Microsoft is testing a new limited ad-supported free desktop version of its Office suite
Microsoft is experimenting with a free, ad-supported version of its Microsoft 365 Copilot (Office) suite for Windows, which includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. This version enables users to access Office apps without a license by bypassing the sign-in process and choosing "Continue for free."
Users can view and edit documents, but saving is restricted to Microsoft OneDrive, with no option for local storage. The free version incorporates ads in a sidebar and 15-second video ads that appear periodically, which can be removed by subscribing to Microsoft 365.
This test version offers more functionality than the previously available free web-based Office apps but lacks several features found in the paid versions, such as drawing tools, pivot tables, and custom slide shows. Although this is a limited test with no announced plans for a full rollout, the inclusion of ads suggests Microsoft is experimenting with different advertising formats, hinting at potential future expansion.
- Word Processor
- Freemium • Proprietary
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External links
- Report: Microsoft launches another free version of Office, with adsPCWorld
- Microsoft Quietly Launched a Free Ad-Supported Office App, and No One NoticedBeebom
- Microsoft is testing free Office for Windows apps with adsThe Verge
- Microsoft tests free ad-supported version of Office for WindowsWindows Central
- Microsoft secretly dropped a free, ad-supported version of Office, but don't get your hopes up yetAndroid Authority
- Microsoft tests ad-supported Office apps for Windows usersBleepingComputer
Comments
Ads in text editors is a pretty good idea I must say, and only Microsoft could ever add this neat thing. But I think the experience can be enhanced by randomly inserting ads directly into the text, save the file into some random user cloud account, then send it to all user contacts, and finally close the browser and showing a two minutes ad for other great Microsoft products. As usual, it can take few months for Microsoft to realize the true merit of its ideas and start improving the user experience, so I'm hoping for the best from it soon.
You may have forgotten to mention that it would be unsurprising if Microsoft then used said file to train Copilot.
I'm sick of the AI creep.
These companies just keep digging themselves into deeper graves... Great time to switch to LibreOffice, OpenOffice, or even OnlyOffice! All of these are great alternatives; OnlyOffice seems the most similar to MS office, judging by the screenshots.