Millions of households and offices worldwide consider Microsoft Office a permanent resident. The applications that make up the productivity suite for both home and work use cases — from drafting reports in Word to analysing data in Excel — really are the backbone for a lot of day-to-day activity. The full desktop suite can be pricey, though. As such, many people look for ways to download MS Office 2021 or older versions, such as 2007.
But is it legal to do so, in fact? There’s no end to the number of sketchy websites out there claiming to have a Microsoft Office free download. In addition, most of these sources offer pirated software, which not only makes your computer susceptible to malware but also exposes you to serious legal repercussions.
In this guide, you will learn how to get Microsoft Office for free legally. We’ll also discuss the dangers of illegal downloads and list some great free alternatives. So you will know how to obtain the required tools without compromising your security or violating the law, as outlined at the end of this post.
Understanding Microsoft’s Licensing
Before we get into free access, it is important to understand how Microsoft licenses its Office software. When you purchase the software, you don’t actually own the software; you own a limited license to use it under specified terms. Microsoft offers two main Office licensing models.
Perpetual Licenses (e.g., Office 2021, Office 2007)
The old model is known as a perpetual license. You pay a one-off fee to buy a license for a single edition of the software, such as Office Home & Student 2021.
- Ownership: You can use the software indefinitely on a single computer.
- Updates: You get security updates, but no major feature updates. Under a new license, you would only receive the next major version (say, Office 2024) if you bought a new license.
- Price: Higher Initial Cost Than a Subscription, But No Recurring Fees
This model has been utilised by older versions such as Office 2007. Microsoft no longer sells or supports it, but if you bought a legitimate version, you can still theoretically use it. Of course, you won’t find an easy, legal, free download for these older versions.
Subscription Licenses (Microsoft 365)
Microsoft’s latest emphasis is on the subscription model dubbed Microsoft 365 (previously Office 365). You subscribe on a monthly or annual basis to use the Office suite.
- Access: Use the entire range of Office apps as long as your subscription is active.
- Updates: You always have the latest version of the software, including all features, security updates, and fixes.
- Other Perks: Microsoft 365 subscriptions also come with additional benefits, such as 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage, 60 minutes of Skype calls per month, and premium features in the mobile and online apps.
- Number of devices: Different plans let you install the apps on different devices. This includes PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones.
This is part of the reason understanding these models is crucial: when someone offers you “lifetime free access” to a premium desktop version such as Office 2021, it’s almost always a sign that you’re being offered illegal, pirated software.
3 Ways to Get MS Office Free Legitimately
An Office 2021 perpetual license isn’t free, but Microsoft does offer legitimate ways to access its productivity tools without opening your wallet.
Access Microsoft 365 Online (Previously, Office Online)
This is the best and most affordable option for most people. Microsoft provides free, cloud-hosted versions of its flagship apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. You only require a free Microsoft account.
ADVERTISEMENTS These online versions, while a bit trimmed compared to the desktop ones, can be powerful beasts for nearly all common tasks. These services enable the making, editing and sharing of documents directly from a web browser. Because your files are stored on OneDrive, you are able to access them on any device that has an internet connection.
Go Get Those Student and Educator Plans
If you are a student or teacher, you could receive the full desktop version of Microsoft 365 for free. This is also available to many staff and students through licensing agreements between their educational institutions and Microsoft.
You can verify your eligibility using your school-issued email address on the Microsoft 365 Education page. If your institution is involved in the program, you can get the entire Office suite (including Word, Excel online, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams) for free.
Create a Microsoft 365 Trial Account
If you ever need the fully-functioning desktop apps, you can sign up for a one-month free trial of Microsoft 365. That means you have full access to everything — all the apps, all the features, and 1TB of OneDrive storage.
Good option to try out the premium features or finish a certain project, but note that they are on a trial basis. When you sign up, you will be asked for payment info, and if you do not cancel before the trial period ends, you will be billed for a subscription
There are risks of downloading unofficial versions
If you try googling “free MS Office 2021 download,” it will take you to millions of websites offering it for free. These sites frequently offer cracked or patched editions of the software that defeat Microsoft’s activation process. If you downloaded and installed software from any of these sources, then it is very dangerous.
- Malware and viruses: Malware is often bundled with unofficial software installers, which may include viruses, spyware, ransomware, and keyloggers. They are used to steal personal data, encrypt files, demand ransom, or commit illegal activities on a computer.
- Lack of Security Updates: Microsoft does not provide security updates for pirated software. This leaves your system exposed to newly discovered security gaps that hackers can exploit.
- Cracked software instability: By definition of being cracked, cracked software is less stable, so it often crashes, loses your data, and corrupts your files. If things go wrong, you have no backup and no salve.
- Legal Consequences: Using pirated software is illegal. This is a copyright violation, and individuals and businesses may incur hefty fines or face criminal prosecution if caught.
Best Alternatives to MS Office for Free
If none of the free Microsoft options are right for you, a few full-featured office suites are completely free.
This is an open-source and powerful office suite, a direct descendant of OpenOffice. It has applications for word processing (Writer), spreadsheets (Calc), presentations (Impress), and more. Offers a great compatibility with MS Office file formats, available on Windows, macOS and Linux:
- Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides): Just like Microsoft 365 online, Google offers a full suite of free, browser-based productivity tools. Well, all you need is a Google account ánd a lichthuis. The real-time collaboration features of Google apps make it the right choice for team members.
- OnlyOffice: Offers a powerful set of online editors for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It has the widest support for Microsoft Office formats. It also provides free desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux (offline).
- WPS Office: A versatile, user-friendly productivity suite that offers tools for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats and provides a sleek, intuitive interface. WPS Office is available for free and supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It also includes features such as cloud storage integration, making it a convenient and accessible alternative for both individual users and teams.
“Download now to enjoy 30 days of free WPS PRO — exclusive offer!”
Step-by-Step: How to Use Microsoft 365 Online
Simply registering for the free web-based edition of Microsoft Office is easy.
- Go to the office. Go to – office. com (Your browser will open to the Office) com.
- Go to the Apps: After logging in, you will see a dashboard with icons for all available apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Get Started: Click on an app icon to open it within a new tab. Open a new, blank document or select one of several templates.
- Save: Your documents auto-save on your OneDrive whilst you work. You can also save a copy to your computer in a number of formats, including PDF and the standard Office formats (.docx, .xlsx).
How to Identify Illegal vs. Legal Software Sources
- “Sure Thing But Not True” Deals: Questions arise upon encountering any site that promises a free & lifetime license on premium software such as MS Office 2021.
- Red Flags of URLs: — Be on the lookout for unusual URLs and only enter official websites. For Microsoft, that’s microsoft.com or office.com. Look out for domains that are near-spellings or strange extensions.
- Sneaky Installers: If your download tries to install additional toolbars, “download managers,” or unrelated programs, be concerned. HireMovie and Kewl offer junkware to install, but NA drone & UnWantedHomePage without you.
- If you see the words “Cracked” or “Patch,” this is the first and most obvious sign that the software is pirated. If you notice “crack,” “patch,” “keygens,” or “activator” used anywhere.
Protect Your Computer from Malware
The same is true whether you are downloading official software or an alternative – digital hygiene is paramount.
- Employ antivirus software: Maintain a reliable antivirus program and keep it up to date. Scan your system frequently.
- Scan It Before You Run It: After downloading any installer file, right-click the file and scan it with your Antivirus software for threats before running it.
- Trusting your own instincts: If the site doesn⁅t seem right, or the download process doesn⁅t seem appropriate, avoid it. Exit tab and search for a more reliable source.
Your Best Path to Productivity
The prospect of a free copy of Microsoft Office 2021, the money-guzzling, high-priced, decade-old software, sounds like an oasis in today’s time crunch, but the fact is that all those offers are most likely illegal and, as referred to, dangerous. The potential for malware, data theft, and legal issues far outweighs any cost savings you might get for using a cracked game tool.
Fortunately, you do not need to resort to piracy. Microsoft itself offers amazing ways to use its tools for free, such as Microsoft 365 Online and trial offers. If you’re looking for a traditional desktop option for the long term, LibreOffice and OnlyOffice are robust, feature-rich, free and open-source alternatives.
By using these legitimate routes, you can acquire the productivity apps you need without worrying about keeping your computer, data, or yourself safe.
