Today, after decades of building a solid reputation, Microsoft Office is a set of tools that basically everyone in the digital world is familiar with. Due to its constant evolution and its efforts to adapt to the changing needs of its users, Microsoft currently offers several versions of Office and that brings confusion when it comes to downloading and installing this software.
In order to help you in this process of downloading and installing Office, in this article we will explore a little more in depth what Microsoft Office is, its various versions, how to download and install its various versions and we will even show you some free Microsoft Office alternatives.
What is Microsoft Office?
Microsoft Office is a suite of computer programs designed to facilitate common office and personal productivity tasks. These programs offer powerful tools for creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and managing e-mails.
What is the Office Suite?
The Office suite refers to the compilation of individual programs that make up Microsoft Office. Each program has specific functions, and together, they provide users with a comprehensive solution to address a variety of tasks. The cohesion between these applications allows for efficient integration and a smooth workflow.
Office's main programs are Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. However, depending on the version of Office you purchase, you can also get access to a variety of Windows-only and mobile components, as well as server applications and more specialized functions in Microsoft's various web services.
What is Office 365?
Office 365, now known as Microsoft 365is the cloud-based version of Microsoft Office. Unlike traditional versions that are installed on a single device, Office 365 allows you to access and use applications from anywhere with an Internet connection.
In addition to the classic applications, Office 365 provides cloud services such as OneDrive and automatic updates, always keeping applications up to date.
What is Microsoft Office for?
Microsoft Office is used for a variety of purposes, from creating text documents to creating complex spreadsheets and dynamic presentations. It is an essential tool for students, professionals and businesses, providing the necessary tools for effective communication, data management and presentation of information in an impactful way.
Office Versions
Over the years, Microsoft has released several versions of Office, each with enhancements and additional features. Currently, the versions of Office supported by Microsoft are:
- Microsoft Office 2016: It has extended support from Microsoft that will end on October 14th, 2025.
- Microsoft Office 2019: It has extended support from Microsoft that will end on October 14th, 2025.
- Microsoft Office 2021: It has primary support until October 13th, 2026, and will not have extended support.
- Microsoft 365
How to download Office for free?
Microsoft offers free versions of its Office applications online through Office.com. In addition, some devices and operating systems allow free installation of basic versions of Office. However, to access more advanced features, it is necessary to purchase a subscription or license.
How to install Office for free?
For online versions, simply access Office.com and start using the web applications. For mobile devices, visit your device's app store (App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android), search for Microsoft Office apps, such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint, and download them for free. You can also download Microsoft 365 (Office) for Windows 10 or Windows 11 for free from the Microsoft Store. here.
However, it is important to note that free versions of Office may have limited functionality compared to paid versions. In addition, some advanced features may require a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you need full access to all Office features and functionality, consider purchasing a subscription or license. This will give you a key to activate Office and/or premium versions of its programs.
Now, if you want to download Microsoft Office for your PC, generally you should contact an authorized software licensing vendor because Microsoft Office already provides the download links. Since we at Dharma Corp Store sell genuine software, we have access to the links and decided to share them here:
- Office 2021 Professional Plus: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/db/492350F6-3A01-4F97-B9C0-C7C6DDF67D60/media/es-ES/ProPlus2021Retail.img
- Office 2019 Professional Plus: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/db/492350F6-3A01-4F97-B9C0-C7C6DDF67D60/media/es-ES/ProPlus2019Retail.img
- Office 2016 Professional Plus: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/db/492350F6-3A01-4F97-B9C0-C7C6DDF67D60/media/es-ES/ProPlusRetail.img
IMPORTANT
In order to be able to use all Office functions and edit and create files with its programs, it is necessary to purchase a original Office license corresponding to the version you downloaded.
Office for Mac
Microsoft Office is also available for Mac users. The versions of Office for Mac offer the same functionality as the Windows versions, allowing for a consistent experience across platforms.
IMPORTANT
Mac users must register and obtain a Microsoft account, and then download it directly from their account. They cannot use the download links we shared above.
How to update Microsoft Office?
Newer versions of Office, especially Microsoft 365, are updated automatically. For older versions, you can perform updates through the update center of each application or program.
Also, consider that some versions of Office are no longer being updated. Currently, the only versions of Office that are supported by Microsoft and therefore can continue to receive updates are:
How to uninstall Office?
If you need to uninstall Office, you can do it through the control panel on Windows or by using the uninstall tools on Mac. Be sure to follow the steps provided by Microsoft. here to avoid problems and ensure a complete uninstallation.
Microsoft Office Alternatives
Although Microsoft Office is the leader in its category, there are free and open source alternatives such as LibreOffice, Open Office, WPS Office and Google Workspace. These suites offer similar functionality and support Office file formats.
What is Open Office?
OpenOffice is a suite of open source office software applications that provides tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. This suite of applications is a free and open source alternative to commercial office suites, such as Microsoft Office.
OpenOffice is maintained by the Apache Software Foundation and is available for free download and use. The main applications that make up OpenOffice are: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math.
You can download OpenOffice for free here.
What is LibreOffice?
LibreOffice is an open source office suite that provides a suite of productivity applications. It was launched in 2010 as a fork of OpenOffice.org, a project that was acquired by Oracle. The fork was undertaken mainly due to concerns related to the development of OpenOffice.org.
In general, LibreOffice is the preferred choice for many users of open source office suites due to its more active development, frequent updates and better support for recent file formats.
You can download LibreOffice here.
What is WPS Office?
WPS Office is an office productivity suite that includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. WPS Office is developed by the Chinese company Kingsoft.
This suite stands out for being compatible with Microsoft Office file formats, making it easy to open, edit and create documents that are compatible with programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The main applications within WPS Office are Writer, Spreadsheets and Presentation.
WPS Office is available for different platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. In addition, WPS Office also offers some of its own features and additional tools, such as the ability to convert PDF documents to editable formats, an integrated PDF document reader and real-time collaboration functions.
It is important to note that, despite its similarities to Microsoft Office, WPS Office is not open source and is owned by a private company. Some users prefer WPS Office for its intuitive user interface and functionality, especially if they are looking for a free and compatible alternative to Microsoft Office documents.
Click here here to download WPS Office for PC.
Sources
https://support.microsoft.com/
** Reviewed by Zulay Conrado, Computer Engineer with more than 12 years of experience. Co-founder and Social Media Manager at Dharma Corp Store.
