Microsoft Phrase stays the usual strategy to create and share textual content paperwork, whether or not you’re in a company or instructional organisation. Lately, it’s positively had its iron-clad grip loosened by the likes of Google Docs, however in lots of situations Phrase is the popular or anticipated software program to make use of. There’s just one downside with that: it’s not free. So, if you happen to don’t wish to add one other month-to-month invoice to your account, how are you going to nonetheless use the software program with out shelling out? Right here’s tips on how to get Microsoft Phrase in your Mac free of charge, plus the varied paid variations and a few helpful options.
How one can use Microsoft Phrase free of charge on the internet
Microsoft presents utterly free variations of Phrase, Excel and PowerPoint, all of which you entry on-line at its Microsoft 365 hub. You’ll want a Microsoft account, however these are free and chances are you’ll discover that you have already got a Hotmail or Outlook account that you simply created some time again. If you happen to don’t, they solely take a couple of minutes to create.
As soon as that is achieved, you’re free to entry the varied apps and use them in your browser. This was known as Workplace.com however Microsoft is now transitioning it to Microsoft 365 to maintain it according to its different productiveness software program.
It’s true that you simply don’t get the total suite of instruments that the paid variations of Phrase, Excel and PowerPoint possess, and it’s important to save paperwork to OneDrive, however if you happen to simply want a phrase processor that may precisely create and deal with .docx file sorts, it is a helpful strategy to get it free of charge.
How one can get the paid model of Microsoft Phrase
If you happen to want the total vary of instruments that Phrase has to supply, to not point out the power to work offline and save information into different folders or on-line storage companies, you then’ll must pay. There are two routes open to you: one-off cost, or a subscription.
We already pay for loads of issues every month, so the thought of including one other invoice to the listing may not enchantment. Fortunately, you don’t must, as Microsoft nonetheless presents a one-and-done strategy to purchasing Phrase. It’s not low-cost, although, as shopping for the app outright will set you again $159.99/£149.99, though there are not any extra funds afterwards.
The most suitable choice in our opinion, as long as you don’t thoughts signing as much as one other service, is the Microsoft 365 subscription. With this you not solely get Phrase, but additionally Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and 1TB of OneDrive storage. Microsoft retains you on the newest model of the apps always, so that you by no means must cope with outdated software program or miss out on new options.
For a one-year Microsoft 365 Private subscription you possibly can both pay up entrance, costing $69.99/£59.99, or $6.99/£5.99 per thirty days, which permits one account to make use of the Workplace apps on as much as 5 gadgets, together with an iPad.
In order for you extra accounts, there’s the Microsoft 365 Family tier which permits 2-6 individuals to make use of the service and boosts the storage as much as 6TB. This prices $99.99/£79.99 p/a or £7.99 p/m.
Microsoft
If you wish to give the Workplace apps a take a look at run earlier than committing to a subscription, there’s additionally a 30-day free trial.
To see how the subscription model compares to the purchased one, check out our Microsoft 365 vs Office 2021 buying guide.
Be careful for scams and hacks
It takes about 30 seconds to search out movies on YouTube that may present you tips on how to obtain, set up and get Phrase (plus all the opposite MS Workplace software program) up and operating in your Mac for nothing. If the directions are much like those on this article, then you ought to be superb, however most of the ones we’ve seen require some type of serial code-cracking program to be purchased and downloaded to your machine. Whereas this would possibly look like a victimless crime to some–Microsoft is a multi-billion-dollar firm whereas the person is only a single particular person with no cash–the actual sufferer is more than likely to be you.
It’s true that some hackers are benevolent, wanting solely to free the knowledge in order that anybody can use it, however sadly others are most positively not. Downloading and putting in issues like this in your Mac is among the best methods to contract malware or adware software program that may trigger havoc along with your knowledge. That’s except for the truth that you’re contravening copyright, which is moderately naughty.
Our recommendation can be to maintain properly away from these ‘free’ routes to Phrase.
Free options to Microsoft Phrase
Until you particularly want Microsoft Phrase, you’ll discover that there are many nice phrase processors on the market that received’t value you a penny. Any new Mac will include a free copy of Apple’s Pages software program, which is a vastly highly effective software for creating and modifying paperwork, and likewise works properly with its iOS/iPadOS counterpart app.
Google Docs is a perennial favorite because the web-based software program is free and simple to make use of. You received’t discover extremely superior options like these on the full-blown Microsoft Phrase, however for most individuals it’s all they’ll ever want.
LibreOffice Writer is one other one which’s at all times price testing. The open-source software program is totally free and but presents an entire answer for individuals who need the performance of MS Phrase. Sure, it’s not fairly the sleek and aesthetically pleasing expertise of its inspiration, however you will get a lot achieved on Author that you simply received’t care.
For a roundup of different choices, take a look at our Best Mac word processor roundup.
