Back-to-school season should be the perfect time to subscribe to Microsoft 365, why isn’t it?

Back-to-school season should be the perfect time to subscribe to Microsoft 365, why isn't it?

As a tech enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I find myself perplexed by Microsoft’s decision to not offer significant discounts on their flagship productivity suite, Microsoft 365, during this back-to-school season.


It’s time for the back-to-school rush as students head back to school for another academic year filled with learning. Given the widespread use of Microsoft 365 among students and educators as a powerful productivity tool, one might expect this season to be an excellent opportunity to subscribe to Microsoft 365. However, it seems that this isn’t the case at present.

To clarify, while there are indeed discounts available for Microsoft 365, they’re not offered directly by Microsoft. Instead, these deals usually provide a few additional free months. However, this doesn’t affect the upfront cost you need to pay to utilize the service. To access the full Microsoft 365 suite, you’ll have to shell out $69.99 for Microsoft 365 Personal or $99.99 for Microsoft 365 Family.

At the moment, it seems that well-known retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target aren’t offering discounts on Microsoft 365, which means that Microsoft isn’t standing alone in this situation. Currently, you would have to pay the full price for either Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family at these stores.

It’s not like Microsoft 365 is stuck at its normal price all year. I maintain our guide on the best Microsoft 365 deals, which involves scouring the web for discounts and bundles for the service. While Microsoft doesn’t normally discount Microsoft 365, you can get a 12-month subscription at a discount at various points throughout the year. But when I went to update the piece recently, I noticed that almost all of the deals and bundles have ended.

Don’t students get Microsoft 365 for free?

Back-to-school season should be the perfect time to subscribe to Microsoft 365, why isn't it?

For students linked to an eligible educational institution, they can acquire Office 365 Education at no cost. This package offers access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Copilot, and additional classroom tools. However, it’s important to note that the free version is web-based, not a full desktop version like Microsoft 365, which provides extra benefits.

Certain editions of Office 365 Education include desktop applications and additional services, but it’s important to note that they do not offer a direct replacement for Microsoft 365. Some individuals may be ineligible to avail this offer, while others might have work processes needing features not provided with Office 365 Education.

Students enrolled in Title IV institutions within the United States can obtain Microsoft 365 Personal for a discounted rate of $2.99 per month. However, this exclusive offer is restricted to college students.

The point at hand isn’t specifically about Office 365 Education or the deal for college students, as Microsoft provides a variety of plans with varying features to cater to various needs. However, the concern lies in the fact that Microsoft 365, during the back-to-school period, doesn’t seem to be discounted or on sale.

Microsoft 365 at a discount

Microsoft isn’t offering a direct discount on Microsoft 365 through its site, but there are ongoing deals that effectively give you more service for the same price. Specifically, some offers provide 15 months of Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription for what typically costs only 12 months. This means you can currently get a 15-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal for $69.99, or a 15-month Family plan for $99.99.

Although these offers are beneficial, they don’t qualify as reductions on yearly Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Essentially, receiving three months gratis can be advantageous for users who require the subscription for an extended period, yet it doesn’t diminish the initial cost of purchasing a yearly subscription.

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2024-08-15 21:10