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Microsoft Word

Word processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser

Free plan · from $9.99/moWritingChecked Oct 5, 20264.7 on the App Store
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Our verdict

First of our top three writing tools

For: Most people

Microsoft Word is a word processor for writing, formatting and reviewing documents. Word for the web is free for one person, with real-time collaboration, basic spelling and grammar checks, dictation and 5 GB of cloud storage, and Word also runs on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from about 3 million ratings. Know the limits: the Windows and Mac apps are not free. They need a Microsoft 365 subscription, from $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year for Personal, or the one-time Office Home 2024 purchase at $179.99 for 1 PC or Mac. Copilot, which drafts and rewrites inside Word, needs a paid subscription and has usage limits.

See all three and how we rank

What is Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is a word processor for writing, formatting and reviewing documents. A free version runs in the browser, while the Windows and Mac desktop apps come with a Microsoft 365 subscription or the one-time Office Home 2024 purchase. Paid subscriptions add Copilot, which drafts, rewrites and summarizes documents inside Word.

Microsoft Word has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal). See every plan

Good for

  • People who want a full desktop word processor on Windows or Mac
  • Households: Microsoft 365 Family covers 1 to 6 people
  • Occasional writers who only need the free browser version
  • Buyers who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription

Worth knowing

  • The Windows and Mac apps need a Microsoft 365 subscription or a one-time Office purchase; only the web version is free.
  • Copilot requires a paid subscription, has usage limits, and on shared plans works for the subscription owner only.
  • On phones and tablets, advanced formatting and track changes need a Microsoft 365 subscription.
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($7.00 per user / month paid yearly, or $5.40 without Teams) includes only the web and mobile versions of Word.

Key features

Copilot in Word
Drafts, rewrites and summarizes documents and answers questions about them. It needs a Microsoft 365 subscription, and usage limits apply.
Editor
A built-in checker for spelling, grammar and writing style. The free web version includes basic spelling and grammar checks.
Real-time co-authoring
Share a document with anyone, including people without an account, and edit it together, with track changes and version history. Shared files are stored in OneDrive.
Templates
Thousands of customizable templates are available at no charge, and the free web version includes a basic set of templates, fonts and icons.
Dictate
Speech-to-text for writing by voice, plus transcription of audio files into a document. Dictation and voice commands are part of the free web version.
Immersive Reader and Accessibility Checker
Immersive Reader gives a pared-back reading view, and the Accessibility Checker recommends fixes to formatting, color contrast and word choice.

Microsoft Word pricing

Starts at
$9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal)
Free plan
Word for the web is free for 1 person: real-time collaboration, basic spelling and grammar, basic templates, dictation and 5 GB of cloud storage. The mobile apps cover basic editing without a subscription.
Free trial
1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Personal, Family or Premium.
Free$0Word for the web for 1 person, with real-time collaboration, basic spelling and grammar, basic templates, dictation and 5 GB of storage.
Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99per month, or $99.99 per year1 person signed in on up to 5 devices, 1 TB of cloud storage, and the Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook desktop apps with Copilot.
Microsoft 365 Apps for business$10.00per user / month, paid yearlyDesktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for up to 300 employees, with 1 TB of cloud storage per user.
Microsoft 365 Family$12.99per month, or $129.99 per yearEverything in Personal for 1 to 6 people, each with 1 TB of storage. AI features are for the subscription owner only.
Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99per month, or $199.99 per yearEverything in Family, plus extensive Copilot usage and agentic AI features such as advanced research and analytics.
Office Home 2024$179.99one-time purchase for 1 PC or MacClassic 2024 desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, with no upgrade path to later releases.

Read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Microsoft Word before you buy.

Pricing in detail

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
  • EducationStudents save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal

    Verified college and university students pay $4.99 a month for Microsoft 365 Personal. Student status has to be re-verified each year to keep the price.

    Stated on microsoft.com
  • EducationOffice 365 A1 free for eligible schools

    Educators and students with an eligible school email address get Office 365 A1 at no cost, which includes the web versions of Word and the other core apps.

    Stated on microsoft.com
  • Lifetime licenseOffice Home 2024 one-time purchase

    $179.99 buys the classic 2024 desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for 1 PC or Mac, with no subscription.

    Stated on microsoft.com

How people rate the Microsoft Word app

4.7

out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app

  1. 5 stars86%
  2. 4 stars7%
  3. 3 stars2%
  4. 2 stars<1%
  5. 1 star3%

3,001,411 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 7, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing

Microsoft Word reviews, and where to read more

Works with

Microsoft Word alternatives

All Microsoft Word alternatives comparedAll writing tools

Common questions

Is Microsoft Word free?

Microsoft Word has a free plan. Word for the web is free for 1 person: real-time collaboration, basic spelling and grammar, basic templates, dictation and 5 GB of cloud storage. The mobile apps cover basic editing without a subscription. Paid plans start at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal).

How much does Microsoft Word cost?

Microsoft Word lists 6 plans. Free: $0. Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Apps for business: $10.00 per user / month, paid yearly. Microsoft 365 Family: $12.99 per month, or $129.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Premium: $19.99 per month, or $199.99 per year. Office Home 2024: $179.99 one-time purchase for 1 PC or Mac. Prices were read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does Microsoft Word work on?

Microsoft Word is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Does Microsoft Word offer any discounts?

Microsoft Word publicly lists the following: Save up to 17% by paying yearly; Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal; Office 365 A1 free for eligible schools; Office Home 2024 one-time purchase.

How is Microsoft Word rated?

Microsoft Word's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3,001,411 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.

Does Microsoft Word have a Linux app?

No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Word is listed for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Is Microsoft Word open source?

Microsoft Word is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

Does Microsoft Word 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 Word integrate with?

Microsoft Word's listing names OneDrive, Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Designer. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does Microsoft Word have a student discount?

Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal. Verified college and university students pay $4.99 a month for Microsoft 365 Personal. Student status has to be re-verified each year to keep the price.

Does Microsoft Word have a free trial?

Yes. 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Personal, Family or Premium.

Who makes Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is made by Microsoft.

What are the alternatives to Microsoft Word?

The closest alternatives to Microsoft Word in our directory are LibreOffice Writer, WPS Writer, Google Docs and ONLYOFFICE. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Microsoft Word.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.