't come without a few downsides.
First, make sure you know who you're buying from. Gray
market stores will often work like eBay, where individual people and small
companies list the products. As such, scams can happen, to the point where some
grey market stores ask for an additional cost to protect your purchase.
Also, a seller may put a key up for a low price because it's
an OEM key. These aren't as desirable as retail keys, as you can install an OEM
on one machine and one time only. If that machine is lost or breaks down,
you'll need to wrestle with Microsoft tech support to get a reactivation. If
they say no, you'll have to buy Office again. Finally, grey market stores are a
goldmine for thieves. Criminals can steal credit and debit cards and then use
the funds to purchase many Office keys. They can then flip the Office keys on
grey market websites for a lower price than retail, then direct the profits to
their bank account.
What Is an
OEM Key?
We briefly touched upon OEM keys above, so it's worth going into detail on these. It would help if you considered OEM keys when buying a license to avoid future headaches. OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer," and keys labelled OEM is intended for computer builders. If you've ever bought a computer or a laptop that came with Office pre-installed, there's a good chance that it uses an OEM key.
Computer manufacturers and builders purchase the OEM key and immediately install it onto a device. You can't use an OEM key to install Office on multiple machines; that's what the retail version is for. If a computer with an OEM version of Office is stolen or fails, you can't re-use the key on a new computer. Some OEM keys will even identify if you change the hardware on your machine and make the OEM invalid.
OEM keys are cheaper than buying retail Office suites, so
manufacturers can supply Office with their computers without increasing the
price. This is how manufacturers can sell laptops with Office pre-installed at
around the same price as the retail version of Office. Despite using them
outside their intended use, buying an OEM key by itself isn't illegal. Just as
long as the key was bought through legitimate means, there's no reason to worry
about the legality of buying OEM keys. If you like buying cheaper OEM keys, be
sure to read our guide on what OEM products are for more details.
improving your Productivity for Less
Microsoft Office's price can be prohibitive, but it doesn't
have to burn a hole in your pocket. By using the free versions, finding a cheap
deal, or using a grey market website.
If you'd rather use a free alternative to Office, don't
worry. There are plenty of alternatives out there, and many of them are worthy
of your time. We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! MUO has
affiliate and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from
some of your purchases. This won't affect your pay price and helps us offer the
best product recommendations.
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