An Australian court case against Microsoft concerning its subscription pricing has uncovered a method to obtain Microsoft 365 at a reduced price, as long as you do not need the company’s AI functionalities.

The lawsuit, initiated by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, asserts that Microsoft Australia and Microsoft Corporation allegedly deceived customers regarding changes in subscription costs. In October 2024, the commission argues, Microsoft notified subscribers that Copilot would be added to the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans, compelling them to either accept the integration and incur higher fees or cancel their subscription altogether, according to TechSpot.

“The Microsoft Office applications included in 365 subscriptions are vital in many people’s lives, and considering there are few alternatives to the bundled package, opting to cancel the subscription is a choice many wouldn’t make lightly,” stated the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, as reported by TechSpot.

The commission claimed that this situation is misleading and deceptive since there is a third, unannounced option. While Microsoft prefers users to embrace its AI, users can still choose the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic plans.

If you currently have Microsoft 365, wish to economize, and aren’t interested in AI, there is a way to achieve this. Log into your Microsoft account, navigate to your subscriptions page, select “Manage,” and then click “Cancel subscription.” You will be prompted to downgrade to a plan with fewer features, as stated by Microsoft. Opt for Microsoft 365 Personal Classic, Microsoft 365 Family Classic, or another appropriate plan.