Microsoft today updated its Word, Excel, and PowerPoint iPad apps to allow users to purchase a monthly subscription to Office 365 directly in the apps.

Previously, customers were able to purchase a yearly subscription for Office 365 Home within the apps for $99.99, but it's now possible to buy a monthly subscription for Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home via in-app purchase.

officesubscriptionipad

As we continue to bring Microsoft Office to all platforms and devices, it's important for customers to manage their Office 365 subscription--easily and on the go. You asked for more flexibility in signing up for Office 365 subscriptions on iPad. So starting today, you can buy a monthly subscription to Office 365 from within Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iPad. You can choose between Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home

Introduced in March, Office 365 Personal is aimed at individual users who want to use Microsoft's apps on just one PC/Mac and one tablet, while the Office 365 Home subscription is designed for households with up to five computers and five tablets.

Office 365 Personal is priced at $6.99 per month, while Office 365 Home is available for $9.99 per month. All of Microsoft's apps can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

- Microsoft Word for iPad [Direct Link]
- Microsoft Excel for iPad [Direct Link]
- Microsoft PowerPoint for iPad [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

ScottNWDW Avatar
148 months ago
The better office tool iWork is for free, while the MS Office costs continuously... Why MS Office...
The Office 365 subscription is a really good value. I didn't think that I would need Office after I switched back to Mac, especially since iWork worked great on all my iDevices (iPad, iPhone, iPad mini). For work related things I had to use Excel and thanks to the HUP program I was able to get MS Office for Mac for just $9.99.

When Microsoft issued Office for the iPad, I bit the bullet and signed up for Office 365. It has been the best thing that I could do. Now I can access both Excel and Word documents on my iPad, iPad mini, iPhone, iMac, and MacBook Pro as well as my rarely used Windows laptop. I get the updates free when they are available and I also have 1TB of storage on OneDrive. Well worth the $9.99 a month and even better if you get the annual subscription at $99.95 or even $67.99 on Amazon.

Yes, iWork could do a lot of the same things, and I do prefer Pages over Word, however when it comes to what I need at work and just general overall compatibility issues, Office is what I need and $99.99 is a small price to pay. 1TB of OneDrive storage alone is worth the price of the subscription, 20GB of additional iCloud storage alone is costing me $40 a year. Yes I know that is about to change as well, but this is what the current iCloud pricing is.

I don't understand where people seem to think that software companies have to give their software away for free all the time. If a piece of software does what I need it to do, then I pay the price to get it. The subscription model is here to stay so just get used to it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Doctor Q Avatar
148 months ago
Microsoft's product names are easily confused.

For those who can't tell at a glance, Office 365 Personal ($6.99/month) is licensed for one computer, one tablet, and 1TB of online storage, while Office 365 Home ($9.99/month) is licensed for five computers, five tablets, and 1TB for each of 5 users.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
driceman Avatar
148 months ago
Oh Microsoft...

If Office were a reasonably-priced, one-time payment- even $100 for ownership of the software-I might consider buying their stuff. Office is decent software, and their file types are so prevalent that they're now the standard.

Since it's not, and iWork and Google Docs are both free (I'm an iWork fan, although Numbers leaves a bit to be desired), I'll stick to them. :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gpat Avatar
148 months ago
The better office tool iWork is for free, while the MS Office costs continuously... Why MS Office...

Because you're paying iWork with your $299+ device.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FieldingMellish Avatar
148 months ago
Any mention of subscription and I'm gone. I'll pay for a one-time charge license that lasts for as as long as I decide to maintain a computer that will run it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Toltepeceno Avatar
148 months ago
Yes.

For 5 PCs or Macs, and 5 tablets like Windows tablets and iPads®, plus easy access on multiple smartphones.

In addition to 1 TB of OneDrive online storage per user (for up to 5 users), your subscription includes other services, like 60 Skype minutes per month to call mobiles in 8 countries and landlines in 60+ countries, and tech support at no extra charge.


I may spring for this, with the 3 kids there are 5 of us. Two getting ready to finish high school and go to college.

It looks like we finally get a break here in mexico. It's 7.69 a month family and 5.76 for individuals.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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