Annual Subscription

Yes. Lower-cost options are available if desktop Office apps are not needed all year:

1. Use the free web apps Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available free in a browser with a Microsoft account. This is the lowest-cost option.
2. Buy only the apps needed Standalone versions of Word and Excel can be purchased separately for Mac or PC from the Microsoft Store, instead of paying for a full Microsoft 365 subscription.
3. Consider a one-time purchase of Office 2024 If desktop apps are preferred but a recurring yearly fee is not, Office 2024 is available as a one-time purchase.
4. Microsoft 365 Basic is cheaper, but it does not include desktop Office apps It is for one person and includes 100 GB of cloud storage, ad-free Outlook, and some OneDrive security features. It is useful only if storage and email benefits matter more than desktop Word and Excel.

If the current Microsoft 365 subscription is allowed to expire:

• installed Office apps usually remain on the device,
• documents can still be opened and usually printed,
• the apps go into Reduced Functionality Mode, so creating or editing documents is no longer available until the subscription is renewed,
• the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint can still be used in a browser.

For very light use, the best fit is usually either free web apps or a one-time purchase instead of a $99 yearly subscription.

References:

• What's the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2024?
• Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 Basic
• What happens when your Microsoft 365 subscription expires
• how to get only Word and Excel. don’t need the whole package - Microsoft Q&A i have had Microsoft for many years. i am retired now and only use my software maybe once a month to balance my checkbook or write a litter. $99 a year is a lot for that. what can i do to just get those two programs.
• Which simple MS plan makes sense to a newly retired chap who basically only needs word and excel and maybe outlook?? - Microsoft Q&A While I was working I used Microsoft 365 personal and it was more than decent for y self-employed purposes. However, now that I'm an old fart and retired I'm thinking of downgrading to 365 Classic or even basic? My current subscription is running out in 3 weeks time. When it's time to change are these other subscriptions ever offered as options to select on an ongoing basis? All I need is word and excel and nothing much else. Don't need co pilot or teams stuff. Any advice for a seamless and appropriate plan?