Although the web version of Microsoft Office does this, if you use the PC version it autosaves to your local hard drive after a specified number of minutes.

Google autosaves everything you do to Google Drive by default, which means you’ll never lose any work because every click and keystroke is saved.

Google Drive gives you 15GB of free storage space - that’s triple the amount Microsoft offers free of charge.

You get extra free online storage space.

No more scrolling through endless menus looking for the spell checker! You can even remove any features you don't need. Google only has the most necessary features, which makes its programs easier to use. This can make Office seem a little cluttered. Microsoft Office comes with tonnes of features (some suited to more advanced use, such as Word’s References menu which helps you write in an academic format).

What are the pros of Google Docs, apart from cost? All you need is a Google login to use it. Again, your files are saved to a secure area online, known as Google Drive.

Just like Microsoft, Google offers a similar service to Office that lets you create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations from your PC, tablet or smartphone. You'll need to sign up for a free Outlook account but it’s worth noting that there are lots of features missing and you won't be able to save documents to your computer's hard drive - they'll be stored in your OneDrive space instead. Visit from any web browser to access limited versions of these programs (you can also download free apps for your smartphone or tablet). It is possible to use Word, Excel and Powerpoint free of charge, though. You’ll have access to Word, Powerpoint and Excel to use on one PC or Mac, but you can't use the software on a tablet or smartphone and you won’t get the extra online storage or the updates. The second option is to make a one-off purchase of Office Home & Student 2019 for £119.99. With both options you’ll get every new update such as new tools and features, as well as security updates and bug fixes. It costs £59.99 a year for personal use for one user, but for £79.99 a year, you can get Office 365 Home which lets you have six different log-ins - a better deal for a family. You also get 1TB of storage space on Microsoft’s cloud service, OneDrive (everyone can get 5GB free). You also get Publisher and Access but you can only use these on a PC.

The first is to buy a subscription to Office 365 which lets you use the latest full versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook on your PC as well as on any tablets or smartphones you own.

There are a few different ways you can use Microsoft Office. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

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