Excel Without Breaking the Bank: How to Get Microsoft Excel for Free

So you're interested in using Microsoft Excel, but you're worried that access to it will come at a steep price. While it can, if you follow this article we'll show you how to get Microsoft Excel for free or at a reduced cost. I'll cover the different ways to do this like exploring free trials, web-based options, and student/educator packages. So let's dive in and start crunching those numbers without breaking the bank!

As you probably already know, Microsoft Excel is a widely-used spreadsheet software that has become a crucial tool in businesses, organizations, and educational institutions worldwide. If you're super new to Excel, check out my Introduction to Excel blog to learn some of the basics.

While Excel is primarily paid software, Microsoft offers various free versions of Excel that users can take advantage of. Understanding the different free versions of Excel is going to benefit those who want to use the software but may not have the budget to purchase a subscription.

How to Get Microsoft Excel: The Free Versions

Microsoft Excel Mobile App

One of the most common free versions of Excel is the Microsoft Excel mobile app for iOS and Android devices. This app allows you to create, edit, and view Excel spreadsheets on your mobile device without needing to pay for a subscription.

With the app, you can easily work on spreadsheets on the go, from your phones or tablets, making it a convenient option for those who need to access their spreadsheets while on the move.

To get the Microsoft Excel App, download and install the app from the App Store or Google Play Store. You can then create a new workbook, enter data, use formulas and functions, format your workbook, and save and share your work. The app includes various formatting options and allows you to save your work to OneDrive, Dropbox, or other cloud storage services, and share your work via email or other sharing options.

Note that you must subscribe to Microsoft 365 for advanced functions. For the remainder of this blog, when I refer to advanced Microsoft Excel functions, I'm talking about things like; macro support, creating or editing named ranges, linking to other spreadsheets, some cell editing options, adding or editing check boxes, protecting cells or workbooks, etc. This is not an exhaustive list, just a few examples of functions not typically available on free versions of Excel.

Excel Online

Another free version of Excel is Excel Online, a web-based version of Excel that allows users to access and edit their spreadsheets from any computer with an internet connection. Excel Online offers many of the same features as the desktop version of Excel, including the ability to create and edit charts, tables, and formulas. It also offers real-time collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on a spreadsheet simultaneously. This makes Excel Online an excellent option for those who need to collaborate on a spreadsheet with others who may be in different locations.

To use Excel Online, you simply go to the Microsoft Office website and sign in with your Microsoft account. If you don't have one, you can create a free account. Once logged in, you can access Excel Online by clicking on the Excel icon. You can create a new spreadsheet by selecting “New Workbook” or open an existing one from their OneDrive or computer.

Excel Online offers many of the same features as the desktop version, including the ability to add formulas, charts, and conditional formatting. It also includes some additional features that are specific to the web-based platform, such as the ability to insert online videos and images directly into a spreadsheet.

One of the benefits of using Excel Online is that it automatically saves changes as you work, eliminating the need to constantly hit the save button. Additionally, since Excel Online is web-based, you can access your spreadsheets from any computer with an internet connection, making it a great option for users who are on the go.

Overall, Excel Online is a powerful and convenient tool for creating and editing spreadsheets for free.

Microsoft Education Program

The Microsoft Education Program is a free program designed to provide teachers and students with access to Microsoft Office 365 Education, a cloud-based suite of productivity tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. The program is available to eligible educational institutions, including K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.

To sign up for the program, a teacher or school administrator must first register the institution with Microsoft and verify their eligibility. Once verified, the institution can create accounts for their students and teachers, who can then access the Office 365 Education suite using their school email addresses. Note that unverified school email addresses could take a month or more to get approved.

Which Will You Choose?

Excel Online and the Excel mobile app are free versions of Excel that are designed for light personal use. By light, I mean that you don't have access to the advanced Excel options. You must pay for Excel to access those.

The free version of Microsoft Excel available to students and educators through the Microsoft Education Program is a great opportunity for you to gain access to essential productivity tools without having to spend any money. This can help you develop important skills and prepare for future careers, all while staying within your budget.

Overall, understanding the different free versions of Excel is important for those who need or want to use the software but may not have the budget to purchase a subscription. By taking advantage of the different free versions of Excel, users can work on their spreadsheets while on the go, collaborate with others, and access all the features they need without breaking the bank.

How to Get Microsoft Excel: The Paid Versions

I wouldn't be giving you all the options on how to get Microsoft Excel if I ignored the paid versions because if you require the advanced Excel options I discussed earlier, you'll have to subscribe to get Microsoft Excel through Microsoft 365. By doing this you'll have access to the programs like:

• Word
• PowerPoint
• Teams
• OneNote
• Outlook
• OneDrive

I found three ‘For Home' paid options for subscribing to Microsoft Excel, and for the most part, they are not too bank-breaking, depending on what your budget is like. There are several ‘For Business' options, but I will not cover those in this blog post.

Microsoft 365 Personal

This is the cheapest subscription option at CAD $6.99/month or CAD $69.99/year if you pay annually. This subscription is for 1 account for 1 person and gives you 1 TB (terabyte) of cloud storage.

With this subscription, you have access to all the other Microsoft programs offered as part of Microsoft 365, plus a few other options for security. You can find this information on the Microsoft 365 website.

Microsoft 365 Family

This is the family subscription option at CAD $9.99/month or CAD $99.99/year if you pay annually. This subscription is for 1 to 6 accounts for 1 for 6 people and gives you 1 – 6 TB (terabyte) of cloud storage (1 TB per person).

This subscription offers the same benefits as the Microsoft 365 Personal option, except you have 5 additional people that can have an account.

There is one additional benefit that I shouldn't forget to add; you can try this option for one month free! To access the free trial, you must sign up for a Microsoft account and provide payment information. Microsoft will not charge your credit card during the free trial period, but you will need to cancel your subscription before the trial ends if you do not wish to continue using the software. If you do not cancel your subscription, you will be charged for the subscription at the end of the trial period.

The free trial of Microsoft Excel is an excellent option for those who want to test the software's functionality before committing to a paid subscription. During the 30-day trial period, you can explore all of the features of Excel, including its formulas, charts, and tables, and evaluate whether it meets their needs. If you decide that Excel is the right software for you, you can then purchase a subscription to continue using it.

Office Home & Student 2021

This option is not a subscription. It is a one-time payment of CAD $149.99 that allows for a one-time download (on one PC or Mac computer) of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The download includes the Classic 2021 versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, however only comes with 60 days of Microsoft support whereas all subscriptions come with ongoing Microsoft support.

This would be my last option. Technology changes too fast to be stuck with an old version of a program. I feel that $149.99 would be better put towards a subscription to ensure you always have the latest functions and ongoing support.

How to Get Microsoft Excel: Other Options

There are a couple of other options that I found for gaining access to Microsoft Excel, however, I won't go into a lot of detail as they are only available under certain circumstances.

Corporate or Workplace Package

Many businesses offer their employees access to Microsoft Excel and other Office tools as part of a workplace package. This could look like a reduced annual fee for the one of subscription packages described earlier in this post. You should check with your employer to see if this is an option.

If a workplace package is not available, businesses can purchase a subscription to Microsoft Office 365, which includes Excel and other productivity tools. This subscription-based service offers a variety of plans, including options for businesses of all sizes. Office 365 also includes cloud-based storage and collaboration tools that can help employees work more efficiently.

Software Donation Programs

Another option for getting Microsoft Excel for free or at a reduced cost is through software donation programs. Many companies and organizations offer discounted or donated software licenses to eligible nonprofit organizations and libraries. These programs may require users to meet certain eligibility requirements and provide documentation of their nonprofit status.

How Will You Get Microsoft Excel?

As you can see, there are a few ways to get Microsoft Excel for free, but it can also come with a budget-busting price tag. From using Excel Online to taking advantage of free trials and workplace packages, there are options available to fit a variety of needs and budgets. By understanding the different versions of Excel available and how to access them, you can benefit from the power of this software without breaking the bank.

So what next? Take action!

1. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get Excel for free or at a reduced cost. Check with your employer or school, or consider purchasing an Office 365 subscription that suits your needs.
2. If you're new and just trying out Microsoft Excel, sign up for a free option like the mobile app or Microsoft Online. You won't have all the advanced functions, but you'll have enough capabilities to really get a feel for the program.
3. Comment below how you got access to Microsoft Excel!