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Serious Best alternative to MS Office software
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Got:
Star Office
K Office
Gnome Office
Libre Office
Free Office
Especially Linux & Android users got choice over 20 of these:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/218394/software-productivity/best-microsoft-office-alternatives.html
The best free Microsoft Office alternatives of 2017
Battle of the free office suites.
By Michael Ansaldo
Freelance contributor, PCWorld | Oct 2, 2017 5:56 AM PT
Rob Schultz
More like this
Microsoft Office is the king of office productivity suites, but it doesn’t inspire warm, fuzzy feelings in all users. Parsing the ever-expanding list of features—many of which you’ll never use—can feel like stepping into a cockpit without a pilot’s license. The ribbon interface, introduced a decade ago, has many fans, but others pine for the static menus of the early aughts. And then there’s Office’s hefty price tag.
Fortunately, alternatives abound, ranging from web apps to freemium and open source desktop installations, many of which are compatible with Microsoft Office docs. We compared six of the most popular free office suites to see how well they replicate the most commonly used features of Microsoft Office.
Best overall Microsoft Office alternative: Kingsoft WPS Office 2016
WPS Office 2016
Read PCWorld's review
Learn more
on Kingsoft
WPS Office 2016 provides the most Office-like experience of any alternative. All the productivity essentials are here with built-in cloud support, plus a few unique extras.
Kingsoft’s WPS Office 2016 delivers the most Office-like experience of all the suites we tried. Built around its own versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, it offers excellent compatibility with all Microsoft Office formats and features a customizable interface that can be tailored to your preference for either the ribbon toolbar or the static menus of Office 2003. It’s also the only desktop suite in our roundup that included integrated cloud storage for easily sharing and collaborating on files. (Read our full review.)
[ Further reading: The best TV streaming services ]
Runner up: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Read PCWorld's review
Learn more
on Google
With its Office compatibility and excellent collaboration features, Google's productivity suite is a great option for road warriors, teams, and else who needs the flexibility to work from anywhere.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides simply can’t be beat for collaboration. Its document review features and integration with Google Drive make it our go-to solution for anyone who routinely needs to co-author documents with others in real time. It also has tight ties with other Google products, including, of course, search, giving it capabilities you won’t find in any other office suite. Its relatively spartan interface is a welcome respite from Office’s busy toolbars, too. (Read our full review.)
What to look for in a Microsoft Office alternative
When evaluating Office alternatives, don’t look to replicate every feature, just the ones you need and use most. Depending on your situation, that could be robust spreadsheet calculations and dynamic presentation design or the ability to access files from anywhere and share them with remote team members. At minimum, keep these considerations in mind:
Star Office
K Office
Gnome Office
Libre Office
Free Office
Especially Linux & Android users got choice over 20 of these:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/218394/software-productivity/best-microsoft-office-alternatives.html
The best free Microsoft Office alternatives of 2017
Battle of the free office suites.
By Michael AnsaldoFreelance contributor, PCWorld | Oct 2, 2017 5:56 AM PT
Rob Schultz
More like this
-
WPS Office 2016 review: A true Office alternative -
FreeOffice 2016 review: Office essentials for the budget-minded -
Apache Open Office review: The original Office alternative -
Video
How to delete Google from your life
Microsoft Office is the king of office productivity suites, but it doesn’t inspire warm, fuzzy feelings in all users. Parsing the ever-expanding list of features—many of which you’ll never use—can feel like stepping into a cockpit without a pilot’s license. The ribbon interface, introduced a decade ago, has many fans, but others pine for the static menus of the early aughts. And then there’s Office’s hefty price tag.
Fortunately, alternatives abound, ranging from web apps to freemium and open source desktop installations, many of which are compatible with Microsoft Office docs. We compared six of the most popular free office suites to see how well they replicate the most commonly used features of Microsoft Office.
Best overall Microsoft Office alternative: Kingsoft WPS Office 2016
WPS Office 2016Read PCWorld's review
Learn more
on Kingsoft
WPS Office 2016 provides the most Office-like experience of any alternative. All the productivity essentials are here with built-in cloud support, plus a few unique extras.
Kingsoft’s WPS Office 2016 delivers the most Office-like experience of all the suites we tried. Built around its own versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, it offers excellent compatibility with all Microsoft Office formats and features a customizable interface that can be tailored to your preference for either the ribbon toolbar or the static menus of Office 2003. It’s also the only desktop suite in our roundup that included integrated cloud storage for easily sharing and collaborating on files. (Read our full review.)
[ Further reading: The best TV streaming services ]
Runner up: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Google Docs, Sheets, and SlidesRead PCWorld's review
Learn more
on Google
With its Office compatibility and excellent collaboration features, Google's productivity suite is a great option for road warriors, teams, and else who needs the flexibility to work from anywhere.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides simply can’t be beat for collaboration. Its document review features and integration with Google Drive make it our go-to solution for anyone who routinely needs to co-author documents with others in real time. It also has tight ties with other Google products, including, of course, search, giving it capabilities you won’t find in any other office suite. Its relatively spartan interface is a welcome respite from Office’s busy toolbars, too. (Read our full review.)
What to look for in a Microsoft Office alternative
When evaluating Office alternatives, don’t look to replicate every feature, just the ones you need and use most. Depending on your situation, that could be robust spreadsheet calculations and dynamic presentation design or the ability to access files from anywhere and share them with remote team members. At minimum, keep these considerations in mind:
- The big three: Though Microsoft Office has expanded over the years to include programs like Outlook, Access, and Publisher, its bread and butter is still its original trio of programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. That’s because nearly everyone uses these three apps regardless of the nature of their work. For many of us, they are the only three we need in a suite.
- Office compatibility: Most of the working world will continue to use Microsoft Office long after you’ve jumped ship. That means you’ll still have to work with official Office files. Look for a suite that can cleanly read and write Microsoft Office formats, from the current DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX file types to legacy formats.
- Interface: The way you access an office suite’s features matters as much as the features themselves. Polarized opinions about Office’s ribbon toolbar underscore this. Make sure you’re comfortable with the way a suite lays out its tools and that you don’t have to dig too deeply for those you’ll use a lot.
- Collaboration capability: The irony that we still rely on “office” suites when many of us no longer work in physical offices means the ability to collaborate remotely with others is now a required feature. If you don’t want to have to email documents back and forth for editing—which can play havoc with version control —you’ll need an alternative that includes cloud support for easily sharing files and ideally the ability to co-author (i.e. make edits and comments on a document) in real time.
https://fossbytes.com/best-alternatives-microsoft-office/
7 Best Alternatives To Microsoft Office Suite — 2018 Edition
January 8, 2018
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In the realm of office productivity software, no one has a significant presence as Microsoft Office. They’ve produced a piece of software for just about every task necessary in the modern office, short of a few niches or specializations.
MS Office apps like Word, Powerpoint, Excel, etc. have got so many features nowadays that it takes weeks of classes to learn the ins and outs of a single product (almost as many features as text editors). Then there’s the feature that most people aren’t so much a fan of, the price tag. Having said that, do you wish to know some great free Microsoft Office alternatives to make your tasks easier?
Some people need specific features or compatibility with other contacts, and that’s understandable; it’s expected to come at a price. But what about those who don’t need much out of an office software? The average person, even if technically inclined, doesn’t need much out of a word processor (I mean, it’s not like it’s a text editor or anything). So, should you pay for something that you don’t need? Probably none of my business, so I’ll just give you the facts to make an informed decision and select the best Microsoft Office alternative:
7 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives For Free
1. Google Docs, Google Slide, Google Sheets
Google is known for its omnipresence in all things technology, there are few places Google hasn’t touched, and the office isn’t one of them. Google’s own set of web apps can be used as the best alternative to Microsoft Office apps as they are available for free and their cloud-based nature doesn’t need you to go through a tedious installation process.
Google Docs online office suite comprises of a word processor (Docs), a presentation app (Slides), a spreadsheet (Sheets). Apart from these primary office apps, Google Drawings, Forms, are also a part of the free office suite.
Google’s office suite apps can be accessed without any cost from any location on the globe, all you need is a Google account and an active internet connection. However, the biggest advantage can be a deal breaker for the users having a scarcity of internet. Although there is an official extension that enables offline mode, it only works for the files stored on your Google Drive.
Google Docs supports simple export to industry standard document formats such as Microsoft ‘docx’, PDF, and several others. Similar is the case of other Google office apps like Sheets and Slides. Google Sheets now includes a feature where you can create pie charts and bar graphs for a given data just by typing the description into a text box.
You can upload files from your device or directly edit the files stored on your Google Drive. Google office apps allow the sharing of documents privately with friends, or even publicly. And in addition to the sharing, you can even invite people to edit with you in real-time collaboration.
Why choose Google Docs?
Google Docs is undoubtedly the best and free cloud-based office software that also gives close competition to Microsoft Office Online. You can also add a number of add-ons built by Google or third parties which extend the functionality of Google Docs.
The freely available Microsoft Office alternative can be beneficial to home users and students searching for a cost-effective set of office apps, you’re only paying for the internet. However, for commercial users, Google also sells these apps in the form of a subscription called G Suite (here’s the free G Suite trial) which also includes Google’s other cloud-based solutions. G Suite comprises of Gmail, Calendar, Google+, Hangouts, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, etc. It also includes the digital interactive whiteboard Jamboard.
Platforms supported by Google Docs: Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems via a web browser. Apps are available for Android and iOS.
2. LibreOffice
LibreOffice was forked from OpenOffice a while back for some political reasons. Suitable for all intents and purposes, they’re more or less the same thing with the exception that the community followed the LibreOffice fork and OpenOffice just hasn’t seen as much development since.
LibreOffice is a very feature-rich free MS Office alternative suite if you want something that installs on your computer and works without an internet connection. In terms of cost-effectiveness, it’s pretty hard to beat. It has a few quirks, like need to change the default document formats to Microsoft Office formats. But apart from that, this free office software is an excellent choice for anyone that doesn’t require the bells and whistles of a commercial product.
Why Choose LibreOffice?
If you’re using Linux, there are great chances that you’re already using LibreOffice. It’s good looking, gets regular updates, supports MS Office file formats and has a few of its own.
The free office suite is also one of the best open source software for Microsoft Windows, so Windows users might want to consider it in place of the closed source MS Office.
Platforms supported by LibreOffice: Windows 10/8/7, Linux, Mac OS X, Android (only for viewing documents)
3. Office Online
If you want to stick to Microsoft-made office apps, Office Online can also be a great alternative to Microsoft Office Suite which we normally install on our PCs and Macs. Similar to Googe’s set of office apps, it works right inside your web browser and can be accessed using your Microsoft account.
Currently, Office Online includes cloud-based versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, Sway (creates presentations), Flow (automate tasks), etc. Similar to Google Docs, and Sheets, you can edit the files stored on your OneDrive or your computer.
You shouldn’t confuse these apps with Office 365 which comes at a monthly price. It won’t be surprising if Microsoft cuts down some features from these cloud-based Office apps.
Why use Office Online?
One reason to use Office Online is that it doesn’t introduce you to an entirely new set of office apps. It even carries the same user interface we find in MS Office 2016. Technically, Office Online is an MS Office alternative but given the lack of its awareness among general users, it had to make to the list.
Office Online has Skype integration allowing users to chat with other people while editing a shared document or a powerpoint presentation together. For Chrome, users can install the Office Online extension which allows them to create and edit new files and existing files easily using Office Online.
Platforms supported by Office Online: Windows, MacOS, Linux, and other operating systems via a web browser.
4. WPS Office
Another name to be taken as the best Microsoft Office alternative in 2018 is WPS Office. You might have heard about Kingsoft Office in the past; it was renamed as WPS Office which is a well-known office app for Android.
Currently, WPS Office 2016 Free version is available to the Windows users at no cost but with non-interrupting advertisements when the software starts. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation making applications. Regarding look and feel, WPS Office is similar to MS Office.
Why use WPS Office?
WPS Office includes cloud sync feature allowing users to sync document progress across devices. You can take advantage of various inbuilt templates for different purposes.
It also includes an inbuilt Word to PDF converter but the free version gives you a limited number of conversions. That’s the dark side of software which are available in both free and premium versions. In a nutshell, the free version can be more than enough for regular users like us. But you can go for the paid option if you want additional features.
Platforms supported by WPS Office: Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.
5. Apple iWork
Apple has always been Microsoft’s biggest competitor in consumer operating systems, but Apple has put generous effort into their office suite called iWork. It’s only available on Mac OS (OS X) but it is free of charge (though, not free as FOSS). Yes, it lacks many of the features of Microsoft Office, but do you need them?
iWork is capable of word processing (with an emphasis on design), spreadsheets, and presentation software. Some find iWork to be so simple that it makes you feel stupid (myself included) and it really takes some time to get used to. Despite that, this Microsoft Office replacement for Mac is still a solid suite for a small office.
Why Choose Apple iWork?
iWork provides many easy to use and popular features. It’s simple to use without any unnecessary fuss.
A cloud-based version called iWork for iCloud is also available. Earlier, iCloud was available only for Apple users but now other platforms are also compatible with iWork apps because of the free office suite on iCloud. All you need is an Apple ID.
Platforms supported by iCloud: Mac, iOS, Multiple operating systems (via iCloud version).
6. Calligra Office
Calligra Office split from KOffice in 2010, and the KOffice fizzled out shortly afterward. Calligra Office is an open source suite built upon the Qt toolkit. It has more applications than LibreOffice, but they lack much of the features of LibreOffice. If you want a simple office suite with a few extra applications like flowcharts, database management, and image manipulation, this free Microsoft Office replacement might be for you. Again, just like LibreOffice, if this is all you need, it’s very cost-effective.
Why Choose Calligra Office?
While LibreOffice is often the final choice of users, Calligra Office comes with more applications like one for project management.
Platforms supported by Calligra Office: Full support for Linux and FreeBSD. Preliminary support for Windows and Mac.
7. DropBox Paper
For a long time, DropBox was only a place where you could store your documents. Now, with DropBox Paper, which aims to develop itself as a replacement of Microsoft Office Online and Google Docs, you can create and edit documents, collaborate with friends and colleagues, as well as enjoy many of the project management and team communication features.
Dropbox Paper has gone past its beta stage. The web-based work platform doesn’t include presentation and spreadsheet apps of its own but it’s possible to add compatible files created using Google Docs apps or Microsoft Office files stored on your computer or Dropbox or Google Drive.
Why use DropBox Paper?
With Paper, DropBox is looking to break the shell and become more than a file storage platform. If you love a minimalistic and clean interface for collaborative editing, Paper is a great choice.
Supported platforms: Works on all platforms, but needs internet connection
There are many more office applications that are capable of covering the basic user’s needs. The alternative options to Microsoft Office are many and plenty. Even more when you include individual applications that aren’t bundled like AbiWord and LYX.
Editor’s Recommendation:
Without a doubt, LibreOffice is the perfect free Microsoft Office replacement if you don’t want to opt for a cloud-based solution. It comes loaded with all necessary features that one needs to perform common tasks. If you have seamless Internet connectivity, Google Docs is a great way to create and share documents.
Did you find this article helpful? Let us know what your favorite office productivity suites (or individual applications).
Also Read: 10 Best Free Antivirus Software
7 Best Alternatives To Microsoft Office Suite — 2018 Edition
January 8, 2018
SHARE
In the realm of office productivity software, no one has a significant presence as Microsoft Office. They’ve produced a piece of software for just about every task necessary in the modern office, short of a few niches or specializations.
MS Office apps like Word, Powerpoint, Excel, etc. have got so many features nowadays that it takes weeks of classes to learn the ins and outs of a single product (almost as many features as text editors). Then there’s the feature that most people aren’t so much a fan of, the price tag. Having said that, do you wish to know some great free Microsoft Office alternatives to make your tasks easier?
Some people need specific features or compatibility with other contacts, and that’s understandable; it’s expected to come at a price. But what about those who don’t need much out of an office software? The average person, even if technically inclined, doesn’t need much out of a word processor (I mean, it’s not like it’s a text editor or anything). So, should you pay for something that you don’t need? Probably none of my business, so I’ll just give you the facts to make an informed decision and select the best Microsoft Office alternative:
7 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives For Free
1. Google Docs, Google Slide, Google Sheets
Google is known for its omnipresence in all things technology, there are few places Google hasn’t touched, and the office isn’t one of them. Google’s own set of web apps can be used as the best alternative to Microsoft Office apps as they are available for free and their cloud-based nature doesn’t need you to go through a tedious installation process.
Google Docs online office suite comprises of a word processor (Docs), a presentation app (Slides), a spreadsheet (Sheets). Apart from these primary office apps, Google Drawings, Forms, are also a part of the free office suite.
Google’s office suite apps can be accessed without any cost from any location on the globe, all you need is a Google account and an active internet connection. However, the biggest advantage can be a deal breaker for the users having a scarcity of internet. Although there is an official extension that enables offline mode, it only works for the files stored on your Google Drive.
Google Docs supports simple export to industry standard document formats such as Microsoft ‘docx’, PDF, and several others. Similar is the case of other Google office apps like Sheets and Slides. Google Sheets now includes a feature where you can create pie charts and bar graphs for a given data just by typing the description into a text box.
You can upload files from your device or directly edit the files stored on your Google Drive. Google office apps allow the sharing of documents privately with friends, or even publicly. And in addition to the sharing, you can even invite people to edit with you in real-time collaboration.
Why choose Google Docs?
Google Docs is undoubtedly the best and free cloud-based office software that also gives close competition to Microsoft Office Online. You can also add a number of add-ons built by Google or third parties which extend the functionality of Google Docs.
The freely available Microsoft Office alternative can be beneficial to home users and students searching for a cost-effective set of office apps, you’re only paying for the internet. However, for commercial users, Google also sells these apps in the form of a subscription called G Suite (here’s the free G Suite trial) which also includes Google’s other cloud-based solutions. G Suite comprises of Gmail, Calendar, Google+, Hangouts, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, etc. It also includes the digital interactive whiteboard Jamboard.
Platforms supported by Google Docs: Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems via a web browser. Apps are available for Android and iOS.
2. LibreOffice
LibreOffice was forked from OpenOffice a while back for some political reasons. Suitable for all intents and purposes, they’re more or less the same thing with the exception that the community followed the LibreOffice fork and OpenOffice just hasn’t seen as much development since.
LibreOffice is a very feature-rich free MS Office alternative suite if you want something that installs on your computer and works without an internet connection. In terms of cost-effectiveness, it’s pretty hard to beat. It has a few quirks, like need to change the default document formats to Microsoft Office formats. But apart from that, this free office software is an excellent choice for anyone that doesn’t require the bells and whistles of a commercial product.
Why Choose LibreOffice?
If you’re using Linux, there are great chances that you’re already using LibreOffice. It’s good looking, gets regular updates, supports MS Office file formats and has a few of its own.
The free office suite is also one of the best open source software for Microsoft Windows, so Windows users might want to consider it in place of the closed source MS Office.
Platforms supported by LibreOffice: Windows 10/8/7, Linux, Mac OS X, Android (only for viewing documents)
3. Office Online
If you want to stick to Microsoft-made office apps, Office Online can also be a great alternative to Microsoft Office Suite which we normally install on our PCs and Macs. Similar to Googe’s set of office apps, it works right inside your web browser and can be accessed using your Microsoft account.
Currently, Office Online includes cloud-based versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, Sway (creates presentations), Flow (automate tasks), etc. Similar to Google Docs, and Sheets, you can edit the files stored on your OneDrive or your computer.
You shouldn’t confuse these apps with Office 365 which comes at a monthly price. It won’t be surprising if Microsoft cuts down some features from these cloud-based Office apps.
Why use Office Online?
One reason to use Office Online is that it doesn’t introduce you to an entirely new set of office apps. It even carries the same user interface we find in MS Office 2016. Technically, Office Online is an MS Office alternative but given the lack of its awareness among general users, it had to make to the list.
Office Online has Skype integration allowing users to chat with other people while editing a shared document or a powerpoint presentation together. For Chrome, users can install the Office Online extension which allows them to create and edit new files and existing files easily using Office Online.
Platforms supported by Office Online: Windows, MacOS, Linux, and other operating systems via a web browser.
4. WPS Office
Another name to be taken as the best Microsoft Office alternative in 2018 is WPS Office. You might have heard about Kingsoft Office in the past; it was renamed as WPS Office which is a well-known office app for Android.
Currently, WPS Office 2016 Free version is available to the Windows users at no cost but with non-interrupting advertisements when the software starts. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation making applications. Regarding look and feel, WPS Office is similar to MS Office.
Why use WPS Office?
WPS Office includes cloud sync feature allowing users to sync document progress across devices. You can take advantage of various inbuilt templates for different purposes.
It also includes an inbuilt Word to PDF converter but the free version gives you a limited number of conversions. That’s the dark side of software which are available in both free and premium versions. In a nutshell, the free version can be more than enough for regular users like us. But you can go for the paid option if you want additional features.
Platforms supported by WPS Office: Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.
5. Apple iWork
Apple has always been Microsoft’s biggest competitor in consumer operating systems, but Apple has put generous effort into their office suite called iWork. It’s only available on Mac OS (OS X) but it is free of charge (though, not free as FOSS). Yes, it lacks many of the features of Microsoft Office, but do you need them?
iWork is capable of word processing (with an emphasis on design), spreadsheets, and presentation software. Some find iWork to be so simple that it makes you feel stupid (myself included) and it really takes some time to get used to. Despite that, this Microsoft Office replacement for Mac is still a solid suite for a small office.
Why Choose Apple iWork?
iWork provides many easy to use and popular features. It’s simple to use without any unnecessary fuss.
A cloud-based version called iWork for iCloud is also available. Earlier, iCloud was available only for Apple users but now other platforms are also compatible with iWork apps because of the free office suite on iCloud. All you need is an Apple ID.
Platforms supported by iCloud: Mac, iOS, Multiple operating systems (via iCloud version).
6. Calligra Office
Calligra Office split from KOffice in 2010, and the KOffice fizzled out shortly afterward. Calligra Office is an open source suite built upon the Qt toolkit. It has more applications than LibreOffice, but they lack much of the features of LibreOffice. If you want a simple office suite with a few extra applications like flowcharts, database management, and image manipulation, this free Microsoft Office replacement might be for you. Again, just like LibreOffice, if this is all you need, it’s very cost-effective.
Why Choose Calligra Office?
While LibreOffice is often the final choice of users, Calligra Office comes with more applications like one for project management.
Platforms supported by Calligra Office: Full support for Linux and FreeBSD. Preliminary support for Windows and Mac.
7. DropBox Paper
For a long time, DropBox was only a place where you could store your documents. Now, with DropBox Paper, which aims to develop itself as a replacement of Microsoft Office Online and Google Docs, you can create and edit documents, collaborate with friends and colleagues, as well as enjoy many of the project management and team communication features.
Dropbox Paper has gone past its beta stage. The web-based work platform doesn’t include presentation and spreadsheet apps of its own but it’s possible to add compatible files created using Google Docs apps or Microsoft Office files stored on your computer or Dropbox or Google Drive.
Why use DropBox Paper?
With Paper, DropBox is looking to break the shell and become more than a file storage platform. If you love a minimalistic and clean interface for collaborative editing, Paper is a great choice.
Supported platforms: Works on all platforms, but needs internet connection
There are many more office applications that are capable of covering the basic user’s needs. The alternative options to Microsoft Office are many and plenty. Even more when you include individual applications that aren’t bundled like AbiWord and LYX.
Editor’s Recommendation:
Without a doubt, LibreOffice is the perfect free Microsoft Office replacement if you don’t want to opt for a cloud-based solution. It comes loaded with all necessary features that one needs to perform common tasks. If you have seamless Internet connectivity, Google Docs is a great way to create and share documents.
Did you find this article helpful? Let us know what your favorite office productivity suites (or individual applications).
Also Read: 10 Best Free Antivirus Software
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-microsoft-office-alternatives/
Tired of paying a monthly fee for Word? Here are the best alternatives to Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office once had an unquestioned stranglehold on the world of productivity suites and programs. However, the exorbitant price associated with Microsoft’s suite has given rise to a retinue of options that fall outside Microsoft’s banner, many of which offer diverse functionality and many of the same features that comprise the tech titan’s expansive package. The best alternatives to Microsoft Office allow users the freedom to create and edit — many are even compatible with files made in Word, Excel, and other Microsoft’s programs.
Choices abound, but few are worth your time (and even fewer, your money). Fortunately, there are capable alternatives available for both Windows and MacOS, whether you’re looking for a quick means to spell check the copy on your resume, or string together complex formulas prior to an important business presentation. Below are a few of our favorites!
Best overall: FreeOffice
The latest version of SoftMaker’s FreeOffice — released in 2016 — comes with full compatibility for DOC, DOX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, and PPT file formats, with a lot of work going into making them “loss free.” This means you won’t find any unexpected surprises when transferring your files into Word, which makes the software perfect for those who want a free alternative to Word but still need to work regularly with Word software.
The software is also easy on the eyes and should be very, very familiar to Word users. The toolbars and document-creation options are similar to those in the Office suite, and the latest software updates further ensure the program is quick and relatively void of loading times. Even PlanMaker, the suite’s Excel alternative, offers features such as conditional formatting and pivot tables, which past Excel users will be able to jump into without the need of a tutorial.
FreeOffice is also an excellent choice for carrying out professional projects. Not only does it provide compatibility with password-protected files, but it can also help you create PDF files or ePUB files, track document changes, and switch between languages on the fly. More common features — i.e., spellcheck and smart typing — also wait in the wings, ensuring you’re not missing anything Office-related.
Download now for:
Windows Android Linux
Best features: LibreOffice
The creators of LibreOffice took a look at Microsoft Office and said, “Let’s make sure we can do everything Office can’t.” By now, the differences are so numerous that someone has created a useful (and lengthy) graph that showcases the extra compatibility that LibreOffice offers compared to Microsoft’s suite. This includes support for a vast number of document formats in both MacOS and Windows. If you’re using more distinctive software and are worried that Office won’t be able to handle your industry-specific formats, then LibreOffice is more than happy to step in.
The open-source community behind LibreOffice remains active, and continues to create extensions that allow you to equip your apps with any features you may need. Last year, an update added the famous “ribbon” to the suite, allowing it to more accurately ape Microsoft’s offerings. More recent updates include improvements to PDF image quality, the inclusion of a RYB color wheel for maximum customization, and improved Linux functionality. And given both “Fresh” and Bug Hunting Beta modes are currently available, you’re also guaranteed to see regular improvements with LibreOffice.
Ultimately, if you like Office but are looking for a highly-customizable alternative that can expand on the tools Microsoft provides while offering solid compatibility, LibreOffice is for you. Of course, learning and building LibreOffice into the software you want may take a little work, so give yourself plenty of time to learn what’s at your disposal.
Download now for:
Windows MacOS Linux
Best Word clone: WPS Office
WPS’s Office alternative comes with Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheet, all of which mimic programs in Microsoft’s iconic suite. All files you create with these apps will be fully compatible with their Microsoft counterparts, and there’s an extra suite of PDF conversion tools in the event you need to export or import in a more ready-friendly format. Plus, the suite is available for free on both Android and iOS devices.
WPS is ideal if you’re used to a specific interface in Word programs and want to mimic the experience as closely as possible. No time to learn new tools? No worries. Even the template options are based on Microsoft’s traditional templates, which makes it easy to find your favorite way to start and fill out a document. Plus, the interface more closely resembles newer versions of Microsoft Office than many of our other picks, so picking it up immediately may be even easier than you expect.
WPS isn’t content to copy Microsoft in all things, however. The software touts a few useful tools of its own, including organic ways to change paragraph layout with your mouse, advanced section navigation, and document tabs that allow you to quickly manage multiple documents. This makes WPS Office a great choice for laptops and/or schoolwork.
Download it now for:
Windows Linux Android iOS
Best for cloud collaboration: Google’s G Suite
Google’s online suite should need no introduction. The cloud-based software remains ideal if you need to work with others on a project — particularly if everyone is familiar with Google Drive, where files can be stored and shared. The current iteration of Docs supports PDFs, DOC files, and even iWork files, so you need not worry about information being lost. It also integrates with most of Google’s other services, including Gmail, Calendar, and Google Plus.
The interface is classic Google — minimalist and oft-confusing. Certain tools or abilities may be hidden deep in menus or not made available for unknown reasons, which can make the software difficult to pick up without any previous experience. Still, if you’re used Chrome or Chrome OS, then you know what to expect and shouldn’t have much problem navigating the menus.
Plus, the ability to work on documents, edit work, and discuss changes with others who are also working on the same file — all in the same window — is incredibly useful and implemented well across different file types. For some, this is a reason to choose Google’s offering over Microsoft’s — paid or otherwise. This is a great choice for those with limited storage (like Chromebook users), or for those who need to edit at a distance.
Access it now via:
Google
Best for MacOS: iWork
Apple’s iWork wasn’t originally designed for compatibility with Office Docs, but over time, the developers decided to add more functionality. Now you can even import Microsoft files and edit them in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote as needed, which is a huge advantage that makes iWork the perfect Office alternative for those working on a Mac. These days, even PC users can use iWork if they don’t mind doing so via iCloud (Apple currently doesn’t offer compatible desktop versions).
Of course, accessibility is more determined by your familiarity with iWork than anything else. These apps may be able to produce similar documents in the end, but they don’t really resemble Microsoft office when it comes to the interface. Tools are located in different places and tend to be a little more obscured than their Microsoft counterparts, so if this is your first time using these apps, you can expect a steep learning curve before things become simple.
Also, keep in mind that iWork is made to function alongside iCloud. If you currently use iCloud, then that will make it much easier to share documents over the cloud and store them off-site if necessary. If your whole team is on board, this can be extremely useful, but as with the aforementioned G Suite, everyone needs to be on the same page. If you’re a mobile user, you also want to note that the iWork suite is broken into three separate apps, each of which needs to be downloaded individually.
Access it now via:
iCloud
Download for MacOS:
Pages Numbers Keynote
Download for iOS:
Pages Numbers Keynote
Best option that’s actually Microsoft Office: Office Online
Okay, so this might be cheating a bit. Office Online is Microsoft’s answer to the Google’s G Suite, and it’s actually pretty great, considering you don’t have to drop a single dime to use it. With it, you’ll get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote (you can even use Outlook.com in lieu of the Outlook desktop app). Save for Access and Publisher — relatively niche programs that you probably don’t even need if you’re reading this — you’ll get nearly unfettered functionality for free.
There are a few features missing here and there, however. For example, you can’t copy formatting across documents, you can’t add fancy borders to Word docs, and the References ribbon is gone entirely. Regardless, the latter omission is a small price to pay to pay no price at all. The mobile apps are even more limited.
If you’re looking to edit pivot tables, manage detailed databases, or execute more advanced operations, you might need to look elsewhere. Office Online is great given the cost, however, and it does offer a level of familiarity that you simply won’t find elsewhere, no matter how hard the other entries on our list try.
Access it now via:
Microsoft
Tired of paying a monthly fee for Word? Here are the best alternatives to Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office once had an unquestioned stranglehold on the world of productivity suites and programs. However, the exorbitant price associated with Microsoft’s suite has given rise to a retinue of options that fall outside Microsoft’s banner, many of which offer diverse functionality and many of the same features that comprise the tech titan’s expansive package. The best alternatives to Microsoft Office allow users the freedom to create and edit — many are even compatible with files made in Word, Excel, and other Microsoft’s programs.
Choices abound, but few are worth your time (and even fewer, your money). Fortunately, there are capable alternatives available for both Windows and MacOS, whether you’re looking for a quick means to spell check the copy on your resume, or string together complex formulas prior to an important business presentation. Below are a few of our favorites!
Best overall: FreeOffice
The latest version of SoftMaker’s FreeOffice — released in 2016 — comes with full compatibility for DOC, DOX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, and PPT file formats, with a lot of work going into making them “loss free.” This means you won’t find any unexpected surprises when transferring your files into Word, which makes the software perfect for those who want a free alternative to Word but still need to work regularly with Word software.
The software is also easy on the eyes and should be very, very familiar to Word users. The toolbars and document-creation options are similar to those in the Office suite, and the latest software updates further ensure the program is quick and relatively void of loading times. Even PlanMaker, the suite’s Excel alternative, offers features such as conditional formatting and pivot tables, which past Excel users will be able to jump into without the need of a tutorial.
FreeOffice is also an excellent choice for carrying out professional projects. Not only does it provide compatibility with password-protected files, but it can also help you create PDF files or ePUB files, track document changes, and switch between languages on the fly. More common features — i.e., spellcheck and smart typing — also wait in the wings, ensuring you’re not missing anything Office-related.
Download now for:
Windows Android Linux
Best features: LibreOffice
The creators of LibreOffice took a look at Microsoft Office and said, “Let’s make sure we can do everything Office can’t.” By now, the differences are so numerous that someone has created a useful (and lengthy) graph that showcases the extra compatibility that LibreOffice offers compared to Microsoft’s suite. This includes support for a vast number of document formats in both MacOS and Windows. If you’re using more distinctive software and are worried that Office won’t be able to handle your industry-specific formats, then LibreOffice is more than happy to step in.
The open-source community behind LibreOffice remains active, and continues to create extensions that allow you to equip your apps with any features you may need. Last year, an update added the famous “ribbon” to the suite, allowing it to more accurately ape Microsoft’s offerings. More recent updates include improvements to PDF image quality, the inclusion of a RYB color wheel for maximum customization, and improved Linux functionality. And given both “Fresh” and Bug Hunting Beta modes are currently available, you’re also guaranteed to see regular improvements with LibreOffice.
Ultimately, if you like Office but are looking for a highly-customizable alternative that can expand on the tools Microsoft provides while offering solid compatibility, LibreOffice is for you. Of course, learning and building LibreOffice into the software you want may take a little work, so give yourself plenty of time to learn what’s at your disposal.
Download now for:
Windows MacOS Linux
Best Word clone: WPS Office
WPS’s Office alternative comes with Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheet, all of which mimic programs in Microsoft’s iconic suite. All files you create with these apps will be fully compatible with their Microsoft counterparts, and there’s an extra suite of PDF conversion tools in the event you need to export or import in a more ready-friendly format. Plus, the suite is available for free on both Android and iOS devices.
WPS is ideal if you’re used to a specific interface in Word programs and want to mimic the experience as closely as possible. No time to learn new tools? No worries. Even the template options are based on Microsoft’s traditional templates, which makes it easy to find your favorite way to start and fill out a document. Plus, the interface more closely resembles newer versions of Microsoft Office than many of our other picks, so picking it up immediately may be even easier than you expect.
WPS isn’t content to copy Microsoft in all things, however. The software touts a few useful tools of its own, including organic ways to change paragraph layout with your mouse, advanced section navigation, and document tabs that allow you to quickly manage multiple documents. This makes WPS Office a great choice for laptops and/or schoolwork.
Download it now for:
Windows Linux Android iOS
Best for cloud collaboration: Google’s G Suite
Google’s online suite should need no introduction. The cloud-based software remains ideal if you need to work with others on a project — particularly if everyone is familiar with Google Drive, where files can be stored and shared. The current iteration of Docs supports PDFs, DOC files, and even iWork files, so you need not worry about information being lost. It also integrates with most of Google’s other services, including Gmail, Calendar, and Google Plus.
The interface is classic Google — minimalist and oft-confusing. Certain tools or abilities may be hidden deep in menus or not made available for unknown reasons, which can make the software difficult to pick up without any previous experience. Still, if you’re used Chrome or Chrome OS, then you know what to expect and shouldn’t have much problem navigating the menus.
Plus, the ability to work on documents, edit work, and discuss changes with others who are also working on the same file — all in the same window — is incredibly useful and implemented well across different file types. For some, this is a reason to choose Google’s offering over Microsoft’s — paid or otherwise. This is a great choice for those with limited storage (like Chromebook users), or for those who need to edit at a distance.
Access it now via:
Best for MacOS: iWork
Apple’s iWork wasn’t originally designed for compatibility with Office Docs, but over time, the developers decided to add more functionality. Now you can even import Microsoft files and edit them in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote as needed, which is a huge advantage that makes iWork the perfect Office alternative for those working on a Mac. These days, even PC users can use iWork if they don’t mind doing so via iCloud (Apple currently doesn’t offer compatible desktop versions).
Of course, accessibility is more determined by your familiarity with iWork than anything else. These apps may be able to produce similar documents in the end, but they don’t really resemble Microsoft office when it comes to the interface. Tools are located in different places and tend to be a little more obscured than their Microsoft counterparts, so if this is your first time using these apps, you can expect a steep learning curve before things become simple.
Also, keep in mind that iWork is made to function alongside iCloud. If you currently use iCloud, then that will make it much easier to share documents over the cloud and store them off-site if necessary. If your whole team is on board, this can be extremely useful, but as with the aforementioned G Suite, everyone needs to be on the same page. If you’re a mobile user, you also want to note that the iWork suite is broken into three separate apps, each of which needs to be downloaded individually.
Access it now via:
iCloud
Download for MacOS:
Pages Numbers Keynote
Download for iOS:
Pages Numbers Keynote
Best option that’s actually Microsoft Office: Office Online
Okay, so this might be cheating a bit. Office Online is Microsoft’s answer to the Google’s G Suite, and it’s actually pretty great, considering you don’t have to drop a single dime to use it. With it, you’ll get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote (you can even use Outlook.com in lieu of the Outlook desktop app). Save for Access and Publisher — relatively niche programs that you probably don’t even need if you’re reading this — you’ll get nearly unfettered functionality for free.
There are a few features missing here and there, however. For example, you can’t copy formatting across documents, you can’t add fancy borders to Word docs, and the References ribbon is gone entirely. Regardless, the latter omission is a small price to pay to pay no price at all. The mobile apps are even more limited.
If you’re looking to edit pivot tables, manage detailed databases, or execute more advanced operations, you might need to look elsewhere. Office Online is great given the cost, however, and it does offer a level of familiarity that you simply won’t find elsewhere, no matter how hard the other entries on our list try.
Access it now via:
Microsoft
https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-office-software
The best free office software of 2018
By Cat Ellis 9 days ago Software
Free office software that's easy to use, packed with features, and fully compatible with Microsoft Office documents
Everyone needs reliable office software, and some of the very best suites are completely free – whatever operating system you use.
New Windows 10 PCs come with a trial of Microsoft Office installed, but this will soon expire, leaving you in need of a replacement. Macs come with Apple's own office suite, but if most of your colleagues are PC users, you might be better off trying a cross-platform suite instead.
Here, we've put the very best free office software suites through their paces – both downloadable desktop software and browser-based applications – so you can pick the one that's best for you.
If you're used to Microsoft Office, you'll pick up LibreOffice in no time
1. LibreOffice
Everything you could want from an office suite, fully compatible with Microsoft formats and totally free to use – even commercially
Huge software suite
Full MS Office compatibility
Completely free
LibreOffice is so good, you'll wonder why you ever paid for office software. It's compatible with all Microsoft document formats, and has almost every feature you'll find in the latest versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
The suite contains six programs to cover every common office task: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base. The last three are tools you won't find in many other free office suites, and are designed for vector diagrams, mathematical functions and databases, respectively. The latter is particularly useful; free alternatives to Microsoft Access are hard to find.
LibreOffice is an open source project maintained by a huge and enthusiastic community of volunteers constantly working to improve stability and add new features. There's a great selection of extensions and templates to make it even more flexible, and it's free for businesses as well as home users.
LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice, and the two are extremely similar, but we’d opt for LibreOffice thanks to its more frequent update schedule and more modern interface.
LibreOffice is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, but there are no official mobile versions available except for a document viewer for Android.
Provided you have a stable internet connection, Google offers an excellent free office toolkit
2. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
For working across platforms and sharing documents, Google's excellent collection of online office apps is hard to beat
Cross-platform
Integrates with Google Drive
Mobile apps available
Opening older files is tricky
If you work collaboratively, or switch between a PC and a Mac, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides should be your first port of call.
For anyone who's already deep into the Android/Google ecosystem, this suite will be a natural choice. The three key tools run happily in any web browser, and are available as mobile apps for Apple and Android devices.
Google's free office suite doesn't offer the advanced tools you'll find in desktop software like LibreOffice (there are no pivot tables, for example, and there's no database tool) but everything is laid out in a clear, logical way and all your files will be saved and synced automatically so you don't have to worry about transfers and backups.
The chief disadvantage of Docs, Sheets and Slides is that opening files created using other office software is a cumbersome process and files aren't always converted perfectly.
This is partly because Google's office tools use web fonts rather than ones stored locally on your device, and partly because Microsoft documents sometimes contain features not supported by Google. If that's a dealbreaker for you, read on...
Like the look of Google's suite, but need native support for Microsoft documents? Office Online is for you
3. Microsoft Office Online
Microsoft is taking the fight to Google with slimmed-down versions of all its usual applications, available to use free online
Fully compatible with desktop apps
Works with OneDrive
Lacks some advanced tools
Microsoft's desktop software carries a subscription fee, but the company has noticed the threat posed by G Suite and created its own set of free online apps.
Microsoft Office Online looks and works just like its desktop equivalent, and although advanced tools like pivot tables are out of reach, but aren’t offered by Google either.
If you generally use Microsoft document formats, Office Online is a brilliant choice. Unlike Google's free office suite, it doesn't need to convert your files before you can work on them, and you can share them easily through your Microsoft OneDrive account. Just log in using your Microsoft account (the same one you use to log into Windows 10) and you're ready to go.
There's a version of Office Online for Chrome, plus mobile editions of Office for iOS and Android.
Each application in WPS Office Free has a ribbon-based design very similar to Microsoft Office
4. WPS Office Free
A feature-packed free office suite for Windows, Linux and Android
Supports Microsoft file formats
Cross-platform
Contains some ads
WPS Office Free is a slimmed down version of a premium office suite, but you'd hardly know it. Each of its three programs looks just as slick as the latest versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and is packed with just as many features.
File format support is excellent, and you can save your work in native Microsoft formats for easy sharing with Office users. There's no database software, but WPS Office comes with an excellent free PDF reader that's a great replacement for Windows' built-in app.
There's the occasional ad, but these are few and far between. They certainly won't get in the way of your work, and you'll easily forget that everything in this suite is completely free.
There are versions of WPS Office Free for Windows and Linux systems, as well as apps for Android devices, but Apple device users will need to look elsewhere.
Polaris Office lets you save your work to the cloud and sync it across three devices, free of charge
5. Polaris Office
A cross-platform office suite that keeps your work in the cloud
Available for desktop and mobile
Includes 1GB cloud storage
Bundled extra software
If you own a Samsung phone, you might already be familiar with the mobile version of Polaris Office. This cross-platform free office software is available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and comes pre-installed on some Samsung handsets. It’s compatible with all Microsoft document formats, and offers a slick ribbon-based interface with some basic customization options.
Take care if you choose to install Windows version, you’ll see various additional pieces of bundled software, which could potentially include a browser extension from McAfee called WebAdvisor, a market research tool called PremierOpinion, and an antivirus suite. You can decline all of these – just keep an eye out.
You’ll then need to sign in with Facebook or Google, or create an account. This is necessary because Polaris Office is a cloud-based service. Your free Polaris account comes with 60MB monthly data transfer, 1GB cloud storage, and can be used across three devices (one desktop and two mobile). If that’s not enough space, you can connect Polaris Office to Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Microsoft OneDrive and Amazon Cloud Drive – or save work locally to your device.
Upgrading to a premium Polaris account gives you access to extra features including a PDF editor, removes ads, and the ability to search within a document.
6. SoftMaker FreeOffice
A free version of a premium suite, with most pro features intact
Supports Microsoft formats
Includes PDF reader
No thesaurus
Like WPS Office Free, SoftMaker FreeOffice provides analogs for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint (TextMaker, PlanMaker and Presentations respectively).
As with all the free office suites in this roundup, there's support for Microsoft file formats from 1997 onwards. It also offers effortless conversion to both PDF and Epub formats, which is a welcome addition.
Unfortunately, some key features are exclusive to the premium version of the software. Some of these (like tabbed browsing) are nice to have but non-essential, but the lack of a thesaurus is a real drawback for anyone who writes on a regular basis.
FreeOffice doesn't look quite as smart as WPS Office, but if you dislike the Microsoft ribbon and find it unintuitive then you'll prefer the slightly more old fashioned approach to navigation.
7. Open365
More than just an office suite online
Complete open source solution
Do it yourself approach
Open365 is more than just an office suite – it's a full cloud desktop thatdrags in a selection of great open source (usually desktop-based) software and puts it right in your browser. It includes the key components of the LibreOffice suite (Writer, Calc and Impress) along with Photoshop-esque image editor GIMP, Linux email package Kontact, and cloud storage by Seafile. Everything the desktop versions of those packages do can be done here, and every format they support is supported.
There's a desktop client to handle file transfers and mirroring your cloud storage to your hard drive, although you'll still need to run the software itself in-browser. Being full-on desktop software it's reasonably heavy both in terms of load times and the stress it puts on your system.
But get your whole team on board and its collaborative tools could make this an essential component of your workflow, particularly if you're hotdesking or using a variety of hardware.
https://workplace.zoho.eu/orgsignup.do?plan=free
8. Zoho Workplace
A genuinely exciting alternative to Google Docs
A complete solution for SMB and individuals alike
Can be daunting at time
While Google Docs is, thanks to the strength of its brand, probably more widely used, Zoho's online office solution is very good in its own right. It's certainly closer to a desktop office package, and it's strong enough to have attracted businesses like the BBC and Nike as regular users.
Zoho's new-look word processor (which ditches the classic Word-style interface in favour of a formatting sidebar) is very well-presented and capable of producing professional-looking docs, and it has a sterling spreadsheet and reasonable presentation package alongside it.
They're just the tip of the iceberg, however – Zoho Workplace includes a powerful site creation tool, a file management solution and many collaborative tools. Some are on the simplistic side, so they'll likely not replace anything you might already have in place, but if you're starting out as a small business Zoho is probably a good jumping-off point.
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The best free office software of 2018
By Cat Ellis 9 days ago Software
Free office software that's easy to use, packed with features, and fully compatible with Microsoft Office documents
Everyone needs reliable office software, and some of the very best suites are completely free – whatever operating system you use.
New Windows 10 PCs come with a trial of Microsoft Office installed, but this will soon expire, leaving you in need of a replacement. Macs come with Apple's own office suite, but if most of your colleagues are PC users, you might be better off trying a cross-platform suite instead.
Here, we've put the very best free office software suites through their paces – both downloadable desktop software and browser-based applications – so you can pick the one that's best for you.
If you're used to Microsoft Office, you'll pick up LibreOffice in no time
1. LibreOffice
Everything you could want from an office suite, fully compatible with Microsoft formats and totally free to use – even commercially
Huge software suite
Full MS Office compatibility
Completely free
LibreOffice is so good, you'll wonder why you ever paid for office software. It's compatible with all Microsoft document formats, and has almost every feature you'll find in the latest versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
The suite contains six programs to cover every common office task: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base. The last three are tools you won't find in many other free office suites, and are designed for vector diagrams, mathematical functions and databases, respectively. The latter is particularly useful; free alternatives to Microsoft Access are hard to find.
LibreOffice is an open source project maintained by a huge and enthusiastic community of volunteers constantly working to improve stability and add new features. There's a great selection of extensions and templates to make it even more flexible, and it's free for businesses as well as home users.
LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice, and the two are extremely similar, but we’d opt for LibreOffice thanks to its more frequent update schedule and more modern interface.
LibreOffice is available for Windows, Mac and Linux, but there are no official mobile versions available except for a document viewer for Android.
Provided you have a stable internet connection, Google offers an excellent free office toolkit
2. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
For working across platforms and sharing documents, Google's excellent collection of online office apps is hard to beat
Cross-platform
Integrates with Google Drive
Mobile apps available
Opening older files is tricky
If you work collaboratively, or switch between a PC and a Mac, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides should be your first port of call.
For anyone who's already deep into the Android/Google ecosystem, this suite will be a natural choice. The three key tools run happily in any web browser, and are available as mobile apps for Apple and Android devices.
Google's free office suite doesn't offer the advanced tools you'll find in desktop software like LibreOffice (there are no pivot tables, for example, and there's no database tool) but everything is laid out in a clear, logical way and all your files will be saved and synced automatically so you don't have to worry about transfers and backups.
The chief disadvantage of Docs, Sheets and Slides is that opening files created using other office software is a cumbersome process and files aren't always converted perfectly.
This is partly because Google's office tools use web fonts rather than ones stored locally on your device, and partly because Microsoft documents sometimes contain features not supported by Google. If that's a dealbreaker for you, read on...
Like the look of Google's suite, but need native support for Microsoft documents? Office Online is for you
3. Microsoft Office Online
Microsoft is taking the fight to Google with slimmed-down versions of all its usual applications, available to use free online
Fully compatible with desktop apps
Works with OneDrive
Lacks some advanced tools
Microsoft's desktop software carries a subscription fee, but the company has noticed the threat posed by G Suite and created its own set of free online apps.
Microsoft Office Online looks and works just like its desktop equivalent, and although advanced tools like pivot tables are out of reach, but aren’t offered by Google either.
If you generally use Microsoft document formats, Office Online is a brilliant choice. Unlike Google's free office suite, it doesn't need to convert your files before you can work on them, and you can share them easily through your Microsoft OneDrive account. Just log in using your Microsoft account (the same one you use to log into Windows 10) and you're ready to go.
There's a version of Office Online for Chrome, plus mobile editions of Office for iOS and Android.
Each application in WPS Office Free has a ribbon-based design very similar to Microsoft Office
4. WPS Office Free
A feature-packed free office suite for Windows, Linux and Android
Supports Microsoft file formats
Cross-platform
Contains some ads
WPS Office Free is a slimmed down version of a premium office suite, but you'd hardly know it. Each of its three programs looks just as slick as the latest versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and is packed with just as many features.
File format support is excellent, and you can save your work in native Microsoft formats for easy sharing with Office users. There's no database software, but WPS Office comes with an excellent free PDF reader that's a great replacement for Windows' built-in app.
There's the occasional ad, but these are few and far between. They certainly won't get in the way of your work, and you'll easily forget that everything in this suite is completely free.
There are versions of WPS Office Free for Windows and Linux systems, as well as apps for Android devices, but Apple device users will need to look elsewhere.
- WPS Office Free review
- Download WPS Office free
- The business paid for version has no ads and adds a lot of extras
Polaris Office lets you save your work to the cloud and sync it across three devices, free of charge
5. Polaris Office
A cross-platform office suite that keeps your work in the cloud
Available for desktop and mobile
Includes 1GB cloud storage
Bundled extra software
If you own a Samsung phone, you might already be familiar with the mobile version of Polaris Office. This cross-platform free office software is available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and comes pre-installed on some Samsung handsets. It’s compatible with all Microsoft document formats, and offers a slick ribbon-based interface with some basic customization options.
Take care if you choose to install Windows version, you’ll see various additional pieces of bundled software, which could potentially include a browser extension from McAfee called WebAdvisor, a market research tool called PremierOpinion, and an antivirus suite. You can decline all of these – just keep an eye out.
You’ll then need to sign in with Facebook or Google, or create an account. This is necessary because Polaris Office is a cloud-based service. Your free Polaris account comes with 60MB monthly data transfer, 1GB cloud storage, and can be used across three devices (one desktop and two mobile). If that’s not enough space, you can connect Polaris Office to Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Microsoft OneDrive and Amazon Cloud Drive – or save work locally to your device.
Upgrading to a premium Polaris account gives you access to extra features including a PDF editor, removes ads, and the ability to search within a document.
- Polaris Office review
- Download Polaris Office
- The premium versions include more editing tools and have no ads
6. SoftMaker FreeOffice
A free version of a premium suite, with most pro features intact
Supports Microsoft formats
Includes PDF reader
No thesaurus
Like WPS Office Free, SoftMaker FreeOffice provides analogs for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint (TextMaker, PlanMaker and Presentations respectively).
As with all the free office suites in this roundup, there's support for Microsoft file formats from 1997 onwards. It also offers effortless conversion to both PDF and Epub formats, which is a welcome addition.
Unfortunately, some key features are exclusive to the premium version of the software. Some of these (like tabbed browsing) are nice to have but non-essential, but the lack of a thesaurus is a real drawback for anyone who writes on a regular basis.
FreeOffice doesn't look quite as smart as WPS Office, but if you dislike the Microsoft ribbon and find it unintuitive then you'll prefer the slightly more old fashioned approach to navigation.
- SoftMaker FreeOffice review
- Download SoftMaker FreeOffice
- The paid for version adds thesaurus, administration features and caters for up to five PCs
7. Open365
More than just an office suite online
Complete open source solution
Do it yourself approach
Open365 is more than just an office suite – it's a full cloud desktop thatdrags in a selection of great open source (usually desktop-based) software and puts it right in your browser. It includes the key components of the LibreOffice suite (Writer, Calc and Impress) along with Photoshop-esque image editor GIMP, Linux email package Kontact, and cloud storage by Seafile. Everything the desktop versions of those packages do can be done here, and every format they support is supported.
There's a desktop client to handle file transfers and mirroring your cloud storage to your hard drive, although you'll still need to run the software itself in-browser. Being full-on desktop software it's reasonably heavy both in terms of load times and the stress it puts on your system.
But get your whole team on board and its collaborative tools could make this an essential component of your workflow, particularly if you're hotdesking or using a variety of hardware.
https://workplace.zoho.eu/orgsignup.do?plan=free
8. Zoho Workplace
A genuinely exciting alternative to Google Docs
A complete solution for SMB and individuals alike
Can be daunting at time
While Google Docs is, thanks to the strength of its brand, probably more widely used, Zoho's online office solution is very good in its own right. It's certainly closer to a desktop office package, and it's strong enough to have attracted businesses like the BBC and Nike as regular users.
Zoho's new-look word processor (which ditches the classic Word-style interface in favour of a formatting sidebar) is very well-presented and capable of producing professional-looking docs, and it has a sterling spreadsheet and reasonable presentation package alongside it.
They're just the tip of the iceberg, however – Zoho Workplace includes a powerful site creation tool, a file management solution and many collaborative tools. Some are on the simplistic side, so they'll likely not replace anything you might already have in place, but if you're starting out as a small business Zoho is probably a good jumping-off point.
- Try Zoho Workplace for free for up to 25 users
- Paid versions of Zoho cost as little as £18 per year per user
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When you abandoned MicroSHIT you will begin to see a big new better world.
Best to do is to just ditch Windoze all the way. I had done it for 25 yrs.
Now Silly MicroSHIT Office bundled FOC inside Samsung Galaxy new high end models, 1st thing I did was to DISABLE THEM made them vanished and out of my sight.
Best to do is to just ditch Windoze all the way. I had done it for 25 yrs.
Now Silly MicroSHIT Office bundled FOC inside Samsung Galaxy new high end models, 1st thing I did was to DISABLE THEM made them vanished and out of my sight.
my uncle say KNN just goto SLS pay some abnn kopi money he can give you whatever license office .
Are you joking! You're still stuck with Microsoft Windows!
Are you time teleported from the Qing or Ming periods? We borned in this sane modern world have ditched MS Windows pre-posthumosly since before Bill Gates was borned.
Have you heard of Linux.:p It's free.:p
Are you time teleported from the Qing or Ming periods? We borned in this sane modern world have ditched MS Windows pre-posthumosly since before Bill Gates was borned.
Have you heard of Linux.:p It's free.:p
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