Instead, you will have to first upload the document on OneDrive, and then only you can edit an Office file on the web.

Next, you can’t directly select and edit an Office document that is available on your local disk. It does not support offline editing or viewing. As it’s self-explanatory, the Web version is online only meaning you can access Microsoft Office on the web only when you are connected to the internet. You can also take a look at CNET's list of the best Windows laptops.First and foremost, we are going to discuss the basic differences between the web version of Microsoft Office and the desktop apps. If you're looking for basic versions of each of these apps, the free version should work well for you.įor more productivity coverage, check out what Microsoft 365 Basic offers customers, all of the best features in Windows 11 and how to take screenshots in Windows 10 or 11.

There are still benefits to the free version, including the ability to share links to your work and collaborate in real time, similar to what the Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) productivity tools allow. They also have fewer features than the full Microsoft 365 versions.

You might be saying, 'Wait a minute, if I can get all of those apps for free, why pay for Microsoft 365 in the first place?' The functionality of the free apps is limited, so they only run in your web browser and you can only use them while you're actively connected to the internet. Screenshot by Alison DeNisco Rayome/CNET So what's the catch for the free version? Use the browser-based version of the Microsoft Word app for free.

How much does word cost for mac