Can You Buy Microsoft Word Separately? Your Complete Guide for 2026

Yes, you can buy Microsoft Word as a standalone programme — and it costs far less than most people think. Whether you only need Word for writing documents and don't want the full Office suite, or you're trying to avoid a Microsoft 365 subscription, this guide covers every option available in 2026.

Table of Contents

• Option 1: Buy Word as a Standalone Programme
• Option 2: Buy Word as Part of an Office Suite
• Option 3: Microsoft 365 Subscription
• Option 4: Use Word for Free (With Limitations)
• Price Comparison Table
• Which Option Is Best for You?
• FAQ

Option 1: Buy Word as a Standalone Programme

Microsoft does sell Word on its own — but there's a catch. At retail, Microsoft Word 2024 costs around €149.99 from Microsoft directly. For a single application, that's steep.

The smarter option? Buy a perpetual Word licence from a licensed EU reseller like Licendi. Under the EU UsedSoft ruling, reselling software licences is 100% legal in Europe.

Standalone Word Prices at Licendi

Option 2: Buy Word as Part of an Office Suite

If you need more than just Word — say Excel for spreadsheets or PowerPoint for presentations — buying the full Office suite is almost always better value than buying apps individually.

Office Suite Prices at Licendi (Includes Word)

The maths speaks for itself: Word 2024 standalone costs around €39.99 at Licendi. But Office 2024 Professional Plus — which includes Word plus six other apps — costs just €62.99. For €23 more, you get Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher and OneNote.

Option 3: Microsoft 365 Subscription

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) gives you access to Word and the full Office suite for a monthly or yearly fee:

• Microsoft 365 Personal: ~€69/year (1 user, 1 TB OneDrive)
• Microsoft 365 Family: ~€99/year (up to 6 users, 6 TB OneDrive)
• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: ~€6/user/month

Subscription vs Perpetual: The Real Cost

After just one year, the perpetual licence is cheaper. After five years, you've saved over €280.

Option 4: Use Word for Free (With Limitations)

If you only need basic document editing, there are free alternatives:

• Word Online (word.new): Free browser-based Word with a Microsoft account. Good for simple documents but lacks advanced formatting, macros, and offline access.
• Word Mobile: Free on phones and tablets under 10.1 inches. View and basic editing only.
• Google Docs: Free, cloud-based alternative. Compatible with .docx files but formatting may shift.
• LibreOffice Writer: Free, open-source desktop alternative. Handles most Word features but not 100% compatible with complex .docx formatting.

The catch? Free options lack advanced features like mail merge, advanced macros, bibliography tools, track changes with full formatting, and offline reliability. For professional or academic use, the full desktop version of Word is worth the investment.

Complete Price Comparison

Which Option Is Best for You?

• You only need Word: Buy Word 2021 standalone (€24.99) — perfect balance of features and price.
• You need Word + other Office apps: Buy Office 2024 Professional Plus (€62.99) — much better value than individual apps.
• You need cloud storage and always-latest features: Microsoft 365 Personal (€69/year) — but be aware of the ongoing cost.
• You're on a tight budget: Word 2019 (€17.99) still works perfectly for everyday document editing.
• You only edit documents occasionally: Word Online (free) handles basic needs.

Frequently Asked Questions