Office 365 subscription: the complete guide to choosing the right Microsoft 365 package (and paying less)

Are you looking for an “Office 365 subscription” (often mistakenly called Office 365) and finding yourself faced with a wide range of options: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft 365 Single, Family, Business…it’s not always clear.

In this guide, you will learn:

• What's really included in a Microsoft 365 subscription (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, etc.)
• Which plan to choose based on your usage (personal, family, student, professional)
• How to install Office on PC/Mac/mobile
• How to share a subscription (when available)
• how to terminate properly
• and how to reduce the bill through co-subscription (within the framework provided by Microsoft)

What exactly is the Office 365 subscription?

Today, Office 365 is known as Microsoft 365 to the general public. In practice, when people search for “Office 365 subscription,” they’re looking for a subscription that provides access to:

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (full versions, often desktop and mobile)
• OneDrive (cloud for files and backups)
• additional services (depending on the plan): security, creative tools, etc.

👉 Key points: Microsoft 365 = subscription (monthly/annual payment + continuous updates).
Alternative: Office 2024 (or equivalent) = one-time purchase, no subscription (often less attractive if you want cloud + multi-device support).

Microsoft Office 365 package: which plans should you choose?

1) Microsoft 365 Single (formerly “Personal”): for 1 person

Who is it for?

• You're on your own and want Office on multiple devices (PC/Mac + mobile)

What it brings (in general):

• single-person use
• connection on multiple devices
• 1 TB of OneDrive storage

2) Microsoft 365 Family: for multiple users (best value for money)

Who is it for?

• You want to share the subscription among multiple users (family/friends), each with their own account

Key points:

• Share the benefits with up to 5 other people (for a total of 6)
• Each person usually has their own space (e.g., OneDrive)
• Sharing requires joining the Microsoft "family group": the guest must join the account holder's family group

✅ Why is this often the best deal?
Because if there are 2, 3, 4 of you… the cost “per person” becomes very competitive.

Example of pricing in Europe: Microsoft charges (depending on the country) around €99/year for the Single plan and €129/year for the Family plan (with the option to pay monthly).
(Prices vary by country and promotion: always check Microsoft’s website at the time of purchase.)

3) Microsoft 365 Business: for professionals (not to be confused)

If you're looking for Office for a business (professional email, team management, etc.), you should check out Microsoft 365 Business rather than the "Home" plans. Pricing and terms for business plans change regularly.

What does a Microsoft 365 subscription include?

Depending on the formula, you will generally find:

• Word / Excel / PowerPoint / Outlook / OneNote
• OneDrive (cloud)
• Available "bonus" services (Designer, Clipchamp, security, etc., depending on the country and plan)

The real value of the subscription is:

• multi-device access
• cloud storage
• continuous updates
• collaboration (sharing, co-editing, history)

How to install Microsoft 365 (Office) on PC, Mac, and mobile devices

On PC / Windows

1. Sign in to the Microsoft account that purchased the subscription
2. Go to your Services and subscriptions area (Microsoft Account)
3. Click Install (Office / Microsoft 365)
4. Run the installer and log in to activate the license

On Mac

1. Download from your Microsoft account
2. Installing Office apps
3. Sign in to your subscriber account to activate

On iPhone / Android

• Install Word / Excel / PowerPoint (or the Microsoft 365 app, if available)
• Log in with your subscriber account (or your "guest" account if you are part of a Family).

Sharing an Office 365 subscription: what’s possible (and what isn’t)

✅ What's coming soon: Microsoft 365 Family

• The account holder can share with up to 5 people
• provided that the individuals join the beneficiary's family group

❌ What cannot be shared

• Microsoft 365 Single / Personal: No sharing included
• “Lending” your login credentials: a bad idea (security + terms of use)

Money-saving tip: Save on your Microsoft Office 365 subscription with a shared subscription

If you're paying for Microsoft 365 Family but aren't using all the seats, the logic is simple:

• you keep an official subscription
• you split the cost among several people (as part of the agreed-upon arrangement)

That's exactly the point of the shared subscription:

• The account holder retains control of the subscription
• co-subscribers pay their monthly share
• management is cleaner than "transfers between friends"

👉 In Spliiit, the goal is to let you:

• or offer an available seat on your Microsoft 365 Family
• or join an existing group, instead of paying for a full membership on your own

(Important: Microsoft regulates sharing via the family group. These conditions must be respected.)

How to Cancel Your Microsoft 365 Subscription (Without Any Surprises)

1. Sign in to the Microsoft account that paid for the subscription
2. Go to Subscriptions / Services and Subscriptions
3. Click on Manage
4. Select Cancel and follow the steps.

Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase of Office: which should you choose?

Choose Microsoft 365 (subscription) if:

• You want OneDrive + multi-device sync
• you like continuous updates
• You have multiple users (Family)

Choose the "one-time purchase" option for Office if:

• You don't want a subscription
• You use Office for basic tasks (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) without needing the cloud
• you keep the same version for several years

FAQ – Office 365 Subscription

What is the best Office 365 subscription?

• Single if you're single
• Family if you have at least 2 users (best cost per person)

Are Microsoft 365 and Office 365 the same thing?

Office 365 is the old name that many people still use. Today, the consumer version is called Microsoft 365.

Can I share Microsoft 365 with someone else?

Yes, with Microsoft 365 Family, up to 6 people in total, through the Microsoft Family Group.

How do I cancel my Microsoft 365 subscription?

From your Microsoft account, go to the subscriptions section, then "Manage" → "Cancel" to stop the renewal.

Key points to remember

• “Office 365 subscription”= Microsoft 365, the subscription that combines Office and cloud services.
• The best way to lower your bill is to choose the right plan (often the Family plan) and make the most of the data sharing allowed under that plan.
• If you want to pay less without doing any DIY, a shared subscription allows you to split the cost rather than bear it alone.