Microsoft has begun testing a free version of Office for Windows that includes advertisements. Currently, users need to pay for a monthly Microsoft 365 subscription to access the full desktop version of Office, but Microsoft has quietly been testing an ad-supported alternative in select markets.
Beebom first spotted this ad-supported Office version appearing in India recently. This version gives Windows users access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps without requiring the Microsoft 365 subscription fee.
The test version displays ads in the sidebar of the applications. According to Beebom, these advertisements include banner ads that remain permanently visible along the side of the app, as well as 15-second video ads that play periodically every few hours.
When asked about this development, a Microsoft spokesperson told PCWorld: “Microsoft has been conducting some limited testing. Currently, there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office desktop apps.” Despite this statement suggesting limited scope, the fact that Microsoft has specifically engineered its Office apps to function with advertisements on Windows indicates we might eventually see this version expand to additional markets.
One notable limitation of this free version is that Microsoft requires users to store their documents in OneDrive, with local file storage capabilities disabled. This restriction channels users into Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem even while providing free access to the applications themselves.
