13 Best Free Microsoft Word Add-Ins for 2022 (+ How to Install Them)

Do you want to add even more functionality to Microsoft Word? Are you looking to automate your document assembly or add information from another source automatically?

Microsoft Word Add-Ins are a great way to add extra functionality to your documents. These add-ins can help extend the Microsoft Word user interface and launch task panes that run Javascript that interacts with a Word document’s content. 

Some examples of what add-ins can do for you include the following:

• set up macros
• customizing the toolbars, menu bar, and ribbons
• add and change shortcut menus
• extract and import data from other documents

In this article, we’ll go over what exactly Microsoft Word Add-Ins are, why you’d want to use them, and cover the top 13 best free Microsoft Word add-ins.

So, let’s get started!

What Are Microsoft Word Add-Ins?

You can think of Microsoft Word add-ins like Google Chrome extensions. Add-ins are just programs that can be attached to Microsoft Word to give it extra functionality. You can then display the add-ins dialog box by selecting the Document Template option in the Developer tab.

Add-ins can be very flexible. You can include a wide range of functionality in an add-in through written code. Don’t worry. You won’t need to know how to code to use the full potential of the add-ins. There are plenty of free Word add-ins that you can download and add to your Word documents. 

If you’re trying to make your life a lot easier when using Microsoft Word, then keep on reading. We’ve got a list of the best free Microsoft Word add-ins that you can download right now. 

13 Best Free Microsoft Word Add-Ins for 2022

Here’s our top thirteen list of the best free Microsoft Word add-ins for 2022. These add-ins will greatly improve your workflow when using Microsoft Word:

1. Wikipedia

This Microsoft Word extension can help simplify the process of referencing text and images. It can also help with quick research. The add-in works by selecting text in your document. Your results on Wikipedia then show up in a task pane. You can then insert a quotation into your document with one click. This add-in also works for MS Excel. 

2. Read My Document

This Word add-in is a text-to-speech converter. This add-in comes in handy when you’re proofreading a paper or want to multitask. To set up the Microsoft Word add-in, choose a speed that the text will be read back at and a voice. As this add-in sends data over the internet, be sure to only dictate documents that you don’t mind being shared. 

3. Pixabay Images

4. Pexels

Depending on the type of document you’re working on, you may need to add high-quality images. You can find beautiful images quick and easy with Pexels. You can search the colors in your presentation and find photos within the add-in that match the color. All the images in Pexels are royalty and copyright free.

5. I Should Be Writing

This Microsoft Word add-in helps you stay motivated. With the add-in, you can set writing goals based on time or word count. Having a pane open up next to your document while you’re writing helps you stay on track and get you to your writing goals.

The add-in connects with your ishouldbewriting.net account. You can keep track of your stats and join writing groups with your account. It isn’t required to create an account, but it’s free to create one. 

6. Emoji Keyboard

Emojis are very popular right now. They help add a bit of interest and playfulness to your documents.

When the add-in is selected, a task pane pops up on the right side of your screen. From there, you can choose from 1,300 different emojis. You can also change the skin tone of the people and faces. 

7. Vertex 42 Template Gallery

This free Word add-in gives you access to over three hundred of Vertex 42’s templates. You’ll find:

• templates for planners
• calendars
• finance
• to-do lists
• and much more

All the templates have been well-researched and updated based on user feedback.

This add-in also works for Excel and features templates for the spreadsheet software. All the templates are organized into categories and a search function is provided in the add-in.

8. Consistency Checker

Consistency checker searches for possible errors in grammar. You can think of this as another tool that can catch mistakes alongside the native MS Word spell checker. With Consistency Checker you can search for:

• errors in hyphenation
• common typos
• spelling variations
• abbreviations
• numbers in sentences

With the click of a button, you can scan your whole document for errors. 

9. Adobe Creative Cloud 

This add-in connects your Adobe Creative Cloud account with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. With the add-in, you can insert images into your document from Illustrator and Photoshop, add fonts, insert Adobe stock graphics, and much more. You can also use the add-in to reference your brand’s style guide.

This is a must-have add-in if you use Adobe software. Creative Cloud app is required for this add-in.

10. Word Rhyme

Working on a document that needs to rhyme? This is the perfect add-in for you. All you need to do is select a word in your document and click the Rhyme Section button. This type of add-in is the most helpful for poetry, creative writings, and for students. 

11. Handy Calculator

Handy calculator is a basic calculator. You can have the calculator show up on the right side of your Word and Excel document. The calculator supports all commonly used arithmetic operations and has memory functions. You can also directly add numeric data from your document into the calculator. 

12. Power Thesaurus

A Thesaurus is an invaluable tool when working on a document. This Microsoft Word extension allows you to search any term in your document and replace it with synonyms or antonyms. The extension also allows you to browse the common synonyms and antonyms based on a search of your choice. The Word add-in features a light and dark theme as well. 

13. Triyo

This is the perfect Microsoft Word extension if you’re working in a team. The add-in lets teams collaborate on different sections of a document. You can create teams, assign roles, add comments, and much more with the free Word add-in. What’s great about the add-in is you can manage everything through your email. 

Let’s now go over how to install one of the free Microsoft Word Add-Ins.

How To Install a Microsoft Word Add-In

Now that we’ve gone over some of the best free Microsoft Word add-ins for 2022, let’s go over how you can install the free Word add-ins. Here’s a short tutorial on how you can find any add-in and install it. 

To install an add-in, go to the Insert tab and choose the Get Add-ins option. A popup menu appears where you can browse and search for the plugin that you’d like to install. 

In this example, we’ll be installing the Vertex42 Templates add-in, so we’ll type that in the search bar. Click the Add button next to Vertex 42 Templates and the add-in will then be installed. 

To access all of your add-ins, go to the Insert tab and choose the My Add-ins option. A popup menu appears with all of the add ins that you installed. Just double-click any one of them and they appear on the right side of your screen.

Gain Access to High-Quality Creative Assets (With Unlimited Use

If you’re looking for Microsoft Word add-ins, you’ll also be looking for other professional creative assets. This can be anything from Word document templates, images, and fonts. Using professional creative assets in your documents and business is a must if you’re trying to save time and deliver a high-quality product. Envato Elements has just what you need to supercharge your next project and save you time. 

Envato Elements is the best place on the web for creative tools of all types. For a low monthly fee, you get unlimited downloads of Microsoft Word templates, photos, fonts, videos, and much more. All these resources can be used in your next project.

Explore Creative Assets Now

Elements is one of the best values out there for creatives today. With the unlimited downloads, you’ll be able to try out all types of options in your upcoming projects.

Here’s how you benefit from using Envato Elements:

• save money by not having to hire professional graphic designers
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Download a Free Microsoft Word Add-In Today

As you can see, there are plenty of high-quality free MS Word add-ins that can add a ton of helpful features to your documents. Regardless of what type of document you’re creating, there’s an add-in that can be of use to you. 

You can try out all the Word extensions that appeal to you and search through Microsoft’s library of extensions. Take your documents to the next level today!