What's The Cheapest Way to Use Word and Excel on Mac?

LAccessMax on 09/12/2024 - 23:19
Last edited 10/12/2024 - 13:16 by 1 other user

Uni email no longer works so I need to decide whether to buy Office Home 2024 for a one time fee of $220 or Microsoft 365 for $160 per year.

Has anyone had to make same decision and chosen the path of those who drink rum and sail boats? If so, what was the path like and how has been the experience so far?

I just need access to edit excel spreadsheet and word documents. (yes I've tried pages and numbers, but I don't have time to learn all the shortcuts and they're less compatible compared to Microsoft products)

Free Software/Websites Microsoft Office App Software Spreadsheet

Comments

  • Hybroid on 09/12/2024 - 23:20
    +10

    Would https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/libreoffice/ or Google Docs/Sheets suffice?

  • freefall101 on 09/12/2024 - 23:32
    +3

    If you're ok with the web apps it's $30 a year

    Otherwise Saveonit has some great prices, you can pick up office 2016 for mac for $87, annual 365 license is $99.

    If you're a rum connoisseur buy one of the super reputable keys off websites that you've definitely vetted to make sure they're in line with Microsoft's agreements. Install the iso from Microsoft and use your totally legit key to activate it. Otherwise you're going to have a bad time.

    • AccessMax on 10/12/2024 - 00:00

      $30 sounds reasonable but it says "web, iOS, and Android" does that mean no actual app built for mac?
      Do you mean bad time as in boys showing up at the door or losing couple of document? I was giving this a second thought but not sure how legit g2a products are.

      • freefall101 on 10/12/2024 - 08:25

        That’s correct, web apps not desktop apps. Depends on your usage as to whether that works but they’re pretty good these days.

        A bad time I mean don’t download a pirated copy. You’re going to wind up with malware.

        And if you have to ask how legit a heavily discount key is off a dodgy looking key website is, maybe just buy a real one.

  • Twix on 09/12/2024 - 23:33
    +6

    Free version of Microsoft 365.
    https://www.office.com/

    • AccessMax on 09/12/2024 - 23:47
      +1

      Wow had no idea you could use web version for free. Thank you.

  • sumyungguy on 10/12/2024 - 00:09

    I used to get free access to MS Office via work and uni students but now exclusively use Pages and Numbers and find them totally fine. We'll soon get Apple Intelligence writing tools in Pages (hardware permitting). I'm just having a play with the free version now, it does seem underwhelming but that could be a fault with the user.

    • RockyRaccoon on 10/12/2024 - 06:33

      How does the Numbers AI version compare to this app I found while comparing numbers to Excel. It looks interesting for data anaylsis vs number crunching/calculating, but I havent had any experience with it, and before starting to go dowb that track, if Numbers AI has similar benefits then obviously easier to wait.

      https://rows.com/blog/post/numbers-vs-excel

      • sumyungguy on 10/12/2024 - 11:46

        Rows does look interesting/good. For my use case I'm happy with Numbers as it functions reliably across iPhone/iPad/desktops.

  • Nillionaire on 10/12/2024 - 05:00
    • Microsoft Word = Apple Pages = Google Docs
    • Microsoft Excel = Apple Numbers = Google Sheets
    • Microsoft PowerPoint = Apple Keynote = Google Slides
  • JIMB0 on 10/12/2024 - 05:52

    Google Sheets < Microsoft Excel

  • Zippy135 on 10/12/2024 - 06:22
    +1

    Around 69c per month via Turkey Apple account
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/868528#comment

  • GregRust on 10/12/2024 - 06:24
    +1

    Microsoft 365 Personal Classic is $109/yr.

  • Aleigh123 on 10/12/2024 - 07:40
    +1

    No subscription: https://www.g2a.com/microsoft-office-professional-2016-micro…
    Of course, you may be inadvertently supporting credit card thieves or people who steal keys if you go this route.

  • bbinc on 10/12/2024 - 09:39
    +1

    I went the non-recurring purchase of Office 2019 from Officeworks. Has been fine, and have transferred it across changes of computer without problems. Gets regular updates. Was a little dearer than some offered on the web, but I trusted OW would be a genuine product key.
    I previously had the uni 2010 version. I tried Libre, Google Docs, Numbers and Pages, and the free online Office 365. All of them had learning curves I didn’t adapt easily to after years of knowing my way around stand alone Office.

  • colossus on 10/12/2024 - 12:40
    +1

    It depends on your needs.

    I used the web version for 6 months, waiting for Office 2024 to come out. If you only need the most basic functionality, you can survive with the web apps, otherwise get Office Home for $219. If you buy from JB and have perks, birthday voucher, or discount JB cards, you could save some money that way.

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