If you have a Mac with Catalina, you can download the While they prompt for a 365 subscription, they are technically free to download and allow viewing of documents. A subscription is required for editing on screens larger than 10.1 inches.
: Once installed, open any Office app and go to Help > Check for Updates . Uncheck the box for "Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date" to prevent the system from trying to install an incompatible newer version. Free Alternatives for Catalina Users Microsoft Office For Mac 10.15.7 Free Download
For macOS 10.15.7 (Catalina), the last supported version of Microsoft Office is If you have a Mac with Catalina, you
Keys sold for $10 are either stolen volume license keys (which will be deactivated within weeks) or MSDN keys (violating Microsoft terms). Uncheck the box for "Automatically keep Microsoft Apps
, released in October 2022. While you can download this specific installer for free, you will still need a valid Microsoft 365 subscription or a one-time license (like Office 2019) to activate and use the desktop applications. Microsoft Learn Official Download Link
| Method | Safe? | Legal? | Cost | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Office Web Apps | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Free | | Microsoft 365 Trial | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | 30 days free | | LibreOffice | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Free | | "Free download" from random site | ❌ No | ❌ No | |
I have included a critical legal and safety disclaimer because Microsoft Office is commercial software. Downloading "free" versions from third-party sites often violates Microsoft’s terms and carries significant security risks.