How to Buy Microsoft 365 at the Best Price in 2026

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is the subscription version of Microsoft Office. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and cloud storage — but the annual cost adds up quickly. Here's how to get the best deal, and whether a one-time purchase might save you more.

Table of Contents

• Microsoft 365 Plans & Pricing (2026)
• 5 Ways to Get Microsoft 365 Cheaper
• Microsoft 365 vs Perpetual Office: Real Cost Comparison
• Who Actually Needs Microsoft 365?
• The Perpetual Licence Alternative
• FAQ

Microsoft 365 Plans & Pricing (2026)

Key thing to notice: Microsoft 365 Personal costs €69 per year. Over three years, that's €207. Over five years, €345. And if you stop paying, you lose access to your Office apps.

5 Ways to Get Microsoft 365 Cheaper

1. Pay Annually Instead of Monthly

The annual plan saves about 16% compared to monthly billing. Microsoft 365 Personal is €69/year vs €84/year if you pay monthly (€7 x 12). Always choose the annual option.

2. Share a Family Plan

Microsoft 365 Family costs €99/year for up to 6 users. That's €16.50 per person per year — split with family members, housemates, or friends. Each person gets their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage and full Office apps.

3. Check for Student & Education Discounts

Many universities and schools provide Microsoft 365 Education completely free for students and staff. Check at microsoft.com/education with your school email before buying anything.

4. Watch for Sales and Promotions

Microsoft occasionally offers discounts during Black Friday, back-to-school season, and through retail partners like Amazon. Savings are typically 10-25% on annual plans.

5. Consider a Perpetual Licence Instead (Best Savings)

The biggest savings come from not subscribing at all. A perpetual Office licence gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more for a one-time payment — no annual fees, no expiry.

Microsoft 365 vs Perpetual Office: Real Cost Comparison

Here's what you actually pay over time:

The maths is clear: A perpetual licence pays for itself in less than a year. Over 5 years, you save between €282 and €313 compared to Microsoft 365 Personal.

Who Actually Needs Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 makes sense if you:

• Need 1 TB+ of OneDrive cloud storage (and use it actively)
• Must always have the absolute latest Office features on release day
• Use Microsoft 365-specific features like Loop, Clipchamp, or Microsoft Editor Premium
• Run a business that needs Teams, SharePoint, or Exchange Online
• Share one plan across 6 family members (€16.50/person/year is reasonable)

A perpetual licence is better if you:

• Use Office for documents, spreadsheets and presentations (most people)
• Don't need cloud storage (or use Google Drive / Dropbox already)
• Prefer a one-time payment over recurring subscriptions
• Don't need features that change between Office versions (they're marginal for most users)
• Want to own your software outright

The Perpetual Licence Alternative

At Licendi, we sell genuine, EU-legal perpetual Office licences at a fraction of retail price. This is fully legal under the EU UsedSoft ruling (C-128/12).

Frequently Asked Questions