Microsoft's shift from one-time Office licenses to subscriptions has made the productivity suite feel like an ongoing cost rather than a purchase. According to Engadget, standalone versions still exist—Office Home 2024 costs $180 and works on only one computer—but Microsoft has pushed subscription plans since Office 2013. The article notes that recent Microsoft 365 price increases come with AI features bundled in, leaving subscribers no way to pay less and skip them.
For users who want to avoid paying, the article points to several free options. Office Online, accessed through a Microsoft account, provides web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. It is familiar and supports real-time collaboration, but it lacks advanced features, requires an internet connection, and can struggle with heavy spreadsheets or complex documents.
The article recommends OnlyOffice as the strongest free alternative. It opens documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs in tabs, saves in standard Office formats like DOCX and XLSX, and uses a Ribbon interface similar to Microsoft's. Its AI features are optional and can be disabled. LibreOffice is also mentioned as a popular open-source choice, with separate apps, default OpenDocument formats, and no AI built in. The article suggests trying both to see which fits better, but notes OnlyOffice feels smoother overall.