Free for students · Windows
A free alternative to Microsoft Word, built for students.
H-Word does what you use Microsoft Word for: write essays, reports and assignments in the same .docx files, and open any Word file you receive. It adds optional AI help that runs on your own key, and your files stay on your computer.
Get it free ↓Real Word files
Opens and saves genuine .docx files. Only what you change is rewritten, so documents stay compatible with Word.
AI that helps you study
Optional workflows: turn an outline into an essay draft, lecture notes into study material, or review your work against a checklist. Teachers can grade an answer against a rubric.
Your AI, your key
Connect Claude, OpenAI, Gemini or any OpenAI-compatible service with your own key — or switch AI off and use it as a plain word processor.
Private by default
Documents stay on your computer. H-Word sends no usage analytics. Apart from AI requests you start yourself, the only thing it checks online is whether a newer version exists.
Export anywhere
Save as .docx, or export to PDF, HTML, Markdown and plain text.
Free for a year
No subscription and no ads. Every student who registers gets a free 12-month licence.
Switching from Microsoft Word?
Same documents. Same layout. Nothing to convert.
Your files keep working
Open any .docx from classmates, teachers or your old documents, and save back to .docx. Anyone using Microsoft Word can open what you save.
It looks like Word
The same ribbon layout — File, Home, Insert, Draw, Design, Layout, References, Review and View — so you are not relearning where things are.
Page breaks that match
Pagination is built to land where Word puts it, so a document looks the same on both.
Where it differs
H-Word is free for students, adds optional AI that runs on your own key, and keeps files on your computer. It is Windows-only for now.
Download
Free for every student.
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
- About 110 MB, installs for your user only
- One download per student, per version
- Free 12-month student licence
Frequently asked
Is H-Word really free?
Yes. Every student who registers gets a free 12-month licence: no subscription, no ads and no paywalled features. You only pay your own AI provider if you choose to connect one.
How long is H-Word free, and how many copies are there?
The free student campaign runs for 10 days, from 26 October to 5 November 2026, or until the first 100 copies are claimed, whichever comes first. Students who registered during the campaign keep their 12-month licence and can download new versions during it.
Do I need an AI key to use it?
No. On first launch you can choose "no AI" and use H-Word as a normal word processor. If you want the AI features, paste your own API key from a provider such as Claude, OpenAI or Gemini; the key stays on your computer.
Is H-Word a replacement for Microsoft Word?
For everyday student work — essays, reports, assignments and notes — yes: it opens and saves the same .docx files, uses the same ribbon layout, and is free for students. It is not a clone of every advanced Word feature, so if a particular file depends on something very advanced, such as macros, keep Microsoft Word for that one and use H-Word for the rest.
Does it open my Microsoft Word files?
Yes. H-Word opens and saves real .docx files and only rewrites what you changed, so your documents stay compatible with Microsoft Word.
Why does Windows say "Windows protected your PC"?
The installer is not yet code-signed, because signing certificates are a paid product. Click "More info", then "Run anyway". You can verify the file is untouched by comparing its SHA-256 checksum, shown with your download.
Is there a Mac or Linux version?
Not yet. The free download is for Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) only for now.
What happens after the 12 months?
The licence ends and H-Word stops opening, so uninstall it or ask about renewing. We may offer a renewal but are not obliged to. Your documents are ordinary .docx files and stay yours; they open in other programs, and we never hold copies.
Can the licence be revoked?
Yes. We can revoke or suspend a licence, for example if the terms are broken or if we withdraw the free offer, and where we can we will email you first. The full terms are on the licence page.
How do I activate H-Word?
On first launch H-Word opens a page on this site where you enter the email you registered with. It takes a few seconds. You can use H-Word for 14 days while you do it, and one licence works on up to two computers.
Why is there one download per student?
Each student gets one personal download link per version, tied to their email. This keeps the free offer fair and lets us see which colleges it reaches. If you need to reinstall on another computer, email support@hemzdigital.com.
How do I get updates?
H-Word tells you when a new version is available and links you back to this page, where you enter your email to download it. Updates are never installed automatically. You can also use File → Check for updates.
What data do you collect?
To download we ask for your name, college and email, plus a random device identifier and a hashed network address to prevent abuse. We do not sell this. The app itself sends only its version number when it checks for updates. Email support@hemzdigital.com to delete your details.
H-Word is distributed by HEM'Z Digital, Chennai, under the H-Word Student Licence. It includes open-source components under their own licences; their notices and credits ship inside the app.
Microsoft and Word are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. H-Word is an independent product and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Microsoft.