Microsoft 365 Family is a subscription that gives multiple people access to Office apps and cloud storage

Microsoft 365 Family is a paid subscription service that lets up to six people in your household use Microsoft's productivity software on their own devices. Each person gets their own account, their own cloud storage, and their own copies of programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You pay one annual or monthly fee, and everyone shares that cost.

It is different from buying Microsoft Office outright. With Office, you pay once and own a copy forever — but you only get it on one device, and Microsoft stops updating it after a few years. With Microsoft 365 Family, you pay regularly, but you get updates for as long as you keep paying, and you can install it on up to five devices per person at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 Family costs around $100 per year or $10 per month and covers up to six household members, each with their own account and storage.
  • Each person can install the apps on up to five devices — computers, tablets, or phones — and use them on all five at once.
  • You get 1 terabyte of cloud storage per person through OneDrive, which is separate from anyone else's storage in the household.
  • The subscription includes the desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access, plus online versions you can use in a web browser.
  • If you stop paying, you lose the ability to edit documents, though you can still view them for a limited time.

What apps and features come with the subscription

Microsoft 365 Family includes the full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. These are the same programs you would get if you bought Office as a standalone product, but they stay updated automatically. You also get the web versions of these apps, which you can use in any browser without installing anything — useful if you are on a computer that is not yours.

Each person in the household also gets 1 terabyte of cloud storage through OneDrive. That is separate storage for each person — if you have six people on the plan, you do not share one terabyte between you. You get one terabyte each. You can use OneDrive to back up files, share documents with people outside your household, or access your files from any device.

The subscription also includes Microsoft Teams for video calls and messaging, though the free version of Teams does much of the same thing. Some plans include Microsoft Defender, which scans your computer for malware, though this is also available free as a standalone download.

How many devices you can use and who can use them

Up to six people can be part of one Microsoft 365 Family subscription. Each person needs their own Microsoft account — you cannot share one account between multiple people and keep your files separate. When you set up the subscription, you create a household group and invite the other five people by their email addresses.

Each of those six people can install the apps on up to five devices at the same time. That means one person could have Word, Excel, and Outlook running on their laptop, tablet, and phone all at once. Another person in the household could do the same on their own devices. The limit is per person, not per household, so the household as a whole could have the apps installed on many more than five devices.

If someone leaves the household or you want to remove them, you can remove them from the subscription through your Microsoft account settings. Once removed, they lose the ability to edit documents, though they can still view them for a short time.

The difference between Microsoft 365 Family and other Microsoft plans

Microsoft sells several versions of its productivity software. Microsoft 365 Personal is a subscription for one person only — it costs less than Family but covers only you. Microsoft Office (the standalone version) is a one-time purchase that gives you the apps forever, but only on one device, and Microsoft stops updating it after a few years. Microsoft 365 Business is designed for companies and costs more.

If you live alone or do not want to share a subscription, Personal makes sense. If you have a household of people who all use Microsoft Office, Family is usually cheaper per person than buying Personal for each of them. If you rarely update your software and do not mind using older versions, the standalone Office might be the right choice.

There is also a free web version of Office that you can use in your browser if you have a Microsoft account. It has fewer features than the desktop version, but it costs nothing and works on any device with internet access.

What happens if you stop paying

If your subscription expires or you cancel it, you can still open and view your documents in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps for a limited time — usually 30 days. After that, the apps go into read-only mode, meaning you can open and read your files but cannot edit them. You cannot save changes, add new content, or create new documents.

Your files themselves do not disappear. They stay in OneDrive and on your devices. You can still access them through the free web version of Office or by opening them in another program. But the desktop apps will not let you make changes until you renew your subscription.

Cost and where to buy it

Microsoft 365 Family costs around $100 per year if you pay annually, or $10 per month if you pay month to month. The annual plan is cheaper if you do the math — you pay $120 per year on the monthly plan versus $100 on the annual plan. You can buy it directly from Microsoft's website, from retailers like Amazon or Best Buy, or sometimes from your internet or phone provider.

Some retailers occasionally offer discounts or bundle it with other products. If you are a student, check whether your school offers Microsoft 365 for free through its IT department — many do. If you are over 55, some senior-focused programs offer discounts, though these vary by region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Microsoft 365 Family on a Mac?

Yes. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote all work on Mac. The installation process is the same — you sign in with your Microsoft account and install from the Microsoft website. You get the same five-device limit per person.

What if someone in my household uses a Chromebook or iPad?

You can install the Office apps on iPad and Android tablets. Chromebooks cannot run the desktop versions, but you can use the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in the Chrome browser. You do not need a subscription for the web versions.

Do I have to use OneDrive, or can I save files locally?

You can save files anywhere you want — your computer's hard drive, an external drive, or a different cloud service. OneDrive is included with the subscription, but using it is optional. Your 1 terabyte of storage sits there whether you use it or not.

Can I share my subscription with someone who does not live with me?

Technically, yes — Microsoft does not verify that people live in the same household. But the subscription is designed for household members, and Microsoft's terms of service say it is for people who live together. Sharing with someone outside your household is against the terms, though enforcement is rare.

Is Microsoft 365 Family the same as Microsoft 365 Business?

No. Business plans are designed for companies, include different apps and features, cost more, and come with business-focused support. If you are using it for personal or household use, Family is the right plan.