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Microsoft product guide
Microsoft Word
Word is Microsoft’s word processor. Businesses use it for proposals, contracts, policies, reports and any document that more than one person touches.
- Best for: anyone who writes or reviews documents
- Where it runs: Windows, Mac, web and mobile
- Included in: most Microsoft 365 plans
- Optional add-on: Microsoft 365 Copilot
What Word does for your business
The features clients ask about most, with an example of each in daily use.
Track changes and comments
See who changed what, accept or reject edits, and discuss them in the margin. In practice: A lawyer and a client mark up the same contract without emailing five versions.
Co-authoring
Several people edit one document at the same time and see each other’s changes. In practice: Three managers finish a tender response together on deadline day.
Templates and styles
Set fonts, headings and layout once so every document looks the same and the table of contents builds itself. In practice: A branded proposal template that every salesperson starts from.
Editor and dictation
Spelling, grammar and clarity suggestions, plus speech-to-text for first drafts. In practice: Dictate meeting notes on the drive back to the office, then tidy them up.
Forms and fill-in fields
Add dropdowns, checkboxes and date pickers so documents can be filled in without breaking the layout. In practice: An onboarding checklist that new hires complete in Word or on the web.
Copilot in Word
Draft from a prompt, rewrite a section, summarize a long report or turn notes into a first draft. Requires the Copilot add-on. In practice: Ask Copilot to turn last quarter’s notes into a two-page client update.
Which plans include Word
Every plan below includes Word. The difference is whether you get the full desktop app or the web and mobile versions.
| Plan | Word version | Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Apps for business Office apps only, no email or Teams | Desktop, web, mobile | View listing |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | Desktop, web, mobile | View listing |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium Adds advanced security and device management | Desktop, web, mobile | View listing |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | Desktop, web, mobile | View listing |
| Microsoft 365 E5 Adds advanced security, compliance and analytics | Desktop, web, mobile | View listing |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Web and mobile only | View listing |
Variants of these plans without Teams, and Non-Profit and Education versions, are also available. Ask us and we will point you to the right one.
Add Copilot to Word
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a separate per-user licence that can be added to eligible Microsoft 365 plans.
For IT buyers
Licensing and deployment notes
- Desktop vs web: Desktop Word installs through Microsoft 365 Apps. Word for the web needs no install but has fewer layout, mail merge and macro features.
- Plan limits: Microsoft 365 Business plans are capped at 300 users per organization. Larger teams move to Enterprise plans such as E3.
- Updates: Desktop apps update through Microsoft 365 Apps update channels, which an admin can set for the whole organization.
- Data protection: Sensitivity labels and data loss prevention can protect documents that leave the company. The level of control depends on the plan, so check Business Premium, E3 or E5 if this matters.
- Storage: Documents saved to OneDrive or SharePoint support co-authoring and version history.
- Copilot: Copilot in Word needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence per user on top of an eligible base plan. Availability can vary by region and tenant.
Not sure which plan fits your team?
Tell us how many people need Word and what they use it for, and we will recommend a plan.
Disclaimer: Microsoft may change features, pricing, plans or packaging at any time. Details here are a guide, not an offer; confirm current details on the listing or with us before you buy.
