Best/cheapesty way to buy Microsoft Office?

ernie-money

I have recently changed jobs and have previously used my work microsoft office login. That is now due to expire, as I have left and I therefore need to either buy a package or use free software. I have lots of spreadsheets, which I use regularly, so I am worried about losing, or not being able to access data if I transfer to a free pacakge, unless anyone could reassure me this won't happen? I believe you used to be able to buy a "lifetime" microsoft licence, is that still the case, or do you have to sign up to an annual subscription? Does anyone have an idea what the best option currently is please?

GDB2222

There’s a free online version of excel that Microsoft provides. The obvious starting point is to try your spreadsheets in that version, to check they function correctly. There’s no reason they won’t, as it is excel after all, but you are looking for reassurance that everything will function, so you should test it.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web

Do your spreadsheets include VBA? 

Zinger549

Libre Office is free and can read MS Office files.

Undervalued

Zinger549 said:

Libre Office is free and can read MS Office files.

Up to a point, yes.

Can struggle with more complex stuff and some templates etc.

Really depends on how much and how reliably you want to be able to interact with work done on the real thing.

J_B

https://softwaresupply.net/product-category/cheap-microsoft-office/

Yorkie1

I successfully used Electronic First as recommended by another forum user.

Office 2016 HUP - new laptop and Office 365 — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Newcad

Unless you have dedicated macros in things like spreadsheets then any of the Free alternatives are fine.

I've used Softmaker Free Office for years- it did baulk at one spreadsheet that turned out to have a company password protected macro embeded. Not something you come across often.

Heedtheadvice

Knowing if the sheets you have/ use or will use contain macros / VBA code or the rare things only available in the full / pro versions ( such as some of the advanced add inns ) is crucial.

The free and similar versions are usually fine i.e. compatible, for most of what many users may need.....but they are not 100% compatible.

You need to assess the risk and what will be acceptable should that risk materialise.

Eyeful

Use Libre Office. Its free:
https://www.libreoffice.org/

Keep_pedalling

The simplest way to see if you would have a problem with something like LibraOffice is to download it and try opening, running and amending a couple of your existing larges spreadsheets. 

Undervalued

Eyeful said:

Use Libre Office. Its free:
https://www.libreoffice.org/

Pay peanuts, get monkeys. See my earlier post!