The main difference: who uses it and how much it costs
Microsoft 365 Personal is a subscription for one person on one device at a time. Microsoft 365 Family is a subscription for up to six people, each with their own account, each able to use the apps on multiple devices at the same time. Personal costs less per month but covers only you. Family costs more per month but spreads across multiple people, which often makes it cheaper per person if you have a household or group sharing the cost.
Both subscriptions include the same core apps — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote — plus cloud storage, email hosting, and access to Microsoft's online versions of these programs. The difference is not what you get; it is how many people can use it and on how many devices simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft 365 Personal covers one person on one device at a time, while Family covers up to six people, each on multiple devices simultaneously.
- Both subscriptions include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, 1 TB of cloud storage per person, and access to web versions of the apps.
- Personal renews monthly or yearly; Family renews yearly only and includes Microsoft 365 apps for Android and iPad tablets.
- Family includes 60 minutes per month of Skype calls to landlines and mobile numbers in over 60 countries; Personal does not.
- You manage Family members and their storage through your Microsoft account, and each person gets their own separate files and settings.
What apps and storage come with each plan
Both Personal and Family subscriptions include the desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for Windows or Mac. You also get the web versions of these apps, which you can use in any browser without installing anything. Both plans include 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage — Personal gives you 1 TB for yourself, and Family gives each of the six members 1 TB of their own storage, for 6 TB total across the household.
Family adds one feature Personal does not: you can install Microsoft 365 apps on iPad and Android tablets. Personal subscriptions do not include tablet versions. Both plans include Outlook email hosting with a custom domain name (such as yourname@yourdomain.com), though you set this up separately through Microsoft's domain registration service.
Neither plan includes Microsoft Teams for group video calls, though both include Skype. Family includes 60 minutes per month of Skype calls to phone numbers in over 60 countries; Personal does not include this calling feature.
How many devices you can use at once
With Personal, you can install the apps on multiple devices — a laptop, a desktop, and a tablet — but you can only use them on one device at a time. If you sign in on your laptop and start using Word, then sign in on your desktop and open Word there, the app on your laptop will sign you out. You can switch between devices, but not use them simultaneously.
With Family, each of the six members can use their own copy of the apps on multiple devices at the same time. One person can be writing in Word on their laptop while another person is working in Excel on their desktop, and a third is editing a PowerPoint on their tablet — all at the same time, all under the same Family subscription. Each person's files stay separate because each has their own Microsoft account.
Cost and billing cycles
Microsoft 365 Personal is available on a monthly or yearly billing cycle. The monthly option renews every month; the yearly option renews once a year. You can cancel either one at any time, though if you pay yearly and cancel before the year is up, you do not receive a refund for the unused months.
Microsoft 365 Family is available on a yearly billing cycle only. It renews once per year. You can cancel at any time, but like Personal, you do not receive a refund for unused time if you cancel before the year ends. The yearly cost for Family is higher than Personal, but when divided among six people, the per-person cost is often lower — especially if all six members actually use the subscription.
Both subscriptions are available through Microsoft's website or through retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Prices vary slightly by retailer and by region, and both Microsoft and retailers occasionally run discounts, particularly during back-to-school season or the end of the calendar year.
Managing a Family subscription and adding members
The person who pays for the Family subscription is the account owner. They manage the subscription through their Microsoft account settings and can add or remove members at any time. To add someone, you send them an invitation through email, and they accept it by signing in with their own Microsoft account. If they do not have a Microsoft account yet, they create one during the acceptance process.
Each member has their own separate files, settings, and storage. The account owner can see who is in the family group and how much storage each person is using, but cannot see the contents of anyone else's files or emails. If a member leaves the family group or you remove them, they lose access to the subscription when ready, but their files remain in their OneDrive storage if they have a free Microsoft account afterward.
Family members do not need to live in the same house or country. Microsoft does not verify that members are related; it only requires that each person have a valid Microsoft account and accept the invitation. Some people use Family subscriptions with close friends or colleagues to split the cost.
Comparing the two side by side
| Feature | Personal | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Number of people | 1 | Up to 6 |
| Simultaneous device use | 1 device at a time | Multiple devices per person, simultaneously |
| Cloud storage per person | 1 TB | 1 TB each (6 TB total) |
| Desktop apps (Word, Excel, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Tablet apps (iPad, Android) | No | Yes |
| Skype calling to phone numbers | No | 60 minutes per month |
| Billing options | Monthly or yearly | Yearly only |
| Renewal | Monthly or yearly | Yearly |
When to choose Personal instead of Family
Choose Personal if you are the only person who will use the subscription, or if you want to avoid managing other people's accounts. Personal is also the right choice if you only need the apps on one device at a time and do not need tablet versions. If you prefer monthly billing and want the option to cancel without committing to a full year, Personal's month-to-month option gives you that flexibility.
Personal is also cheaper upfront if you are not sure whether you will use the subscription long-term. You can try it for one month, and if you do not use it, you cancel without losing money to unused months.
When to choose Family instead of Personal
Choose Family if two or more people in your household or group will use Microsoft 365 apps. The per-person cost drops significantly when split among multiple users. Family is also the right choice if anyone in your group needs to use the apps on a tablet — Personal does not include iPad or Android tablet versions.
Family is useful if people in your group need to work simultaneously on different devices. With Personal, only one person can use the apps at a time across all their devices. With Family, each person gets their own simultaneous access. Family also includes Skype calling to phone numbers, which Personal does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Personal to Family later?
Yes. You can cancel Personal at any time and start a Family subscription. If you paid yearly for Personal and switch before the year is up, you do not receive a refund. You can also upgrade from Personal to Family mid-year through your account settings, and Microsoft will prorate the cost based on your remaining Personal subscription time.
What happens if a Family member cancels or leaves?
When someone leaves the Family group, they lose access to the subscription when ready. Their files stay in their OneDrive storage if they have a free Microsoft account, but they can no longer use the desktop or web versions of Word, Excel, and the other apps. The account owner can remove members at any time through their subscription settings.
Do Family members need to live together?
No. Microsoft does not require Family members to live in the same house or country. Each member only needs a valid Microsoft account and must accept the invitation to join. Some people use Family subscriptions with friends or colleagues to share the cost.
Can I use Personal on multiple computers?
Yes, you can install Personal on multiple computers, but you can only use it on one at a time. If you sign in on a second computer, the app will sign you out on the first. With Family, each person can use their apps on multiple devices simultaneously.
Does Family include Microsoft Teams?
No. Neither Personal nor Family includes Microsoft Teams for group video calls. Both include Skype, and Family includes 60 minutes per month of Skype calls to phone numbers. Teams is available as a separate subscription or as part of Microsoft 365 Business plans.