You also have the ability to collaborate with other people in real time. Using Microsoft Word online is a lot like Google Docs in that you have automatic cloud backups of your work with OneDrive. Open t (opens in new tab) he official Microsoft Office website in your browser (opens in new tab) of choice to gain access to Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and other Microsoft products. Whether you’re on Windows 10 (opens in new tab), Mac, Chrome OS, or Linux, using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or any other major browser, you can access a free-to-use version of Microsoft Word.Īll you need is a Microsoft account and a data connection to access the free version of Word. The easiest way to download and use Microsoft Word for free is right in your web browser. (Image credit: TechRadar) How to use Microsoft Word for free on Windows 10, Mac, Chrome OS, and Linux If you're currently shopping for the best MacBook and Macs (opens in new tab) and feel like that's going to be enough of a financial outlay for now, or you already have a laptop and just can't justify any extra expenses at the moment, the straightforward step-by-step instructions below will help you download and use Microsoft Word for free. However, if you decide you'd like to make the purchase, the b est Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 deals (opens in new tab) will ensure you get the lowest price possible, especially if you are trying to avoid a hefty price tag. You can still create professional documents, edit and format text, and insert images and tables.Īdditionally, there’s no longer any requirement to buy a copy or sign up for Microsoft 365 to use Microsoft Word, which is a huge relief if you're on a budget. While it’s true that you're more limited in scope and some features aren't available, on the whole, the free version of Microsoft Word will get the job done sufficiently for most people. Alternative applications, like Google Docs (opens in new tab), are on the scene, forcing Microsoft to offer Word for free just to compete. This has left the door open for Google Docs and other word processors and document editors to offer their subpar services for free, which is an extremely compelling offer considering Word and Docs are somewhat similar on the surface.Īs previously mentioned, Microsoft Word has more competition than ever, especially beyond the paywall. Both word processing tools are compatible with various file formats.The most upsetting thing about Word is that it's been hidden behind a paywall for most of the past 30 years. Collaboration works much better on Google Docs when compared to Word Online. Google Docs gives you access to all the documents through Google Drive as well. Word Online does have an extension in Chrome that allows users to access documents from the OneDrive account. Compatibility, access and features Both Word Online and Google Docs work on almost every browser seamlessly. Word Online, on the other hand, allows customisation to a great extent. Google Docs doesn’t offer too many customisation options as such but most buttons are easy to find. The layout is easy on the eye and tools are relatively easier to find. Google Docs, on the other hand, is pretty straightforward and the user interface doesn’t seem daunting. You need to remember how to navigate through the various tools that Word Online has to offer. The Word Online interface is slightly ‘complex’ compared to Docs Being feature-rich means that Word Online can be a bit complex to navigate through. In terms of features, you get all-you-need for routine editing and writing work. All you need to do is log in to your Google account and you are set to use Docs. Google Docs can be used across devices with a minimum of fuss. You don’t need to download anything to use Google Docs - at least not on your PC/Mac. To use the ‘advanced’ version of Word Online, you will have to pay for the Microsoft Office 365 package. You will need a Microsoft Account to use Word Online to use the free version. If you are into routine editing and writing work, then Word Online is more than sufficient. Having said that, most casual Word users won’t feel anything is missing from Word Online. How does it stack up against Google Docs? Read on to find out: Word Online is free but ‘limited Google Docs is completely free of cost Microsoft Word Online has a lot going for it in terms of features but you don’t get every feature that you get in the ‘offline’ version of Word. Microsoft too has an online version of Word - called Word Online. Google Docs, on the other hand, is a cloud-based solution and doesn’t require any downloading. Word has a plethora of features, it remains easy to use but isn’t free. For years now Microsoft Word has been the go-to word processing tool for many users.
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