There are three Microsoft discount programs offering up to 30% off of Microsoft 365 plans. These plans get you the current version of Microsoft Excel. The discount programs are available to a surprisingly large number of people, including many employees, students, teachers, and anyone with a current or past connection with the US military.
Microsoft Workplace Discount Program
The Workplace Discount Program (WDP) offers a 30% discount on Microsoft 365 Family and Personal plans to employees of organizations (business, enterprise, government, education and nonprofit) who have an eligible Microsoft volume license agreement. In years past, this was known as the Home Use Program (HUP).
It’s easy to see whether you qualify for the discount. Go to the Microsoft Workplace Discount page and enter your work email address. See Figure 1 below.
If you are eligible, your work inbox will get an email with a verification link which lets you set up your personal Microsoft account for WDP discounts. From your personal Microsoft account, buy Microsoft 365 Family or Personal for 30% off. That will start or extend an existing Microsoft 365 subscription.
Once started, the WDP discount continues each year, even if you leave the organization! Yes, you read that right. As long as you keep the same Microsoft account and automatic renewal, the WDP discount will continue, which is a big change from the old Home Use Program.
The discounted prices
The Workplace Discount Program prices are a straight 30% off the retail price in each country/region. See Figure 2 for some examples.
Education and Student offers
The Workplace Discount Program applies to Education license holders, meaning schools, colleges, and universities with Microsoft volume license agreements. That means many teachers, lecturers, and staff qualify for WDP discounts.
One US offer is College Student pricing for Microsoft 365 Personal, with a 50% discount. Students at Title IV–accredited colleges or universities are eligible. Students at all levels (K–12, college, and university) will likely have other Microsoft Office-related plans and discounts.
The easiest way to find education discounts is to check with your institution or student organization.
Military Appreciation Edition
Military Appreciation Edition (MAE) is available to current and former US Military with PX privileges at the Exchange website. See the Authorized Patrons page to see the many inclusions.
Microsoft 365 Family Military is US$69.99 instead of $99.99. There is no discount for the Microsoft 365 Personal plan.
Take note that the Exchange website has a “2023” tag on the product name, but it’s still the most current version.
Unlike the Workplace Discount Program, this option requires you to buy another MAE product each year to renew. Don’t let Microsoft renew automatically, because then you will pay full price.
Tip: if you’re about to lose your PX access, you can extend a Microsoft 365 subscription up to five years ahead by buying extra packs and adding them to your existing plans. There’s also an eGift card option to give a Microsoft 365 Family activation/product code to someone else for the same discounted price. They can use that code to get or extend a Microsoft 365 Family plan.
Some US Military with IT access might be eligible for the Workplace Discount Program, which has ongoing discounts and includes Microsoft 365 Personal.
Other non-US military
Only US military qualify for Microsoft 365 discounts under the Military Appreciation Edition.
What you get
Microsoft 365 purchased with the Workplace, Education, or Military Appreciation discount is exactly the same as a regular/civilian purchase — it’s the same software, same features, and same online services.