Microsoft Access
Windows desktop database app sold with Microsoft 365
What is Microsoft Access?
Microsoft Access is a Windows desktop application for building database apps from tables, queries, forms and reports, either from templates or from scratch. It comes with the Microsoft 365 plans that include the desktop apps and is also sold on its own as a one-time purchase for one PC. Data can stay in an Access file or be stored in SQL Server or Azure SQL.
Microsoft Access is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal). See every plan
Good for
- Small businesses building their own database apps on Windows PCs
- Teams sharing a database over a local network
- Organizations that already license the Microsoft 365 desktop apps
Worth knowing
- Access is available for PC only; Microsoft lists no Mac, web or mobile version.
- It is not part of Office Home 2024 or Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which has web and mobile apps only.
- An Access database file is limited to 2 GB, minus the space needed for system objects.
- Storing data in SQL Server or Azure SQL requires a separate subscription to that service.
Key features
- Database apps from templates or scratch
- Business apps are built from templates or from scratch with Access's design tools, which Microsoft pitches at people who are not developers.
- Tables, queries, forms and reports
- A database is made of tables for the data plus queries, forms, reports, macros and modules that sit on top of them and form the app's interface and logic.
- Visual Basic for Applications
- VBA code automates business processes and is used to build more capable forms and reports.
- SQL Server and Azure SQL storage
- Data can be stored in SQL Server or Microsoft Azure SQL instead of the Access file. Each requires its own subscription to that service.
- Connectors to other data sources
- The Access connector library shares data between Access and line-of-business apps, so combined data can be queried and charted inside Access.
- Multi-user sharing
- A database can be shared from a network folder, split into a back-end data file with a front-end copy per user, or linked to SharePoint lists. Access supports up to 255 concurrent users.
Microsoft Access pricing
- Starts at
- $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 for individuals or of Microsoft 365 Business Standard
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99per month, or $99.99 per year | For 1 person on up to 5 devices: Access (PC only) alongside the Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook desktop apps and 1 TB of cloud storage. |
| Microsoft 365 Apps for business | $10.00per user / month, paid yearly ($12.00 billed monthly) | Fully installed Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Access (PC only) for up to 300 employees, with 1 TB of cloud storage per user. |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99per month, or $129.99 per year | Everything in Personal for 1 to 6 people, each able to sign in on up to 5 devices, with 1 TB of storage per person. |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | $14.00per user / month, paid yearly ($16.80 billed monthly) | Desktop, web and mobile apps including Access (PC only), plus business email, Microsoft Teams and 1 TB of cloud storage per user. |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $19.99per month, or $199.99 per year | Everything in Family, plus extensive Copilot usage and agentic AI features such as advanced research and analytics. |
| Access | $179.99one-time purchase for 1 PC | Standalone Access for one PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10, bought once rather than by subscription. |
Read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Microsoft Access before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountSave up to 17% by paying yearly
Microsoft 365 Personal is $99.99 a year against $9.99 a month, Family $129.99 against $12.99 and Premium $199.99 against $19.99.
Stated on microsoft.com - Annual discountApps for business: $10 yearly, $12 monthly
Microsoft 365 Apps for business is $10.00 per user a month when paid yearly, or $12.00 per user a month on a monthly subscription.
Stated on microsoft.com - EducationStudents save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal
Verified college and university students get Microsoft 365 Personal, which includes Access, at half price. Student status has to be re-verified each year.
Stated on microsoft.com - Lifetime licenseStandalone Access as a one-time purchase
$179.99 buys Access for 1 PC running Windows 11 or Windows 10, with no subscription.
Stated on microsoft.com
Works with
- SQL Server
- Azure SQL
- SharePoint
Microsoft Access alternatives
- Microsoft Access vs Claris FileMaker
Free trial · from $17.50/mo
- Microsoft Access vs Airtable
Free plan · from $20/mo
- Microsoft Access vs Ninox
Free plan · from $31/mo
- Microsoft Access vs Grist
Free plan · from $8/mo
- Microsoft Access vs Microsoft Lists
Free trial · from $5.40/mo
Common questions
Is Microsoft Access free?
No, Microsoft Access is a paid product, but you can try it first. 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 for individuals or of Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
How much does Microsoft Access cost?
Microsoft Access lists 6 plans. Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Apps for business: $10.00 per user / month, paid yearly ($12.00 billed monthly). Microsoft 365 Family: $12.99 per month, or $129.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $14.00 per user / month, paid yearly ($16.80 billed monthly). Microsoft 365 Premium: $19.99 per month, or $199.99 per year. Access: $179.99 one-time purchase for 1 PC. Prices were read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does Microsoft Access work on?
Microsoft Access is available on Windows.
Does Microsoft Access offer any discounts?
Microsoft Access publicly lists the following: Save up to 17% by paying yearly; Apps for business: $10 yearly, $12 monthly; Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal; Standalone Access as a one-time purchase.
Does Microsoft Access have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Access is listed for Windows.
Does Microsoft Access have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Access is listed for Windows.
Is Microsoft Access open source?
Microsoft Access is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Microsoft Access work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Microsoft Access integrate with?
Microsoft Access's listing names SQL Server, Azure SQL and SharePoint. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Microsoft Access have a student discount?
Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal. Verified college and university students get Microsoft 365 Personal, which includes Access, at half price. Student status has to be re-verified each year.
Who makes Microsoft Access?
Microsoft Access is made by Microsoft.
What are the alternatives to Microsoft Access?
The closest alternatives to Microsoft Access in our directory are Claris FileMaker, Airtable, Ninox, Grist and Microsoft Lists. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Microsoft Access.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/access
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/microsoft-365-plans-and-pricing
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/microsoft-365-apps-for-business
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/microsoft-365-business-standard
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/access/cfq7ttc0pd0b
- microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/college-student-pricing
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/access/access-specifications
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/access/ways-to-share-an-access-desktop-database