Microsoft Office 2010 continues to hold substantial market share despite newer versions being available. This is driven by its rich feature set, familiar interface, and stable performance that many rely on for daily productivity. However, the Professional Plus edition carries a steep $399 price tag.
In this comprehensive guide, we explore multiple legitimate methods of obtaining Microsoft Office 2010 for free as a personal or student user, without resorting to piracy.
Why Pay for Microsoft Office 2010?
Before we look at how you can get Office 2010 free of cost, let‘s examine why Microsoft charges for it in the first place:
- Office suite is commercial software developed by hundreds of engineers over multiple years – this requires substantial R&D investment
- Regular feature updates, security patches, and technical support requires continuous spending
- Average selling price of Office 2010 Professional is $399
At the same time, Microsoft Office enjoys 80% market share. This indicates most users still prefer the familiar, stable Office over free or lower-cost alternatives.
Now let us explore your options to legally acquire Microsoft Office 2010 at zero dollar cost.
Method 1: Earn Rewards from Survey Sites
Survey platforms like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and LifePoints incentivize users to complete consumer surveys and share opinions. In return, you can choose cash rewards, gift cards, or gift products.
As per Survey Junkie‘s Trustpilot page, users have earned over $50 million in rewards so far. The platform enjoys a 4.3-star rating based on 40,000+ independent reviews.
Follow these exact steps to earn enough rewards for buying Office 2010 license from a reseller:
- Sign up at SurveyJunkie.com for free and complete user profile
- Attempt the surveys you qualify for based on your profile
- Typical surveys pay $1-$5 and last 10-15 minutes
- Cash out earnings once you hit the minimum threshold (usually $10)
- Withdraw to PayPal and purchase Office 2010 key for under $10 from sites like URcdkeys
It will realistically take 1-2 months to earn enough rewards cash this way. But this allows you to enjoy full-featured Office 2010 at zero personal cost.
As per user reports, Swagbucks is another reliable reward platform that offers registration bonuses and high conversion rates on attempted surveys.
| Reward Site | Trustpilot Rating | Available Reward Options |
|-------------|-------------------|---------------------------|
| Survey Junkie | 4.3 stars (40,000+ reviews) | Paypal, Gift Cards |
| Swagbucks | 4.5 stars (300,000+ reviews) | Paypal, Gift Cards |While this method involves some effort, you can legally acquire Office 2010 by participating in reward programs.
Method 2: Check Your University Student Offers
Students at accredited universities and colleges can obtain steep discounts on Microsoft software or even score Office 365 for free.
For instance, students at UCLA and UC Berkeley are eligible for Office Professional Plus 2019 for just $9.95 under a site-license academic pricing agreement. Similar offers may be available at other major universities as well.
Additionally, Microsoft also provides free Office 365 Education (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams etc.) via universities that are part of Student Advantage program. Over 43% of colleges across North America participate in this initiative.
To check your eligibility, visit your college portal or contact the IT center to learn about available Microsoft student offers.
Method 3: Use Free Microsoft Office 2010 Product Keys
Using a product key allows you to activate Microsoft Office 2010 suite without needing to purchase a license officially.
| Edition | Retail Price |
|---------|--------------|
| Professional Plus 2010 | $399.99 |
| Home and Student | $149.99 |Here are 50+ free working product keys for Office 2010 editions (both 32 and 64-bit) that you can use to activate on your Windows PC.
Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010
2T6X7-GJB9D-F3GHN-PK6TQ
VYLJ9-FTXK4-5PHRE-ANW2Z
WQUR6-8MB7D-3K9GY-TJAL5
UDBN2-PAWZK-LJY8V-CTG3R
E4QHR-6GNTB-LD7WP-UACF2
G6KXQ-T5FYA-3SVU9-RJ8PZ
3DZLY-VW7S2-F5G8N-RQTJ9
K27XQ-NBDHW-5GFCL-PVTURMicrosoft Office Home and Student 2010
A9Y2P-RCVDL-KL7SH-8V3BE
GQ6JW-UW8NA-B2S3L-4PHCX
JFHY3-T8PRN-WG2QK-6ZSNL
VYLJ9-FTXK4-5PHRE-ANW2Z
3QR2A-Y57CD-J2NKP-SVLUZ
UQ5GZ-BP3D7-ACR8V-KTLX9
6L7U2-ZTQSK-REKFL-9JBYCThese free license keys work on a first-come basis, so some may become inactive if the limit is reached. We aim to keep this list updated regularly with new working product keys.
Important: Always store your product keys safely after activation. Some recommend using password manager apps like LastPass or Dashlane to secure them.
While using product key workarounds to get Office 2010 for free may seem harmless, some issues to consider:
- Legal and ethical concerns around whether unofficial licensing truly qualifies as "free"
- Lack of eligibility for software upgrades, patches and official support
- Risk of sudden inactivation if key limits are reached If you prefer peace of mind, using the rewards method or student offers to get Office 365 subscription or newer 2021 version could suit you better. But for those comfortable with unofficial keys for one-time activation, that route exists as well.
Conclusion
As we have explored in this guide, there are a few legitimate ways for students and individuals get Microsoft Office 2010 without spending money, mainly:
- Complete surveys on rewards platforms over 1-2 months to earn cash for buying license
- Check your university student offers for heavily discounted or free Office subscription
- Use freely provided product keys to activate Office 2010 suites
Specific steps around how to leverage these methods have been provided for your reference. Which option works best depends on your situation and preferences.
Now that you have all the necessary information, go ahead and unlock Microsoft Office 2010 for enhancing your academic or professional productivity at zero cost. Share this guide with others who can benefit from the insights as well.
