Available Options
For home use, the Microsoft 365 suite is currently available in three varieties, including a Family, Personal, and Home & Student plan. The first is priced at $100 per year (or $10/month) and includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook for Mac, and is useful for up to six users. The Personal version is for one person and is $70/year or $6.99 per month. The student plan is a one-time purchase of $150 and includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint only. Business users can select from Basic, Standard, and Premium plans, starting at $5 per user/month.
Using the Mac App Store
The easiest way to get Microsoft Word installed on your computer is through a Mac App Store download. You’ll still need a Microsoft 365 subscription, however, to activate the app. Downloading the Microsoft 365 app includes four of the supported apps. Besides Word, there’s Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Downloading from Microsoft
You can also download and install Microsoft Word from the Office.com website. After purchasing a Microsoft 365 subscription, you need to log into the website with your Microsoft username and password. From there:
Once the Microsoft 365 download is complete, you can install the suite just as you would any other app on your Mac. The first time you open any of the apps in the suite, you’ll need to authenticate your subscription by logging into your account. Then, you’re ready to go.
Wrapping It Up
A Microsoft 365 subscription comes with free software updates that arrive at least once per month. If you let your subscription lapse, you’ll no longer be able to edit documents in Microsoft Word. Read abilities remain, however.
