Microsoft Office is the world’s most widely used program for document creating and editing. It features various core programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint which are come with prices. There are also other programs such as Teams and OneNote. However, if you’re not satisfied with Microsoft’s product, you can always switch to another app. There are so many alternatives for Microsoft Office you can try and pick the right one for you.
Traditionally, people had to download the entire Microsoft Office suite to their Windows PC. In 2006, Google started releasing its own web-based document editors, which forced Microsoft to create an online version of Office called Microsoft 365.
Though it moved to a web-based solution all the features come with a price. There are people who do not expect much from the MS office as they provide. They only need to prepare simple documents and day-to-day simple document handlings. For that, it is a waste of money buying a product like MS office. Although Microsoft recommends Office for all Windows users, there are some advantages to using alternatives. It requires a high amount of resources and has various licensing agreements. Reasons like these make people search for other alternatives similar to MS office.
Due to the increasing number of competing products, more people are choosing to use alternatives instead of Microsoft. While it’s cheaper, it still comes with higher quality assurance. Despite the advantages of Office, there are still issues when it comes to sharing documents between various office suite platforms. This is why choosing an alternative office suite should be carefully considered. The best Office alternatives usually have full functionality and are relatively easy to use. However, few of them can rival the full capabilities of Microsoft 365, which includes Office Teams and OneDrive.
Here we discussed and explained, features and details about the best 10 alternatives for Microsoft Office. So people who are searching for alternatives for MS office can get an advantage from this article.
Table of Contents
Google Workspace
Google workspace is a cloud-based office solution provided by Google. Google’s alternative to Office is called Google Workspace. Unlike Office, it’s completely web-based and can only be used from your browser. It comes with a variety of tools such as Gmail, Drive, Docs, sheets..etc. Google workspace is very secure since it’s cloud-based. With its built-in encryption, Google Workspace is almost impossible to compromise. And also it provides up to 15GB of free cloud storage.
The tools work seamlessly across different web browsers. They also have mobile apps that allow users to access their documents anytime, anywhere. It also has robust versioning so that you can easily roll back previous versions of documents. You can sync the Docs or Sheets web platform with your desktop storage and create and edit files offline and then it will be uploaded to the cloud as soon as you connect to the internet.
It also allows you to store and convert files in different formats. If you want to get a google sheet in edit xls or xlxs format it allows you to export it to the file format that you want. For the doc and Docx working as the same.
To use Google Workspace you only need a google account. Click here to use Google Workspace!
What are the pros and cons of using Google Workspace?
Pros
✔ Can access anytime, anywhere.
✔ Cost-effective solutions.
✔ Free 15GB cloud storage.
✔ Industry-leading enterprise security.
✔ greater control over the activity
✔ Easy to share files
✔ Real-time collaboration.
✔ Extremely secure
Cons
✘ Can be hard to understand for new users.
✘ No desktop application was designed.
✘ Importing desktop files may compromise.
WPS office
WPS Office is a new alternative to Microsoft Office. It has a clean, well-organized user interface and is designed to be easy to use. Kingsoft Chinese software company released WPS Office in 2016. It is available for various platforms such as Windows, Android, and iOS. Compared to MS Office, WPS Office is more lightweight and it also has a low installation file size of around 4.5MB.
There are two versions of WPS Office: the free version and the premium version. The free version comes with all of the basic features that you would typically find in an office suite. Though the free version provides all the basic features it prompts a lot of advertisements. It will only provide cloud storage is limited to 1GB.
The premium version, on the other hand, comes with a variety of features and it does not prompt any advertisements. Provide cloud storage up to 20GB and provide a PDF editor with it. The paid version is priced at around $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
WPS Office is an online version of desktop software that enables you to real-time collaborate with specific individuals and groups. Though it provides many features, Critics of the program have criticized its lack of collaboration features, which they claim are not included in the official release. Also, the interface can be slow when it comes to loading documents.
Click here to get started with WPS Office.
What are the pros and cons of using WPS Office?
Pros
✔ Cross-platform syncronization
✔ documents sharing facility
✔ Free 1GB Cloud Storage.
✔ Easy interaction with mobile devices.
✔ Can recover files from their early versions.
Cons
✘ Can be hard to understand for new users.
✘ No desktop application was designed.
✘ Importing desktop files may compromise.
SoftMaker Office
FreeOffice is the suite of software created by SoftMaker, which has been around since 1987. It is a free and easy-to-use alternative to Microsoft Office. If you’re looking for a cheap alternative to Microsoft Office, then SoftMaker Office is the best choice. It’s much more affordable than Microsoft Office.
FreeOffice also comes with a variety of other useful applications, such as a word processor, presentation tool, and spreadsheet. It’s very similar to Microsoft Office, making it very easy to pick up. This year, FreeOffice released a new interface that allows users to switch seamlessly from Microsoft Office to this application… With FreeOffice, you can easily copy and paste documents from Microsoft Office into other applications. It supports various file formats, such as the XLSX, PPTX, and DOCX.
For touchscreen users, there’s a special mode that allows them to use it with larger icons. You can also get an additional program called BasicMaker, which is a macro writing program that can be used in the PlanMaker and TextMaker apps. Unlike Microsoft Office, SoftMaker Office supports more than 20 languages. It is also optimized for German grammar.
Though it’s free to use, FreeOffice is a stripped-down version of the company’s more expensive product, which is called SoftMaker Office. It only has a few basic features, such as spell-checking and commercial dictionaries.
Click here to get started with SoftMaker Office
What are the pros and cons of using SoftMaker Office?
Pros
✔ Completely free os charge
✔ Familiar user interface to MS office
✔ Touchscreen compatibility
✔ Support various file formats.
✔ Support to MAC, IOS, Linux, and Windows OS
✔ Supports Over 20 languages
Cons
✘ formatting issues when sending documents to users who use google docs and or Microsoft word.
✘ A lot of features were received for the paid version
✘ Not available cloud storage
LibreOffice
Over the years, there has been a wide range of open-source alternatives to Office. Among these is LibreOffice, which has been one of the tops since it was released. Unlike Microsoft Office, LibreOffice is an open-source project. It was launched in 2010, and it’s free and available to the public.
It features a complete office suite that’s free to use. It works seamlessly across various platforms, and its basic version is available for Android. It supports around 119 languages. There are several programs in LibreOffice that are specialized for different tasks. Some of these include Impress for presentations, Base for databases, and Calc for the spreadsheet.
The main difference between Microsoft Office and LibreOffice is that it supports all major file formats such as DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX. It also supports older file types such as PPT and XLS. The new interface that was released this year makes it easy to switch from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice. It also features a touch mode that allows users to customize their interface.
Although it doesn’t have the same level of support as a commercial product, it’s still widely used by the open-source community. There are a few certified developers and consultants who can help with technical issues. It features a complete office suite that’s free to use. It works seamlessly across various platforms, and its basic version is available for Android.
Click here to get started with LibreOffice
What are the pros and cons of using LibreOffice?
Pros
✔ Completely free os charge
✔ Familiar user interface to MS office
✔ Touchscreen compatibility
✔ Support various file formats.
✔ Support to MAC, Linux, Android, and Windows OS
✔ Supports Over 119 languages
Cons
✘ No cloud solution provided
✘ Lack of technical support
✘ formatting issues can be tricky
✘ doesn’t do a lot of the more obscure things you can do in MS Office
Polaris Office
Infraware’s Polaris Office is a free alternative to Microsoft Office that features an easy-to-use interface and supports all major file formats. It also has better editing tools than other Office alternatives. Polaris Office was released in March 2014. It is currently available on various platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.
Polaris Office is compatible with both Microsoft Office and Google Doc files. It can also create and edit various types of documents. Aside from being able to create and edit documents, Polaris Office also supports ZIP archives and ODF files. It also features a better file browser and a smart scroll feature. Polaris Office is a great way to store and manage all of your documents in one place. It works seamlessly with various cloud storage providers such as Dropbox.
The app’s mobile version can be a bit fiddly to use, especially compared to Google Docs. However, it’s also easy to forgive as it’s packed full of features that are only available on the desktop.
The free version is very generous, but there is also a business version that’s also available. To get the exact cost of the upgrade, you will need to send a request to Polaris. The free version comes with 1GB of cloud storage, but it can also be expanded through a cloud storage service. There are also multiple paid upgrades available. There are also various Polaris Cloud Office editions that are subscription-based. Some of these come lifetime licenses. You can get Polaris paid version 2.79 dollars per month or 27.99 dollars per year
Click here to get started with Polaris Office
What are the pros and cons of using Polaris Office?
Pros
✔ Convert and edit PDF documents
✔ Excellent free tier
✔ Cross-platform syncronization
✔ Support to MAC, Linux, Android, and Windows OS
✔ Value for money
Cons
✘ Frequently prompting messages
✘ Takes some time to open and if the presentation has many slides
✘ Lack of cloud storage
✘ Lack of pre-designed Templates
WordPerfect
WordPerfect is a great alternative to Office for people who work with databases and data. It supports various file formats. Since its development in the 1970s, WordPerfect has been owned by various individuals. In 1996, it was purchased by a company called Corel, which wanted to build a platform that could compete with Microsoft and Adobe.
It’s only available for Windows and is typically not bundled with any cloud-based services. Aside from word processing, WordPerfect also comes with a variety of other programs. Some of these include a spreadsheet program, a digital notebook, and a photo-editing app. There are some key features that make WordPerfect stand out from the crowd. One example of this is its ability to convert documents into EPUB format.
WordPerfect X9 is a great alternative to Microsoft Word for people who have used it before. It has the same basic layout and features, such as the ability to insert graphics and tables. The Standard edition comes with all of the features that we’ve already covered. It also comes with a variety of additional tools and features, such as an Oxford English Dictionary and an address book.
Click here to get started with WordPerfect
What are the pros and cons of using WordPerfect?
Pros
✔ Compatible with MS office
✔ Included photo editing app
✔ Real-time previews of formatting options
✔ Powerful support for long documents
✔ Imports and exports Microsoft and legacy formats
Cons
✘ No mobile or Mac versions, only Windows
✘ Spreadsheet and presentation apps lag behind the competition
Calligra Office
Calligra Office was first released in 2000 as part of KOffice. It is an open-source office suite that can run on various platforms. Unlike LibreOffice, Calligra Office has plenty of apps, but it lacks many of the features that are found in the other office suite. Calligra is a free and open-source software suite that can be downloaded from its own website or from the downloads page of the KDE platform.
The main programs in Calligra Office are Word for word processing and Excel for spreadsheets. There are also a few other programs that are very similar to MS Access, such as Kexi. One of these is a program called Karbon, which is a vector drawing program that’s not compatible with MS Office.
Unlike other office suites, Calligra doesn’t have the familiar look and feel of Microsoft Office. Instead, it has a lot of useful features that are placed on the right-hand side. Although Calligra can read DOCX and DOX formats, it cannot edit them. This means that you may encounter issues when sending Microsoft Office documents.
With Calligra, users can import Microsoft Office documents accurately, allowing them to remain productive while working in different formats. Calligra is an open-source office suite that features a variety of tools and features. Some of these include word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet. Its flexible integration makes it a good fit for anyone wanting to work seamlessly.
Click here to get started with Calligra Office
What are the pros and cons of using Calligra Office?
Pros
✔ Full Project Control
✔ Vector Drawing capability
✔ Free and open source
✔ Unified design language
✔ Imports and exports Microsoft and legacy formats
Cons
✘ Slow development
✘ Too many dependencies to install
OnlyOffice
OnlyOffice is an online office suite that was created by Ascensio Systems SIA. It’s a cloud-based alternative to Office. OnlyOffice is a productivity platform that works seamlessly with teams. It includes a variety of tools and features that are designed to work seamlessly with each other. OnlyOffice is a feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Office. It can create and edit documents, as well as manage spreadsheets and presentations.
OnlyOffice can run on various platforms, such as a local Windows machine, a private cloud, or a public cloud. Although it supports Open Office formats, OnlyOffice still supports other popular MS Office formats, such as XLSX, DOCX, and PPTX. OnlyOffice is a full-featured office suite that includes a word processor, presentation software, and a spreadsheet. It’s also compatible with other email and project management tools.
The calendar feature in OnlyOffice allows users to keep track of their tasks and keep an eye on their deadlines. It also supports third-party integrations. It is capable of integrating with ownCloud, Confluence, Alfresco, SharePoint, Liferay, HumHub, Plone, Nuxeo. The Onlyoffice code is open-source, and its Community version is free to 20 users. The commercial version, on the other hand, requires a one-time license fee.
OnlyOffice is primarily a web app, and it works incredibly well on both desktop and mobile platforms. However, the app for iOS is a bit cumbersome, as it doesn’t have the same polished look and feel like the other versions. It also lacks support for hand-writing.
Click here to get started with OnlyOffice
What are the pros and cons of using OnlyOffice?
Pros
✔ Collaborative document editing and MS office compatibility
✔ Cloud-based storage
✔ good compatibility with office file format and layout
✔ Saving changes real-time
✔ modern and nicer interface than MS Office
Cons
✘ No support for MS Access files yet.
✘ does not have apps for mobile devices
Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is an open-source productivity suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Created by the Apache Software Foundation, OpenOffice is a spinoff of the OpenOffice.org project. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a free office suite that’s flexible and can work seamlessly across various platforms.
It works seamlessly across various platforms and is able to store and read data in ODF. Like its predecessor, Apache OpenOffice is a free and open-source software suite that comes with a clean UI. It features a variety of apps and comes with a neat and clean UI. Export files in PDF format are also supported by OpenOffice. It can also install extensions that allow users to add new features to their existing installations.
While it doesn’t have the same features as Microsoft’s Office, Open Office is still very collaborative. Its integration with Office365 and OneDrive makes it possible to work seamlessly with others. Although it doesn’t have the same features as MS Office, Open Office can still work seamlessly with various third-party solutions like Box and Google Drive.
If you’re looking for a simple and effective alternative to Microsoft Office, Open Office is a great choice. However, if you need to work with multiple formats, there are other free and open-source alternatives that can help.
Click here to get started with Apache OpenOffice
What are the pros and cons of using Apache OpenOffice?
Pros
✔ Free Trial
✔ good compatibility with office file format and layout
Cons
✘ No cloud save option is available
✘ OpenOffice does not have a built-in grammar check tool
OfficeSuite
OfficeSuite is a Microsoft Office replacement app that’s commonly used on Android and iOS mobile devices. It works seamlessly with almost all major platforms, and it’s pre-installed on a wide range of devices. OfficeSuite is compatible with various Microsoft Office documents and is also capable of working seamlessly with other cloud services.
The basic tier is free, and it features full compatibility with various popular formats such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The free tier also supports various cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. OfficeSuite features a variety of tools that allow you to customize the text and layout of a document, as well as attach and finish it by including a custom signature. It also allows you to manage all of your email accounts in one calendar.
Aside from being able to create and edit documents, it can also scan physical documents using its camera. It can also integrate with e-signature software, which can allow users to make their documents official by affixing an e-signature on them.
Click here to get started with OfficeSuite
What are the pros and cons of using Apache OfficeSuite?
Pros
✔ Allows syncing across devices
✔ integrate with e-signature software
✔ scan physical documents using its camera
Cons
✘ Limited collaboration tools
✘ Ads in the free version
