The harsh reality is that Microsoft Office, now called Office 365, is available at various prices, none of which could exactly be considered "affordable." Stand-alone versions of this suite cost around $150, while subscriptions require an annual outlay of $70 or more, depending on your needs.

Fortunately, there are some quality alternatives for free for this suite. Additionally, there are still ways to get Microsoft 365 for free, although they are not numerous.

Use the web and mobile app for free

Microsoft has gradually expanded the number of programs you can use for free online. It offers an impressive suite that easily integrates with downloaded applications, if necessary, and provides numerous features.

The registration process is simple. Visit the corresponding web page, choose the desired application (checking the available options) and sign in to your Microsoft account to get started. If you don't have a Microsoft account, signing up is easy.

It is recommended that you create an account to take advantage of Office Online, which allows you to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Calendar, and other traditional Microsoft applications. You also get access to more specialized apps, such as Sway for interactive presentations and People, an advanced contact list compatible with Skype, along with Docs.com for uploading and sharing documents.

Despite their usefulness, these applications have limitations in terms of advanced features and require an online connection. They are suitable for simple tasks, but may fall short on more complex projects.

Get Microsoft 365 through your educational institution

If you are part of an educational institution (student, teacher, or staff), you can enter your school email address on the appropriate site and check if you can get a free version of Office 365. Microsoft offers this option to all students, but the school must be registered to participate.

In the event that your institution is not registered, an administrator can easily carry out the registration process. The benefits are similar to the trial version of the software, with additions such as a separate Class Notebook for class management, unlimited online meetings, and intranet customization options.

For recent graduates, Microsoft 365 may not be offered for free, but there are significant discounts. You can get benefits like Office 365 Personal for just $1 per month, plus a subscription to LinkedIn Premium, especially useful for those starting their professional careers.

30-day free trial

Fortunately, the free trial option is still available. If you want to explore the Office 365 service without investing any money, you can do so for a full month. Simply visit the free trial page and register.

The trial lets you download Microsoft 365 on up to five PCs or Macs, and also use the mobile apps on up to five tablets and five phones.

Plus, you get 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user. The trial version includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and other applications.

The disadvantage is that you only have one month of use, which does not solve the situation if you need the service long term. Also, please note that Microsoft will require financial information prior to download and will automatically begin charging you at the end of the trial period.

It's a great way to try out the full version of Microsoft 365 and determine if it offers enough benefits to justify paying, though you should be prepared to cancel if you don't want to incur charges.

Note: Some offers can be a bit confusing, such as the "Try Microsoft 365 Personal for free" link in the Microsoft Store, which refers to the same one-month trial. Don't be fooled by websites offering "free product keys" as they are mostly illegal.

Sign up for an evaluation (30 to 60 days)

In its evaluation center, Microsoft offers an evaluation program that allows you to try Office 365 ProPlus for a certain period of time (30 days). While it is another way to get a free trial, this option provides more specific and full-featured software.

It is essential to remember that this is an evaluation period and that the service will stop at the end of the established time. Microsoft may also use this service to address issues in newer apps, so you shouldn't expect everything to be perfect from the start.

Don't forget to consider free alternatives to Microsoft 365

If you need apps similar to Microsoft 365 right away, keep in mind that there are several free alternatives available. These applications usually have similar interfaces and, in many cases, files can be transferred to the Microsoft suite without problems.

However, keep in mind that these solutions are great in emergency situations or if you need to save money.