Microsoft recognizes the vital role technology plays in both professional and personal settings for military personnel. To support active-duty service members, the company offers a generous 30% discount on Microsoft 365 Family through the Microsoft 365 Family Military Appreciation Edition. This exclusive offer allows eligible military members to access premium Microsoft applications at a reduced cost, ensuring they have the tools necessary for success.
Understanding the Microsoft Military Discount
The standard Microsoft 365 Family subscription costs $99.99 per year, but eligible military members can purchase it for just $69.99 annually. This discount provides significant savings while delivering full access to the latest versions of essential Microsoft applications, including:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- OneNote
- Outlook
- Access (PC only)
- Publisher (PC only)
Additionally, each user receives 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage, with a total of up to 6 TB available under the family plan.
One of the biggest advantages of Microsoft 365 is its cross-device compatibility. Whether using Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android, military members and their families can seamlessly work from multiple devices. The cloud-based structure of Microsoft 365 ensures that users can access their files from anywhere, which is particularly valuable for service members who frequently relocate or travel.
Who Is Eligible for the Microsoft Office Military Discount?
This discount is available exclusively to active-duty military members, including those serving in the National Guard and Reserves. To access the special pricing, eligible service members must purchase Microsoft 365 Family through an authorized military exchange. Unlike many military discounts, this offer is not available directly through Microsoft’s online store.
Unfortunately, this discount does not extend to veterans, retirees, or former military members. However, Microsoft provides a separate 10% discount on select products for veterans, retirees, and their families through its broader Microsoft Military Discount Program.
How to Purchase Microsoft 365 Family at the Discounted Rate
To take advantage of the military discount, eligible service members must visit their respective military exchange online store. The subscription is available through:
- Army & Air Force Exchange Service
- Navy Exchange Service Command
- Other participating military retailers
Once on the exchange website, military personnel should search for “Microsoft 365 Family Military Appreciation Edition” and follow the purchase instructions.
Because eligibility is verified through the military exchange, service members should ensure they have a valid military ID or credentials before attempting to make a purchase. Microsoft does not process these discounts directly; instead, the exchange manages verification and fulfillment.
Additional Microsoft Discounts for Military Personnel
Beyond Microsoft 365, Microsoft offers a 10% discount on select software, devices, and accessories for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. This discount applies to various products, including:
- Surface devices
- Laptops and tablets
- Accessories like keyboards and mice
Military families can explore these savings through Microsoft’s dedicated military discount page.
However, some exclusions apply. The 10% discount does not extend to digital games, apps, in-app content, subscriptions, movies, TV shows, Office software, Windows operating systems, Xbox consoles, games, accessories, personalized items, gift cards, and services like Skype and Xbox Live. To ensure eligibility, service members should check Microsoft’s discount eligibility page before making a purchase.
Service members can also find Microsoft products at their local base exchange, where they may be able to take advantage of tax-free pricing and additional promotions.
Other Ways to Save on Microsoft Products
In addition to military discounts, Microsoft offers educational pricing for students, faculty, and parents in K-12 and higher education. This can be particularly beneficial for military families with children or service members pursuing further education. While these discounts may not be combinable with military offers, they provide another opportunity to save on essential Microsoft products.
Microsoft occasionally runs promotions on software, devices, and accessories. Checking Microsoft Store’s special discount terms page can help military personnel and their families stay informed about current deals and maximize their savings.
Maximizing Your Savings with Microsoft
For active-duty military members, the Microsoft 365 Family Military Appreciation Edition provides a valuable opportunity to access essential software at a fraction of the regular cost. By securing the 30% discount through a military exchange, service members and their families can take full advantage of Microsoft’s powerful productivity tools. Additionally, veterans and retirees can still benefit from other discounts, ensuring that Microsoft remains an accessible and affordable option for the military community.
To get started, visit your military exchange website and search for the Microsoft 365 Family Military Appreciation Edition today.
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Art Arao says
What about military retirees?
Charles L Thompson Jr says
Ryan,
You’re doing a great job. Please, please keep doing we as retired veteran need someone like working for us.
And It’s good for you too(smile).
Ryan Guina says
Thank you for your kind words, Charles. And thank you for your service!
Robert Paul says
What if I subscribed to Microsoft 365 already and just now found this 30% discount? Can I apply it to my annual subscription, retroactively?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Robert, I’m not sure if you can apply this retroactively – you would need to contact Microsoft’s customer support. However, I would think they could prorate the discount going forward, or possibly apply it to your account if you have it on auto-renew. I would contact them to verify.
Carolyn says
I put my .mil email address and it went through however, my work computer does not trust it and will not let me use the link button! There is no link with it for me to copy and paste so I am stuck! I need help!
Ryan Guina says
Carolyn, try forwarding the email to your personal address and using your home computer. That worked for me.
Michael says
The code (at least for Army personnel) can be found by going on to AKO and clicking on the “slick deals” section, then technology. I would post the link but I don’t think that’s allowed in the comments. You will need your CAC to access it. Put that in along with your .mil email address then Microsoft will send you a link to your .mil email to purchase and download the software.
Joann says
Everyone I enter in my military email it ask for my company’s code?
Ali says
Did you ever get it to work? I’m getting the same thing.
Don Whitley says
So, once the same people that was on the line defending your right not to serve in the military are no longer worthy of a discount. Spent 46 years in the active Army or as a DAC…
Zia Williams says
I understand your frustration! I also was n for 21 years and get frustrated that we don’t get any deals anymore when we did more than some of these guys that only do a couple years and get out.. I don’t think it is fair at all at times.. We put in so much more time (you twice as much as I did) and it doesn’t really seem appreciated once you are out.. 🙁 It would be nice to get some kind of discount at least!
Saulo Noguera says
how does this work for computers with windows 10?
AD Sailor says
Is the free download still available for AD? I am having issues finsing an actual place to register and download. Thank you
Patrick says
Are we limited on the number of licenses we can purchase? I have three computers I need to download the software to. Thanks.
Ryan Guina says
Regarding a discount for retirees:
It’s important to understand the goal of this program, and how it works. This is not a direct discount from Microsoft, this program is around because Microsoft allows other companies to extend their enterprise licenses with their employees so their employees can have access to the software on their personal computers. This helps companies and employees maintain proficiency and productivity.
This is not a free program the government or other corporations. This is why they have to limit eligibility, which is verified by the employee’s email address (.mil, .gov, and similar extensions).
The government can’t justify the expense of subsidizing software for former employees who aren’t in a position to use the software for the benefit of the government. Doing so would come at enormous expense, not to mention the administrative requirements to verify eligibility for those former members.
I hope this makes sense.
Teresa Impson says
Same question as Bill: What’s available for Retirees?
Bill says
Retired military? Any scraps for us guys who did it all, and now letting the next generation do it all?
Thx.