Microsoft 365 Personal vs Family: Which Plan is Right for You?
Trying to decide between Microsoft 365 Personal and Family? The difference is simple: Personal is for one person, Family is for up to six. But the real question is which one gives you better value.
Here's the complete breakdown to help you choose.
Microsoft 365 Personal vs Family: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Personal | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.99/year | $99.99/year |
| Users | 1 person | Up to 6 people |
| Cloud Storage | 1TB total | 6TB total (1TB each) |
| Devices per person | 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 phones | 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 phones |
| Apps Included | All Microsoft 365 apps | All Microsoft 365 apps |
| Microsoft Teams | Yes | Yes |
| Cost per person/year | $70 | $17 (with 6 users) |
Pricing Breakdown: Personal vs Family
Let's look at the real costs:
Microsoft 365 Personal
$69.99/year
or $6.99/month
For one person only. Period.
Microsoft 365 Family
$99.99/year
or $9.99/month
Up to 6 people. Each gets their own 1TB storage.
The math is clear: if two or more people in your household need Microsoft 365, Family is cheaper than buying two Personal subscriptions.
What's Included in Each Plan
Both Plans Include
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote
- Microsoft Teams for video calls and chat
- OneDrive cloud storage
- Publisher & Access (PC only)
- Install on 5 PCs/Macs, 5 tablets, 5 phones per user
- 1TB OneDrive storage per user
- Premium Outlook features
- Microsoft Editor (grammar & style)
- Always the latest version of all apps
Personal Plan Specifics
- •1 Microsoft account only
- •1TB total storage
- •Can't share with anyone else
- •Your account, your apps, your storage
Family Plan Extras
- Up to 6 separate Microsoft accounts
- 6TB total storage (1TB per person)
- Each person has private storage—others can't access it
- Family Safety features (screen time, content filters)
- Manage family members from family.microsoft.com
- Works for any 6 people—doesn't have to be actual family
Who Should Choose Personal vs Family?
Choose Personal If...
- You're the only one who needs Microsoft 365
- No one else in your household uses Office apps
- You don't want to manage other accounts
- 1TB of storage is enough for you
- You prefer the simplest option
Choose Family If...
- 2+ people in your household need Office
- You want to share with spouse, kids, or roommates
- Each person needs their own separate storage
- You want Family Safety features for kids
- You want the best per-person value
The Family Plan Math: When It Makes Sense
Here's why Family almost always wins if more than one person needs Office:
| Users | Personal Cost | Family Cost | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $70/year | $100/year | PersonalSave $30 |
| 2 users | $140/year | $100/year | FamilySave $40 |
| 3 users | $210/year | $100/year | FamilySave $110 |
| 4 users | $280/year | $100/year | FamilySave $180 |
| 5 users | $350/year | $100/year | FamilySave $250 |
| 6 users | $420/year | $100/year | FamilySave $320 |
At 6 users, each person pays just $16.67/year—that's less than $1.40/month for full Microsoft 365 access plus 1TB of cloud storage.
Myth: 'Family' Means Actual Family
Nope. The 6 people can be anyone: roommates, friends, colleagues, study partners. Microsoft doesn't verify relationships. Each person gets their own private account and storage that others can't access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Family members see each other's files?
No. Each person has their own private OneDrive storage. Files are completely separate unless you explicitly share them.
Do Family members need to live together?
No. They can be anywhere in the world. Each person signs in with their own Microsoft account.
Can I switch from Personal to Family later?
Yes. Your remaining Personal time converts to Family time (roughly proportionally). No data is lost.
What happens if someone leaves the Family plan?
Their Microsoft 365 access ends, but their OneDrive files remain (with reduced storage). They can be replaced with someone else.
Can I use Family plan for my small business?
Technically yes, but you won't get business features like custom email domains or admin controls. Business plans are better for actual businesses.
Is the storage shared or separate?
Separate. Each of the 6 people gets their own 1TB. You can't pool it into 6TB for one person.
Ready to Get Microsoft 365?
Choose the plan that fits your needs:
Our recommendation: If there's any chance another person in your household might use Microsoft 365, go with Family. The $30 difference gets you 5 extra user slots and 5TB more storage. That's a no-brainer.