Microsoft 365 Subscription Increase 2025 - almost 50% !!!

[raptalia]

I just received an email from Bill Gates telling me what I suspected would happen- in 2025 my annual Microsoft 365 subscription will increase from $109 to $156 per annum. Am I the only one who has this notice? I have looked on line and in Europe the increase appears to be 5%. Maybe I got some special introductory offer and the $109 subscription was a limited deal - who knows?

I guess one alternative is to revert back to purchasing the MS Office 2024 download for around $220. I have until September to make a decision. When I switched to 365 it occurred to me that this puts the consumer at the mercy of Microsoft as they can increase their annual fee to whatever they like and that is exactly what has happened.

 

[CURVE]

I received the same email this morning saying my subscription is going up from $109 to $159 next month, which is pretty steep considering it rose from $99 to $109 (IIRC) only a few years ago.

My issue is I've been using Microsoft for 30+ years both at home and work, so I don't know if there are any alternatives and learning a new system will be a pain in the butt, so I guess I'm stuck.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

I use LibreOffice, it's open source and free.

It has a similar set of tools and easy to pick up and use.

 

[Rich Enuff]

I just received an email from Bill Gates telling me what I suspected would happen- in 2025 my annual Microsoft 365 subscription will increase from $109 to $156 per annum. Am I the only one who has this notice? I have looked on line and in Europe the increase appears to be 5%. Maybe I got some special introductory offer and the $109 subscription was a limited deal - who knows?

I guess one alternative is to revert back to purchasing the MS Office 2024 download for around $220. I have until September to make a decision. When I switched to 365 it occurred to me that this puts the consumer at the mercy of Microsoft as they can increase their annual fee to whatever they like and that is exactly what has happened.

In Australia they are increasing from $139 - $179, there is an option to use Microsoft 365 for free, but you just lose your storage and its web based only. If you can manage that, then go free.

 

[raptalia]

In Australia they are increasing from $139 - $179, there is an option to use Microsoft 365 for free, but you just lose your storage and its web based only. If you can manage that, then go free.

Interesting. It seems everyone has a different fee structure though. My fee has increased from $106 to $159 and in the EU the increase is only 5%. Thanks for the information about the free option, I did not realise such a thing was available and it would suit me as I can get by without cloud base storage etc. I will investigate.

I suspect the fee increase is to pay for Microsoft's adoption of AI based technology. I do not need or use Co Pilot so I feel I am paying for something I do not want. Thanks again RE.

 

[dav3]

If you have an office job chances are you can just install it and license it using your work credentials, licenses like E3 give you 5 PC/Mac installs, 5 tablet installs, and 5 phone installs, although it's probably not the best solution if you're using OneDrive for a lot of personal stuff.

 

[CD Xbow]

A friend of mine has a MS 365 sub and he can have other join as part of a family so he invited me. I get access to the Office apps and my OneDrive capacity went up from the free and rather paltry 1 GB to a robust 5 TB. Not a bad lurk.

In Australia they are increasing from $139 - $179, there is an option to use Microsoft 365 for free, but you just lose your storage and its web based only. If you can manage that, then go free.

Yes, it's a way to do it. I found the online apps a little slow and klutzy but usable. Most folks could probably live with them. The other option, which posters have already mentioned, is Libre Office. It's a very powerful suite and if there is nothing especially Microsoft you need to do, then this is an excellent alternative.

 

[dumb]

cancelled my subscription. in the process of that they offered me the old price of $109, without the option of ai but i still cancelled. further research suggests this isn't a long term option.
not a heavy user at home so free option for me. would happily have given them some feedback but they probably didn't offer the option as they already know.

still rolling with one of the last subscription free adobe photoshops - good enough for what i need it for. i have access to more modern adobe ps at work if need be. recently cancelled that subscription as well. down the track i may need to lean on indesign again but cross that bridge when i need to.

 

[magpie_marty]

I installed Libra Office it does everything office did and it's free.
Could be worth a look.